People may change, but I don't

It was mid 2004 already, It's been some time since Yoona stopped talking to me.

Now that I didn't have anyone to talk with, school days had passed really slow for me. And even more awkward because we actually share a classroom, so even though she doesn't approach me, she's still there for me to see everyday, making it even worse.

Still, Ju Hyun-ah has actually been of great help to me. As her school is really close, everyday while I'm riding towards YG, I always stop by her school and talk a little bit with her before she actually rushes to SM.

It's actually a really fast interaction, but it's been quite a life saver for me. If not for her, I don't know what would have happened to me. Even though Ji Yong-hyung is a really good friend, not that I would ever admit that, he can't simply occupy Yoona's role as well as Ju Hyun-ah has been doing.

With this in mind, even though Ju Hyun ah was really close to me, there were a lot of things I couldn't actually tell her, not because of anything special, but it was really shameful for me to talk about those things so openly.

Even when I still talked with Yoona, there were a lot of things I couldn't possibly tell her, the majority of them about events that felt really far in the past right now.

That's why I was at Yuri-noona's apartment right now, I came some hours early, at this familiar yet strange apartment for me. At least the last three hours were spent with both of us talking about a lot of things. Her telling me about her life, me telling her what happened with Yoona, her giving me some advice, and finally both of us talking about what happened those years ago with Hongman, the leader of Gungryeong village.

How he treated me, how he treated Claudia-noona and her daughter, Lucy, that I haven't seen in a while. How I met Eimi, and my thoughts about her, how I thought her parents mistreated her, and even kicked her out, for whatever reason they could ever think was reasonable.

How I treated her as a sister, and still do. The story continued until our separation that day I was... Reborn.

Then, I told her the most recent events, including Eimi's letter from some time ago, how I didn't give her an answer, and that's where we are now.

— So, Did you give her an answer? — Yuri-noona was at the kitchen's counter preparing some tea for both of us. It may sound silly, but the way she did it was really calming for me, for no apparent reason at all. I just simply liked seeing her preparing it.

— Noona, I told you my intentions, I won't answer her — This was my intention all this time. I met Eimi really young, and when we separated once again, she was not even 9, I think. Even though I had as much love for her as it could be possible, I wish she has a normal life with her new parents, forgetting about me and Damian completely. She deserves that at least.

— Well that's just silly, someone your age shouldn't worry about things like that — by now she was handing me a cup filled with tea. I don't know anything about tea at all, but just started slowly sipping from the cup while deeply enjoying it.

— Look Chris-ah, I know you want her to be happy, but who are you to decide what is the best thing for her? — my tea sipping was interrupted by Yuri noona's scolding, making me put down the cup and started to really pay attention to her before she gets mad.

— But Noona, it will be better if she forgets about her life in there. There's absolutely no good thing that came from th— a loud slap sounded in the apartment. Before I ended my phrase, Yuri-noona lightly slapped both of my cheeks at the same time, and proceded to pinch them. I guess that's where I took that habit from.

— Look, don't you dare say that you only brought sadness to her, okay? Don't make Noona angry? — I got goosebumps and started to quickly shake my head.

The newly formed frown in her face immediately was replaced by a smile, and she continued.

— Now, I'm pretty sure that there are a lot of things she enjoyed while being at that hut with you. I mean, she met you there, didn't she? — she ended by sweetly smiling at me. That smile always hits me the hardest, making me have no counter for it, and leaving me just dodging her gaze.

Noona released my cheeks, that were now red by her pinching and went back to the kitchen to wash some dishes left from earlier. While she was doing that, I went back to calmly sip my tea, even though I felt bad for not helping her cleaning, she wouldn't let me even if I asked.

From there, another big question surged.

— Oh yes, before I forget, how is it going with that little girlfriend of yours? When are you going to introduce her to me? — Once again, my sipping was completely interrupted, making me almost spit it out. While coughing, I immediately answered.

— *cough *cough.... What girlfriend Noona? You know it's not like that — she looked at me from the kitchen with a smirk that was almost identical to that annoying smirk from Father.

— If you say so Chris-ah, it's not good to lie to Noona you know? — I was initially flustered, but then remembered everything that happened some time ago, and a tinge of sadness appeared on my face. My expression was soon noticed by Noona because she asked.

— Is something wrong? — I don't know when, but before I noticed, she was once again sitting in front of me, with a worried expression.

A sigh escaped, and I simply replied.

— Actually, a lot of things happened Noona. She basically decided to concentrate on her dream — Yuri Noona knew perfectly about Yoona because there were no secrets between us, and knew what I implied by her dream.

After a short silence, she softly said.

— So, she did that.... I didn't thought she would do that. I know singers can't really date without being criticized, but you're so young, you wouldn't be even thinking about that, would you?

After shaking my head, I replied.

— This is how it is, if the company wasn't thinking about making her debut, they wouldn't be as strict. The thing is they apparently found out and well, it happened. — I was deep in thoughts by now, making the room silent again for a couple of minutes. Then, Noona broke the silence once again.

— Look Chris ah, I don't know how being a singer works, not at all. But what I do know is you. It's been some years since we met, and I know you pretty well by now, so... the girl started ignoring you, it's okay, that's her decision, but what is YOUR decision? — she said while pointing at my chest with her index.

I tried to stop the smile from appearing on my face, but I failed hard, making Yuri-noona reciprocate the smile.

— You do know me pretty well, Noona. — I put my hand in the pocket of my pants and took out a shiny object and passed it to Yuri Noona. While doing that, I took out another two similar objects and attentively looked at them with a smile on my face — This is my answer to your question Noona.

The object was actually a hand bracelet. The first one, the one I handed to Yuri Noona, was a golden link bracelet that I later find out was made of a silver alloy that was anti-allergic. It also had a little plate with a message that I quite liked.

It was indeed my answer to Yoona's decision, and the reason I've been working so hard, and helping father so much. All of the money I got was used to buy these three bracelets. Obviously, it was one for Yoona-yah, another one for Ju Hyun-ah, and the last one for me.

It wasn't anything fancy, but it was the best I could get with my own money. After all, Yoona's birthday was a couple of days ago, and even though she doesn't seem to want to talk with me, I still consider myself her Oppa. Anyway, the golden one was for her, the other two bracelets were rose pink, for Ju Hyun-ah, and a steel gray one for me.

All three of them had the same message engraved on it, "Once my sister, forever one.", and inmediately after, the initial of each of us, so that the golden one had a Y, the rose gold one had an H, and mine had a C. In that way, I guess I'm pretty lame at giving gifts, but I really hope they would like it.

As I got deep into my thoughts once again, I failed to notice Yuri Noona kindly smiling at me while supporting her face with both of her hands, the same posture she always use whenever she is really happy.