If I don't want to - S.M.

16 | Wish You Luck

- Chapter 16 -

Shawn

"Kids, the dinner's ready," my mom's voice heard from the kitchen.

"Coming in a second, Mom," I shouted back from my room, "Let's go, Aaliyah, you said two minutes like thirty minutes ago," I said standing in front of the bed where my sister's been sticking her nose at the laptop screen for forever.

"Ugh, you're so annoying," she said while smashing the pause button on her laptop. She had been binge-watching Korean drama this whole afternoon, and I didn't know how many pieces of tissues had gone through her red nose. She put out her hand motioning me to help her up. So I did. She walked in front of me down the stairs and headed to the dining room.

"What you two've been up to?" My dad asked as my mom placed a plate in front of him.

"Waiting for the princess to talk to his not often been at home brother instead of watching Netflix," I rambled with an annoyed face.

"Shawnnn," she replied poking my side.

"Stop fighting, won't you kids?" Mom said while she bringing out other dishes from the kitchen.

My sister groaned and rolled her eyes.

"Love you too, Aaliyah," I replied.

My dad shook his head and a chuckle left his lips.

"So the tour will be continued in two weeks?" Dad asked before spooning a mouthful of food.

"Yeah, are you guys coming to this one?" I asked before I spooned my own.

"I'm sorry, baby, I don't think we can," Mom finally finished bringing out meals and sat with us.

"I want to! I want to! Can I join?" My sister butted in the conversation.

"Sure," I said putting in another piece of meat in my mouth, "but stop ignoring me?" I raised my eyebrow at her.

"Deal," she put out her hand to me and I shook it as a deal, "God, you're such an attention seeker," she rolled her eyes focusing back on her plate.

"I miss my little sister, am I not allowed to?" I showed her my puppy eyes and pout my lips.

"Aww, I love you, Shawn," she replied with her annoying face and pinched me on the upper arm. We finished our meals, helped Mom wash the dishes and went back upstairs to Aaliyah's room.

"You can bring Caleb to," I said starting a conversation with my now 26-year-old sister, "I'll ask Andrew for two seats."

"Wow thanks," she plopped onto the bed beside me, "But, I'll bring Alessia instead. She will definitely be on cloud nine to see your concert, in Australia," she took a long breath.

"Yeah, it's been a long time since I saw her," I took a deep breath following her, "So how's your life?" I lay on my side facing her, my head propped up on my right head.

"Work sucks sometimes, but yeah I'm enjoying my twenties till Caleb will propose me and I'll be a happy mother," she said in an unexpectedly flat tone.

"Wow you got your future planned well, eh?" I chuckled, "How's Caleb? He's good to you?"

"I saw lots of your treats in him, but yeah he's sweet and he's a responsible young adult," she said staring at the room ceiling. A smile crept to her face.

"Aww, I know you love me so much that you find a boyfriend like me," I pinched her cheek and she frowned.

"I won't deny it. You set my boyfriend standard way too high," she said finally showing her love to me, "Enough talking about me, how's your life doing?" She turned her body so we now face to face.

"It's still the same, singing and making music every day, except with fewer interviews since I'm getting older," I sighed and laid my back on the bed.

"No... girl?" I could smell a hesitation in her voice.

"No, I still- you know- got Ariel wrapped around my mind," I said as my stomach still feel something funny every time I talk about her.

"I know, she's so hard to forget," sadness made its way out of her eyes, "I miss her at times."

"But I wanna try meeting another girl in the near time," I responded quickly, "That's what my friends suggest," I ended with a question-ish tone, not knowing if she would agree on the idea.

"You know, you don't have to rush it. But yeah, it's worth trying," she said before turning her gaze from the ceiling to me, "I believe there are still a number of kind-hearted girls out there that can help you out," a relieved sigh escaped her chest.

"You're right," I took a deep breath and felt relieved that she wasn't against the idea.

The silence hung around us for a couple of seconds.

Until Aaliyah broke the silence, "So, any name's already on mind?"

"Hmm...," I felt discussing this with my sister is the right way to start, "You remember Agnes?"

She took a while to remember before a bell rang on her mind, "Oh, the one that escorts you where and when to get on the stage?" An excitement appeared on her voice.

"Yeah," I said prolonging the word.

"I don't know, Man. You troubled her for peeing a lot before and between stages," she laughed mocking me.

"Now I feel more nervous to meet her, thanks to you," I felt my shoulder got a bit tenser.

"That's actually a good point though, you can talk about it with her as an ice breaker when you two date," she shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, that's true," I shrugged my shoulder copying her unconsciously, "Do you have any idea how should I ask her out? I mean lunch or dinner, or just hang out with other crews," Words coming out of my mouth as an effect of nervousness.

"Have you texted her?" She replied calmly on the opposite. "Through DMs, yes."

"Well, that's a good start," she said feeling relieved that her brother wasn't that stupid, "Just continue what you're doing. But, make sure you don't rush it. Like- commenting on every picture she posts, reply to her one second after she replies," She sat up and pointed out a finger in front of me to emphasize, "They're big No-Nos," then laid back to her position, "Just take it... slow."

"Okay, roger that," I nodded along, mentally taking notes on what she said.

"Same goes with the hanging out, start slow," she added, "Is it normal for you to join her team's lunch or a day out?"

"Well, lunch... maybe?" my eyebrows furrowed, "Since we meet a lot for stage coordination."

"Yeah, you should go with them, but don't seem too obvious," she did another round of pointing finger, "If they're free for lunch that afternoon, lucky for you. But, if they don't, then don't push it."

"Right," I once again mentally clapped for my sister's tips on how to live a life.

"You should take the seat near her on the opposite side, so you can make sure she's in the

conversation with you, and make a few shy stupid eye contacts, you know how to do it, right?" "Got it," I nodded.

"You can ask her out on a dinner with only both of you after you get closer to her. The point is don't rush it, but be a gentleman and show you care enough for her,"

"Holy Bible, I know talking to you will make things so much better," I bopped her nose.

"Ugh, who's the elder one here," her eyes were rolled but soon turned into smiling eyes.

"Me, obviously," I rolled my eyes, "Thanks, Liyah," I returned her smile.

"I'll pray for you and wish you good luck," she said offering me a big hug, and I hug her tightly.

We then went to the bathroom to brush our teeth and she did her night routine before we closed the night with a bed-time movie on Netflix.

—

I hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy wherever you are
My heart goes to people & families affected by this unprecedented event