father | jun | wen junhui

Chapter Nine

Nabi

I didn't have the heart to tell Junhui the truth. I've had so many chances to just blurt it out. 

'You're not my brother.'

Four simple words. Four simple words to set me free from a lie that I had thought to be the truth. The truth that could break a heart. A kind one, like Wen Junhui's.

In the past few weeks of us being 'brother and sister' we became closer. We spent most days together, during and after school. He even picks me up from my house in the mornings. I've grown fond of him in a way that a sister should. Except, I'm not his sister...

"Everything okay?" The sound of Junhui's voice snaps me back to reality. "You keep zoning out a lot these days," he states as he continues to scribble things into his notebook.

I put my pen down. "I've got something to ask you."

"What's that?"

"Why do you still hang out with me even after your grandmother-"

He stops scribbling abruptly and looks at me in annoyance. "Our. Our grandmother." He was looking me in the eyes too intensely. "And you're my sister. Nothing's going to keep me from wanting to be with my own sibling." He looks back down at his book and goes back to writing.

"Right." There was nothing else I could say.

The bell rings shortly after but before anyone in the class could move the teacher says, "the bell does not dismiss you, I do."

Everyone groans.

"Remember that the school talent show will undergo next week so rest up for the weekend. Everyone knows what their doing right?"

"Yes..." The class responds unenthusiastically.

"Good. Class dismissed."

The unpleasant sound of steel chairs grinding on the floor echoes throughout the room whilst everyone rushes to get out of the stuffy class.

Junhui gathers his books and stands. "Wait in the car for Joshua and I." He hands me his keys. "I've got to go submit the final list of acts for the talent show to the principal."

I nod once and headed out without another word.

On the way to the parking lot, I wondered what Junhui would do when he finds out we're not actually sibling. Hurt probably. I was too.

The more you lead this on, the more damage it's going to cause, Nabi... I know, I know- but what if-

That's when I fell.

I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn't see the small step that separates the cement base of the school to the parking lot.

People chuckled lightly as they walked passed me.

I mentally hit myself for being embarrassing.

"Did you fall for me that hard?" A voice I don't recognises asks.

I realised I was still on the ground so I stand up quickly.

A boy leaning against the closest car to me was looking in my direction and seemed like he had no intentions of looking away any time soon.

I ignore him and power walked to Junhui's car only to realise that I had dropped his keys. I decided to go back when the boy was suddenly right beside me.

"You dropped this," he holds up the overly expensive piece of metal I could not afford to lose.

"Thanks." I grab them back quickly.

"It's Junhui's right?" He leans on the car the way he did with the first one.

"Yeah."

"Are you his girlfriend?"

The question caught me off guard. I hadn't realised that from an outsiders point of view it could look that way since we hung out so often and made no effort to announce that we were 'siblings.'

I shake my head. "He's my, uhh-"

"Yoon Jeonghan." Joshua suddenly appears and gives the boy a classic bro-hug.

Junhui stands beside me and tilts his head as if to ask what was going on.

I just shrug.

"You're coming to my party tonight right?" Asks the boy, who now has a name. "It's open invite. It'll be big!"

Joshua chuckles lightly and says, "we're not big on party's bro. Maybe next time."

Yoon Jeonghan quickly glances at me then back at Joshua. "This is why you need to come! All of you." He puts an arm over Joshua's shoulder. "It's a one time thing. You know my father only lets me do this once in a blood moon so come on!" He then gestures to me. "Plus, it'll be good for the new girl to meet some people, you two are being too selfish."

Joshua looks down at me. "Well if she's up for it..."

I wanted to say no since social events didn't really appeal to me, but I didn't want to be rude this boy either.

"We'll come." Junhui pipes in. "Your house is it?" He asks Yoon Jeonghan.

"Kick off at 11. But come around 10 for pre drinks" He smiles at the two boys. He then looks at me with a cheekier grin as he starts slowly walking away. "See you then."