School the next day was about the same as everyday. Namjoon and I goofed off a lot like we used too and acted like none of our fights even existed. It was quite nice to be honest. Rachel wasn’t there today which was probably why it was so nice.

Namjoon said that she was running a fever and will be out for a few days which I’m secretly glad for because every time I would try to talk and hangout with Namjoon during break she would always take him away. I can only laugh though, the best part is that she gets even madder that she can’t change the fact that Namjoon and I have every class together.

“Wanna do something this afternoon?” Namjoon asked me in the last class of the day.

“Well Jin is going out to town this afternoon to attend a company board meeting with his grandparents, so I’m free today.” I said.

“Ew, that sound painfully terrible.” Namjoon scrunched up his nose.

“Yeah, he tried to bribe me to go with him,” I laughed. “I love him, but were not that far into love yet for me to attend to his boring meetings about prices and stocks.”

***

“So where are we going exactly?” I asked Namjoon as we got in his car.

“Let’s go do something fun and exciting.”

“There’s nothing really fun and exciting around here to do.”

“Eating is fun and exciting.” Namjoon suggested.

“Sounds good to me. I can eat anything right now.” Namjoon started the car and we were on our way.

We arrived at a small restaurant that seemed fairly crowded. I have ate here once or twice with mom and my siblings, but it has been quite a long time. Me and Namjoon got out of the car and went in. We were met at the door by a waitress who led us to our table.

“What can I get you two for drinks?” The waitress asked.

“Water.” I said.

“Same for me.” The waitress nodded and went to grab our drinks.

“So,” Namjoon straightened up and put his elbows on the table. “Let’s talk.” I roll my eyes and slump down in my seat, crossing my arms.

“About what.” Our drinks come to the table and I grabbed it to take a sip.

“About Jin.” Namjoon said. I choke on my water and slam it on the table, coughing repeatedly.

“What about him.” I raise my eyebrow and finally stop choking on my water.

“I don’t think he shows himself as what he really is.” He said.

“Twofaced.” I gave him a word to fit his definition.

“No, no, I mean well,” He began to struggle on what he was saying. “I just don’t trust him, that’s all.” I could only just smile at how he cares about me getting hurt. It made me get small butterflies in my stomach.

“Don’t worry Namjoon. You know well enough that I can take care of my myself just fine on my own.” We both laugh and he reaches over and ruffles my hair.

“That’s my tough girl Sungmin.”

Having time out with Namjoon made me refreshed on the inside. We ordered our food, ate heavily and talked for quite a long time. It was nice just to be with his normal self. And as I mean for normal self, when Rachel is around, I can just tell that his attitude and actions change. It’s like Rachel “controls” the things he is allowed to do or not.

“You know what I’m in the mood for.” Namjoon grabbed my arm as we walked to his car after eating.

“What,”

“Honey barbecue chips.” I roll my eyes. Of course he is, that’s his favorite snack he can’t live without.

“Come on, let’s go make a trip to the convenience store.”

Namjoon drove to the store and got out to walk in. The store was filled with people doing their daily afternoon shopping. Namjoon went straight to the chips section as I scanned the candy aisle.

“Noona Sungmin!” I heard my name and turned to look who the caller was and all of a sudden I felt someone plow into me with a giant hug. I look down to see little Jungkook with his arms wrapped around me. I hug him back tight and let go, but Jungkook was still holding on.

“Noona, do you know how much I missed you?” He looks up to me with his big eyes, hair ruffled covering half of his eyes

“It’s only been a day, Jungkook.” I laugh, taking one hand and pushing his hair out of his eyes.

“I missed you lots.” He let’s go of me and I finally got to breathe again. He is little, but boy does he have a tight grip.

“So, what brings you here?’ I asked, putting both my hands on my hips.

“I’m helping my foster parents buy groceries.” He smiled.

“I’m glad you’re having fun.” Jungkook nods his head fast way too many times.

“Sungmin, I got the chips- Hey who’s this cutie you have here?” Namjoon walks over and pats Jungkook on the head, making him bashful and blush.

“This is Jungkook, we met at the park yesterday.” Namjoon put his arm around my shoulder and looked at Jungkook whose eyes got wide.

“Whoah, Noona has a boyfriend.” I look to who he was referring too, which was Namjoon.

