_{It’s their usual lesson. A normal day of the week - sunny, as they both enjoyed - but for some dumb reason, Hyerim preferred staying inside as they flipped over pages and more pages of boring lectures and a language the oldest was almost sure that she’d never be able to be a good teacher at.}

_{“Soojung-ah, we should just go outside. It’s perfect to visit that parasol shop we found that other day, uh? Uh?” The chocolate-haired girl suggest, nudging the youngest with her elbow. Usually, at these times, Soojung would be squirming away with giggles and a few soft pushes at the other - but that was another Soojung, and not this awkwardly quiet and taciturn Soojung. But when she spoke, the other regretted immensely.}

_{“I know what you did to them.” The red-haired girl said, in a perfect Mandarin, better than any other she had ever heard. “I saw the newspaper and I’m not dumb, Hyerim.” When she turns around, is to stare at the oldest and if she could cry, she would because her eyes were burning, almost burning a hole on the other’s head.}

_{There is an awkward silence between them as Hyerim is thinking on something, anything to get them out of this situation - but she could do nothing but purse her lips in a smirk, because after all, Soojung was the brains on this friendship.}

_{“Don’t look so shocked. I am what I am.” Hyerim replies, in the same language the other had used. It’s ironic how they’re sitting here, like best friends, sharing a conversation perfectly well in a strange language but words are bitter and they are both almost 100% sure they’re no longer best friends.}

_{The mermaid remembers well. How she showed off her powers in a rainy, quiet night of winter. It had been too many days to count, but the red-haired would never forget that day, or this day, right now, when she couldn’t help but feel disgusted.}

_{“And this doesn’t give the right to kill the ones that bring you to this world.” Soojung replies, cold and shortly, before standing up and leaving - Hyerim knows now, it’s for good.}