33rd➳

"Eh?" I have another cousin, other than Hoya and Jaemin? "What do you mean you're my cousin? I think you are mistaken with another girl. I've never even seen you before. I don't even know your name."

He awkwardly retrieved his hand back since I didn't look like I was going to shake it. "I guess your dad doesn't talk about his hyung often."

I scoffed. "As if he's even around to talk about his family members. I only know Kwon Jimong and his wife died, leaving my cousins, Kwon Hoya and Kwon Jaemin orphans and probably roaming Seoul, trying hard to live. I don't even know how they lived before..." I let my sentence trail off. 

He seemed to be listening to me but he had this type of face which made me feel like scoffing. It just looked like he didn't really believed me. 

"And what about you? Who are you supposed to be, claiming you're my cousin and all? What's your name?" I gave him a weird look before I continued to examine him. He did seem a little familiar but I don't think I've ever seen him as he is now. 

He let out a laugh that sounded arrogant to my ears. "I'm Kwon Juhyeon's youngest son. Kwon Juhyeon, your father's hyung. I guess he doesn't talk about him very often, huh?"

Kwon Juhyeon... Kwon Juhyeon? 

From what I remembered, my dad has two brothers. I never really knew the eldest one—since he barely talks about him to my mom and I—but he was close to his younger brother, which was Hoya and Jaemin's father. In fact, it would even seem that I don't even remember that Dad had an older brother, since he was rarely brought up. 

I looked at him once again, raising an eyebrow. "What's your name? You haven't replied to my question ever since I asked. That's not fair."

"Why? Are you trying to remember who I am?" He had a smirk on his face and he was acting as if he was winning a game between us. As if there was one in the first place. 

"Don't you think it's unfair if you know my name and I don't know yours?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. 

He looked amused enough and eventually answered, "Kwon Soonyoung. Ring a bell?"

Kwon Soonyoung? Well, that wasn't very helpful at all. I didn't even recognize his name at all. "Nope, it's not helping much. I just think you're very familiar—like I've seen you before. Have we? Have we met, I mean?"

"We have. Once. When we were kids," he filled me in. "Don't you remember? We were six then, I think. I remember my father showing up in front of your father and from what I remember, they weren't having a good talk. We saw each other for a quick second before my mom pulled me to the elevator to wait in the car."

I tried to remember an event that happened eleven years ago. I think I did remember seeing a little boy back then with a man but I never knew that they were family. Plus, back then, he had black hair not brown. 

"Not really," I answered. "So is your family well off? Rich and all? You're the youngest son of the brothers who are came for a visit, aren't you?"

"Why, yes, that would be me," Soonyoung answered, grinning like a kid. "Nice to finally talk to you, Kwon Nari. You've grown into a beautiful lady."

"Ha, ha." I sarcastically laughed. "Too bad, though. I'm still a girl trapped in her childhood, wishing she was in Neverland instead of this horrid place called reality."

Soonyoung was surprised at the words I had chosen and the place I had mention. He raised an eyebrow at me, probably finding me weird. It wasn't like I cared about his thoughts of me. "A child, you say? Still have a mind of a child?"

"Keurae. Unlike you, I never got to experience a happy, peaceful childhood, which is why I'm living in it now. I never had a time where I could simply enjoy life leisurely without worrying about the life I lived in, the problems that stacked one over the over. Namely, financial problems," I told him. I wasn't even sure why I was explaining my family problems to a cousin I never fully knew existed. 

Soonyoung's grin slowly faded as he continued to listen to my family story. It wasn't everyday he found his cousin who he wasn't close with in the first place and hear their story out. 

My eyes were watery as I thought about how Hoya and Jaemin were living in that orphanage. I looked up at Soonyoung and asked him, "Is it possible for Hoya, Jaemin and I to stay with you?"

Soonyoung looked surprised and didn't say anything.

I only scoffed, knowing I crossed a line I wasn't supposed to. "I'm asking for too much. Forget it. Forget this conversation. Apparently, to you guys, we don't even exist, am I right? You're from a different level now. I don't think you'd have time to talk with lowlifes such as myself."

I gave up trying to talk to him and walked away from the garden, hoping I could find another place to hide in or be alone. I did, eventually. It was somewhere near the garden but it was almost hidden if you didn't walk close to notice it. There was a small fountain right behind a wall of tall plants. I sat down and brought my knees closer to my chest and I traced circles on the brick floor. 

Kwon Soonyoung, Kwon Juhyeon's son? I've heard that name once but in that one time Dad mentioned his name, it sounded like he wasn't very happy about him. Something must have happened between them for Dad to be like that. It wasn't like I could ask him personally, either. Who knows where Dad is as of the moment? Probably roaming around Seoul, drunk. 

How could a once happy family crumble and break so quickly? I wasn't even that old back then when it happened. I remember crying, though I wasn't sure what exactly was going on. The memory gets more distant the more the years go by. 

Jisoo

When Jisoo got home, he noticed it was very busy, as if there were guests. Before Jisoo stepped into the mansion, he took time to check if there were any cars that could mean that there were guests. He noticed there was a black BMV car parked in front of their house and wondered who could be here at this time. 

