A/N: I know the one shot I wrote before can confuse some people, but I have decided to change a lot of things that's why it's no longer relevant to the story. I just needed put something out there to give myself the courage to write the actual story down. Hope you like it :)

It was a slow day at the porridge store. It should've been quiet except for Jan Di's banter. But Ga Eul was used to her friend's loud personality. She even thought that was one of her many charming points. Plus, she had every right to be aggravated. She couldn't believe that rich kids could go that far. She wasn't unfamiliar with their cruelty as she grew up surrounded by them, guaranteed that Shinhwa students were a whole other level of rich, but to ridicule someone inches away from death was an all-time low even for them. Good thing that her friend was there in time because she didn't like what would have become of that poor kid. That was one of the reasons she admired Jan Di so much. She always stood up for what was right.

The whole internet was talking about their Wonder Woman and calling Jan Di a hero. It was amusing to see people appreciate the side of Jan Di that was familiar only to her. The computer's screen was on the counter in front of her, and she was arching down to read an article about her friend. Some even petitioned for her to get admitted to Shinhwa. A fool's dream she would say. Aside from the anomaly that had happened, she doubted Jan Di could get affiliated with that school again, and she liked it that way. She wouldn't want her friend near those people again. Jan Di was lucky enough that it turned into nothing more than a Wonder Woman joke. These articles could've easily made some important people angry.

"This article here is calling you the common hero, Wonder Woman. You're like an internet celebrity now." Ga Eul said, teasing her friend. She knew Jan Di hated the attention. Even their boss, Chun Sik, was excited as he scooted Ga Eul to the side to get a better look at the article.

"Must be nice to have a taste of fame." He said. Now, Jan Di couldn't take it and threw a towel at them making them break into laughter.

"Cut the crap." Jan Di shouted angrily at them.

"Why? It's not like we're saying anything wrong. You are a hero now. Saving a poor kid's soul meets the requirements." Ga Eul said, trying to boost her friend's mood and putting an arm around her shoulder.

"Did you see any of the F4? Are they really as good looking as people say?" Their boss asked. Ga Eul knew he ventured into the wrong territory. She knew how much Jan Di hates them. She could feel Jan Di's shoulder tension at their mention. A part of her was also curious, but she couldn't dare ask her. Not even Ga Eul could be exempted from Jan Di's anger if provoked. However, she assumed that she hadn't. No doubt people like the F4 wouldn't bother with this raucous. No use getting their hands sullied when others could do it for them.

"No, I haven't, and I want it to remain that way. Even their name makes me mad." She replied, her face contorted in visible anger. Ga Eul thought it was wise to let her friend be and go back to the kitchen when the sound of clicking cameras and the flashing lights made her turn her back to see her friend frozen in front of reporters taking shots of her, bombarding her with questions, and asking Jan Di to smile, which she complied with, looking trapped. Angry, Ga Eul hurried Jan Di inside while their boss closed the door on the unwelcome guests. They started protesting, but she couldn't care less as she knew they were bound to get bored. It wasn't like Jan Di was that important of a celebrity anyway.

After closing the shop for two hours, the reporters left and things went back to normal. When Ga Eul's shift ended, she now had to worry about her own problem—where she was going to sleep for the night. She normally wouldn't retort to her parents' house unless she ran out of ideas. She wasn't feeling that desperate yet, so she settled on a sauna. Not the best of options, but better than her parents' house. She never went to Jan Di for help when looking for a place to stay as she knew how tough her living situation was. She couldn't impose on her only friend like that. Especially with Ga Eul's savings, she could afford a place of her own.

Laying on the floor of the sauna, she couldn't help all those thoughts creeping up on her. The things she didn't want to remember. Painful memories and what-ifs kept floating in her brain, lulling her to sleep. Tossing and turning, she tried to shake away her nightmares. Despite the chaos with the reporters, she had had a good day. She didn't get any unwanted calls, and there was nothing to remind her of her sister. Maybe that was why she couldn't sleep. It was too peaceful of a day. She had to be punished in some way or the other. It was her brain's twisted way of tormenting her.

While trying in no avail to sleep again, her phone rang. Her heart jumped as she brought the phone to her face and squinted at the sudden brightness of the screen. She relaxed when she saw that Jan Di was the one calling her. There was only one person that called her that late at night and it wasn't Jan Di. Although grateful it wasn't the person she had in mind, she was still worried. Jan Di never called her that late at night. She was usually sound asleep by then. She answered the phone and was greeted by Jan Di's defeated voice.

