One more time

Chapter 8

As the youngest kid in her household, Dahyun was quite spoiled. Her family was very loving and she always got what she wanted. All her friends agreed on her positive and bright personality and also that when mad, Dahyun was quite heartless. The pale girl was immature but also was the type of person that cared about others, specially her older sister. Dahyun loved Jihyo truly and it was quite obvious to the younger that since her sister started junior high something was off.

Jihyo had lost weight and most of the time she was mad or tired. Her mom had told Dahyun that it was normal as Jihyo was going through adolescence and that it will happen to her too. But Jihyo’s eyes weren’t as bright as they used to; her smile was weak and she rarely laughed. She didn’t spend time with her anymore, she was always in her room. Dahyun recalled how every night Jihyo used go to her bedroom and snuggle for a while before telling her silly stories about her journey. More than once, Momo was mentioned on them. As time passed tough, Momo´s name got rarely spoken and eventually it didn’t appear at all in their conversations.

Dahyun wondered what was going on. Jihyo gave the older girl a cold shoulder when around but when Jihyo was questioned about the situation she assured nothing had happened and that they both were as close as ever. Chaeyoung looked as puzzled as her when she heard that boastful lie. Jihyo stop going to MoChaeng’s place and Sana started to spend lots of time with them. They didn’t mind it. Sana was funny and kind but she wasn’t Jihyo. Momo keep on being her sweet and caring self when Dahyun visited her home though. The three girls enjoyed playing videogames, eating junk food and having sleep overs on weekends but the youngest duo felt incomplete as Jihyo wasn’t part of the fun.

Dahyun couldn’t take it anymore so she asked Chaeyoung to investigate. After a week or so, the duo had enough and decided to talk about it. They both figured out they sisters had fight but didn’t know exactly the reason. Normally, the elders would make out rather quickly but new year was coming and the situation didn’t improve. The pair wondered if this would be the end of their sisters´ friendship as the strange atmosphere between them had lasted months now.

The young girls were laid comfortably on Dahyun’s bed. They were cuddling as usual, just thinking about the situation they had in hands. Neither of them had a clear idea about what to do. They were costumed to a routine by now, it was weird not having Momo and Jihyo together anymore.

-So, what did you get Chaengie?-asked Dahyun
- Not much.-answered Chaeyoung- I mean, the only thing I could figure out is Sana-unnie as the problem
-I know, right? It looks like she is the reason they don’t get along anymore
- But I think Jihyo unnie and Sana unnie don’t know each other.
-Don’t you think Momo-unnie would introduce them in order to befriend?
-Well, Momo is shy so maybe she had trouble handling Sana unnie´s hyper mood and Jihyo unnie at the same time…
- You are right

They both continued to wonder about her sisters´ situation but they keep on getting the same answer: it was Sana’s fault. The kids didn’t get it. Sana was awesome and they really enjoy her company. They had known Jihyo all their lives and were quite sure Sana was the kind of person Jihyo would be fond of. It was weird.

-If Jihyo unnie dislikes Sana unnie it means Sana unnie was mean with Momo-said Chaeng
-But if that’s true Momo unnie wouldn’t get along with Sana unnie either-pointed out Dahyun
-Then Momo unnie and Jihyo unnie disagree on something and Sana unnie has nothing to do with it
-I can´t imagine them disagreeing on something…

They both were confused. Dahyun crossed her arms over her chest trying to figure something out meanwhile Chaeng roll over the bed. They were like that for a while until Chaeng proposed something:

-Did you look on Jihyo’s unnie bedroom?
-What for? -asked Dahyun
-Well, maybe she wrote something about it
-Do you mean, like, in her diary?
-Yeah…

Dahyun had thought about it before. She wanted to know what had happened but didn’t have the guts to go and find the answer. What if she didn’t like what she found? She didn’t want to take a side. Momo was pretty much her sister too…

-Are you crazy? I won’t look into my sister´s diary!
-Come on! Do you want them to be like this forever?
-Of course not but….
-See? I don’t want either! I promise we will only look for clues
-I don’t know Chaengie, I don’t think is alright
-Well, if she catches us I will take responsibility
-…promise?
- Promise!

Being school graders they were home earlier than her sisters so the girls went directly to Jihyo’s bedroom as she wasn’t home at the time. Jihyo has her room kind of neat and Dahyun went directly to the desk as there were books and notebooks all over it; surely Jihyo’s diary would be around it. Chaeng in other hand was searching for some clues. She really didn’t found anything interesting besides the awkwardly decorated wall near the bed: It was all covered with female idols and actresses and Chaeyoung wondered since when Jihyo started to be one of those super fans that admired celebrities. After a while both were getting nervous as they didn’t found anything and Jihyo was going to arrive home soon. Dahyun rearrange the desk and told Chaeyoung to do the same with the bunch of magazines she had scattered.

