Mirage

23

Sunwoo sighed for the nth times only this morning, getting annoyed by the person on the other line who seemed got no other time to call.

"Seems like I'm going to school with an undone necktie", he scoffed bitterly in front of the mirror, glaring at his own reflection. 

Jiyeon was heard sighing through the call, she was so done with the cold treatment she received from her boyfriend.

"I just want to see you Sunwoo. How long has it been since the last time we met?" she was pleading but the boy never once wavered.

Instead, he rolled his eyes which did not go unnoticed by the other boy who was leaning against the door of the room, arms crossed.

"I'll call you whenever I'm free", and Sunwoo hung up, tossing his phone onto the bed. A faint laugh was then filling in the empty space of his room and he knew exactly from where it came from. "What's so funny?"

Younghoon sat on the bed, crossing his legs whilst eyeing his brother tying the tie - harshly. "You almost seem like you don't love Jiyeon at all. Why don't you break up with her?"

At that, Sunwoo's movement stopped for a mere second, awkwardness came striking up as he did not plan to answer any. Nonetheless he knew, the older was shooting an anticipating glare towards him.

So he changed the topic.

"Where were you last night bro?" Sunwoo finally turned around after getting his necktie done. "Don't you have your own home that you ended up spending the night here?"

The question was too abrupt, Younghoon instantly knew that the boy just wanted to ignore his curiosity at all costs. 

Clicking his tongue, he rose up before scooting closer to the younger, "I was at a birthday party. It was late and your house is the closest so your parents said it's okay to crash in".

"Whose party?" Sunwoo was invested, his eyes widening at every words escaping his lips. He looked so cute that Younghoon was unable to answer him right away. "Bro... spill the tea."

"You're so impatient", the older reached for his fluffy hair, ruffling it which in no time Sunwoo's eyes turned dark. "Tch. To tell you the truth, I was at Harin's party".

"What?!"

"Why are you screaming?" the older clicked his fingers next to his ear, that loud scream nearly turned him deaf. He then noticed the excitement in Sunwoo's eyes, assuming that the younger wanted to hear the whole story. "It was her sister's birthday".

"Sister?" Sunwoo shook his brother's body, his jaw dropped with a wide smile decorating his face. "Is she pretty? Are they look alike? Tell me more!"

Younghoon was getting threatened. Sunwoo was his cousin, they were in a same bloodline but seeing how the latter was excited about someone who did not share any relationship with them no doubt was hurt.

It almost seemed like he was long forgotten as a brother.

Nonetheless, he never took it to heart, knowing that it was normal for a growing boy to be like how he was.

"For you, I did take some photos", it was then Younghoon unlocking his phone whilst Sunwoo punched the air, feeling victorious. "See it yourself".

Wasting time no more, Sunwoo snatched the phone away but then he closed his eyes, a hand on his chest.

"This is so nerve-wrecking", he said, opening his eyes for a second before he shut them closed again. "I can't do this!"

Younghoon cackled. Though he had seen this sight numerous times, he still could not believe that the boy originally had this side in him.

"You know... Harin loves her sister so much. She even gifted her all the products she endorsed", Younghoon started the storytelling, adding Sunwoo's curiosity about his idol's sister into the list. "I heard Harin has exposed her sister through her social media".

It was then, Younghoon met with his brother's figure who seemed had turned into a statue. He did not blink nor breathe, his eyes were about to slip out from its sockets if the older did not nudge him.

"Why? Are you okay?" he concerned, slightly shaking the boy in his school uniform.

"You're telling me that this is her sister?" Sunwoo pointed to the screen, hoping that it was not true but Younghoon nodded almost instantly which made the boy throw the phone away from his grasp. "Kim Haeun is her sister?!"

"How do you know her name?!" Younghoon yelled which then Sunwoo yelled back, tugging his hair from its root as he paced back and forth. 

The glimpse of a journal on Sunwoo's study desk was an eye-catching all of a sudden, awakening a dead thought at the back of Younghoon's head. He started connecting all the dots together and the conclusion was more intriguing than his previous question.

He did not say it aloud but judging from Sunwoo's face as their eyes met, he knew his guess was right.

"Well... good luck Sunwoo", he retrieved his phone which was being thrown earlier, a sly smirk on his face. "You'd given a bad impression about yourself to a sister of someone you like".

Well, Kim Sunwoo never knew that he would be this desperate for a luck.

He could not stay calm along the way to the school. Every steps he made into the building was like he was walking into a haunted house. He really hoped that Haeun was absent. He was not ready to meet her today, not any days.

"Calm down Sunwoo, you have to keep your cool", he told himself that but after a second, he melted onto the table after scrolling on Harin's social media on his phone.

He did stalk the female model. Yes she did upload a proper photo of her sister during the party, creating a controversy that only good genes run in that family's blood.

And the shocking news was, it was indeed Kim Haeun.

She looked stunning - really. Those glamorous dress suited her, she looked cute as well. However, as Sunwoo was being dragged back into the reality, he shrugged the thought about her off.

Younghoon did not know about this, but Sunwoo was not in this misery just because Haeun was his idol's sister. But it was about his thought about her.

He was wrong, right? About everything?

"Good morning Sunwoo".

That voice - he was doomed.

As if a ghost was calling, Sunwoo gulped before he slowly turned his head towards the source who was towering over him. 

There she was, Kim Haeun smiling ever so sweetly as she looked down at him, a small box in her grasp. The vibe she had right now was the same as last night party, she was outstanding.

She put the box on the table before she plopped down onto the chair, the smile had not faded yet. Sunwoo felt his breath hitched when she leaned closer, pushing the box towards him as well.

"I packed this for you".

Not to be rude, but her voice made Sunwoo almost cursing. 

Without he realized himself, he jumped from his seat, growing gaps between them. To say that Haeun was not surprised was a lie, the adrenaline ran through her spine almost instantly. 

However, when she noticed the bright screen of Sunwoo's phone and the fluster on his face, she seemed to get what had had triggered the boy.

"You've found out".