Lovely Day - APink

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“Ah Aerin,” Luhan called, catching the attention of the girl just as she pulled the handbrake, stopping the truck just in front of her house. Aerin looked at him in query afterwards. “Your dad went to Seoul again this afternoon, but I don’t really know when he’ll be back.”

“Is that so? Can’t be helped then.” Aerin shrugged, not feeling even a pinch of surprise nor disappointment. She has stopped expecting anything from her father anyway, so knowing of things like that couldn’t faze her anymore.

Tilting his head towards his older brother, Sehun then gave out a disconcerted look and pointed to Aerin. “If that’s the case, then Aerin would be alone in the house.”

“Let’s just have dinner here then,” Luhan suggested, unbuckling himself from the front seat as Sehun did the same before going down. “I mean, mom and dad are probably out as well.”

“Yeah, I think that’s a good idea.” Sehun nodded, following after Luhan, but not before remembering Aerin who was still seated inside the truck, looking at them in disbelief. “Aerin, come on!”

I really don’t have any control over my life. With a sigh, Aerin then shook her head in amusement and alighted the truck, following behind Sehun who kept on insisting that they should eat beef instead of fish, which was Luhan’s choice.

Although Sehun did pretty much all he can just to force Luhan to change their dinner, the older male’s decision was already set. For the past few days, he knew that Aerin had been eating beef everyday because the stock in their fridge decreased greatly. Aerin was a fan of beef, but even so, he wouldn’t allow her to get lack of nutrients. The girl was already very thin, and Luhan won’t allow her to get anymore thinner. No, he absolutely won’t allow that, so he made a mental note to himself to stock up more vegetables and seafoods, rather than beef and desserts. Heegun and Minae entrusted Aerin to him anyway.

“Well, aren’t you the nutritionist,” A disgusted look appeared before Luhan, owned by his younger brother, Sehun. The latter wasn’t really fond of seafoods, but it didn’t matter to the older male. He needed it as well anyway. “And I thought you were taking a major in photography, not Nutrition.”

As expected, the usual peaceful dining room of the Kang’s house was replaced by the noisy and petty arguments of the Oh brothers. It was a first for Aerin, seeing such a scene before her, and she has to admit, that it was quite amusing. For the first time, she thought that it felt better to be in that kind of atmosphere, rather than the one where she used to eat alone. She has always been an only child, so she didn’t have someone to bicker with over some trivial things—her arguments with her mom weren’t counted. Luhan and Sehun might not be blood-related to her, but she still felt a tad warmer. She felt like after a long time, the lonely dinner table got lively again. She didn’t mind though, if it were to happen a second time.

“Okay, I’m done with the dishes!” Sehun chirped, wiping his hands dry with the towel hanging on the wall. He then walked towards the couch where Aerin and Luhan were, a dissatisfied look plastered on his face. “Hyung, you should be the one that washed the dishes, not me.”

“I already cooked dinner and you still expect me to wash the dishes?” Luhan raised an eyebrow, standing up from his seat with crossed arms. “I think you’re forgetting the fact that I’m the oldest here.”

“But you’re forgetting that I’m not the youngest here as well,” Sehun retorted, his lips contorting as he pointed to Aerin who only watched them with a calm exterior, hiding the amusement she was having. “Aerin is.”

Looking at Aerin, Luhan and Sehun were met by her curious gaze, obviously having no plans in interfering in their small argument. Pondering for a couple of seconds, Luhan then came to a decision as he huffed and turned back to his younger brother. “Fine then, you and I will take turns in washing the dishes.”

“Now that’s more like it.” Sehun grinned slyly, wriggling his eyebrows towards Aerin as the girl just shook her head. He didn’t really intend to make Aerin be the one to do the dishes, he was actually fine with everything. He just wanted to annoy his brother, but it turned out to be better than he had expected. “But we should go now. It’s getting dark and we still have a long way to walk.”

Hearing Sehun’s remark, a confused expression then appeared on Aerin’s face as she stood up and raised an eyebrow. “You’re going to walk back?”

“Well, hyung didn’t bring any car so…” Sehun shrugged, pulling his bag and slinging it on his arm whereas Luhan just nodded.

Aerin then gnawed on her bottom lip. The prospect of the two walking in the middle of the dark night wasn’t really appreciated by her. They might be boys, and the streets of Bansong-dong’s fairly peaceful, but her conscience wouldn’t really be at ease. Thinking hard about it, Aerin doesn’t have anywhere to go. She won’t be using her truck, and Luhan’s always at their place. He’s always here anyway. “Just use mine. Besides, Sehun still needs to practice for his licensure exam which is in two days.”

“You sure?” Luhan asked, turning to Aerin, who only nodded in response. He didn’t want to borrow Aerin’s truck, but it’ll be harder if they go home by feet. In the end, he turned to Sehun and nodded at him as the latter smiled.

“Thanks Aerin!” Sehun grinned, clutching onto his bag’s straps as the girl just smiled. The three of them then walked towards the front door just right in front of the truck itself. “I’ll be sure to take care of it well. Your dad must really love you so much since he even had your name engraved on the door. That’s like, so cool!”

Aerin felt awkward all of a sudden. Not because of Sehun himself, but because of his words. She didn’t get annoyed though, neither did she particularly like it. She just wasn’t used to hearing things like that coming from others, and she understood why Sehun said that. The boy didn’t really know much of her familial situation, so it was just an innocent remark with no ill intent.

Even so, she just pressed her lips into a thin line and nodded lazily. She didn’t really know how to respond, and seeing the knowing look on Luhan’s face already reassured her of everything. “We’re going now, Aerin. Be sure to lock the doors, and don’t answer anyone since I have a spare key with me anyway.”

“If I were another person, I’d really think you’re a stalker.” Sehun commented, earning him a light nudge and a scowl from Luhan. He then chuckled afterwards and got inside the truck, waving to Aerin who was standing beside the front door. “Thanks Aerin! See you!”

Giving back the smile that Sehun showed her, Aerin waved her right hand a bit and nodded, watching as her white ford zoom off into the distance. Take care, Luhan… and Sehun.

It was already night time and seeing as her father won’t be back anytime soon, Aerin quickly followed after Luhan’s words, locking herself alone inside the silent house. For other people, one would possibly be scared at the situation, being alone inside a huge house with only the darkness of the night and the cool winds of the summer filling the atmosphere. Aerin wasn’t one though, for all her life, every summer, she has always been in such a setting. It wasn’t something that she could change easily though, that’s why she didn’t bother anymore. It was already normal for her anyway, that she already dropped the thought of even complaining. Besides, she liked the serenity. Being alone may not be favoured by her, but the peacefulness surely overshadows that factor.

However, it was when she stepped foot inside her own room that the quiet night that Aerin was expecting, suddenly got disturbed by the sound of her phone ringing. Looking over at it in curiosity, a big smile suddenly tugged at Aerin’s lips as she answered the video call in no time. “Amber, finally!”

“My baby Aerin, I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get back to you sooner!” Amber’s smiling face suddenly appeared on the screen, causing for Aerin to spazz internally at the sight, unable to believe that she was finally speaking to her best friend after what seems like forever.

“It’s okay.” Aerin said, plopping her body down on her bed, still not able to remove the wide smile on her face. Amber as well, gnawed on her bottom lip to prevent herself from s