A memory surfaced—soft, warm, and painfully alive.
A hand holding hers.
A voice laughing lightly.
Yeonjoo (smiling, teasing): “Who do you think will protect you, huh?” Ana—no, Lily back then—had frowned.
Lily (pouting): “who” Yeonjoo laughed, that same bright, unbreakable laugh.
Yeonjoo (grinning): “Of course.
I’ll protect you.
No matter what.” She had leaned closer, her tone turning softer—but never losing that playful edge.
Yeonjoo: “Even if I die, I’ll come back as a ghost and haunt you.
So don’t even think about being alone.” Lily had rolled her eyes.
Lily: “That’s creepy.” Yeonjoo (laughing): “That’s friendship.” Then— her expression turned serious for just a second.
Yeonjoo (quiet, firm): “We’re friends.
No one can separate us.
Ever.” — The memory shattered.
Back to the present.
Back to the nurse’s office.
Ana’s chest tightened.
Ana (thinking, trembling): Yeonjoo… ana whisper Her eyes fell on Yeon.
Ana (thinking): I couldn’t save her… back then.
Her fingers curled into fists.
Ana (thinking, determined): But this time… Ana (thinking): I will save your sister.
— Yeon stood up slowly.
Her eyes were lowered.
She was about to leave.
But— Ana moved first.
She grabbed Yeon’s hand.
Tightly.
Yeon froze.
Ana looked at her—and smiled.
It was Not forced.
Not awkward.
But A real smile.
Ana (soft, but firm): “Sorry… but that’s not happening.” Yeon blinked, confused.
Ana’s grip tightened just slightly.
Ana (gentle, smiling): “Once someone becomes my friend… I won’t leave them.” A pause.
Her voice softened—but carried weight.
Ana: “Not even after death.” Yeon’s eyes widened.
Ana smiled a little more, a faint echo of someone else hidden in it.
Ana (lightly): “So you’re stuck with me.” Silence.
Then— Yeon’s lips trembled.
Her heart raced.
That empty place inside her—something she thought would never be filled again— It hurts.
But not in a bad way.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
And for the first time in a long time— she smiled freely..
Yeon (tearful, soft): “…Okay.” — A few minutes later— Ana tilted her head slightly.
Ana (confused): “Yeon… what’s that noise outside?” Yeon hesitated.
She scratched her cheek awkwardly.
Yeon (hesitant): “Umm… it’s Ed and Kel…” Ana frowned.
Yeon continued slowly.
Yeon: “When you fainted… Ed kind of… panicked.” Ana blinked no expression.
Yeon (trying not to smile): “He kept asking the nurse—when will you wake up, why are you like this, if you are okay— over and over again…” Ana’s expression stiffened.
Yeon: “And then Kel came after hearing about you… and both of them started arguing inside the office.” A pause.
Yeon (awkward): “So the nurse… kicked them out.” Ana went silent.
Very silent.
Ana (thinking, horrified): …They’re outside?…Together?…..
Making noise?
She slowly leaned back on the bed.
Ana (muttering): “Thank god… they’re outside.” A second later— The door burst open.
Ed (loud): “ANA!” Kel (at the same time): “Are you okay?!” Before she could react— Both of them rushed in— and hugged her.
At the same time.
Tightly.
Too tightly.
Ana froze.
Her eyes twitched.
Then— Ana (shouting): “LEAVE ME—!!” — Later.
School terrace.
The wind was calmer there.
But the atmosphere wasn’t.
Kel leaned against the railing, serious.
Kel: “Tomorrow’s that day.” Ed groaned.
Ed (annoyed): “I don’t want to go.” Kel rolled his eyes.
Kel: “Who are you to refuse?
sister already told us to come, idiot.” Ed crossed his arms.
Ed: “I’m not going.
Tell her that.” Kel smirked slightly.
Kel: “Say it to her face.
If you have the courage.” Both of them went silent.
At the same time— they imagined her.
Their sister.
The same terrifying presence.
Both visibly tensed.
— A voice interrupted.
Ana (curious): “Is it some kind of family gathering?” Ed glanced at her.
Then smirked slightly.
Ed: “Gathering?
More like a meeting.” Ana tilted her head.
Ana: “Your families must be close then.” Both Ed and Kel froze.
They slowly turned toward her.
In sync.
Ed & Kel (together, shocked): “What are you talking about?” Ana blinked.
Ana: “Aren’t you…?” Ed sighed.
