He should be relieved. He should be glad that she finally walked out of her confined world and started to come in contact with people other than him. But what was this tugging feeling at his heart? Why did he feel let down and lonely? Was it because he was no longer the only one for her?

〜❅〜

The sun was pretty beat down and scorching outside. By the time Luhan reached his house, he was drenched in sweat, but he could not care less, not when he was a restless one if he did not go out and do his sports. Luhan kicked off his shoes and tossed his bag aside, he was expecting to hear his father’s nagging again, yet, the house was oddly quiet. Luhan took a quick swig at the drink given by the maid and walked into the living room in barefoot.

It was disturbingly unusual for Luhan when he found out his father was in fact at home, sitting in the living room with another man. Lu Junyi looked troubled and was in deep thoughts that he did not even notice his obstreperous son was back. The man whom Luhan thought was familiar glanced at him before giving a well-mannered smile to Lu Junyi.

“Mr. Lu, I do hope you would give consideration for what I have proposed, meanwhile, I will excuse myself for now.”

Luhan bowed in response when the man nodded at him good-naturedly. The moment he left, Luhan’s momentarily genteelness reverted back to his rugged self as he sniffed his nose, loud and clear.

“Old man, who’s that? He looks familiar.”

Lu Junyi had yet to be released from his abyss of deliberation and overlooked his son’s loutishness by instinctively answering the question.

“Kim Ryuhae of the Kim ’s Corporate.”

Luhan raised his eyebrow raised in recognition; it was no wonder he thought the man looked familiar, Suho shares the same set of eyebrows and face shape as his father. Luhan scrunched his nose when he recalled Kim Ryuhae’s affable manner but the cordialness never quite reach his eyes- it was rather unsettled.

“Mum! I want some watermelon!”

Lu Junyi snapped out of his trance from the ringing voice which belonged to none other than his own son who was tugging onto his shorts and trying to fan himself in a feeble attempt. Lu Junyi’s temper flared at this sight and began to lecture away, with more of ‘non-verbal acts’.

“How many times have I told you to act with dignity and hold up a Lu’s disposition?”

The weather might be too humid that Luhan’s laggardness somehow turned into an act of bravery as he stayed rooted, simply blocking his father’s spanking while ranting for the watermelons with his booming voice. Luhan in a breath when his thigh met a fast-moving palm.

So much of the talk of Lu’s family dignity and all, while old man’s the one worse at keeping it than me with all this beastly howling and beating!

Lu Junyi was about to draw out a feather dust from the nearby vase, yet, the outstretched hand was held and spun to the back, causing his body to follow along too. Then, his mouth was stuffed with a large, cooling piece of watermelon.  

Luhan snickered at his father’s baffled face and blatantly ignore the latter’s angry glare while happily accepting the fruits from his mother.

“Mum, my savior!”

Chugging down the watermelon like a chipmunk, Luhan was still hung over the reason why Suho’s father was here. During the short span of spitting out the seeds, he hastily asked.

“What’s with the Kim coming here?”

Soo Jo stuffed more of the red fruit into her husband mouth and nonchalantly answered his son’s question.

“What else could it be other than a proposal of collaboration work.”

“I thought dad wants that with the Lee’s family.” There was a hint of questioning; Soo Jo realized her son actually paid attention to the family’s business affair after all this while and answered with more details.

“Recently, the Lee’s Corporate is in the slump of problems to the extent that their financial fund had taken quite a hit. So the Kim was here to offer a more promising collaborative project compared to the previous one Lee had offered.”

Luhan cocked his eyebrow; everyone knew the Lee and the Kim families have a tight relation for generations. Even the vexatious Lee Jieun, appallingly, Luhan would describe, treated Suho exceptionally good. He understood that in the field of competitive business doing, there was hardly an existence of friendship, but this situation was unpalatable considering the two families’ relationship. Just as Luhan dwelled at the possible reasons for the crack between the two influential families in Seoul, he barely noticed the pink juice that was dripping down from his jaw and forming small splotches of dark spots on the pale blue coach. However, this was all taken in by the eyes of his father, who was containing his anger until he decided it was enough and whipped out the feather dust.

