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30.

"Glad to see you could join us son. The party was just about to start."

Eunbi snickers at her own joke and in the next moment, winces in pain as her gunshot wound starts aching. Jungwoo instinctively moves to assist her but refuses to look at her or say a word.

Jisung rolls his eyes. "All that and her jokes still remain lame." Jieun however looks back and forth between Jungwoo and Eunbi with furrowed brows. "But she only jokes when she's nervous... which means... those two had a fight? But why would they...?"

"Ah, Jieun?"

Jieun hesitatingly meets Eunbi's eyes. "Yes m-mom?"

"Come here."

Jisung grabs on to Jieun's arm tightly. "No. She's not going anywhere near you."

"Ji, at least hear her out-"

"Whatever you have to say, say it from there." Jisung remains firm, glancing at Taeyong for a brief moment.

"Seriously?" Eunbi rolls her eyes and in a mocking voice continues, "I can't do anything to your sister in this condition kid."

"Hey." Jisung turns to Jungwoo with a raised brow, expecting retaliation. But Jungwoo's face only screams exhaustion and guilt.

Huh? Why is he looking at me like that? Why do his eyes look like that? And are those dried tears...? Following his thoughts, Jisung faces Jieun and tilts his head towards Jungwoo's direction. Jieun nods and mouths in response, "He's been crying."

"I know that! I'm asking why." Jisung mouths back. Jieun just shrugs. "Ask him."

"Why me?"

"He's already talking to you."

"So? You are the older one here."

Before Jieun could reply, Jungwoo's cold voice interrupts, "Are you two done playing charades?"

Haechan loudly snickers. While half the people in the room sigh and shake their heads, Renjun smacks his head to shut him up. Jieun however nods at Haechan gratefully and he winks back at her.

"Jungwoo oppa" Jieun starts, searching Jungwoo's face for any signs. "Are you okay?"

Jungwoo's tired eyes look into Jieun's sincere ones and become moist just a bit. Instinctively, Jungwoo looks away. "Jisung you can let her go. She'll be fine."

"Wha-"

"Do you believe in second chances?"

Renjun's shoulders become tense at the statement. Chenle notices it but doesn't say anything. Jisung on the other hand intensely scans Jungwoo's figure. Mark steps up and puts a reassuring hand on Jisung's head. "He means it kiddo." Jisung looks at Mark, the fear and doubt obvious on his face. Mark smiles warmly in return. "Trust me. I'm not saying this as just his friend, I'm saying this as your friend as well."

Jisung looks at Eunbi to Jungwoo, to Mark, to Taeyong, to Chenle and finally at Jieun. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. His grip on Jieun's hand becoming weak. "Let's see what you have to say Mrs. Kim." He opens his eyes and narrows them coldly at Eunbi.

Eunbi lets out a small laugh. "Oh boy, you are so like him."

"Him? Do you mean dad or...?" Jieun asks, slowly moving closer to Eunbi's bed. Eunbi shakes her head and gives a quirky smile. "Do you have your pendant with you Jieun?"

Jieun blinks in confusion but nevertheless still raises her hand to her neck to take out the pendant which is usually hidden underneath her clothes. The pendant looked simple yet elegant; a round, lavendar jadeite encased in a silver holder, hanging on a thin silver chain.