The Twin | Kim Gyuvin ZB1

4 Rumours

Rumours. They start with people's presumptions and imagination. Somehow, after circulating in communities, they can become the 'truth' that everyone believes in, even when there is no actual evidence.

Countless rumours about Siwon circulated in school. Gyuvin wondered just how many of them were actually true. His curious nature prompted him to find out for himself exactly what kind of person Siwon was. He thought he had known enough after meeting her at the convenience store, but the recent encounter made him rethink that.

He obviously wouldn't be able to get the answer he wanted if he went up and asked her. He would probably be ignored or, even worse, kicked in the shin again if he did. Once was enough; she did not hold back at all with that kick.

Thanks to Siwon, he got a chance to realise his childhood dream of being Sherlock Holmes No. 2. He tailed her for a few days after school and noticed that she would always wait till most of the students had left before heading to a nearby public toilet to change out of her uniform and then get on a bus. Given that the bus would stop at a station near his home, he assumed it was where she had to go after bumping into her in that area twice.

This day, Gyuvin hopped on the bus right after school and hid behind a bush after getting off. He waited for around half an hour until Siwon finally appeared. He then followed after her from a distance. Siwon walked past the alleyway, where she fed the cats, without making a stop and continued till she got to the junction, where he would usually turn left to get home. Instead of turning, she went straight ahead. All of a sudden, she stopped in her tracks and looked around alertly. Without thinking, Gyuvin hurled himself behind a car parked in front of a house. His hand reached to feel his pounding heart; being Sherlock Holmes was a lot more exciting than he expected. He tried to take a peek from the other side of the car, making sure that she wasn't looking anymore, before advancing again.

"What am I even doing?" A moment of realisation hit him. He snickered at himself after recognising how comical he must have seemed, but he continued following her nonetheless.

After another 15 minutes, she seemed to have finally reached her destination. Gyuvin had been living in this neighbourhood for the past 10 years, but he had almost never explored this part of the area. Mainly because it was just a huge residential area with nothing exciting going on. He never knew there was a bookshop here. In the centre of the wooden storefront, there was a single entry door with gridded windows on both sides. The name of the store, 'Escape Haven', was engraved in white on a rustic plaque that hung above the entrance. Looking in through the windows, shelves made of darkly stained hardwood went all the way up to the ceiling, and they were all filled with books.

What the hell is she doing in a book shop? It was a bit paradoxical to see the girl who sleeps through all her lessons and barely passes her exams spending her after-school hours in a bookshop.

Gyuvin watched as Siwon went behind the store counter while conversing with the old man in the store.

Huh, so she does talk to people willingly.

Soon after, the old man came out of the store, leaving Siwon alone. She grabbed a few books from a pile on the counter and started putting them back on the shelves, one by one. After returning all the books to where they belonged, she took a book out of a drawer, flipped to the page with a bookmark, and began to read.

Gyuvin's mind was absolutely blown. Ryu Siwon. Books. Part-time. Things he would never associate with each other before this very moment.

Completely overwhelmed by the great deal of information, he walked home in a brown study. Nothing that he saw made sense to him. Ryu Siwon liked books. Very unexpected, but fine. What he couldn't understand was how no one was aware of all of this, not even her family. She could have easily cleared up her gang rumours, yet she never said a word about it.

Gyuvin thought he was finally going to obtain answers today. How did he end up acquiring more questions? It seemed like there was more to dig into.

Ha! Things were getting interesting.

A week later, Gyuvin rushed to the bookshop, the first thing after school. He pushed open the door, looking around the store inquisitively.

"Welcome." The friendly old man in the store welcomed Gyuvin into the store.

"Annyeonghaseyo." Gyuvin nodded his head at the old man before exploring the store again.

The store wasn't huge, but it was a very cozy and welcoming space. At the end of each aisle, the windowsill was made into a reading area. Gyuvin wasn't really a book person, so he went straight to the comic section and got something to read. He sat down at one of the windowsills, which directly faced the store counter. A satisfied grin creeped up his face as he imagined Siwon's reaction when she comes into the store and sees him.

"Annyeonghaseyo, Sajang-nim." The girl's voice pulled Gyuvin out of his comic world.

"Annyeong Siwon-ah. We have a customer." The boss motioned towards Gyuvin with his eyes. "I think he's from your school." He whispered the last sentence.

Siwon turned her head to see for herself. Her eyes widened the moment she saw the boy, who was flashing a cocky smile at her.

"We meet again, Ryu Siwon." The boy stood up and walked towards her. "I never knew there was a bookshop in the area."

"You two know each other?" The boss asked.

"I'm classmates with Siwon. My name is Kim Gyuvin." Gyuvin introduced himself and Siwon's narrowed eyes glared at Gyuvin.

"Am I not welcome here? I don't think that's an attitude a part-timer should have. Am I right, Sajangnim?" Gyuvin acted cutely towards the boss.

"Come out with me." Siwon stomped out of the bookshop.

"Why are you here?" She stood in front of Gyuvin with her arms crossed.

"To read books. Why else would I be at a bookshop?"

Siwon would be a fool if she believed in him.

"I'm here to look for answers." He came clean.

"Answers? Don't tell me you're here to ask me stupid questions like why I hate you again."

"I want to know that too. But there's something else I'm curious about." Gyuvin smirked. "You. The real you."

"I don't know what tricks you're playing, and I don't really want to know either. But stop appearing in front of me. This is a warning." With that, Siwon reached for the door.

"What exactly are you going to do? Ask your gang friends to beat me up?"

Siwon halted with her back still facing Gyuvim.

"I don't exactly know why you're trying to make people afraid of you, but I'm not scared of you at all." He declared.

"Is that so?" Siwon turned around again and went up to Gyuvin. At lightning speed, she pulled her leg backwards and kicked his shin with full strength.

"OW!" Gyuvin dropped to the floor and hugged his knee. Apparently she did hold back last time; this one was way worse. He should start wearing his soccer shin pads around her from now on.

Siwon left him wincing in pain while she headed into the store again.

"Is he okay?" The boss looked out of the window worriedly.

"He'll be fine. He won't die from that."

"Siwon-ah, try not to react with aggression, please? I thought he was a friend. No?"

"Sajang-nim, you know I don't have friends."

"Well, there's a first for everything."