013: PAINFUL SELFISHNESS

"I destroyed everything. I pushed the only real person who saw me for who I was and accepted me despite seeing my wretched  self." 

- Joo Seok-kyung pov

. . . . . . . 

013: PAINFUL SELFISHNESS

Logan pov:

Su-ryeon was sleeping on Eun-bi's lap near Seol-ah's grave when I arrived there.

Eun-bi faced me with a bitter smile on her face.

"You're here. . ."

"Sorry. . ."

"No need. . ."

I walked toward them and checked Su-ryeon before taking her in my arms and carrying her.

Eun-bi stretches her body as she stands.

Her bodyguards came dashing toward us several seconds after she stood up.

John, the man who has been informing me of new information about Seol-ah, also came, nodding his head in front of Eun-bi.

Eun-bi just patted his back and smiled at him.

"Do you like aunt Su-ryeon"

I stopped walking and felt my ear heat up at the question.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me!"

I felt her hand on my back and blushed even more.

. . . . .

Seok-hoon pov:

Her expression before driving away keeps haunting me, so here I am, sitting in front of her door, waiting for her to come home.

'Where are you?'

'Are you okay?'

I keep trying to call her, but it always goes straight to voicemail.

"Just tell me you're fine."

"Oppa, has she answered you?"

I see Seok-kyung running toward me with a phone in her hand.

"I'm getting worried. She's not answering either."

"Should we ask Cheon Seo-jin-shii?"

"Should we?"

'They don't get along, though.'

Whenever Eun-bi and Seo-jin look at each other, I can feel the murderous aura around them.

Their hatred as they gaze into each other with a smile plastered faces gives me chills all over my body.

"We should wait some more."

Seok-kyung kept pacing back and forth, as if waiting for her to suddenly appear.

. . . .

Eun-bi pov:

"What's the plan now?"

I change the subject as Logan also seriously looks at the coffee.

"We'll put her in jail, of course."

"Wasn't there a discussion about this at school before? It didn't work. We don't have evidence."

"We have this. . ."

"Are you forgetting something? This is illegally taken out of the satellite. You will be putting the person who gave this to me in danger."

"You will be putting me in danger!"

"We'll find one then! Maybe a witness even."

"Or a whistleblower."

We both turned to Su ryeon, standing in front of the bedroom door with a cold expression on her face.

"A whistleblower."

"Let's buy someone from their group. I'm sure someone can be bought from their side."

"How about Min-hyuk's parents?"

"What?"

"They're greedy and a bit stupid, so we can easily lure them out."

"They will easily change their confession if they think it will endanger their lives."

"Then. . ."

"First, we need to re-open the investigation. For that to happen, her cause of death must be questioned. We need something to light a fire."

"I'll try doing something about this on my side."

"No Eun-bi. . . You've done enough. We will handle it from here."

. . . .

Logan pov:

I told Eun-bi to sleep here tonight. I want her correctly rested.

These days, she isn't able to rest properly.

"I feel bad for dragging Eun-bi to this mess."

"She shouldn't be doing anything for us. She didn't even do anything wrong."

Su ryeon looked solemn and pained as she closed the door to Eun-bi's bedroom.

"Is she already asleep?"

"Yes. She must have been so tired."

"I heard she's currently taking her real lessons online."

"umm. . ."

I knew Eun-bi was already a college student and that she requested to be put into online classes instead because of the situation here in Korea.

She sacrificed everything for a fight she's not responsible for.

"I keep thinking these days, if Seol-ah was here, they would have been the best friends."

"Yes, that's true."

"Have you heard from her twin?"

"Ah, Eun-byeol?"

"She left a confession note in my hand and told me to use it whenever I want."

She smiled.

She is smiling, but her eyes speak of anguish.

"I plan on making the children confess."

She blankly stares at me.

"Eun-bi told me to leave it to her, but I have to do this. I promised Seol-ah to punish those kids myself."

"Why are you telling me this."

"To ask permission, I guess."

"I want you to know about it since your children are part of them."

"They will be fine."

"They've changed these days."

"I guess I have to thank Eun-bi for that too."

"Yeah! I guess so."

"I'm scared; if they found out that Eun-bi lied to them, would they treat her like Seol-ah?"

"If that time repeats, I will make sure to protect Eun-bi and make them pay twice as much this time."

I looked at my cup seriously.

"I will never allow another seol-ah to happen again." I stare seriously at my cup, remembering Seol-ah.

. . . . . . .

Eun-bi pov:

A uniform was prepared for me when I woke up; aunt Su-ryeon and Logan were gone.

A note was left with a black card.

'A car and a driver are waiting for you downstairs. Hurry up and go to school.'

When I turned my phone on, there were 56 messages, 57 calls, 61 messages, and 60 calls, both from the twins.

