Unexpected. | Kim Jongin

03 - again♮again

Eun Mi's phone buzzed.

Her hand tapped the nightstand next to her bed in search of it. She finally grabbed it, but she knocked it off of the table and onto the tan, plush carpet of her bedroom. "Darn it." Eun Mi muttered as she slid off of the bed and bent down to pick up the phone. Of all the people who could have called, it just had to be Eun Seun. Her thumb hovered over the accept button hesitantly, terrified to speak to her sister after their confrontation yesterday. One second before Eun Seun stopped calling, Eun Mi's thumb pressed against the green button. "Yeoboseyo?"

"Eun Mi, can we talk?"

She bit her lip as she lowered the phone onto the table again, hitting the speaker button while shaking. "Aren't we already talking, unnie?" she laughed nervously. "Eun Mi, you know what I mean. Meet me at Dongdaemun's skate park as soon as you can. Please?" Eun Seun's voice was desperate and needing.The younger sister hung up and tossed the phone across the room, watching it bounce on the carpet and flip over. Yet she started getting ready, because she couldn't stand leaving her sister in this condition even when this was the how Eun Seun treated Eun Mi in her earlier years.

She grabbed her black skateboard, the one with the galaxy bottom, and headed out the door. This skate park brought back several memories to Eun Mi, and not just because skateboarding was her childhood passion.

It was where she met her first love.

They were both 13 years old, and his name was Kai. It began when she was on the half-pipe, and she grabbed her skateboard too late. Eun Mi collapsed onto the ground while groaning in pain, and realized that she cut her whole shin open. Nobody was around to help her, and she couldn't hobble to the hospital.

Then he appeared.

No words were exchanged. He just carried her, bridal style, to the hospital with Eun Mi's head bobbing against his chest. "Put me down, I can get there myself." she finally muttered, squirming out of his grasp. "No way, princess. Your leg is too nasty. Oh, would you look at that, we're at the hospital!" he exclaimed, walking through the doors into the air conditioned hallway. "Just because you've done this doesn't mean I owe you."

"I didn't even consider that before. But now that you mention it, you do owe me. Big time. And I don't care what you're about to say because there's no refusing."

"I hate you." she grumbled, punching him in the shoulder as he placed her on a gurney. "The name is Kai. So the full sentence would be, 'I hate you, Kai.'" he grinned. "Well then, Kai, why did you help me?" she asked, sitting up straight.

"Hearing my name come from your mouth is like music to my ears."

Eun Mi raised an eyebrow and he cleared his throat. "Do you really think I am that heartless to just skate by and watch you in that major wipe out, then leave you on the ground?" She sensed that Kai was actually hurt by the way he responded, and she felt guilty.

"N-No, that's not what I meant! I-" He put his hand up to stop her.

"The nurse is here." he sadly smiled. She nodded slightly and turned around, facing the woman in white scrubs. Eun Mi was wheeled away, glancing at Kai at the end of the hallway with a pout on his face. They waved at each other, and she disappeared through the emergency room doors.

When she was treated, the nurse wheeled her outside. Eun Mi thanked the woman and looked around, silently hoping that Kai was still there.

"Looking for me?"

Eun Mi jumped, pain shooting up her leg. But no whine came from her mouth because an arm was around her waist and her lips were connected to somebody else's.

Her first kiss was stolen by that boy.

"Kai." she mumbled in the kiss, sending vibrations between the two of them. "Yes?" he smiled, pulling her closer.

"I don't think I hate you anymore."

∞

The sound of Eun Mi's footsteps caused Eun Seun to whip her head around.

"What do you want?" she coldly asked her older sister, tapping her foot impatiently. "You got that attitide from Mom, you know that?" she smiled, referring to the short temper. "Look. You wanted me to come, and I'm here. If you don't want to talk, it's either you leave or me."

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" Eun Mi spat. "What do you mean, for what?" Eun Seun asked, standing up. "Saying that you're sorry won't make up for anything. They are just two empty, hollow words that you thought would earn my forgiveness. And they won't. So answer my question...for what?"

Eun Mi felt the power flow through her veins. She's never felt more free, more independent. And she loved it.

"For Mom and Dad."

"All of these short answers will cost you everything, Eun Seun! I need more than that!"

"Girls, girls, please! Don't fight here." a male voice spoke behind her. "Don't get involved, dude. Not -" Eun Mi turned around with her hand raised and locked eyes with his. Her gaze traveled to his lips. Then his cheekbones. Then his entire face.

"Kai?"