a/n quick question!

who among the characters interests you the most?

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"Your father is Yoon Gunho, the murderer of your boyfriend's father."

HER GRIP tightened on the old, patched guitar case in her hands. Her heart trembled as she heard her father's name after a long time, echoing in her mind that reminds her the reasons of her sufferings. Hardly digging her fingernails into her clothed guitar, she slowly breathed in and out, she remained composed.

"I apologize. I worded that wrong," The latter tried to hide his laughter, but it stays vivid between his words. He got so amused by the reaction he got, though he's facing the latter's back. "Correction, you're the daughter of the prime suspect."

The thought of walking out and slamming the door went through her head. She pressed her palm against the floor while putting her weight on her arms, supporting herself as she almost struggled to stand. Few seconds of her staring at the wall, the young man knew she's endeavoring to face him. But, alas, their eyes met as she turned her shoes around. Her penetrating gaze intimated him as she walks closer, and so his eyes did the same.

"Why do you have to be so straightforward?" Her eyes implored answers, asking— after the time she had spent being friendlier with him— why he had to insult her like this.

"Well, it's better than lying." Yoonki simply uttered, remaining seated on the piano stool. He didn't bother to break the intensity that is being built between their long gazes. Thinking that he was almost fooled forever if it wasn't for the background check, the smirk on his lips widened that soon turned into snicker. "You know, you could've simply said that Jeongguk brought you here, and never had to put on a childish act."

"I'm sorry, but is this your way of ending the tutorial entirely?" She drew herself nearer, planning to push him on the edge and not beat the bushes. Now the piano is the only gap that separates them.

"No." He gave a mirthless laugh. "We've been doing this for a week. Why would I do that now?"

"Then why check my family record?"

Blame Jeongguk. He would not suspect Jia in the first place if it wasn't for that young lad acting like Seoyeon is his real girlfriend that night. Kids. In addition, he only got intrigued after learning that she is the daughter of the certain prime suspect, otherwise she could still be nothing but an unwanted piano student.

"Nothing." He smiled, sardonically.

Jia sighed, facing the floor. As she hung her head low, she wondered what will happen in the future if everyone would know her background like him. Where will she put herself? Not only that, she also pondered how he learned about her father.

Oh. Right.

The fact that he's a police almost slipped out of her mind. The reason behind was she haven't seen him in uniform, just in his tacky casual clothes.

"Mister, I don't know where he is." She said in small voice, patting her clothed guitar to remove the invisible dusts again like it's her hobby. "If that's the reason of your background checking, then you won't get answers from me."

Yoonki poked his cheek with his tongue, and then he chortled.

"I don't care about him. I'm not the one in charged."

Again, she met his gaze. His eyes that were once filled with smugness— that she wanted to prick seconds earlier— are now strangely looking at her with grave seriousness. Like it's trying to comfort her, it's just that he doesn't know how do it correctly. It's a quick change of tone that made her heart quiver, but surely not because of displeasure.

"But you." He pauses as he scoffed at himself, knowing how cheesy he will sound. But as straightforward as he could possibly be, he continued his words. "I'm interested to know when you will stop running away from your past and be you. You're not your father, you're Yoon Jia."

At first, she could not unravel whether the one's talking to her was really Min Yoonki or not. It's like he was suddenly possessed by a kind ghost.

"Min Yoonki . . .ssi." She tittered when she almost forgot to put honorific after his name. Her eyes continued to examine him. It's funny to see how uncomfortable he has become after hearing his own words, avoiding her gaze then and there, and scratching the back of his head.

Then she smiled.

"N-nothing. I forgot."

She was supposed to ask if he's bipolar or not.

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From: That Person
I sent my answers
through email.
8:16 pm

Changed nickname from That Person to Mr. Min Yoonki.

To: Mr. Min Yoonki
I got it! Thank you. :)
8:21 pm

From: Mr. Min Yoonki
You're welcome.
Good luck to you
and your book.
8:21 pm

"Indeed." She breathed out.

"Good luck to me."

Eyes stuck on the laptop screen, she leaned her back against the couch, her fingers rubbing her forehead. Seated inside her living room, she has been staring on a blank screen for minutes and it irks her. The young lady has resources and all, but writer's block has to be a jerk, refraining her to type a single word.

"I was jealous."

Those words. Those damn words.

Seoyeon could have been composing words for her book, but it keeps troubling her mind, repeating over and over. She bends over with hands covering her face, propping her elbows on her lap as she kept hearing his voice. It bothers her to death.

He's jealous?

That's bullshit.

She is always afraid of time. Afraid that time is always running and she's getting older. She ought to start writing right away, or else time will run out and she might regret it forever. But certain thoughts immediately kept her attention away from her book. Seoyeon can't get rid of him in her mind.

We've been bestfriends since childhood, so why would—

Then the doorbell rang suddenly.

Peeping through gaps of her fingers, she checks the time on the bottom left of the laptop screen. It's already past 9 o'clock in he evening, who could it be?

Seoyeon immediately got off the couch and made her way to the door. She slides off her indoor slippers and wear the ones for outdoor. She jogged. Coldness embraced her as she reached for the metal gate.

Then her eyes got widened once she opened it.

"Delivery!" Jeongguk smiled, lifting a small box of pizza.

