"You left home without any fear. Are you a runaway?"
"Where is my room? This house is unnecessarily large."
"..Ugh, come on. It's been so long since I've been in this house that I don't remember very well."
As soon as he got my call, he came running. While I was crying and wailing, he clicked his tongue and nagged me, saying I had a cold, and gave me a coat. After thinking about it for a while, he said there was a villa on the outskirts of town, and he quickly packed my bags and put them in the car. I was so tired from crying that I fell asleep as soon as I got in the car, but when I opened my eyes to a hand waking me up, there was a magnificent mansion right in front of me.
I knew he was rich, but... it's still amazing every time I see him.
"Hey, Kim Yeo-ju, are you okay?"
"Oh, it's okay. I'll stay here and move out as soon as I find a place to live. Seriously."
"Would I care about that? Not that kind of thing."
"...Ha, okay. Don't talk about Yeonjun for a while. I ran away because I thought if I saw his face, I'd be speechless and just cry."
"Hey, but I still have to listen to what you have to say!"
"Oh, but not now."
Right now... I don't think I'll listen to anything he says.
Kai sighed silently and then left the house, telling me to rest. Still, having someone I could talk to felt a little better. I had a rough idea where Kai had gone, but I felt like I had to pretend not to know.
Let's just go to sleep... If I think about it any more, my head's going to explode.
***
"..I'm sleepy"
Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I went out to the living room. Naturally, I hadn't slept well, and my headache, which had been throbbing since last night, hadn't cleared up.
I saw a small table with some sloppy toast on it, and it seemed like Kai had cooked and left for work, but I felt bad for him and had no appetite.
Even if you don't have an appetite, you have to eat before you go out.
"..Anyway, I said it's a ghost."
I found a Post-it note I almost passed by. Even the handwriting is so Kai-like. Look at how bold it is. I giggled and sat down, munching on toast. After eating this, washing up, and getting ready, it'll probably be 10 o'clock. I'll go to school and then back home.
"ah..."
I bit my lip again as tears welled up in my eyes.
What should I do, Yeonjun? I miss you so much, but I can't.
***
"You came to school looking like that again?"
"...If you don't come, I'll be worried."
"Ugh- You smell like alcohol. Hey, did you wash up? And that girl is a grown woman, so she should be somewhere safe."
"Not answering the phone...not even texting, huh.."
"..Hey, I'll tell the teacher, so you go rest in the infirmary for now. You look terrible."
Yeonjun, who had been lying face down until now, weakly raised his head. Ryujin clicked her tongue at the exposed face, then abruptly slapped Yeonjun on the back, telling him to come to his senses. He stared blankly at Ryujin, his face abruptly blank as the pain surged through him. Only then, as if he'd come to his senses, did he stand up.
"Hey Ryu Jin, you can tell me what happened when I dropped out and said I was dead."
"Hey, hey!"
Ryujin looked at the empty space as if she was shocked by Yeonjun's actions of throwing his bag away and storming out of the classroom, and then sighed and started to put Yeonjun's belongings into his bag.
Oh, you idiot. Just say you're sick and leaving work early. What do you mean, quitting school and dying?
.
.
"I'm Yeonjun, sir. Is Sohee inside?"
"Ah.. Yeonjun, Sohee just told me not to let you in because filming is delayed.."
It was a studio I'd stumbled upon without a plan. When I opened my eyes that morning and saw Sohee's lighter on the bedside table, I knew something was wrong.
I thought we'd run into each other at home. I wanted to know what was going on before clearing up the misunderstanding, so I went to the studio, but for some reason, the security team stopped me.
After a long argument, Sohee appeared, holding a cigarette, and the situation was finally resolved. "Director, just leave me alone. I need to talk to Yeonjun."
"When I dropped you off and we ran into each other, you greeted each other and thanked me before we left. What's the problem?"
"I'm not the type of person to suddenly leave the house... unless something happened that day!"
"Yeonjun, that girl just dumped you."
"..."
"You packed your bags and left... and you're not even answering my calls?"
If that's not abandoning you and disappearing, then what is it? I felt like I got hit in the head hard by Sohee's words.
After throwing away the cigarette and running a hand through her hair, Sohee asked.
"Yeonjun, do you want to go out with me? I'll ask you again."
"..Are you crazy? Please answer me properly..!!"
Sohee made me wrap my arms around her waist and kissed me.
What the hell am I doing... I was about to write a letter while frowning at the sudden rush of disgust as I fell, when I heard a voice behind me.
