Once swimming practice was over, Hayi rushed to the locker area, showered the chlorine off her body and changed back into her uniform. Some of the team members thanked her—it was strange—for doing that to Goo Junhoe because he deserved it. Not knowing what it was about, she did the first thing she could think of: tell them it’s no biggie.

She was on her way out when she passed by Junhoe and locked eyes with him. He still looked peeved, considering that he was looking daggers at her the entire time. She just brushed it off. There’s no more reason to bother with Goo Junhoe.

What Hayi wanted to do right now is go home and sleep. She was exhausted from the rigorous training and the anger from earlier. Hayi realized getting angry at someone for a long time would just drain your energy out. She made a mental note to avoid Goo Junhoe as much as possible.

Once, Hanbin thought of doing a lot of things.

It was stupid, really, because he no thoughts whatsoever on writing a song. He could do his homework and catch up on subjects he had missed for the last few months, or read books to make up for school at the library, or he could just go to class and turn over a new life.

Then he figured he could just join the basketball team out of the blue, or soccer or any sports available. He was better of doing things he wasn’t really good at and then maybe he could actually improve. It was better than forcing himself to think of things he doesn’t know what to think.

So he thought of his friends—Jinhwan hyung, Bobby, Yunhyeong hyung and others—and his family and his classmates whose names he didn’t have a clue about and lastly, Hayi. When her face flashed inside his head, he couldn’t help but smile.

Lee Hayi was incredibly unpredictable at times, either she’s catching him off-guard or making him laugh with her smart comebacks. She has a way with words that can bring comfort, that could make him tell anything he wanted, and he was reassured that she won’t judge him for it. Caustic, yes, but terribly nice, Hanbin thought amusingly.

He knew it was playing with the enemy—yes, he is still aware that Lee Hayi was someone he shouldn’t be getting involed with—but he couldn’t not be friends with her. Awkward! Hanbin told himself, inwardly laughing at remembering the moments he had with her. And hilarious, too. The girl can be a comedian if she tries hard enough.

Still, Hanbin had never really considered the Lees to be the antagonists. It was a general perspective, an absolute belief that he grew up with. His father used to lecture and chide him and his noona and his hyung back when they were still kids about the ‘bad guys’, and if they didn’t comply with it, they were to be punished.

Punishment from his father was a risk Hanbin couldn’t take. There was just something awfully scary about his father. In fact, there were several instances where Hanbin seriously thought there was something terrifying lurking in his family.

But his mother was completely different. She was sweet and gentle and she was very good with words. Hanbin presumed it was how he got his ability to write meaningful lyrics; she did like to read him a lot of books when he was a kid. He liked to think that his mother was a particular reminder to everyone.

“What a surprise to see you here.”

Looking up, Hanbin was quite overwhelmed with a sudden gush of mixed feelings when he realized whose voice it was.

“Didn’t think you were still around,” Hanbin said flatly. The gush was gone in a second, and he was reminded of the things that happened in the past, which caused him to recapture feelings quite opposite to ‘welcoming’. “Figured you’d be gone after what happened.”

Hayoung gave him a sickening, sweet smile. “Aw, Hanbin, why so mean? That’s no proper way in greeting a lady.”

Hanbin scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Hayoung, please. Just drop it. There’s no one around but you and me.”

“Oh but you were,” Hayoung said bitterly, her lips still curved in a tight smile. There was an edge in her tone. “You broke my heart when all I ever wanted was to be loved by you.”

“Love isn’t something you play with, Hayoung,” Hanbin spat back. “You played with everyone. You played my best friend. You played me when I thought you were sincere. To be loved by me wasn’t really what you wanted, was it?”

“Don’t talk as if you know everything.”

“Then, don’t talk as if I was the one at fault because the last time I checked, you were the reason why we broke up.”

Hayoung gritted her teeth, irritated. He could see the wheels rolling behind her head, which usually meant she was about to get revenge soon enough. “Loving and giving you everything I ever had were never illegal, Hanbin. I did everything I could to make you love me back.”

“And that meant hurting people?”

“If I have to.”

Hanbin sighed in an exasperated manner. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” Hayoung crossed her arms on her chest. “Oh, before I forget, that’s a lovely girl you’re prying your hands onto.”

At the mention of the word ‘girl’, Hayi’s face immediately crossed Hanbin’s mind, causing him to look daggers at Hayoung. Hayoung, on the other hand, merely cast him a crooked grin. He knew they were both thinking about the same person.

“Don’t even think about it,” Hanbin threatened in a low voice, glaring at her. “Hayi doesn’t have anything to do with this. She’s just a friend.”

