“Will you stop filling the cart with those stupid cereals?!” I bellowed as I throw the immaturely designed box to Joon.

After 2 weeks,  Joon decided to irritate the hell out of me again by paying me a visit. I went grocery shopping since the cupboard having nothing but a can of lima beans is really dangerous when that guy’s in my house. Besides, How am I ever going to survive with that?

Unfortunately, my brat of a cousin tagged along.

“But I want the freebie!” The pouting guy caressed the box and placed it gently back to the cart. The dear thing had Pororo action figure included in it. And Joon seemed to plan getting all 15 collectibles.

“Don’t ever expect me to pay for that. My allowance is barely enough to help me survive for a week.” I grumbled and went to get him a separate cart.

“So, that’s why you’re short. Your parents don’t give you enough money to buy food.” Joon stated as a matter of fact.

“Stop connecting things with my physical appearance, jack-.” I shoved his cart to him and aimed a punch on his face to which he cowered—utilizing the cereal box as a shield.

I continued my grocery shopping and dumped packs of ramen and bags of chips in my cart. As I was about to reach for a chocolate, I heard Joon’s screeching voice scream at me, yet again.

“WOMAN! ARE YOU FOR REAL?!” He glared at my direction and then strode towards to me.

“What?” I asked with a brow raised.

“You eat all this junks everyday?” He raised a pack of ramen in front of my face as if to mock me. I snatched the thing away from his hold and placed it back in my cart.

“I have no choice. This is the only thing I can cook.” I shrugged and placed a few chocolate bars along with it.

“Gimme that.” Joon grabbed the cart away from me and placed it aside.

“What are you doing?” I placed my hand on my waist with knitted brows.

“Just let me.” Joon hooked his arm through mine and dragged me along as he placed unprocessed foods in the cart to which I have become unfamiliar to in the past few days.

When we came to the counter, he urged me to pay for everything that he placed inside the cart—including the cereals.

“I am not paying for your stupid cereals.” I said firmly with my arms crossed.

“Oh, yeah? Fine. Then don’t eat any of the dishes that I’m gonna either.” He taunted me.

