2nd➳

I ran down the streets, ignoring the fact I forgot to bring a thicker layer of a coat. It was mid January, so the weather was still very cold. Aish, this Jaemin. He's going to pay for getting into trouble. What did he do this time? Push an old lady down?

I arrived at the police station Hoya texted me. I checked inside and saw different types of people sitting down, being interrogated by policemen and even women. But I was surprised to see that there were more teenagers rather than adults. Teenagers these days.

I found where Jaemin and Hoya were waiting and quickly rushed over to where they were. The policemen looked up at me and stood up to bow. "Hello, are you their guardian?"

I eyed Hoya suspiciously and he only looked at me with those pleading eyes. Aish, these boys owed me for what I'm doing for them. "Yes, of the sort."

"Kwon Jaemin here damaged a convenient store window with an empty soju bottle from the streets. He has to pay charges," the police officer informed me, checking the monitor of his computer.

My eyes widened as I glanced over at Jaemin. I really wanted to pinched the fifteen-year-old's ear. He was so in trouble. "Juseonghaeyo, but how much would the repair cost?"

"500, 000 won," the officer replied.

Aish, Kwon Jaemin is so dead. I stared at him with a glare and bowed a deep bow at the officer. "Juseonghaeyo, officer. But can you let it go this once? Kwon Jaemin has a bad temper and all, but he doesn't have parents to help him pay for the damage!"

"There are rules to abide toㅡ"

This won't do. I had to use my trump card. I faintly step back while clasping onto the back of my neck and said, "Argh! This is so irritating... I'm getting a neck cramp again. Ack, I just got a surgery from it last month. Must... must I get another one again? Aigoo! There's too much to pay! Aigoo!"

By now, everyone in the police station was looking our way. The other officers were giving Jaemin's officer a dirty look. This was good. The more attraction I was getting, the more easier it would be to persuade him.

"Aigoo! I might die with debts..." I was starting to sound like an old granny, but I have to give it all my best. I was the only reliable sources for these two boys. Mom was a no hope adult.

"Agasshi, ple... please calm down! I'll... I'll cut down the pays if you'll just calm downㅡ"

"How much?" I asked, pausing from my dramatic act.

"Most probably 300, 000 won..."

"Aigoo!" I wailed even loudly, hitting a fist against my chest. "This is so frustrating and stressful! Aigoo!"

"Okay, okay! 200, 000 and that's all I can do!" the police officer quickly said, calming me down. "Please calm down! The whole police station is looking at us..."

Weaklyㅡto keep up my actㅡI bowed a deep bow and exit the police station by pinching the two boys' ears and dragging them out of there. Out by the streets, I asked them, "What were you boys thinking?"

"Noonaㅡ"

"Nope! I don't even want to hear your voice right now," I said, shutting Jaemin up almost instantly. "Jaemin, you need to control that temper of yours! It's getting worst these days!"

"He almost recently got into a fight," Hoya added.

Jaemin instantly turned to Hoya and gave him a smack in the arm. "Hyung! Why'd you have to tell her that?!"

"Mwo?!" I pinched Jaemin's ear even harder. "Kwon Jaemin! What has gotten into you these days? You both know that it's already hard surviving life now that your parents are gone, but do you have to cause troubles like this? Live your life properly, you rascals, huh? Jaebalyo!"

By now, the both of them had their heads down. Good. They should be afraid and listen well to me. I swear, these two will cause me to die at an early age.

Sighing, I said, "Come on. You're sleeping at my apartment today."

♥

At my apartment, I managed to sneak Hoya and Jaemin into the apartment without Mom noticing. Luckily, there were extra pillows, blankets and a mattress in my room. I set it up for them and changed my clothes after taking a warm bath. I got frostbite from going out into the cold without a thicker jacket.

I threw a pillow at Jaemin's face. "Jeongshin charyeo, huh, imma? Can't you live your life diligently for once? Stop causing trouble and live a quiet, peaceful life."

Jaemin didn't say anything in response so I presume I guilt-tripped him somewhere. He pulled the blankets over him and stayed quiet.

I turned to the sixteen-year-old and put a hand on my hip. "Yah, Kwon Hoya, can't you keep your brother in line? I don't want you kids to keep causing trouble. Now I have to pay for your damage and as usual, my mom can't help me. Aish, I have to get a part-time job at this rate."

"Ju... juseonghaeyo, noona. We're sorry to be a burden like this to you," Hoya apologized, standing next to the mattress I set down on the floor in my room.

I sighed and pulled him into a hug. "It's okay, Hoya. I'm the only hope for the two of you, so I'm really sorry too. I'll find a way. Don't worry."

Hoya hugged me close as he began to sob quietly. Jaemin must be shedding his own share of tears quietly under the blankets. "Sa... saranghaeyo, noona."

I hugged him close and caressed the back of his hair. "I love you too. Even I nag too much at you kids, I still love you. I'll take care of you two as much as I can, don't worry. I'll be here."

"You're the best, noona," Hoya whispered.

I'll always be the best for you kids. I'll always try to be the person you'll respect and look up to.

♥

I had to find a job.

It's not like 200, 000 won will appear out of nowhere or drop from the sky. Now if only there was some giveaway where they gave 200, 000 won to the next person they see walking on that street. But then I'd have to depend on luck to be the person who wins that money.

