Sentience

04

Jinwoo was sitting next to Belle at the table in the kid's cafe, and Changmin was across from him. A set of animal figurines was scattered on the table in front of him while the two grownups were having cakes and drinks.

"Oh!" The loud yet playful exclaim made all heads turn, focusing on the little boy who seemed to have something to tell. He brought up a figurine in the air, eyes widening at his own finding. He glanced over at Belle and furiously blinked as he said, "Isn't this look like Changmin?"

Belle was left dumbfounded. For a 5-year-old kid, she must admit that he was quite intelligent, but she couldn't say no to his way of thinking. Because the giraffe figurine he raised high in the air did look like Changmin.

"That's not nice, Jinwoo," Belle pushed down the figurine onto the table, staring deep into his eyes. "What if Changmin gets angry?"

Jinwoo was panicked. As someone who was too attached to his sister, he believed almost everything she told him. And that, he quickly whipped his head in the older boy's direction, cutely blinking.

"Will you get angry at me?" His voice was almost; too near to breaking. His lips protruded as if, at any second, a loud wail might be ejected.

Changmin might get angry when someone insulted him like that. A very small probability that he would bite the person, but how could he when the person was Jinwoo? This little creature surely had his soft spot.

So, he shook his head while smiling, "I'm not."

The little boy then patted his sister's arm, wanting her attention when she just wanted to have a spoonful of cake. He was shouting her name rather loudly, that Belle put the spoon down and lazily looked at him.

"He said, he's not mad," Jinwoo beamed.

Belle scoffed and her eyes droopy, "I heard..."

The dynamic relationship between the two eventually made Changmin laugh, the one which portrayed how much fun he had over watching them. Changmin had sisters, so he understood Jinwoo when he kept pestering Belle. He just wanted attention.

It reminded him of his childhood. The only that differed him from Jinwoo was his sisters were the ones who showered him with affection first. They showed him love before he could ask.

But, Belle...

She was cold towards her own brother. Just from a simple glance, anyone could tell how Jinwoo was having one-sided love. His attempt to make Belle fall in love with him was countless, but never once the girl seemed to attract.

At first, it made Changmin wonder why Belle was acting so differently. When she was with him or her other friends, she was lovable, friendly even. But, when Jinwoo appeared in the picture, she was all serious, her expression was always stoic.

However, more days passed, which they spent together, and he finally understood. Because he saw it on her face. It was more likely because she was still adapting. She had gotten used to receiving full attention from her family, and suddenly, she had to act like a big sister; she found it hard.

Wasn't it just lucky that she never pushed Jinwoo away? At least she still realized that Jinwoo was a part of her that she needed to care for.

"I wonder..." Changmin trailed off, darting his gaze at Belle who was feeding Jinwoo; a small smile unknowingly appeared on his face. But, when she found his orbs, Changmin quickly erased the smile. "Why does Jinwoo call you by name? Why not Noona or something?"

Like it was a cue, Jinwoo then walked off from the table to play with some entertainment prepared in a corner. Perhaps he knew when to give the elders privacy.