Interwoven

Be Nice

Kaeul opened the door to the penthouse slowly. She hadn't expected to stay out so late but after encountering her classmate, the time slipped passed her. It was almost midnight. Tiptoeing into the living room she tried to be as quiet as possible. Just as she was about to reach her room the lights came on. Mingi was standing in the hallway arms crossed, a displeased look on his face.

"Song Kaeul." He walked closer to her. "It's almost midnight."

"I know," she mumbled squirming in her spot. He could be so scary sometimes.

"You know? Really? Then why were you out so late?"

"I...um...went to the bookstore." She averted her gaze. Honestly it was amazing how she had questioned Jongho about being out late only a few moments ago.

"Kaeul."

"I did! I just ran into someone who needed some help on my way home and got side tracked."

"Someone?"

"A friend!"

"A friend?" Kaeul rarely spoke about school, let alone about any friends. He had the suspicion that she was even quieter at school than she was at home.

"Well more like an acquaintance. It's the second time I've helped them with something. But Oppa please don't be mad. I promise I won't come home this late again."

"Kaeul," he sighed, rubbing his face with his palm. "It's not about you coming home late. I just want to know if you are coming late at all. It's much easier to predict that when I take you home but I can't do that all the time." He heaved another sigh. "I'm going to get you a cellphone. That way I don't have to worry so much."

"You don't have to do that! Phones are way too expensive." She shook her head.

"Good. Then you also know that we are not struggling financially either. A phone won't break the bank. We'll go get it this weekend."

"But..."

"Nope. I've made up my mind." He stopped her but could see how thoroughly displeased she felt. "Which manga did you buy this time?"

"How'd you know I bought manga?" 

"Really? It's the only other thing you read aside from romance novels. Plus I happened to find out that the new Moon Guardian volume came out this week."

"Did you read it online?! I told you that's illegal! You need to support the creators!"

"I know. I just couldn't wait. I read the Suit Mask helped the Guardian defeat-"

"No! Mingi Oppa stop! Enough! I'm going to read it in peace so don't spoil me!" She ran into her room, covering her ears and slammed the door. Outside she could hear her brother cracking up.

Mingi was terrible at keeping his mouth shut about new chapters. If she wasn't careful when they would eat together he could spoil an entire show and she wouldn't even know until it was too late. She shook her head.

Although it was obviously so late in the night she decided to get ready for bed. Taking her hair out of the terrible pony tail she had put it in earlier, she pushed it back with a fuzzy lilac headband. She stared at the stark black hair tie in her hand. Her brows knitted together trying to remember where she had gotten it. All her other hair ties were mostly pastel colored and very fluffy.

"Oh, that's right." she tossed the hair tie in the garbage can. Choi had found it on the field when he helped her tie her hair after that ordeal. But she didn't want to think about that night. It really freaked her out. It wasn't a moment she wanted to experience again.

She shook her head hard to dispel the scary thoughts that had come. Going into her bathroom she took a quick steamy shower, washed her face, brushed her teeth then plopped herself onto her bed. Burying her body under her covers she took the books she bought and started to read. Sadly, she didn't get very far. About ten minutes later she was breathing softly in a deep sleep.

Jongho sat up in his bed feeling as if he could drink a gallon of water. Clearing his throat he groggily trudged into the kitchen looking for water. Yeosang looked up from the stove as the prince took a seat at the dinner table. Neither of them said a word to each other. Yeosang slammed the soup he had made down onto the table. It's contents sloshed and some spilled onto the Prince's skin.

"Ow! The hell Yeosang!" He stood up patting down the places the soup had made contact with.

"My Prince, did you sleep well?" Yeosang's voice sounded like it was coated with venom even if it sounded sweet.

"Cut the crap. What's got you so upset?!"

"You don't remember? Wow," he laughed hysterically. "What I wouldn't give to punch you."

"That could get you executed." He took a couple steps away.

"We are not in Andromeda, my Prince." His smile didn't waver.

"Sir Kang Yeosang. Please use your words." He suggested getting the hint that he was seriously considering injuring him. "Let's be civilized here."

"Very well. You drank foolishly at the Milkian King's palace. Refused to let me drive your home and nearly disclosed your identity to that Milkian girl!"

"Who? What girl?" His eyebrows shot up confused.

"The one he saved you that night you came to the Milky Way!" He yelled exasperatedly.

"Kaeul?! Please tell me I didn't do anything to her."

"You're worried about the girl?!" Yeosang let out an angry bark of laughter. "Aside from acting a fool and letting her smell your intoxicated breath she was fine. She held onto you until I was able to secure you."

Jongho put his hands in his face scrubbing it hard. Pieces of last night starting to crop up in his mind. Why was it that she constantly caught him in his worst moments? All he wanted was to meet her under normal circumstances. Not even at the school were they able to talk about simple things since they were in separate classes.

"Please tell me you took her home,"

"I offered and she refused. In her words I had my hands full with you." Jongho moaned in distress. "You will have to make your amends with her on your own. The Milkian King was too busy drinking to notice your sorry state so that is one less thing to worry about."

"Can you not use kind words?"

"Of course not. I reserve my very worst just for you, my Prince."

Jongho groaned in displeasure. He had known Yeosang since they were children. His family had served the Imperial family for generations. They had become friends unexpectedly. Yeosang was significantly older than the Prince but for some reason the young Prince followed him everywhere. Since he could barely walk he would either crawl or wobble behind him like a little toy soldier.. Because of their long history Yeosang could be his crass self without restraint which made Jongho suffer sometimes.

"Say something nice. Anything. I feel terrible about last night. I'm sorry."

"Something nice." Yeosang rested his chin between his thumb and index finger. "How about, dig yourself out of your own grave."

"I hate you." he slammed his forehead into the table at a loss.