you didn't want to, but you liked their kindness.
ᅠᅠ╰─> WOO JU-IN.
His character was one that Ham Haru knew all too well. Ever since she figured what kind of person he was, the ebony girl had always been cautious about this guy. Woo Ju-in acted all innocent and adorable, but Ham Haru knew better than to stick her nose into things that are dangerous.
"... Yup, mom! It's your cutest, loveliest son, Ju-in~!"
"No, you're not my son, cutie." She bluntly replied, cutting short his happiness. "Like I said, you can only have one mom, and that is Dan-I. I'm your Noona, and you're my cutie~!"
Woo Ju-in frowned by the way she called him, his imaginary dog ears and tail dropped to sulk.
To think someone like him would be friends with me ─ one of those Four Heavenly Kings at that...well, as long as he doesn't do anything harmful to me.
"Aw, I still love you though so don't be sad." Ham Haru opened her arms wide, inviting the gloomy puppy. His aura brightened when she offered, and he immediately embraced her waist. The older girl couldn't help but chuckle at his adorable self and stroked his fluffy hair. Couldn't the day get any better? Waking up to see this big, fluffy and cute dog is good stress therapy.
She laughed while tickling his chin like a cute pup as he hugged again strongly. Unlike the first time Ham Haru met him, he was now way taller than her and could sometimes be mistaken as a big dog. He even started calling me mom together with Dan-I, but I insisted on being a big sister of his since he couldn't have 2 moms at the same time. Since then, I became his beloved "Noona".
Satisfied, she couldn't help but hum and joke. "I wish I could always wake up and hug you as my good morning~ Should I move into your place?"
At her words, Woo Ju-in froze. He then detached himself from the hug and grasped Ham Haru's hands firmly. "If Noona wishes, I can prepare a room ASAP!" His eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Now, now..."
A voice behind them interrupted. They looked back to see Kwon Eunhyung standing in the doorway in his apron. He had a fresh smile for the two of them despite the cold morning.
"you two should hurry or else we'll be late."
Ham Haru couldn't see far away, so she wasn't sure who that guy was.
"That's Eunhyung, Noona." Woo Ju-in informed, handing the girl her eyeglasses since he knew she couldn't see properly.
"Thanks, cutie." Ham Haru wore them before patting Ju-in's head.
"We'll leave now as you get ready. We'll be waiting next door." Kwon Eunhyung told her as Woo Ju-in skipped to follow him out of Ham Haru's bedroom.
"Roger that. Thanks for waking me up~!" The ebony girl waved with a blissful smile as the two boys left.
Ham Haru then sprang her body out of the bed, she got the hairbrush and combed her straight black lush hair. 3 years ago, it was only up to her chest, but now it reached her waist. Before she knew it, her body underwent drastic changes.
After the incident 2 years ago, Ham Haru realized that her original blue eyes had turned mocha brown and that her hair color got lighter.
Shoving her head in a thick white t-shirt with long sleeves and wore gray fleece-lined leggings with black denim mini shorts on, she armed herself for the weather.
Hmm, it'll be colder... That in mind, she grabbed the cashmere scarf and black coat by the table before an object captured her attention, making her halt. It was the very same notebook she used to gather information in this world. The one she first used after waking up in this place.
It's been exactly 3 years since I've stayed in this web novel-like world. Until now, I'm still unsure whether or not this was a dream. Ban Yeoryeong and I have been friends since we were young. Ham Dan-I was also my sister, and her family is my family. All the bizarreness Ham Haru went through before had finally reached its peak, from start till the end. Nothing seemed to have happened even after a well-earned rest, making her decide to accept that.
The only truth this parallel world was indicating to her from the very beginning. The thing she had been denying since the ultimate starting point.
As the ebony girl woke up, the world suddenly changed into that of a web novel. In front of her, there were handsome guys with colorful hairs named the Four Heavenly Kings. Along with them all was a stunning and smart girl, and a normal girl.
The so-called female protagonist of this web novel, was Ham Dan-I. From what Ham Haru had observed since her arrival in this place, it was obviously true.
At first, she thought it was Ban Yeoryeong, but after further inspection, it was actually Ham Dan-I and their neighbor was second. And the role Ham Haru was having in this novel seemed to be a sister of Ham Dan-I and also a girl living next door to Ban Yeoryeong. You know, in web novels, there is a girl who steadily appears as the female protagonist's friend or sister. That was her, Ham Haru. The supporting character. There was nothing else written for me to make me special. That was all.The reason for this setting is something I cannot answer. Maybe it's really a dream. However, the reason why the infamous Four Heavenly Kings were in the same class as I was because I happened to be Ham Dan-I's and Ban Yeoryeong's classmate. They must be in the same class as the Four Heavenly Kings too. That was the only reason.
.
.
.
That day, I made up my mind.
