Inso's Law: The Other Protagonist

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"I thought you had done something to upset her, done something that would make her go so out of character, so I initially despised you to the bone, especially when she started avoiding us the moment she started hanging out with you." He let out a bitter smile; Dan-I stayed silent, taking in every point that Ju-in was making as she understood to their core, what the roots of his thoughts and emotions were.

"It wouldn't be the first time someone threatened her for being friends with us, so I thought you were simply like them," The brunette, once again, faced Dan-I, this time, glancing sideways as they made eye contact. 

He displayed a warm smile,

"But seeing you around her, removed all those thoughts away. I know you deeply care for her, maybe even as much as I do and that's saying something, so eventually, I started to like you too, mom." The lighthearted tone was back, but this time, Dan-I simply reciprocated the smile. 

She didn't know why they were on this topic, or why Ju-in suddenly got so serious. But, she had a feeling this had something to do with the phone call yesterday so she felt responsible to hear his feelings out.

"Being friends with mom, for about three years was something I came not to regret. I liked being friends with you; you look out and take care of us a lot, and I know all of us wouldn't hesitate to do the same with you." The confession brought some sense of warmth in Dan-I's chest as her smile never faded, but the nerves came back as Ju-in spoke the next word,

"But..." The brunette looked away, a cloud of remorse suddenly within his eyes.

Dan-I slightly panicked, as she very rarely saw that kind of expression in her friend before, but as always, she kept quiet; giving the space for Ju-in to open up.

Fortunately for Dan-I, Ju-in did, but not before releasing a heavy sigh.

"But sometimes, on some rare occasions, you have this look in your eyes that makes my insides go all crazy."

His fist clasped and unclasped as he shot Dan-I an unreadable look,

"The look that pounds blood in my heart so much that I'm filled with rage and worry altogether;"

There was a pause, Dan-I's face displaying subtle shock at the sudden revelation, her hands trembling slightly as she forced herself to speak.

"W-what is that look" If her trembling fingers never hinted at her nervousness with the attitude her friend was displaying, then her stuttering would have given it all away,

Ju-in never broke eye contact as he uttered the next words,

"The look that you give towards Aera, that implies something bad is going to happen to her like she's going to disappear from our fingertips into oblivion—"

"Ju-in—" Dan-I cut him off, getting the hint of where the conversation was going, but Ju-in ignored her, breaking their eye contact in the process.

"I absolutely loathe that look. You know why, mom?" Staring into the sky once more, he let Dan-I answer his rhetorical question,

"W-why?"

"...because I won't know what to do when that look comes true."

"Ju-in—" Dan-I tried to cut him off again, now knowing much clearer what her friend was pertaining to,

"Eunhyung told me and Ji-ho this morning" He tore his gaze from the sky to face Dan-I again, confirming her thoughts that he did know, that perhaps all of them did.

"He won't show it now, but Ji-ho, for the first time in a long time, cried, trying to rack his brain for any traces of Aera when I told him I don't remember her on that specific day,"

Dan-I could not help but be teary now, as she herself, was forced to remember how she convinced that the duo had a childhood friend with similar hair color to Ji-ho, but both shrugged her off,

"I'm sorry," was all she could mutter.

Placing a hand on her head, Ju-in chuckled, although it had a tone of emptiness rather than lighthearted teasing,

"It's not your fault, mom. I can't get my head wrapped around it yet as it's so illogical but it happened." He wrapped his arms around her as her slight tears turned into quiet sobs,

"I don't blame anyone, you know? Especially not you, not after witnessing the countless times you would do everything for her the same way I would. I know how you feel and I'm sorry too, Dan-ah." Dan-I kept silent, the only indication she was listening was her silent nods of agreement.

Again, there was a pause; with Ju-in evidently hesitating to state the next words,

"...but please don't take her away from us," Dan-I shot her head up quite quickly, looking at a still smiling Ju-in with her brows furrowed and her expression filled with guilt.

"Yeah, I know about the transfer talk too." He let his hands wipe the remaining tears as the girl in his arms started to calm down.

"I know how much you care, but please consider how much we care for her and you too." He hugged the girl tighter, letting his head fall on the crook between her head and her shoulders,

"I'll do whatever I can to make sure I don't forget her again, so please, Dan-ah, don't just leave and take her away from us."

And at the sound of a teary Ju-in—a very rare scene, Dan-I could say nothing but nod in response, reciprocating the hug as both contemplate the complicated state of their silver-haired, lovable friend.

"Okay, Ju-in," She started.

 "You, me, Aera, and the others, let's continue to be great friends even in high school."

Dan-I knew she said that and Dan-I knew she meant it—being friends, and sticking with the group that makes not only Aera but also her feel treasured and loved...

...but the class list for their first year in junior high seems to dictate otherwise,

Turns out, she and Aera, after that emotional phone call and face-to-face conversation— promising to stick with the group, has finally been placed in a different class: Class 8.

And as she turned around, she was met with equal shock and devasted faces of her friends, one of which was ready to march into the faculty room to demand a change of sections but was held back by a scarily smiling Eunhyung,

Then and there, Dan-I released an exasperated sigh as she could only think of one thing:

What is up with this shitting law of novels.

✧─── ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧

[A/N]

I promise!! I think this would be the last?? for now, emotional chapter, as we delve into Aera's jealous friends as she meets new ones in class 8!! HEHEHE

Super sorry for the late updates, my acad workload is whack so I haven't been able to update. I'll try my hardest, but please understand when I can't T^T

Thank you for the likes and comments hihi <33