Messing up my hair in public in frustration, I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets and walked to the nearby twenty-four hour convenient store to purchase three ramen cup noodles for Hoya, Jaemin and I.

Upon entering the store, my eyes befell on the glass window of the convenient store.

HELP WANTED 

I stared at the piece of paper that stuck onto the glass window of the convenient store for a few more seconds before rushing inside and grabbing the first three ramen cup noodles on the shelf without checking which brand they were. They'd be tasty anyway.

Heading to the counter, my eyes befell on the boy at the counter. I asked him while pointing at the direction of the window, "Is the job still open?"

The boy who seemed to look about my age looked up at me and then answered, "Yeah. Why?"

"I'd like to apply for the job," I said, pushing the ramen cup noodles closer to him.

"Do you have experience?" he asked, marking the prices of the ramen cup noodles. "That will be 1, 450 won."

I handed him 2, 000 won and replied, "No, not really. But! I'm willing to work hard and do a good job! I promise!"

The guy looked at me for a secondㅡhis eyes flickering as he continued to examine meㅡthen subtly nodded. "Keurae, you're hired. Come by tomorrow for training." 

Yes! I got a job that will at least help pay a little. "What's the pay?"

"10, 000 per day," he answered.

Really? That little? I might need to get an extra part-time job, then. Nodding understandingly, I said, "Oh, okay. Thank you so much!" 

The guy nodded in reply and flashed a sweet smile before I headed out, carrying the ramen cup noddles home. 

♥

"Really noona? Wah, komabda!" Hoya said enthusiastically, giving me a big, bear hug. "I... I'm lost for words, jeongmal. I'd... I should get a job too, right? Right noona? That way we'd be able to pay for the debtㅡ"

I shook my head in disapproval, holding him firmly by the shoulders. Looking deeply into his eyes, I told him, "Don't stress yourself by working, okay? Just study hard and let noona take care of this."

"But noonaㅡ"

I slapped a hand onto his mouth to stop him from talking and instead said, "Noona. Will. Take. Care. Of. It. Arasso?"

Hoya pouted and nodded in agreement. "Okay. Fine. But if you are too tired from working, let me takeover, okay?"

I shook my head once again. "No, Hoya. Noona should handle it, don't you think so? By the way, where's Jaemin?"

"He's in your room studying. I made him reflect on his actions. I think he's doing a great job on it," Hoya replied, his eyes boring at the door of my room. "Keundae, where's your eomma?"

"Eoㅡeomma?" God knows where she's wandering her soul right now. I didn't care where she has been going before, so why the sudden change? I won't change unless she's willing to meet halfway with me. "Mmm, she's probably just out."

"Is she out drinking again?" Hoya asked in a whispered voice, trying not to frown.

I couldn't just lie to the sixteen-year-old boy so I just sighed and said, "Yeah, I guess so. It's okay. We have each other, right?"

Hoya smiled back.

"Okay, go wash up now. Let's read a bedtime story later," I said, giving him a pat on the back.

"Mwoya noona? I'm 16 now, why do we need to read a bedtime story?" Hoya asked with an amused smile.

I shrugged in return. "It helps me sleep better at night."

"Mwo? You're a weird noona," he said, shaking his head at me. "You're still so innocent even if you're 17. When will my kid noona grow up?"

"Never," I answered with a smirk. "Now, go wash up."

After Hoya washed up, I entered the bathroom to take a warm shower. It's always a pain to take a shower since the weather outside was so cold. But at least the warm water helps warms up my body.

During the winter seasons, I love nighttime the most. Because after a good, relaxing warm bath, a warm blanket in comfortable pajamas were always the best combination.

I stumbled into my bed, careful not to accidentally step on Jaemin, who was already asleep with a textbook next to him. Well, I guess he won't be reading a story with me and Hoya.

"Noona, why do you have so many kid story books?" asked Hoya, examining my bookshelves filled with them. There were a few teen fictions in there, but the children story books will forever and always be my favourite.

"I like them," I replied, grinning as he handed me one. "Do you want me to read it out for you?"

Hoya shook his head and let out an exhausted yawn. "Aniyo noona. I'm already tired as it is. But you can enjoy reading them."

I smiled and nodded at him. "Nae."

Once Hoya fell asleep, I switched on my bedside night light and read the story book clasped on my lap. I smiled as I turned every page after reading the easy, short words. It was a children's book, what do you expect?

I stopped on one page of the famous story book, Peter Pan, and saw striking words that caught my attention.

"To die would be a very big adventure." 

I pondered on that for some time after putting the book away on the desk. To die would be a very big adventure...

If I were to die in this life after adventuring its secrets left for people to discover, it would be a big adventure, wouldn't it? As I pondered over such thought, another thought came across my mind.

To die... to die... die...

If I ended my life. If I ended this life where I feel so insignificant. Where I feel like I don't belong. Where I feel mistreated because of the way I acted... that sure would be another, great adventure in my life.

Believe me, I've been through adventures I never wanted to face in the first place. To actually die would be the best adventure yet.

~Author's Notes~

Annyeong! Here is the second chapter! Hope you enjoyed it :))

xoxo

Byun Sang Kyung