Chapter 32

Jennie's POV

I scoffed hearing Jisoo apologize, what the hell is she apologizing for? For not telling me about Lisa's condition? Well, she should be. I don't have any freaking idea that the person I'm hanging out constantly was one of those people that I hate.

I've always had this gut feeling that Lisa might ended up as one of them. But I shook away all of those fears and trusted Lisa that she would never be like that. Why haven't I see the signs? Why haven't I trusted my instincts?

"Damn it." I cursed and kick a stone that I found while walking my way home. My tears are still streaming down my face. I really do feel betrayed. All of those memories that I wanted to forget came back in an instant and anger took over me.

I sat down on my knees and hug it as I cry. I looked like a fool for crying here in the middle of the street but I don't fucking care anymore. I have no strength to suppressed it and besides, it's already getting dark and no one would pass by now.

"Jennie?"

My heart raced when I heard someone call my name. With wide eyes, I lifted my head up and look to the owner of that certain voice.

"H-Hanbin?" My voice crack due to by sudden outburst.

"What are you-"

I didn't let him finish and instead, I threw my body to him and cried on his shoulders. I feel his body stiffened for a bit. I hug him tighter as my sobs grew louder. I feel his arms slowly reached my back. He hugs me tightly and I internally thank him. This is what I need right now.

"Take me to the park." I mumbled.

Hanbin pulled me away and stare at my eyes. He wiped my tears away with his thumb, his eyes screams how confuse and worried he is. Hanbin let out a genuine smile before pulling my hand, leading me to the place that I wanted.

I sat at the swing with my head hung low. Hanbin took the other swing beside me and made himself comfortable. The silence between us is deafening. Hanbin didn't bother to ask me, maybe he's just waiting for me to open up.

I tried to move my mouth to say something but I feel my heart clenched in pain again and my tears started to form once again. Hanbin saw that I was on the verge of breaking down again so he decided to stand up and hug me from behind.

"It's okay. Let it all out. You don't have to say anything if you're not ready. I'll just be here by your side. I promise." He said softly. I just nodded in reply and lean my head into his chest.

His presence made me to calm down for a bit, I'm glad that he found me at the middle of the street but either way, I would have still call him. He's the person that I most needed right now.

When I finally calm down, I asked Hanbin to take me home since it's already dark which is I barely noticed. Hanbin helped me to walk since I felt that I feel drain. He reached out his hand and I smiled weakly before taking it.

As we leave the park, I saw a retreating familiar figure. I furrowed my eyebrows knowing that it was Lisa. Is she following me? What does she want from me? I believe that I already made it clear to her that I don't want to see her again. I even returned that necklace that she gave me because I don't even want to remember any single trace of her.

"Thanks for tonight." I mumbled as we stopped in front of my house.

"No worries Jennie, you know I'm always here for you. If you need someone to talk, just call me okay?" He said and I just hummed in reply. Hanbin planted a kiss at my forehead before waving goodbye. I smiled weakly and watch his figure slowly disappearing in the dark.

"Alone it is." I sighed as I notice the silence when I opened the front door. I'm glad that my Dad wasn't home yet. He would bombard me with questions if he saw me in this state.

I went straight to my room and flopped myself to my bed. I blankly stare at the ceiling. I close my eyes, not knowing that it would lead me into a deep slumber.

--

"Mom, please don't leave!" Taehyung screamed as he tried to escape from Dad's grip.

I can't move any single muscle since I was too shock on what's happening right now. My mind was clouded, all I know is that Mom is leaving us because of another woman. But why is she with a woman? Didn't a man and a woman are the only one who should end up together?

"Taehyung!"

Dad's scream made me come back to my senses and what I saw broke me even more. Taehyung was already lying on the ground with blood dripping from his head. Did I space out that much? I haven't noticed that he got out from Dad's and started to chase Mom.

Wait, Mom. Where's Mom?

I lifted my head and saw that the car where my mom is riding didn't stop. Again, I found myself frozen in my place, watching the car slowly disappear.