“So her name’s Hayi. Hm.”

Quietly, Hanbin watched her stroll slowly towards him, her hands still crossed, but a nasty smile sprawling across her face. Something terrifying was going on inside her head; he was sure of it.

“Poor girl doesn’t even know what she’s really getting into,” Hayoung said quietly, looking amused. “Your excuse of being just a friend won’t last long, Hanbin. I know  it won’t. So why don’t you tell your little friend to watch out? The road’s going to get slippery soon.”

Hayi arrived home only to find her Mom gone and the house looking abandoned. There wasn’t anyone home when she entered through the door but she did spot few of the caretakers prancing around and keeping the room spotless. They greeted Hayi politely but shortly.

She advanced to her room, badly wanting to get on the bed already. Homework would have to wait for tomorrow because right now all she wanted to do was get some sleep.

Tossing her bag to the side, she started to undress while staggering towards her bed. Her eyes were droopy and her view hazy. Once she was in bed, she burrowed deeper in the warmth of her blanket as she went back memory lane of what happened today.

Her thoughts stop, however, when she spotted the picture frame on her bedside table. It was a picture of her, her mother and her father. She was nine when it was taken; they looked really happy back then. Remembering the past, Hayi wished time could go back from when everything was great and simple and happy.

Back to when her father wasn’t diagnosed with leukemia, back when they didn’t have to worry about bills to pay and the rent and her father getting to live another day, back when it was just the three of them—but all of these were just remnants of the past.

She closed her eyes, hoping the tears threatening to fall would fall back.

But they didn’t. Instead, they flowed.

A couple of days left, Hayi reminded herself the remaining time before she would have to visit her father again. Ever since her father died, she made a commitment to visit him on the 23^rd of every month. It would feel empty if she even missed one.

I’ll see you soon, Father.

The next morning, Hayi woke up bright and early.

She headed down to the kitchen instantly for breakfast right after doing her homework and taking a shower. There were no signs of Chanhyuk, Soohyun and Seunghoon somewhere so she figured they must have left early. Hayi did notice how the three siblings liked going to school ahead of time.

However, it wasn’t her cup of tea.

There had been days when Hayi went to school by herself, usually by taking a bus or just skateboarding if she’s up early.

Surprisingly, she found her Mom by the kitchen drinking coffee and reading a newspaper. Never once did Hayi think her mother would be that kind of person. Back when her father was alive, she always went back to sleep after preparing him breakfast.

And to tell the truth, it bothered Hayi. It bothered her very much to see her mother like this. It was like seeing a new her—a new mother. She didn’t like the sound of that.

“Didn’t think you’d read the newspaper.”

Startled, her mother turned quickly with her eyes widened. “Oh, you scared me! I thought you were at school.” She went back to her newspaper while she drank coffee.

One of the maids set Hayi’s breakfast on the counter and brought in food. Hayi thanked her quietly as she sat on the stool.

“They went ahead,” said Hayi, her eyes twinkling at the sight of scrumptious food early in the morning. “This usually happens. What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean?” Her mother said. “I live here.”

“No, you haven’t been home for days. Or weeks.”

“I was with Soohyuk oppa,” her mother answered flatly, skimming the newspaper.

“Oh.”

“So, where’s Soohyunie? And her brothers?”

“They went ahead. Like I told you. They like going to school early.”

“Maybe you should try to go with them for a change.”

“Or maybe I should just stick with how I usually do it than change,” Hayi disputed in a calm tone.

Picking up Hayi’s strange tone of voice, her mother stopped reading and put down the newspaper. She gave Hayi a quizzical look. “What are you trying to say?”

“That I don’t have to change everything for them,” Hayi boldly stated, meeting her mother’s gaze.

Her mother seemed upset. “I’m not saying that you should.”

Hayi shrugged, chewing her bacon slowly. “Yeah, well that’s what I see. I think you’re trying to make me blend with them just because they’re my new family. And that, perhaps, you’re trying to impress them or something. I don’t know. I could be wrong.”

Now her mother’s definitely upset with her eyebrows furrowed and curved slightly upside down. “That’s certainly not what I’m trying to do. Can you try for just one second to be civil and mature about this?”

Hayi scoffed in disbelief. “Maybe you should be mature about this. I haven’t seen you in weeks. It was like the instant we got here, you’ve disappeared in my life and—”

Hayi got a moment to observe the look on her mother’s face. It was full of anxiety and sadness and confusion, only to make Hayi feel like she was the bad person here all of a sudden. There was no way she’s going full throttle on self-pity. It’d be pathetic.

