*Narrator POV*

"I'll be back later, you guys," Yuri announced before leaving. "I gotta go pick something up from the scholarship thing I recieved yesterday."

Now, Tiffany and Jessica were sitting together at the couch in silence. Tiffany was scrolling through her phone, and texting somebody. Jessica was curious if she was texting Krystal. She'd seen Tiffany wink at the girl, and she began to wonder what was going on between the two of them. They seemed to get along fairly well, although Krystal was still a little shy.

But you never got that far with your sister, she thought to herself. And she's your sister!

"You and Krystal seem close," Jessica broke the silence.

Tiffany glanced at her for a moment. "Yeah. So?"

Jessica shrugged and gently touched her bandaged arm with her fingers. "I was just saying..."

"Actually, Jess," Tiffany said. "I was thinking about what you told me the other day...I will take Krystal in if you decide that you don't want her living with you. I mean, you do kinda have a lot on your plate at the moment."

"W-what?" Jessica stammered with surprise. 

"You already know that she's had to live with an alchoholic father, but I don't think it'd do for her to have to handle you when you're drunk," she explained. "It's a good thing you didn't do anything stupid last night."

Jessica bristled. "What!? I rarely get that wasted!"

Tiffany narrowed her eyes. "Tch! Well of course! You only do it when you get super pissed about something, you idiot! And besides that, why the hell did you even get yourself wasted like that?"

"What in the world are you saying?" Jessica snapped. "It won't happen again! And it's not your business why I went out to drink, Tiffany!"

"Look, let her stay with me this week," Tiffany persisted. "I'm serious about this. It'll give you some time to think too."

"Well, what if she doesn't want to?" Jessica argued.

"I think we can work something out. I've been hanging around with her for a bit the last couple days. She's a really nice girl...and very smart too." Tiffany studied Jessica to see what kind of reaction she was going to have. But Jessica looked down at the floor.

"You went out with her?" Jessica cried. "What? So you can go and talk about me behind my back?"

"She was actually worried about what happened to you last night." Tiffany fixed her with a stern look. "She wasn't sure if you and Yuri had a fight because Yuri just left you on the bed. Krystal said, although she was really uncomfortable about it, that she changed your shirt for you and apparently you were having some sort of dream."

Jessica looked at her. "D-dream?" Of course! She remembered, but she wasn't dreaming...well sort of. She was reliving the moment she had hurt Krystal. The last time Krystal tried to reach out to her. "I...I mean I..." I kissed her...

"She was scared a little bit, Jess. She said you wouldn't stop crying, and she stayed up for like two or three hours to get you to sleep."

"Sh-she did?" Jessica stammered. Krystal stayed up...for me?

Tiffany nodded. "I think you've had a HUGE misconception about this girl. That's why, I'm giving you time to think things over. Do you want your sister to end up in a home maybe far away from here, and you'll never see her again?"

"Fany, this really isn't your business," Jessica said with a warning tone. "We already went over this."

"Maybe not, but she thinks that you really hate her. And when I'm talking hate, she thinks that you want absolutely nothing to do with her whatsoever."

"ANd how do you know?" Jessica glared at her suspiciously.

"I talked with her."

Jessica shot up. "What? You went and talked about this behind my back? How could you? What kind of things did you tell her?"

"Chill out, girl," Tiffany said calmly. "I was just explaining to her that what you are on the outside is not you." She met Jessica's icy glare. "It's all an act you're putting up."

Jessica didn't answer because she knew Tiffany was right. Her thoughts drifted back to last night, and she relived the moment she kissed her sister. She gently ran a finger over her own lips and wondered if Krystal was freaked out by what she did.

"So if you're willing I can take her tonight, or..."

"Tonight?" Jessica interrupted. "But...she has exams, and..." Jessica trailed off and cleared . Why the heck am I fighting back? You ARE supposed to hate her! "I mean she just has a lot of tests this week.

Tiffany raised her eyebrows. "Um...I'll just ask her. She can study at my place too anyway. I'll be leaving then." Just before she left, she turned around and said. "Your sister still calls you 'unnie' by the way, and I know you don't like that...so you can decide what that means to you, Jessica."

