“Soobin ah!” A middle aged woman shouted her daughter’s name in the back yard to find her daughter nowhere in sight.

“Soobin!” She called again, but there was no movement from the surrounding.

She ran to the house next door and knocked on the door to reveal a boy in his teenage years.

“Donghae, Have you seen Soobin? She isn’t anywhere in the house. Did she come over by any chance?” She asked and Donghae shook his head.

“I’ll help you look for her.” Donghae said as the both of them headed in different directions to look for this little girl.

At the other side, a little girl was sitting on the bench, hugging her fish plush toy and crying. The place was deserted as it is already close to evening time and almost everyone was home, getting ready to enjoy a scrumptious dinner.

“Omma~” She whispered softly, asking for her mother.

“Soobin! Soobin!” Someone was calling her name from a distance. She didn’t hear it as she was so scared. She was alone and afraid. She shouldn’t have wandered off alone. She should have listened to her mother and stay in the vicinity. But as curiosity kills the cat, she couldn’t help but wonder what was beyond the gates of her house.

“Soobin!” The voice got louder and louder, heavy running footsteps could be heard and it was approaching her.

Upon realizing someone was calling out to her, she stopped crying immediately and turned around to find someone she knows.

“Soobin! Here you are!” The male carried her in his arms as she hugged onto him tightly.

“Oppa!” She cried as he brought her back home.

When her mother saw her, she couldn’t help but shed tears of joy.

“Thank you so much Donghae.” Mrs. Park said and Donghae smiled.

"I'm glad I could be of help to you." Donghae said as he took Soobin's small hand. 

"Listen to your Omma ok, Oppa has to go home." Donghae said before she gave him a kiss on his cheeks. 

"Bye bye Oppa!"

“Where did you go? Omma was so worried.” Mrs. Park said and Soobin kept really quiet, knowing she was wrong.

At that time, Soobin was 6 years old and Donghae was 18 years old.

A year later…

“Don’t cause trouble ok?” Donghae said as he looked at Soobin who was about to burst into tears.

“Donghae ah, You’re going to be late. You cannot afford to be late on your reporting day of national service.” Mr. Lee said.

“I know Appa. Just a minute more.” Donghae said and he turned his attention back to Soobin.

“When oppa is not around, you take care ok? Oppa will be back soon, so Soobin, listen to Omma and wait for Oppa ok?” He said and Soobin nodded her head. He ruffled her hair before stepping into his father’s car.

She looked at the car disappearing, getting smaller and smaller as it went further. She waved and waved till it disappeared from her sight. She turned around and went to hug her omma.

“Oppa is gone!” She cried as her Omma carried her into the house.

“It’s ok Soobin ah. Donghae Oppa will come back. He ask you to wait for him right?” Soobin’s Omma said and Soobin nodded before she stopped crying.

“Omma, When will Donghae Oppa come home?” Soobin asked.

“He’ll be home soon.” Soobin’s Omma said.

Every single day, after school, Soobin would sit at her room window after she’d done all her work and wait to see if Donghae’s coming back. Every single day she would wait.

“When is Oppa coming home?” Soobin asked every single day.

“Soon Soobin ah. Soon.” That’s what her Omma would say every day.

After 3 months, Donghae came home every weekend and he would play with Soobin for a day as Soobin couldn’t not stay away from him.

“Soobin ah! Time to go home!” Soobin’s Omma called Soobin when it was close to evening.

“A little while more omma!” She said.

“Soobin ah. Go home for dinner. Don’t make your Omma worried ok? Oppa will play with you again next week.” Donghae said as she pouted and nodded her head.

Soobin listens to Donghae more than anyone else. Whatever Donghae said, she would do. She has never disagreed with what he said once.

A few years later, Soobin was going home from school when she was stopped by a few guys.

“Hey pretty girl, where are you going all alone, come play with us.” One of them said. Soobin was so scared. She backed away and broke into a run, but as she was small sized and not a very good runner, they caught up with her.

“Where are you going?” Another asked as he grabbed onto her arm.

“Let her go.” A man said and when the group of boys saw an adult, they let her go and ran off.

“Soobin, are you alright?” He asked as he extended his hand out to her.

“Oppa!” She exclaimed as the guy welcomed her with open arms.

“Miss me?” He smiled and she looked up at him.

“You already finished military service?” She asked as she still hugged him who was wearing the green uniform.

“Yes, I’ve finished. To think I thought you could stay out of trouble but the moment I’m out, I see you in trouble.” He said and she smiled cheekily at him.

“Sorry Oppa.” She pouted as he ruffled her hair.

“Come on let’s go home or else your Omma would be worried.” Donghae said as they walked home together, hand in hand.

For the past 3 years when Donghae was in the military service, Soobin miraculously stay out of trouble. Her life was really smooth sailing and she never caused any trouble to anyone. Her results were really good and she could balance music and studies together.

“Oppa, you’ll be home from now on right?” She looked up at him whom she thought he was really tall.

“Of course. I’ll be next door everyday from now on so when you need Oppa, come and look for me ok?” He bend down to her level and spoke to her in a gentle tone.

“YAY!” She jumped in joy as the continued making their way back home.

