Kai's POV

Ahh… I shouldn’t have slept on the sofa. I glanced over to my right and I saw Jihyun hovered over her desk asleep. I sighed and lifted Jihyun off her seat and gently placed her on her bed. Pulling the covers over her, I walked towards the door and silently left. My jacket in my hands, I headed towards the stairs until I saw someone oddly familiar heading up the stairs.

“Who are you?” she asked in a rather loud and irritated voice.

My eyes widen. She had black straight hair that suited her pale skin. She was in a black lose fitted sweater and a dark blue and black scarf was wrapped around her neck. She looked exactly the same. Exactly the same as Jihyun. I was a little startled when she spoke again.

“I asked you a question. Do you wished to be chased out?” she yelled as she dialed 911.

“Do you even speak?” she asked irritated.

I heard the door open and I turned around and saw Jihyun. She seemed just as shocked as I was when I first saw her. Jihyun quickly approached her and gave her a large bear hug. I looked at them together for the first time. Identical. Her sister seemed to be unreceptive to Jihyun. She didn’t place her arms around Jihyun. She stood awkwardly in Jihyun’s arms. Weren’t twins supposed to be close?

“Can you stop?” she whispered loud enough for me to hear.

“Oh. I’m sorry” Jihyun apologized as she immediately pulled away.

I heard loud footsteps coming up the stairs. It was Father in law. I glanced back at Jihyun’s twin sister and she seemed… unhappy.

“Aemi! You’ve changed so much these past years. Dad is very happy to see you” he smiled.

“Minho ssi, your acting seemed to improve,” she answered coldly.

So her name was Aemi. Su Aemi. She passed by us and walked into her room, not forgetting to slam the door loudly.

“Jongin… don’t mind her. She’s still young and her manners… aren’t very good” Father in Law said awkwardly.

I nodded my head in reply. Jihyun got her jacket and we headed to my house for breakfast. We sat quietly in the car as I drove. I ran my fingers through my hair as I thought back to Auntie’s instructions.

“You have to do it romantically Kai! Show her you love her and that she is the one for you. That’s what girls like the most,” Auntie said ecstatically.

“Do whatever you want Auntie” I said emotionlessly.

“See there you go again. It’s always that same emotionless face I always get from you. Aish! You better not chase Jihyun away. She’s the perfect daughter in law. I don’t want anyone else I tell you!”

“Is that it? I have classes to attend”

“Where are we going Kai?” Jihyun asked, interrupting my thoughts.

“Oh. I thought breakfast together would be nice”

We arrived in front of the gates. I led Jihyun into the dining room and everything was set up. The large golden curtains were pulled away, allowing the morning sunlight to shine into the room. The dining table was on longer there and instead there was a small intimate table in the middle of the dining room with two seats. I pulled the seat out for Jihyun and seated myself across from her. The food on the table was all prepared freshly. Jihyun was startled at such a surprise. I began to take a bite of the waffles as I thought about how to approach her.

“Kai… you did this all for me? It’s…. amazing” Jihyun awed.

“You know how Aunt likes to do things big” I commented as I ate.

“Aunt?... Aunt did all this?”

“You know how I don’t like these things. You couldn’t possibly think I did this right?” I said.

There was a long silence and Jihyun didn’t look at me either as she ate. Se stared blankly at her plate most of the time. It was then that I knew that I said something I wasn’t supposed to. I might’ve offended her or saddened her. I sighed and told the maid to bring in the last dish. A silver cover was over the plate. I took the plate from the maid and approached Jihyun.

“We’ve been together for four years Jihyun. Will you let me take care of you for the rest of your life?” I asked as I placed the plate in front of her.

“… Kai…” Jihyun muttered as she finally looked at me.

Jihyun uncovered the plate and she gasped. The diamond engagement ring was on top of Jihyun’s favorite snack: frozen yogurt with freshly cut strawberries. Jihyun took the ring from the top of the yogurt and continued to stare at it. I took the ring from her and bent down on one knee. Without her response, I placed the ring on her finger and with my thumb wiped the tear away from her left cheek.

“I’ll take that as a yes then” I whispered.

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That night, I snuck out of the house again and went to my school’s practice room on the tenth floor of the entertainments building. I dropped my bag on the floor and placed my ear buds in my ears and the iPod in my pocket. Music started to play and immediately my body moved along with the rhythm of the music. I was in my own world. A world without instructions. A world with freedom. Freedom to do things I wanted to do.

I could feel the sweat dripping from my head. I went to get my bottle of water from my bag as I sat on the ground leaning against the wall for a break. My breathing was uneven. My phone vibrated in the front pocket of my bag. It was only 11 PM. Jihyun called me two times and I read the text message she sent me. ‘I never thought I would call you my ‘fiance’. I never thought I’d learn to love you four years ago when Dad introduced us. But I’m glad that I have you. Thank you.’

Love… love… what does that word even mean? Running my fingers through my hair in irritation, I thought about Jihyun. Would I propose to her if Mom didn’t insist? How do you know if you love someone? The more I pondered about my relationship with Jihyun, the more I got frustrated. I gulped down a mouthful of water and I didn’t care that water dripped onto my shirt. In a world with no freedom, I was like a caged bird. I want to fly. I want to soar above the world but I am unable to. The cage is too strong for me to break.