4th✯ 

"Aerim-a! Get up! You'll be late for school if you don't!" I heard my mom's voice holler all the way from beyond my closed door. 

Should I be glad I don't need my alarm clock anymore? 

I lazily got out of my bed and remembered yesterday's events. Everything happened so quickly I barely had time to take a breath. Oh, well then. I guess it was time to head back to school and pretend everything didn't happen.

My phone on the bedside table began ringing and I flipped it over to read the caller's ID. What a surprise to see the name Yoon Sanha, my jagiya calling. I should really consider changing his contact name, but to what? I was still thinking it over. 

I wasn't sure whether to answer the call or not. But thinking that it was related to 'the act', I decided to answer it. Fixing my messy bed hair, I yawned and asked, "Yeobosaeyo?"

"Aerim? Did you just wake up?" Sanha asked on the other line. 

"No," I replied, trying my best not to yawn again. I just rubbed my eyes and did my mini stretching. "Why did you call me so early in the morning?"

"Oh, right." Sanha laughed on the other line. "I just wanted to remind you that you have to come to Fantiago Entertainment. We have further discussions to make."

"But, wait," I said, remembering I didn't tell Mom or Dad about Sanha and this whole act. What excuse could I give them? 

"What's wrong, Aerim?" Sanha asked on the other line, worried. 

"I didn't tell my parents about this," I confessed, lowering my head, even though I knew that he wouldn't be able to see it. 

"What?" Sanha sounded shocked on the other end. "Then what are you—"

"Don't worry! I'm going to tell them right now and knowing how they'd react, everything will run smoothly. So I'll see you at..." I paused, wondering what time we'd meet. Or where. I already forgot where he asked to meet. 

"Later at Fantiago Entertainment, Aerim dear," Sanha said teasingly on the other end. 

"Sure— Wait, what?! Did you just call me dear—"

"Got to go. The hyungs are calling me. Bye," Sanha cut me off then ended the call.

Who was he to cut me off like that? Aish, the nerve of that boy. And to think we'd get along. 

A knock was heard on my door. Once. Twice. Thrice. Then, it didn't stop. 

I groaned and answered the door, only to find my little brother, Daeul, standing in front of the door with his little grin. "Noona, eat."

I picked Daeul off the ground once again. I just really love holding him. "Already?"

Daeul nodded and pointed at the direction of the kitchen, where the smell of food was evident. "Eat. Eomma there with hyung and appa."

"Oh? Jinjja? Well, let me wash up and brush my teeth first before I go there, okay?" I said to him. 

Daeul gave me a nod and then I put him back down on the floor before I went into the bathroom to take a nice warm bath. 

✯ ~ ✯~ ✯

Jeonghan and I made eye contact for a quick second before I refused to look at him throughout the whole meal. I could sense he wanted to talk to me about yesterday but it was best if we let it slide until I wanted to talk to him. Moreover, question him about Yoon Sanha. 

"Noona! Noona! Can we play with hyung from yesterday again?" Daeul suddenly asked me, as if noticing the tensed atmosphere. Or he was just clueless and his mind lingered with thoughts of Yoon Sanha.

"Hyung? What hyung?" Mom immediately asked, eyeing me as she ate her breakfast. 

"He's just one of my friends I coincidentally met when Daeul and I went out," I told her, trying to calm her down and end her suspicion. Then, to Daeul, I said, "Maybe next time, Daeul. Hyung might be busy."

Daeul pouted and sat back in his seat. He fiddled with his training chopsticks. Clearly, he was upset. 

"You two met someone last night?" Jeonghan asked, raising an eyebrow at me. 

"He's a friend from school," I lied, hoping he wouldn't think I met our dear cousin—whom I don't remember or recall of—last night. "Daeul seemed to like him."

Dad's eyes were raised. "You met a boy? Last night? Where was Jeonghan at that time?"

I knowingly glanced at Jeonghan and tried to keep a calm and composed voice, "He was busy. He told me to leave him alone so instead of just staying home, I went out with Daeul."

"Yoon Aerim! You're only fifteen! You can't simply wander the streets with your little brother! Especially at night!" Mom strongly emphasized the word 'at night'. 

Like I didn't know that, eomma. 

"I know," I simply answered in a soft voice. 

"So why'd you go out, despite knowing that?" Dad asked me, gently putting down his chopsticks on the table.

Uh oh. That is never good. That's just the opening sign to a scolding or lecture he'd give. Can I just magically make it seem like I'm late when I'm twenty minutes early? Where is Tao and his magic time power when you need him? 

"Whoops, I might be late for school. Got to go. Bye!" I quickly stood up from my chair and before anyone could say anything, I left the apartment. Didn't I say everything would run smoothly? Well, apparently, I jinxed it. 

I wasn't even sure whether to go to school or straight away go to... where did Sanha say to meet? Fan... something like that. 

In the end, not knowing what to do, I just ended up calling Sanha. I pulled the phone up to my ear and hoped he would answer. "Please pick up... please pick up..."

