바실래아

≡ pt.3:: ↷

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So many times have I wished I
could have something, live in a
certain manner, be like someone. But
in reality, a path like doesn't exist.

And that's just fucking sad.

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"How did Hyunjin react?" Chanmi asked Hyomin, who handed her card to the cashier.

Hyomin smirked as she returned her attention to the elder, "Whose card do you think this is?"

She giggled, shaking her head, and took out her phone to text a friend about their shopping spree.

"How's it going with the business?" Hyomin inquired, muttering a small ‘thank you’ to the cashier when she got her card back and followed Chanmi out.

"It's fine. I mean, the stock market is neither increasing nor declining, so you know what the atmosphere at home is like, especially since we’re still in third place." Chanmi responded flatly, lifting her head up from her phone before letting out a gasp.

"Hyo, how happy was Hyunjin on a scale of one to hundred?"

Hyomin scrunched her nose and tapped her chin, looking at the ground as she joked, "Mmm, perhaps 1000? Why?”

"Because he's come to get us."

At this, Hyomin jerked her head up to find her twin scrolling through his phone, his hair shorter and darker than it was six hours ago.

“Jinnie! Why are you here? And what's up with your hair? Idiot, I was only chosen as an intern for Vogue, not the next CEO, so you really don't have to treat me like that." she taunted, pinching his ear, who winced and stomped her foot, forcing her to release her grip.

"I wanted to cut my hair and return it to its original colour since it was getting harder to maintain the long blonde style. Plus, I was at the salon only a few minutes away and figured I'd pick you up. Unless, of course, you want me to leave?" Hyunjin retorted, crossing his arms and huffing.

She scoffed, ruffling his hair before getting into the car, followed by Chanmi, who just side-eyed them. The ride continued in silence for a while with only the music playing, when Hyunjin grabbed up his phone at a notification sound. His eyes widened at the text and he screamed, alarming the two girls.

"16 MILLION WON! Are you insane, Hwang Hyomin? That's at least 14 thousand dollars, you moron!" he exploded, dialling the number, while his sister simply smiled sheepishly at him.

"Mr. Choi, could you please transfer 14 thousand dollars from Hyomin's account to mine? A certain grandma spent a large portion of my money on clothes she would only wear once, and a camera lens she would end up breaking in a week."

As he hung up the phone after a quick ‘yes’, she smacked him on the head, and he rubbed the wound, maintaining his eyes on the road. For the remainder of the trip home, they bickered, and Chanmi smirked, enjoying the entertainment from the twins' antics.

'What if Binnie had been more like Hyunjin instead of Dad? What if our bond was one of siblings instead of him always protecting me? Wouldn’t that be nice?' she imagined in her head, looking out the window of the speeding car, as she fondly remembered the relationship she used to have with her brother, which was once more of a bond than a promise.

-- Flashback --

4 years ago

“Mimi! I got cup ramFlash-backen and hotdogs for you from the convenience store! Come on out, let’s eat!" Changbin yelled as he placed the food on the table, setting the table with spoons and chopsticks until he noticed that she was yet to come.

Not minding it much, he grabbed two cans of beer from the fridge and called out but no reply. Confused, he walked towards her room and heard the frustrated voices of his sister and his mother, presumably fighting. He pressed his ear on the door, hearing their words more clearly, when the next sentence tore through the door.

"For the love of God, mom, no! I'm only in my first year of university, and I’ve got no intention of marrying right now."

'She's back at it.' Changbin thought, sighing heavily.

“Why? It's a fantastic deal for both our family and you. He’s a successful VP of an international company, and he’s got mansions in London and Berlin. He’s a Harvard graduate, too, I don't see why you don’t like him."

"FYI, mom, he’s also twelve years older! I don't want to marry someone who’s practically old. Ooh, by the way, I also own three properties in Gangnam. It isn't a huge deal, if I have to marry someone, I’ll marry whoever isn’t as lame as he sounds-"

During this back and forth, Changbin considered entering the room, peeking at his mother through the door, knowing very well what would happen if he did or didn’t.