Shaking his head, Jisoo entered the mansion and said, "I'm home."

A face peeked from the living room's open doors. They were grinning and Jisoo was confused for a second before a smile eased its way onto his lips. They called, "Hong Jisoo!"

"Kwon Soonyoung," Jisoo returned the greet, giving him a firm pat on the back. "What are you doing here? I don't think you're here to visit me, seeing that you've never done that ever since I transferred schools."

"Aw, come on. I said I was sorry," Soonyoung said. "Plus, I even send you banana flavoured milk when you said you want some. What's with the banana milk all of a sudden, anyway?"

Jisoo didn't want to tell him about Nari and the entire thing that has happened between the both of them so he just pulled Soonyoung into a headlock and said, "Yah, you still haven't told me why you're here, you punk."

Soonyoung continuously slapped Jisoo's hand, hoping it would help him break free, but to no avail. "Aish, my hyung has things to discuss with your noona, okay? My dad thought it'd be good for me to learn more if I tagged along but eventually, it felt like I didn't even exist there so I left. Happy now?"

Jisoo was contented with the information so he let Soonyoung go and cleared his throat. "Then... shall we do something together?"

Soonyoung cautiously looked from left to right before leaning in closer. He asked in a whisper, "You still have that car racing game in your room, don't you?"

"You know I will never move it somewhere else," Jisoo answered with a grin. He nodded his head towards the direction of the staircase. "Let's go."

Soonyoung smiled back and nodded. "Let's go!"

Nari

I stared at the only picture I had with my two cousins, Hoya and Jaemin, on the screen of my phone. It was a selfie taken probably months ago, when they still lived with me in that small apartment. Even though we didn't have a lot of food to eat back then, we still had a roof over our heads and each other. Back then, we didn't have much, but we were happy. If I had the power, I'd make sure to return to that very moment, but would make it a little better than it was.

"Don't worry guys, I'll get you out of that orphanage soon... somehow," I muttered as I continued staring at the picture. I missed the two rascals very much. "I hope you're not suffering as much as I am. I rather be the one suffering than see the two of you suffer."

I looked around this small room and sighed. There must be a way I could leave this household for good and find a place I could possibly live in peacefully with both my cousins by my side. Speaking of cousins, there was still Kwon Soonyoung, my apparent cousin, that came into my life all of a sudden. 

Could he help his poor, suffering cousins? Probably not. No one else tried helping—except Joshua. But we're done. Right? Ugh, I don't even know. 

If he was my cousin, could I possibly talk to his parents—my aunt and uncle, apparently—and convince them to help us? Ha. If I knew one thing about rich people like them, it's that they won't even take a second glance at people like me. 

I punched the pillow nearest to me and heaved yet another sigh. My life has never went right ever since I was born, I knew that. Yet, I foolishly believed that everything started to turn okay when I fell for Joshua. I had realized that happiness was never made for me and it was either I sucked a deep breath and accept my fate or rebel against it to change my ending. 

Soonyoung

In the car, both brothers sat together in the back seat while staring out the windows at the same time. Soonyoung couldn't help but wonder about Nari, his cousin. He now knows that Nari doesn't live such a pretty life, unlike him and his brother yet he wasn't sure what he could do to help her. 

Soonyoung turned to face his brother, tilting his head before he asked him, "Hyung, who are our cousins? From Dad's side, I mean."

"Oh? Our cousins?" Joonyoung, Soonyoung's older brother, repeated, thinking about it. "Um, if I'm not mistaken, their names are Hoya, Jaemin and Nari. Why do you ask?"

"Do you know what type of life they like in?" Soonyoung continued asking. He wanted to see if his hyung knew more than he did. 

Joonyoung raised an eyebrow. "We've never really met them, Soonyoung. I'm sure they're living like any Korean household out there." 

When Joonyoung went back to looking out the window and even checking his phone for any updates on the company or just whatever Joonyoung does as his job, it became clear to Soonyoung that the family obviously didn't know what Nari's life was like. 

From the conversation Nari and him had, she was obviously struggling with money. It must have been very hard for her to find the money, which was why she was probably working at the Hong's household as a... maid? That made the most sense. It pained him to know that a family member like her had a life like that. 

"Hyung, if one of our family members didn't live such a great life—like they weren't rich or anything—what would you do?" Soonyoung asked. 

Joonyoung looked up from the screen of his phone to meet Soonyoung's eyes. He adjusted his seating position and asked him, "Why do you keep asking me about our family members? Is something wrong? Are you going through something? You can tell hyung."

"You know, on Dad's side, we have three cousins, am I right? Hoya, Jaemin and Nari. Right?" Soonyoung asked. Joonyoung nodded so Soonyoung continued, "Well, from what I know, they're not living even normally."

Joonyoung was interested with the topic. "What do you mean by that? Aren't they an average household?"

Soonyoung, whose eyes were staring at the floor of the car, stopped staring at it and let his eyes meet his brother's. "Hyung, you have no idea. I don't even think they have a home because Nari asked if her, Hoya and Jaemin could live with us. Doesn't that break your heart?"

"How do you know of this information?" Joonyoung questioned him. 