"Yeobosaeyo?" I've never felt so happy hearing Sanha's voice on the other line. 

"Sanha-sshi!" I called, discreetly eyeing the people passing by me. "Can you... um..." This was embarrassing. Nevertheless, I had to ask him for help. "Can you, um, pick me up here in the convenient store where we met last night? Please?"

Sanha chuckled on the other end. "Don't worry, Yoon Aerim! Oppa will come rescue you like a knight and shinning—"

"We're the same age. No need for formalities," I told him. 

"Yah! Do you have to cut my romantic gesture there?" Sanha complained on the other line. 

Shivers. Having a cousin trying to act romantic with me? Definitely a shiver party. "Just hurry up."

"Okay, okay. I'm coming, dear," Sanha teased again before he ended the call. 

The call already ended so I couldn't scold Sanha for calling me dear despite my huge protest for it. That boy will really never learn, will he?

So, I just walked to the convenient store Daeul and I went to buy ice cream last night, hoping that no one would recognize me and think that I was skipping classes. I was, technically, still in my school uniform so anyone could misunderstand. 

Moments later, there was a tap on the window, where I sat near to. I was daydreaming and having fun drowning in my thoughts. I snapped out of it and turned to look out the window. 

There, a smiley Sanha was waving at me with his usual braces. He mouthed, Yoon Aerim! 

I hid my smile and shook my head and then got up to greet him. "Hi."

"Missed me?" Sanha teased as he dragged me closer to a black car parked by the side of the road. 

"Pfft. As if," I said, rolling my eyes as I entered the car. I took a seat and immediately looked out the window, refusing to talk or look at Sanha. 

"You're still in your school uniform," he noticed, pointing at my clothes. "Did you escape from school? And you said your parents—"

"I forgot to change, that's all," I told him, acting like it was no big deal whatsoever. Logically speaking, it wasn't, right? Or maybe I'm just missing the whole gist of this. The part where I might get grounded from this. 

"Well, okay then..." Sanha was reluctant to drop the subject. 

Really, couz, everything's fine. Just because I'm still in my uniform doesn't mean something's wrong. I just concentrated on looking outside the window, which seemed more interesting than Sanha right now.

But it was as if I couldn't escape from him. He was staring at me from the window's reflection, just smiling endlessly. I was this close to blurting out the fact we were cousins. Jeonghan's words continue to make me wonder. 

Why couldn't I tell Sanha we were cousins? That's just really suspicious of him. 

Ring, ring, went my phone and I immediately turned it on to see what's up. It was a call from Ayoung, making my eyes widen. I threw a sharp look at Sanha. "Shh!"

"What's—"

"Oh, Ayoung-a!" I cheerfully greeted, throwing sharp looks at Sanha once again, hoping he'd understand that I wanted him quiet. 

"Yah, Yoon Aerim! Why aren't you at school?" she asked on the other line, clearly disappointed that I left her alone in school.

"Mian, Ayoung-a! Something came up and now I'm stuck in this... situation. I'll explain to you when I see you again. This isn't worth explaining on the phone. I need to tell you in person," I told her, hoping she'd understand. 

Sanha just continued to listen to my phone conversation and knowingly smiled. He shouldn't be smiling. If it weren't for his existence, I wouldn't be in this situation in the first place. He's really to blame, if not someone else. 

"Wae geurae? Is something wrong, Aerim?" Ayoung sounded concerned on the other line. Even if I couldn't see her, I could sense her ceasing forehead forming. 

"Aniya, it's nothing..." I secretly glanced at Sanha. "Okay, maybe it's kinda of something. I'll explain next time, Ayoung. When will we be able to meet?"

"How about tomorrow afternoon? I'm free then," Ayoung told me. 

"Tomorrow afternoon..." I looked at Sanha, as if telepathically asking him if I was free then. 

He threw me a smile then a shrug. 

"I'll try to be free. If I'm not, we have to meet some other time. I have lots to tell you." I used my free hand to massage my temple. For some reason, this whole act gave me a headache.

Are you okay? Sanha mouthed, his eyes shinning with worry. 

I shook my head and continued my conversation with Ayoung, "How are you doing in school?"

"Aerim? Does this has something to do with the man from yesterday, right? You didn't come back after lunch break and some even said you left with that man. Aerim? What's really going on?" Ayoung asked me on the other line. She sounded worried. 

"Don't tell her," Sanha whispered, holding onto my wrist, as if he could hear our whole conversation on the phone. 

I gave him a light glare before recomposing myself and telling Ayoung on the phone, "Like I said, Ayoung, I'll tell you next time. Don't hate me for this?"

"I won't ever hate you, Aerim. You know that." I could feel her pouting on the other end. Then, I heard the bell ring. "I have to go now. See you soon?" 

"Hopefully, yes," I answered before I heard the line beep. The call ended just like that and I pulled the phone down from my ear. 

"Is... everything all right?" Sanha carefully asked, testing the waters. 

I looked away and concentrated on the car's floor. "It's fine."

