Chapter 11

"TOP-kun..."

TOP turned his head at the lovely brunette at his side who seems to be holding back her tears. The soft breeze blew over her hair letting her auburn locks cover her face as she bent her head.

"He hates me now," came her soft whisper.

He knew that what had happened was partly his fault. He was the one who taunted Jiyong  since his damn pride couldn't take it that he lost the girl he loves to a bastard like Jiyong. He reached out for Dara's shoulder and pulled her to him, wrapping her in his warm embrace trying to comfort her and erase her pain. Although he knew that it's not enough...

Days passed and the gap between Jiyong and Dara became more obvious to everyone. They would avoid each other, one trying to make up excuses whenever the other one was around.

TOP continued to act as Dara's beloved boyfriend, trying to cheer her up, trying to let her forget her love for a certain firecaster. Dara, for all the world to see, seemed not affected. She's still the over-optimistic girl with the bright and goofy smiles, the cheerful greetings, and the dumb and klutzy attitude.

But behind those bright smiles, those laughter, he knew it was a pretense. Because Dara would suddenly burst into sobs when they are alone, outpouring her heartbreak over the indifference of Jiyong towards her; not knowing that TOP was hurting as well. It hurts knowing that despite all his patience and affection, he couldn't get to her heart. That the only thing that she's willing to share to him is friendship, love for a close friend, love for a brother… but not the love that he is aching for.

Jiyong, on the other hand, became more of a bastard than he originally was. He never lacked company of girlfriends. And there were stupid women who were willing to be his next conquest. TOP wondered if it was mere coincidence that Dara and he would often catch him making out with his current girl.

Dara would just turn an over bright smile on him and pull him, just somewhere away from Jiyong, somewhere where she could let go of her emotions. She's suffering, TOP knew. He just wished that someday, Dara would learn to let go of her love for Jiyong and direct it to someone else, someone who is willing to take the risk for her, someone… like him.

The Alice Festival started and everyone was busy on the different activities prepared by each of the alice categories.

Dara had just finished her part on the Special Ability's Festival presentation and was looking around for TOP. She promised to go with him to wander around the different program and presentations that were presented by the different ability types. She walked past one of the stalls and finally realized that she was already near the Northern Forest. She was about to walk back when she heard some giggling sounds. Curious, she walked straight ahead and followed where the voice was coming from. A few distance away, two figures were sitting on a bench. She hid herself behind a tree and took a peek on the lovers. She squinted her eyes, and almost gasped out loud when she recognized one of the two. It was Jiyong… and he was sitting with a girl... no... the girl was sitting on his lap, her arms around his neck and her lips on Jiyong's. Unable to bear it, Dara hurriedly walked away. Damn Jiyong!

Her eyes became blurry with unshed tears that she was caught off-guard when she bumped into someone and fell back, landing on her .

"Watch where you're going, idiot."

Dara lifted her eyes and caught the gaze of a pair of violet eyes.

"Bommie…"

Bom lifted her eyebrows when Dara quietly just pushed herself up then mumbled an apology. What? No squeals? No hugs?

Dara tried to walk past Bom when she heard her sigh, then her next words, "It's Jiyong, isn't it?"

Dara turned around, her eyes wide. How could have Bom known? Bom's not the type to bother herself with Dara's problems.

"W-hat d-do you m-mean?"

Bom looked at her straight in the eye. "Stop pretending like you don't know. I've known you long enough to see past your cheerful pretense," she said. "You're affected by this silent war between you and Jiyong."

Dara just remained silent.

"What I don't understand is why you chose TOP to be your boyfriend when it's Jiyong you really like," Bom continued.

Dara froze. Then after she recovered, she gave out a fake laugh. "Y-you're k-kidding. M-me? Like J-Jiyong? Hahaha."

"It's no use denying it Dara. Besides, Jiyong likes you too. Why would he kiss an idiot like you if he doesn't?"