“And what?” Her mother prompted, upset.

Hayi let out a sigh. “Never mind. I’m going to school.”

“Hayi.”

“It’s okay,” Hayi said, and then she frowned but she turned away so her mother wouldn’t see. “It doesn’t matter anyway.”

Her mother didn’t say anything else even when Hayi began to exit the room. But before she did, with her hand on the wall, she asked her mother one depressing question. A question she’s been dying to ask since the move:

“For once, have you thought about Dad ever since we came here?”

What Hayi got was only silence. More silence. And it only broke Hayi’s heart even more. Fighting the tears, Hayi immediately left the house.

“Heard you bumped into Hayoung yesterday.”

Sighing in disappointment, Hanbin merely darted Jinhwan with a pointed look and a displeased expression. They were the only ones in the music studio given that it was still bright and early in the morning for others to arrive. Hanbin was relieved though because he didn’t really want the others to know and to ask him about what happened.

Besides, Jinhwan was the only normal, mature one to talk to about it.

“Worst thing ever,” Hanbin remarked sullenly, lolling his head to the side as he stared and found the ground suddenly interesting. “It was like running into a bulldozer and getting flattened.”

“What did she say?”

“The past. Like what she always talks about. She’s never over it.”

Jinhwan chuckled shortly, shaking his head in disbelief. “What do you expect? Some little girls remain little.”

“And she… she brought up Hayi,” Hanbin said hesitantly, looking away and his tone vexed.

Jinhwan’s eyes lit up in curiosity. “Hayi? As in Lee Hayi?” he asked, startled. “Why, what about Lee Hayi?”

“Well, I…” Hanbin trailed off, pondering whether it was right to tell Jinhwan about spending a lot of time with her. There was trouble written plainly on it, in big letters, and he figured Jinhwan would be very upset if he knows. Still, there’s nothing he could keep from his hyung. “I have been spending a lot of time with her,” he admitted shyly.

Jinhwan snorted, his eyes rolling though Hanbin couldn’t really make it out. “And you think we don’t know that?”

Hanbin’s eyes widened. “You knew?!”

“Obviously. This used to be your regular place but you haven’t been here for a while now,” said Jinhwan matter-of-factly, shrugging as if it wasn’t big news.

“Yeah. Well.”

“But Hanbin you can’t forget things,” Jinhwan reminded Hanbin, gazing at the latter firmly. “Important things like what your father told you—the issue, the song. You can’t let Hayi take you away from your dream. You’re basically playing with the enemy.”

“But hyung, Hayi isn’t that kind of person—”

“Hanbin, please tell me you’re not defending her right now,” Jinhwan pleaded. “The last thing we need is you getting associated with her—with a Lee! Your Dad will be infuriated. God knows what he’ll do to you.”

“I’m not defending her!” Hanbin exclaimed, waving his hands. “I’m just telling you the truth. I just don’t think it’s right to instantly judge a person just because she shares the same surname with the person my Dad loathes.”

“We don’t usually have to do what’s right, Hanbin. That’s the saddest thing. Sometimes, we just have to do the bad ones because when you believe they’re good long enough you’re going to start thinking it’s the right choice. I just want you safe, man.”

“I can’t not be friends with her.” Hanbin frowned. “She’s… but the thing is, she’s just a friend! I swear. I’m not… getting in a relationship is probably the last thing in my head right now.”

“A friend, huh? I didn’t mention anything about a relationship.” Jinhwan let out a deep sigh. “Look, maybe not now but you have to be careful. Don’t get too attached, Hanbin. You can be friends with anyone else but her and her s-sister… and her brothers. You just can’t.  Trust me. No good comes out of this.”

The frown on Hanbin’s face grew even deeper.

“It’s difficult but the sooner you ditch her, the easier your life will be ahead of you.”

“Earth to Hayi.”

Hayi was heavily immersed in despondency and her upsetting conversation with her mother earlier this morning when Hanbin’s voice shot her back to ugly reality. It wasn’t even lunch break but since most of Hayi’s morning classes were free period or study time, Hanbin decided to steal her away. They dawdle by the soccer field again only there were more people this time.

She looked at Hanbin quizzically. “Did you say something?”

Hanbin laughed. “A lot but you haven’t been listening. It wasn’t anything important anyway,” he answered. “Are you okay?”

“Uh, yeah,” she lied, avoiding his gaze. The banana milk in her hand was untouched so she decided to play with it. “I was just… thinking.”

However, Hanbin didn’t seem convinced. “What’s wrong, Hayi?”