"Hey, what's wrong with your voice?" Ga Eul asked in a hushed voice, not wanting to wake anyone up. She got up and made her way up to the rooftop with her friend on the phone.

"A guy that works for Shinhwa came to our house today, and said that they're offering me a scholarship to attend there. Of course, everyone in my house is celebrating, but I don't know what to do. I don't want to go, but it's a good opportunity. Worst of all, they have a swimming pool. It's like seeing all signs point in one direction and wanting to take the wrong one. I told you what they're like. I don't want to step foot in there again, but why should what I want matter in this situation? We could be saved, Ga Eul. I don't know." Jan Di huffed.

Ga Eul stopped talking for a second to let all that soak in. She was worried for Jan Di. Sure she was strong, but she didn't want her friend to spend the rest of her school years fighting for her life. Those kids would eat her up. The difference between them was too much to go on unnoticed, and Jan Di's temper also wouldn't help. She also couldn't rule out the fact that graduating from that school could change her family's living situation forever.

"When do they want you to change schools?" Ga Eul asked.

"Tomorrow."

"Wow. That's fast."

"I know."

"As you said, it's a great opportunity, but l want to ask you something. Which choice will you regret not taking? That'll give you the answer you need."Ga Eul replied.

"At least tell me what you would choose."Jan Di said.

"No, this is your fight. I won't say anything to influence your decision." Ga Eul said, laughter evident in her voice.

"That's not fair."

"I only say that because I believe you'll take the best choice for you. You don't need me to tell you what to do." Ga Eul said.

"Fine."

"Good luck." Ga Eul said, knowing that she wouldn't be going to school with her friend the next day. She knew Jan Di well enough to know what decision she would make. She would rather suffer than regret not giving the school a chance and saving her family. She was going to miss her friend at school but she would survive.

Ga Eul hung out a bit more on the rooftop before heading down and stared

at the sky. If Jan Di could do it then she also could. She would survive another day here. It was only a matter of a year and a half before she could leave everything and start her own life. The life that had been on pause for way too long. She would start all over again. But for now, she would get some sleep.

Ga Eul looked at Jan Di while she was wiping the floor of the store with hunched down shoulders. It made her sad to her friend like that since Jan Di was the cheerful one. She had been like that ever since she started going to that school. Ga Eul had seen that coming, but it was heartbreaking nonetheless. She couldn't tell how deep the bullying went. She's been seeing less and less of Jan Di, and the only thing that they had in common was their job at the store. Ga Eul herself was juggling between two jobs and school, and they have been talking considerably less than before. Ga Eul couldn't shake the feeling that Jan Di was leaving some parts out of her day on purpose to not make her worry. Although Ga Eul tried pressuring her into spilling the truth, she couldn't get much out of her. She stopped trying to respect Jan Di's space, and was content with what was given to her which was mainly about three particularly unpleasant girls. There were also other aspects of her life there Jan Di tried to keep vague. Like her so evident feelings towards one of the F4 guys. She could play as dumb as she wanted, but Ga Eul knew her friend like the back of her palm, and she was sure that Jan Di had caught feelings for him. She wasn't that ecstatic when she caught up on it. Yet she trusted Jan Di's judgment. Her eyes always glowed when she talked about him. One's reputation was not a measure of personality, and Ga Eul was no stranger to that.

"My dad messed up again. We're floating in debt, and his solution was to put us in some more. It doesn't even matter if we're in debt or not, there is no way we could be able to afford a trip like that. It costs a fortune. Looks like I'll be vacationing here while they have fun in Switzerland." Jan Di said, complaining about the school's new trip.

Ga Eul couldn't help but feel bad for her friend, but it wasn't like she could help either.

"How about going to the south seaside? It's not nearly as nice as Switzerland, but it's still something. Plus, my brother could offer you fishing jobs there." Their boss said.

Ga Eul and Jan Di both beamed. For once they could see themselves doing something instead of missing out on school trips. That was perfect for them both. It was also an opportunity to spend more time with her friend like they used to.

"That's a brilliant idea. We're definitely in." Said Jan Di, her cheerfulness slowly coming back to her, and Ga Eul felt relieved to see her friend smile like that.

"When do we leave?" Ga Eul asked.

"Let me ask him, but probably after a few days."

Ga Eul and Jan Di both looked at each in excitement. Finally, something was going their way.

