The Close Strangers

t w e n t y - t w o

Minhee's back hits the door behind her when she bumps into Mark who is standing in front of her room like a ghost.

"What the heck are you doing?" She asks with her hand on her chest because her heart was about to jump out.

"Have Yerimmie woken up?"

Minhee chuckles in disbelief, "Can't you see how I just woke up?" She points at her messy hair and sleepy face, "How could I know the answer to your question?"

"Then, did she go somewhere?" Mark follows Minhee who wants to go downstairs.

"I don't know," She emphasizes every word because she has no idea why Mark suddenly follows her around.

"Why hasn't she come out of her room yet? She usually has woken up at this time. Did sheㅡ"

"I. DON'T. KNOW," Minhee cuts his words as she steps on the last staircase.

Minhee comes into the kitchen where she spots her mother talking with Marcella.

"Where's Dad?" She asks while walking towards the shelf on the kitchen to take a glass.

"He's doing a morning run," Yoona replies, being confused by how Mark keeps following Minhee.

"What about Yerimmie?" Minhee asks the question that keeps going around Mark's head.

Yoona can't help but turn her head to Mark when she hears that name. Her daughters have told her about what happened, but she still wants to hear it from her son directly.

"Yerimmie is meeting her friend," Yoona responds, "I think she needs to do something that can lift her mood up."

She tries to read Mark's expression, but all he does is staring blankly with some strands of his messy morning hair falling to his forehead.

"Don't you want to do something to lift your mood up also?" Yoona asks him, but he doesn't even seem to look like he hears that.

"Lee Minhyung?" She calls his name as Marcella flicks her fingers in front of his eyes, helping him to gain his consciousness back.

Mark blinks for a couple of times, "Um, what?"

"Are you still thinking about what happened yesterday?" His mother asks, receiving a nod right away.

"You still haven't found out a way to receive forgiveness from Arinnie?"

Mark lets out a loud sigh while looking down.

It's not even about Arinnie. It's about Yerim. What can he do to receive her forgiveness? He made too many mistakes already.

Mark rubs his face gently, "What should I do?"

Minhee suddenly lifts her hand, brushing her brother's hair gently since he's sitting right beside her, "You should apologize to her about everything. Admit your mistake. Ask for forgiveness. Promise not to make the same mistake."

Marcella nods before adding, "Also, do not break the promise because you'll end up hurting her again."

Mark takes a deep breath, falling himself to Minhee. He whines like a little kid in his sister's arm.

"Ah, Noona, this is getting out of control," He says.

"You know things can't always work the way you want it to be," Marcella reminds him.