Goodbye Summer - f(x) ft. D.O of EXO

Chapter 26: Third Night.

“Oppa look, there’s Kai-oppa and the rest!” Jongmi squealed, pointing to the loud group who was cheering from afar. Following the direction of Jongmi’s pointer finger, Kris’s face lightened in delight upon seeing the familiar faces of his friends, Kai, Lay, Sehun, Tao, Xiumin, and of course, his younger brother, Lu Han. With all the work that he was tending to back in South Korea, Kris never got to spend much time with his friends. It has been awhile since he last saw them and seeing them now cheering in anticipation over a huge watermelon, he knew that they were still the same old childish friends that he has.

What intrigued him though was the sight of a young girl, which he presumed to be a Korean as well, sitting and cheering together with their group.

“There’s Jaera as well!” Jongmi grinned in delight. “Isn’t it nice to have both of your cousins, Jaera and Sehun, to be here?”

Thinking that he may have heard it wrong, Kris stopped and looked at Jongmi in confusion. “Wait, what did you say?”

“Sehun and Jaera, my new friend. I only met your younger cousin recently but she’s really nice.” Jongmi grinned, turning to Kris who was having an unexplainable look. “Maybe the reason why Lu Han-oppa decided to get his condo unit is so that Jaera won’t have a hard time getting to and from school. She’s staying at his place after all.”

Kris’s eyes widened at Jongmi’s words. Lu Han had never told him anything about another cousin other than Sehun who’s staying with him at his place, much less a high school girl. Sure, Lu Han might be the ladies’ man but he won’t do anything stupid, right? There must be a valid reason for the sudden situation that his younger brother had put himself in to. Lu Han’s a genius and Kris knows that fact very well. He knew his younger brother better than anybody else so it’d be wiser to just play it cool for now and greet his so-called cousin.

Following behind the excited Jongmi, the two slowly approached the group as Lu Han, who was holding a wooden bat in the air, came to their sight. Not being able to contain her excitement, Jongmi beamed and shouted. “Lu Han-oppa!”

Right then and there, Lu Han suddenly flinched and dropped the wooden bat. Luckily, it fell right on top of the watermelon as the green fruit broke into several pieces. Lu Han and the rest turned their eyes away from the watermelon and on to the direction of Jongmi and Kris, only to have their jaws drop and eyes widen.

“ just got real.”

Seeing the presence of Jongmi, a small monster called jealousy suddenly came to life inside Jaera once again. It was a feeling that she dreaded and tried to avoid as much as possible, but having the person you feel inferior with walk in front of you, showcasing her unearthly beauty—swallowing one’s jealousy would surely be hard and almost impossible.

“Well hello there Jongmi.” Xiumin coughed, giving everyone a look as they closed their mouths. He then gave Jongmi a small smile. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“Hello Xiumin-oppa, it’s been a while!” Jongmi exclaimed, grinning at Xiumin.

“Yes, indeed.” Xiumin answered, giving out an awkward chuckle while discreetly nudging Lay for help who only looked at him in confusion. Xiumin then rolled his eyes at his friend’s lack of perception before turning back to Jongmi. “You look… good in your swimsuit.”

Jaera mentally disagreed with Xiumin’s words. Good would actually be an understatement. She has always thought that Jongmi was the epitome of a man’s ideal girl. Seeing her now, she still lives up to Jaera’s expectations. Clad with only a red two piece swimsuit, Jongmi stood excitedly before everyone with confidence, showcasing her gorgeous curves, glowing complexion and healthy body.

Jaera and Jongmi had already befriended each other but, sure enough, getting envious over the latter’s overflowing confidence and charm is really hard to avoid. Comparing herself to Jongmi always pops out in Jaera’s mind, thus leading her to feeling inferior and mediocre more than how she usually thinks she is. Being in a less showy swimsuit already made the girl clamp and embarrassed, how much more if she was to wear a bikini like Jongmi’s?

Well Jaera wouldn’t dare anyway since for her, her body’s nowhere near as stunning as Jongmi’s and only someone who has the same characteristics as the latter would be able to don an outfit confidently and gracefully—according to her, that is.

“Yah, you little…!” Lu Han snapped, picking up the wooden bat before pointing it to Kai threateningly. “I thought you kept this vacation a secret from her?!”

“I-I did! Hyung, I swear I didn’t tell her anything!” Kai stuttered, backing away from the wooden bat that the furious Lu Han was holding. “Maybe Sehun or Tao told her—“

“You really want to die huh, hyung. You might be older than me but I’m willing to help Lu Han-hyung murder you.” Sehun whispered in a hard tone as he gave Kai a menacing glare. “Why would I even bother talking to someone who I clearly don’t like?”

Likewise, Tao gave Kai a look of disbelief before turning to Lu Han. “Hyung, you know me. You guys might always bully me but I’m a loyal panda.”

“Kai-oppa’s so mean.” Jongmi interrupted, placing both her hands on her hips as she pouted. “If it weren’t for Kris-oppa then I wouldn’t even know he was gone. Chen-oppa didn’t tell me anything either.”

Hearing the name Kris made Jaera’s eyes light up. She remembers him as Lu Han’s older brother as he told her about it before but she hasn’t seen him yet. Just as she was about to look around for somewhere to hide, an incredibly tall dark blonde guy suddenly popped out from behind Jongmi.

“Kris-hyung, you’re here!” Tao squealed, tackling Kris into a big hug as the latter just chuckled.