“Nothing’s wrong.” Liar.

He smiled knowingly, scooting a little bit closer. Since it was nearing winter, the wind had been a little colder than the usual but being near Hanbin was surprisingly warm. And oh, did she mention somersaults and flips?

“You’re not a pretty good liar,” he said, and she could see the concern in his eyes. “But you’re pretty, I admit.”

“Are you trying to comfort me or flirt with me?”

He laughed. “Both?”

“Not funny, Kim Hanbin.”

“Okay, okay.” He raised his two hands guiltily. “I wasn’t joking but whatever. Do you want to talk about it?”

Hayi pursed her lips, pretending to think. “It’s not a big deal, really. I just…” she trailed, searching for some kind of a sign. It wasn’t because she didn’t trust Hanbin about anything; as a matter of fact, she probably trusted Hanbin more than anyone. But she wasn’t ready.

She had many things she wanted to tell him but she couldn’t. It would be like spreading the misery around, making Hanbin unnecessarily sad for things that didn’t matter.

“Okay. You know what?”

“What?”

“Let’s skip class.”

“What?”

“Let’s just not attend afternoon period,” he suggested casually like school wasn’t relevant.

Hayi laughed shortly. “Are you out of your mind?”

“No but we need to get whatever’s bothering inside your head out,” he said happily, grabbing her hand and hoisting her up to her feet. There was a jolt, maybe that electric zap thing people feel when they brush their elbows against each other, but it was fleeting. Hayi complied unwillingly.

“Come on,” he urged, pulling her by her hand.

“Seriously? We’re skipping afternoon period?” Hayi exclaimed in disbelief, flustered. “I might have to remind you that I just attended this school in the middle of the semester and I really need to catch up.”

“What’s one day compared to months?”

“Everything,” Hayi shot back, giving him a pointed look.

Hanbin smirked, her hand still in his. “Touché but you’re still coming with me.”

Countless questions escaped from Hayi’s mouth as she and Hanbin embarked on an impromptu trip, prompting them to skip afternoon period. Hayi was terribly worried, of course, because she had  so much stuff to do and here she was, going somewhere with a boy she barely knew. Maybe they talked about a lot of things teengers their age don’t normally talk about but this… this was entirely different.

However, Hanbin’s confidence made her feel like he was someone dependable, someone who had good intentions so it wasn’t easy for Hayi to turn him down.

They rode the bus near Samseong-dong and reached their destination in almost two hours. Hanbin was pretty secretive about the entire thing, not revealing even one hint on where they’re going, which made Hayi really curious of what his intentions are.

Hanbin and Hayi arrived at a crowded market. He told her to keep close to avoid getting lost but the crowding of the vicinity made it too hard for Hayi to stay close; she’d bump into people every now and then, muttering sorry’s and excuse me’s.

Until he grabbed her hand out of the blue.

Startled, Hayi gazed at their intertwined hands for a moment and wondered what the hell was going on but there were somersaults and flips and it was pretty weird.

“So you don’t get lost,” yelled Hanbin over the loud ambiance of the market, and then they continued walking.

They trudged on a couple of staircases again; Hanbin said this was the way to where he’s bringing her. The market looked familiar for Hayi. It felt like she’d been here before but she couldn’t remember when.

And then the wall-to-wall musical instruments on display came into view, to which Hayi finally came up with a reason to why this looked familiar to her. This was one of the places where she and her father visited. They’d come up here and play music together—with her Dad playing the guitar or the piano and Hayi singing to any song.

“What are we doing here?” Hayi wanted to know.

Hanbin shrugged, smiling. “I call this quick-thinking. I couldn’t think of anything else but this to cheer you up.”

She stared at him warily. “Out of all the things you could think of, it’s this?”

He nodded, shooting her a crooked smile. “Check this out,” he said as he grabbed one guitar from the rack and started strumming to Bruno Mars’ Treasure.

Hayi wasn’t surprised when Hanbin was plucking the guitar like it was a piece of cake. She knew Hanbin was exceptionally good when it came to music—playing musical instruments and composing. She saw all that during music sessions. Seemed like Chanhyuk had a good reason to be afraid of Hanbin after all.

Sing with me, he mouthed and smiled at her. He smiled at her like he knew she was going to sing with him even when she said no.

And she did. Just like that, she did.

Somersaults. Flips.

hi guysss i know i shouldn't demand this of you but the lack of comments kind of discourage me (tbh) and i know it'll take a lot on your plate (and on your time basically) but it would totally make me happy to read even a little sth so i could see how my story's doing! thank you so much x