"Omma, get me one of those!!"

"One of what?"

"One of those!! Fury looking balls!!"
Pointing to the pet shop window, inside were little cute
hamsters running around like little cute racing cars.

"Ahh, Those are not called fury balls, Lily . Those are called hamsters."

"Ahh, really? Theyre so cute!!"

"Yes they are! Do you want it? For your birthday?"

"Yes i do!"
Jumping around happily.

And so, they went in the pet shop and went to pick the color.

"OMMA! I want the white one at the corner."

"Ahh, thats weird. Its really quiet and not as playful as the others."

Just then, the shop owner came,

"That white one sure knows how to act! The moment he knews that
someone wants to buy hamsters, he will quickly be the odd one
and is the most quietest! But actually, in real life,
He's the most fastest one!!"

"Really?! Thats so cute!!!"
Lily's mother squealed.

"We're taking that one!"
Without hesitation, Lily's mother grabbed her purse and went off to pay.

At home, Lily was making the hamster's house ready.
And then her mother came in,

"Lily, what do you want to name it?"

"Hmm, let me think. Penguin?"

"PENGUIN?! Its a hamster, Lily!"

"I know, omma. But i've been longing to name my own pet Penguin."

"Oh well, its your pet anyway."

Lily smiled and took a peek in the little box
where Penguin was placed.

Penguin was sleeping soundly.

"Probably Penguin was tired waiting for me. Aww, how cute!"

As Lily picked it up slowly, she was dazed by penguin's cuteness.
She couldnt even speak.

A few days later,

"Lily! Do you want to follow omma to the supermarket?"

"No!"

"Ehh, why? You always wanted to go with me.."

"Cause i dont want to leave Penguin alone. I want to be with Penguin!"

Lily's mother let out a loud sigh and walked away.
These days, whenever or wherever Lily's mother is going,
Lily will be staying at home keeping Penguin accompanied.

People would say that theyre inseparable.
And you can see the affection between them.
The relationship between them is oh-so lovingly
full with tender and likeness.

There was even a time where Lily bought Penguin to school and showed everyone.
She was scolded by her teacher and her parents was called.
Still, Lily's relationship with penguin doesnt separate.

Until one day, Lily decided not to put so much attention to Penguin.
And her reason was, Penguin is such a small thing,
it wont even recognize if she was out of the house.
Its so small that it needs caring everyday,
but in return, She doesnt get anything.
Just a cute fury ball running around.

In the end, Lily didnt put much attention to it.
The daily feeding time wasnt Lily's job anymore.
It was her mother's.

Lily's mother was the one who feed Penguin and check the water.
Lily, really didnt care much.
Only sometimes when she was bored and was forced by her mother to give
Penguin some food, Lily will play with Penguin.

But most of the time, Lily was not there to play with it.
Each day counts in hours, minutes and seconds
And every seconds counts.
Only Lily didnt realized that.

Time went by and each day, Lily grew older and a little mature to think.
As for Penguin, He became thinner with no food.
Although Lily's mother still feed him.

Lily grew more and more lazier to even care about the hamsters.
Until her mother couldnt stand it and went to confront her.

"Lily, May i talk to you."

"Yes, omma. What is it?"

"You have not been caring Penguin lately and the person who feeds it is not you
but me. You promise me you would take care of him all
by yourself?"

"I know!!! But i'm busy with my school work and projects! I
always come home late and i feel very tired!"

"Lily, if you keep ignoring Penguin, Its seriously going to die soon! Mark my words!"

When Lily's mother walk away, Lily began to tease her mother.
Imitating her words. And her reaction.

Lily didnt believe her mother's words.
She didnt even care!

Not until one day, Lily's mother asked her to feed penguin,.

"Urgh! OMMA, youre so noisy!! Why cant you feed it?!"

"I'M BUSY!!!! GO AND FEED IT NOW!!"

Lily dragged her legs to Penguin's cage.
Lily thought Penguin was sleeping and therefore she hitted the cage loudly to wake
Penguin up.

No reaction. Penguin didnt move.
Lily looked closer and saw ants around Penguin's body.
She panicked and ran to her mother.

"OMMA!!!!!! PENGUIN.......!!"

"Penguin what?"

"Penguin's DEAD!!!!"

"WHATTT?!"

They both ran towards the cage and saw the hopeless body lying in the cage.

"I told you to take care of him. But you didnt listen. Now what?"

Tears rolled down Lily's cheeks and she watched the body lay down.

"Omma, I want him back...."
With tears rolling down.

"You cant revive him back, Lily. He's dead now. No use of regretting.
No use to cry now."

"OMMAAAAAA!!!"
Lily shouted.

"I WANT HIM BACKKK!!"
Shaking her mother back and fourth.

