Chapter Ten: Where Pink is Not My Color

I had a begrudging respect for Kaeun when it came to helping me make things with beeswax. Maybe she only tried so hard because she knew she could get paid, but at least she didn’t slop things all over the place like she normally did.

Kaeun’s job was always the bath bombs and salt scrubs. They didn’t really have anything to do with beeswax, but sometimes we made little packages with homemade soaps and lotions that included them. Since it had nothing to do with my things Kaeun could get the whole profit. She even listened to me and didn’t sass me as much as usual.

“These one’s have almost set,” she announced, shaking the package to check for firmness.

“I’m almost done with the lotions now.” Those were always easier than the soaps, since soap was fickle and I couldn’t mess much up without it all going bad. Normally mom helped me with those, but she was called into the craft store unexpectedly. I had been pushing it off hoping that she would get sent home early, but no such luck so far.

“Can I try using the beeswax this time?” Kaeun asked, innocent enough.

I frowned, glancing at my supplies. “What do you want to make with it?”

“Candles! Mommy said she’s running out of them.”

I shrugged, not caring either way. There was still more than enough to give a bit to Kaeun to screw around with.

“Yes!” She dabbed a few times, a true product of her generation, and took a handful of the wax. “Now what do I do?”

I pointed towards the stove. “You need the double boiler for it. Start boiling some water for it while I grab the stuff you need.”

I didn’t want to give her too much direction. She would just ignore me anyways. If I premeasured some stuff she would probably be fine. “The candle wicks are in the drawer next to the washer!”

She did a thumbs up to signal she heard me, rattling the drawer as she searched. I probably didn’t want to even look in there after she was done with it. I tended to be disgusted by her ability to be completely unorganized and messy. Mom always tried to tell me to give her a break, that she was only six, but she was still a filthy six-year-old. When I was little I rarely had to be told to clean up after myself, but for Kaeun it was the exact opposite.

I think it’s because she's so spoiled but when I voiced that my mom called me a liar.

The doorbell rang and I frowned, struggling to finish up the lotion. I managed to watch my hands in point two seconds and hurry for the door.

I stared, and then I stared longer. It was Nana, with Pogo fluttering around her feet excited as she searched for Jojo. Nana’s hair was down and partially covering her face, expression downcast.

“Hey, Ara.”

We hadn’t spoken to each other since our fight, both of us too stubborn to make up. After a moment I whistled, Jojo leaping out the bushes and racing towards us. When she saw her friend, she practically tackled Pogo who went along with it and began chasing her.

“Hi.” I glanced back at Kaeun, worried she would burn herself without me being there. “Shout for me when it gets hot!”

“Alright!”

When I closed the door, Nana was leanin