Exhaling a cloud of cigarette smoke, Jun-su started waving enthusiastically the moment he spotted Iseul from a distance.. On the other hand, Iseul, looked at him with pure annoyance... He made a firm decision to ignore him totally!
Trying to pass by silently, he was forced to stop when Jun-su spread his arms wide, blocking his path..
"You look extra exhausted today, dear burrotharr ! Is everything okay?" Jun-su blinked innocently, looking like an absolute ass to Iseul...
Ignoring him, Iseul tried to move to the right side, but Jun-su blocked him here too. Iseul gritted his teeth and moved to the left, Jun-su's left arm was there again..!
This time, Iseul tried to shove Jun-su's arm away in anger, but Jun-su simply draped his arm over Iseul's shoulder and started dragging his feet along with him. It was clear he had no intention of letting him go easily. Iseul honestly felt like crying.
"Why are you so shameless?"
He felt like pulling hair, not his own, but this lunatic's!
"And why are you so angry? Why are you always simmering?" Jun-su asked with absolutely fake affection, messing up Iseul's hair.
"Don't you touch my hair !" Iseul hissed, jumping back...
"Why are you so irritated with me? I just want to be friends with you, my sweet sweet 'almost' brother!" Jun-su wouldn't stop teasing. Then suddenly remembering something, he turned bit serious. He shot a sly look at Iseul's sulking face and smiled mischievously.
"Sia's grandpa is such a nice and cheerful man. Who did Sia take after? Certainly not you, right ?"
Iseul, who had vowed not to reply to his single word, suddenly froze. He shot a suspicious look at Jun-su.
"Where did you meet her grandpa ???"
"At her house! When I went to drop her off after school, her grandpa was already there. We even ate together..... and after dinner, Sia and I smoked together, hiding from her grandpa obviously! Even though he's so sick, his spirit was amazing. Sia should really learn something from him!" He was telling the story with great relish, and it wasn't even a lie, though Sia had cursed him many times behind the Grandpa's back, but Jun-su's thick skinned soul didn't cared at all.
After finishing his story, he looked into Iseul's empty eyes with a mocking smile. There was a unique pleasure in watching the fire of jealousy burn in the heart of someone you dislike..
"How was he.... Grandpa I mean... How was his health ??" Iseul swallowed one burning question and asked the second mosrt important one, his voice trembling..
A wicked, burning smile played on Jun-su's face.
"Just organs and bones! He's counting his last days.... but he's trying to live them to the fullest instead of staring at hospital walls." Jun-su turned a bit serious mentioning that cheerful old man.
"At first, he thought I was you..... seemed like he was missing you!" He messed up Iseul's hair once more. This time Iseul didn't say anything. He didn't even fix his hair. He just walked with his head down, his school bag feeling like a heavy burden on his shoulders. On the other side, Jun-su kept blabbering, but Iseul's mind was elsewhere..
This silence lasted until they reached their home. As usual, Iseul showered and had dinner, but immediately after, he stepped out again. He intended to just walk, but his feet instinctively led him toward Sia's house. Today, he wasn't in a trance. He was in a state of sheer restlessness. He clearly watched himself walking toward that 'House of Horrors' with his eyes wide open. His heart was thumping slowly and painfully. On his way to Sia, He looked back several times to see if Jun-su's ghost was following him. Thankfully, that lunatic had left him alone for a while.
Stopping outside that haunted house in the dark, lonely corner of the neighborhood, he ruthlessly pushed away a flood of horrific memories. He didn't want to run away in fear. Not tonight. If he ran today, he might never find the courage again.
Gathering all his strength, he pressed the doorbell. A moment later, Sia opened the door, looking stunned.
She wouldn't have been this shocked if the entire BTS group was on her doorstep on kneels, with marriage ring in their hands.... She was so sure Iseul would always stay at least ten steps away from this house. But there he was..! Right Infront of her. Standing on the porch, near the main door.
"Iseul....? You're here??" she managed to say, her voice was small and surprised.
"Yeah, I.... I came to see... Grandpa! Jun-su told me he's home...." He rubbed his neck, looking deeply conflicted. "Did he... did he ask about me?" He asked softly, stealing a glance at her before looking away.
"Yes, he did.... but you don't worry. I'll handle him." Sia felt really good, seeing his concern for her grandpa..
"What will you handle?" he asked, looking distracted.
She laughed softly, feeling confused....
"Just that.... there's no place for us in each other's lives anymore..!" Her voice shook slightly in the middle.
"Is being your friend a requirement to meet Grandpa?" He raised an eyebrow, sounding a bit offended.
"Yes, it is! And anyway, Grandpa is sleeping right now. So...."
"So....? that Jun-su.... is he your friend? Why did he meet Grandpa?" Iseul didn't like her answer. His tone sharpened.