"LILY!! STOP IT!!! Look, you cant have him back! HE'S DEAD, LILY!!"

By then, Lily was hopeless. She couldnt do anything but just cry and cry even more.
Lily was directed to clean Penguin's cage and bury Penguin
all by herself.

She felt sick.
When it was time to bury Penguin,
Lily cried even harder than before.
She took extra great care of the dead body and placed tissue under it.

She went down and dug a hole.
Lily placed Penguin's body inside it and cover it with sand.
She sat down beside and look at the burial.

"Penguin ar, i'm sorry for what i've done!! I regretted treating you that way!!
I shouldnt have even think about it! I was wrong. I am at fault. I should be the one dead!
Penguin, blame it on me. I'm not a human, Penguin.
normal humans doesnt treat animals like that dont they?
Penguin ar, I still remember the first day i bought you,
i was so excited to bring you home! So excited to play with you!
So excited to touch you! I even promised Omma to take care of you.
But i broke the promise. Penguin ar, if you ever come back alive,
please dont come and search for me.
find a better owner. A human. Find someone who can give you happiness
Everyday. Penguin ar, I just want to say, thank you so much for accompanying
my whole life. You were the best i ever had.
Its goodbye for now. RIP."

Lily stand up and walked away.
Wiping her tears off.
When she reached home,
she ran into the room and cry a little more.

By now, Lily should be writing a story,
"The greatest hamster i've ever had!"

-The End-

Naomi hide under her blankets. Pretending to sleep.

"Naomi ar, i know youre not asleep!!"

Naomi stayed still and stiff.

"Naomi ar, i'm sorry"

Upon hearing those words, Naomi began to lower down her blanket
and showed herself.

"Why are you sorry for, Minnie?"

"The other day, I shouted at you saying that you shall not asked from me forgiveness.
You should have told me you couldnt take it anymore!! I felt so shocked and guilty
After hearing you were admitted to the hospital!"

"Ahhh! That day. Its ok. What over is over. You cant playback time."

Minnie smiled.

"Naomi ar,........"

"Hmmm?"

"I wont be seeing you anymore after this."

"WHY?"
Naomi shouted with big eyes.

"Not even in school."

"WHYYYY?!"
This time, its longer and louder!

"Naomi ar, i'm sorry i told you late, I'm sure youre gonna kill me right after this.
My parent's company had to move to the Americas.
And so, me and my family had to move to the America for i dont know how long.
But i know, it will be years."

"When will you be going?"

"My flight is tomorrow."

"WHAT?! TOMORROW?! WHY DIDNT YOU....."
Just then, then door opened.
Both their eyes look to the door direction.
Its was the doctor.

"Ms Naomi, are you feeling all better? No feeling giddy? No headaches?"

"I'm feeling all much better now! No giddy. No headaches."

"Good then. Youre discharged today."

"Hmm, WHAT?"

"Youre discharged today!"
Followed by a big smile.

"THANKS DOCTOR!!!!!"

Naomi faced to Minnie and made and evil smile.

"I'm sure you can go out today. Why dont we have the last fun before today?"

"Arr, SURE!!!"

After packing all Naomi's things with the help of Minnie, they ran out of the
hospital room door only to find So Eun who was walking towards Naomi's room.

They stopped.

So Eun stopped too.

So Eun stared at Naomi. Examining her from head to toe, wondering if she is alright.
So Eun tilt her head to the left but didnt spoke a word.

Before So Eun even tried to speak with her mouth open,

"So Eun ar, lets go out today! You, Me and Minnie!"
Naomi shouted.

Grabbing hold of So Eun's hand and pulling her away.
And running.

In the end, they reached their destination.
So Eun smiled.

Looking and So Eun, Naomi smiled too.

Minnie, had the biggest smile ever!

"Remember this place So Eun?", Naomi asked.

"Hmm, what place is this?" Asked Minnie.

"Hmm, this was the place where my childhood memories with So Eun was created."
Looking at So Eun while talking.

So Eun met her eyes.
She smiled.

"I do remember this place. Eventhough we grew on separate ways and live different
lifestyles, I never once forgot this place."
So Eun said happily.

"Well Minnie, It is "Mrs Tiny Sweet Shop".
Our houses used to be around here.
Last time our parents use to give us $1 if we passed our exams.
$1 is really big last time.
It can buy you a whole lot of candy with it!!
But i dont think its still that way now."
Naomi said with a laugh.

In the shop,
All three of them went separate ways and explore the shop.
In the end, they each decide to buy something they want to.

Minnie she bought three packets of Watermelon flavoured sweet.
Naomi, She bought 3 big lollipops.
So Eun, she bought 2 cookies.

