"Why are you being mean towards Kim Jisoo by avoiding her? Are you not friends?"
The cold tone coming from the famous Cha Eunwoo gave everyone the chills but his face looked indifferent. Jisoo stared at the scared looking Nayeon and thought of helping her out a bit but a firm hold on her wrist stopped her.
"He's right, you know." Rowoon stated, still holding her wrist. "She's being mean to you for no reason at all."
"That's because—" Jisoo was just about to tell him that there's a reason but the sudden arrival of the teacher had interrupted them all of the tension.
"Settle down everyone! Let's start the class."
Thanks to the teacher, Nayeon was saved from Cha Eunwoo's interrogations. Jisoo herself felt relieved and couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor girl. She pondered to what she have to do in order to clear the misunderstanding. Jisoo continually thought of possible ways for Nayeon to acknowledge her until she arrived back to her home.
"I'm home!" Jisoo announced.
"You're here?" Jin suddenly appeared by the entrance, welcoming his sister. "How's your day? Nothing bad happened, right? Just tell me if someone's bothering you and I'll—"
"Everything's fine oppa." Jisoo cut in. "I'm okay."
"Good." Jin finally looked relieved. "Come inside. I brought you something."
"What is it?" Jisoo asked excitedly.
"Tadaaa!" Jin showed his sister 2 cartons of banana milk. "It's your favorite!" Jin smiled.
Jisoo laughed. "Wow. Thanks oppa!" Jisoo took the cartons gratefully. "How cute."
"Of course. For my precious sister!" Jin said as he ruffled her hair gently.
"By the way, oppa." Jisoo took a pause from drinking one of the milk. "Im Nayeon." Jisoo started and she could see how her brother's figure became stiff.
"What about her?" Jin looked upset as he asked.
"Uh— Well, she's my classmate and—"
"What?" Jin looked horrified. "Did she do something to you? I mean, is she still ignoring you?"
"Oppa—" Jisoo looked troubled, knowing too well that Jin had known about the original Jisoo being bullied. "I won't let that happen again, oppa. So please don't worry about it anymore. It's all in the past now." Jisoo assured.
"You're right. What am I thinking? If you say so yourself, then I'm sure you'll be okay." Jin smiled. "But why are you talking about Im Nayeon all of a sudden?"
Jisoo told her brother everything about Nayeon being a victim too and the fact that she was only ignoring her because of feeling guilty. Jin finally realized that he might have been too hard on Nayeon by ignoring her every time they would meet somewhere around the apartment complex.
"Now, I feel bad." Jin said.
"Don't worry, oppa. I'll make sure that I'll clear all the misunderstanding between us." Jisoo assured once again, making her brother smile.
"Wow. You've really change a lot. You've grown into fine girl, Soo. I'm so proud of you." Jin stated, making Jisoo's face fell.
Jisoo felt guilty and sorry at the same time, knowing that the little sister that Jin knew was no longer in this world.
"This time around. I'll make sure that everything will be okay with Kim Jisoo's life. I'll make sure that no one would bully her. And to do that, I'll just have to make sure that she will not become the heroine this time. Ugh! That damn author! How can she be so mean towards the heroine? Making her life this miserable."
And so, Jisoo's battle against her own fate started with her trying to gain back Nayeon. For the first week of school, Jisoo tried to talk with Nayeon casually but Joy with her friends always had to interrupt them. But to Jisoo's relief, Eunwoo had never again tried to confront Nayeon ever since that first day. Jisoo was wondering if Minhyun have been the one to stop his friend. And since that day, Jinyoung and Rowoon started to hang out around Jisoo. Jisoo was thankful somehow, knowing her bullies would look away from her but it made Jisoo think that her life as a heroine would continue since the male protagonists kept hanging around her.
"Wow Jisoo. You took the first place once again." Jinyoung said, as he stared at the perfect scores Jisoo got from their tests.
Jisoo could only smile on the outside and deep inside, she was beginning to worry more as both Jinyoung and Rowoon seemed to be feeling comfortable with her now, seeing Jinyoung sitting on the chair beside her while Rooon sitting on her desk.
"Ha! So it seemed true then, about you being smart."
"Yah, Cha Eunwoo." Minhyun looked worried for Eunwoo's tone towards Jisoo.
"What? I was just telling them that the next time, I'll make sure to rank first on the tests." Eunwoo bragged as he was the one who ranked second and Jisoo could only smirk in return. "What are you smirking at?" He glared.
"Her face definitely shows that you looked pathetic, Eunwooya." Minhyun stated.
"What did you just say? Yah, Hwang Minhyun!" Eunwoo looked pissed and then turned towards Jisoo to ask whether it was true.