Luhan’s train of thoughts was broken at the familiar sensation of the air movement. With a raise of his gaze, the ominous feather duster was in sight and he threw the remaining watermelon to distract his ‘predator’, narrowly avoiding a strike. The son never tried to understand the intention behind his father’s ‘affection’. Due the rapid rising of the Lu’s Corporate in the recent years, they were considered the unadulterated nouveau riche in the business field. Therefore, Lu Junyi made an extra effort to shed the unflattering title, starting with the cultivation of the modest and tasteful temperament among those in relation to his company, family. Yet, the one closest to him was oblivion to his effort. Lu Junyi winced as he recalled the hideous sight of how Luhan ate the watermelon, the brat certainly put his exquisite physical traits to waste and that was why Lu Junyi always had the urge to beat some sense into his unappreciative son.

Soo Jo was not the slightest affected by the ruckus in the living room, she would have clapped her hands like always if it were not for her occupied hands. Soo Joo had always thought it was adorable that the father and the son had been on this ever since Luhan was on his legs; she felt like they were two amusing children that brought forth laughter and harmony in the house.

Of course, Luhan was well aware of his mother’s delusional view of the game of chase between him and his father. Like any other times, he wondered when his mother would finally recognize his bellow of agony and pain was, in fact, conveying the message: His life was at the edge of perishing.

〜❅〜

Lee Taewon had been pushing the limit of his yet to recover health, in sought of solution for the company crisis, hence, his illness dragged on. Jieun was worried sick, but she feigned indifference; her father had too many on his plates, verbalizing her worries would not help other than burdening her father. On an unspoken promise, the father and the daughter avoided the topic of the company and the days stretched on, calmer than any days from before until then uncle-Lee Taegong showed up.

“Hyung, are you feeling better?”

Taegong’s appearance never meant anything good and Taewon had always tried to remain neutral towards his younger brother. However, the ordeal of the company crisis was wearing out Taewon and he did not bother masking his darkened mood at the sight of Taegong despite his niece was being there too.

“Stop beating around the bush. What do you want?” 

Taegong cast fleeting glances at Jieun who was flipping through the magazine before lowering his voice and etched a smile on his face.

“Hyung, well…I’m kind of tight on money…Do you think…you could-“

Jieun snapped the magazine closed and the loud smack from the glossy pages cut off Taegong’s stuttering. The latter subconsciously leaned nearer towards his older brother. At the corner of his eyes, Jieun was just putting down a magazine before picking up another one, seemingly unperturbed. However, Taegong had seemed to forget that he should be vigilant of his older brother instead of his niece; Taegong was known for his good temper, but, once angered, he would be in a rage.

“It hadn’t even been long since the last time I knocked a considerable large amount of money into your account, and now? Your debt increased again?”

Seeing upon his older brother’s b anger, despite at the presence of Jieun, Taegong conly dropped at the feet of Taewon.

“Hyung! I know I did wrong! I… I just wanted to bet a little. I would have won a lot if it weren’t for the players who teamed up against me!”

Taegong was too busy defending himself to notice the darkened eyes of Taewon as the latter was fuming by the time his younger brother looked up to him as he begged.

“Hyung, you must help me for this time! Or else they would chop off my hands! Hyung! Please!”

The dull thudding sounds from Taegong’s kowtow snapped Taewon’s very last string of patience. He kicked away his younger brother as all the pressure and annoyance he had bagged for the past few days finally burst.

“Your ignorance and incompetence make it ridiculous to admit that you're from the Lee household! Tell me! How many times I have saved your from the loan shark? Do you even care to get rid of your gambling act? Huh? What am I asking? You don't even care when the company is in crisis because you’re too busy gambling and throwing money away! I have no money for your foolish acts and whatever body parts you would lose is none of my business! So, get lost!”

Ever since the time Lee’s family denigrated Goomi, Taegong had never seen his older brother being this angry until now. He toppled down on one side and remained unmoved in an utter stupor. What broke his spell of daze was Jieun’s cynical gaze at him. Taegong knew although at the moment Taewon was fuming, he was clearer than anyone how soft-hearted his older brother was. Therefore, Taegong gritted his teeth and grabbed onto Taewon as he was determined to get money tonight. With this thought, Taegong shed tears, hoping to be in Taweon’s mercy.