"That shop sure does sells everything sweet!"
Exclaimed Minnie.

They went to find a place to sit and finally found a spot.

"Hey, why dont we take out everything we bought and share it?"
Naomi suggested.

"Hmm, good idea!" So Eun Said.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"I want to give each and every one of you my lollipop! One for
So Eun and one for Minnie."

"I want to give my packet of sweets too! One for So Eun and one for
Naomi!!"

"I didnt bought any sweets though. I bought cookies."
Handing over to Naomi 1 cookie.

"Naomi ar, i hope you've learnt your lesson. Eventhough i looked angry after that incident,
I was thinking about you all the time. It was hard for me.
I still cared for you. And I dont know what to at
That period of time.
Here's a cookie, but i didnt bake it.
Please dont break it anymore.
Please."

Placing a hand over So Eun's,
Naomi hold it tight.

By then, So Eun knew that Naomi wouldnt want to break it.
Now, she trusted her.
So Eun handed over another cookie to Minnie.

"Minnie ar, i know you hated me before.
But as for me, i didnt have any bad thoughts of you.
Now, i guess we're friends."

Minnie accepted it with a big smile.

The day ended just like that.
It was short.
But it was filled with memories.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The next day in school,..... It was recess time.

"So Eun ar,....."
So Eun was eating and she quickly looked up.

"So Eun ar,... how could you.."
Before Naomi could continue, So Eun made the stop sign infront of Naomi's
face.
She knew then that So Eun didnt want to listen to her explanation.

So Eun left her food on the table and walked away.
Naomi let out a sigh.
And she mumbled to herself;

"I can never explain to her what my honest thought was...
I can never make her sit down and listen..
I can never understand her like this...
I can never have a friend like her......
I can never get a perfect friend like her...
I can neverrrrr...."

Naomi was stopped by a hand pulling her away.
She looked up and saw it was her friend, Minnie.

Minnie on the other hand,
Was very popular within the boys in school.
She was popular for her pretty face.
Her cute voice.
Her body.
Her hair.
Everything.
Merely, EVERYTHING.

She was in the same class with So Eun and Naomi.
She's not a wealthy kid like So Eun.
But she is very pampered.
Everyone knows that in her house,
Her mother favourited her most than her brother.
And mostly, they knew that Naomi goes around the school with her
From the day Naomi broke ties with So Eun.
Minnie, was also popular because of her bitchy attitude.

And some people, hate her.

.................................................................


Suddenly , they came to a stopped.
It was very quiet and nobody was around.

"Minnie, what are doing?! What the hell are you trying to do to me?! Kill me?!"

"Naomi!!"
Followed by a slapped on Naomi's face.

Naomi was shocked.

"NAOMI!! WAKE UP!!! WHAT TH HELL WAS YOU MUMBLING ABOUT
IN THE CANTEEN JUST NOW?!?
I HEARD EVERY SINGLE WORD YOU SPOKE!! You mean,
i am not your perfect friend?! You mean, she is way much better than me?!
What the hell were you thinking?! You see, when she didnt friend you,
I came to you and be your friend!! And now you treated me like this?! Youre an idiot!!
Dont ever come to me and beg for forgiveness. EVER!!"

Minnie shouted at her face and went off stomping like an elephant.

Naomi stood still and she looked down on the ground.
Not knowing what to do.
Looking sick.
Feeling giddy.
Blurry vision.
She passed out.

The next day,............
Naomi woke up.

"Where am i?"
Rubbing her eyes.

No answer.
And however knew she was at the hospital.

And suddenly she felt somebody holding her hand.
The warm-nest that she have not felt for a long time.
It was so warm, she didnt want to let go.

Then she realized something.
This hand feels familiar.

She tilt her head to the side.

She was speechless.

Its was, So Eun.
She was sleeping soundly placing her left hand on the bed
And her head was on top.
Her right hand, was holding onto Naomi's.

So Eun suddenly woke up, rubbing her eyes.
And when she had her clear vision,
She released her right hand off Naomi's.

"I have to go, sorry."

"WAIT! Dont go! Sit here beside me!!"
So Eun stopped and went back to her sit.

"What happen yesterday?"

So Eun didnt want to speak. But she had to answer the question.

"You fainted."

"How? Where? Who saved me? Who called the ambulance?"

"I dont know how. And i was the one who saw you lying on the floor."

"But how did you know i was there?"

"I didnt. Dont you remember that place? We used to go there together
And have a chat. It was our favourite place."

"Ahhh,.... Our favourite place... I remember that.."

"But not anymore. Its not ours anymore."
After saying that, So Eun run out of the door. Crying.

At that time of the moment,...
She knew that her friend.
Her childhood friend,
Her BEST FRIEND,
Still cares for her.
But she just doesnt know how to expressed it.