“Oh no sweetly, I don’t. I mean I do, but it’s not him.” I explained and hit Namjoon to take his arm off of me. Jungkook’s eyes relaxed and he was backed to smiling.

“I want to meet him! I want to meet him! Noona you should take me to meet him sometime.” Jungkook came over, grabbed my arm and shook it.

“Of course I will!” Right when I said that, Jungkook’s foster mom called his name telling him they were leaving. Jungkook looked in the direction and then back at me.

“Noona, I have to go now.” He pouted and then hugged me first, then Namjoon and ran to where he need to go.

“He’s a cute kid.” Namjoon commented.

“Yeah, come on, there’s something I want to get in the drink aisle.”

We walk to where the drinks are and I was going up and down through the aisle, grabbing a couple of two liter bottles of soda, until something caught my eye.

More like someone caught me eye.

I slowly walked to get a better a look. I peeked around the aisle and searched my eyes to find two little boys running around chasing each other with their action figure super heroes and their mom calling them out. Then I see the person, a male, who is turned, back facing me, picking out hamburger meat.

I don’t know what it is, but they just look really familiar even though I only seen the back of him. I can’t quite point out who he is so I go in to get a closer look.

As I walk closer to him, he turns around and it is like every memory hit me in the face. I stop in my tracks and drop all of what I was carrying, which was soda bottles, catching the man’s attention to me, who is my brother, Chungho.

Chungho scans me and then his eyes get really wide with tear’s forming, as well as mine.

“Chungho!” I ran to him and hit him hard with my hug, tears began to flow from my eyes.

“Sungmin, is it really you?” Chungho pulled back some, and cupped my face with his hands. I nod and hug him once more. I can see he got older and looked more attractive than before.

“I can’t believe this. Wait are you okay? Is dad still living with you? Where’s mom, is she okay?” He barged me with question and I yet to laugh, letting him go.

“I’m great, dad’s in jail, mom is doing better than ever,” I listed off. “But you have a lot of explaining to do. Where have YOU been?” I asked. He only laughed and rolled his eyes.

“Where did you think I was,” He smirked. “In jail? Doing drugs? In a gang?” I nodded at all of it.

“Well I’ll tell you where I have been.” Chungho looked over and waved over to the mother I saw who called the two little boys over to her earlier. I began to connect the dots and grabbed Chungho by the arms.

“You did not,” Chungho smiled widely, saying he did.

“Sungmin, meet your sister-in-law, Park Young and you're two twin nephews, Henry and William .” I greeted Park Young and waved to the two boys who were hiding behind their mom.

“So why such American names?” I questioned.

“Oh, were moving to New York in the coming up summer so it will be more convenient for the boys to have easier names for the other kids to pronounce,” Chungho stopped and began to think. “Anyways, have you spoken to Minsoo lately.” Minsoo, my older sister. I haven’t thought about her since the day she left.

“No…” I shook my head.

“Okay. Well we better get going, I hope to see you soon Sungmin. Maybe go out for coffee one evening?” After that was said we exchanged numbers and went our different paths.

I turned around to see Namjoon waiting patiently with my fallen soda’s that I dropped in his arms. I walked over and took them.

“Who was that?” I smile and bit my lip as we began to walk to the checkout.

“My brother.”  

Namjoon and I kept silent all the way on the ride home. He dropped me off to my place and told me he was headed to spend time with Rachel (like I care to know that) and drove off.

I greeted my mom, who was on the couch, watching some reality TV show.

“Mom you wouldn’t believe who I ran into today.” I walked over and sat on the other end of the couch and looked at her.

“Mhh,” She was still focused on the TV, but not for very long till I tell her.

“I ran into Chungho.” My mom grabbed the remote, turned off the TV and sat up straight.

“What!” I nodded slowly and pressed my lips together.

“I saw him at the store,” I explained. “Mom, he’s not a bum as I thought he was. He has a family and doing perfectly well.” My mom kept silent.

“A beautiful wife and twins. They will be moving to America in the summer.” I got up and pulled out a paper and my phone to write down Chungho’s number for my mom.

“Here, call it if you don’t believe me.” I handed her the slip of paper and went upstairs to my room, leaving her dumbfounded.