"..hey Choi Yeonjun"
"..sister"
"...I came here because I thought you might be home, but I'm sorry I interrupted your good time. Please finish what you were saying."
"Wait a minute! If you don't understand what I saw, please listen to me."
"Misunderstanding? I saw you lock lips with another woman with my own eyes, and you're saying this is a misunderstanding?"
"Everything that guy said wasn't true. He even found my home address by stealing my wallet."
"..."
"The situation just now... I went to find out what that person said to my older sister yesterday, and all of a sudden!.."
"..ha-"
dump.
My sister collapsed on the floor and burst into tears. I threw down everything and hugged her. My sister, who had been crying in my arms, seemed to calm down and grabbed my sleeve.
"Let's go home.."
"Should I carry you?"
"no.."
As I held her still slightly trembling body, she snuggled deeper into my embrace. I had to go home, but seeing my sister never letting go of me almost made me laugh, even in this situation.
***
'From now on, when you two fight over love, don't contact me ㅡㅡ'
A single post-it note and my suitcase containing my luggage were left in the living room. How did he know? Kai, he's a ghost too. After I packed my bags and changed my clothes, Yeonjun hugged me from behind as if he'd been waiting for me.
"Do you know how much I missed you? When I opened my eyes, you were gone. You even packed all your stuff. You weren't even answering my calls."
"..."
"I really felt like I couldn't live without you. I'll do better, just love me."
"..Actually, even when you were calmly explaining, I was honestly scared. I thought this was all a lie.."
"How did you know it wasn't a lie?"
"..you ran away when I explained"
Yeonjun paused for a moment, as if he'd been annoyed, but then immediately buried his head in my shoulder and kissed me everywhere. When I whimpered, slightly uncomfortable with the position, Yeonjun pouted and rubbed my stomach.
"You don't like it when I hug you?"
"..That's not it"
"That's not it, what-"
"..I just wanted to see your face"
silence
..Why, what. I turned my head to see Yeonjun, and I was having a hard time holding back laughter. I got upset for no reason, so I shook his arm and went into my room.
He followed me, this time facing me, and hugged me. It felt strange to be held without a word. Could it be this good?
...and was he originally this sturdy?
"You're so pretty, I'm speechless right now."
"Don't make me laugh"
"love you"
"..."
"Yeah? I love you-"
"..me too"
"Tell me too, sister."
"I love you too"
My slightly awkward answer was so adorable that she tightened her arms around me and hugged me tightly. It was a bit of a burden to hold my now-grown body, but she smiled and patted my back. I felt like I finally understood what it felt like to be loved.
As time passed, we lay in bed, hugging each other and sleeping, but I didn't realize how uncomfortable it was. Every single action of Yeonjun, such as putting his arm on my pillow and kissing my forehead when I tossed and turned, was so precious and exciting.
"I think I can sleep well today, Yeoju."
"Yeah...me too"
...What? Yeoju? Why are you speaking informally to me? I opened my closed eyes and slapped Yeonjun on the forehead. He laughed and snuggled into my arms. How dare this kid talk to my older sister.
I desperately tried to grab the hand that was already digging into my clothes, but it was no use. Hey, you said you could sleep comfortably just a moment ago!
"I'm really tired, Jun-ah... I couldn't even sleep last night."
"Yeah, I won't touch it. Sleep tight, sister."
"Oh, that's right... Take your hand away."
"No, go to sleep, you must be tired."
"I must be crazy. How can I sleep like this?"
***
Wow, I slept really well.
When I opened my eyes, I was sleeping very, very comfortably in Yeonjun's arms. I roughly straightened my messy hair, kissed Yeonjun's cheek while he was still sleeping, and then went out to the living room.
Hmm- it smells delicious.. Huh? Why does it smell delicious?
"Oh, you're awake? You were sleeping so soundly that I didn't wake you on purpose."
"AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!"
"Oh my, my eardrums are blocked."
"Soo, Subin, why are you here?"
"Beomgyu hyung and Kai hyung will be coming soon! Thank you for the side dishes you gave me last time.."
"Side dishes? Have you already eaten them all? I think they said to eat them within a week."
"Beomgyu hyung really liked it, didn't he? Seriously, I didn't even have much to eat before I lost everything."
"..No, that's fortunate..but why at this hour?"
"We should have a party! I'm so human!"
..Huh? A human?
_____________________________
Subin... this guy >_0