“Hyung! Please! I have no one to turn to except you! This time they really would cut off my hands!”

“I have clearly told you to scramble off, didn't I? Now!”

Taewon was surfeited of Taegong; he used to think it was fine to tolerate his younger brother as long as he remained loyal to the Lee’s corporate. Nonetheless, it was clear that it was not as how he thought. Taegong was too self-centered to be considerate of others, let alone a company.

Taegong gulped in devastation and turned his head towards Jieun’s. He swallowed his pride and prepared to gain Jieun’s sympathy, but Jieun knew what he had up his sleeves.

“Uncle, there’s no use in asking me. Instead, I prefer it much more if you get out of my sight right away.”

Jieun’s galling statement pricked right at Taewon’s bruised pride. He stood up immediately and stuffed a finger right in Jieun’s face.

“You little insolent brat! You’re a disgrace to the Lee’s family just like your hustler mother! You think I wouldn’t hit you just because you’re- Argh!”

Taegong felt his forehead as he clumsily dropped to the ground out of dizziness, then he saw a tempered glass ashtray with a speck of blood rolling towards him.

Taewon’s voice was dangerously low as he growled out his last warning.

“Leave this instant or else your name would be scraped off from the Lee’s family.”

Taegong’s outburst shrivelled like an inflated balloon. He glared at Jieun for the last time and left while holding his bleeding forehead.

At that, the living room quieted down in a way that even the flipping sounds of the magazine seemed tumultuous. With a sigh, Jieun put down the monthly and went over to her father.

“Dad, it’s fine. The company can overcome this. You can overcome it. I believe in you.”

Jieun’s grip increased on her father’s shoulder as she muttered the last sentence.

Taewon gave a wry smile and held onto his daughter’s hand on his shoulder.

“Jieun-ah, there is a possibility the company will fall. Then, we would have nothing.”
So, it is much worse than I expected.

Jieun’s soft laughter was particularly serene as if she heard a joke.

“What about it for being penniless? As long as I have you, with your doubled love and care for me in the place of mum. It’s more than enough.”

“Jieun-ah. My daughter, Xiao-En ah, dad wishes nothing but for you to live on without any worries and full of happiness. I don't want you to suffer like your mother did.”

“Dad, I’m sure mum never once thought it was hard during the time she was with you. Don’t over-think and just go along with your notion.”

〜❅〜

The nightfall was sleepless, smudgy illuminations stirred the humans’ innermost sinister instinct. What could be more fitting than to fulfil those desires in such duplicitous city?

Lee Taegong gulped down another shot of liquor, then, a sense of pulsing struck him. He was not sure if it was his pulsing wound or the trick of the alcohol. Nevertheless, the foul mood that he could neither swallow nor spit out was choking him. He could not believe that his ever soft touch older brother turned against him. At the thought of the loan shark, Taegong shuddered and tossed another shot of burning booze down his throat. His eyes was b with tears and his head was spinning by the time he could not remember the number shots he had drunk

“Manager Lee sure carries his liquor like a gentleman.”

Taegong held his dimmed gaze at the newcomer and his drunken eyes widened slightly at the sight of the familiar congenial face and the contrast pair of cold gaze. Even so, he huffed and turned away to ask for a refill.

The person was as good-natured as his appearance shown; he only sat down next to Taegong and asked for the same drink as the latter. The pair of ice-dripping eyes did not hide the disgust for the burning booze as he downed the shot.

“The liquor is strong, but it could barely be swallowed.”

Lee Taegong ignored him and continued his drinking.

“The Lee’s family never lacked wealth and influence, not to mention fine wine that could be drunk like water. So, why is the third son of the Lee’s is drinking such booze here?”

Taegong’s hand stilled, but, he remained silent. Even so, the speck of grudge in Taegong’s eyes was noticed by the man who was still carrying an affable smile. The latter shot a glance to the bartender and not long after that, the finest wine was served to Taegong.

“Are you going to live the rest of your life by reading Lee Taewon’s face? Spending the days under his disdain, even after today? You had laid down your pride just to ask for some financial aid.”