Jessica sat in silence after the door shut. She looked at the arm that had been bandaged. Soojung had done it for her...even though she didn't have to. And Soojung had also taken care of her when she came back drunk.

And what have I done for her? she thought to herself. Besides letting her stay...?

Nothing.

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*Krystal POV*

"Right, well it was nice studying with you!" Amber exclaimed as we left the library. "We should meet up again later! Or you can drop by the cafe, and I'll let you have a special!"

"See you at school," I replied, and they waved as Amber walked away.

My phone rang and I picked up. "Hello?"

"Hey, Krystal, it's Tiffany."

"Oh, hi. Is everything ok?"

"Yeah, fine. I just spoke with your sister about things," Tiffany replied.

"Oh...ok." I began to wonder what they could have been talking about, besides the reason why my sister went drinking.

"Anyway, I was wondering if you'd like to stay with me for a week?" she suggested. "You know...to sort of cool off from what's happened this whole week. Especially yesterday."

I was surprised. "Uh...are you sure?" I asked.

"Well, why not? I think your school is closer to where I live, and well, I think it'd be good for you and your sister," Tiffany explained. "And it gets kinda lonely in my condo. So, I'd love the company."

Wow! I didn't know she appreciated my presence that much. We've only known each other for a week, and she was being really open with me. But maybe it was because I was shy all the time. 

Was it really necessary for me to go live with her? Just because of that alchohol episode?

"Your sister needs time to think," Tiffany continued. "And well, your father is coming soon anyway, right? So you can spend the last week without feeling tense and stressed."

"Well...does she know?" I asked. I don't think my sister knew about the times I'd been meeting with Tiffany.

"I asked her, but...well, we think we should check with you first. Anyway, think about it. Tell me soon!" she said cheerily. "But you better head back soon. It's getting late."

"O-oh, sure. I'll think about it..." I stammered.

"good. Well, I'll be waiting."

As I walked back to my sister's home, I wondered what to do. Wouldn't it be rude to just up and leave my sister like that? Just because she got drunk last night?

She didn't want you in the first place, I argued with myself. So it wouldn't make a difference if you went with Tiffany, and she already knows about it. She should be glad I'm going with Tiffany, and then dad will come to bring me home and she'll never have to deal with me again.

I pulled my keys out of my backpack and I was about to unlock the door, when I saw an envelope taped to the door. I took it off and turned it around. It wasn't sealed. I opened it and took out a brochure and folded up papers. I frowned and looked at the brochure.

South Korea International Children's Services

Where had I seen this before?

I suddenly had a flashback of the day I went to get mail for my father. He had gotten a letter from them.

How did they find me?

But the envelope wasn't fully adressed so it couldn't be from them anyway. I turned over the brochure and a piece of folded paper fell to the floor. It had my sister's name on it. I picked it up and opened it carefully.

Sica,

I hope you won't get mad. I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you the night you were drunk, and I'm sorry I didn't stay. I was angry. Please don't tell me not to, because there's a lot of problems we have to address, mainly everything that's gone on since your sister came back. I know you aren't ready to believe your father will come back. He didn't even contact you about it! He should have! But in case that happens, I found this for you. You have so many stones on your shoulder, I don't want to see you suffer. I'm so worried about you.

Love, yuri

"Soojung?" I heard my sister's voice from behind.

I immediately stuffed the papers back under my shirt, and I turned around. "H-hi, Jess...ica," I said, my heart beating rapidly from the adrenaline.

My sister cocked her head and simply stared at me. "Where did you go?"

"I...uh, the library," I replied. 

She came closer and looked me up and down. "Are you feeling ok?" 

"huh?" I looked down at myself. My right arm was holding my stomach as if I were having an ache or something. "Oh...um, I'm just tired, is all."

Jessica looked at me for a moment, and then proceeded to unlock the door. "Well, ok. Are you hungry?"

I wasn't really. Not after finding that letter from Yuri. I didn't want to be sent to a foster home. And it also made me think about dad. He had never replied to that one text I sent him about a week ago. 

"Um, no," I said. "I'm alright."

I followed her in and set my stuff down in the corner. I snuck the papers into my backpack and zipped up tight.