"I already told them I'll be fine, and yet. . . ."

. . .

Seo-jun pov:

It's already late in the afternoon, and I told her I don't have much time, yet she's deliberately making me wait.

"Did you order my favorite frappe?"

"You're late."

"Hmm. . ."

Eun-bi looks very tired.

'What exactly happened?'

One of Eun-bi's sickness is that she never share any of her burdens.

She likes helping us out, but she never lets any of us help her at all.

"Did you get the information I was asking for?"

She eyed me thoughtfully before sighing loudly as if she knew everything.

"If you need information, just ask Leon."

"Have you forgotten what happened? He doesn't like me."

"If you pay him enough, he can even unhate you."

I smirked at her bored comment.

She stirred her frappe before drinking on it.

"Eun-bi, don't you think it's about time you tell me what's going on."

She glanced at me, then went back to sipping on her frappe.

"Why are you here? When did you return? Why are you pretending to be Eun-byeol?"

She breathed deeply and gazed at me before sipping on her frappe again.

"I don't think you have time to worry about my situation."

"Bi, I tell you everything."

"Cause you're a mess. You need someone to clean up after making a mess out of everything."

"Why are you pretending to be Eun-byeol?" I asked again.

She looks at me again, then down, then again to me.

"It's a very long story."

"We have time."

"Fine, but not here. There's a park nearby. Let's go talk there."

I nodded as both of us left the cafe but not before she bought an entire blueberry cheesecake with her.

"How can you be the genius prima of your time with a habit like that."

"I burn it off anyway."

. . . . .

Jenny pov:

Big news.

I immediately ran to Min-hyuk. He buys information, and I need an excuse to talk to him.

"Min-hyuk."

He's playing that game again.

"I have big news today."

"Hmm. . ."

"Look. . ."

After glancing at my phone, he stopped playing and took my phone from me.

I smiled at his serious expression.

I like that expression of his. It feels so manly.

"I'll buy this."

He transferred the photo to his phone and deleted my copy.

"You're not hiding any copies, are you?"

"Yes."

I nod happily.

Min-hyuk is known as the Chameleon of Little Hera club. He's an expert information broker.

He likes to buy and sell information.

Even though he's known to be stupid and incapable, he's actually brilliant. He just likes pretending to be idiotic.

'I'm too lazy!' That's what he reasoned out when I asked him why he's not trying hard enough to study well.

And I like this Min-hyuk who seems to be uncaring about everything.

"What's going on?"

I turned to Seok-kyung and Seok-hoon, who had just arrived at our hideout.

"Nothing."

I shut my mouth when Min-hyuk answered for me. I only smiled at him and put my arms around his.

"Anyway, is Eun-byeol still not here?"

"Hmm. . . she's probably busy . . ." I muttered, and Min-hyuk glared at me.

I shut my lips together and looked apologetic to him.

"What did you say?"

Seok-hoon turned to me with his piercing eyes. Seok-hoon is usually cool-headed, but I still don't feel good when he looks at people.

Sometimes, I feel like Seok-hoon is a sociopath.

I once saw him beating a boy who tried to hurt Seok-kyung. That guy was almost dead when he was brought to the hospital, but he never said anything about Seok-hoon.

"Seok-hoon, have you seen the new game? I hear it's to die for."

He breathed in deeply before letting go and slumping into the sofa, bored.

"Oppa, I'm bored. Let's just go home."

. . . . .

Seok-kyung pov:

Eun-byeol and I made a plan to attend a fashion show in Paris this coming break.

My favorite designer is planning a runaway show, so I want to be there and see her latest collection.

'If I manage to impress dad, I'm sure he'll give me enough allowance for our trip and shopping.'

I was browsing through the school page when an anonymous student posted something on the page. 

The title really caught me.

"Hottest guy in school dates the Cheong-ah heiress."

'Eun-byeol. . . and. . .'

I threw my phone at the door as I saw the latest posted photo on the Cheong-ah arts photo page.

Eun-byeol and Seo-jun were seen in a coffee shop that is famous as a dating spot. They're both happily talking to each other with smiles and drinking frappe.

'This is why you couldn't go to school?'

"You knew I liked him!"

"You knew it, but you do this behind my back!"

"HA EUN BYEOL!! How dare you play with me!!"

"Me!!! JOO SEOK-KYUNG!!!"

"I will never forgive you!!!"

"AHHHHHHH!" I shouted loudly at my room as I broke everything, from the vases to the decorations to the books on my table.

'I treated you as my friend! You're the first friend I ever truly had!! And yet! This is how you'll repay me!!'

. . . . .

Seok-kyung pov:

I called in the boys I usually pay when I want someone bullied. I gave them half of the money and the photo of the person I wanted them to bully.

