How could they already leave to the city without me? This is so unfair. I want to go visit everyone too. I pouted not bothering to hide my sadness as I watched Yifan and Yunhee drive off. Can’t I go too?

No, said mama and baba because there was no room for me. Lies. They just wanted me to stay so the house wouldn’t be as empty. I sulked as I returned inside. I threw myself on the couch and stared blankly up at the ceiling. The phone suddenly rang, and I answered it within the second ring because there was only one person who used the land line and that was me.

Thanks to Yifan’s phone still working, I was able to contact the Kim household and get Myungsoo’s number. I was ecstatic without a doubt and when I called him from the Zheng household, he sounded more than happy to hear my voice and vice versa.

From then on we exchanged calls one or twice a week in the last two months just to keep tabs on each other. Can you believe how fast time is moving? My summer’s nearly gone. And so much for having the whole summer to hang out but I guess phone calls would be suffice. “Yeobsayo,”

“Xia! Guess what?!” he squealed, excitedly.

I smiled washing away the fact that I couldn’t go back to Seoul. “What?” I replied.

“Yah, that’s no fun. You were supposed to guess.” Myungsoo whined. I could picture him pouting because that’s what he usually did. I miss you so much; did he know how much I wanted to say those words to him? Of course not, how would he if I didn’t have the courage to tell him.  

“Okay,” I paused, tapping my chin as though he could see me think. “You didn’t get eaten by a zombie?” I heard a faint slap and I knew he had smacked his forehead. I chuckled and shook my head. “You told me to guess.”

“Well, obviously I didn’t get eaten by a zombie if I’m talking to you.” He snapped.

“Hey, you never know.” I countered.

“Nor do I ever want too.”

“So what are you so happy about?” I asked.

“I got an internship at a four star hotel’s bakery! Can you believe that?” he announced.

“Really? Good job!” I cheered.

“I know. My first shift is in an hour so I have to go. I just wanted to share my first day with you. I’ll talk to you later. Oh and I miss having you around, Xia. Come visit me some time.” And then he hung up.

Did he just say that he missed me? Well, okay he said he missed having me around but that’s sort of the same right? Omo. I pulled the phone away from my ear and looked at it with eyes the size of saucers. 

I blinked still configuring what he had said. “KYA!” I screeched as I jumped up like a mad woman. I did a little victory dance the same one I did when I was younger as I pressed the phone into my chest. He said he missed me first! I twirled a few times but stopped when I found harabeoji looking at me funny.

I swallowed and slowly lowered my hands. He then cocked a brow at me and then grinned, “Was that Myungsoo?”

“A-ani.” I stammered as I returned the phone back to the receiver.

“It wasn’t? So if I check the caller ID it won’t say Kim Myungsoo?” he interrogated as he made his way to the phone. I threw myself in front of it and nodded my head.

“Okay, okay it was him.” I admitted.

“Now was it that hard to tell me the truth?” he said as he chuckled and moved to the couch.

“I guess not.” I answered, still embarrassed from the dance he had witnessed.

“You guys are the best of friends aren’t you? I’ve never seen a boy being so attentive to a girl he isn’t related to. Besides your brother at least.” Harabeoji commented. Huh? Yifan’s attentive to other girls other than me? And that thing? But how could he know? We’ve been here for the last two months and the only girls gege makes contacts with are me and… Oh.

“He’s attentive to unnie too.” I realized.

“So you’ve noticed it too? They're getting pretty close. I guess being in the same room made them closer.” He said.

So if I were to be in the same room as Myungsoo would we become closer? How can we? We’re already closer than two human beings can be! And besides we were in the same room plenty of times but that didn’t do anything.

“Yep.” I nodded. Too bad he’s still with Hyunri. If he wasn’t, I’m sure he and Yunhee would make a great pair. They may fight like kids but it’s really cute.

“And what are your plans, little Xiazi. Your unnie and oppa left. Aren’t you going to be bored?”

I thought about it and my face scrunched up. “Yes, but I can help out more around the farm.” I suggested.

“Haha, don’t you know?” he snorted, amused.

“Hm?”

“Your unnie did all of the work before she left so that you wouldn’t have to worry.” He declared. Harabeoji started to laugh more but then started to cough. I immediately got up and patted his back.

He regained his breath and ceased laughing. “That girl and always putting others before her.”

“She did?” Gosh why does unnie have to be so kind to me? It just makes it more upsetting because I know her and Yifan aren’t going to become romantically involved for two major reasons. One: Yifan is engaged to an animal and two: Yunhee is dating Luhan gege. Isn’t that crazy!?

I was so surprised when he showed up a few weeks ago. I didn’t even know that they knew each other let alone have feelings for one another. But the way he requested harabeoji and ahjusshi for their blessings showed me this deer gege was serious about her. And with the smile and blush covering her face I could tell he made unnie happy and as long as she was with someone good like Luhan gege, I’m okay with it.

But then I couldn’t help but think about how distraught Yifan was when Luhan was here. Something in his face and actions was sending alarms to go off in my head. Could it be that he didn’t approve of their relationship?

But what reason would he have to deny them? From what I see Yifan gege calls unnie ‘dongsaeng’ a lot. So he probably thinks of her as a little sister like me. Therefore it was probably just his over-protective brother mode. I guess having another sibling wouldn’t be bad either. Unless Yunhee has feelings for him. Then it would be like me and Myungsoo.

But that’s neither plausible nor reasonable since she’s involved with Luhan.

Aish, why am I thinking so much? My head is starting to hurt. Let’s just get this clear, so Yifan is with Hyunri, Yunhee with Luhan and between Yifan and Yunhee there is nothing but a sibling bond.

Okay, that was much simpler than what was going on in my mind before. I huffed and then an elbow lightly jabbed my arm.

“What are you thinking about?” Harabeoji questioned.

I couldn’t tell him what I was thinking. It would probably confuse him and besides who knows if he supported Yunhan or Yunris. Because for me either geges are good for unnie. But for some reason, I really wish it was Yifan whom she was dating. I somehow feel like they make a better pair than her and Luhan does.  

“Nothing.” I responded with a small smile.

“You kids are such horrible liars.” He clucked his tongue and bonked my head.

“Ow,” I winced as he stood up.

“Did you know it’s impolite to lie to elders?”

“But I didn’t.” I defended. And he whacked me again. “Harabeoji.” I whined.

“Keep this in mind when you choose to lie to me again.” He wore a mischievous grin before he left.

If he knew that I was lying, does he know what I was thinking about then? I laid down on the couch and again found myself staring up at the plain white ceiling. Suddenly, my eyes began to feel heavy and a yawn escaped my lips. Why am I so tired? My lids started to droop and then the lights went out.

♦♦♦

I heard noises and my eyes gradually opened. I was staring at a plate of food set on the coffee table and then I rea