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4.

"What promise?" Jisung asked with a frown on his face. Chenle and Jieun exchanged looks. 

"Jisung-ah where were you? I heard you left-" Jisung raised his hand and that stopped Jieun from saying anything further. "I had gone to get your medicines." Jisung said, showing the packet he had in his hands.

He walked towards Jieun's bedside table and placed the packet on it. He turned around and crossed his arms "Now tell me noona, what promise?"

"Jisung-ah, it's nothing. I was just-" Just then Jieun and Jisung's mom burst into the room. "You ungrateful child, what did you do this time?" 

Jieun was shocked to see her mom standing in front of her. "Mom, how did you...?" Jisung came and stood by his sister's side protectively. He glared at his mother. "Leave." 

"You think I wanted to come here? If not for the hospital fees, I would never set a foot anywhere near you two." Their mom scoffed and looked at Jieun in disgust. "Why didn't you die?" 

Her mother's words shot her like an arrow but Jieun held back her tears. Jisung on the other hand was furious. 

"How dare you! You-"

"Jisung." Jieun looked into Jisung's eyes  and shook her head. "She's our mom."

"Step-mom. Right Mrs Kim?" Jisung hissed out, harshly. 

Their mom laughed sarcastically. "Talking back now, are we? Our little Jisung has learned some courage now?" She glanced at Jieun and then scowled. "Our little Jisung, sure has forgotten how he used to be as a child. Right Jieun?"

Jieun's face hardened and she looked at Jisung with worried eyes. Jisung's face showed no emotions but she could see his tightly clenched fists. "Mom. Please. Don't." Jieun pleaded. 

"How about all the times your sister got hurt to save your pathetic self?" Their mom continued mockingly, looking at Jisung. "Don't you remember her screams? Don't you remember yourself begging me? If I were Jieun, I'd hate to call you my brother." 

Jisung froze. His eyes became cold and emotionless. All the horrible memories flashed before his eyes and he sharply took a breath in. His fists were shaking with fury and Jieun grabbed his hand to calm him down. 

"Jisung. Look at me." Jieun made Jisung face her. 

She looked into his eyes. "Jisung-ah, it's not true. Don't listen to her. It wasn't because of you. Please, don't blame yourself again. If anything, I survived because I had you by my side and you know it too." Jisung closed his eyes and took deep breaths. "Jisung-ah I'm so proud of you. No one could've been a better brother for me other than you." 

Their mother scrunched up her face in disgust. "Gosh, I can't stand these losers." She left shaking her head.

Jieun watched her leave. Her eyes showed pain and anger. But she held back her emotions and focused on her brother. 

She caressed his hand with her thumb and then hugged him. "I love you Jisung-ah. You don't know how much I love you..." Jisung did not reply and Jieun started to tear up. "Please... Jisung-ah, say something..." Her voice breaking. 

Jisung hugged her back and started sobbing. "N-noona..." Jieun tightened the hug and patted his head, lovingly. "Sh.. Don't cry. It's okay. It's over now. Noona is fine. You are fine. Everything's okay. So don't cry."

Jisung pulled away and sniffed. "Noona, I'm sorry because of me-" Jieun gave Jisung a small smile. "I told you didn't I? As long as I have you, nothing else matters to me." Jisung pulled on Jieun's hand like a kid. "But-" 

Jieun cupped his face and wiped his tears with her thumb. "I also told you, that seeing you cry, hurts me. Do you want to see me cry that badly?" Jisung quickly shook his head. "Then smile and cheer up, you big baby." Jieun said squishing his cheeks. 

"Noona! I'm not a baby anymore!" Jisung pushed her hands away and huffed. "I've grown up now. Don't treat me like a baby!"

The entire time Jeno, Renjun, Jaemin, Haechan and Chenle had been quietly observing everything. Now, Jaemin and Haechan walked over to Jisung.  

"Our cute baby Jisungie~" They patted his head, ruffled his hair and squished his cheeks. "Ah stop stop stop!!!" Jisung turned to Jieun and whined. "See, they may be my hyungs, but I act more mature than them. I'm the hyung here!!"

Jaemin and Haechan continued to play around with Jisung. Jaemin was being clingy and was trying to kiss Jisung, while saying 'oh how cute our Jisung is!'.

Haechan was caressing Jisung's chin while saying 'Jisung-ah how about we go to the rollercoaster rides?'. 

Chenle was looking down with tears in his eyes and both Jeno and Jieun noticed it. Jeno walked over to him and put his arm around him. "Chenle, what happened? Why is our Chenle sad?"

Chenle pouted and looked at Jieun with tear-filled eyes. "Noona... I'm sorry... it's all my fault... if I had not told her, she wouldn't have known and she wouldn't come here-" Jieun reached out and gently held Chenle's hand. "It's not your fault, Chenle. Don't blame yourself. I don't. Neither should you." 

"But Jisung-" Jieun gave him a smile. "And I bet, Jisung doesn't either." Chenle wasn't convinced so Jieun hugged him and patted his head. 

"You know, I've always thought of you as my own little brother...so I get hurt, whenever I see you cry. Makes me want to cuddle you and protect you at all costs. And believe me when I say, I'll fight anyone who makes our precious Chenle cry. But...what do I do, when you are crying because of me?" Jieun pulled away looking sad. 

Chenle instantly smiled and hugged Jieun. "No. No one is allowed to make you cry. Not even me or Jisung. If my crying makes you sad, I won't cry. See?" Jieun hugged back, smiling.

Jeno cleared his throat. "What about me? Everybody forgot about me?" He pouted and crossed his arms. So Chenle attacked him with hugs. "No hyung~ How could we ever forget our NoJam hyung~".

Meanwhile Renjun's eyes had been only on Jieun. He had been watching her ever since she had woken up.

Jieun sat back and looked on over Jaemin, Jisung, Haechan, Jeno and Chenle with a small smile. Her eyes then went towards the boy still sitting on the chair, his phone still in his hand. 

His body was stiff and his face emotionless. His dark and cold eyes already looking at her.

She found herself looking into his eyes, just as he looked back into hers.