What would be so good about involving me with Ham Dan-I and Ban Yeoryeong? Being Ham Dan-I's twin meant I have to go through what she'll experience. As the main protagonist, she has a perfect childhood friend by her side. Ban Yeoryeong's smart, pretty, and popular among the boys, but she does not know about her beauty. Wouldn't it be suffocating to be friends with them? The boys around Ban Yeoryeong were even worse.
The conglomerate heir, Eun Ji-ho. Woo Ju-in who seemed to be interested in Ban Yeoryeong and Ham Dan-I. Finally, the blue-eyed and the red-haired boys in the classroom. The epic love and thriller story of all their affairs, jealousy, and abduction.
I did not want to be involved in this storm of fate. However, it looked like Ham Dan-I struggled even more than me so it turned out pretty entertaining in the end.
Two years had passed since that day I knew the truth to everything. Even if I look back, the scene with me standing on the rooftop was still vivid.
I was now gazing blankly at the notebook I found in my pocket.
I did not know it was still here. This was from 3 years ago when I took down notes about my current complex situation, but I might have put it in a rarely used coat and stored it somewhere instead of throwing it away.
I giggled at the carefully written letters that had specks of dust all over. Then I gave a deep sigh with the smile on.
"It's been an interesting story so far, huh..."
Yeah, those were the days. At those times, my twin sister Ham Dan-I, was innocent enough to believe it was possible to get far away from Ban Yeoryeong, the Four Heavenly Kings, and to live a life out of the novel.
Three years have passed since then but still, nothing has changed. Ham Dan-I, one with a unique personality, was still my twin sibling. Ban Yeoryeong, the dazzling beauty and the second female protagonist, is still living next door. Now, we're about to go to the same high school.
Like salt and pepper, not only Ham Dan-I and Ban Yeoryeong, but the Four Heavenly Kings were coming with us. No wonder.
"..."
I touched 'dream,' the letters carefully written on the calendar 3 years ago, and held onto the wall. Then I dropped my head and sighed again.
Yes, I failed waking up from this dream. Ham Dan-I, the boys and Ban Yeoryeong, those who were integrated with all the elements of a novel, were still around me and turned my daily life into a surreal dream. What could I do? This was the reality I was going through.
The complicated feelings combined with strange emotions of regrets and sympathy provoked me. I could hardly throw out the black notebook eventually. I put the dusty thing inside my drawer and pushed it into the corner.
Yes. Anyway, three years have passed. I thought things such as my relationship with those novel characters would not change. However, as it turns out, that was what I got: different. This is not a story about Ban Yeoryeong, but it was a story about Ham Dan-I.
This is a story about my sister, who has been a best friend with the female protagonist for the last three years in middle school, and who will continue being with her throughout my high school days.
The most important thing in the law of the web novels is, of course, describing the appearance of the male and female protagonists. As for the male protagonist, a sharp blade-like nose ridge, well-shaped lips, and so on... Whereas, the female protagonist has a small face and juicy red lips.
Ham Dan-I's that character who's unpopular but manages to capture the attention of those in the spotlight.
However, I described all that already and confirmed that the two present girls with me are the female protagonists.
Then what is the next important thing then, one might ask? That is when we will start discussing the male protagonist's friends.
My sister, who was not aware of her real role, thought she was some kind of mob character and suspected it was a Eun Ji-ho x Ban Yeoryeong romance.
In web novels, the male protagonist has generally two or three friends. Their characteristics are simply like the things listed below:
― ―: A cold handsome guy called, the ice prince
^_^: A sweetheart type with a never-ending smile
>_<: A cute guy full of charms.
It was predictable, but the three friends of the male protagonist were all found in the same class, 1-4, where Ham Dan-I, Ban Yeoryeong and I were during middle school. The reason is easy to guess. It's because the female protagonists and the Four Heavenly Kings should get closer.
Yoo Chunyoung, the cold Adonis with blue-black hair and blue eyes, was aloof as expected. He did not even talk with girls. During a conversation, he always had short answers. He surely deserved to have the role of the '― ―.'
Kwon Eunhyung, the redhead with his green-black eyes playing the role of '^_^,' was such an honest and hardworking boy. To explain, he was never late to school. Not to mention, he would always dress neatly, and he became the class president after a unanimous decision from everyone in the class. I later discovered that he was elected as the annual class president for the last six years since elementary school.
Finally, the '>_<' was Woo Ju-in, the brown-haired friend of Eun Ji-ho. He was bright as I've seen. He was incredibly sociable thus making him everybody's little brother in class after less than a month since the beginning of the semester.
At that time, everyone in Class 1-4 said it was a great blessing to have these four people including Eun Ji-ho as their classmates. Ham Dan-I, however, did not share the same opinion. Due to their looks, she was undergoing a vision problem. To briefly explain, my sister was suffering the most since others looked like squids.
