April

Kent Wallace, founder of Wallace Groups found dead in his room. Reason? Major heart attack!

Wallace Groups and Companies have a legacy, they are quite renowned in the world of property business but Kent Wallace was one filed under a case of using some property for illegal work but later on, it was proved as a false claim but since then his company faced a major downfall so he invested in a property with Kingston and co and later on it became Kingston and co laboratories founded by Gloria kingston with whom he got married to and this marriage benefits a lot to Wallace groups.

This is all the information I could find through articles and rumors on the internet but after Gloria Kingston's death not a word of information is on the internet it's like the internet went radio silent about them. Seriously, it's like they hit the mute button or something. Now, why am I so hooked on these folks? I've turned my study wall into a whole shrine with pics and articles about them

I took a deep breath and immediately covered it all with a big canvas I painted on years ago, actually me and Ha Ri painted on it. But speaking of Ha Ri, she's been absent from school for a couple of days, and it's bugging me big time. My heart suffocated weirdly as if something happened to her and I didn't like this feeling.

So, I shrug on my sweater, lace up my shoes, and decide to go over to her place. I have only this time because aunt soo hee is covering me for my shift so I can study, but here I am going to rescue Ha RI. Finally, I open the door, and bam! Ha Ri's mom's there, flanked by two burly bodyguards in black. They were just about to ring the bell when I swung the door open. Talk about timing, right? Or maybe, just maybe, it's all about bad timing!

"Miss Rachel?" I ventured, puzzled by her unexpected visit. She didn't seem too pleased.

"Is your auntie home, April?" she asked in her usual blunt tone. I shook my head nervously.

"N-no, she's at the store today," I stuttered, feeling intimidated by her imposing presence. "I'm so sorry, please... come in."

Once we were inside, her guards stood by the door, and I offered her a glass of water. But instead of drinking it, she looked around our place like she didn't approve. Still, I had some questions.

"So, everything alright, or—"

"How do you even live here?" she interrupted, her face showing she wasn't impressed. I tried to stay cool, not wanting to offend her.

"Well... just like you live in your house, I live in mine," I replied calmly, finally catching her eye.

"May I know why you're here? Is Ha Ri alright? She hasn't been coming to school," I asked, cutting straight to the point. She responded with an inexplicable smirk. she reached her hand bag and pull out a cheque. put it on the table and slide it towards me.

i glanced at it down then looked at her back again. "what is this?" 

"its a blank cheque and you can put any price on it" she said and it puxxled me more.

"yeah but why?"

"she has changed alot after being friends with you, i do not like that. i need to disciplin my daughter once again while that you need to stay away from my daughter. take this cheque and get out of her sight forever." she finished and her melodramatic delivery reminded me of old movie heroines. what i do not believe on my eyes is that THE BLANK CHEQUE. is this that moment that i've seen in almost all korean drama love stories, where the rich guy's mother offer money to the girl to leave his son? well its not a guy here its bestfriend. but i could have take this cheque if she didn't just hurt my ego! 

she must have grounded Ha Ri again, but this time it looks intense. i glared at her once again and words are not helping me here. she stood up and turned towards door to leave. 

"your daughter has dreams" i should say atleast something, she stopped and i added while standing up behind her "she is not the product of your so called parental support and money, let her proof herself once" i finished and she turned towards me with a sarcastic smile. 

"do i now have to take opinions from you on what should i do with my daughter? she is not even 18" she said and went off. i took out the air and never have i felt such relief. her mother always haunts me. 

i ran immedietly to call her. Offcourse her phone is switched off. SHIT! I hoped she'd get in touch soon because I just knew she would

I waited all night, hoping for her call.  As the night went on, I got really tired from walking here and there waiting for her call. I felt myself nodding off to sleep, still thinking about everything.

Before too long, I felt myself getting really sleepy. Suddenly, there was a loud knock on my window. It startled me awake, and I felt my heart beating fast. I rubbed my eyes and looked out into the dark. I was surprised to see someone I knew hanging onto the side of the window. All i saw was a hand. i get up from bed immedeitly and slide up the window. 

“Ha RI??” I shouted in whisper.

"A hand?" she asked, still hanging on. I pulled her with all my might. She was so light, but it still felt like my lungs were stretching out.Finally, she reached the window and came inside. For a few minutes, i let her caught her breath. Then, I gave her a satisfying punch in the stomach.

"Ouch!" she exclaimed.

"Shh... You'll wake up Aunt Soo Hee," I said sternly, feeling angry. She gestured, asking why I punched her.

"For not telling me anything!" I said, then i noticed a big bag hanging on her shoulders. My instincts was telling me something, so i looked down from the window and saw one more suitcase. i turned towards her with my mouth open and she looked blank trying her best to recover from the punch.

"start talking" i said and she sat down on bed, huffing out her breath. 

"i ran off from home" she said and it shook me to the core with a question why but i wanted to ask 

"How?" right now. she goes on telling me the whole story in 5 mints of how she and her mother had an arguement because she wanted to audition for modeling in australia but she didn't approve and then it turns into a serious argument and so her mother grounded her and now she asks support from her temporary fiancee on his father's funeral.

"Ray? " i almost shouted in whisper. she nodded with vulnerable face. 

"he is coming he...re" she said taking out her socks and i could not help but ask.

"why is he coming here?"

"because... guards were searching for me so he talked with my mother and said that he is taking me australia for a while you know my parents wont say a word against him"

"why not?"

"didn't you saw the news? kent uncle has passed away and he succeeded the wallace groups" she said and suddenly i felt for him as if he can not live his own life like he wants. 

"why did you come here then you should've gone already, its.. its dangerous " i said looking out from the window. i turned and she suddenly hugged me tightly. the hug was warm, i never wanted to let go of this warmth. i hugged her back.