Chaeyoung was doing as told when she discovered a tiny notebook in the middle of it.
-Look, Dahyunnie! I think this is it!
-For real?! Let me see! But this handwriting isn’t Jihyo’s unnie. Do you recognize it?
-Nope. It’s Japanese though, it looks like an interchange diary.
-Jihyo unnie studies Japanese but the handwriting isn’t hers. Does she have another Japanese friend besides Momo unnie?
-It’s not Sana´s unnie either… lets read to find out!
-No, wait! I don’t think it’s alright…
-Come on, we are already here dubu. We will just check it out. If something bad happened between them, we will know how to fix it.
-…Ok. But just a bit.-Dahyun offered the diary to Chaeng- You read it as you are better in Japanese than me.
-Ok, give it back.

The girls took a sit on Jihyo’s bed, one beside the other. Chaeyoung started to flip the pages one by one. The first page was empty and the second one had just dates. The girls furrowed their brows in confusion. Chaeng read in a hurry the following pages searching for a name or a place but didn’t found any. Some of the entries were short and looked like Jihyo and this person didn’t know each other very well. They asked each other simply questions as: what is your favorite color? Your favorite food? Do you have any siblings? Chaeyoung read Jihyo’s answer and felt ashamed: Jihyo had introduce her and Momo as her sisters too. She felt so bad about invading Jihyo’s privacy than she decided to stop. Dahyun felt the same and decided their sisters must solve things on their own.

Not long after going to Dahyun’s bedroom, Jihyo appeared. The older girl missed to hang out with her girls but many things had happened and she always ended plain tired. The younger girls were startled, thinking Jihyo knew what they had done but the older one was not mad at all; the secret was safe. They spend the afternoon as they used to, just playing around ad messing with each other.

Night came fast and they all have dinner together. Jihyo offered to walk Chaeyoung home, after all they were neighbors but Chaeyoung was still an elementary student.

They were walking down the street hand in hand. Jihyo smiled at her, she was in good mood. Chaeng hadn’t had the chance to see her in a while and she missed her friend. Since Jihyo transfer to other school they didn’t have the opportunity to meet each other. Chaeng missed the late nights’ bicycle rides, the loud cheering on her games, the cooking lessons, the warmness. Chaeng felt so cold and lonely. Her parents weren’t home most of the time. They were always working and she was afraid she would forget their voices if this continued. Momo was also distant. They shared the same home but something had happened to her sister too. She wasn’t the same since she transferred school either. What happened in there?  Chaeyoung felt bad. She recalled how she had searched among her stuff. It was so wrong and she needed to apologize.

- Unnie, I love you- said Chaeyoung out of the blue
- I love you too Chaengie- answered Jihyo softly
-I did something bad, unnie. Could you forgive me?

Chaeyoung voice broke at the end. She was trying not to cry but the guilt was way too much. All the feelings she had bottled up were now flowing freely through her tears. She cried not only because of Jihyo but also for her household current situation. Jihyo got alarmed and hug her instead. Chaeyoung cried hopelessly. The younger one couldn’t confide this to Momo as she knew her sister would blame herself for it. Dahyun wasn’t empathetic enough so Jihyo was her only option to open up.

- Don’t you cry, my baby. I love you. It’s alright.
-I’m sorry unnie.
-It’s ok, it’s ok. Chaengie, do not cry.

Chaeyoung cried for a while before calm down. Jihyo reassured her everything would be alright, even though she wasn’t sure what made the younger cry. They walked in silence the rest of the road home. They got into the apartment, luckily for both of them Momo wasn’t there.

- Want me to stay with you some more? - Asked Jihyo

Chaeyoung only nodded. Jihyo pat her head and call back home saying she would stay the night. They went to the bedroom and laid beside each other.

-Unnie, I miss you
-I miss you too, Chaeng
-Then why don’t you come home anymore?

Jihyo saw the girl in the eye: her gaze was so pure. Chaeyoung was pouting and looked adorable. Jihyo’s heart felt heavy. How come she forgot about her? Chaeyoung was having a bad time, she knew it. She needed to make her feel alright again. The only thing she could do at the moment was embrace her as she knew that comfort her.

-It’s complicated, baby. But I promise you it’s not your fault nor Momo’s. It has to be with myself.
-Are you ok, unnie?
-I will

Chaeyoung keep on hugging her close and Jihyo felt calm around her. They were getting sleepy as the cold night and the warm sheets were perfect. Chaeng was comfortably in the older arms but as she was drifting in her sleep she started to mumble.

-Unnie…
-Yes, baby?
-Who is Mina?

-----##### End of chapter 8
What you think about the story, guys? I know my writing is lacking but I'm trying to be more concise and write just what is needed. Hope you enjoy it :)