“How did you know I…” Taegong turned his head away in ignominious; anyone would have a bone in the throat if experienced what he had gone through- knelt down in front of Lee Taewon and being chased out by him.

The man still held onto his amiable smile, despite that Taegong had turned to him now with such an aggressive look.

“Lee Taewon is a tough one to be beaten,” The man gestured towards the wine glass and continued, “He has an amount of money that serves as his last resort, I’m sure that money could be of your help.”

Taegong hesitated to drink the wine under the man’s burning gaze and recycled his last words.

“How did you know?”

The man’s smile widened, but it had a touch of vile which made Taegong dropped his doubts and he toasted the fine wine with the man; they had the same goal. Taegong was suddenly excited at the thought of how the father and daughter would react if they knew of this as he looked on to the man ordering more wine for him and footing his bill.

“You finally showed your true colour, don't you, Kim Ryuhae. Hyung’s closest friend.”

〜❅〜

Much to a certain person’s credit, Kim Heechul finally received the approval notice of his scholarship to Germany. He was as happy as a lark and immediately went to Jieun’s class, dragging her to dance to his twirls of victory. The dance was cut off with one kick from Jieun, then, not wanting to be under the prying eyes, she gathered her belongings and left the classroom.

“My little Ji Ji, I’m going to Germany!”

Jieun gave a muffled acknowledgement which Kim Heechul was certainly not satisfied with.

“That’s it? At least give me an expression of…astonishment? Smile?”

Jieun gave him a side look and the lecturer felt defeated.

“…I’ll drop it, let it be a shadow of a smile or sinister grin, you’re giving me the chills just by looking at your side profile.”

Jieun quirked a small smile. Kim Heechul might be annoying at all times, but, in a way, he seemed to be the only one to look at just her and appreciated what she had, regardless of her background or reputation. Jieun looked across the azure sky and at the thought that her lecturer would be flying across it to the other side of the globe, a corner of her heart desolated.

Tucking her chin, Jieun reached into her collar and pulled out the thin silver chains. The necklace was oddly ornamented with two pieces of oblong jewelley, one obviously longer than another. Jieun glanced at Kim Heechul’s hands before taking off the shorter oblong jewellery from the silver necklace.

“You have lotion with you, don't you? Apply it on one of your hands.”

Kim Heechul did as told although having trouble to comprehend the current situation. Wheareas Jieun was rubbing the jewellery with her fabric handkerchief. Afterwards, she handed out the silver object to Heechul. Albeit with the less extravagant silver colour, it was certainly dazzling when the sunlight shone on it. Heechul took a moment to adjust to the sudden brightness of the silver piece, before his mouth shaped into a big ‘O’ as he recognized the joined square ornaments that formed the jewellery.

“It’s…it’s Cartier’s Lanières bracelet!”

“Yes, whatever it is, hurry up and wear it. I can't stand your crosses-filled bracelet.”

With that, Jieun stuffed the bracelet into Heechul’s palm who could still feel the remaining warmth of Jieun through the jewellery. Seeing how his student was starting to walk away, Heechul beamed and quickly went over to block her way. He could not care less about her temper or her deathly kicks at the moment, not when this meant a token of friendship from her-Lee Jieun!

“Since you’re giving me, help me to wear it to show your sincerity!” Then, Heechul mumbled to himself on not knowing how to wear it since the bracelet was known for not being able to unclasp once fastened and he was afraid of breaking it while wearing it.

Jieun’s eyes unknowingly softened seeing how the one in front was being so careful yet happy as he fidgeted with the bracelet. For the first time, she spoke to him with no hint of sarcasm or annoyance.

“Give me your hand.” Still, to Heechul, it sounded more like a command to a pet which the owner fully expected the pet to obey. At loss whether to cry or laugh, Heechul obediently held out his left wrist after removing his hideous bracelet as Jieun had commented.

Being a homoual person, Kim Heechul’s wrist was as pretty as a female’s one, or even prettier with his pale skin and thin wrist from the utmost care and massage. Which was why,Jieun chose the shorter bracelet for him. She nodded in acknowledgement when she thought Heechul suited the bracelet better than her.

Like a female, Kim Heechul had a sudden emotion burst with the mixture of joyous and sadness. Before Jieun could react, he quickly gave her tight hug and sniffed.

