Chapter 2
"I told you before, liking someone like Hawon is like holding a knife," Jinki said while moving his hands, demonstrating how to hold a knife then slit it on his throat.
I looked straight ahead, not minding Jinki saying or even Junghwan and Homin. I feel like I've been smashed between the world and the moon. I feel so disappointed but I'm not hurt, yes I'm hurt but not that hard. Even I like Hawon a lot, that doesn't mean I'll be dramatic or anything like a broken-hearted guy. I won't act that way because first of all, I don't love her. I just like her- idolized her but never in my life fall for someone like her.
"Sunoo hyung? Are you alright? You seem in dazed." Junghwan asked with his hand on my shoulder
"Who wouldn't be? He looks like a fool for liking that whore!" Jinki hissed, clenching the chips on his hands. That's Homin's chips.
"If I were you, I won't fall for anyone. I'll fall only for the person I know better than myself." Junghwan meaningfully said with a slight smile on his face.
"Are you talking about Sunoo?" Homin asked and Jinki frowned. Homin nodded, grabbing his chips from Jinki's hands.
"Yeah, because you know Sunoo better than yourself." Homin agreed.
I frowned, looking at Junghwan but he quickly avoid his gaze from me- looking straight at the road. But I can notice the slight blush on the side of his face. The frown from my forehead vanish as I pinched Junghwan's ear. His side profile is just so perfect. I like his side view the most if you ask. Junghwan flinch and swatted my hands away. I chuckled. For some reason, my mood brightened up. I forgot about what happened earlier in school, I forgot how bitchy Hawon is and how she almost got me. I forgot everything and my sullen mood was replaced by brightness. My friends are more important to me than Hawon. They give me warmth and joy just being with them.
"So, you like me huh?" I teased causing him to blush even harder.
"No..." He mumbled but the blush on his face is very visible. Junghwan can't lie. His face saying it all. "Hawon doesn't deserve you." He mumbled again.
As we continue teasing Junghwan while walking on the side road. A man suddenly passed beside Homin, bumping his shoulder. Homin almost fall but luckily, Jinki got him. He glared at the guy who just bumped Homin. "Hey! Say sorry at least!" He shouted to the man who runs.
Just when we noticed the few people running aimlessly. Our forehead creased as we watched the people passing, running for no reason. Is there a zombie apocalypse now?
"Why are they running away?" Jinki asked but even we don't have any idea.
I can feel Junghwan hand hold my hand. I looked at the other people who is running away. Just when we noticed the other people were gathered in front of the police station. Honking and anger shouts were peripheral noise, as streets were blocked off to accommodate the horde of crowds. Police officers were in front, trying to block them away from coming in. Just when I noticed the pile of missing posters plastered on the wall beside the police station. Candles and flowers are in front. What happened to these persons? All of them were teenagers.
I noticed the officer in the middle holding a gun. He pointed it in front of them and without any hesitation, he shot one of the crowd. The person who shot suddenly move aggressively like a crazy person then run away. What the heck is that?
"Uh...I think we need to get out of here." Homin said, backing away. Jinki agreed and pushed us away from the growing crowd.
We head to the mall since Homin wants to buy some toys for himself and Jinki agreed to it. He even wants Homin to treat his toys too. They goofed around the mall while I and Junghwan were just standing behind, watching them. He soon pulled me to the bench. I watched as people passed in front of us, eyes glued to the screen while others were talking about the crowd that currently happening right now. I don't know what is that for but I assume that those people are the parents of those missing teens.
How did they go missing?
I looked at Junghwan when I noticed his silence. He's focused on his phone too, scrolling through social media. I decided to take out my phone too and check what's in the news right now. As I unlocked my phone. I noticed one message that I didn't notice before. I open my slapchat and check the message.
It's from that same person who sticks that weird note on my table, saying... 'Are you alright? Don't make yourself in trouble okay? We cared for you.'
This line again. That We Cared For You word is getting on my nerves. This goes on every day or more like every time. I don't know who sending these stupid messages and now sticking notes on my table. But I hope he would stop, whoever this person is. I told him to stop sending me weird messages, even blocking him in my every social media account but no matter what I do, this person keeps coming back. Not just one person because he says 'We' then there's more of them. I blocked him again before going to the news. Just like what I expected.
The articles say about how the parents protest about their missing children that haven't seen in weeks, months or worst years. They've been missing since the day they last see their children and until now the police haven't responded to this case. The disappearance continues and more and more teens go missing. By this time, the disappearance has already gone viral and was on every social media platform- even in news tv, newspapers.
"What are looking at?" Junghwan asked and scooted to my side. He put his chin on my shoulder to peeped what I'm doing.
"Oh, you checking it too?" He asked but I didn't respond. My eyes were glued to my screen.
I see the news that all the missing teens came from the psychiatrist's ward. Some say, few parents visit there to check their children but the ward will tell them that their loved ones were moved to the better ward which is located somewhere. No one knows where. Until then, they declared their children who move to that ward missing.