'How did Bom know that Jiyong kissed me? Where did she get all these information?' Dara wondered despairingly. "He's a ert and a playboy. He must have kissed dozens of girls already," she answered back, trying to sound indifferent.

Bom turned to leave, a secret smile forming on her lips. "But you were the first," she said. "That makes it special. Besides, everyone's worried about you two. Hope this time you'll use your head before making any rash actions." Then she left leaving a dumbfounded Dara.

Dara just stood there reflecting on what Bom said. 'Does Jiyong really likes me?' That's one thing she could never be sure of, but what if... he does? But somehow, her talk with Bom cheered her up. 'Bom was worried about me…'

A short distance away but out of Dara's view….

Bom walked over to the two boys were standing by one of the stalls.

"I've done it. Now pay up," she said emotionlessly.

Jaejoong and Daesung sweatdropped. They asked Bom to talk to Dara in order to resolve her conflict with Jiyong. Bom agreed but as usual, there is a payment. Yeah, 1000 rabbits in return for her help. What a friend!

"But do you think you've convinced her to be friends with Jiyong again?" Jaejoong asked. "What did you tell her anyway?"

A mysterious smile crossed her face. "Something that you all don't know." Then she turned to Daesung. "Don't dare try to read my mind. I'll know and you'll regret it."

Daesung just sweatdropped.

Back to the scene with Jiyong…

Unknown to Dara, Jiyong wasn't enjoying it. First, the girl's giggling is getting into his nerves. It wasn't cute, it was irritating. Second, she was heavy. His thigh was beginning to get numb. Third, Jaejoong was waiting for him. The girl told him that there's something she wishes to tell him in private, so they went to a secluded place. And it turned out his stupid 'girlfriend' wants to have lovey-dovey moment with him. He was beginning to get furious. He was annoyed at first but he tried to restrain himself from pushing her away from him. But when the girl pressed her lips to his, he just snapped. He suddenly stood up, not caring if his girlfriend fell off his lap and landed hard on the ground.

"Itai!" the girl cried, then looked up to him. "Jiyong love, what's wrong?"

Jiyong just looked at her coldly, then said. "Get lost. I'm breaking up with you."

"W-what?" the girl cried unbelievably. "W-hat did I do wrong?"

Jiyong narrowed his eyes. "I'm tired of your clingy ways. Now scoot before I burn all your hair, you idiot."

Some male students were just surprised when a crying girl ran past them.

"Wasn't that Aya? Kwon Jiyong's current girlfriend?"

"Yeah? Did he break up with her?"

"Again? That's the fifth one in three weeks."

One of them just and shrugged. "Kwon Jiyong is a real bastard you know."

"YOU ARE THE BASTARDS!"

The guys turned and were surprised when they were surrounded by a group of girls – Jiyong's fan club, headed by Sulli.

"Jiyong-kun is just a lonely boy looking for true love," Sulli said passionately.

The other girls heartily agreed by nodding their heads.

"If Jiyong-kun just broke up with Aya, it means one thing…" one of the girls started.

"HE'S AVAILABLE AGAIN!" the girls chorused. They began squealing, wishing one of them will be Jiyong's next 'victim.'

The guys shook their heads as they walked away. "Women! Who can understand them?"

The Jiyong fangirls were giggling as they walked around the stalls when one of them, named Katya, saw a small tent.

"Oh, it's the fortune telling booth."

The girls turned and looked at the booth. "So? What's so special about it?"

Katya excitedly began tell them. "The girl in the tent has a fortune telling alice and it's really accurate. My friend yesterday went there and asked for her fortune. Not only that, it seems that she could tell someone's past. The fortune teller was able to guess who her first kiss was."

"Really?"

"Wow, that's amazing."

"Hmm… First kiss…" Sulli began to think. "Girls, let's go inside. There's something I really want to know and all of you are interested of."

"Hmmm… I see something…"

The girls leaned closer to the crystal ball but all they saw was a cloud-like something inside the ball.

"What is it? Do you see the girl?"

"Did you see the witch who took advantage of my Jiyong's lips?" Sulli asked, anticipating to trample upon the unknown girl.

