The new terms had just started. The school has begun and another problem had started.

You were on your way to your school with Hyo Won who was having her cheery mode.

You two were chatting and talking on your way to school.

“~~~~~, did you finish your homework?” Hyo Won peered at you.

You nodded, “Yeah.”

“Good!” She smiled brightly. But somehow, there was something odd about her. She was giving you a strange vibe.

You looked at her with curiosity, “Hyo Won-ah, are you…sick?”

She went into a slight pause and slowly turned to you, “N-no.”

Your eyebrows pinched together as small wrinkles appeared on your forehead, “Really? Please tell me if you have any problems.”

“N-no. O-of course not. I’m all good, see?” She put on a bright but strangely fake smile.

You slightly nodded, “I see…” But still you couldn’t help but to feel more anxious.

As for Hyo Won, she quickly took the chance to change the subject. She knew she was wrong to keep something from her own best friend but didn’t even bother to spill out the problem.

“Come on, ~~~~~. Let’s go.” She rushed forward towards the school gate, leaving you behind.

You lifted your head and held onto the straps of your backpack as you hurried to the entrance.

“Alright class. Write down these notes I give you!” Mrs. Lee demanded.

Everyone started jotting down the notes.

You were doing the same thing. You felt like a pair of eyes were watching you but you brushed it away. Little did you know, Zico was staring at you for no reason.

Once you finished writing down the notes, you looked out from the window beside you. You unknowingly sighed.

How you wished you could be with your loving parents right now.

But that seemed impossible.

Why?

Because dying was not that easy.

*Umma…appa, I miss you guys so much…* You looked up at the clear baby blue sky as if you were talking with your parents right now.

Zico who was staring at you was still watching your every move.

Why would he do that?

He didn’t know why he did that too, though.

The last bell rang and all of the students piled out of the building, ready to go home.

As for you, you were still in the class, organizing your textbooks neatly into your bag. You were too engrossed in arranging your books until you couldn’t even hear Hyo Won’s voice calling for you.

“Han ~~~~~!” She shrieked.

You flinched in surprise. She came over to you with a frown attached on her face, “Yah. Why didn’t you respond to me just now?”

With a guilty look, you apologized, “Sorry. I was busy arranging these stuffs.”

She shook her head, “No need to apologize. I was just joking with you but you didn’t seem to notice it though.”

“Um, sorry again. I’m a bit slow and I’m really not a humorous type of a person.” You stated.

She sighed. *You used to be but now you’re different.*

You tilted your head to the side, “Is there something wrong?” Hyo Won snapped out of her daze, “Uh no! You see, ~~~~~, I’m sorry but I won’t be able to walk together with you back to your home.”

“Why?” A hint of sadness whirled inside of you. Looks like loneliness will be accompanying you today.

“Just because…I have practice today so yeah…” She lazily shrugged her shoulder.

“Oh. You better get going now.” You pointed at the clock that was attached on the wall, “…your practice usually starts at 3, am I right?”

“Oh yeah! That’s right! Well, better get going then!” She turned around and jogged to the exit.

When she reached the door frame, she turned to you with a wary look, “Are you sure you will be…okay by yourself?”

“Yes. Please don’t worry about me.” You assured. You didn’t want to be such a nuisance to Hyo Won.

Because for you, your gloomy self and sudden change of personalities have already burden her so much.

“Okay then…” She slowly walked away. You watched her until her figure disappeared from your sight.

*Well, it’s time to go home now.*

Your steps were unusually small this time since there was no one with you. You were too scared to make another step.

Afraid that someone might do something to you.

While you were busy, deep in thoughts that started with ‘what if’, a group of girls came over to you, circling around you.

“Why hello there, orphan girl. Going home by yourself, I see?” Jane, the so-called-queenka bitterly smirked. You froze and stared at them emotionlessly.

One of her friends then scoffed, “Gosh! I can’t stand seeing you being quiet all the time! Are you mute or something?!”

Hearing those made the other girls crack up. “Good one, Minhee!” Jane complimented and continued laughing in an evil way.

However, those venomous insults didn’t seem to affect you at all since you’ve grown used to this kind of thing.

And that made them tick off. Minhee fumed, “Why aren’t you answering?! Geez! You’re really mute, aren’t you?!”

“No, Minhee. She’s not mute.” Jane protested.

You looked at her like there was something wrong with her brain. How nice of her to protect you.

Or so you thought…

“Cat got her tongue actually!” Jane added, causing her gang to burst out laughing like mad witches again.

Mustering up all of your courage, you took one step forward warily. They stopped cackling and eyed you.

“Are you trying to run away from us?” Minhee crossed her arms. You stayed silent. Jane confronted you and trapped your chin in between her hand.

“As you can see, our main purpose of coming here is actually…” She smirked, eyeing her gang and instantly received three smirks from them back.

She turned to face you again, “…is to get rid of you once and for all.” With that, her so-called-friends sealed your arms with theirs and brought you to somewhere distant from the school building.

With your limp body, you tried crawling out of the hell but Jane stopped you with her leg, “You can’t get away from us, orphan girl so just let us satisfy ourselves by beating the crap out of you.”

You coughed out blood. Raw and new cuts were all over your pale face as fresh blood came out from your wounds.

After a while, the girls already had a satisfied look on their face and mercilessly left you.

But not before spitting on you and cursing you with harsh words.

When their footsteps can no longer be heard, you looked up while still coughing out fresh red blood.

You couldn’t no longer feel your body. It felt like every parts of your body lost its connection to each other.

*Is this how it feels like to be dead? If so, then I should be able to meet my parents now…how nice…*

You closed your eyes shut as you felt your body being lifted up by someone’s arms.

It felt nice, warm and…

Secure.

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