"Just scare her, so she doesn't act up again."

"Yes!"

I disappeared after our meeting and went to class. There I saw her sleeping on the table with Seo-jun trying to disturb her from sleeping.

My heart aches from seeing them together.

"Oh! Seok-kyung."

He raises his hand for a high five. I smiled at him and gave him one. He stopped talking to Eun-byeol and went to my seat instead.

"I got an extra ticket for a concert. Should we go together?"

I looked at him as he continued to explain who the artist was in the concert.

"Hey, are you listening?"

"You want me to go with you?"

"You don't want to. . . ?" He looked at me like a puppy, and I grabbed the ticket from his hand.

"I'll go."

"Yes!!" I smiled at him and gripped the ticket tightly.

'I'm sure, Eun-byeol is the one seducing him.'

'He can't possibly like her. She's being a slut again.'

After failing to seduce my brother, he's now going after Seo-jun.

"This is on the weekend."

"Yep! I'll fetch you. Are you okay with that?"

I nodded happily at him, then I safely kept the ticket in my wallet.

. . . . .

Eun-bi pov:

I was on my way for a drink when a group of boys rounded me in. They looked like some random idiotic bullies in a film or series.

One of them dared to actually put his arm on my shoulder.

'What's his problem?'

'Do they have a death wish?'

They wore playful and disgusting smirks as one put his arms on my shoulder.

"Hi!"

I removed his arm and tried moving again.

"Come on, don't be so cold to us, Eun-byeol. We used to have so much fun together, remember?"

"I don't know you."

I tried pushing the guy in front of me aside, but they didn't bulge.

"Come on! Let's play. This time, you'll be the IT."

I glared at him and kicked him on his leg while I twisted the finger of the guy at my side.

"Aww. . . aww. . . aww. . ."

"If I tell you to disappear, you will disappear."

I glared at each of them, threatening them while twisting the finger even more.

"Aww. . .aww. . . aww!"

"Yah! We won't go easy on you just because you're Cheong-ah heir!"

I kicked the arrogant guy, but he caught my feet and pushed me to the floor.

"Don't look down on us!"

. . . . .

Seok-hoon pov:

"Guys! Guys!! Eun-byeol is being surrounded by the senior bullies."

I immediately stood up after hearing it.

"Where?"

"Uhh. . ."

"WHERE??"

He pointed to the left. I was about to run out when she arrived with one bully being pulled by his necktie.

She dragged him, not caring if he was suffocating, and then made him kneel in front of Seok-kyung.

"You're taking your pranks too much today, Joo Seok-kyung."

I turned my gaze to my sister, who was only glaring above Eun-byeol.

"I thought you liked playing with boys. Why? are they not your type?" She stood up and looked down on Eun-byeol.

'What are you doing, Joo Seok-kyung?'

I walked toward my sister and tried to stop her, but she only pushed me away.

"Don't you enjoy boy's attention? I gave you tons."

. . . . .

Seok-kyung pov:

'Useless dogs!'

"You're right, I do like attention, but not as much as you, I am assuming."

I glare angrily at her as she glares back, as menacing as I am.

"So, what is this prank about?"

"I'm not sure! I guess I feel too sorry for you who kept on leeching to boys who don't like you, so I lent you a hand and found boys for you."

I answered back.

I saw her brow rise up and her lips form into a smirk.

"I guess this is how shallow you are."

"Well, you've always been shallow, though."

My body shakes in anger as she calls me shallow. I watched her walk away, letting go of the necktie I was pulling.

"Stop!"

Seok-hoon appeared before me, but I didn't really care by now.

I ran after her and pulled her hair toward me.

"Don't walk away from me, you bitch!!"

"Let go of me!!"

I took a fistful of my hair as we both brawled. We pushed each other aside as other students watched us with happiness.

"Seok-kyung!!" Seok-hoon shouted as he came in between, but I won't let go.

'NEVER!'

"Eun-byeol!!" Min-hyuk turned to her and pulled her away from me.

"This is the day you learn your place! Ha Eun-byeol!" I pulled her hair even more with one hand as the other scratched her face.

"Funny hearing that from a bitch like you!! This is my territory, Biatch!!" She evades my hand as she pulls harder on my hair

"You won't even be popular if you don't hang out with me! You loser!" I pull her hair even more.

"Do you think anyone likes hanging out with you! You arrogant bitch!"

"Dirty wench!"

"Ugly witch!"

"Slut!"

"Murderer!"

"I'm gonna make sure you get out of here, bald! You ugly slut!!"

"I'm going to make sure you borrow a face from a dog, you dirty bitch!!"

"STOP ALREADY!!"

"Min-hyuk pull her harder."

"Pull your sister harder!"

"Let go already!"

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!!!"