"As expected of you, Hwang Minhyun." Jisoo started. "You just said exactly what I was thinking about." Jisoo finished, giving Eunwoo her smirk once again.
"Why you—" Eunwoo was just about to retaliate but Jinyoung went to intervene.
"Now, now. Why don't you two play nice?" Jinyoung stated. "Many eyes are watching, you know." He noted and Jisoo bit her lower lip for forgetting about her goal.
Jisoo's eyes wandered towards the curious eyes around them. Of course everyone's attention would be on them since the four princes were gathered around her—the supposedly pretty heroine. Jisoo sighed and decided to just ignore them and kept quiet on her seat, not wanting any more attention.
"Why is it that the male protagonist always have to be drawn by the heroine in every novel? Tch." Jisoo thought, blaming every novel out there.
During lunch break, Jisoo found the timing to detach herself from the four princes by going to the ladies room. She was still inside one of the cubicles when she heard girls coming and one of them was Nayeon.
"Nayeon-ah, are you sure you're not friends with Jisoo?"
"Uhmm—" Nayeon sounded hesitant.
"Well, whatever. It's better if you stay away from that b*tch if you don't want us as your enemies instead."
"Seriously. I hate that Kim Jisoo even more."
"I know right? Why is it that she would stick herself with the four princes?"
"She's such a sly fox!"
Jisoo could definitely hear them and she was just about to go out from the cubicle to confront them but to her surprise, Nayeon's shaky voice came out, making her stop.
"Jisoo's not that kind of person— I mean, Jisoo's a nice girl." Nayeon's voice trembled.
"What did you just say?"
"What did Jisoo ever do to you? The class president and the others were the ones who came to her first. It's not Jisoo's fault." Nayeon continued. "So please, stop badmouthing her."
"Why you—"
Jisoo have had enough. She came out from the cubicle, making everyone gasp in shock. Nayeon looked like she was about to cry while the other girls were surrounding her.
"Park Joy." Jisoo's squinted her eyes towards the raised hand of Joy who was about to hit Nayeon. "What do you think you're going to do, huh?"
"I— What's it to you?" Joy spat back.
"Oh. Well then, maybe I should go to the teachers and show this recording to them?" Jisoo smirked, showing them her phone.
"What— what recording?"
"Oh, it's just about you girls badmouthing me. You know, this is considered bullying, right?" Jisoo glared. "Even if this is only a voice recording, but the fact that something like this had happened will make sure that the teachers will do some investigations. So what now?" Jisoo taunted.
"Tch. Whatever. Let's just go." Joy looked pissed as hell but decided to leave anyway together with her friends.
"Nayeon-ah. Are you okay?" Jisoo immediately went towards the kneeling Nayeon. "Are you hurt somewhere?" Jisoo asked, looking alarmed.
"I— I'm fine." Nayeon managed to answer. "I was just so relieve that they finally left."
"Are you stupid, or what?" Jisoo exclaimed, looking amused. "You should have just agreed with them even if you didn't mean any of it. That way, they'll leave you alone."
"But—" Nayeon looked even more guilty. "I couldn't let them just say that to you. I know you're not that kind of person. You're very kind and I— I left you." Nayeon started to tear up. "I'm so sorry, Jisooya." Nayeon cried.
"Shh. It's okay. I understand." Jisoo said as she hugged the crying girl. "I'm not angry at you that's why I've been trying to talk to you this past few days." She added and wiped the tears from Nayeon's face. "I wanted to tell you that I don't blame you at all."
"Really?" Nayeon sniffled.
"Yeah. And I wanted to be friends with you again, Nayeon-ah. That's if you want to." Jisoo said, smiling down at Nayeon.
"Of course! I want to be friends with you again, Jisooya. Thank you!" Nayeon cried again and Jisoo just giggled as she continually wipe her friend's tears.
When Jisoo and Nayeon came back to their class room together, Eunwoo was the first one to notice it. He immediately went towards the two girls who were busy talking with each other.
"What do we have here? What's up with you two?" Eunwoo asked, giving Nayeon his cold stare and Jisoo quickly stood in front of Nayeon, blocking his view of her.
"Leave her alone, Eunwoo." Jisoo glared. "Don't you dare touch her, or I'll make sure to make your life miserable." Jisoo threatened.
"What the—" Eunwoo looked shock by Jisoo's sudden fieriness. "Yah! You sounded like I came to bully her." Eunwoo exclaimed.
"But it looked like you would really do it, though." Minhyun commented, appearing beside his friend. "Anyway, please excuse his rude behavior, Nayeon."
