parallel lines | MinWon/MEANIE

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Wonwoo was in trouble. That much was obvious the moment he stepped into his apartment at five in the morning, carefully and silently closing the front door behind him. He was counting too much on his sister's extremely tired state last night that he forgot about one fact: coffee is Seulgi's best friend.

He immediately knew he was screwed when he caught a waft of freshly brewed coffee, and a low, dangerously controlled voice called out to him.

"Good morning, little brother. Enjoyed your night out?"

Wonwoo looked around to find Seulgi waiting for him behind the kitchen counter, a cup of steaming hot coffee right in front of her. There were dark shadows under her eyes, evidence of her sister staying up all night.

"What do you have to say for yourself?"

The siblings stared at each other for a while, silent. Then, with a small "heh-heh" from Wonwoo and a wide-eyed reaction from Seulgi, chaos ensued.

Wonwoo jumped over the couch to run towards his bedroom door, hoping that he would be quick enough to reach his safe haven, but Seulgi was faster. She grabbed Wonwoo's wrist swiftly and they collided with each other.

"Get off me, you cow," Wonwoo grunted as Seulgi tackled him on the floor. "Get off! Get off!"

A shriek escaped Seulgi's mouth as Wonwoo bit her arm that was grabbing him and, in return, he was getting smacked by her slipper in the head.

"You—" Seulgi was saying with each hit of her slipper. "Don't—" smack! "—you—" smack! "—dare" smack! "—make—" smack! "—me—" smack! "—worry!"

She pushed him on the floor, leaving Wonwoo staring back at her with a hand on his head. It was only a few seconds later that Wonwoo realized she was holding back her tears.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was when I woke up at fucking three in the morning and you aren't still home?!" Seulgi asked as she looked down on Wonwoo, her eyebrows furrowed. "I tried calling you but your phone's dead and I'm left here wondering what could have happened to you!"

"I'm—" Wonwoo felt like a lump got stuck in his throat.

"I know you're doing better now, Wonwoo," she continued, her lips quivering. "But I'm still scared, you know? I still worry..."

"I'm not twelve anymore," Wonwoo quietly said, his eyes on the floor. "I'm... okay now."

Seulgi was silent for a while and Wonwoo continued to look at the floor, feeling his sister's eyes on him. "I know that. But you're the only family I've got left, and I'm sorry, but I'd like to keep it that way."

Wonwoo didn't have anything to say to that because he felt the same. He felt her move towards him and next thing he knew, Seulgi had wrapped him in her arms.

"Please," she said softly, and Wonwoo couldn't stop smelling fresh coffee off of her. "Just... Just please don't make me worry."

They stayed like that for a while, and Wonwoo felt like he was twelve again. A memory all those years ago started creeping up into his mind once again as if reminding him of what was, and he shook his head. He didn't need to remember it. He was okay now.

Yes, he was better.

✕

From: Kim Mingyu

> Were you able to get in safe?

A message lights up Wonwoo's phone as he was changing into his comfortable clothes.