~ Together by a String ~ (Jiyoo)

~5~

I stared at Siyeon's eyes as mine slowly started getting filled with tears that didn't want to fall. She dropped her bag and instantly ran to hug me. I hugged her back and let my suppressed tears fall on her shoulder. I missed my best friend.. She cuped my cheeks and sighed, slightly frowning.

"Did you do it Minji?

"*sniff* N-No Siyeon... I never kn-knew he would do s-such thing. I-I never knew... I'm so sorry- I swear- I had n-no idea, I didn't k-know-"

I was having a panic attack out of anxiety and fear. She shushed me and hugged me very tightly to help me calm down. My knees were very weak at this point and I dropped to the ground. Bora also crouched down to hug us and wanted to listen to my side of the story before judging me. I felt my breathing get back to normal and the two girls' eyes were following every move of mine. Bora pat my back and looked at me with worry.

"Minji, have you calmed down..?"

"Y-Yes.."

"We'll listen to you whenever you're ready."

" Okay..*sigh* So, on the day when me and Yoohyeon hung out after school and I dropped her off at her house, I got a call from my brother. He wanted to take me out for dinner and apologize for treating us unfairly and suspending us. I thought that it would be a good chance for us to finally bond like siblings, but the moment we reached the restaurant, he saw a man crossing a road. I saw my brother's eyes and I knew he was going to do something.. I didn't expect it to be something so awful. I tried to stop him, I-I swear I did. I really t-tried, I swear..."

Fuck, I started crying again. The two girls hugged me again and I noticed that they weren't so hostile to me anymore. They believed me, right? All I wanted to know was if Yoohyeon would believe me as well. After pulling out the hug, I looked straight into Bora's eyes and slightly surprised her by accident. I apologetically looked down and sighed before talking.

"Have you spoken to Yoohyeon recently? She hasn't been at school for a while so I'm a little worried. Is she.. mad at me?"

"Yes, but it's best if you don't contact her at all for now."

"What- Why? I want her to know that I didn't take any part in this."

"Minji, she refuses to have anything to do with you and that's why she didn't want to come to school. The only way you can talk to her is if you go to the hospital her brother got hospitalized in and talk to both of them in there."

"Oh.. Well.. What hospital? I'm going there tonight."

"Wha- Are you serious?"

"I'm always serious."

"It's the Saint Maria one, room B-302. But Minji, how positive are you that it will go well?"

I opened my mouth to answer her but then stopped. I didn't really think of the outcome nor what to say. She might not even want to talk to me and everything could go downhill.

"I don't know... But it's my only chance, I need to go."

Bora and Siyeon looked at me and just hesitantly nodded. I showed them a slight smile and soon we all left the rooftop, each of us going on our ways, hopefully.. still friends...