"I have to do something. I regretted on what i did. I have to!"
From that day onwards, Naomi kept thinking of what she will do.
But nothing was useful.

It was useless.
Suddenly, something interrupted her thinking.
Somebody opened her hospital room door.

Naomi was shocked.

...................................................

So Eun was a very wealthy kid.
She grew up in Australia.
But her hometown is in Korea.
And she have a house that cost her parents
300 Thousand Million dollars for rental per month.

But the most awkward thing is that,
She doesnt go to a rich school.
She goes to school like a normal average kid everyday.
Since she is rich,
Most people would envy, jealous, dote, love....
her.

But most of the time, she is betrayed.
She doesnt easily trust on somebody just because
They were kind to her.
But she just seems to be close to a particular girl in her class,........

Naomi.
Naomi, as said by all teachers, was a very cheerful girl.
She's very neat on her work. And she is very cute!
So Eun dotes on her sunny kind of attitude.
And what more, Naomi is very close to So Eun.

As everybody knows, they grew up together.
They had childhood memories together.
But Naomi was an average girl.
Not like the wealthy So Eun.

Most of the time, they would spent times together.
In the park or in the library.
Or they would usually go to each other's
House to do homework together.

What So Eun didnt know is,
Naomi is a horrible and terrible person to ever be close with.
Its weird how they grew up together
But So Eun doesnt know the real Naomi yet.
Its just wasnt the right time.

So one day,... it was Naomi's birthday.
And they planned to go out together for a celebration.
So Eun had prepared freshly baked homemade cookies for Naomi.
It was her present.

In fact, her special present.
When they met up with each other,
They went for lunch.
That was when So Eun gave the present to her.
Naomi was delighted to see the present
And shouted endless thank yous.

So Eun was happy.
She knew Naomi was too! Cause she was smiling away.

.................................................................

When it was time to go home,
Naomi waved goodbye to So Eun.
They both smiled at each other
And Naomi quickly turned back and gave the "Eww" face.

While walking to the bus stop,

Naomi swings the box of cookies harshly
Knowing that the cookies will break.
She "accidentally" dropped it.
She did so much harsh things till the cookies were broken into
little pieces.
Naomi have no intention at all to eat the cookies cause it was baked by So Eun.

She thought So Eun would bring her to an expensive restaurant
and treat her.
All these years, Naomi was eye-ing on So Eun money.
And not her.

"HAH, what kind of cookies is this?! Rubbish!!"
"I thought she will bring me to an expensive restaurant and treat me."
"But that rich bitch didnt!! OMG! She even made me these disgusting
cookies!!! Does she thinks i will eat it?! NO WAY MAN!!"
Naomi grumbles at herself.

Just so that you know,......
So Eun,......
Was standing behind her at that moment.
Cause Naomi dropped her purse while waving back to So Eun.
So Eun saw and quickly took it.
But Naomi was walking too fast that

So Eun had to run after her.
Only that So Eun didnt realize that her purse fell.

...............................................

So Eun,..... was so shocked.
She couldnt close her mouth.
For all these years, she had trusted Naomi for so long.
They even had childhood memories together!!
So Eun's mind went blank.

Just when the bus arrived,
Naomi reached out for her bag looking for her purse.
Naomi panicked.
She couldnt find it.
She was so worried.

Just then, she turned around to find that So Eun
was behind her all the time holding her purse.
Naomi was shocked.
At the same time scared.

Many questions run through her mind,
"Did she heard what she said just now?"
"Did she saw what i did just now?"
"Did she?! Did she?!"

The stares continued between them.
And finally, Naomi spoked.

"So Eun ar, thats my purse youre holding isnt it?"

So Eun frozed.
"So Eun ar, say something!!!! Dont make me worry!!!"

And then, So Eun tried to mumble.
"Naomi, did you really mean what you said just now?!"
"Did i heard wrongly?!"
"Is it really you?!"
"Was it you?!"
"Was you the one who was purposely making the cookies break?!"
"Was you,........ the person who only wants my money?"

Before Naomi answered her questions,
So Eun shouted another question.

"ARE YOU,.... REALLY MY BEST FRIEND?!"
Naomi was speechless.
Her head starts to feel heavy and she was looking at the floor.

Tears formed in So Eun's eyes.
"I cant believe it Naomi...."

So Eun threw Naomi's purse on the floor and walked away.

.................................

On Monday,
The school bell rang and it was time to go back to class.

So Eun went back to her seat and started to read her book.
Naomi acted like nothing happened between
Her and So Eun and she was chatting away with her other friends.

.................................

In the middle of lesson,
Naomi received a letter. From, So Eun.

Naomi opened it;