Aemi's POV

“So will you attend?” asked Sehun as he glanced at his book.

“Probably not. It’s suffocates me to be in the same room as them” I replied nonchalantly as I stared at the TV screen.

Sehun’s parents were on a business trip to New Zealand for the week. I did not like being in the house all day. It reminded me so much of Mom. So much that it pained me to walk the halls that she once walked through. The pictures of Mom were no longer anywhere found. Probably Minho’s doings. Heartless and cruel. I stirred in my seat before Sehun passed me the book he was reading.

“Beowulf. Did you read it yet?” he asked me.

He asks me these questions like I care about books. I furrowed my eyebrows and when I went to reach for the book in his hands, he placed it down on the coffee table.

“Why do I even bother?” he sighed.

I laughed at his comment. He read my mind. Like he always did.

“You should go. It’s your sister after all,” he suggested.

“You’re right. Why not go and… have a little fun?” I smiled playfully as I repositioned myself on the sofa.

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The night wind blew over me and it sent chills down my spine. It must have been twenty degrees outside. It was freezing! I told Sehun to drop me off three blocks from the Haru restaurant so I could spend some time alone. I placed my hands in the pockets of my navy blue Rugby vest. The snow fell lightly tonight. I liked to watch the snowflakes disappear on the ground. Somehow that amused me. Before I knew it, I arrived in front of the large glass entrance of the restaurant.

“Are you going in?” asked someone from behind.

I turned around quickly as if on guard. It was him. I looked for the time on my iPhone. It was precisely 10 PM.

“Aren’t you a little late for the dinner?” I asked a little curious.

“So are you,” he replied emotionlessly as he opened the door.

“I’m different. This is your engagement dinner. Don’t you think you’re a little irresponsible?” I asked with a hint of irritation.

He entered the restaurant and just as I thought he was holding the door for me, he left without another word. The door closed on me just as I was inches from entering. I rolled my eyes in annoyance. Pfft! This guy has no manners… I entered the restaurant and quickened my pace so that I was able to catch up with him. I haven’t noticed this before but as I stood behind him, he had a tall figure. He towered over me and his hands were always in his pockets. My thoughts drifted when the doors to the room opened. Everyone was waiting for us.

“Kai!... you’re finally here” smiled Jihyun who was relieved.

I stepped out from behind him and bowed slightly without meeting anyone’s’ eyes.

“Oh my! Minho, they really do look alike!” exclaimed the woman next to Minho.

“Ahh yes. This is Jihyun’s younger sister Su Aemi” introduced Minho.

Jihyun’s fiancé sat next to the unfamiliar couple. They must have been his parents. I could feel his mother’s heated stares as I sat next to Jihyun. The entire dinner was pointless. There was endless talk about wedding details. I ate in silence, ignoring them. Their happiness. Their laughter. It irritated me. They didn’t even bother to include me in the conversation. I was like an outlier. To my surprise, my future brother in law also seemed disinterested in all of this. I wonder why? He was so strange. He never spoke more than a few words. His emotionless poker face revealed nothing. There was just no way to read him. I wonder how Jihyun deals with it. The conversation suddenly shifted to me and I clenched my fork in further annoyance.

“Your father tells me that you attended school overseas. You must be a very accomplished young lady,” commented the woman named Mrs. Kim.

“I guess” I replied nonchalantly as I continued to eat my steak.

“Have you decided on your future? I hear that you are a senior this year”

“I haven’t given it much thought”

“Miss Aemi, are you always so disrespectful to your elders? Do you intend to not look at me as I talk?” asked a rather angered Mrs. Kim.

I placed my fork down and lifted my head. I looked her straight in the eyes and clenched my fist before I exploded. 

“I know without a mother around, it must have been hard. But I don’t know how one can turn out so well and the other…” she sighed as she muttered words to herself though clearly audible from my perspective.

“… So will you be helping with your sister’s wedding? Surely, you’d be her bridesmaid” she continued as if I cared.

“Mrs. Kim. You seem to be mistaken. Minho and Jihyun have nothing to do with me. I will not be attending such a ridiculous wedding. If you’ll excuse me, I’m done here” I stated as I got up and headed for the door.

“Su Aemi! Stop right there. Sit back down this instant!” yelled Minho as he stood up in anger.

“You have no right to demand anything from me,” I rebuked as I headed out.

I walked out of the restaurant quickly. It didn’t stop snowing. I bit my lip as I tried to hold back my tears. How dare she? How dare she have the audacity to insult my mother! Minho didn’t say anything. That worthless man. Jihyun didn’t even bother to defend Mom. How… how could she? Before I knew it, tears suddenly fell. I wiped them furiously away.

I walked aimlessly on the streets, trying to find something. Anything to do. Walking by the convenience store, I stopped and pulled my hood up over my head. I watched the cashier closely. The cashier was busy texting and no one paid any attention to me. I grabbed a can of beer and hid it in my vest. I strolled the store for a couple of minutes before leaving. I took out the beer from my vest and smirked victoriously as I eyed it. When I lifted my head up, I saw Sehun. He was still in his black leather jacket and he eyed me harshly.

“You said you wouldn’t do it again,” said Sehun as he snatched the beer away from me.

“Did that promise mean nothing?” he asked.

“Give it back to me” I stated as I tried to grab it from him.

He raised the can higher. He knew I couldn’t reach it because he was so freaking tall. I rolled my eyes in annoyance. Why did he have to come now?

“Oh Sehun! I’m not joking! Give it back!” I yelled as I tried to jump to reach it.

“You want to drink so badly? Why didn’t you just call me? Why did you have to steal? Aemi! You’ve been in jail before. Are you trying to make me go crazy?” he yelled as he threw the can of beer down the street in frustration.

“WHY! Why did you do that!?” I yelled at him as I punched him in the chest.

“Aemi! Get a hold of yourself. Stop this! Do you think your mother would want you to be like this?” yelled Sehun as he grabbed my shoulders and shook me insanely as if it would knock some sense into me.

“Your mother wanted me to take care of you. When your father neglected you, when Jihyun—” he continued.

“Stop. I don’t want to hear it” I interrupted.

“when Jihyun was too busy—” he continued.

“I said stop!” I demanded.

When he continued, I grabbed the collar of his jacket and pulled him closer to me. He was inches away from me and without hesitation; I abruptly clashed my lips with his. I expected him to push me away in shock. I expected him to lecture me about boundary lines. I expected him to reject me. He did the exact opposite. His arms no longer dangled on his side. His arms encased around my waist protectively. His grip on me tightened when I allowed him access.

Slowly, I closed my eyes and shifted the position of my hands. My arms wrapped around his neck as I tiptoed to reach him. Our first kiss was bittersweet compared to those in fairy tales. We were fighting for dominance. He wanted to lead but I didn’t allow it. I wanted to direct but he didn’t want it. His kiss sent signals to my body. Signals I wasn’t aware of. When he pulled away to catch a breath, I wanted more. I wanted to feel him more than I ever imagined. I didn’t allow him to have any second thoughts as I closed in once more.