"He's not my friend, but he hit it off with Grandpa..." Sia said seriously.
After staring at her blankly for a minute, Iseul started to say something, then pressed his lips together. He opened them again, then clenched his fists in frustration. Sia watched his every move closely and sighed...
"Iseul...! I was the one who did wrong. I should be the one ashamed. Just come out of this guilt. None of what happened was your fault. If I were in your place, I probably would have done the same!" Placing her hands on his arms, she tried to smile, but couldn't..
"No! If you were in my place, you would have wiped my tears, listened to me, and believed in me....!! and even after all of that shit, you would never have left me alone. I know! " He spoke with such conviction that Sia was momentarily silenced. She looked at him, lost in thought, and then gave a faint, faded smile.
"Iseul, you don't need to worry about me! Jun-su is just a boy with a mischievous, childish mind. He, or anyone else, cannot harm me! At least 'you' should be sure of that. I can protect myself!" At her assertive tone, Iseul just nodded with a weak smile. Then, he looked straight into her eyes and said something that stunned her.
"Sia ! can I hug you?" It was such a sudden and unexpected request that Sia couldn't speak for a few moments.
"A hug?" she asked, still shocked. In response, Iseul just nodded vigorously.
Sia looked at him with confused eyes. When they were friends, this Coward boy was hesitant to even touch her shadow. He used to make excuses to stay away. And now, when they decide to become strangers, he was melting with concern and asking for a hug ??? A hug !?!?
For a split second, Sia wanted to turn around and shut the door in his face, but seeing his hopeful eyes, she hesitantly nodded.
Now the situation was that, permission had been granted, but Iseul didn't know what to do next.. Should he hug her straight? Put his arms under hers, or over her shoulders? Or just pat her back with one arm around ?? Lost in this confusion, he dragged his foots, slowly closed the distance. Sia could hear her own heartbeat. She gripped the edges of her sweater. Despite the cold breeze, sweat broke out on her forehead. Just as she was about to snap at him and go back inside, Iseul gently pulled her into his arms.
Sia's grip on her sweater loosened. After a moment of shock, her hands eventually rested as fists on Iseul's rugged back.
The wind suddenly grew intense. Sia's hair scattered over her back, blew across Iseul's face. Iseul took a deep breath instinctively. His eyes closed on their own. "Plum Blossoms!" It felt as if the scent of plum blossoms was woven into Sia's soul. From this close, he could smell and recognize it perfectly. The same faint, sweet and sour scent that used to linger in his house for months was now radiating from Noe Sia.
"Sia...!" his soft voice reached her on the wind.
"Hmm ??"
"Are you crying ??"
"You're crying too !!" she said, clearing her throat to swallow the lump of tears.
"I'm just a crybaby and a coward anyway. Crying is my habit," he said honestly.
Sia smiled gently. "Maybe your cowardly shadow has rubbed off on me too."
This time, both of them laughed softly and, while laughing, slowly pulled apart. For some reason, they both avoided making eye contact.
"Sia, you...."
"Iseul! I'm fine!! Don't worry. No one can do anything to me, and certainly not that stupid childish brother of yours. Secondly, I have learned it.... A bit late.... but I've learned to deal with my problems alone !" Sia said, emphasizing every word before he could start.
"Still..... if you can't do it alone, call me. This time, I will listen to you, and I will believe you!" Guilt spoke in his voice once more.
The thought of how Sia had spent 'that' whole night alone in this house after he ran away, often kept him restless.
"Think carefully, I could use this offer in wrong way..!" Sia said playfully to lighten the mood.
"Am I even capable of being useful to anyone ??" he sighed, sounding fed up with himself.
"Stop thinking of yourself as inferior and helpless.. Your performance in school has become so brilliant in such a short time. A bright future awaits you..... just keep moving forward. No need to look back!" Pressing his arm gently, she turned away. She had just crossed the threshold of the main door when Iseul called her again.
"Ara and everyone else, they are my friends, while you....." He stopped mid sentence, overwhelmed. He didn't even know what he wanted to say.... just an incomplete thought on his lips, and he shared that incompleteness with her. Now what ???
"I'm your, and you are my, crime partner!" Her playful reply left Iseul stunned for a moment. The next second, he covered his face and burst out laughing.
Sia, who thought he would run away in fear, was surprised by his laughter and the very next moment she shut the door.
It was a fourteen years old friendship! No matter whatever kind of friendship is was, it existed! For fourteen years, they were each other's only friends.. They were confidants..
Iseul's concern for her was one thing. He was certainly missing her..... She would never forget him either! But distance was necessary..!!
A body was still buried in the backyard. The truth could come out at any time, anywhere. She didn't want the needle of suspicion to ever point toward Iseul..
She made a decision! after today, she would never open this door for Kang Iseul ever again !!
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