Withered - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Today is November 9, Yeah someone's birthday. So, here we are celebrating it just us, we don't make like a big party but just a simple dinner and a cake of course. Definitely, Dahyun is here bringing a bouquet of flower with him for her fiance, while Tzuyu refuses to come saying he's busy but my mom successfully kidnaps him and bring him here. Serve him right. After I heard what he had done and said to Sana unnie, I'm a pissed penguin. I mean, he just stole a kiss without her permission and it's not right. I like Tzuyu, it's not like I hate him but he's just so complicated and it's hard to read his expression, he somehow has the same personality like me, so I'm sure he's hiding something...his feelings?
All of us sitting at the dining table having our dinner with Sana unnie and Tzuyu sits across each other while I'm sitting on Sana unnie's left, in the middle of her and my mom. Thank goodness, Hyun is here to light up the mood, he's been talking nonstop with my parents. Then there's me, a living statue, I really can't with these couples. The one is raising while the other one doomed. I notice Tzuyu keep stealing glances at Sana unnie and she's able to appear completely emotionless. That's what everyone will see. Little did you know, she's trembling inside, maybe she wants to cry. And how do I know? Because I'm holding her hand just below the table to comfort her.
When Tzuyu just about to say something and I'm paying attention at him because after three hours he's finally going to open his mouth....but get interrupted when the bell ring. Geez.
"Who is it? Do you invite someone honey?" Mrs Myoui asks her husband which he responded by shaking his head.
"I'll get it, mother," Tzuyu says standing up from the dining table.
I'm not interested in who is it, so I just continue eating my food.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"H-hyung"
I lift my head as soon as Tzuyu's words reach my ear.
Hyung? Hyung. Wait Chaengie?
I avert my eyes to Tzuyu who's coming back and the guy standing behind him. Tzuyu moves to the right, revealing Chaengie smiling at us wearing a dark green shirt and black khaki pants.
I blink a few times making sure it's not a stupid dream or my stupid imagination. I could feel my heartbeat fast and my breathing becomes heavier just then I realize it really him. My parents are shocked by the sudden appearance. I mean who wouldn't? After almost a year, without any news from him but now he's here just like that. They hug each other and he congrats to Hyun and gives Momo unnie her present.  I still eyeing him until now from the moment he comes in. He meets my eyes and greets me like he's normally done. I'm upset.
"Hey, Mina~" He walks closer, stands behind the chair I sit on and slowly wrapping her arms around my neck, resting his chin on my left shoulder. I don't answer him but just fixing myself and eats my food. He awkwardly laughs then sits beside Tzuyu while my mom serves him a meal.
"So, what's with the weird beard?" Tzuyu asks. Although I'm not looking at him at the moment, I noticed that. Why doesn't he shave it? Is there no one taking care of him? Judging by his look, he gets more skinner. Does he eat well?
"I'm just a bit busy. Besides, I'll shave it tomorrow" He replies.
Are you that busy?! Until you forgot how to send messages?! To take care of yourself? Is it work that keep you busy or something else?!
I realized he's not eating but stare at me the whole time until I finished my food and walk upstairs.
"She means well" I could hear you dad.
"No, she doesn't" He sigh.
I heard mom telling him to chase after me, and he apologizes before start to calls me. I don't stop and slam my bedroom door right in front of his face. I don't know why we keep getting into fights lately, although it never stay long and I know this one is not an exception. I'm standing leaning against the door, breathing out a heavy sigh. Before I get to my bed there's a card sliding below the small gap between the floor and my bedroom door. I take it where it says, 'Hug time? T. T"
I could feel the corner of my mouth slide upwards, not responding I let myself fall and sits cross folded on the floor, leaned against the door. I bang my head on the door lightly as a reply and he knows what it means. He does the same thing, and I'm waiting for his explanation.
"I'm sorry, I..... Just have lots of work"
There's no response, nothing. We just stay like that for a couple of minutes, no sound but only laugh and voices from downstairs echoing the house.
I sigh and stands from my position then open the door in one swift, making him fall bumping hard on the floor. I smile and he chuckles slowly and warmly, a crook little laugh match his crook little smile. I squat as he stays lying on the floor, I reach his cheeks pinching it hard as he growls making ugly faces with his pursed lips. I release my hand and giggles as he rubs both his cheek with closed eyes, tears falling down and sniffles like a kid.