Mom didn't stopped.

Mom didn't spare a single glance.

Mom didn't care.

I feel how my throat went dry and how my body trembled as I came back into reality. I heard my father screaming my brother's name. He was in pain, so much pain. His shirt was full of blood that he got from hugging my brother.

I diverted my attention towards my brother and my eyebrows furrowed as I notice something odd. Why does it seems that he's not breathing? I gulped and internally prayed before going towards my brother.

"Tae..." I said and shake his body slightly, but I got no response. His eyes didn't opened even for a bit.

I tried shaking his body even more. I even tried yelling at him since my loud voice always woke him up. I was hoping to hear a rant coming from him. I was waiting for him to tell me how annoyingly loud am I.

But he didn't.

Taehyung never woke up.

--

I quickly sat straight right on my bed after my eyes shot wide. It's been years since I last dreamed of that incident. I was having peaceful sleeps but why does it need to appear right now? Did Lisa's confession made it trigger again?

I held my chest, I felt my heart beat racing. I took a few deep breathes, trying to calm myself. I looked at the clock and I knew Dad must be home by now. Gladly, I didn't scream. The last thing I want to happen right now is to see my Dad rushing to my doors again with flustered and worried look written all over his face. I walked downstairs carefully to get something to drink. I need to calm my nerves right now.

When I went back to my room, my eyes darted to the photo that was quietly sitting right on my desk. A small smile form into my lips as I went nearer. I carefully pick the frame and sat on my bed.

"Tae..." I muttered as I caressed the picture of my brother.

He was smiling widely while his arms are wrapped around my shoulder. This photo was taken way back when mom was still around. I was sulking because Taehyung took my chocolate bar but being an annoying kid, he was just laughing and kept on teasing me. He told me that the reason why I have those chubby cheeks because I can't stop eating chocolate bars.

A tear dropped from my eyes as those happy memories crossed my mind. I can still clearly remember the way he told me that we keep on making happy memories together.

"How are we going to do that now that you're gone, Tae?" A sob was about to escape from my mouth but I instantly cover it, afraid that my Dad might hear me.

If only I didn't space out that time. If only I force my feet to move. If only I didn't let my thoughts eat me up that time, I would have stopped Taehyung. I would have hug him tightly, and that would possibly stopped him from running.

Or...

If only mom stopped for a moment and look back at him. If only mom cared about him. He wouldn't be dead right now.

"Curse you, Mom." I mumbled as I hug the photo, thinking that it was my brother whom I was hugging.

A bark coming from beside me made me to stop mourning for a moment. I looked beside me and saw Kuma, staring at me with those black orbs of him. His mouth is slightly sticking out while his head was tilted sideways.

My eyes grew wide when Kuma went into my lap. He sat comfortably and looked at me once again. A smile crept up from my lips. This little creature made me feel better somehow. But then, I remember something.

"She gave you to me." I said to Kuma which earned me another bark from him.

"But you're too cute to abandon. So, I'm going to keep you and pretend that you're not from her." I added and patted Kuma's head.

Kuma scoot closer to me which send me this warm feeling. He reminds me of Taehyung. He would always do this whenever I'm feeling sad.

"I'm sorry for comparing you to a dog Tae." I chuckled softly.

I put back the frame into my desk and lie down in my bed. Kuma went beside me and made himself comfortable. I spare one last glance to our photo and smiled weakly.

"I miss you." I whispered before drifting into a deep slumber.

--

"I'm going Dad." I said and waved goodbye.

A deep breathe escape from me as I took my first step outside of our front door. It's time for school again, meaning that I have to see that blonde again. I hope she would stop bugging me this time.

"Try to look on the positive side Jennie. You'll be seeing Hanbin also so there's nothing to worry about." I said to myself. I'm trying so hard to calm myself right now.

"Jennie."

My ears rang when I heard that voice. I saw Lisa waiting at the gate of the campus. She was doing it for a week, isn't she getting tired? All she got from me is nothing. I ignored her, like what I usually do and walk straightly inside the campus.

