I smiled after finishing the final touch of pancake I'm making. Minhyun wanted his pancake with chocolate smiley in it. Letting it cool a little, I cleaned all the mess I made in the kitchen not letting my stepmom to find another reason to beat me. I sighed, before I made my way out of the kitchen with a plate of pancake on my hand, headed to the living room where Minhyun is watching some cartoons.
He turned his attention to me and I curved my lips into wide smile " here is your pancake". He returned my smile and mumbles his thanks while his hands are already busy attacking the pancake.
" Noona, I really like your cooking" He murmured in between his bite. He looked at me and his forehead creased " Where did you get bumped again this time'?"
I furrowed my brows before it occurs to me that he might have noticed the wound at the corner of my lips which I managed to hide in yesterday' dinner. " ah..this one?" I said pointing to my corner lips while faking a laughed " I was carrying a bunch of books yesterday and I accidentally fell"
Minhyun squinted his eyes as if he's weighing whether to believe me or not " be careful next time noona".
My eyes soften looking at my brother " arasso". My brother continue his munching while I focus on the cartoons he's watching.
Before he could finished the last piece of pancake, my brother looked at me sternly " Noona, after graduation will you go to the city and leave the house?"
Dumbfounded, My brows perk up and ask " why? Do you want me to?" My brother shook his head and with his serious eyes, he answered " I never wanted to part from you noona but I know even when Dad's here you always want to venture the city and I want you to do what makes you happy"
I gasped. When did my little brother grow up?. I curved my lips into thin smile " but I am happy!" .
" I know.. but.." he stopped. His eyes moving as if contemplating whether to continue or not. " nothing" he added.
Curious, I asked him " what?". He didn't answer so I come closer to him, determined to know what's running on his mind. " what is it?" I asked him again. Munching the last piece of pancake in his mouth, he muttered " no...thing".
" common tell me...hmm..or else?" I said, my hands are now in a gesture of tickling him on his side. He moved away from me while laughing " really..it's nothing" he said in between his laugh. I continued my way to tickle him anyway and laughter filled our house that afternoon.
Later that night, sleep couldn't reached me. Moving around my bed, my minds busy of the thoughts about the question Minhyun asked me. Can I really leave the house? Can I really leave my brother in the care of my stepmom and stepsister? I mean, I know that Minhyun is their own flesh and blood, but I'm still worried. Though, never once that I saw them treating Minhyun unfairly, instead, Minhyun were showered with love and care in this house that's why I am protecting him. Not letting him know what's going on inside the house, and it's a silent agreement between the three of us. My stepmom and Mina. My thoughts were I interrupted when I heard the door opened downstairs. I close my eyes tightly, silently wishing that the woman who just came will be too tired or in a good mood to come to my bedroom and beat me. I sighed deeply when I heard her bedroom door opened. With that, I close my eyes again forcing myself to sleep.
xxxxx
Looking out the window where my seat is located, my minds wandering about my brother. I got out of my trance when I heard loud screaming from my classmates. I turned my head in front and my eyes met a pair of big brown eyes, owned by a good looking guy beside my professor. He gazed at me intensely, giving me the urged to looked away as if I'm going to get captive but I couldn't. His eyes felt familiar, mesmerizing and absorbing my whole being just by looking at me. I finally had the strength to looked away when I heard my professor talked " This is your new classmate, Kyungsoo. Be good to him".
I felt his eyes left me before I heard him speak " Annyeong, my name is Kyungsoo, nice to meet all of you" his eyes wandered around the room, curving his lips into a wide smile and I almost gasped. How can someone who's presence screamed power and coldness can smile radiantly. My eyes were glued to him until he reached the seat our professor assigned him into.
Morning classes ended normally, except for a few glances I exchanged upon with Kyungsoo which I find very weird. Here I am, in my favorite spot in our school, my body's sprawled all over the grass. My eyes wide awake looking at the movement of the clouds above me. My mind were filled with a lot of thoughts when it suddenly crossed about the wolf I met yesterday. Is he coming back? I hope he's not. I heard Mina reported his presence already and any moment they might start hunting him.
I got up immediately when I heard footsteps coming my way, panicked, thinking that the wolf came back. But instead of a four paws animal, a full grown man is standing in front of me with a small smile plastered on his face. Kyungsoo! I gaped when realization hits me.
Kyungsoo walked closer to me and I step my feet backwards momentarily. He must have noticed as he stopped, leaving a safe distance between us. He scratched his head and his smile grew bigger as he spoke " ahh.. I'm sorry to disturb you Jieun..but ..ahhh.. you know I am new here right..? So I was thinking if... if I can be friends with you?"
My mouth fell, stunned in which I am not sure why whether it's his lips that turned into heart- shaped when he smile, or my name being spoken on his lips, or him wanting to be my friend. I must have took a long time to respond as I heard him clearing his throat. I moved my eyes from left to right contemplating my answer but when my eyes met his, I soften. His eyes, almost pleading, are looking at me intently, putting away all my worries and hesitation. I smiled at him before I nodded my head " hmm". Kyungsoo sighed deeply as if something is lifted on his chest, with happiness evident on his face, he come closer towards me.
Lying again on the grass, I felt Kyungsoo beside me. His side is gently brushing against mine. It felt awkward at first, but my body's feel relaxed when I started to get used to his warmth. I smiled, I must've missed the feeling of having someone beside me. I used to have a lot of friends, for long, that I can't remember anymore when and why I stopped having any.
I wonder if Kyungsoo's have friends left on his old place. I cleared my throat and started a conversation " hmm.. Kyungsoo, did you have friends on your old place?" With his deep voice, I heard him answer " I have brothers". I nodded my head and asked " how many?"
"eleven"
I gasped. I got up immediately and faced him " really?"
He looked at me, amusement written on his face " hmm.. were not brothers by blood but we're treating each others like brothers do".
I nodded my head before lying again, feeling much more comfortable than earlier. My eyes are glued to the clouds ,I muttered softly " It must have been nice ".. I felt Kyungsoo turned his head towards me and I met his gaze " It must have been nice to have those people around you" I continued.
His eyes landed on mine for a long minute before he answered " hmm.. having someone by your side ..its really nice.. someone to laughed with, cried with " he laughed a little before he continued " and bickered with". Then his face turned serious ." So.. ahmmm.. Jieun.. would you mind if... if I can be that person to you?" My mouth fell. Kyungsoo's looking at me with his sincerest eyes. Outside, he may appear colder but I think otherwise. I slowly curved my lips into smile and nodded.
