𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐈 𝐒𝐄𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 ᵈⁱˢᶜᵒⁿᵗⁱⁿᵘᵉᵈ

Chapter 9

me: wow, i've been in such a writing mood lately! surely nothing can stop me from updating this book more now!

school: i'm about to end this kid's whole career.
──────────────────

"Now, on the map, that village is, like, only a centimeter away. That can't be that far."

Walking ahead of Jin next to your twin, you hummed as you took in his words and looked down for a moment to casually kick away a stray pebble that just so happened to be in front of you.

"It must just be on the other side of the..."

Noticing how Yí's voice had suddenly trailed off, you curiously lifted your gaze back up, and quickly grew to be entranced and in awe at the sight that now rested before your very eyes.

"Whoa," you breathed out, a grin slowly spreading across yours and Yí's faces.

"The Yellow Mountains," your twin added, chuckling in astonishment at the familiar image that you had both only seen through your father's pictures.

Speaking of your father's pictures, actually...

Gasping, you began to dig around in your purse; eyes scanning the area inside of the bag until they landed on a certain photo, which you quickly pulled out and held out in front of you, your eyes as wide as your grin.

"They're just how dad described they'd be!" you said, giggling brightly and bringing the picture to your chest with both of your hands as you continued to take in the terrain, eyes fluttering in disbelief because — because you were actually here. This was real.

"It's amazing..." you whispered to yourself, glancing one last time at the photo in your hands before gently slipping it back into your purse with the rest of them and closing the small bag shut to ensure that they wouldn't end up falling out and flying away (again).

However, as beautiful as the moment you and your twin were currently sharing, it was once again unfortunately ruined by none other than Jin.

"Wait. Wait." The boy walked up to stand beside you, running a hand through his dark locks of hair in disbelief and using his other hand to gesture towards the mountains that towered before you all.

"We are not going over that," he stated, as if you guys had any other choice.

"Come on, Everest!" Peng giggled, running past his cousin, "I'll race you!"

Jin blinked, watching his Peng go off with an offended look on his face as the yeti raced after his younger cousin. The teenage boy looked to you and Yí, clearly astonished, and you both ended up sharing a look before chuckling and offering Jin a simple shrug of your shoulders.

"Do you have any idea where else we could go?" you asked, giggling as you and Yí raced after the two younger members of your party, leaving Jin in the dust.

The teenager, in return, scoffed and rolled his eyes, yet still couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corners of his lips as he (reluctantly) followed after the rest of your group.

(Because in the end, who was he to deny you of anything, anyway?)

* * * * *

"Oof." Quickly catching Yí in your arms before she could fall on her side onto the trail, you gently helped her lie down against the backside of the mountain before deciding to rest right next to her yourself.

"Leg cramp. Stop for a sec," the ravenette said, sending you a grateful glance from the corner of her brown eyes.

"Okay. I mean—" Jin released a nervous, breathless laugh and was quick to rest his own legs as well; sitting across from you and your sister "—if you really want to."