"It's hurtttt~"
Maybe I pinch too hard...
I smooth his hair to the side of his face exposing his forehead. I bend down and leave a long peck on it. I pull out and stand which he does the same. He looks at me touching his forehead where I leave a visible mark because of my lipstick.
He doesn't say anything neither I did. We only stare at each other then he gives me a smile that seems genuinely sweet with the right touch of shyness that somehow warms me. He spread his arms while shrugging a bit asking for a hug, I walk closer and hug him tight.
"I miss you," He says.
"I don't"
He only chuckles on my reply before pulling me closer smelling my natural jasmine scent. "Do you want to go out this Sunday?" He asks.
"Are you asking me on a date? " I tease him
"Haha, umm maybe"
"Well, I also want to ask something, so alright. But we need to take care of that beard first. You look messy right now. Where's the neat little cub go?" I teased. He laughs stretching his nape while I'm taking more like dragging him to the bathroom on the second floor.
"You don't have to, I can do it myself," He says persistent to go back to the living room bombarding me with lots of excuses.
"Wait here don't move," I order with a stern voice glaring at him. He sighs and obeys, quietly sits on the edge of the bathtub.
I go downstairs straight to the main bathroom in the house ignoring the others. I found a razor and some shaving foam in the bathroom cabinet, tucked well behind the boxes of toothpaste as if they hadn't been used in some time.
I rush back to Chaengie, putting the things on the side table near the towels. I take the folding chair, a deeply padded and upholstered with a wipe-clean finish and sits him on it. I fill a sink with warm water, got him to tilt his head back a little and then place a hot flannel over his chin.
"Is it your new dream to open a barbershop? What's the flannel for?" He laughs.
"I'm not sure" I confess. "That's what they do in the films. It's like babysitting"
He only smiles softly then shut his eyes. I roll up my sleeve and begin to lather the shaving foam over his chin, all the way up to his ears. Then I hesitate, the blade over his chin...
"Umm, I never did this before"
He settles back sighing. "And you just tell me now"
I begin to scrape gently at his skin with the blade. I work in silence, studying Chaeng's face. Never that I thought he grow up being this good looking boy but his condition right now gives me a mix of feelings. I could clearly see the mauve shadows that scream of nights and nights of lost sleep. His face begins to light and I could see how easy it must have been for him to attract someone.
The thought flash that we are never actually this close to each other. Not just physically but also emotionally close. Our faces only inches away. It's impossible to be this close to someone, to feel their skin under your fingertips, to breath in the air that they breathe out. By the time I reach his other ear, it's starting to feel awkward for me as if I just overstep an invisible mark.
I start a conversation because it just too much for me handling with the sudden awkwardness that rushes through me it feels like a very uncomfortable silence.
"Chaengie, do you remember the three promise?" I ask.
"Three promise? Yeah. Why" he answers still with closed eyes.
"Really?" I pondered, raising my brow doubting him.
He opens his eyes and raises his hand in line with his shoulder;
"First, I'll always protect you.
Second, I'll never hurt you.
Third, I'll love you and care for you as a friend and little brother.
That's it. I promised you when we were younger back then. Now, how about you? Huh? "
He remembers it huh. Should I say I forgot? He looks at me blinking few time as I'm trying to say something but end up looking like an idiot. No, I shouldn't lie. Then I raise my right hand and utters the words.
"First, I'll always there for you.
Second, I'll trust you.
Third, I'll love you as best friend and sister"
He smiles showing his dimple then lowering his head playing with his fingers. I turn around washing my hand and cleans everything. "You're not going to break it, right?" I ask not wanting to hear the answer.
"Yes"
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Chaeyoung parks his car and goes for a night walk at the park. Just walking to somehow relax his mind. The air is still heavy and thick clouds blotted out stars. As darkness surround him with every step is so soft and soundless surely calm him. Then something crosses his mind and he stops.
Three promise? Hah, I regret it, I shouldn't make it knowing I'm clearly can't keep it. I'm sorry cuz I think I broke it Mina ya................
The third promise.
He smiles bitterly then sits on the bench where they met for the first time rest his head staring at the dark sky. Notice there's no stars no moon and it's a cold night. He breathes out forming a smile despite the emptiness he feels.
"I'll give it a try. Please accept me"