Ed: “We’re stepbrothers.” Silence.
Ana and Yeon stared at them.
Then— Ana & Yeon (shouting): “WHAT?!” Kel frowned.
Kel (annoyed): “Stepbrothers.” Ana pointed between them.
Ana (confused): “Then why different surnames?” Ed shrugged.
Ed: “Because we have Different mothers but same Same father.” Ana stared.
Yeon stared.
Both processing.
Ana (thinking): They fight like enemies… but they’re siblings?
Is it even possible?
Yeon tilted her head.
Yeon: “Does anyone else know?” Ed scoffed.
Ed: “No.
I don’t like this idiot.
Why would I tell anyone he’s my brother?” Kel snapped back.
Kel: “Like I’d ever accept you as one.” Ed: “Good.
Because I don’t either.” They started arguing again.
Loud.
Childish.
Constant.
Ana watched them.
Then looked at Yeon.
Both silently agreed— Ignore them.
They continued eating.
— As they were leaving— Ana suddenly paused.
She felt something.
A gaze.
She turned slightly— But— Yeon: “Ana?
Let’s go.” Ana hesitated— then walked away.
Behind the terrace bars— Min stood hidden.
Her eyes locked on Ana.
Burning.
Min (cold, angry): “Why do you always come between me and Kel?” Her grip tightened on the railing.
Min: “Looks like I’ve been too easy on you.” A slow smile formed.
Min (dark): “That ends now.” — Later in Corridor.
Ana: “Next period is sports, right?” Ed stretched his arms.
Ed: “Yeah.
Kel’s class joins too, right?” Kel nodded.
Kel: “Yeah.” Ana turned to Yeon.
Ana: “Let’s go.” They split toward the changing rooms.
— Girls’ changing room.
Ana and Yeon were quietly changing.
The sound of lockers echoed.
Then— BANG.
A locker slammed shut.
Hard.
Both turned.
Min stood there.
With her group.
Her eyes locked onto Ana.
She walked forward—slow, deliberate.
Then— she shoved Ana against the locker.
Min (cold, furious): “You’ve gotten bold, haven’t you?” Ana’s back hit the metal.
A sharp sound echoed.
Min: “Looks like you forgot your place.” Ana’s eyes hardened.
She pushed Min away.
Ana (calm, firm): “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She turned— walking toward Yeon.
Min’s expression twisted.
Anger flared.
She stepped forward— and shoved Ana hard from behind.
Ana lost balance.
Her body tilted— The sharp corner of the locker was going to hit her —dangerously close— But— Yeon: “Ana!” Yeon rushed forward— pushing Ana away— CRACK.
Yeon’s head hit the wall and she collapsed.
Unconscious.
Silence.
Ana turned slowly.
Her eyes met Min’s.
And for the first time— there was no restraint.
Just cold anger.
Ana said nothing.
She bent down— picked Yeon up carefully— and walked out.
But her thoughts burned.
Ana (thinking, cold): I won’t let this go.
You will pay for this.
Just wait, Min.
— Nurse’s office.
An hour later— Yeon’s eyes fluttered open.
Before she could react— she was pulled into a tight embrace.
It was Ana .
she was trembling.
Ana (voice shaking): “Don’t ever do that again.” Her grip tightened.
Ana: “Never.” Tears filled her eyes.
Ana (breaking): “I don’t want you to get hurt… especially because of me.” Yeon froze.
Then slowly— She hugged her back.
Tightly.
For a moment— Yeon felt like before.
Like she wasn’t alone.
There is someone who cares about her.
There is someone she called friend.
—Later— Ana stepped outside the room.
Closed the door gently.
Sat down.
Silence surrounded her.
Memories came back.
Yeonjoo.
That day.
She lost her.
Just because she was protecting me.
Covered in blood.
And Ana can’t do anything.
Her fists clenched.
Her eyes burned.
Ana (whisper, trembling): “I couldn’t save you…” A pause.
Her gaze hardened.
Ana (low, determined): “But I won’t fail this time.” She looked ahead.
Cold.
Focused.
Ana: “I’ll protect her.” A breath.
Ana (quiet, dangerous): “Min… you’re done.” — Next morning.
Ana woke up.
Her phone buzzed.
A message came with a picture.
It was Ed and Kel.
Dressed in suits.
Sitting on a couch.
Looking completely done with life.
Ana smiled slightly.
She typed— “Having fun?” A second later— reply.
Ed (text): “Fun?
This is HELL.”