『 POLISHED METAL 』 ⇢ Park Jimin

Chapter 27: Puerile Uncle

•Eunjin's POV•

"Your uncle is—YOUNGER THAN YOU?!" Jimin screeched as he widened his eyes at the sight of Yongwoo.

"Precisely, 2 years younger~" Yongwoo chirped as he ate another spoonful of strawberry ice cream.

I tilted my head and turned to Yongwoo, "Uncle Yongwoo, why are here anyway? Shouldn't you be in the Philippines, researching and exploring?"

"Well, I'm supposed to but I heard about your family going bankrupt and I came here for moral support since I'm the only family your dad has. It's also because he gets stressed and is usually a crybaby." He nodded to himself before pointing the spoon to Jimin, "So who's this guy?"

"I-I'm Jimin, nice to meet you." Jimin held his hand out to Yongwoo but Yongwoo only glared at him.

"You like my niece?"

"N-no, sir," Jimin shook his head, "Do I really have to be formal towards you? If Eunjin is older than you, so am I and you should be the one being formal to me!"

"Do you have a workshop?" Yongwoo asked, focused on his tub of ice cream.

"Well, no..."

"Have you earned your Master's degree at age 15?"

"N-no, but—"

"Are you cuter than me?"

"That's—"

"I'll answer that for you, it's a no. I'll call you 'hyung' but that's how far I'll get." He sent a last glare at Jimin before turning to me with a smile.

"So noona, I heard you need me for something, Mickey's collar, I assume?" I nodded at him, fishing Mickey's collar out from my pocket and handing it to him.

He inspected it for a while before giving me a thumbs up, the spoon still in his hands.

"This is easy-peasy. Mickey's collar would be fixed in no time, speaking of Mickey, where is she?"

Suddenly, Mickey barked and emerged from behind me, pouncing on Yongwoo happily which resulted in Yongwoo dropping his tub of ice cream on the floor.

He pouted as he sat up, picking up the ice cream tub and spoon before uttering: "5-second-rule!"

After setting the tub of ice cream aside, he petted Mickey and nuzzled his cheek against her.

"I missed you so much! Did you miss your daddy?" He laughed as Mickey laid on her back and he rubbed her stomach.

"Well, then—I'll go make some snacks for you guys while you all acquaintance yourself with each other ." Mom said before disappearing off into the kitchen.

I sighed before turning to Jimin, pointing at the laughing Uncle Yongwoo on the floor, "He's the one who created Mickey's collar and gave Mickey to me for companionship when I planned to live in the beach."

"He created that futuristic device?! This kid!?" He gaped and turned to glance at Yongwoo.

"I heard that you know!" Yongwoo yelled, folding his arms before letting out a 'hmph'.

Yongwoo stood up and dusted himself before grabbing his ice cream tub off the floor before gesturing us with his head to follow him.

We followed behind him as he led us through a series of hallways and doors.

I've forgotten how big this mansion is and I could probably get lost in here. Ever since I ordered my parents to fire all the staff here since I gained my fear and was traumatized, it felt so...empty and big.