𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐬 & 𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𑁋 𝗌𝖺𝗇𝗌𝖺𝗇𝗀

𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝗇𝖾

✧ san ✧

"say aah." i instruct the four-year-old squirrel in front of me as i prepare the toothbrush, squirting a considerable amount of colorful toothpaste on it and wetting it a little bit under the running faucet. as i see him doing as i asked, i lower myself on my knees in front of him, on the cold tiles. with one hand i start brushing his little pearls from one end to the other, carefully, while my other arm snakes protectively around him.

seol giggles at me, while his small hands find their way into my hair, touching my strains softly before actually playing with them. ever since he was born, playing with my hair was his first and favorite thing to do. it also soothed him whenever he started crying.

but as soon as i changed my mind and dyed it blonde, his innocent eyes never stopped sparkling with amazement ever since.

after a few moments, as i made sure his little teeth were clean enough, i place the toothbrush on the edge of the sink and offer him a warm smile. "ready to rinse, champ?" i ask as he nods with puffy cheeks from all the foam he keeps in his mouth, too afraid to let it slip.

his gestures are always so adorable, they never fail to plaster a smile on my face, even after everything we've been through. but in the end, it's just him and i and we're doing great. we have to.

my hands slide under his arms, lifting him to my chest so he could spit the foam into the sink with his body raised above it. "there we go, now the water," i carefully help him drink from the glass, before putting it away as well. "as i taught you, okay? don't swallow, keep it in for a bit, then spit it all out."

seol nods obediently and, after a few seconds, he succeeds in cleaning his mouth without wetting his dinosaur pajamas. "good job, champ. wanna do it one more time?"

but he shakes his hand, refusing me. " alright. maybe tomorrow you'll surprise me and show me how you brush your teeth by yourself?" i let it out more like a suggestion to which he instantly pouts.

"i want you to do it, hyung..." tsk, this little brat. i let him down after i wipe his little pout and boop his nose, which makes him beam with happiness.

i don't know where i would've ended if it wasn't for him, the only smile of my life.

"go back to bed, i'll come back to tuck you in, in a few." i expect him to leave, but something makes me look down automatically. seol wraps his tiny little arms around my legs—or at least he tries and looks up at me with a cute pout on his face and puppy, sparkly eyes.

"story?"

i shake my head with a small sigh escaping my lips. "i promise i'll tell you a story tomorrow, seol-ah. hyung is a bit tired tonight, alright?" i caress the hair at the back of his head, hoping he won't start crying now. i don't even have the milk bottle ready to calm him.

but somehow, he feels me and even the universe decides to make it easier for me when he exits the room with a fragile 'alright' leaving his pouty lips.

i inhale deeply, and gratefully and as soon as i'm all alone in the small bathroom, my palms find their way up to my face, cupping it and rubbing it a few times. i am so tired after all the boxes i moved around while taking care of my little brother and constantly watching out for him.

today, we finally moved in; just him and i. i could barely afford even a cheap, dirty place like this because my financial situation was getting worse by the day. i am currently jobless and i spent all my savings on rent and food; the cheapest packs of noodles i could find and the seol's powdered milk and a few healthier things he could eat.