Ga Eul was back at her home. Even if she despised that place, she had no other choice. All her stuff was there, and she had to pack for her trip. At least her parents didn't talk to her, so she could go out anytime she wanted to. They haven't talked to each other in two years. Not since her sister died. She hadn't just lost her sister in that accident. Or maybe they never were truly there for her. Thinking about all that was of no use. While a part of her was still angry, she knew it had been too long for her to still be mad. She wanted to suppress all these emotions. It was too tiring to play the blame game. It didn't matter anymore whether she was the victim or not because she would leave everything behind, including all reminders of her family.

Just as she slang the backpack over her shoulder, her phone rang. She was sure it was Jan Di hurrying her up. Only to be disappointed when she saw the name on her screen. It was him again. The biggest and most painful reminder of her sister. She didn't want to answer the phone, but she knew she couldn't do it. How many times had she thought about not answering but doing it anyway? Why did it have to be now when she was supposed to be going on a trip? With a collective sigh, she answered knowing she was going to regret it.

"Hey, how's it going?" He asked.

"Fine. And you?" She asked knowing full well that he wasn't okay. He never called unless he was reminded of Chun Ja which meant he wasn't okay.

"Everything's going great. Would you like to meet up?" A lie. Nothing was going great. He was in pain, but she couldn't deal with that now.

"Actually, no. I'm kind of going on a trip with Jan Di now. Maybe later. I'll be back in a day or so."

"Sounds like fun. You deserve a break once in a while. You've been working hard lately. It's a shame though that I wouldn't be able to see you. I'm going abroad for a month. Looks like I'll have to see you after."

That was why she loathed speaking to him. He knew just how to make her feel guilty. Mentioning her work was a fancy way of saying that she had been neglecting him and she was. He knew that she couldn't turn him down even if she wholeheartedly wanted to because he was like an older brother. More importantly, she had been like him before. She felt what it was like to be in his place because she's been there. When she was in pain, he was there for her. He knew what it felt like to lose Chun Ja. No one else could help but him. They were the closest to Chun Ja, so when she passed they were both like an anchor to each other. But that time had been long gone. While she tried to move on and forget the past, he has been stuck. In his insistent attempts to keep Chun Ja's memory alive, Ga Eul's grip on her own life loosened. She didn't want to live her life in the shadow of her sister anymore. Not when she lived her whole life under her sister's wings.

He was manipulating her and she knew it. She couldn't let him go when he needed her. Especially since he'd be gone for a month. She wouldn't be able to bear the guilt. He also knew that she'd be smart enough to catch on to the hidden undertone of his phone call.

"You know what, I'll cancel with Jan Di. We could go later. I'm sure she'll be fine if she goes alone. When do you want to meet?" Ga Eul said.

"You don't have to do that. I don't want to stand in the way of you having fun." He said. That liar. It was infuriating for Ga Eul to know the games he was playing and still act dumb. He wanted her to say the words.

"No, I want to. When should we meet?" Ga Eul said.

"I'll meet you at 3?" He replied.

"Okay, great. Bye." Ga Eul said, hanging up on him before waiting for his answer.

She felt guilty towards Jan Di and herself. She wanted to go on that trip so bad, but it had to be ruined. Just her luck. She'd figure something to tell Jan Di and try to make it up for her somehow. She didn't like lying to her friend, but she had no other choice. She didn't tell Jan Di that she was still in contact with Hong Joon. Jan Di hated his guts. Not just him, but Ga Eul's entire family. Her sister included. She wouldn't blame Jan Di because she had every right to. Ga Eul, out of everyone, knew that her late sister was the devil incarnate. Maybe Hong Joon was manipulative, but compared to his fiancée, he was just a disciple.

She started coming up with lies and deleting them before sending them to Jan Di. Her guilty fingers moved quickly across her phone's keyboard, and she damned the second she replied to that phone call.

Ga Eul knew that she would regret meeting up with him and she did. Not just because of the usual aftermath of their conversation, but because of what Jan Di had told her. To think that someone as rich as Jun Pyo would go through all that trouble just to bully Jan Di was unbelievable. At first, he might've been purposefully bullying her, but Ga Eul now knew he was doing that for a completely different reason. She couldn't help marveling at the irony of Jan Di being stuck in a love triangle with two of the F4.

