"Irene died by suicide."

Right after she finished speaking, the car door was opened forcefully. Lisa pulled her out and shoved her against the car.

Lisa's expression was so distorted it looked horrifying, and veins were visible on her white, slender hand. She gripped onto Rosé as if she was ready to beat her to a pulp.

"Nonsense! How is that possible?" Holding Rosé by the neck, she spoke in a low yet roaring voice, "How dare you curse Irene. How dare you curse Irene!!"

Jennie was so stunned she didn't manage to pull Lisa back.

I have seen Lisa angry before, but it was completely different this time.

Whenever she directed her anger at me, I didn't dare provoke her and only lowered my head.

But now, I only wanted to hug her.

I felt that if I was able to hug her, she would be able to calm down. She wouldn't be so angry and in so much pain anymore.

Right now, she was like a wounded beast, crazily acting strong and hiding her wound.

Despite that, the hunter with her rifle was not in the mood to pity her weak resistance.

Rosé was angered as she was unable to break free from Lisa after struggling. To add on, even though she often spoke scornfully about my infatuation, she always stood protectively by my side. She looked at Lisa as if looking at a heartless heartbreaker.

Lisa's sudden outburst caused anger to rush to Rosé's head.

"Isn't it all your fault that Irene committed suicide!"

Ah, Rosé, you can't put it that way...

For the first time, I felt that the usually soft Rosé was very cruel.

Lisa stared blankly. Her expression became fiercer, but tears flowed down her cheeks. Releasing Rosé, Lisa shook her head blankly. Then, she squeezed her chest, seeming to be in a lot of pain. Yet, she still shook her head with much effort.

I almost turned crazy watching this scene.

Lisa closed her eyes and calmed herself. She looked up afterwards but didn't wipe her tears. She didn't seem to realize that she was crying. She seemed to have thought something through.

"You're lying." Looking expressionlessly at Rosé with red eyes.

I was not sure whether she was too shocked or too hurt that she chose not to believe.

Behind her, Jennie held Lisa's arm in concern, but her hand was shoved aside ruthlessly.

She couldn't accept any conciliation or any pity, since it would mean she accepted the fact that I had left her forever.

She could only deceive herself as hostility filled the air around her. She stopped attacking, but glared fiercely at Rosé.

"I don't believe it." She said with clenched teeth.

She already had no idea who she was saying that to.

Rosé was momentarily stunned by her fierce yet grief-stricken look and didn't know what to do. Jennie, who stood behind Lisa, desperately signaled with her eyes for Rosé to leave quickly.

What was done was done. Rosé could only listen to Jennie's wish. She turned back to her car and prepared to leave.

But how could Lisa let her leave? Ignoring the fact that Jennie was pulling her back, she rushed forward and forcefully pulled Rosé to a stop. Rosé had just managed to get away from her, yet she was held back again. After much struggling, she finally turned around and pushed Lisa down to the floor in frustration.

Actually, Rosé wasn't wrong. She just wasn't supposed to tell Lisa the truth, though it was also unintentional on her part.

Nevertheless, Lisa was clearly angered, as if it was Rosé who caused my death. She jumped up and chased after Rosé. With a hit, she sent Rosé stumbling towards the wall on the side.

Rosé wiped her cheek. Not wanting to lose, she retaliated and pushed Lisa to the floor.

"Lisa! Rosé! Please stop." Jennie chased after them and caught up from behind, but she wasn't able to stop the brawl. The two of them fought on the floor like two ferocious beasts, crazily pouncing on the other.

"Say it! Say that she's fine! Say that you were just lying! Say it!" Lisa held down Rosé and ruthlessly pushed Rosé's head into the floor.

"You... saekki-ya..." Rosé's head hit the floor a few times, but her arrogance didn't dissipate but rose instead. She violently grabbed Lisa and flipped her over, holding Lisa down. Strangling her, she roared, "Lisa, you bastard. I won't let you off!"

She slapped Lisa relentlessly, causing her to be dazed. Then, Rosé proceeded to strangle Lisa, as if she wanted to strangle her to death.

"You... caused her death... you... bastard..." Rosé suddenly cried. She pressed Lisa down as if she wanted to kill her, yet she suddenly lost all her vigor and started sobbing.

She cried so badly, even Lisa stopped struggling and looked at her with eyes full of fear and despair.

Jennie stood on the side and cried silently.

A hand stretched over and pulled Rosé up gently yet strongly.

Sehun.

No one realised when he appeared at the parking lot.

He was still as elegant and still as cold. He helped Rosé up expressionlessly, then held her in his arms and gently patted her back.

Rosé continued sobbing in his embrace.

