The Stone-Cold Heart Girl

The dim light poles along the winding alleys illuminated shadows to the pavement Naomi stepped on. Commuting back home after her self-study in school, this is the long stairways she had to walk up daily, to her home at the top of the alleys.

For an outsider, this hilly neighborhood gives an illusion of a romantic getaway as it has the closest space to a better view of the moon. Yet, with the chipped paint of colored houses along with the distinct lack of planning development, this place is soon to be abandoned. Sooner the neighborhood will be only occupied by the elderly and bad memories.

Because in reality, living in peace doesn't enough if the stomach goes hungry...

The younger generation believes that they can only dream in the land of skyscrapers overlook the run-down neighborhood she lives in. Naomi's sister was one of them, she runs away from home five years ago, leaving behind her aging parents with her little sister to live a better life herself.

Naomi's parents knew that only the best education can save them in the future, thus, they mortgage their house to enroll Naomi in the best high school in town, they are now left with hopes and debt.

Naomi holds her blazer closer to her body as a gust of night breeze blew. The footsteps behind getting her even more irritating. The determined Nelson Kim is still walking her home from behind as always even when Naomi had warned him to stay away from her.

At one point, Nelson Kim had touched her heart, but she restrained herself from falling to it. She refuses to become softened as she needs strong pulls to make her tougher.

He is someone born with a silver spoon in his mouth when it comes to hardship, sooner Nelson will also leave her, just like her sister did to them. Living is hard but her parents never fail to complete their basic needs, still, Nora doesn't hesitate to break their parent's hearts.

Naomi fastened her pace, determined to make Nelson gives up to the winding and hilly alleys to her house.

"Naomi!"

Nelson doesn't want to miss the chance to talk to her this time. He is an athlete, matching her speed is nothing to him. Catching her wrist, he holds her in place.

"Let me go!"

"No. Not this time. Give me a chance, please? How long are you going to avoid us? Forever?"

Without batting eyes, Naomi stared coldly at Nelson as he loosened his grips. "Say what you want to say now and NEVER talk to me again." She hissed.

Letting out a sigh, Nelson relaxed the tightened muscles on his face, "It hurts to see you like this. Holding on, while I am always behind you. Give me a chance Naomi."

Every word that comes out from Nelson's lips does nothing to drain the cold demeanor in her. She doesn't want to believe there is a good person who exists.

"First of all, you are someone who keeps meddling with my affair, you are irritating me. Second, none of my problems have anything to do with you." She sternly said as she tries to get away from Nelson.

Again, Nelson gets a hold of her arm. "It matters to me." Replied Nelson, forcing Naomi to face him again. "I like you, Naomi... I'm tired of beating around the bush, I'm telling you now, I love you."

Dazzled with his blunt confession, Naomi staggered but quickly restrained her feeling. The corner of her lips formed a cynical smile. "Love?" She asked. "I'm busy getting away from this misery of living a poor life. Are you insulting me now? Get lost!" Losing her patience, she pulls away from Nelson's firm hold and turns away.

"I saw everything, Naomi," Nelson said out loud.

Naomi froze in her place. Blood draining down from her head to toe, leaving a chilly sensation on her whole body.

Did he see it?

How much did he witness?

Is he going to threaten her with the darkest secret of her?

With her trembling hand, she closes her gaping mouth. The coldness in her eyes melted into worrisome, like a kitten losing its mother, helpless and terror-stricken.

Nelson sauntered towards Naomi, standing in front of her. His eyes were soft, looking fixedly at the girl he loves letting her guard down, revealing her true color; the strong on the outside yet fragile inside.

"I know everything, Naomi... In your eyes, it is always been, Samuel. Right? That's the reason you are staying away from Lana. Did I guess it right?"

She had almost suffocated herself for holding out her breath. Turn out what Nelson knew is not something she expected. Catching her breath again, tears were welling up and uncontrollably rolling down her cheeks too. Soft sobs escape her lips though she didn't want to cry as her heart betrayed her.

"Naomi... I'm sorry... I didn't..." Nelson started panicking. Juggling whether to comfort her or wipe her tears away or what exactly he has to do at this kind of moment! He is totally dumbstruck by the sudden occurrence. "Naomi..."

She ignored him, walking away from him with tears keeping her cheeks wet. "Go away." She said without even looking back at him.

It's hurt, her heart is aching.

Yes, she is secretly falling in love with Samuel Jin. Samuel had always looked at Lana though she is always there, standing beside her.

Lana never realized all of this... She had always been the luckiest and the one with a kinder heart. While everyone looks down on her for her lowest status, only Lana stands for her.

She had wanted to befriend Lana, just by seeing Samuel Jin is enough. She is willing to let Lana have him, she deserved someone like him. Yet, fate is still cruel to her...

Fate won't even have a little sympathy for her though she had crawled out from living in hell.

Luck had always been by Lana's side.

Even if she wanted to start new, things will never be the same again.

"I'm dirty. I'm a monster, you will be disgusted if you knew what I have done." She whispered as if Nelson is listening to her. "It's too late... Nelson. I'm a ruined person."

Nelson watched Naomi back unable to do anything. Sorrow overwhelmed him as her lonely stretched long shadow disappeared behind the little house gate.