"i can't go without saying bye to you" she whispered and almost welled me up. i seprated her from me,

"i'll punch harder if you didn't call me after reaching australia" i said and she nodded with a smile and hugged me again. " by the way where're you going to stay?" i asked and no answer came from her. i separeted her from me again.

"mom blocked all my cards in the arguement and also all my accounts so..."

"so i think i have something for you" i said as a bulb lighted in my head suddenly. i ran towards my drawer and take out the blank cheque of her mother's and gave it to her. 

"what is it?" she asked taking it. i told her all about the indi drama her mother did and she barely hold onto her laugh. 

"you know you did take after your mother alot" i said cracking into a silent laughter and her phone vibrated, she hold her laugh off and picked up the call. 

"yeah okay im coming" she said and hanged up and then looked at me. "he is here i have to go now" she said took her bag. i walked with her towards the door and carefully let her out. i saw a big black van with all black windows standing at the corner of the street. 

Even though the windows are all covered, i felt his gaze on me. A cold sensation gave me goosebumps again and i turned to hugged Ha ri one last time. she stopped and take off her necklace that i gave her on her 16th birthday. it was a cross. she pass it to me and said,

"it will keep you safe" she said as her many tears fall from her cheeks. i hugged her tightly. 

"you know i'll always be here  right? "

"yeah" i said and she went off with small footsteps. I dont know when we're going to meet again. as her footsteps get closer towards the van it becomes farther from me. I'm happy for her, she is in safe hands i know. 

How am I going to survive without her? For a moment, the world felt incredibly lonely, and I wanted nothing more than to run after her and stop her from leaving. But her dreams were important to me.

February ended with a painful goodbye. I never imagined I'd have to take exams without Ha Ri by my side, but I did plus, She kept me updated on every tiny detail about her, even the time she almost starved her dog because she was out all day for shoots. Long-distance friendships can really suck, especially when you're an introvert.Top of Form

It was April 20th, my birthday, and for some reason, everyone seemed determined to annoy me today.

"Dear April Meyers, we regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you admission to..." I slammed shut my laptop screen in frustration, and Aunt Soo Hee shot me a fierce look.

"you could have let me finish?" she scolded gently.

"Finish reading how much they empathize with me?" I muttered, almost throwing the plates into the sink.

"Oh, come on, don't be a panda face again... It's your birthday!" Aunt Soo Hee exclaimed, shrugging my shoulders with enthusiasm as she stretched the word 'birthday' as much as possible. Her antics never failed to lift my spirits.

"Here, I'll do the dishes," she said, gently pushing me aside with her shoulders. I went to grab my hoodie for my shift.

"Do you need anything? I can grab it on the way," I offered, and she get surprised to see me getting ready.

"Forget the shift today. Let's dine out for your birthday," she suggested with a sympathetic smile. I couldn't help but smile at her kindness, but I needed a distraction badly.

"I'll come home early, and we can have a movie night instead," I countered, changing the plans. She seemed to agree, and I headed out to face the day. The store was my only productive escape from my routine. As I slurped noodles, I watched the sunset and the streets empty out. It brought me a strange sense of satisfaction, and I found myself eagerly wishing for the clock to strike 12.The store was quite hectic today, Grabbing some snacks on the way, I made my slow journey back home. I felt like a snail, crawling along at a snail's pace. I missed Ha Ri and the days when she pushed me out of my comfort zone.

All of a sudden, an ambulance zoomed past with its loud siren wailing. I couldn't help but silently hope that whoever needed it would be okay. I hurried my steps, eager to reach home before midnight. Otherwise, I'd have to endure Aunt Soo Hee's two-hour-long emotional lecture, complete with stories of how she raised me and her divorce saga.

I hurried my steps, eager to reach home before midnight. Otherwise, I'd have to endure Aunt Soo Hee's two-hour-long emotional lecture, including the stories of how she raised me and her divorce saga. she is such a mood when she got drunk.

As I turned onto my street, I noticed neighbors gathered in groups. My heart sank when I saw the flashing red light in the distance. Rushing toward my house, it was an ambulance. My whole body becomes cold like a snow statue, What was happening? Why were they here?

"April!" Aunt Yoon Ji called out to me, her words lost in my confusion. Tears welled up in her eyes. Then, I heard a sound that caught my attention. Two men were carrying someone out on a stretcher from my house.

Why were they bringing someone out of my house? there is no one in my house except...

Time slowed down, almost getting stuck. Time never slows down for anyone, so why now? A man from the ambulance approached me, speaking urgently.  But all I could hear was a faint whistling sound. His face becomes blur, everything turning white and grainy. My body and my senses is not in my control i think, they were all stuck on one image. The face of my aunt lying inside the ambulance, covered in BLOOD!

"April!"

"We called the ambulance after hearing a gunshots from your house. They found your aunt dead, April! They're asking you to come to the hospital," she explained.

What should I do? My aunt was dead? A gunshot?

I looked at the faces around me, feeling numb as I silently followed them and sat in the ambulance. Their pitying gazes followed me as the ambulance door closed with a loud thud, and we sped off.

Turning to the stretcher, I saw a covered body, a red stain marking where the heart would be. Why didn't she do anything? What would she say if the doctors asked me what happened to her? She couldn't say anything now, could she?

Such a tragic woman.

Was she innocent? What had she done to end up dead?I realized it wasn't me thinking these thoughts. Then, where were these voices coming from? I looked in the ambulance right left up down... Are those two men speaking? No.

Is this woman speaking?? But she is dead April!

She is dead!

Dead!!

Dead!

I covered my ears with both hands immediately or else they will speak again.