The boys finally pulled us apart. We landed on Seok-hoon and Min-hyuk, who were pulling us apart.

"What is going on here?"

"Do you even know where you are?"

"What are you doing?"

"This is a school!! It's a place of integrity and discipline!! How dare you sully this great place with your barbaric attitudes!"

. . . 

Eun-bi pov:

Both me and Seok-kyung got dragged into the director's office. My mom totally barked at us as we glared at each other.

"What exactly happened?"

She asks after she nagged on for hours.

"Ask this slut!!"

I glare at Seok-kyung as I smirk.

"Ask this bitch!!"

I answered back as we both went back to glaring at each other.

"Forget it! Both of you are getting 40 points, and until I find out what happens, none of you are allowed to be near each other."

. . . . . .

Seok-kyung pov:

I left first as the director dismissed me.

I saw my brother waiting for me outside, looking disappointed in me.

I rolled my eye and passed him by.

'It's not my fault! The one who played with me is her.'

He grabbed my arm, stopping me from leaving.

"What do you think you're doing, Joo Seok-kyung?" He sneered at me, looking at me as if I were the enemy.

"It's not my fault!!"

I pulled my arm away and left when I saw Seo-jun in front of the school with his bike.

I never wanted him to see me like this, but. . .

"Do you need a ride?"

"You hate me now."

"I'm disappointed. I thought you and her were pretty close."

"You thought wrong!"

"I know a good ice cream shop."

He wore the helmet on me as he led me to his bike.

"Let's get fresh air."

I quietly followed him, not saying anything but letting him lead me. We went on a quick drive, allowing the wind to slap on our skin.

I hugged his waist tightly, thinking this would be the last time he'd do something for me.

We stopped at an ice cream shop. He helped me take off the helmet.

"We're here."

I only followed him and pointed out the flavor I wanted.

"You have the same taste as her. She also likes the Blueberry flavor."

My heart winces in jealousy as he mentions her.

"Do you like her?" I can hear my voice cracking.

"Huh?"

"Why are you doing this to me? If you like her, why are we here? Are you playing with my heart?"

"Uhh. . . what are you. . ."

"I know! You went on a date!

I told myself she's the one seducing you!

I told myself it's her who's coming to you!

You're not at fault!

You don't like her at all!

But why are you doing this!!"

I break down crying as he stands there doing nothing.

Today I lost my first friend and will be losing my first love too.

'I should never have met him! I should have never gotten close to Eun-byeol!!'

"I hate her!"

"I want to hate you too!"

. . . .

Seo-jun pov:

I wanted to know the cause of the fight, but I didn't think it would be this.

I didn't know what to do. The lady in the cashier had already left, leaving us to be stared at by the other customers.

"Let's not do this here! Come on!"

I grabbed her arm and ran out of the store.

Once we're in a corner, where there are not many people, I let her cry freely again.

"Uhh. . . I don't know why you'd think something like that, but you're misunderstanding everything."

She looks at me with her tear-stained face. I took my handkerchief out and wiped her tears from her.

"Eun-bi. . .yeol. . and I are old friends. She helped me a lot before, so we're pretty close."

"Don't fool with me. . . ."

"She's not really my type. . . I don't like girls like her. . ."

"Then I'm right, she's the one who likes. . ."

"That's not right either! She's not like that." I immediately defended Eun-bi, but that made our conversation even messier.

"You don't like her

But you defend her!!"

"Eun-byeol is. . . special. She helped me get over a horrible situation before. She's practically a family."

She cries again as if she's hurt hearing that from me.

"And besides, what are you talking about, going on a date?"

She showed me a photo posted on the Cheong-ah art web page.

'Something like this is being scattered around! Eun-bi is not gonna like this at all.'

"Ahh. . that!"

"Seo-jun-ah, if you like her, don't be kind to me!!" I watch as she breaks down into a series of cries.

"Stop playing with me. . . I've never had this kind of feeling before! I don't. . . I don't. ."

I also don't understand myself.

I didn't come here for this but. . . 

I can't help being drawn to her. 

Until one day, I just woke up accepting it. 

"THE ONE I LIKE IS YOU!!" I shouted, stopping her from talking.

"I like you!" I say once more, with more conviction.

"I was asking her about you!'

"Since she knows you and you're close, I thought I'd ask her about you. I want to know how to make you like me."

"I wanted to know what you like and your favorites. She said you liked the concert, so I stole the tickets from a friend who had them."

"Stole?"

"Yeah! The tickets sold out, so I asked around, and a friend of mine had it, so I took it from him by force."

"Seok-kyung, me and her, is never happening."

"She's even gonna hang me if she finds out I'm the cause of all this."

She slumped to the ground and cried even harder.

Harder and louder than she did before.

. . . . .

TO BE CONTINUED.