"I saw her, hyung. I saw Kwon Nari, our cousin. She was there at the Hong household. She was working under the rich people." The more Soonyoung remembered it, the more his heart shattered. "Can't we help her? And Hoya and Jaemin too?"

"Well, I might have to look into the matter and problem more—"

Soonyoung sat closer to him, squeezing his arm as he pleading looked into his eyes. "Please help them, hyung."

Joonyoung was surprised by Soonyoung's determination on helping them and gave him a smile before clasping a hand over his. "I will do my very best, okay?"

Soonyoung face lit up as he nodded. "Thank you, hyung!"

Joonyoung lightly chuckled before he realized something. "Didn't you say Nari is working in the Hong household?"

Soonyoung nodded. "Nae."

Joonyoung took his phone and scrolled through the previous messages he and Jiae had. 

Jiae: So I hired this girl 

Joonyoung: Hmm?

Jiae: She's the daughter of the woman who harassed me. Remember, I told you? That one time?

Joonyoung: Oh, right

Jiae: Yeah, I found out she was dating my brother. Pfft, no way would I let a person like HER date a brother of our kind. 

Joonyoung: Hong Jiae, life isn't about status anymore. That was back in the day where the lower ones are treated like animals

Jiae: But she has done wrong! To me!

Joonyoung: You are mistaken. What has she done wrong to you? Didn't you say that her mother was the one who harassed you, and not her?

Jiae: If a mother has done wrong, so has the daughter. 

Joonyoung: No. She has done nothing wrong, why would you accuse and blame her? That is an unfair treatment 

Jiae: Why are you believing her more than you believe me?

Joonyoung: Because I have not seen what the child has done wrong

Joonyoung: And you're cruelly punishing her for no reason 

Jiae: She lied to me. 

Jiae: There. 

Joonyoung: Speak words I can understand, Jiae

Jiae: It was the night of my father's party. High officials and CEOs attended. She was there with my brother as his date. She wore a mask and said her name was Jung Eun Ji. Then later, I find out that she's the daughter of the woman who harassed me. See, she has done wrong. She LIED to me. 

Joonyoung: I can understand why she did that 

Jiae: Kwon Joonyoung! You're supposed to believe in ME and not HER. 

Joonyoung: She was scared. She knew her mother did wrong to you—let's not forget the fact you were ALSO drunk, so you also did wrong—and that you were powerful as it is. She didn't want to find out what you would do in that crowd of people so she lied. She didn't have a choice. Can you not understand her?

Jiae: You are unbelievable. 

Joonyoung: Look, Jiae, you're letting such a strong thing such as power get into your head. We're only humans in the end. You treat her like she's some stray animal. That is wrong of you. 

Jiae: You, my own best friend, whom I thought would actually console me in a situation like this, is instead giving me some... some lecture! Did I do wrong? Yes, I can admit that. A little. But I was mostly the victim!

Joonyoung: Didn't you say she came from a poor household? A girl like her that isn't of your level. Why are you pestering the poor girl? Her life is as hard as it is, so why do you continue to make it harder? That's selfish of you, Hong Jiae. What happened to that girl who was also caring about people suffering?

Jiae: She's gone. She knew she wasn't going to achieve anything with an attitude like that so she changed. 

Joonyoung: Ah, it's been thirteen years since she changed, aren't I right? I miss her. SHE was my best friend, after all. 

Jiae: I see you haven't changed since that incident. 

Joonyoung: It was all an accident. Don't play the guilty game on me again, Hong Jiae. The reason why Oh Eun Soo died was not because of me. I was near her, I know that, but I was not the cause. 

Jiae: So you're saying she committed suicide?

Joonyoung: Not really. She was so happy, why would she?

Jiae: So you're the only suspicious person. 

Joonyoung: How immature. You're still blaming Eun Soo's death on me after thirteen years. 

Jiae: Forget it. I'm going to go check on her right now. Goodbye, Kwon Joonyoung. 

Joonyoung: See you soon. We have a matter to discuss in a week. 

If whatever Jiae said to him in the messages they exchanged before adds up to what Soonyoung had told him just recently, that meant that Nari really was suffering a life no one could have imagined. 

As cousins, they should help each other. But instead, here he and Soonyoung were, unaware of her situation. 

Joonyoung knew what he had to do— what he and Soonyoung had to do as their cousins. They had to help them so they can have a peaceful and normal life. 

~Author's Notes~

Where my IGOT7S at? HARD CARRY IS AMAZING, THE ENTIRE ALBUM IS AMAZING KEUUUUU I'M SO PROUD ❤

Anyone here is an Inspirit? The Eye is such an addictive song and the dance is slay! Dongwoo is definitely a bias wrecker this comeback, gahh he's too hot for his own good...

Apink had a comeback and Bomi is so pretty with bangs wtf goals T.T I'm so jealous but I'm so happy they finally have a comeback hehehe

So many comebacks and BTS's Wings comeback is next month, what is with all the M/Vs these days. I don't get the theories, my head hurts and I don't know what to believe at all huhuhu T.T 

This is it for this update then :) see y'all in the next one ♡

xoxo

Byun Sang Kyung