Jan Di was put in such a tight situation, and Ga Eul couldn't offer Jan Di any useful advice. She would've never guessed that Jan Di would be experiencing love for the first time at Shinhwa. She deserved to enjoy this side of life. Being in a love triangle with two F4 guys was not how Ga Eul would have preferred it to happen. But nothing in life could be predicted, so she could just hope for Jan Di's happiness in the end.

She wished she was there for her friend on that trip, but she wasn't, and she felt like a bad friend because of it. And she was a bad friend to Jan Di. Sometimes it felt like Jan Di was her mother. Keeping her in check and always making sure she was alright. Ever since her sister died, she hadn't been able to give Jan Di as much care and attention as before. When it had just happened, Ga Eul shut Jan Di out. Barely responded to her calls, and ignored her every chance she could. It was only after Jan Di's constant calls and messages, even random visits to the garage she worked at, that she was able to get Ga Eul back into the real world instead of living in her mind. But after Ga Eul's near-drowning incident, Jan Di kept tabs on Ga Eul all the time. She never let a day since without checking on Ga Eul. When their schedules crashed, Ga Eul still had to call Jan Di every day, and no matter how busy Ga Eul was, she had to answer Jan Di's call to avoid worrying her and ensure she wouldn't do anything crazy or reckless. Ga Eul always appreciated her space, and by doing that she was sacrificing her comfort. But she understood what she had put Jan Di through before, so making Jan Di know that she was safe every day was the least she could do to make it up to her. She didn't have to, yet Jan Di was always persistent in having her in her life, and she could spend all her life repaying Jan Di for everything she had done for her, and it still would never be enough.

Although Ga Eul came back to her senses, there were still times when she would stray with her mind, and Jan Di would bring her back. Ga Eul never turned back to her normal self and that also affected Jan Di. She might be a million times better than two years ago, but she still couldn't offer Jan Di her undivided attention as before. Her missing out on the trip made her even more guilty for doing so. However, she was surprised by Jan Di's actions and maturity. To urge the person you love to pursue another took a lot of courage. Even more so when that was Jan Di's first time falling in love, and having no one to go to for advice because Ga Eul had been too caught up with her own jobs and problems. The sting of guilt was strong when Jan Di was telling her all the events that happened throughout the week during their shift at the porridge store.

Ga Eul got up from her seat and hugged Jan Di tightly. She said, "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you most of the time. That must've hurt pretty badly. Still, I'm proud of you."

"It's okay you were busy." Jan Di said, leaning into the hug.

"But, you were never too busy for me."

"I'm fine, really. And, I wasn't mad at you. At all."

"I still have a bigger problem." Jan Di said.

She didn't need to guess what the problem was. Jun Pyo. He was a problem alright. How does rejecting a guy like that work? Ga Eul wondered as she broke the hug, and looked at Jan Di's troubled eyes. Rejecting him would come with repercussions, and Ga Eul feared how dire they could be. Jan Di had sure softened towards him, and she definitely didn't hate him as before, but Ga Eul could tell that Jan Di's feelings were all over the place.

"You don't have to answer him if you aren't sure about your feelings for him. Tell him the truth, but I think he could already guess."

"That's not the problem. He told everyone in the school that we are dating. Sure, I met him once outside of school alone, but that's barely considered a date." That was clearly out of line, Ga Eul thought. Nothing but the truth could hold a guy like that back a little until Jan Di could be sure of her feelings. A direct rejection wouldn't be too smart. Not sure before, Ga Eul was now certain that Jan Di might harbor some feelings for him. Ji Hoo already left to pursue another, so it wouldn't harm Jan Di to move on.

"You're Jan Di. If you want him to go back on his words, you could. Just have a conversation with him, and see where it leads you both. It's not like you're obligated to be with him. Or anyone for that matter."

"You're right. I'm going to talk to him. But for now, I'm going to head home. I'm dead tired."

"Okay, good luck. Have a safe trip home."

While Jan Di left for the day, Ga Eul remained to complete the rest of her shift. Not her ideal scenario since she was left with Chun Shik, and he never missed the chance to talk her ears off. The store barely got any customers at that hour, so she wasn't left with much work to do. Chun Shik still waited until the closing hour in hopes of a customer craving porridge late at night. She was wiping imaginary dirt off the tables to look busy, so he would get the gist that she was busy. All was in futile efforts as her headache was ever-growing.