"Jennie, wait up!" Lisa called but I ignored her again.

I felt something warm at my wrist which made me stop walking. I looked down and saw Lisa holding it. My eyebrows furrowed and look at her with coldly. She seems to be scared because she suddenly let go of my wrist and I saw her gulped.

"What do you want?" I said coldly.

"Please talk to me, Jen." She pleaded.

"You know I don't talk to people like you."

"B-but I'm s-still your best friend."

"No, you're not anymore." I said and turned around to walk away from her.

"You really hated me that much don't you?" Lisa said. I can sense a cracking in her voice but that didn't made me to weaken my defense. She's just like my mom, they're all the same.

"You asked me what would happened if you ended up being one of them right? I guess I gave you a pretty clear answer that time." I said still not looking at her.

"Why Jennie? I didn't do anything to you."

"You ended up to be one of my most hated people on earth. People like you doesn't even deserve a place in here."

I didn't hear Lisa talk so I turned a bit, enough for me to look at her. I saw her head hung low, and her fist clenched tightly.

"You better stop whatever you're doing. You're just tiring yourself. There's nothing you can do to change the situation right now." I said and walk away from her.

--

It's already lunch time and Lisa haven't showed up. I stare at the empty seat right beside Nayeon. I guess she's attend to school today. Good for me though, I would have a day without someone who is tailing me like a dog.

"Let's go?" I asked Hanbin but he smiled at me apologetically and rub the back of his neck.

"I'm sorry Jen. Sehun asked me for help about the upcoming audition." He said. I frowned at what I've heard but I knew that being the captain has some responsibilities that he can't run away.

"It's okay. I understand." I said and smiled.

"I'll make it up to you okay?" He said and plant a kiss at my forehead before waving good bye.

I went my way towards the cafeteria and ordered something that I knew can satisfy my hunger. I took the empty seat right around the corner of the cafeteria and sighed deeply as I put the tray right above the table.

If only...

"Oh damn it Jennie. Stop." I scolded myself and took a seat.

I was enjoying the sandwich that I bought when suddenly two trays landed right in from of me. I lifted up my head and look blankly at the owners of those.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked coldly.

"Eating lunch." Rosѐ said and sat comfortably.

"Why are you sitting here? There are lots of table around."

"Come on Jen. Talk to us, we're still your friends." Jisoo said but I just rolled my eyes and went back on devouring my precious sandwich.

"It's not like it's our fault that Lisa turned out to be in love with you." Rosѐ stated which made me choked. Jisoo gave me a bottle of water which I quickly took since I don't have any other choice. It's either I keep my pride or I'll die choking from this fucking sandwich.

"Then why none of you told me?" I said when I finally recovered.

"Because this would definitely happened." Jisoo said sadly.

"And don't you think that it would be good if Lisa was the one who said it?" Rosѐ said. I admit, she has a point.

"Fine." I shortly said which made the both of them let out a small smile. I smile at them too, it's just only been a week but I miss hanging out with these dorks.

"Have you and Lisa talked earlier? I saw her running outside the campus." Rosѐ asked worriedly.

"Yup. I accidentally bumped into her."

"What's your plan now?" Jisoo asked.

"Nothing. I don't need that kind of person in my life."

"But she's your best friend."

"No, she's not anymore. And she knew that already."

I saw Rosѐ and Jisoo exchange a knowing look. Pity is evident in their eyes.

"Your birthday is coming. Any plans?" Rosѐ asked trying to change the topic.

"Hanbin says that we can celebrate at the bar that their family own. He would save us a room, so that we can enjoy freely and get wasted. We're all on our legal age anyway."

"That would be great! Oh, I love getting wasted." Jisoo said which earned a smack from Rosѐ. She pouted as she rub the part where Rosѐ hit her.

"Is Lisa coming?" Rosѐ asked which made me fell silent.

"I don't know and I don't care." I said blankly.