"Charlotte Seo Chanmi!" The shout sounded in the room, and with that, a loud slap followed.

Changbin barged in, swearing under his breath, and rushed to form a barrier with his hands in between the two of them, defending his sister who had stumbled on the floor with the slap’s impact.

"Get out, Changbin." His mother demanded, but he shook his head firmly in response.

"Mom, I get that you and dad married when you were only 20, but that was only because you two were head over heels in love. She isn't in love, and even if she was, she isn't ready, she hasn’t prepared herself to get married."

"Changbin, please don't meddle in our affairs. This doesn’t concern you at all."

"You and I both know that I can’t stop myself."

He locked his gaze on his mother, who groaned, massaging her forehead, before muttering, "You and your father have pampered her so much that she thinks she owns the world."

"I'm sick of you two. Talking to Chanmi is pointless anyway, but you, Changbin, your universe only revolves around that silly boxing club and your pathetic sister."

The door slammed as she exited the room, and Chanmi relaxed, her posture softening.

"Thanks," Chanmi mumbled, resting her head on her brother’s shoulder.

"I swear, if Mom ever troubles again for anything, I will be there to defend you. No one will be able to bother you noona, because I'll be your personal bodyguard." Changbin asserted, holding her arm gently.

She stood up with a smile, nodding as they jogged out. "Let's go piggy! I've been craving beer for a while now."

-- Back to Present --

“All right, you two, calm down. I've had my share of your quarrels for this week. You may now shut up." Chanmi began, jumping when she heard Hyomin bang the door shut and stomp away into the building, a pissed look in her eyes.

Hyunjin grumbled soon after, getting out of the car and tossed the keys to a helper, and strolled towards the lobby. when he heard the sound of someone crying. He looked around and saw a small crouching figure in the garden beside, their face buried in their hands. Stepping closer as the cries got louder, he hesitated before tapping the person’s shoulder.

“Excuse me?” he called, his curious eyes changing to worried ones when he saw her face.

“Chowon-ah.”

Her eyes swollen and red with tears, she looked up at him, only to turn away, breathing in deeply. Hyunjin timidly sat down beside her in silence as another cry left her mouth.

“It wasn’t intentional, I swear. I just wanted to scare her. It wasn’t my fault, Hyunjin.”

Without a word, he engulfed her in a hug, much to her surprise. He held her as she cried on his shoulder, occasionally patting her back and muttering things to calm her down.

Not much words were exchanged except for Chowon’s random muttering. Carefully, Hyunjin pulled out his phone with his earphones connected, putting one bud in her ear and the other in his, a relaxing melody playing. As the duo sat under the evening sun, Chowon’s tears finally came to a stop but neither of them let go.

“You don’t need to explain.” Hyunjin breathed, noticing that she was trying to form words. She nodded at him, keeping her gaze on the ground as she shut her mouth. Resting her head once again on his shoulder, she exhaled as Hyunjin stole multiple glances at her.

‘Was she always this cute? Or is it just the puffed face and red eyes that are making her look cute?’ he wondered, staring at her for a minute longer before breaking off the hug.

“I gotta go. Min and me got into an argument so… yeah.” he awkwardly informed, walking away but retreating back to her within seconds with something more to say.

“Chowon, if you ever want to cry, just call me. I’ll come, whenever it may be.”

With that, he rushed out, making sure she didn't see his pink cheeks as she bit her lower lip, satisfied, and let out a long sigh of relief.

She stood up, looking at the sun once again when a piece of paper from her pockets slipped out onto the ground. Remembering that she found the folded note in her locker at school, she picked it up and opened it, guessing its contents. But the text inside perplexed her.

“WhY is the King hiding?” she doubted before realizing what it meant and instantly glanced around her to see if anyone saw her, suspiciously folding the paper and stuffing it back into her pocket, unaware of the prying eyes of a certain Seo sibling watching her.

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