The door to the store was opened by a customer, and Ga Eul felt relief that someone would be able to distract her boss. When she looked at the front door, she realized that it wasn't a customer but a messenger. A tall handsome man stepped foot into their store, and with him, the stench of an expensive perfume swept up in the air. Mixed with the smell of porridge and the detergent in her hands, it left an uncomfortable thick scent on her nose. She immediately knew how he was. No introductions were needed. Chun Ja used to keep her up to date, so when Jan Di told her about the F4, she was familiar. Although knowledge about the F4 was pretty common.

In front of her was Yi Jung. He was in a crisp suit. Not a hair out of place. Everything about him from his posture to his clothes reeked of money. Old money rich. The worst kind. Expected from the grandson of the Woo Seung museum owner. He was easy on the eyes. Too easy that it made Ga Eul on guard. A smug smile slowly crept up on his mouth reveling in secret triumph as he saw the recognition in her eyes. Her shoulders tensed a little as she took everything in. She knew what would be coming next, and she didn't like it one bit. But the biggest mystery was why he needed to come down here himself. It only meant that the issue was more urgent than just a fleeting high school crush. Jun Pyo was serious.

"Is Jan Di here?" Yi Jung asked casually like a regular customer ordering their favorite menu. Ga Eul could feel her boss being panic-stricken, so she answered for him, "No, her shift ended."

"Are you her friend?" He asked.

"Yes."

"For how long?"

"Since kindergarten."

"You're her best friend then"

"Yes," Ga Eul replied, getting inwardly bored of this interrogation.

At her last answer, Yi Jung grabbed her hand, pulling her. He said," Let's go." Irritated, she tried yanking her arm away lightly. She hated it when strangers touched her.

"Can you let go of my hand, please?" Ga Eul asked, trying to remain as polite as she could be because he has become somehow of an acquaintance to Jan Di.

"Oh, no problem. We still have to go."

"Where?" Ga Eul asked.

"To my studio." He said as if it were painfully obvious.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not going anywhere with a stranger."

"But, you know how I am"

"This is still the first time I've ever seen you. If you want to have a conversation with me, we could do it here. It's as good as any other." Ga Eul replied. She didn't want to take any chances with that guy."Fine then," He said, taking a seat. He looked at her boss as if to ask him to give them both privacy. She hated the nerve of him. Asking the owner to get out of his own store. It was kind of her fault since she insisted on talking here. Chun Shik caught on to the message and left them both claiming he had errands to run. She felt guilty toward her boss. Ga Eul took the seat opposite him. Waiting on him to talk and he didn't take long.

"I'm hoping you'll give Jan Di some advice. You know girls really care about that stuff. I'm saying this in order she won't get hurt. But if this thing between her and Jun Pyo continues, she'll be the one left with irreparable damage." Yi Jung said. Ga Eul understood where he came from. If anything, he voiced her own concerns. The way he went about it was the reason that set her off. It was insulting to both Jan Di and Ga Eul. Despite his subtle efforts at a charming demeanor, Ga Eul couldn't help but feel hostility towards the stranger. He degraded Jan Di by coming here behind her back as if she were nothing but a temporary distraction in Jun Pyo's life.

"I honestly can't see who Jan Di chooses to date is any of my business." Ga Eul said."You don't care about your friend's well-being?" He shot her the question with his eyebrows raised.

"I do care about her, but I also know my boundaries. If she chooses to date your friend then that's her choice, and I'll have no choice but to support it."

"Even if I tell you that Jan Di would be making a grave mistake if she chooses him?"

"It's her mistake to make. Not mine. Now I'm sure they both are old enough to think for their own instead of going behind their backs like that." Ga Eul said. She could tell that wasn't the direction he had hoped their conversation would take, but she had to cut the nib from the bud.

"The store would be closing in five minutes, so if you don't mind, I'll have to ask you to leave." Ga Eul said.

"Well then, Excuse me." He said, clearly offended that she sent him away like that without giving him a chance to retaliate. She wanted to make her stance clear to avoid future visits like these. He got out of his seat and adjusted his suit. At the door, Ga Eul called out to him.

"I might not be able to give Jan Di advice, but I can give you some. If you're really worried, talk some sense into your friend. He's the one that's been chasing Jan Di around. You know guys really care about that stuff." Ga Eul said, returning his smug smile back. It wasn't the boldest move to get someone like him angry, but she wanted payback for what he had said earlier.

He stared at her for a second, eyes clear with disdain, before slamming the door shut, and Ga Eul knew she had won this war of nerves.