The Four Heavenly Kings and Ban Yeoryeong made other people look like ugly creatures in comparison. They were causing significant harm to others. Whenever possible, she stalked their faces with no hidden intention to feast her eyes. I mean, a little on purpose.
Whether she peeped them or not, they did not seem to care. Maybe they would have not noticed her eyes on them. When most of the girls in class were looking at them, it was not impossible. Meanwhile, I just enjoy the setting and draw them.
That was all.
Hmm, but I wonder what Ju-in placed on my forehead when he tried waking me up? It was slightly soft and warm at the same time. It felt like lips, but it was probably his thumb. I mean, why on earth would he, of all people kiss some mob character like me? I must be crazy to even wonder if he kissed me. After all, he likes Dan-I. I touched my forehead. The lingering warmth didn't seem to fade away anytime soon. But the texture...rather than thumb, it must've been a part of his palm. Bullying while I slept, aye?
As I went out to enter the apartment room next door wondering how to get my revenge on Woo Ju-in, I saw Kwon Eunhyung in an apron as he greeted me with a smile.
"Have you finished getting ready?" I felt my heart being squeezed.
I swear, his mother-like demeanor was what inspired me to eat my meals daily and stick to being a good girl and not a delinquent.
Contrast to my real feelings, I nodded and reciprocated his gesture.
"Yup, I'm good to go."
We were going to have a reunion with Ham Dan-I and the others before we begin our new school semester. Ever since I moved out from home and left my twin and Ban Yeoryeong, I've been hanging out with Kwon Eunhyung and the others here since we lived in the same apartment building ― excluding Woo Ju-in as he lives somewhere else.
"Noona~!!" Woo Ju-in rushed to hug me like a small kid who saw Santa for the first time. "We should hurry early before the others reach the train station."
"Should we make a bet whether or not we or them will arrive first?" When I asked, Woo Ju-in's eyes sparkled knowing he was winning this already.
"Let's bet~! The winner gets to order one request to the loser and the loser must do whatever it is~"
"... On second thought, I think I'll back out from this bet."
"Ehhhhh?? A pity..."
Seeing his smirk earlier, I knew I didn't stand a chance against this guy. It'd be best not to make bets with him. Unlike me, he had 200 IQ. But...if I win, he'll do whatever 1 order I'll give.
In the end, I shook hands with him and he gleefully complied.
While we waited for Kwon Eunhyung to finish up cleaning the kitchen, I walked up to Yoo Chunyoung who was sleeping on the couch.
"Did he stay up online gaming again till morning?" Noticing the dark circles under the slumbering boy was enough to tell. He was handsome, but not sleeping early was ruining his beauty.
"He did." The red haired boy sighed at his friend's stubbornness. "No matter what I said, he still kept on playing."
Kwon Eunhyung's face was priceless. He looked like all hope was lost for this poor boy named Yoo Chunyoung.
I would've giggled, but I didn't want to seem like I was mocking his efforts. Instead, I held out my hand and pinched Yoo Chunyoung in the cheeks real hard.
Almost immediately, his eyes shot open as he grabbed my hand away from his face. He rubbed his stinging cheek as he sat up to glare at me full of hostility.
"...Why did you do that, Ham Haru?"
"As the person who made my Aka babe restless of worry, you have every right to receive a pinch from me." I gravely started with a cold smile. Seemingly understanding where I was coming from, sweat trickled down from his cheek as he hung his head low to apologize for his mistakes.
"...This lowly being doesn't deserve Her Highness' divine pinch."
As the scenario of a Princess and a faithful masochist slave engulfed the room, Woo Ju-in turned to Kwon Eunhyung who awkwardly smiled at this setting.
"What in the world happened between those two when I was gone? Noona isn't abandoning me for him, right?" A terrifying expression casted upon Woo Ju-in's face, making his usually bubbly expression turn dark.
Being the only sane person in the room, Kwon Eunhyung sweat dropped trying to come up with a valid explanation. "Well, u-uh, shouldn't we start heading out? I've finished everything I needed to do."
"Oh? Then let's go~" I grinned. Unbeknownst to me, Kwon Eunhyung sighed at how my response saved him from handling our crazy selves.
We all went out wrapped up in warm clothing. Our interactions were wholesome and nice. It felt like I'm closer to them than I had originally planned. When we were all together, it felt as if the times I've spent with them were real. Woo Ju-in was there to accompany me with mischievous ideas to prank Eun Ji-ho, Kwon Eunhyung being a good friend, and then Yoo Chunyoung who only talks to me about games. It was fun being with friends.
The cold morning wind brushed my skin, trying to convince me too that this was reality.
However I knew better.
Even if I smile together with them and act all buddy-buddy.
Deep down I knew this lie would end eventually.
If not for the incident that took place 2 years ago, I would've really thought of them as friends.