Red and Butter

20 I Dorothea

Jimin to Butter

"Hey D!" I greet my stepsister as soon as I enter our house who is busy dusting the ceramic vases on the table in the entryway. "Why are you cleaning them? I thought the cleaner came two days ago?"

"The cleaner forgot to clean the inside of the vases. They are dusty." She sneezes, making a few brown strands of her hair escape from her messy bun. D's a clean freak.

"Maybe they didn't forget. You're just not satisfied with the output." I chuckle and walk past her to go to my bedroom.

"Hey Min, did Dad call you?" She asks so I stop in my tracks.

"Yes. He said he's going to Seoul after Christmas but will be back on the 31st. Why?"

"He informed me as well but I will be with my boyfriend from 24th to 30th. Will you be fine here?" She stops cleaning to look at me. Worry is etched in her face.

"D, I'm an adult...almost adult but I can take care of myself." I roll my eyes. Since her Mom passed away three years ago, she acts like a sister and Mom to me even if she's only two years older than me. "Stop worrying about me and have fun." I flip my hair to the back before walking to my room.

"Of course I'll worry. You and Dad are my only family." She says louder for me to hear. So am I. My Mom died in an accident when I was three and he got married with D's Mom three years later. But Dad has siblings in South Korea so he or we pay them a visit once a year.

I drop my bag on the floor and jump to my double bed. I miss my room, which is bigger than my room on campus. I stare at the blue ceiling and my hand goes to touch my left shoulder where the wound was still painful yesterday, but today, only the scar is left as the evidence of our action-packed night.

Does the wound really heal that quickly? Not that I am complaining. I don't want to explain to my already worried-stepsister why I have a gunshot wound and bruises on my face and body. I close my eyes and the girl with the curliest hair appears in my thoughts.

Tay Tay.

How is she now? Did she go back to her parent's house? Is she still scared after the traumatic experience she had?

I sigh, getting up. I need a distraction. I sit in front of my computer and open Halo Infinite, the latest game which was released last month. As a future software developer, creating a PC game is one of my dreams. D is annoyed that I play the whole day, stopping only to eat, when she needs me or if I need to go to the toilet. I deserve this break after studying hard and almost losing my life.

Tay Tay.

Shit! Shit! Not again. I pull my hair and reach out for my mobile. Before I can change my mind, I send her a text message.

Me: How r u feeling? Still scared?

I place my phone back on the table. I learned from yesterday that she won't reply soon. Perhaps it's because I am not expecting so my heart leaps out of my chest when my mobile pings and it show's TayTay.

Tay Tay: Better. A bit but my parents r here. Thanks 4 asking.

My fingers are quick to type a response.

Me: Did u tell them about the incident?

Tay Tay: Yes. They r furious and handle the case against Markus.

I am still typing another message but she sends another one.

Tay Tay: Hey, thanks again but I can't talk right now. I have 2 go.