Seventeen Imagines III

#102 Reverse Harem series: "Chulsoo's return"

The moment I went back after 15 years, I was so excited to meet my childhood friends. The last time we saw each other was when we're 10 years old. Many things have changed during my stay in New York; and that includes the secret I hid from them from a long time ago.

"Mom, my friends will come, right?"

Mom looked at me with a smile that glowed like gold. "Of course they will!" Her answer is full of assurance. "When they heard that we are finally back, the kids couldn't wait to see you again."

Even if I knew it, my anxiety flooded my thoughts, as if I'm having a fever.

"They'll be probably get shock when they found out that I'm actually a girl," I sighed while fiddling my fingers.

My mom walked towards me. She soothed my back and whispered sweet words like, "It's okay, honey. Those guys will definitely accept you. So don't worry to much, okay?"

Setting aside my anxiousness for a while, I remembered the first day I met my four precious friends; it was during the BBQ party. We were introduced by our parents who are also close at each other. Since they got together once in week, the five of us also met every time they did. It was easy to befriend them because they're fun to be with. Also, they weren't awkward around me because they thought I'm a boy.

Now that I wear dress, highlighting the curves on my body, my hair is long and I dolled myself with light make-up, I'm sure they won't recognize me. They probably thinking the little boy image of me in their heads.

"Omg! Is that really you, Younghee?! You're so pretty!" Aunt praised.

I felt my nape went hot as I scratched it. "T-Thank you, aunt." After taking a deep breath, my lips opened again. "Where's Dokyeom?"

"Dokyeom?" Aunt repeated, before her face crumpled. "I told him to come with me but he said he'll first fetch Wonwoo, Mingyu and Junhui before coming here."

"So they will come here tog..." Before I could finish my words, I heard noises from the entrance of the garden.

"We're here!" A cheerful announcement from a guy who's smiling so wide. Although his smiling eyes looks like a crescent moon, his beam is as bright as the morning sun. He is probably... Dokyeom.

"Where's Chulsoo?" The second tall guy, behind Dokyeom, flung a question. He has eyes as sharp as eagle, pointed nose and heart shape lips. Even though I don't want to accept it, Junhui grew up handsomely. He's the weirdest one among us so why did he grew up so cool like that?!

"Aunt is here," the third guy waved his hand to my mom. Although his cold face doesn't show any emotions, I'm sure he's very happy inwardly. Wonwoo doesn't wear eyeglasses anymore, I see.

"If aunt is here, why can't I see Chulsoo?" the tallest one muttered while looking around. His gaze met mine for a moment before it went towards the cake on the long table. "Oh god, that looks yummy."

Mingyu is still the same. He prioritize food more than anything.

Now that I saw my childhood friend after 15 years, I felt a sense of relief. They completed the puzzle that I was trying to complete when I was away. The longing was over.

My heart beats so fast, so fast I thought it's running forward the finish line in a marathon. Eyes went wet, I smiled at them. However...

"Long time no see, aunt! OMG! You still look so young," Dokyeom praised mom, who is standing beside me.

"Is this Dokyeom, already?!" Mom held his cheek. "My cute baby!?"

Dokyeom nodded, chuckling cutely, "Yeah~ I missed you, aunt." He pouted his lips as he rubbed his cheek onto my mom's palm.

"You guys grew taller," mom continued to gasp while looking at the four alternately. "And beautiful like flowers."

"I know aunt," Junhui proudly agreed. He even shook his head as if he couldn't help it if mom fell for his charm.

"Aunt, where is Chulsoo?" Mingyu butted in.

"Mingyu?" mom checked. "You're Mingyu, right?"

Mingyu chuckled huskily, scratching his nape. "Y-Yeah."

"I thought I'm standing before a celebrity," mom praised. "Anyway, Chulsoo is..." Mom stopped for a moment before her eyes found me. Then her mouth closed.

The first one who followed mom's gaze was Wonwoo. I can sense the intensity from the four pair of eyes which gawked at my side. Next, silence settled.

A crow flew up in the sky, creating sounds, "Eeeek eeek eeek eek!"

Before I lost my courage to speak up, I carefully detached my lips. "H-Hello guys. It's been a long time." I tried to laid a comfortable smile as much as I can. But there was an earthquake on both of my upper and lower lip.

"Who...are you?" Dokyeom retorted back.

Mom quickly put her arm around my shoulder the second she noticed my stiffness. She caressed my arm then said, "Hmmm, kids. This is Chul..."

"Girlfriend?" Wonwoo guessed.

"No!" I shouted with a glare.

I already guess that this might happened but still... I felt betrayed when they didn't get suspicious at all while looking at my face.

Clenching my fists, I shut my eyes and breathed sharply. When I opened them, I finally confessed, "I'm Chulsoo. I'm your friend, Chulsoo."

The four started to observe me from head to toe. Chill ran on my skin when they kept on gawking as if they're stripping my clothes.

"How come?" Mingyu asked with a frown.

"Aunt," Wonwoo uttered, diverting his sharp eyes to my mom. "This is not funny."

"That's absurd!" Dokyeom laughed. "Chulsoo is a man. A man with pepper down there." At his ridiculous bold words, his mom smacked his head. "Ouch!"

Meanwhile, Junhui has a different reaction. "You... You are really Chulsoo. I can tell it."

Another silence swept the space. Then...

"DON'T TELL ME YOU WENT TO NEW YORK TO REMOVE YOUR PEPPER?!" Junhui, who I thought will say something sensible, gasped. Just like Dokyeom, he received a smack on the head from aunt. "Ahhhhh!"

I pressed my temple. I really wanted to explain my situation from the top but I'm afraid they'll consider it as a joke. Fortunately, mom's voice returned.

"Guys, Chulsoo is Younghee," she chuckled.

The four have their eyes widened.

"You were so young back then so we kept this a secret. But Chulsoo, no, I mean Younghee, is my daughter. We're sorry for hiding the truth."

Dokyeom's mom suddenly asked me, "So you never tell this to them before you went to New York?"

I nodded my head, sighing. "Yes."

Back to the four, they still staring at me with hanged loose mouth. They are really shocked.

Laughing at their funny reaction, I greeted again. "I missed you, bros."

"If..." Wonwoo started.

"...you are really..." Mingyu continued.

"...a girl..." Junhui added.

"...THEN HOW ABOUT THE TIME WE TOOK A BATH TOGETHER WHEN WE WERE KIDS? WE WERE ALL NAKED EXCEPT YOU!" Dokyeom shouted.

I... didn't expect they'll remember the memory I had a hard time erasing on my head.

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