I move my fingers to scroll it down but my screen has been blocked by a hand. I looked up at Junghwan who furrowing at me. He snatched my phone and turn it off before giving it back to me. I looked at him in question.
"You're ignoring me." He said with a sullen face.
"You're too focused on your phone too." I retorted and hid the phone back in my pocket.
"But I was just checking your photo." He mumbled, almost vulnerable. "Anyway, I saw a bookstore near here. Do you want to buy some?" He asked and smiled.
"Of course. I would love to."
Junghwan smiled and pulled my hand and we run to the near bookstore. Just in time Jinki and Homin went out from the toys boutique with shopping bags in their hands.
"Where are you going?!" Jinki asked.
"To the bookstore!" Junghwan answered.
"Hey! Wait for us!" I heard Homin shout and soon both of them were after us.
-
When it was almost nighttime, we parted ways. Homin and Junghwan bid their goodbye and run to the bus while I and Jinki are both walking on the side road. Shopping bags in our hands- toys for Jinki and books for me. I looked up at the sky. It's already gotten dark. The time is sure fast.
"How're your parents? Did your auntie know where they are?" Jinki suddenly asked.
It's been four months since my parents' disappearance and until now they haven't found him yet. They disappeared in thin air, no signs of evidence about their disappearance, and the police badly want to drop this case to focus on their main goal- find the missing teens and that ward. I either don't know how they have gone missing. The last thing I saw them when I was playing games on my phone and when I was going to bed, I heard my mom call me. But when I went down to check on her- no traces of her either father. The next morning, auntie visit the house to ask me about their disappearance.
After then, auntie give up on searching for them and get my parents' property instead- so their savings won't go to waste, even the house that my parents named to me. I and auntie are not in good terms ever since my father married my mother. Auntie hate my father for being poor but then when I was born, both my parents work so hard for my living. And since then they achieve their goal but now, they are gone... I don't know what to do. I hope my auntie won't kick me like the stepmother in Cinderella does.
She hates me even she won't show it or tell it to me directly but I can feel her hate towards me.
"She drops the case long ago and get the property instead," I said with a sullen face.
"She what?! Why did she do that?! Isn't that supposed to be yours since your parents give those to you! Why..." He mumbled some words that I can't hear but I know that he was upset. "She's a wrench!" He rants, fuming mad.
I chuckled. "I know but what we can do? I can't do anything about it since I'm still a manor."
"If Junghwan knows about this, he'll surely do something about it."
"That's why I don't want to tell him about this. If ever my auntie kicked me in the house, I don't want to bother him. I'm going to stay in your place anyway."
"As if I will let you. My brothers and their partners are a mess if you ask."
I chuckled, elbowed his arm and he huffed an air. I can see smoke coming out of his mouth. Oh, is it almost December?
We continued talking about something and laughed it off until we heard a scream from near us- across this road. It seems like someone was crying while yelling out loud with other voices.
Jinki and I looked at each other and since we were both curious, we followed the source of that scream.
It's coming from the alleyway? Why is it always in the alley?
"Man...this alley is sick! It's too dark in there. I don't want to go there!" Jinki said, shaking his head.
"Are you being a pussy again?" I teased and the scream came again. It's a man's scream. What the?!
"Hear that scream? It means death!" He points to the dark alley with a scarred face.
"We can't be sure. What if that's a prank."
"Then find it yourself! I'm going home!" Jinki immediately runs away, leaving me. I watched him disappear in view before looking back at the dark alley again.
I decided to step inside of that alley but before I could take a step forward, someone run-pass and bumped me. We both fell on the cold floor. I could feel my head bump on the floor hard. I felt a little dizzy. I winced, touching the back of my head. I feel warm and wet on my head. When I checked my hand, my face paled up once saw the blood.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" I heard him apologize while shaking me. He tried to help me up but I only groan in pain.
Soon, I heard him gasp. My eyes move to him and even my vision it's a little bit blurry, I can see him looking directly at my bloody hands. He slightly lifts my head to check the wound on the back of my head. I heard him cuss and when I looked at him again his face is filled with worry.
My vision began to fade but before the darkness hugged me, I feel him carry me and walked to somewhere. I don't know.
"I'm really sorry. Please hang on..."
-
I woke up only to find myself laying on the bed, seeing the white ceiling staring back at me and the noises. One thing in mind, I'm in the hospital? I roamed my eyes and see that same guy who cause my head to be bumped- wait, did I bump my head on the floor? I held my head and feel the bandage looped around it. I looked back at the guy again and see him frantically typing on his phone while his hands were trembling.
I tried to get up but when I did so, his head shot up to me and he quickly stop me- pushing me back to the bed softly.
"What do you feel? Are you in pain? Are alright?" He asked with worry visible on his face. "I'm sorry. I didn't see you in there. I'm sorry. Don't worry I'm gonna pay the bill as payment." He said and smiled awkwardly.
"It's fine. It's my fault anyway. I heard a scream and got curious." I apologized too.
He chuckled. "My bullies are scaring me. I'm such a pussy." He held the back of his neck, looking all shy. "I'm Park Sungjoon by the way." He introduced held his hand out for shake hands.