"I'm not sure why this is becoming difficult. Normally, I could clearly the things that I want to see. But for this particular girl, I only see shadows. This is interesting."

The fortune teller Hina mumbled a series of chants and the crystal ball began to glow. After a moment, she looked up into the expectant eyes of the girls.

"I'm sorry but I don't think I'll be able to give the clear description or name of the girl. There is something that hinders my alice. This girl's alice might be in conflict with mine so I couldn't see her clearly."

"What?" came the disappointed shrieks from the Jiyong fangirls.

"But maybe I could get some clues," she said. Then she closed her eyes and chanted once again.

"I see something… a tree…" Hina said.

"Tree? What's the significance of a tree?" one of the girls whispered.

"Cherry blossoms…"

"Huh?" The girls are getting confused.

"Tangerine…"

"First she talks about flowers, now fruits?" another girl muttered.

"Shhhhhh!"

"I see… two… kids…"

"Two kids?" another fan girls asked, confused.

"What? You mean Jiyong-kun already has two kids?"

"NOOOOOOOOO!"

"Quiet! I can't concentrate!" Hina said in an irritated voice.

The girls kept quiet again.

After a moment, Hina opened her eyes and smiled. "It seems that you girls should give up on Kwon Jiyong."

"What?!, Why?"

"His first kiss… had sealed his fate. He's in love with the girl whom he had first kissed."

A collective gasp was heard inside the tent.

"NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"It can't be true!" moaned the others.

"How lucky she is!"

"YOU FAKE!" Sulli screamed.

Now, Hina was really irritated. "How dare you question my words? I am an alice if you have forgotten. You want me to tell your fortune? This is your unlucky week. Exactly 30 minutes from now, you'll end up staying in a room for the whole week!"

"Hah! Like I'll believe that! This week is the festival if you don't mind. Why would I stay in my room with all the festivities?" Sulli said sarcastically. "Come on girls, just ignore whatever this fake said. Her alice might be fortune telling, but it's not yet perfect, that's why she's giving the reverse of our real fortune. Hmph!"

The fan girls all marched their way out of the tent without a backward glance. Hina just signed and stared at the crystal ball. Seriously, it was really weird that she couldn't see the face of the girl. It seems that her alice wasn't working properly. And the only clues that she could get were cherry blossoms and tangerine? What does that mean? Kwon Jiyong's favorite flower is cherry blossoms? And his favorite fruit is tangerine? Something is really wrong with her ball. Which might also mean that her prediction on Sulli's fortune might be distorted too. 'Damn! Is my alice getting unstable?'She just shook her head and waited for the next customer to come in.

Fifteen minutes later, one of the Technology-type student was cleaning a huge robot when suddenly, he accidentally knocked the pail at his side pouring the contents directly into… Sulli. Sulli turned into her cat-like form and chased after the boy. Two minutes later, Sulli knocked a makeshift wall down, making it fall on her. It took five minutes for the ambulance to arrive. A few minutes later, they arrived at the hospital. Exactly 30 minutes after she left the tent, Sulli was resting with a broken leg… in a hospital room.

The other fangirls were now quite convinced with what Hina, the fortune teller said. What she had predicted about Sulli came true. Which means only one thing… Kwon Jiyong, the most popular boy in school, the ever famous black cat, the holder of one of the most powerful alice, the crimson-eyed genius, the playboy extraordinaire, is confirmed to be really, truly, unbelievably, undeniably, genuinely, hell-I-can't-believe-it, aliens-had-fallen-from-space, what-the--is-going-on, Armageddon-has-come, seriously IN LOVE!

That leaves only one teeny-weeny question… WHO IS THE DAMN LUCKY GIRL?

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HO.HO.HO

last remaining 3chapters!!!!

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dara's alice - nulification *means untouchable*

jiyong's alice - Fire

TOP alice - *didn't mention*

daesung's alice - mind reader

jaejoong's alice - animal something*

bom's alice - invention alice

-edit. hoho