“I really can't bear to leave you here alone. No one but me sincerely treats you as a friend. Is there a need to act cool and all that bad- with that wicked smirk when you’re being misunderstood? At least explain and defend yourself! Then, there’s this jerk Suho who you truly care for but spare no glance for your sincerity. How lonely my little Ji Ji would be once I’m gone!”

Heechul bawled his eyes out once he finished. On the other hand, Jieun who was overthrown by her lecturer’s understanding of her and his heartfelt expression had forgotten to kick away the sniffling grown man on her. Instead, she patted his back stiffly.

“A-after two years, -hiccup-, when you're in year three, we would still be –hiccup- the ultimate lecturer-student partner!

Jieun who was not used to such fervour could only react with her nonchalant facade and mocking gaze.

“No one wants to be your student-partner. You can’t be thinking that you’re my only friend. You’re not the important.”

Kim Heechul was never disturbed by her mean remark, especially this time. Instead, he broke his sobbing to a wide grin, because he never saw this girl had such an awkward insolent look.

〜❅〜

“Suho oppa, I never thought that you would like this author. What are the other books from this author you have read?”
Naeun thought Suho was taking a tad too long answer her question.

“Suho oppa, you don’t have to think too hard-” Turning her head, Naeun only just realized Suho was no longer walking beside her, but stopped a few steps behind her. Suho’s eyes were narrowed and his face was void of the usual amiable demeanour. Instead, he looked stiff and his hard grip crumpled the cover of the novel, revealing his indignant mien.

Naeun was surprised to see this side of Suho she had never seen before. Naturally, her eyes fleeted towards the direction Suho was facing. There, she saw the infamous Lee Jieun was together with Kim Heechul, who was known as the gay lecturer in their university. From afar, Naeun could only see the two exchanging talk, then, Jieun handed him something shiny. Suddenly Kim Heechul hugged her, who surprisingly did not push the lecturer away. Naeun was sure that this sight, not only in her eyes but also the public that it was a disturbing physical intimacy between a student and a lecturer.

Unlike Naeun, Suho immediately recognized the shiny object. Despite not seeing it for a few years, he could tell that it was the bracelet which Goomi had given her not long before she had fallen ill. It was a birthday present for Jieun from her mother, but young Jieun from that time was particularly resistant to wearing any accessories. Goomi bent over backwards for her who only agreed to wear if Suho wore the same bracelet. Since then, the two children wore the same loose bracelets for such a period that they eventually fit their wrists perfectly as if they were measured.

Suho still vividly remembered the time he unintentionally took off the bracelet. It was a fight with Jieun when he was fed up with all the teasing from his friends- saying that they were a couple ever since young. His last straw was the checkered flannel which both him and Jieun wore the same one on the same day. His friends joked and jeered. Then, Suho threw a fit at Jieun by taking off the checkered flannel right in front of her. He was too caught up with the embarrassment he felt that time and forgot his buttoned sleeves. Hence, amidst his rashness, the left sleeve caught onto his bracelet and forcefully removed it from his hand. At that time, Suho only cared to remove the flannel shirt that he even endured the sharp pain he felt as the bracelet was forcefully taken down.

Upon the flashback, Suho looked down to his left wrist and looked at an almost unnoticeable scar on it. It would be a lie if Suho did not regret his little act which caused him to lose the bracelet; he was too prideful to go back and retrieve the bracelet, but, it was still a gift from his beloved Aunt Goomi. Therefore, Suho found it absurd that Jieun gave away such precious gift from her mother to Kim Heechul.

Naeun noticed that Suho and Jieun had this special yet subtle telepathy between them. Regardless of the distance between them or wherever they were at, they seemingly always be able to detect each other’s presence. Just like this moment, as Suho looked towards Jieun, the latter turned her head right at his direction as if planned. The unspoken intimacy which the two protagonists themselves unlikely aware of made Naeun felt distraught.

Jieun was not surprised to see Suho. Naturally, Jieun flashed her usual smile at him and made her way towards him after waving off Kim Heechul. Naeun knew Suho was going to meet Jieun and she intended to tag along, but she stayed still as Suho remained his petulant demeanour and said nothing as he hastily gave her the novel he was holding. Seeing Suho’s back as he moved further away from her and closer to Jieun, Naeun felt that the two were in a different dimension as hers.