"It's okay." Nayeon smiled.
"Hey! I wasn't trying to bully anyone!" Eunwoo defended.
"But what happened?" Rowoon appeared this time. "I mean, I thought you guys aren't friends."
"Yah, Woon-ah." Jinyoung warned.
"It's a long story." Jisoo cut in. "Nayeon and I are friends and that's it. That's all you guys have to know, so will you please spread out?" She added, getting aware of all the eyes on them.
Of course, the boys didn't listen and stayed with them, conversing with Nayeon. Jisoo rolled her eyes, staring at them and then an idea suddenly came into her mind.
"Wait. What if—" Jisoo's eyes sparkled as she stared at Nayeon talking with the four princes. "What if I make Nayeon the heroine instead? I mean it would be perfect! And I'll just be the best friend of the heroine who would stay beside her and support her! It's perfect!" Jisoo's expression lit up by her idea and it didn't escape Eunwoo.
"Yah. Stop smiling like that. You look scary." Eunwoo stated and the rest also noticed Jisoo's change of mood.
"You look like someone scheming something evil." Rowoon commented.
"Did something good happen, Jisoo?" Minhyun asked, looking curious.
"Guys. Stop saying it like that. Maybe Jisoo just feels happy that she finally have a female friend." Jinyoung stated.
"Yah. How can you guys say that?" Jisoo looked embarrassed being caught off guard.
"But I'm glad that I became friends with Jisoo again." Nayeon said shyly, making their eyes look at her softly.
"This is it! A perfect expression belonging to that of a heroine!" Jisoo thought, thinking about how cute and feminine Nayeon looked just now. "First of all, Nayeon is cute and she's courageous when it needed to be like what happened back at the Ladies room earlier."
"It's good to know that you guys are friends again." Jinyoung commented towards Jisoo.
"Huh?" Jisoo looked at him confusedly.
Jisoo was startled when Jinyoung was observing her while the other boys were busy talking with Nayeon or came back to sleeping on his desk, namely Rowoon. Jisoo looked happy knowing that the misunderstanding between her and Nayeon finally ended. And now that another goal came into her mind, she decided to go all the way with it.
"Yeah. I'm happy." Jisoo smiled wholeheartedly, making Jinyoung astonished by her genuine expression.
"Wow. Now that I think about it, you really look beautiful when you smile." Jinyoung noted, making Jisoo blush. "You should smile more often."
"Crap. I forgot how this pretty face of mine could kill." Jisoo thought.
Days past and Jisoo was trying her best to make Nayeon become the heroine and somehow, she managed to make Nayeon become closer with the male protagonists. But by doing this, jealous girls started to appear and would try to mess with Nayeon.
"I can't believe that Im Nayeon. Just because she became friends with Kim Jisoo, she became close with the four princes."
"Maybe that's why she approach Jisoo in the first place, right? In order to get close with them?"
"That wench would soon meet her end. Just wait."
With all the gossips they hear, Jisoo couldn't help but to butt in. Jisoo with Nayeon tailing behind her went towards the cafeteria table where the gossiping girls were sitting at. When Jisoo made the decision of making Nayeon the heroine, she told herself that she wouldn't let anything bad to happen to her friend and would protect her at all cost.
"Yah! What did you just say?" Jisoo spat angrily at the girls who were badmouthing Nayeon.
"Jisooya, stop." Nayeon was quick to stop her friend. "It's okay. I really don't mind those gossips anyway."
"But—" Jisoo looked like she was about to protest but knew that Nayeon was right.
After all, if she would continue to get on their bad side, Nayeon would be the one to get all the hate instead. Jisoo bit her lower lip in frustration, not knowing what to do for her friend. For the first time, Jisoo looked upset. A gentle pat on her head made Jisoo look up only to see Eunwoo staring down at her.
"Cha Eunwoo? What—" Jisoo immediately willed herself to stop her tears from falling.
Eunwoo suddenly pulled Jisoo away from the table and blocked her view of the gossiping girls. Jisoo finally noticed that Minhyun was also there and was already pulling Nayeon away from the scene. Both Jinyoung and Rowoon joined Eunwoo in facing the girls.
"Sunbae." Eunwoo started, talking to the girls who looked pleased for being able to talk with the famous princes.
"Oh, Eunwooya. What is it? Do you need something?"
"If you need anything, we could definitely be of help."
"Just a word and we—"
"I would greatly appreciate it if you stop appearing in front of me and my friends starting today." Eunwoo stated coldly, his piercing eyes gave the girls the chills.
"What— I don't understand."
"What do you mean by that, Cha Eunwoo?"
