The Twin | Kim Gyuvin ZB1

6 Bad Girl

"Kids, line up in rows of two and hold hands with the one next to you." Siwon was talking in a softer tone and at a higher pitch than usual, with a faint smile. She then counted the number of children. "Wonjang-nim, we have everyone."

"Great, let's go." The lady, whom Siwon referred to as the director, replied. She had a round face adorned with soft features and naturally rosy cheeks. Her eyes sparkled with compassion while looking at Siwon and the group of children. She was wearing a bright-coloured floral blouse with her hair tied into a bun.

Siwon went to the back of the group of children while the director led the way back to the orphanage. They had just attended the Sunday service at the church — it was the regular Sunday morning routine at Bambi Orphanage.

"Siwon Unnie, what story is Halabeoji going to tell us today?" The little girl holding Siwon's pinky asked while looking up at Siwon.

"I'm not sure either. You'll know when Halabeoji comes later." The 'Halabeoji' they were talking about was the owner of the bookstore. He would go to the orphanage every Sunday afternoon to read stories to the children. That was also how Siwon met the director, Gyeongja, and the children at Bambi Orphanage. "Gyeoul-ah, do you like it when Halabeoji comes to read you stories?"

"Yes!" The girl squealed. Her excitement was especially evident because she stood next to the calm Siwon. "My favourite day is Sunday because I get to go to church, play with you, and listen to Halabeoji's stories."

"You'll like it even better next week."

"Why?"

"Seulbi Unnie said she'd be coming to visit."

"Really? YESSS!" Gyeoul jumped up and down upon learning the news.

"Are you excited to see Seulbi Unnie?"

"Seulbi Unnie always brings us gifts and toys whenever she visits."

"Ya, do you like seeing Seulbi Unnie, or do you just like the gifts she brings?"

"Both!"

Siwon lightly chuckled at the little girl's innocent response.

.

"Sajangnim, are you closing early today?" Gyuvin just got to the bookshop and saw that the boss was locking up the store.

"Oh, aren't you the boy from Siwon's school?" The bookshop owner immediately recognised Gyuvin. "We close at 4 on Sundays. Are you here for Siwonnie?"

"Ah yes. Is she here?"

"She doesn't work on Sundays. Is there something urgent you need to tell her?"

"No, it's just about school stuff. I'm working on a project with her. Do you know where she is?"

"I do know, but Siwon wouldn't like it if I disclosed too much about her." The boss said apologetically.

"Don't worry. I understand, Sajang-nim."

"You said your name was Gyuvin, right?"

"Yes."

"Siwonnie might seem cold and distant at first, but really, she just doesn't know how to open up to people and communicate how she feels. She's not a bad kid. You'll know once you get to know her better."

"Have you known her for a long time?"

"She started working here when she was in middle school, so it's been quite a while."

"I can feel that she's not a bad person," Gyuvin said sincerely. "I'll come visit again, Sajangnim."

Gyuvin didn't wait for long; he went to the bookshop again the next night after tutoring.

"Welc..." Siwon halted once she saw it was Gyuvin entering the store. Her soft expression almost turned cold immediately.

"Annyeong." The boy cheerfully skipped towards the counter.

"What do you want again?"

"I'm at a bookstore. Of course I'm here to look for a book."

Siwon furrowed her brows and waited to see what tricks Gyuvin was trying to play.

"My mom is looking for this book. It's all out of stock online, so I wondered if there'd be a copy available here." Gyuvin slipped Siwon a note with a book title written on it.

The truth was, his mom was talking about how she was planning to go search for the book in the local bookshops because it was not available in all the big chain stores. Gyuvin immediately volunteered to be on the hunt for the book for her.

"Wait a minute." Siwon took the note and went to find the book.

Gyuvin leaned on the counter and watched as Siwon stood on a stool and looked through the higher shelves. His imagination ran wild for a second, and suddenly he envisioned Siwon falling down from the stool and him rushing over to catch her. He giggled at the K-drama scene playing in his head. When he snapped back into reality, he saw Siwon standing in front of her with a book in her hands, looking at him like he was a mad man.

"Check if this is the book you want." Siwon handed the book over to Gyuvin and went behind the counter once again.

"This looks right."

After Gyuvin paid, he remained in the same place with no intention to leave while looking at Siwon with a mischievous smile.

"Is there anything else I can help you with?" Siwon let out an exasperated sigh.

Gyuvin unlocked his phone and placed it on the counter. Siwon looked at Gyuvin's phone and him again, awaiting an explanation.

"I realised I don't have a means to contact you. And since you'll be going to the US soon, I'll at least need your phone number to be able to discuss the project with you."

"You're not expecting me to actually help you with the project, right?" Siwon didn't see the need to tell Gyuvin that she wasn't going to the US.

"I don't think you have a choice. You know I can still tell Siyoungie any time about all this, right?" Gyuvin pointed around the bookshop.

"I'm sure you know how outstanding my grades are and you would not want to risk ruining your top grades."

"You don't have to worry about that; that's something for me to worry about. You just have to put in your phone number for me."

Siwon knew she was on the disadvantageous side. She bit the inside of her lip and picked up his phone to enter her phone number into his contacts.

"Perfect." Gyuvin grinned smugly like he had just won another battle.

"Siyoung doesn't want us to work together. You do know that, right?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"I don't care if you're trying to be nice because I'm her sister or if you're trying to get on my nerves for her, but she doesn't like us having contact at all. So whatever you're trying to do, you're doing it wrong."

"You think I'm doing all this because of Siyoung?"

"If I'm not mistaken, the two of you are friends, right? I don't think friends should be doing things that would upset each other."

"You're right. Maybe I should have thought of Siyoung's feelings first, but I acted out of curiosity before she came into my mind and before I considered the fact that you were her sister."

His words shook Siwon's heart for a brief moment.

"And honestly, I don't really understand the situation between you two, so I don't get why I couldn't pair up with you." Gyuvin continued. "What's with you though? If you don't like Siyoung, you should be glad that this is upsetting her. You just sounded like a sister who was concerned about her younger sister's feelings."

"I'm not concerned. I simply want her to stop whining about this and harassing me at home."

"Are you sure you're not the one harassing her instead?" Gyuvin was joking, but that snapped Siwon out of the temporary mini-commotion that Gyuvin caused a minute ago.

She almost forgot that she was the bad girl out of the two.