Pursed lips, Check

Furrowed eyebrows, Check

Clenched jaws, Check

Jieun mentally went over the checklist of Suho’s expression that was specifically for her. She saw it too often until she started to doubt the humble and friendly Suho that everybody knew him as was merely a rumour. Nonetheless, Jieun’s heart dropped a little, for how many times she had lost counted. As usual, the question she often asked herself. Why? Why do you have such an unbearable look for me?

Suho’s eyes fleeted to Jieun’s left wrist which a bracelet should rest at before remembering she had not worn the accessory since…Truthfully, Suho never paid attention to when did Jieun’s wrist is bare from the jewellery. He only noticed it by chance and he did not dare to ask why- just like how he never came back to retrieve the bracelet that was probably tangled within the checkered flannel he threw right at her feet.

“You gave away Aunt Goomi’s bracelet.”

Jieun’s sound of acknowledgement caused Suho’s contrition quickly to be replaced by his earlier irritation. He just felt a surge of vexation washing through him when he saw Jieun replied with such nonchalance and not even a trace of wistfulness.

“How could you just carelessly giv the bracelet away? It was…important!”

Suho was mad, a tad too mad that he let his anger seeped into his tone. The bracelet is a token of reminiscence that belongs to only both of us.

“Important? The bracelet? Didn't you give it away too?” Jieun replied with no pause as if she was not the slightest disturbed by Suho’s sudden outburst of fury.

Suho was suddenly at a loss of words. He wanted to tell her this instant he did not give it away, but lost it. No, in fact, he did not lose it. He knew very well where he could retrieve back the bracelet, but, he just did not. Why then? Suho’s mind flashed back to the childish reason he thrown the checkered flannel shirt away. However, he was too proud to admit that.

“Still, you shouldn't give to that kind of person!”

“That kind of person, is my friend.”

Suho was far too occupied with Jieun’s choice of word to describe Kim Heechul, the gay lecturer in their college to take note of Jieun’s raised eyebrow- a gesture she only does when something is against her view.

Friend. Kim Heechul is Jieun’s friend. She said so herself.

Suho was thrown into his turmoil of mixed feelings.

She started to accept others, earnestly coming in contact with people other than myself, but…but…why do I feel let down? Does this mean I’m not her only one anymore?

Luhan his teeth as he kneaded his bruised arm from his father’s act of ‘educating’. This act could have been ignored by passersby, but, Luhan was born to attract attention. At this moment, his porcelain skin looked as if it shone under the bright sun which magnified his bruises. In others’ eyes, Luhan appeared to be a late teenager who needed care and the feeling of empathy was aroused. Luhan shot his glare when he felt the stares on him increased. He hastily changed his path, deciding to reach the basketball court through crossing the Art wing.

Yet, right after he took a turn into the Art division, Luhan immediately thought that getting stares by people was better than crossing path with his ‘archenemy’ and her alleged ‘lover’.

Are they always attached at the hips? They are like ghost partners that either show up together or one after another.

Even so, Luhan found it strangely amusing when he saw the two figures that were wrapped in silence. Lee Jieun stood there and cast her gaze to the sky above from time to time. Wheares Suho had his head down and sneaked a few glances at the blonde girl in front of him. He looked unusually awkward with his mouth impatiently pursed, but the pair of eyes which cautiously glanced at Jieun looked affectionate even to Luhan.

Luhan shuddered at this ridiculously thought of his. Then, he recalled Kim Ryuhae’s tender smile with eyes that had no hint of warmth. Luhan might not be interested and rarely associate with the business field, but, he knew what did it meant when Suho’s father came to his house. He wondered what would happen to these two eventually. Luhan shook his arms, but his sudden jerk of movement caused his bruised arm to send signals of pain. The pain seemingly to knock some sense into his head as he found it ridiculous to actually be concerned about whatever that would happen to her.

Luhan scrunched his nose and made a turn to where he came from, deciding that something bad would happen if he kept on bumping into these two, especially Lee Jieun.