I looked back at his hand before taking it. "Lee Sunie."
I noticed his eyes widen a little and I can feel his fingers softly brushing my hand. I shuddered and pulled my hand away but he didn't let go of my hand yet. I cough and he quickly let go of my hand. "I'm sorry!" He quickly apologized, blushing hard for an unknown reason. I don't know but maybe because he embarrass himself?
I looked around the room and see the other patients talking among each other or were taking care of their family members. My head snap on him when I heard a loud thud beside me. I see Sungjoon picking up his phone. Why is this guy look so troubled?
"Hey, are you okay?" I asked and tap his shoulder. He jumped and look back at me again. He smiled and nod his head.
"Yes, I am fine. Anyway, you can go home now." He said with a smile.
I nodded and get up but he stop from doing so. Why is he stopping me if I can go home now? For sure my older sister will be worried about me, not coming home at an exact time. I need to go home. I stared at him with a frown.
When he noticed my annoyance, he quickly smiled again instead of letting me get off of this bed.
"Why are you stopping me? You said I can go home now?" I asked in the question.
"You can handle yourself?" He asked.
"Of course, I can."
"I can bring you home if you like."
I immediately shook my head. "No thank you."
I get off of the bed again and this time he helped me. Once I standing on my own two feet, my vision suddenly spins and I almost stumble back to the bed. Sungjoon hurriedly helps me, holding my arm and shoulder- almost like hugging me.
We both went out of the room and to the reception area.
Soon we are out of the hospital and I can feel the fresh air that brushes against my skin. It gives me a chill. I shivered and I jumped slightly to smooth out the cold. Sungjoon looked at me like I'm kind of some weirdo. I smiled and he looks taken aback after seeing me smile. This guy is the weird fella.
"Sorry for that. I jump when I feel cold." I said with a smile.
He didn't speak and kept on staring at me. He after nods his head and forms a slight smile.
"You like sunshine when you smiled." He mumbled enough for me to hear.
"You know me? Are you studying in the same school as I am?" I asked but he shook his head. But when he realized something, he quickly nodded. I feel the sudden uneasy feeling. The anxiety in my stomach grew inside. This guy knows me. Is he one of those guys who sends weird messages on my social media?
Is he one of those Your Pet?
If so, then he is one of my stalkers? I slap myself. Me? Have a stalker? That's ridiculous if I think.
I didn't talk after then but he since more talkative now than when we first meet- more talkative than I am. He can't stop from talking random stuff while myself just laughing it off, responding on his every topic that I can relate to. I can't even notice that we're actually in front of my house already.
Sungjoon didn't let me go yet. He fished something inside of his pocket and when he pulled it out, he left me his card to contact him should I need anything else. He bid his goodbye and as soon he was gone. I walked inside the mansion only to be greeted by my cousins. They're my auntie's children. Jeon Hae-In and Jeon Poe. Both siblings were seating comfortably on the couch with devices in their hands. Haein is giggling while typing on her phone. Poe is just calming watching on his phone.
Haein move her eyes on me once he noticed my entrance. She rolled her eyes and slump her phone beside her.
"Gosh! My mood is good when you're not around. Ugh! Just seeing you makes me want to puke!" She hissed and stood up. Walking up to stairs.
Poe eyed me as well. "Why are you still here?" He asked that confused me.
Before I even asked I heard the sound of high heels going downstairs. I looked to the stairs and see auntie carrying my things before throwing them in front of me.
"Oh, just in time Sunie."
I looked at my things in confusion and fear. Did auntie go to kick me out of my own house? Out in my parents' house?
"Don't look at me like that. You know already what I'm trying to do." She said with her stern voice.
"Why are you kicking me out of my own house?!" I asked.
"You're own house?! Did you forget that I already claim this house?!"
"But this is my parents' home!" I shouted.
Auntie looked at Poe and sign him to push me out of here. Poe stood up, pushing me out of the house but I didn't let him. I fought, I can't give our home to someone like them. I protest but Poe is stronger than me, add auntie too. They pushed me out of the house, pushing me until I stumble down on the cold floor. I shivered once my hands touched the cold sidewalk. I looked at auntie and see them throwing my things out. She stood in front of me with a smug look on her face.
"You have no rights in this house anymore." She said calmly and throw the newspaper on my face.
I watched her walk back inside the house with Haein watching me from the window, sticking her tongue out before closing the curtain. Poe even raised a middle finger at me and slammed the door shut.
I scrunched my nose and stood up, picking my things. I pulled my traveling bag along with me with a newspaper in hand.
As I walked in the middle of a chilly night, I read the article.
My eyes widen after reading the news. I felt my whole world crash and my whole body shivered. I suddenly stop as tears pooled in my eyes and soon rolled down my face. I feel my heart clenching inside. It hurts to read about my parents finally found but dead in the lake.
I stop walking, kneeling on the cold street. I cried, clenching the newspaper in my hand. I cried messily on the sidewalk without anyone in the street, without anyone to soothe out my pain. I cried in pain and grief.
I cried my heart out.