People Watching ★ 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐒𝐮𝐧

14: Natural Selection

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Who knew that taking care of a 17-year-old would be such a challenge? Sunoo certainly found out the hard way.

He turned to Niki, exasperation etched across his face. "I think we can stop now. We've hit every store in the mall!" But to his dismay, Niki simply crossed his arms and shook his head defiantly. "You brought me here out of your own free will," he shot back, sticking out his tongue. "So you guys need to face the consequences!"

Sunoo let out a weary sigh as he struggled to juggle the weight of several shopping bags hanging from both arms. Niki, meanwhile, walked ahead, seemingly unfazed by the burden. Jungwon followed behind, dutifully carrying Niki's bags while nodding sympathetically at Sunoo's grumbles.

Exasperated, Sunoo finally set down the heavy bags with a thud. "We brought you to the mall because you wouldn't stop complaining about being bored, not so you could buy everything in sight!"

Jungwon, sensing the tension, plopped down on a nearby bench, wiping his brow. "And let's not forget that all of this was purchased with my hard-earned volleyball money, so you better not forget to thank me!"

Niki, feeling playful, linked arms with Jungwon and nuzzled his head on his shoulder. "Thanks, Won! You actually buy me stuff, unlike someone else," he teased, turning a mischievous eye toward Sunoo.

Sunoo scowled, "Fucking gremlin!" The heat of the moment took him by surprise, and he felt his temper flare up. In a sudden surge of irritation, he stepped closer to Niki, grabbing him by the collar. "What did you say?" Sunoo demanded, his voice low.

Niki looked taken aback but didn't flinch. "I said what I said," he replied defiantly, his eyes sparkling with mischief. Sunoo tightened his grip, irritation boiling over. "Fine then," he shot back, "How about I buy you a one-way ticket to the hospital?"

Niki merely stuck out his tongue, but before things could escalate further, Jungwon intervened, stepping between them. "Guys, can you please stop trying to kill each other every five minutes?" he pleaded, exasperation evident in his tone. "If this is how your mother feels, I genuinely feel bad for her!"

Sunoo, clearly frustrated, plopped down next to Jungwon, crossing his arms as he sulked. "He started it!" he whined, trying to justify his outburst. Jungwon threw his head back, closing his eyes in resignation. "I can't deal with this anymore," he muttered under his breath. "Just fight it out already."

It was clear that both brothers had reached their limit, their tempers flaring like wildfire. They exchanged glances at the fountain, a silent understanding passing between them. Without a word, they rose and took their stances, each assuming a boxer's pose.

"Bet on it—the first one to fall into the fountain has to do the other's chores for an entire week!" Niki declared, a confident smirk stretching across his face.

"You're on, Gremlin!"

With their eyes locked in fierce determination, they waited for the perfect moment to strike. Suddenly, Niki lunged toward Sunoo, aiming to push him into the water. But Sunoo was quicker, dodging to the side and landing a lightning-fast jab to Niki's side. For a brief moment, it looked like Niki would lose his balance, but he regained his footing just in time.

Not one to back down, Niki charged again, attempting to wrap Sunoo in a headlock while ruffling his hair. But Sunoo was ready; he stepped on Niki's foot, and with a synchronized flail, they both lost their balance and tumbled into the fountain with a huge splash.

Jungwon stood off to the side, trying his best to act like he didn't know either of them.

Emerging from the shimmering water, Sunoo and Niki were instantly drenched, but that didn't stop them from launching into a heated argument. Water dripped from their clothes as they continued to bicker.

"Who's going to do whose chores now?" Sunoo whined, his clothes sticking uncomfortably to his skin.

"First one to get out wins!" Niki retorted, a competitive glint in his eye.

With a sly grin, Niki shoved Sunoo, sending him stumbling backward into the fountain once more. But Sunoo wasn't about to give up that easily. He grabbed the edge of the fountain, trying to pull himself up, but Niki wasn't going to let him escape.

"Not today, you!" Sunoo yelled, retaliating by grabbing Niki's leg and dragging him back into the water with him.

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-Removed pleg
(I don't what my brother means either??)

For the lazy, by yours truly 14 ʚ(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )ɞ

Chapter summary: Jungwon and Sunoo are at the mall with Niki, trying to keep up with his endless energy as he drags them from store to store. Finally, the exhaustion hits them and they collapse onto a nearby bench. But little do they know, this moment of rest will quickly turn into a full-blown battle between the two brothers.