Vernon pushed the strand of hair falling on his sister's eyes, feeling his heart swell with pride by how beautifully she had grown by the years. Little did he know that that would be the last time he would admire his beautiful angel, his very own little sister.

"Are you okay, Sofia? You seem anxious," he said, voice gentle just like always. 

Sofia didn't answer, averting her eyes downwards. She knew if he looks at her in the eyes, he could read every emotion in them and deduce the fact that she was, in fact, not okay. He had always been good at reading her, brotherly instinct and all that.

But this, she shouldn't let him know. She would have to act fine and made him believe that nothing was wrong nor out of ordinary.

So, she pasted on a sugary smile that brightened her whole feature, tilting her head up to meet her brother's gaze. He was a good big brother, the best she could ever asked for. She couldn't say the same about herself, though.

"I'm fine."

---

They were back at the house again, sitting side by side at the sofa. The black screen of the television reflected their figures, sitting up straight with idle hands, both seemingly lost in thoughts.

"So, what actually happened to her?" Seungkwan broke the silence after reconsidering so many times, knowing full well Vernon wouldn't start the conversation. He seemed to be in a foul mood again, but Seungkwan wouldn't blame him. It was like opening a long-sealed wound. It may have healed, but the scar’s still there.

Vernon sighed before leaning back to the cushion and relaxing his stiff muscles, the conversation clearly tiring him.

"I told you, she left," very short, very precise. Seungkwan forced himself to be patient and try again. Vernon could be difficult, but it’s worth it, he reminds himself.

"But why would she leave? There's no reason for her to. There's nothing lacking here," the brunette looked around the large space, furnished and well equipped enough to occupy more than two people. Wasn’t very homey, per say, but it’s a decent place to call home.

“I don’t know. No matter the reason, it was her choice to step out. I tried finding her high and low, but I couldn’t. She must have flown back to the States, considering all her belongings and passport are gone,” Vernon said, resigning to the fact or so that was what he believed.

"Well surely she couldn't leave by herself, right? She's too young to do so."

Vernon was silent. He had pondered on the same thing time and time again, but he found no logical answer behind the reason how or why. It took almost a year and sleepless nights before he gave up, knowing fully well it's only so long he could grieve and search aimlessly for something, anything to indicate the reason why she would leave him by himself. When all he ever did was treating her like she was the most precious being. It's only so long he could push himself to the bridge of insanity and depression.

He told Seungkwan exactly that, half expecting the brunette to look at him with sympathetic eyes. He didn’t, and Vernon realized he’s not as surprised as he thought he should be.

"Look, you told me enough. Calm down, breathe in and exhale. You're here now, you're okay," Seungkwan's voice was like a lullaby stuck somewhere in his memory, sweet and comforting. How does he always know the right thing to say?

His eyes fluttered shut, mentally and physically drained. He wondered how Seungkwan who had gotten it much worse could still held his head high and be the one to comfort him instead. It was too much to take for a day, he concluded.

“You’re tired, just rest here. I’ll find somewhere else to sleep,” Seungkwan soft voice greeted his ears. Vernon opened his eyes slightly, pulling Seungkwan back by the wrist with a force that came out of nowhere.

“Stay,” Vernon’s voice was no more than a whisper, as gentle as a whisper. His voice that he only ever used when he spoke to Sofia. But Sofia’s not here anymore.

But Seungkwan’s still there. He’s warm and comforting, and he stayed. It was all Vernon could ask and more.

“You’re not allowed to leave, ever,” Vernon wasn’t really controlling the words that tumbled out of his words anymore. Seungkwan grew rigid momentarily, his shoulders br