IS THAT WHY SHE'S CRUEL?

"So have you told Young Jae about it?"

Ruel has been busy with eating the noodles they bought from a convenient store. He noticed Heiran is with her phone but he isn't sure if she is talking to Young Jae. Like Heiran, this is also his first time seeing such kind of abuse. Although he is used to being neglected by his girlfriend, it is even more difficult to be harassed and abused by your own father, like what happened to Chung Ae.

"Our eyes capture a lot of mistakes. We feel guilty but sometimes it is beyond our control.", he added up to calm Heiran's mind.

Heiran is indeed bothered by that scene. More than the physical abuse, she is even more worried that the reason behind it, is about her getting the position Chung Ae's father wants for his daughter. How could he humiliate his own daughter just because someone in her school got the position he wanted for her? That's beyond being cruel.

"Young Jae never replied. I guess he is not with his phone.", Heiran shortly replied.

She is barely touching her food. The guilt is taking her whole body, specially because she remembered she once slapped Chung Ae when the latter tried to attack her before.

"Heiran, you've been close to Young Jae for about two weeks now. Typical students fell in love with him with them knowing nothing about him at all. How about you?"

"I guess I'm not the typical type then."

"You aren't really attracted to him?"

Ruel stopped eating and stared intently at Heiran. Heiran, on the other hand is thinking critically. She indeed almost lost her rationality when Young Jae appeared out of nowhere and called her that Tuesday morning. Maybe it is called attraction or maybe not.

"I find him handsome that's all."

"Even I can say that. There aren't any deeper feeling than that?"

"You're being weird."

"It's not that I am wanting you to date him. I was trying to find the ratio of those are attracted to him from those who are not finding him attractive at all."

"Well he is attractive. He excels not just in basketball but he is also dedicated with his studies. His records are always on the top. Such a flamboyant and excellent person. Who wouldn't admire that?"

"When will I ever meet someone who will not say that? Maybe he is indeed close to perfection."

"And you also are close to that. I mean look at you and look at Young Jae."

"Am I attractive too?"

"You are very thoughtful and caring. You also have good grades; you can compose your own songs. You can play a lot of musical instruments. You have a great fashion sense. And a huge heart for everyone. Not to mention those exquisite looks."

"I feel you like you just want to boost me up."

"In comparison to Young Jae's character who is a bit mysterious, you are very candid with me. Not with your girlfriend though because you can't even say she's hurting you. Being honest is also being pure so I'm with your side by that."

"Are you making me feel I'm more superior than him?"

"I am just saying that unlike what you think of yourself, you are not a nobody. Don't lower yourself too much. Anyways, have you thought about the plan your father has for you?"

"Is it about learning music production?"

"Yeah, how's the progress?"

"I have no plan about it. That'll take so much from me, specially my schedule. I always wanted to be the first accessible person for my girl. So I am always freeing up my schedule."

"That's the dumbest reason I ever heard. Ruel, if she loves you, she'll be proud of the things you are aiming for as much as you want to give her space with her volleyball career."

Ruel just laughed to what Heiran said. It is true that he is dumb and a real idiot in love. But what can she do about it? Loving someone simply means sacrifice, hard work and efforts.

Their serious conversation was disturbed by Ruel's message notification. Heiran is also waiting for her phone to notify her but it seems like Young Jae is very busy right now. On the other hand, after seeing it was his father who messaged him, Ruel grabbed his phone from his side and read the text.

"You need to go home and explain about the girl you are seeing aside from Heiran.", the message goes like that.

"Heiran, I need to go home."

Heiran can see Ruel's in a rush as if the message he just read is an emergency. So she stood up after Ruel did the same thing and asked...

"What happened. Is everything alright?"

"Yes, it's fine. I just need to go home. See you some other day."

And he picked up his shopping bag then ran away from Heiran's house. How did his parents find out he is dating someone? The message clearly says aside from Heiran so it is understandable they already caught him dating someone else. How can he explain everything? Are they going to accept it or is he going to be punished?

[•••]

"Chung Ae could've spilled my name out, she hates me right?"

Heiran has been tossing herself to her bed over and over again. That thought keeps messing up with her brain. Chung Ae hates her, not just because of the position but also because she had caught Young Jae's pity and attention. Young Jae already warned her about the danger in crossing up the line between peace and destruction and it is somehow true that Chung Ae really knows how to mess things out. But the easiest way to drag Heiran down is to let her father know about Heiran.

Her father can simply kick Heiran out of their school. Knowing she is a beneficiary of his scholarship program, he can also take the scholarship from Heiran. Her father can stir things up and it will be an easy victory for her. So why did she say nothing? Is she protecting Heiran?

"I don't want to owe something from her. What if she really move out of their house? What if her father really drove her away?"

Heiran is now frustrated. Why is she feeling like she owes something from Chung Ae? And why is she feeling guilty upon landing a slap on her soft cheek that Tuesday afternoon? Is Chung Ae really covering her up?

"Maybe it is the reason why she is doing this all along. She wants to prove herself superior because she is humiliated by her own father. Maybe it is the reason why she is so cruel and vicious."