It was a belief...

"If we didn't meet here.... do you think we would have met each other anyway?" Hyoeum asked as she silently watched the waves crash onto the shore.

"Of course. It's predestinied." He answered simply, and he was never so sure.

It was a promise...

"You should go.... It's a good opportunity. They have enough money for you to study abroad." She whispered as she stared at the ceiling.

"I'm not going anywhere." He answered coldly. A moment of silence enclosed the two of them.

"I want to stay." He continued. "I want to stay in your life forever." He sounded hesitant but the sincerity weren't masked.

She said a goodbye...that was never meant to be a last.

"Call me after you get your results! I want to be the first to congratulate you." He smiled and ruffled her hair.

"Yes sir!" She replied teasingly with a saluting action. " Bye oppa~" Hyoeum chuckled as she stepped backwards to the gates still waving to him.

"Oh right...Hyoeum-ah." She tilted her head and lifted a side of her eyebrow.

"Happy birthday!" He walked up to her and gave her a quick peck on her forehead before pushing her off to the gates.

But what was never meant to be... happened.

"This is weird. Oppa isn't picking up." Hyoeum muttered to herself as she ended her sixth call to him.

"Guess I will have to tell him later." 

She hopped towards her home - the orphanage.

But as she neared, her eyes doubled in size. There was a large group of people gathering around the front of the orphanage... that familiar building.. was engulfed in flames.

She ran towards the crowd, searching for a particular pair of cold eyes, a signature crooked smirk. She swear she could have recognised even a strand of his hair. She was looking for that face, the face that she woke up to for the past few years of her life. Tears started to fall out as she blinked to get clearer vision.

"Hyoeum-ah.." She spun around to see a worried pair of eyes looking at her.

"Mother Erica..." She stumbled over unstably. " Where is he?" Her shaky voice broke at the last word.

Mother Erica pulled her into a wordless hug.

"Where is he?" She asked stubbornly. "Where?!" Her scream was hysterical and she removed herself from those arms that were holding her and ran towards the building.

"Oppa!" The police officers stood in her way.

"Oppa! Get out!" Her voice was hoarsed from the screaming but she felt like if she yelled this way, there was a possibility for him to hear her. He knew she needed him, he had to come out unscathed.

A sudden explosion occurred at the second floor, where the kitchen was. The kitchen he loved.

A police officer some distance from her had ordered his subordinates to close in for further instructions.

"Call of the fire rescue team venturing into the building at the moment. We have to be clear of explosions till they continue." 

The command rang loudly in Hyoeum's mind.

" NO. NO... NO NO NO NO NO!" She shook head vigorously.

"Sorry miss. I know... but it isn't safe for the rescue team." A police officer that was nearer to her gave her an apologetic look.

Hyoeum felt the ground neared her knees. She was still clutching onto her results slip. It was great... she could have gotten into college. Except... it wasn't really what she wanted anymore.

"You liar." She spat as she stared at the burning building. 

"You said you wanted to stay."