No, of course not. Ever since this whole act thing, I got pulled away from both my family and friends to, what? Hangout with boys I've never met before and one ends up becoming my cousin? It felt as if they're using me. I'm their puppet and they pull my strings. 

If they wanted someone who would be up for an act, wouldn't they have chosen someone who were good in acting? Of course, their qualifications were simple—they wanted someone who was honest and real.

All of a sudden, Sanha rested his head on my shoulder, which made me flinch in my seat. He shouldn't be doing things like this. The only acceptance was on camera, all part of an act. 

"Yah, Yoon Sanha," I lightly called, shrugging my shoulder multiple of times so he'd stop. 

"Let me sleep here. I didn't get enough sleep last night because of dance practice," he sleepily told me. Before I could protest more, it was already too late. Yoon Sanha had already fallen asleep on my shoulder. 

I sighed and just concentrated on looking out of the window, hoping that it offered me a solution out of everything to get me back my normal life. This year was supposed to be me having fun as a junior before I'd turn into a senior. Now, it just threw random hurdles my way and mocked me. 

Seriously, life?

Before I knew it, we arrived in the same building from yesterday. Oh, so this was Fantiago Entertainment? Funny, I've heard about YG, SM and JYP but never Fantiago. I guess there were still many more to learn in the K-Pop world. 

"Yah, Yoon Sanha," I quietly called, nudging his head so he'd wake up. 

Sanha moved a little but then fell back asleep. 

Eventually, I knew what to do. I exit the car, making his head hit the car's window and he immediately woke up. A smile escaped my lips. Or should I say grin? Evil grin.

"Ow!" Sanha whined, holding onto his forehead as he looked around. He got out of the car to meet me and pouted. "Why'd you hurt me, Yoon Aerim?"

"You weren't waking up. I didn't have any other options." I shrugged at him before I entered the building without waiting for him. Of course, I needed him to guide me. I still didn't know where was what and so on. 

Sanha leaned on my shoulder from behind. Someone as tall as Sanha leaning on someone as short as me? Now that's a challenge that will eventually hurt his back. In a soft whisper, he told me, "Don't hurt me from now on."

Chills. He's your cousin, Yoon Aerim. More chills. "Yah, get off, Yoon Sanha. Your head's heavy."

Sanha chuckled behind me. "Really? But it's relaxing, isn't it?"

"Not one bit. Now get off." I shrugged his head off before walking ahead of him again. I spotted the same boys from yesterday and was glad that they were still wearing their name pins. 

"Hi, Yoon Aerim! You're back!" the one with the name pin MJ happily greeted. 

"Oh, hi..." I still wasn't familiarized with everyone so how could I act like I've known them for years? We freaking met each other yesterday!

"Oh? Aerim's still not used to us? Awww!" the one with the name pin Jin Jin cooed, coming closer to pinch my cheeks but Sanha immediately slapped his hands away.

"Don't touch her. She's mine so I won't allow you guys to simply touch her," Sanha told his members. If you asked me, he was asking a little too overprotective at the moment. 

"Oho! Since when was our maknae like this?" the one with the name pin Moonbin teased. He ruffled Sanha's hair and said, "You're growing up, uri maknae."

Sanha sheepishly smiled at his hyungs. 

"Well, hyung is waiting in the other room," the one with the name pin Rocky told us, breaking the weird atmosphere. "We better go now."

"Right," I answered hastily, following behind them as they entered a room to our right, three doors away from the first. Mr. Fancy Suit was seated there, looking as if he waited for us. 

"Welcome back, Yoon Aerim," Mr. Fancy Suit happily greeted me. 

Awkwardly, I nodded my head at him and sat down next to Rocky. See? I'm slowly remembering their names already. 

"Okay, so your 'act' will start tomorrow," Mr. Fancy Suit told us, his pen tapping against what looks like a calendar. Or maybe it was a planner. "It's simple, really. All you have to do is act a little here and there in front of the camera for about one hour and then you're done for the day."

"That's it? Wah! If it was that simple, I would have volunteered!" MJ said, leaning back in his seat with an amazed smile.

Would you like to? I mean, maybe bro-mance between members were far more interesting than me and my cousin. 

"It's too late for that, MJ. It's been decided Sanha would do this," Mr. Fancy Suit told the boy with the bandanna. Woah, Mr. Fancy Suit doesn't take jokes, huh? 

The whole other minutes went by like a blur because I wasn't paying much attention to what we were supposed to do. All I heard was introduction, get to know each other, mini date. Was that what we were scheduled to do tomorrow? It doesn't sound good to me. 

Before I knew it, I was a step closer to getting this act started and on the road. 

~Author's Notes~

Yaaas! I managed to update on Sanha's special day, after all!

#HappySanhaDay! I hope uri maknae gets fed seaweed soup, cake and love for his birthday! It's too bad we don't know each other personally because I would really give him a gift, haha! Oh well, that's why we have fanfictions. Uri maknae is 16 now! Uwaaa! 

Hoped you enjoyed reading this chapter! See you guys in the next update! :)

xoxo

Byun Sang Kyung