“Oh Donghae! You’re back! Welcome back!” Mrs. Park greeted him as he smiled and handed Soobin back to her mother.

“I’m glad to be back to Mrs. Park.” He smiled.

“Go on home. You’re mum must be anticipating your return. Thank you so much for bringing Soobin home. Did she bring you trouble again?” She asked and he shook his head before bidding her goodbye and walked back home.

“Bye bye oppa!” Soobin waved as she stood beside her mother, holding her hand. Donghae turned around and waved her good bye as he walked into his porch.

Now, Soobin is 10 while Donghae is 22.

6 years later…

Soobin’s POV

I stretched as I woke up, fumbling with my phone on the bedside table, looking at what time it was. I pried opened my eyes slightly and look at the time. It was 7am. My eyes fluttered close again, but in a matter of seconds, it shot open and I jumped out of bed, rushing into the toilet, washing up and getting ready for School.

“Omma! Why didn’t you wake me up for school?” I exclaimed as I walked down the steps two by two.

“Keep your voice down. As a girl, you should be more demure. Not screaming your lungs out.” Appa said as he looked up from his paper.

“I did. But you didn’t budge at all.” Omma said as she poured out coffee for Appa.

“I’ll skip breakfast. I’m running late! Bye Appa, Bye Omma!” I exclaimed as I took a piece of toast and held it in my mouth as I rushed out of the house, wearing my shoe and running at the same time.

I ran as fast as I could, but I didn’t manage to catch the bus. There, I know I’m doomed as I’m definitely late. I sat down at the bus stop waiting for the next bus to come. I then heard a horn of a particular car and I looked up to See Donghae Oppa smiling at me asking me to hop on. Today might just be my lucky day.

“Oppa! You’re just in time!” I exclaimed as he chuckled and drove off.

“I expected you to be late when I didn’t see you leave your house when I came back from my jog.” He said and in no time I was in school.

“Thank you Oppa!” I said and closed the car door, to get many envious stares from schoolmates. Since I just came out from one of the latest model of Audi. Donghae Oppa is now considered as a CEO since he own 3 chain stores which cater to teenagers like me. His stores has the trendiest clothes than you can ever find and what’s better is that sine the boss is so handsome, he gets many people patronizing his store so that they can take a glimpse of him.

“Your Donghae oppa drove you to school again?” Victoria, my classmate aka my table mate aka my best friend teased.

“Thanks to him I’m early for school. If not for him I would have been late again.” I said as we made our way into our class.

“He’s not even your real brother and he’s so nice to you. My elder brother couldn’t even be bothered with me.” She said as we walked to our seats.

“Jealous?” I asked.

“You have your Donghae Oppa I Have my Nichkhun Oppa. Why should I be?” She said and we both burst out laughing.

“Speaking of Nichkhun, where is he?” I asked.

“He went to look for the teacher. Something about class matters.” She said. Nichkhun is our class President. He’s not just our class president. He’s smart, handsome, athletic and speaks good Korean. Nichkhun is not Korean. He’s from Thailand. His parents moved to Korea a few years ago.

I remember when Nichkhun was 13, that was when he just came to Korea, he was so shy, sitting in the corner of the class. No one wanted to be his friend because he wasn’t Korean. However, at that time, Victoria was the only one who became his friend. Victoria herself wasn’t Korean as well, maybe that’s why she approached him because she must have felt the same way.

However, Nichkhun learnt everything really quickly. In a year, his Korean became quite fluent and he aced every subject. Girls started to like him after realising he looked really cute however, they’re too late in realizing that because his heart has been taken by Victoria.

“YAH!” I heard a loud exclaim and everyone turned around. However, without turning around Victoria and I know who it is. Kim Haemin, she must be fighting with Eunhyuk again. The back door flung open as Haemin stormed into the class and took her seat at the table beside us. Her face was really black. Then the back door opened again to reveal Eunhyuk, walking with his head hung low and his cheeks slightly red as he took his seat beside Haemin.

Immediately, Haemin turned towards us, Back facing Eunhyuk. Victoria looked at me asking me what happened but I shrugged as well. Nowadays, the both of them seem to always be fighting.

Eunhyuk and Haemin are currently dating. Both of them have totally different personalities, but their personalities totally cover each other’s flaws.

I looked at Haemin and saw that she is really angry and Eunhyuk was just staring at her back with a sad face. Had had happened again? The other time, when Haemin saw Eunhyuk talking to the dance club vice president, which is a very beautiful girl from the neighbouring class, Kwon Yuri, she screamed at him before storming off, causing a huge commotion in school after that.

Eunhyuk is Dance club President and that time he and Yuri were discussing about assembly showcase and Haemin saw. Sometimes, haemin is a little hot tempered and never think before doing things. However, Eunhyuk never blames her.

Throughout the entire morning period, she didn’t even look at Eunhyuk. She pryed her table away from his, having a slight gap between their tables.

The lesson before Lunch break was PE. I guess I can use this chance to ask him since Haemin would never want to be near Eunhyuk. When we were in the gym, she came to me as I expected.

“Soobin-ah, can I change partner with you?” She said seriously as I nodded my head, having her to partner Minhyuk.

Guess it’s time to action!

End of Soobin’s POV