"I don't remember ordering one." She had spoken with cold voice, though her heart got already stolen by the delicious smell of bread that greeted her. Her eyes followed the young lad as he entered the gate, walking to her house as if he's the one who owns it.

"It's my boss' birthday." Jeongguk said. He held the doorframe for a second, supporting himself as he rubbed his shoes off, leaving his socks on. "He didn't want to go home late, hence here's the take home pizza." He successfully entered the house, proceeding to the kitchen.

Seoyeon, who kept following the young lad behind, witnesses how relaxed his shoulders are. He's being his casual self. It feels like it's only her who got affected by the drama that happened not long ago. It stresses her more. Jeongguk placed the box of bread on the dining table. Her place is not so big, thus her kitchen is also her dining area.

"I'm going to take half of it, eat the rest." He uttered. He opened the kitchen cabinet above his head, looking for a tupperware. His eyes glistened as he finally found one, but it didn't last long when he saw the latter's long face. "What?"

"Oh, nothing." Seoyeon drew a wry smile as she shrugged. She leaned the side of her body against the edge of the divider, crossed-arms. "I'm just wondering how three days went by just like that."

He lowered his gaze for he knows where this is going as expected. He walked towards the table again and placed the container beside the box. Jeongguk took a breath, setting his palms down flat on the table.

"It was a prank . . . a prank went wrong."

"What do you mean?"

"I was supposed to prank both of you, but I didn't know hyung would react that way." He bit his bottom lip. He felt a hard pound in his chest, feeling guilty with his likely endless lies, but he shrugs it off nevertheless.

The avoidance of eye-contact helped him a lot not to stutter. For the past three days, he's been thinking of perfect excuses, regardless of her reaction. Giving her a closure is the most important thing right now. Fortunately, he was able to make one today and it's even his boss' birthday.

"And I'm supposed to believe that?" Seoyeon laughed, the incredulity is pellucid. It's the same reaction Jeongguk would have if they switched places.

"Then . . ." Jeongguk turned his face to her direction, finally meeting her gaze. He observed the eyes before him, observing how it will react. "do you believe I was really jealous?"

Then silence came.

They stare at one another. Seoyeon couldn't assemble words while Jeongguk still waits. She knows she doesn't want to believe it, but the other side of her hoped that he kind of did. Thinking like that made herself wonder what the hell is going on?

It's taking her too long to talk that Jeongguk can't stand the silence anymore.

"Then you're right." He breathed out.

"So y-you were?" Seoyeon stood straight, eyes lingering everywhere. It was pretty expected for why else would he behave that way if he wasn't being a jelly, but still it left her dumbfounded.

Jeongguk faced his feet, taking everything in. He felt frustrated for everything doesn't go with his plan. Is this the end of our friendship? All because of my stupidity?

"Why?" Seoyeon questioned with voice condoning. She dragged herself closer to him. She doesn't want things to get worse, all she wants is to be enlightened. She's willing to listen. "What makes you think I would make him my bestfriend and replace you? We're not kids anymore, Jeon."

"Wait. What?" He jerked his head, looking back at her with narrowed eyebrows. Then he finds answers in the air. His lips are getting pouty as confusion took over his frustration. "I was jealous because he might become your bestfriend instead of me?"

Is that so?

Funny.

Even he himself contemplates the real reason behind his jealousy.

"Why else!"

Again, Jeongguk lowered his head, but this time he's laughing.

This went better than the stupid-prank-excuse he announced before. Ah. The innocence.

"You made me feel embarrassed that night, made me worry for three days straight, and show up like nothing happened all because of that." Words flow out of her mouth like water from a faucet.

"I'm sorry."

"Is that all you can say?" Seoyeon scoffed. She nudged her nose before rolling up her sleeves. "Come here. Let me beat you up."

"Wait!" Jeongguk immediately took the box of pizza from the table before he sped to the living room. Laughter begun to fill the room.

"Don't you dare run!"

Indeed, everything scaled quickly.

"The pizza! My poor couch!"

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From: unknown
Don't be fooled.
12:01 am

From: unknown
He might be stabbing
you on the back.
12:02 am
seen 8:07 am

It's been only a week since the last text, hence it's a surprise to receive one today. Usually it takes more than two weeks. It made Seoyeon wonder what happened to the nameless person behind the messages to change his schedule. Edgy. The sender seems to be going through something to spam others with dramatic quotes.

Seoyeon brushes it aside like she usually does, turning her phone off as she made her way to the gate. She's off to work.

But as she opened the gate, Jeongguk is not-so-surprisingly blocking her way. With his hand held up in the air, it's obvious that he had an intention to ring the doorbell.

"Bus?"

Seoyeon returned his smile. Proud as she can be, she's really happy that everything's back to normal after last night. It's just funny how they still fight like little kids over petty things, but that's what bestfriends do.

"You wish—"

But then a sudden text caught her off guard.

From: Manager Cheung
Hi dear.
Meet me at the office by 9.
8:10 am

"Okay, let's go. Quick!"

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a/n hi guys sorry for the late updated. :<

like seoyeon, im having writer's block. :<

but i hope you like this chapter. :)

i would love to read your feedbacks so please kindly leave a comment.

love lots <3