The Trouble Goddess

Misunderstood

Kyungsoo's POV

It's already 5:50 pm. She's supposed to be here at 4:30. Why isn't she home yet?

And it is starting to get cold. She didn't even have her sweater.

Maybe I should wait for her outside with my sweater.

"Aarrgghh! Why is Rim-ah not home yet? Baekhyun!!!" Chanyeol's voice echoed through the house.

"M-Mollasso. I thought she was with Minseok and should have been here already."

"I already called her. She said she would explain later." Suho hyung said.

"I'm home!"

Each one of us left what we are doing and welcomed her with questioning looks.

"M-Mianhe, I am late, hehe."

Chae Rim's POV

"M-Mianhe, I am late, hehe."

I saw the stern yet worried looks of my hyungs as I enter the house.

"Dongsaeng!!! Where have you been!!!?" Baek hyung's voice almost ruined my ears.

"You should have called us to pick you up!." Yeol hyung said.
"I forgot. Sorry. Hehe." I apologetically smiled after that.
I turned to Soo-hyung and he was staring at me creepily.
" Princess, go wash now and change your clothes. We will talk later." As usual, Suho hyung is the one who calms everyone down.
"N-Ne."

After I took a shower, I hurriedly went to Soo hyung who was cooking and asked him "Hyung, are you mad at me?"

He didn't answer me. I knew it. When he's mad, he refuses to talk.

I sighed deeply. But I was shocked when he suddenly pulled me in a hug.

"Please don't be like that, Rim-ah. You are tearing me apart."
"H-Huh? Hyung?"
He let go of me and stared at me with his full, round eyes. I awkwardly did the same.
"I would die of worrying if you would always do that. Promise me never to do that again."
"N-Ne. Next time, I will make sure to inform you that I will be late, Hyung."
"Yaksoke?"
"Yaksoke."
And we both held our pinky fingers for a promise.
Soo-hyung must be a very awkward person, but he is very reliable. I am lucky to have him.
He ruffled my hair and smiled. I smiled back at him and hugged him.
"Kansahamnida, hyung. Saranghae."
He kissed me on the forehead after that.

*****

At the dinner table, I was being interrogated by detectives. Waahh... I can't lie. I told the whole truth from the beginning to the end. I received angry comments and preaches and scolded me at the highest peak of their voices except Soo Hyung who just listened to the conversation.
"We told you not to get involved with fights!" -Chanyeol hyung
"I wasn't! I just helped a guy!" I bursted.
"And always head straight home whenever classes are done! Why take a stroll when you can stroll with us on weekends!."- Suho-eomma (-.-)
"Ye.Ye. I won't forget. I was just curious a while ago."
"From now on, I want you to wait for me until practice is over. Arasso?"-Baek-hyung
"What???! I don't want to! That's a waste of time." I exclaimed.
"No buts!"
"Aish! Hyung!"
I frowned a lot. I thought they would be very happy if they'll know I saved and help someone in need. But what I received is the exact opposite.
"From now on, you won't leave the school unless one of us picks you up. Arasso?"-Suho hyung demanded.
"I don't want to! I don't need to! I can take care of myself!!!" I angrily retorted and quickly went to my room.
I heard them calling me but I can't really take it. Their overprotectiveness is suffocating.

I miss my mom (>.<)

Suho's POV

"I don't want to! I don't need to! I can take care of myself!!!" Rim angrily retorted and quickly went to her room.
"Rim-ah! Where are you going? We haven't finished talking yet!" I said but she acted like she did not hear it.

"Aish, look what you've done. You spoiled her appetite. She was not able to eat well." Kyungsoo remarked.

"Don't tell me it's okay with you for her to be like that?."- Chan said.

"Aniyo. It's just that you should have respected that she wants to spend time with her friends or with herself. I also want to protect her like you do, but overdoing it is not good or she might be rebellious. You must have suffocated her that's why she was fed up. You must be happy that she didn't lie to us and told us the truth. Not everyone can do that."

I was ashamed of myself. I am the eldest yet I wasn't able to think of that.

"But Chae Rim is not narrow-minded. She knows why you are doing that. It's just that she wants a bit freedom and she expects us to support her." Soo continued.

Baekhyun stood up and said,"I'll apologize to her."
Chanyeol also stood up, "Me, too."
"I am the first one!"
"Whatever, bacon!"
"Hey! Yoda!"
And the two started racing up to Rim's room. I sighed.
I was disappointed.
"Hyung, don't act like you did wrong. You were actually right. Just a wrong approach." Soo comforted me with his words.
" What should I do?"
"I'll help you."

****
Holding a tray with her unfinished plate and milk, I stormed into Rim's room.
"Princess Rim? May I come in?" I called on to her with a calm voice.
"Ye." was the soft reply
I opened the door and saw Rim lying on her bed, side view and hugging her stuff toy covering her face.
"I brought you food and milk. You were not able to eat because of us. I hurt your feelings and ignored your freedom.Mianhe."

She didn't respond.

"I know you are not a 5 y/o kid anymore, but for me, us, you will always be the princess who needs protection from her knights. You are a treasure of this family, and I can't take the risk of you not being with us. So I decided to put you in a pedestal that no one can reach. I have done the wrong thing. But now, you have a mind of your own, and I should respect that. I am asking for forgiveness for my selfishness. Will you forgive me?"

All of a sudden, she put her arms around me and cried, "Aniyo hyung. I was the one who's wrong. I was selfish. Forgive me please."

I felt a lump in my throat as I said" Yah, you're forgiven. Saranghamida, princess".

And the memory of holding a 5y/o girl flashed back.

Time really flies fast.