Sehun gave Lisa and Jennie a cold glance before helping Rosé, who sobbed until she was out of breath, into the car.

Before Sehun got in, he turned back and gave Lisa one last look. He seemed to be looking at her in mockery. It was rather cruel.

Lisa stared fixedly with a stiff body as Sehun sped away in his silver Mercedes.

She didn't dare face the despair before her. Just one glance made her feel like her heart was stabbed by a knife.

Jennie went forward to help her. Losing all of her resistance, she let Jennie pull her up and stuff her into the car.

She seemed to be tired, as she silently closed her eyes.

Jennie didn't know how to console her and could only stay quiet.

Ever since that night, Lisa had become quiet.

■■

The next day was the 14th of February, the day her new album released. Ever since morning, her phone had been ringing nonstop. Lisa didn't answer any of the calls. Feeling irritated, she switched off her phone.

Most likely, the sales have surpassed millions and people were calling to congratulate her.

If it was the usual, there should be a celebration for her to attend tonight...

However, she didn't move at all. She laid on the sofa for the whole day, neither eating nor drinking.

Before Jennie left for work, she prepared a lot of food and left them in the fridge, but Lisa didn't touch any of it.

She tortured herself just like this.

I knew that her stomach was starting to hurt again. She was curled up on the sofa with a pale face, pressing her stomach subconsciously.

Despite that, she still wouldn't eat.

I wasn't able to do anything even though I saw her in pain. I tried my best to hug her from behind, but it was all in vain.

I wished to tell her that I was right beside her, so she didn't have to suffer like this. I wished to tell her that I saw and felt all of her grief and remorse.

The pain inflicted and what happened in the past no longer mattered. I would forgive them all.

Sadly, even if I have forgiven, the past could no longer be recovered.

What was the longest distance in the world?

I remembered a poet's high sounding words: The longest distance in the world is not life and death...

It was all nonsense.

The person who said this sentence definitely didn't experience the separation from a loved one because of death.

I also once thought that the distance between life and death was not longer than the distance between our hearts, even though we were so close physically.

But now, I realised how wrong I was.

I stood in front of you, but you didn't know that I loved you. That's okay, since I could let you know anytime.

There was so much in the world. Regardless of how many misunderstandings, or how much suffering there was, it could still be resolved if one apologized sincerely and the other one forgave.

No matter how dangerous and long the road may be, one would be able to make it through if he set his mind on it.

If one was still alive, it could still be recovered, and there was definitely still another chance.

However, the price of my stupid, reckless, and irresponsible action was too much and too heavy.

We could no longer go back to the days of the past.

Why was it that I, who was never once decisive in my life, made this one ridiculous and wrong decision?

Actually, Lisa had never been wrong. It was me who was too selfish. I felt that my happiness was too uncertain, so I thought of either throwing everything away and restarting from the beginning or just ending everything once and for all.

I couldn't blame her for letting me see a flicker of hope in my dark world.

After all, it was me who threw away the possibility of attaining happiness. This might even ruin the most important person to me in this world.

I have sinned so much that it was unforgivable.

When Jennie returned at night, she noticed Lisa's discomfort. Ignoring her resistance, Jennie brought her to the hospital.

I had thought that it wasn't anything serious, but she was actually suffering from gastrointestinal perforation. Once again, she tossed and turned about in the hospital.

After taking care of her, Jennie still had to work. She was tired, but she still smiled gently without a single complaint.

I didn't think this was good. She was becoming more and more like my past self. If she continued putting up a strong front and forced herself to push on, she might fall apart one day just like how I did and lose all of her courage and will to fight.

Nevertheless, Jennie was probably stronger than me.

When Lisa was all alone in the ward, she woke up. Looking at the ceiling, she asked the air dazedly, "If I died of pain, would you still come and see me?"

Although she had fiercely refuted it before, she accepted the fact that I was dead when no one was around.

It was so unbelievable that I actually felt somewhat betrayed. It was as if Lisa was supposed to believe that I was still alive, and she should be searching for me.

It was so disgraceful of me to have this idea. I wasn't able to accept it.

I realised that I truly was too greedy, contradictory, and despicable. I was worried about Lisa, yet I secretly hoped for her to not forget me so easily.

I was even greedy for her remorse, sadness, and pain. Why was I like this? Then what about her? What about Jennie? What happened to my previous selfless wish of wanting them to be happy together?

I was so despicable. Even though she was in pain, I was all cool and calm on the side.

She was still staring into the air, but the air wasn't able to answer her. Even though I was right beside her, I wasn't able to answer either.

With sadness, grievance, anger, and indignation, she asked lightly, "Irene, you really don't want me anymore?"

Her voice was so lonely. My back felt a chill.

—■—