12.

“No way, Haneul. I’m too lazy to go anywhere today, don’t make me lift even a finger. Please.”

And so I turn myself to the other side, facing the wall before covering my face with my pillow again, refusing to wake up just because my brother wants to go to the department store for his class’s stuff that I’m not even sure what it is. However the boy keeps on insisting, he stomps his feet and whines like a puppy as he frowns, “But you said that too yesterday.” He sighs then grips on the pillow that I am hugging, “Please…Noona….I really need you to drive me there.”

Annoyed by his plea since I really planned not to do anything today, but after all, I get myself up. In a sitting position with both eyes are shut, I grunt, “Why can’t you just go by yourself? You have your bicycle, and…” I raise a finger up in the air showing a random position, “…the bus stop is just down the street, at the junction…!”

“It’s really cold out there, I won’t dare to let the chills touch my skin,” Haneul condemns while femininely running his fingers on his arms and face with the same pout stays on his face, making me roll my eyes around whilst tucking all my hair up before tying them into a loose bun.

“As if I didn’t have the exact same reason of why I don’t want to go out today. I really don’t want to, you know?” I huff as I extend my legs to get off from bed and squint at him, “Why did you even chose to go today, isn’t there any other time?”

“Today is the last day I’ll have time to shop for those stuff because tomorrow we’d start the preparation.”

“Okay to be honest I still have no idea on what this whole thing is all about but I’m going to ask you on it later.” My hands meet each other as a quick two-times clap as my head tip to the door before I head myself towards the closet, “Now go get out of here, I’m getting changed.”

Upon uttering that, my ears catch a silent victory cheer escapes from my brother’s mouth but I only shake it off with a shrug. I knew it all beforehand, that I will, in any possible way, be defeated by any of Haneul’s request – even I myself have no idea how much that I love him – so it doesn’t feel bad at all to lose to him. However the feeling automatically dies as it is replaced by confusion, making my newly-changed shirt only get halfway-buttoned when I hear a sentence from someone just before the door shut properly.

“So, is she going?”

My legs are fast at making those steps towards the door before pulling the knob almost hurriedly, earning a perplexed expression from two of the people who are waiting outside – but my eyes are focusing on one, and definitely not Haneul. “What are you doing here? And why did you ask if I’m going or not?”

“Perhaps because I’m going to tag along…?”

My brows lifted, judging as I meet Jongdae’s sheepish smile and his fingers fidgeting to each other – before my brother adds to make things clearer, “I asked Jongdae hyung to help me with our class’s exhibition, he knows what to buy.”

“Then why can’t you two just ride on his scooter?”

“It’s cold out there…remember?”

My eyes squint at Jongdae, this whole thing on fishing me out from the house is obviously his idea! “And what do you mean this person knows what to buy? You’re saying that I don’t?” I gasp in disbelief at the statement because well, they must be just school stuff, it can’t be that hard!

However Haneul seems unamused, he crosses his arms and tilts at me, “Let’s be real here Noona, you don’t even know that painting brushes have their own sizes.”

“I sure do!” I exclaim in defence, continuing, “My make-up brushes have different sizes too…!”

This time, Jongdae takes his turn in questioning, “Okay, how about…at what age did you found out that crayons and oil pastels aren’t the same thing?”

My lips pursed together, a crease form on my temple as I turn to the man, and my voice goes lower than before as I hesitatingly ask, “So…they are not…?”

“Oh my god, I thought Haneul was just exaggerating…you really are that bad…!” The guy’s jaw drops, meanwhile my brother gives his victory smirk as he pushes me back into the room, “Okay we can talk about later because we’re running out of time, tik tok tik tok!”

“Say one thing about it and I’ll make you two walk yourself home.”

Jongdae conceals his laugh behind his wide grin, his pair of orbs gives the lady a few quick glances as she stomps pass both of the younger guys, into the department store. Meanwhile the youngest gives the former a look and tips his head towards inside, before both of them making their way into their exact destination – the huge stationary shop.

Within seconds, those pair of ‘siblings’ have walked passed Ga Eul, leaving her a few steps behind but instead of minding them, she lets her feet guide her to wander around another place and searches for any stores that could catch her attention. It is the first time for Ga Eul to step into this mall because ten years ago, this place was still un