ՏTᗴᑭ ᗷᖇOTᕼᗴᖇ

Chapter 3

One Month Later

The day had come. Hobi grabbed the last of my bags as we took them down to the car. He had been my rock this last month. Dad and I talked. I had explained how I felt about losing the house he decided to put off selling it for now but that hadn't postponed the move. He and Aera were desperate to live in sin. - Gag!

Despite Aera's best efforts I had still yet to step foot in her house. It was my last summer in this house and I wanted to make the most of it. She had asked if I wanted to pick the colours of my new room or my furniture but I told her I would just take what was already there. It wouldn't be too long before I was off to college and I'd never have to see it again anyway, it was never going to be my home.

As I made my way downstairs things felt eerie. Most of our furniture was still here as Aera's house was already fully equipped with designer gear. They had no use for our threadbare sofa or wobbly table.

Dad hadn't packed all our bits but the majority of the photos were packed, giving the house a sense of emptiness despite the furniture It was like all the things that made it home had been sucked out leaving just a house behind.

I opened the hallway closet to get my converse's and noticed my height chart on the door frame. Mum had started it when we moved here, etching my height every year.

I traced my fingers up the wall following my rising heights.  I pulled on my cons and made my way to Hobi's yellow bug. He had offered to drive me while dad took the removal van, and to keep me sane.

As we pulled up to the electric gates Hobi started to whistle.

"I swear this place gets bigger every time I come here, it's been two years since granny retired and she still talks about it. Sometimes she still pops in to check on things so don't be surprised to see her." Hobi laughed.

Granny had been the housekeeper at the Manor since the Kims came here but retired shortly after the boys moved in with her permanently.

Between her health and two young boys to take care of it was all too much for her. Hobi would sometimes come here with her but never ventured beyond the kitchen.

He was beyond ecstatic to see the whole place today. I was glad Hobi was excited, hopefully, some of it would rub off on me because honestly, the main emotion I was feeling right now was fear.

Despite my dad and Aera having dated for almost 2 years I have never had to spend any time with them as a 'family'.

No one in school knew about them, thank god, (except for Hobi of course). So nobody ever expected me and Kim Namjoon to acknowledge each other but I guess that was all about to change on Monday.

Hobi breezed through the now open gates straight up to the front door. We got out as Aera came flying out straight into Dads' arms.

"Seriously what night cream does that woman use, she looks 23! I want some!" Hobi exclaimed.

I ignored her boy crushing on my future stepmother and made my way to the boot to grab my bags.

"Would you like me to show you to your room?" Aera's sickly sweet voice came from behind me. I turned and was greeted with her perfect smile.

"Sure," I said, not having another choice and replaying dads endless speeches about being kind in my head.

As we entered the house it was exactly as I imagined it. Perfect.

Too Perfect.

Not a pillow out of place or a speck of lint on the carpet. Everything inside was clean and perfectly placed.