"Oh...well, there's still leftovers from earlier. Did you eat?" she went to the kitchen and opened the fridge.

"Yeah."

Maybe I should go stay with Tiffany. Get away from all this for a bit.I looked out the window and noted how pretty the city was from here. I inhaled deeply, wondering how to tell my sister what I wanted, even though she probably could care less...

"Unnie-- um Jessica," I turned around, and she was literally right in front of me.

She held a kimbap in front of my mouth. "Yuri brought this earlier while you were gone."

I took the kimbap in my fingers and looked at it. "Um...thanks." I looked at her and was mesmerized by her big brown choco eyes. 

"What were you saying?" she broke me from my daze.

"I...I...Tiffany told me about," I stumbled all over the place. I in a breath and paused for a long time before I continued. "I think I'm gonna spend a week with Tiffany."

She blinked and didn't answer. I looked down at the floor and turned the kimbap in my hand. "I don't want to keep bothering you."

"Fine," she said abruptly and went into her room. She shut the door and I was left alone standing in the empty living room. 

I looked at the kimbap before I popped it in my mouth. Yum.

Fany: Did you decide yet?

Krystal; Yeah

Fany: You coming over?

Krystal: Yup  is tomorrow ok?

Fany: Yeah, Great!  :) YOu told your sister right?

Krystal: I did

-----------------------------

*Jessica POV*

I lay on my bed, wide awake. 

Why did I feel so reluctant to let Soojung spend time with Tiffany? Why did I feel jealous when I found out they had been talking about stuff...about me? I flipped over onto my stomach and buried my face in my arms. The bandages on my arm were gone because they'd gotten wet from the shower. I felt the slight sting on my scratches.

Why did Fany have to get all up in my business? I tried to be angry, but I couldn't.

I was a bad person. To everyone.

I kept lying to myself, and trying to make them feel sorry for me. I was a to Tiffany whenever she tried to discuss serious matters with me, especially topics about Krystal. I was dating Yuri, but I didn't feel that she filled the empty space in my heart like lovers are supposed to.

And I was a more terrible person towards my sister. Everything I did to make me feel better--I had only been thinking of me.

I sat up and checked the time. 12:30AM.  I couldn't sleep.

I got up and went to get water from the kitchen. I the dim lights in the hallway, and I stepped out. I got myself a glass of water and drank. It kind of made me feel better. I leaned on the counter and looked out the window above the couch my sister was sleeping on. The lights were amazing. The view here was beautiful.

I was about to head back to my room, but I stopped and looked over to where my sister was sleeping on the couch. She's staying with Fany, and then going home. It's waht you wanted, right? 

I felt my heart heavy and something tugging at me. Why was I feeling this way? I went over to my sister and knelt on the floor beside the couch. 

She was sleeping soundly.

She looked like a tiny kitten...

I slowly reached a hand out and her cheek once. I held my hand there and brushed her skin lightly with a thumb.

"I'm sorry...that you saw me drunk last night," I whispered.

She shifted a little bit, pressing her cheek against my hand. Nervous energy poured down my veins and I jumped. I took my hand off and watched her sleep. She looked calm and...pretty...I shook my head to avoid going any further with that.

I tentatively took her face in my hands and studied her more closely. My sister...father's features...but memories of mom...

I leaned in closer. My mind had stopped working and all I could focus on was Soojung. I closed the gap and pressed my lips against her forehead. I felt her warm hand  grasp my wrist. I quickly pulled away, but she was still sleeping. I wondered if she was dreaming anything at all.

I gently took her hand off my wrist and I headed back to my room.

I turned off the lights and stared into the darkness of night. I turned over and tried to sleep. I was feeling restless and troubled.

I couldn't believe how wrong I was. Soojung was not the person I made myself believe she was. She bandaged my arm for me, she put up with me and my drunkenness...but she did call me 'unnie'.

I didn't fail to hear her say that. She knew she wasn't supposed to call me that...I told her that many times before. And even after all that time...?

My apartment would feel empty without her. Even though she wasn't here most of the time, but just knowing she was there made my place feel less lonely.

I tried to make myself stop thinking. I had class tomorrow and I needed to be fully awake.

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hope this chapter turned out alright! :)

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