I rolled my eyes at him defeatedly and fished my wallet out of my pocket. I slammed bills on the counter—not diverting my glare away from him.

~~~

“Do me a favor, get out of the kitchen.” Joon stomped his foot angrily and pointed the way out with a spatula.

“Okay, okay.” I raised my palms defensively and retreated to the living room. You see, I wouldn’t be so humble to get out unless the matter concerns cooking.

Apparently, Joon was aiming to teach me how to cook. As predicted, he failed.

After I poured a cup-full of chili powder in the bean sprout soup and splashed some boiling oil upon dropping the fried chicken—which by the way made Joon earn a burn on the back of his palm—I was sent out of the kitchen.

Oh well, serves me right.

I slouched comfortably on the sofa and picked up the remote to flip through the channels our cable service offers.   

As I scanned through the boring array of tv shows and whatnot, my eyes caught the sight of EXO in the news channel. The headline boldly read “FANS AWAITING EXO’s COMEBACK.”

I watched and listened intently as the reporter said that the group will be back to Korea in a matter of few days to prepare for their much awaited comeback.

My initial reaction? “Hwow mygohd. After one whole trudging year, Lee Soo Man had finally become more sensitive to bring his boys back to the planet.”

“I know right?” A voice so close to my face muttered excitedly.

I turned around to see Joon resting his chin on the sofa just an inch away from my ear.

“GAH. Quit acting like a creeper, Creeper!” I smacked him in the head and he returned the gesture.

“Food’s served, nuclear chef.” He spat back.

For the umpteenth time, I rolled my eyes at him and dragged my of the sofa to feed my growling stomach.

~

“You eat like a hyena.” He commented, scrunching his nose in disgust.

I looked up from my bowl and smirked at him. “It flows in the genes ‘cause actually, you look like one yourself.”

“Yah! Stop eating that food I made right now!” He tried to steal my food but failed at it.

I teasingly stuck my tongue at him. “Slow poke.”                                                                             

“Shortie!”

“Try stealing my food again and I’ll taser you.”

“I wouldn’t attempt. It’s bad to steal food from people who don’t have growth hormones.”

I slammed my chopsticks down and glared at him.

“That is soooooooooo below the belt.”

Joon squeaked cowardly at the tone of my voice and slowly shrunk in his seat. He planned to make an escape but I was too agile for him and blocked his pathway.

“Okay! Okay! I’m sorry ! I’m taking it back.” Joon raised his hands to his chest as he sweated like a pig.

“Too late!” I was quick to grab his sides and tackled him down immediately.

Joon squished my face against the floor while I surrounded my feet around his waist and held his hair tight around my fingers.

“You fight like a girl!” He screamed in a high-pitched tone.

“I AM a girl, Dumbo!” I struggled under him, slapping his face as fast and hard as I could.

“GAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!” he reacted and retaliated by twisting my ears.

“Stop it!” I growled.

“No, YOU stop it!”

“No, you first!”

“I won’t stop unless you stop first!”

“No way!”

“Yes way.”

“Just stop it, will you?”

“Never, freak!”

I used all my force to overturn him by twisting his arm behind his back. Joon moaned in pure pain—a sound of victory for me—and flapped like a fish. I sat on top of him and laughed evilly.

“HAHA! Who’s the loser now?” I stepped on him with my hands on my waist, laughing hysterically.

“Hyebin?” A stunned voice muttered my name.

My breath hitched as I saw my parents gazing at me with the most horrified expression ever. I hastily removed my foot from Joon and smiled innocently at them while fumbling with my fingers behind my back.

“Uncle, Auntie…” Joon acknowledge while coughing dramatically and pretending a broken arm.

“Joon! What happened?!” My mother asked with concern and approached him.

“Hyebin here twis-“

“W-We were just practicing judo!” I covered up immediately and elbowed Joon. I eyed him meaningfully sending messages of scorn and warnings. You dare tell the truth, I swear your head’s going off your body.

“Why, a kitchen’s not a place to be.” My mother eyed us suspiciously. I continued to play the innocent act and rocked on my heels back and forth. Joon on the other hand radiated revenge.

“Well, I hope you two were not fighting. I would have grounded you and asked Joon’s mother to have him under supervision too.” My father taunted us, wagging his finger in front of our faces.

I waved my hands in front of me, displaying a convincing smile “Absolutely not! We’re not fighting…”

Joon hooked his arm around my neck and ruffled my hair harder than what’s supposed to be a playful gesture “Come on, me? Fighting with my adorable, short cousin? “

I sneakily stepped on his foot and pinched his back “Of course, who would feel so hateful towards my monkey-like oppa?” take that, .

My parents measured us with their squinting eyes. My mom with her eyebrow raised, crossed her arms in front of her chest and tapped her foot impatiently.

We both dropped the act.

“He started it!” I pointed at my irritating cousin and stomped my foot. “He called me shortie!”

“No, you started it. Admit it; you intended evil upon me ever since I grabbed that box of cereal!” Joon clenched his fist and scrunched his nose.

We were nose to nose and I’m not willing to leave myself undefended neither do him.

“Break it up you two!” My mom dragged me away by the collar. I rolled my eyes as Joon smirked teasingly. This is so unfair.

“Joon, I’m calling your mother. I’ll tell her of your ill behavior. And you, Lee Hyebin, will be punished.”

“What?!” we both cried in desperate voices.

Joon clutched his hair “My mother will ground me. I can’t be grounded! I have a monthly screening coming up in the company.”  

“This is all your fault.” I blamed him.

“Is not!”

“Is yours!”

“Is not!”

“Is yours!”

“ENOUGH!” My father’s voice boomed. The both of us zipped our mouths shut and stood erect. We were both afraid of him. Who knows what the purposes of his pistol collection are.

“I want both to behave or I'll send you both out of this house's premises without food nor money. Understand?” He demanded.

Both of us were too astounded to answer. I can’t spend the night shivering on the pavement or chased by stray dogs or thugs. Just no.

“UNDERSTAND?!”

“Ne.” We answered in chorus.

The piercing silence was interrupted by the phone’s shrill ring. My mom came to get it.

“Kris?...looking for Hyebin?...Oh, I’m sorry. She can’t answer any calls right now… She just got groun-“

“MOM!” I ran to the living room where the phone was—rushing to at least save my dignity from Kris. However, my mom held up a finger as a warning. I deliberately sulked when she hung up the phone.

Great. Just great. That was Kris. For Pete’s sake. KRIS. WU. CALLING ME. Not being able to answer it .

“Young lady, you are not allowed to answer any phone calls. Your cellphone will be confiscated and for the next two weeks, you aren’t allowed to go anywhere but school and home.”

I grunted in irritation and stared daggers at Joon. He on the other hand was dealing with my dad, begging him not to tell auntie.

EXO’s coming back to the country and I was looking forward to hanging out with them again. I mean, I am a full-grown person who’s too old for being grounded.

I knoooooowww ;u;

I'm so sorry.

*bows a ton*

Thesis, tests, projects, and other school things are blocking my way.

I promise that the slave contract will take effect soon though.

Thank you for not unsubscribing.

I soo love you all.

-faye_lee