"I mean what I said. Stop appearing in front of Jisoo and Nayeon, or I'll make sure to talk with the members of the school board regarding of you bullying my friend." Eunwoo exclaimed and didn't even bother to get a reply from them and just pulled Jisoo away from that place.
"Just consider what he said as a warning, sunbae." Jinyoung said, smiling coldly.
Both Jinyoung and Rowoon also left and followed their friends. Jisoo was still in a daze after what happened. She couldn't believe that Eunwoo just did that in order to help them. For the first time, Jisoo realized one of the characteristics of a male protagonist from Eunwoo.
"Hey, how long are you going to hold my hand?" Jisoo asked.
Eunwoo stopped from walking and stared at his hand on Jisoo's wrist. He quickly let go of her wrist and look away. Jisoo noticed how his face and ears turning red in embarrassment.
"Ha??? Don't get me wrong! It's not like I wanted it. I was just—" Eunwoo started blabbing, not making sense at all.
"How cute. A tsundere prince, indeed." Jisoo thought, smiling the way Eunwoo looked embarrassed. "Thanks." Jisoo blurted, making Eunwoo stop from talking nonsense.
"It was the first time that I saw you look like that." Eunwoo started. "You're usually cheeky and full of spirit but then earlier, for the first time, you look distressed."
Jisoo was taken aback. She never expected for him to notice all that. Jisoo felt touched but shook herself, remembering that she shouldn't be feeling that way since she decided to change her fate.
"Well, it's all because of Nayeon." Jisoo answered after the silence. "I'm quite protective of her, you know that. I hate to admit it but thanks to you, Nayeon's safe." Jisoo said, giving him her famous cheeky expression.
Eunwoo smirked. "Of course. You're too obsess with your friend, seriously."
"Jisoo!" Nayeon called out. "Are you okay?" Nayeon asked, looking worried.
"Yah! I should be asking you that instead!" Jisoo went to hug her friend. "Just where the hell did Minhyun and the others took you? Did they do something to you? Just tell me and I'll beat them up for you." Jisoo exclaimed.
"Yah! How can you say that?" Minhyun pouted. "I was the one who protected Nayeon all this time when you've gotten abducted by Eunwoo, you know."
"Who abducted who?" Eunwoo growled.
"Yeah. Knowing Jisoo, I'm sure she's the one who abducted Eunwoo." Rowoon commented.
"Come on, you guys. Let's go back to our classroom. The teacher will be coming anytime now." Jinyoung said and they all started to head back.
Days, months and years past. Jisoo and her friends were now in their last year of middle school. The six of them became closer than ever and Jisoo was sure that her goal was starting to set, seeing how Nayeon became closer to the four princes. Minhyun started to call Nayeon his mom as Nayeon kept treating him like a kid. Jinyoung became closer with Nayeon too ever since he started to escort Nayeon home in order to swat away the bullies who were after her. Rowoon on the other hand became close with her after knowing that they enjoy the same hobbies which was listening to the same kind of music. And Eunwoo, who started to become close with Nayeon by spending some time with her family during the overnights they would have in the past. Of course, Jisoo would be there too and she would share the same room as Nayeon while Eunwoo would sleep in the spare room next to them. The other boys would usually go home while Eunwoo would give an excuse of being too tired to go home and would decide to sleep over.
"Seriously, just go home!" Nayeon stated after Eunwoo decided to sleep over again. "It's not like you can't call for your driver to pick you up."
"That's right." Eunwoo said. "But the fact that I have to walk myself downstairs is too much for my tired legs." He added, giving them his impish smile.
"Nayeon-ah, do you want me to kick his ass for you?" Jisoo exclaimed, putting her bag down as if readying herself for some action.
"Yah! You gangster! What do you think you're trying to do?" Eunwoo spat, looking nervous.
"Minhyun and the others already left. You should have just gotten home with them." Nayeon repeated. "Why is it that you always sleep over here? Why can't you sleep over at Minhyun's or Rowoon's?"
"Yeah. You tell him, Nayeon." Jisoo smirked.
"Well first of all, auntie treats me very well." Eunwoo answered, talking about Nayeon's mom. "She cooks delicious food and uncle always makes me laugh with his stories and jokes."
Nayeon sighed in defeat after hearing all the compliments for her parents. "Jisooya, can you—"
"You don't have to tell me, Nayeon-ah. I'll definitely sleep here with you in order to protect you from this monster." Jisoo stated, giving Eunwoo a disgusted look.
"Yah!" Eunwoo looked pissed.
"By the way, how's everyone's preparation for the trip?" Nayeon asked, referring to the trip that the six of them had planned out before their incoming graduation.