The Close Strangers

t w e n t y - e i g h t

"Minnie!" Mark opens her sister's bedroom door, spotting her who's currently putting a mask on her face.

"What is it?" Minhee seems to be annoyed by how Mark didn't follow the 'knock before coming in' rules.

Mark comes to her, holding her shoulder tightly in a way to make her sister looks at him in the eyes.

"You did a video call with Yerimmie last night, didn't you?"

Minhee nods innocently, "Around 2 or 3 am."

Mark suddenly shakes her body, causing her to immediately raises her hand in a way to check that her mask is still fine.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He whines a little bit as he lets her go.

"Why should I?" Minhee asks back.

"Because she never answers my call. It's been a month, Noona. I miss her!"

Minhee pats her face once again before she gets up, moving to her bed.

"Didn't you just have a video call with her around a week ago?"

"It was with my friends!" Mark replies, "Every call I had so far with her was with my friends."

Minhee positions her pillow against the headboard before leaning back against it. She takes the novel book she's currently ready from the nightstand beside her bed.

"Then, what's wrong with that? It's not like you should have a call all alone with her."

Mark remains calm, starting to think that what Minhee said is actually right.

"But, you did."

Minhee downs the opened novel book in her hands, so she can see Mark who is already sitting at the side of her bed.

"It's because none of my friends know her."

"Jaehyun-hyung?" Mark responds.

"Why should I invite Jaehyunnie to my call with Yerimmie? It's more like they are supposed to be the ones who have a private call. Just the two of them."

"Shut up! Yerimmie said they aren't dating."

Yes, Mark still remembers the day when Yerim is leaving Korea. Mark is asking why Jaehyun didn't go to the airport before giving Yerim their last goodbye. Mark assumed that Jaehyun will go back to German this summer break, but Yerim said he won't. He'll stay in Korea throughout the break.

"Why must he come? He's not my boyfriend after all."

That's what Yerim said. Mark feels like he's fooled all this time, but it turns out, they are really just friends.

"I didn't say they are dating though," Minhee responds carelessly.

She brings her focus back to the novel book in her hands, "How could Yerim dating a guy who is dating her cousin?"

"How could sheㅡ what?!"

Minhee startles because Mark suddenly shouts in surprise.

"I never knew that Jaehyun-hyung is dating Yerimmie's cousin?!"

She closes her book in one motion, feeling annoyed by how Mark just keeps on talking.

"Why should you? Like seriouslyㅡ why does everything about Yerim is must be known by you?"

Mark stays quiet once again as he lies right next to his sister, but Minhee immediately pushes him away, causing him to fall to the floor.

"I'm not in the mood of having anybody being right next to me."