Chapter 1

O N E

Irene had always been kind of crazy, if not totally crazy. She was the type to not sleep because she was worried someone would stab her and take her money, or worse, someone she loved. Something in her mind always made her stay alert, even if it was for the most stupid reasons. She was the jealous type, the one who would attack someone because she felt inferior to them.

But in the middle of her mind-storm, she had found someone to depend on, someone to trust, someone to love. He was younger than her, yes, by three years but he was her everything; they met at her ripe age of 20, and then dated till she was 23, that was when he proposed and found out she was crazy. Crazy as fuck. He regretted getting engaged at such a young age, at the age where he literally just became legal.

He wasn't so loyal though; no, he always found ways out of Irene's obsessive episodes, made her believe his mom was sick so he could go sleep with other girls. And that too because Irene wouldn't sleep with him until they were married; yes, married, not even engaged.

Irene's mother knew what type of person her daughter was, so when the news got out that her boyfriend, her everything had cheated on her; slept with another woman, Irene fumed and pledged that she'd kill that fucking bitch, the whore who stole her man. It was only because she was so blindly in love, that she couldn't see her mans fault. Her mother had caged Irene in her room, explaining that he was in the wrong, that she should be mad at him and forget him, because he didn't deserve someone who was as beautiful as Irene and it was true; plenty of boys, men, even girls, were interested in Irene but she found interest in the man who went on to break her heart.

Over the months, her anger steeped levels down, and she learnt to become normal again (at least somewhat.). She made new friends, in her building, and spent most of her time with them. One was Seulgi, a more reserved person, and she liked to not share about her personal life; and one was Wendy, an loud, outspoken girl who liked hearts and doing fake surgeries, as she wasn't permitted to do actual ones.

These three hung out whenever they got time, and baked or studied, or Irene sometimes did their hair, being a stylist. The three had a weird and somewhat, awkward friendship but they decided to never bring it up and play along with life.

But it was going to get a lot more toxic, and death came closer as they did too.

▬

Seulgi's life was much more boring compared to most people; she grew up with nanny's and butlers, as her working parents were never there. She was given stethoscopes on her first birthday, and gradually she was given Doctor Kits, as she grew up. When she was 13, she was given her first book based on Neurology. She asked for a make-up kit, but she was scolded on, saying just like her mother, she should be independent, and not be pretty because she didn't need men.

She was scolded that she would attract men and then become dependent on them. Her mother despised Seulgi's wish of being a normal girl, who liked make-up and boys, and would like to take photos of herself, not stick and stones. Her mother worked day and night in the hospital, and had little time to pamper herself, so she didn't let Seulgi pamper herself; and through Seulgi's mother and her mother's self-deprivation, she never lived the life she wanted to.

Her mother was hellbent on making Seulgi 'non-materialistic', make her person who worked for people and not herself. She told Seulgi that all of her cousins were stupid 'bimbos', that they only needed men, and that they liked being pretty, and whenever she told her mother that was fine, her mother would shout, "You don't know how they treat ugly people."

Inferior. Since Seulgi's mother was ugly, in her own eyes, she couldn't stand pretty people, and had distanced herself from most her family and as year's passed, Seulgi's mother was only one with the ugly heart, and ugly personality.

She didn't even want to be a doctor, but her mother's push along with her father's left her no choice.

Yet, in the midst of all this ugly, she found beauty in that one person, who told her that she was fine, and that she should whatever the hell she wants. Yes, it was a summer fling in 2015, and the guy was just out of a divorce, but he was too nice. Too charming. He made Seulgi feel nice. But like all beautiful relationships it came to an end; the spark wasn't there anymore, but it was only for him.

Seulgi being the girl who was more quiet, didn't say anything and lied that she had no feelings either. Yes, she cried till there were no tears, but she didn't tell anyone. They separated paths, but again met in December, when she found out she was dating her best friend, Wendy.

Wendy had no idea, and even though Seulgi still had feelings, she gave them her blessings. Yes, she wanted to kill Wendy at some point, because she loved him so much, but she decided not to because she didn't want her mother poking her nose in her business.

