Withered - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Ring
Ring
I open my eyes from the restless nap, a failed attempt to divert my attention from this pain. I groan and change my position on the bed, laying on my stomach. The ninja seems to have fun stabbing my inner wall and violently ripping my abdomen. The ringing sounds linger, adding pain to my nausea and headache. I bury my head on my soft pillow whilst my hand flopped to the bedside table, searching for my phone.
"Hello" I uttered, completely uninterested.
[Mina!! Let's go to the cinema Fantastic Beast just come out]
That's my Cub chirping excitedly. I can imagine his wide grin behind the phone but I guess, it won't stay any longer. I sigh, the sudden guilt arises and sits on my chest "I want to but I can't" I murmur.
[Huh?]
"My bloody ninja come to visit for this month. My stomach hurts really bad"
[But it's a big hit movie. You'll like it!]
"You can call Tzuyu to accompany you and tell me about it later"
[Why would I go with him? I wanted to go with you. 'Cmon It'll be epic, you're a Potterhead aren't you]
"I am really not well, Chaeng-ah~" I plead cutely, dragging my soft voice to a whisper, hoping he will understand and let me go, like how he usually does.
[Alright. Bye]
"By----"
My brow arc to the beeping sound. He ends the call, even before I finish my sentence. Now, he's sulking. I shrug and place the phone back, I'll just make up to him later. Urrg I hate this thing, sometimes I hope I'm born as a man whenever this serial killer attacked. I change my position again, tossing left and right before finally curling into a ball with hands wrapping around my stomach. Soon, the ninja has taken some time for rest. I breath out slowly, it seems like forcing myself to sleep ain't working at all, hence I find myself roaming my eyes around.
My room is pretty simple, too spacious for my liking but that's fine. It mostly coloured in sky-blue and white with beautiful murals on the wall, hand-painted by the Cub himself; a dancing ballerina in a pink tutu and a tree with every colour of spring leaf imaginable. Over the headboard and some on my bedside table, smiled black and white photographs of myself as a child with my family, the Son's, of course, a bunch of pictures with my best friend.
I'm just about to fall asleep when there's a tap on my door, trying to ignore it but then it followed by a rhythmic knock. The only one who did that is none other than the Cub. Confused, I open the door then there he is in a black and red flannel tucked in his ripped jeans, holding a plastic bag. He gives me that boring look before he pushes me aside and walks himself in. I hum and close the door, trailing him.
"Chaeyoungie, how about the movie? I thought--"
"Here, didn't feel like going alone" He puts the plastic bag on my desk before he turns around to face me."Ginger tea, some fruits and--"
"Chocolate?" I cut in while squealing hard.
"Yup"
I rush towards my desk, taking out the chocolate and eat it right away. "Thanks, buddy" I smiled. He nods then sits on my bed watching me finishing all the things he had bought for me. Though my attention is fully on this snack, I could feel Chaengie's eyes rest on me not cold hostility or what but the warmth of a friend. The effect is soft and inviting. "Gosh, how am I going to eat peacefully when you keep staring at me Chaengie," I chuckle and glance at him. He is not quite smiling but tilting as if they mean to. When our eyes meet, he quickly looks away and coughs.
"You are turning like Momo noona, slow down or you'll choke," He says, fixing himself then play his phone, waiting for me. When I'm done, he takes the leftover and cleans everything although I argue that I can do it by myself but the stubborn Cub he is, keep insisting and asks me to take rest. Giving up here I am on laying on my bed staring at the ceiling before again he knocks on my door and gets in.
"It's getting late already," He says while wearing his backpack.
"You're going home?" Isn't that too quick? he doesn't stay for a long time like he usually does and we barely talk tonight. He comes to me and I'm ready for our usual goodbye greetings but instead, I'm met by a poke on my cheeks. I pout, glaring at him.
"Hum? Do you need anything else?"
Obviously, "Nothing" I murmur, he forgot about it, I guess.
"Ok then, call me when there's anything bye!" He stands and waves his hand before disappearing.
I lean against the headboard, sighing. Hah, he forgot. Now I don't feel so good
"Mina!!"
I just lost in thought when Chaeyoung suddenly barges into my room, startling me to death."Wha-What!?" I impulsively yell. He smiles and walks closer to me then sits on the edge of the bed wrapping his arms around my waist. I unconsciously grin and respond to the hug.
"You almost forgot," I scold hitting his head lightly.
"I didn't, I just want to test you" He replies laughing.
"Geez"
*  *  *  *
"Good morning mom" I descend the staircase from the second floor and walks downstairs to the kitchen, greet my mom and getting ready for school.
"Good morning honey" My mom reply and plant a kiss on my cheeks.
"So...whats for breakfast?" I get near her smelling the scent of yeast or burnt sugar.
"Apple pie, your father had been asking me to bake it. Oh! And where's your sister? Go and wake them up, breakfast ready in a few minutes"
"I just woke them, still gettin' ready I guess, need a hand? Ah nevermind I'll burn something again"
My mom just laughs at me and asks me to prepare the table. I couldn't help but trailing my mom, trying to learn how things going. Since I still have time left, I try to bake my own pie but nahh, I just get myself dirty with all the powder and of course a burnt pie. My mom makes some awful joke about my bad cooking skill but ends up teaching me who's struggling alone, with my roll-up sleeve and high bun trying to remove the broken eggshell from the bowl.
I spend a great deal of time in the kitchen, with mom who has educated me how to use the sandstone grain mill, and mix the ingredients for various pastries and pie, and the correct way to knead the dough, and bake bread. I whisk and measure precisely based on my mom's guide, mix and match the ingredients like professional puzzles gamers.
