Stigma #3 » k.th ✓

twenty seven

“I’LL HAVE A DOUBLE DUTCH AND VANILLA ICE-CREAM IN A CUP,”

"Coming right up." I told her, marking the largest disposable bowl I could find on the counter, "Your name, please?"

"Oppa, it’s me, Kate," I rose up to see her face. Never actually seen her as often as her brother, but this was the first time I've seen her by herself. "And I actually want it in a cup, not in a bowl." She laughs nervously, probably sensing something was wrong with me. Obviously.

"Sorry." I don't want to tolerate any mood swings I could have any moment. Just tried being the good guy and asking how she's doing. "How are you and Jimin?"

"Great, but seems to me, you're the one who needs more comforting." A snall smile appears on her face, "Did something happen between you and my brother?"

"Nothing. He wasn't the one I had a fight with." Breakup, morelike. Believe it or not, Jimin and I may have only hung out a couple of times if he ever wants advice from me about Lisa. And yet doesn't suspect a thing about me being her older brother. "This costs $1.00."

"Keep the change." Kate says as she handed me $2.00. "I want you to have this." She hands me another one, this time, the vanilla ice-cream she bought from me. "I didn't know how else to cheer you up."

"More ice-cream for the scooper?" I gave a jokingly smug look. "Sounds about right."

Lisa is still avoiding me. Oh, right, I didn't get to vent out about that one before Clara took my heart and crushed it in public. Meanwhile, my sister is probably having fun with her boyfriend— whether it’s dancing practice or not.

"Have you seen your brother?"

"Yeah, he's going to the old beach house this weekend." Well, that's strange. Lisa told me she was going on a fieldtrip with Jennie on the beach, too.

"Is he, uh, with anyone . . there?" Please don't be Lisa, please don't let it be her.

"Lisa-unnie, who else? Oh, I have to go now, mom is totally busting her back making these perfect cookies? She's so into cooking, she doesn't even realize she's so bad at it." With that, Kate took off waving goodbye to me.

Meanwhile, I was going insane inside my head. I know I have to work this weekend for some of the days I missed and Lisa must've caught onto that. Either she forgot to tell me she's spending the night with Jimin or she lied. Why? Why do I have a strong feeling it's the latter? And moreover, why would she do that to me? Of all people, why would she lie to her only family?

Frankly, it all comes down to she doesn't care reasoning.

"A little spaced out there, Kim?"

"I'm sorry." That's my boss. I have to concentrate and work my hardest. If she really did go there to spend the night alone with him, then alright. Do it her way. I won't stop her. Not when she's having the time of her life. Not when she's obviously failed to return my calls and texts about meeting up about going to our old hometown.

tae: You’re going to spend the night at the beach with Jennie, huh?

lisa: Yeah, we drove as early as 6 :(

tae: Really now? Interesting. Jennie knows how to drive?

lisa: Of course she does. How else would we have been able to get here if it weren't for her?

tae: She owns a car?

lisa: That's what I've been saying! I never saw her drive it to school before. Said she didn't want to draw any attention...