▬

Wendy grew up as the nicest kid on the block; she was always friendly, always loved helping others, always was happy. Her parents never gave her any restrictions, and she learnt to love science, and Cardiology. She studied diligently and got into a good medical school.

Her life was probably the most happy of the five girls, she'd end up being acquaintances with, but she wouldn't complain. Her parents, her family, everyone was proud of her; she had the beauty and the brains, and everything about her was lovable.

Except for that side where she was too demanding, and she was secretly jealous of people being happier than her. Her second face was something she could cover up scarily, and anyone who saw it were known to keep their mouths shut about it. No one could know Wendy, was a rude girl behind her facade. Not even Wendy; she denied it.

She did make her best friend in her first year of medical school, even though Seulgi was the total opposite of Wendy, Wendy liked Seulgi, mainly because she never opposed to what Wendy did, and never gave her opinions.

Unlike Seulgi, Wendy was very open about her love life, and when she found the right guy, in the coffee shop, of course she told Seulgi first. Seulgi was initially happy for her, but then it was found out that he was her ex, making Wendy worry, and she did ask Seulgi if it was okay, and Seulgi did give them permission, so Wendy was okay with that.

But she wasn't giving away her lover to her friend, and sympathise just because he was her ex. No. He was hers.

Even though during their time it was Wendy who was the first one to lose the interest, and to get bored, her cravings for him increased with the number of days of their break-up; she needed him but she had no idea where he was, and considering how charming he was, Wendy's blood boiled at the thought of him kissing and loving another girl.

Just like Irene and just like Seulgi.

▬

Joy was a free soul. No one could stop her from doing what she wanted to do. Like that time, when she wanted to dye her hair blonde, and met up with the stylist who lived in her building, the name going by Irene, and they became acquaintances, and she saw Irene as an elder sister who she could seek advice from.

Joy was flirty and easy-going. She was easily attractive, with her radiant smile, and beautiful body and her funny laugh, she was very charismatic. Yes, she was a good student, but she was also a good girlfriend, and immensely friendly. But her parents weren't all that nice; her mother being a druggie, and her father an alcoholic.

Yes, they didn't annoy her or abuse her, but she never had a proper conversation with them, but she did love them dearly. She couldn't bear it when they were taken away for possession of illegal drugs, and then the Government helped her move into a new home, just below her favourite stylist, and she also met her good friend Yeri there, and her life was good. She tried her best to smile all the time.

She also felt her life getting better when she met a man who was extremely charming, and treated her like a princess, and put back her broken heart into it's place with glue and tape. She felt ecstatic meeting such a charming man, so handsome, and so delicate. She also brought along Yeri sometimes, so she wouldn't be lonely, but it was false.

Joy brought Yeri over to secretly show how happy she was, and how lonely Yeri was. She did it because she was jealous of Yeri.

But what she didn't know was that as days passed, his kind gestures to Yeri made way to Yeri's heart, and now she admired from afar.

Just like death.

▬

Yeri was only 17, and wearing leggings with heavy coats, when Joy dragged her to meet the 'love of Joy's life', a man way older than Yeri but she felt like she was meeting a celebrity, or a model. He was nice to Yeri, too. And he treated her the way any boy-friend would, and Yeri couldn't help but have a crush on him.

Her parents always pressured her, that she to be successful, and that she should graduate with star-studded marks, and that there should be no distractions like boys or Internet in her life.

But, that was kind of hard as Yeri was the prettiest girl in her grade, and boys would fawn over her. Yet, she wasn't very attracted to them. She liked gentlemen, and high-school boys were anything but gentlemanly.

So, when Joy made her meet her boyfriend, she just couldn't help but swoon at his beauty. He really was; he was beautiful, handsome, gentle, spoke in a deep voice, always laughed. He was Yeri's ideal type, Yeri's knight in shining armour. When Joy wasn't around, he would sweet talk with her, and even though she knew it was wrong, she couldn't help but fall for his charms.

Little did she know, falling for his charms would make her fall to her feet, surrendering to death.