Finally! Yeey after a few tries, I did it. Geez, that take me some time.
"Strawberry pie? Huh," My mom asks, wiggling her brows. I ignore the remark, glaring at my mom who instantly raises her hands and back off, chuckling. I avert my eyes back to the pie, smiling at myself while I decorated it with more strawberry on top. Not so long before I heard mom chirping from behind. "You're my honeybunch, sugar plum, pumpie umpy umpkim, you're my sweetie pie. You're my cuppy cake, gumdrop, snookum snookums you're..the berry of my eyes~" She sings. I snap my head to the side, witnessing my mom giggling then slowly walks away. "Aigoo, my daughter is in love and I like it"
"Mom! It's not like that okay" I whisper-yell not wanting the chatty sisters to know about this or they'll mock me every second of my day. I heard another continuous laugh from my mom that's fading away. I scoff and carefully put the pie in the fridge. Indeed, I baked it for him because he had taken care of me so.. I guess it just my way to say thanks.
After wearing my uniform, we all gather in the dining room next to the kitchen. We finished our breakfast and most of the pie ends up in Momo unnie stomach.
She really eats a lot.
"Wahhh, what is this strawberry pie! Mom why do you keep it here and not on the dining table, I almost miss i--" Momo unnie suddenly shouts as she gets to the fridge to get her soda then sees my precious pie. I choke on my food and stands.
"Unnie!!" I rush towards her and push her a bit too hard until she falls on her butt. I laugh awkwardly and take the pie, put it in a box then help Momo unnie while she keeps babbling something to me.
Well, it's her fault tho.
My sister and I bid our goodbye to mom. Dad will drive the squirrel and the big eater because they're going to the same school. While me--
"Penguin! Hurry up!"
The Cub usually will wait outside and we're going together. He sticks her head out his car window, honking honking. I got no idea why he buys the blue Toyota pickup car while his brothers buy a sports car. He said it made him look manlier and cooler, I have no comment on that.
"You should come early and have breakfast with us," My dad says walking towards his black Mercedes with unnies trailing backwards.
"I woke up late today father haha, did you watch the match last night? Liverpool won it! I'll wait for the shoe father" The Cub shouts, half celebrating. They must be putting a bet, I'm certain and dad lose it.
"Oh really! Your mother won't let me watch it till the end. He pulls out the plug haha. Send me the shoe picture, I'll buy it"
"Hahaha, thanks, father. We'll get goin' now, not wanting to get scold"
"Take care of Mina Chaeng"
Geez, does dad have to say that. I'm a grown-up girl. I can take care of myself. Besides, I'm the one who always has to deal with this childish kid.
"I will father" He replies.
*  *  *  *
I enter the classroom with Chaeng beside me, still yawning. I take my jacket off and place it in the locker room then back to my seat. As minutes passed, more students arrive. The ceaseless buzzing of the classroom and the unlimited amount of energy the students contained increased which would be a rare sight if the class is under teacher's supervision. I glance at Chaengie who's slump down in his chair, wearing earplugs.
I tap his forearms, and pull off his left earbuds "Changie we're going to have a test, aren't you preparing?" I ask. Guess he slept late because of the match.
"I'm sleepy~~"
I'm about to say something but the teacher arrives and begin the class, as expected he really doesn't care at all. Tsk tsk. Ten minutes left before we hand our paper, Changie throws a scramble paper at me. I look at him mouthing 'what?' He smiles widely and blinks his eyes rapidly while pouting. I know what he wants.
"Which question?" I whisper
"1 to 35"
"That's everything, Chaeng"
"Huh, yeah hehe"
Thank god it's an objective question. I write the answer on a small piece of paper, fold and tuck it in my pen's clip, flick the pen towards Chaengie's table then he will pick it up as if it was his pen.
"Do you know any answer at all?" I mouthed at him who's busy jotting down.
"Yeah, my name and roll number" He whispers.
I secretly laugh trying to not make any sound. Though he's smart, he's super lazy, always said that it's tiring to use his brain for a useless exam.
The bell rings.
"That was a nice sleep, " Chaengie yawn while stretching out his arms.
"It's lunchtime, let's go!" I drag him to the rooftop where we always hang out, taking my lunch box and demand him to wait for me as I run to the cafeteria to take the pie. Google said to keep it refrigerated although they also said that it's okay for fruit pies but still just in case. I run back to the rooftop while Chaeng eyeing me weirdly.
"Why are you running like a mad person?" he asks as soon as I sit across him.
"Nothing," I shake my head, opening the lid of my lunch box, I ask "Uhm do you bring your lunch?"
Please say no
"Nope, I'm planning to bu--"
"Here" I cut in, handing the box of pie.
"Oh wow! What's this? Woah a strawberry pie!!" He quickly eats and munching it slowly then gobbles up.
"Is it okay?" I ask a bit insecure since he doesn't say anything.
"Ummmmm It's..." He drags his words then looks at me knitting his brows.
Please
Please
"Super-duper delicious"
I bite my smile, looking down as I poke my meal."If you choke I'm going to leave you," I say and try to finish the lunch that mom prepared. Delicious and tender teriyaki chicken meatballs packed along with steamed rice, ham fruits, egg, and crab salad. I love my mom but she always cooked me food beyond my capacity.
"Mother baked it? Tell her it's really tasty"
I raise my head and smile "Yeah, mom baked it. Good to know you like it"