Pre-sequel: I want to be yours

Strained

During the next few days, I had a lot of pain and fever due to the injuries I suffered from all of the bullyings. In the end, my parents got to know about it through Hyejoo as they had to bring me to the hospital because I was just too bad. Both Jiyeon unnie and Luda unnie had been trying to come and visit me but I didn't want to meet them after what they have done toward me and neither my parents nor siblings would allow them near me after they realized what had been happening all this time. I was sitting in my room when the door opened up to reveal my mom.

Mom: There is a little girl that wants to spend some time with you.

Mom smiled as I looked at her with a raised eyebrow as I was confused at what she meant. Then all of a sudden my little sister Choerry ran past Mom's legs and jumped up on my bed with a big wide smile on her face. Mom giggled and closed the door as I looked at Choerry and shook my head at her silliness.

Choerry: Is unnie still hurt? Unnie booboo?

Choerry looked at me with a pout and worried. I giggled at her and shook my head as I pulled her into a snuggle and laid down on my bed. Choerry giggled at it and snuggled into me with her face planted right into my chest.

Jahoon: Don't worry baby~ Unnie is okay~ There is no need to worry~ Unnie is strong! See? Unnie can even give you an airplane!

I lifted Choerry up in the air and acted like she was an airplane, making her giggle a lot. I smiled externally but sighed internally. I had to keep a strong front for my close ones...for them not to worry.

A month passed by and I returned back to school despite my parents' efforts to convince me to change school since they didn't really want me to go through any of it once again. I completely understand what they were thinking but if I decided to change schools it would only send a sign to the people in this school that I had given up. I will never give up. I walked inside the school as every student got out of the way as soon as I was near. They probably didn't want anything to do with me. I didn't want anything to do with them either. I got to my class and sat down at my usual seat in the back by the window and just looked out of it. All of sudden someone slammed their hands on my desk, making me look to see Minhyuk smirking at me.

Minhyuk: And here I thought that you had decided to put your tail between your legs and run away. You decided to come back for more, didn't you?

I looked at him for a second before rolling my eyes and turning my head to look out of the window once again. Minhyuk grabbed my collar and made me turn my head to look at him.

Minhyuk: You are ignoring me?! You don't remember what happened when you last did it, don't you?

Minhyuk sneered in my face. I could hear the other students whispering but all of them kept their distance. They weren't really any better than Minhyuk. I sighed before suddenly laying a straight punch in his face, making him let go of my collar and tumbled down backward. I sat back down in my seat and looked out of the window once again like nothing had happened. I wasn't the same person as before. After what happened, my parents made me practice self-defense with my uncle who had a material arts studio so that I could protect myself when needed. Minhyuk quickly got up on his feet and wanted to charge at me but the teacher entered the class and ordered everyone to sit down. It would have been fun enough to beat him up though.

I walked out of the class and to the cafeteria with no problems at all. Minhyuk suddenly got called to the principal's office during the lesson and hasn't returned back. Not that I really cared about the reason he wasn't there. I could really care less about him. I continued to walk when I saw Jiyeon unnie and Luda unnie running over to me in the corner of my eye. I just continued to walk like I hadn't heard them. They ran up to me and walked alongside me but I didn't look at either of them once.

Jiyeon: Have you heard about Minhyuk, Jahoon? There are rumors going around that Minhyuk got suspended for a while. Poor him. I hope he is okay.

I looked at Jiyeon unnie with disgust. The first thing she said to me after I had been gone for a while was her concern for Minhyuk. It was not how are you? Where were you? There was no concern for me at all. None at all when I was the one who got bullied by Minhyuk.

Jahoon: Really? That is what you are more concerned about?

I shook my head and walked away from them. I couldn't believe them. Being more concerned over a bully than me. I heard footsteps running closer to me as both Jiyeon unnie and Luda unnie appeared in front of me, stopping me from walking any further.

Luda: What is wrong Jahoon? Why are you acting like this?

Jahoon: Why am I acting like this? Are you guys really dense or something? Have you already forgotten what happened a month ago?

I looked at them as they both looked at each other. They have really forgotten...seems like they don't care about me at all.

Jahoon: You guys have really forgotten...you know what? Forget it. Forget everything. I don't know any of you guys. You are not my friends anymore. Don't talk to me ever again or think about coming to me for help when you guys can't even be there for me when I need it the most.

I pushed past them and walked over to Hyejoo's class. She was sitting with her friends laughing but stopped as soon as she saw me. She ran over to me and looked at me with a worried look when she saw my expression.

Hyejoo: Let's go somewhere more private.

Hyejoo linked her arm with me and we walked over to a more secluded area of the school where only a few of the students know about. We sat down and I told her everything that had just happened. Hyejoo got angry and quickly stood up as she wanted to confront Jiyeon unnie and Luda unnie but I stopped her by grabbing her arm.

Jahoon: Don't. I don't want you to get into trouble also cutting them off from our lives would be much easier.

Hyejoo: Yeah~ You are right unnie. They don't deserve all of that trouble after all. Not after what they have been putting you through. But trust me, if they ever dare to come close to you or try to gaslight you, they will for sure catch my hands.

Jahoon: I know they will but thank you.

I giggled at her and patted her on her head. She smiled and pulled me into a hug. It was nice to know that at least your family would always be on your side. We got up as it was soon time for the next lesson. Hyejoo walked with me to my class and luckily she was because both Luda unnie and Jiyeon unnie was waiting for me in front of my classroom. They tried to get closer to me but Hyejoo stood in front of me and glared at them.

Hyejoo: Don't you guys dare try to get close to her.

Luda: But-

Hyejoo: I don't care. You guys are never allowed near her ever again. I can't believe that you guys think of her like that.

Hyejoo sneered at them and gestured for them to leave. She would only leave when she was sure that they were gone. That is what you get when you don't believe your own childhood friend when they tell you something. That is the consequences and you will have to live with them.