Confirming that the guy was indeed Kris, Jaera froze on the spot and swallowed hard. It’s like some force was hindering her from moving that she can’t take her eyes away from the tall guy as she marvelled at his cool and chic demeanour. He was, by all means, handsome and definitely, all girls would swoon over him. Kris was wearing a shirt, but it didn’t hinder his beautifully chiselled body from being seen by the world. His look was quite matured as well, but he didn’t look old. Instead, the youthfulness on his perfectly sculpted face was very apparent. Not to mention his enviable height—he’d be the only one who has the rights to call himself the manliest.

Looking at the two brothers, Kris is manly and calm whereas Lu Han’s sissy and quick-tempered. Albeit their charms and personalities are polar opposites, there’s no doubt that they’re siblings as the familiarity and gaze that they possess are the same—a look of both mystery and gentleness.

“See!” Kai exclaimed, taking cover behind the still stunned Jaera as Lu Han continued to glare at him. “You could trust me all the way, hyung! Believe me!”

Lu Han rolled his eyes at Kai’s foolish behaviour whereas Lay took the chance to slowly lower the former’s hand. Lay thought that his friend had already calmed down, but that expectation slowly changed when the wooden bat was now pointed to their tallest friend, Kris.

Lu Han stared at Kris darkly as the latter did the same. The atmosphere was then engulfed in silence for a couple of seconds before the former noticed the edge of his older brother’s lips tugging upwards into a small smirk.

“Are you sure you’re the one who has the rights to act this way for being fooled? Or am I the one supposed to act so?”

That’s when it hit him—Jaera.

Within a couple of seconds, Lu Han lowered the wooden bat and clicked his tongue. Kris chuckled lightly at his younger brother’s irritated response as the latter just gave him a glare.

“Okay…?” Xiumin broke the silence, looking at both Kris and Lu Han with an unsure look. Jaera, Jongmi, Kai, Lay and Tao continued to give the two brothers a bewildered look as well. “So what’s going on with you two? Brotherly telepathy?”

Kai nudged Xiumin as the latter just creased his eyebrows. “What? I was just asking.”

Realizing what was happening between the two brothers as he was only the real relative, Sehun immediately walked over to Jaera’s side before gazing at Lu Han with a worried look. The older man just gave him a reassuring nod while walking over to Jaera’s side as well before Kris slowly approached them.

“It’s been a while since we last saw each other, Jaera.”

Both Lu Han and Sehun gave Kris a wary look but the oldest out of the cousins couldn’t care less. Instead, he continued to smile at Jaera as the latter swallowed hard. “Y-yeah it sure is, K-Kris-oppa.”

“Why are you so nervous seeing your older cousin, Jaera?” Lu Han butted in, feigning a chuckle to ease up the tensed atmosphere.

“Maybe it’s awkward for them since like what Kris-hyung said, it’s been awhile since they last saw each other.” Lay chimed in, tapping Kris’s shoulder with a smile.

“Yeah, Lay-oppa’s right, Lu—“ Jongmi was about to hold on to Lu Han’s arm but the latter quickly avoided it, causing for the atmosphere to turn silent again.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Jongmi…” Kai frowned at Lu Han but only got ignored.

Jongmi, in return, just gave her brother a reassuring smile before she turned to Jaera. “Well how about we play in the ocean, Jaera?”

“Uh… actually I—“

“Jaera’s not allowed to go to the waters by herself.” Lu Han interrupted, giving Jongmi a hard look as he held on to Jaera’s wrist.

Lu Han’s grip was actually quite hard but Jaera just let him be and kept quiet, mentally thanking the former for not telling Jongmi that she can’t swim. She didn’t need any more reason as to why she should be inferior to Jongmi more than she already has.

“Then why don’t you join us oppa?”

“We’re going to eat.” Lu Han said, his eyebrows still creased in annoyance. “Can’t you see the watermelon that I was supposed to smash but failed to do so since you surprised me with your sudden shrilly voice—“

“Han, stop it.” Kris interrupted, placing a hand on Lu Han’s shoulder as he gave the latter a serious look. “I thought the reason why you’re here is so that you can relieve some stress? Quit being so crabby.”

“Okay, enough with that. Stop making the atmosphere awkward and tensed. This is supposed to be a paradise, not a battle arena.” Xiumin commented as he, Lay and Tao chuckled.

Jogging over to the scattered watermelon, Tao picked a big piece and took a mouthful bite. He then grinned at his friends, showcasing the black seeds that managed to stick on his pearly white teeth and causing for them to break out in laughter. “Come on! Let’s eat!”

“Ohhhh I’m forever your peter paaaaan~”

“Shut up, you stupid unicorn without a horn!”

“You shut up, you loud baozi without a filling!”

“Seriously, you guys should stop drinking.” Jaera said, giving Lay and Xiumin a worried look. “You two are drunk already—“

“That’s not the worst state they could get.” Tao interrupted, shaking his head with a smug smile. “Last time they even danced to a lamppost and a palm tree.”

“It’s so hot in heeeere~ I should take off all my clothes—“

“Oh no you don’t, oppa.” Jongmi interrupted, pulling Kai’s hands away from his shirt as the latter broke out into hysterical laughter. Upon having to get a faint smell of her older brother’s breath, Jongmi swallowed hard and blinked her eyes in surprise. “You reek of sweat and alcohol! Oh God, why do I have to put up with you…”

“Well, he’s your brother so he’s your responsibility as well.” Jaera chuckled, pulling the glass cups away from Lay and Xiumin’s hands as she placed them back on the table whilst the two leaned back on their seats, already wasted. “You don’t have any choice.”

“Lucky for you, your cousins are well-behaved.” Jongmi said, fanning Kai lazily with a bitter smile. “Sehun’s already asleep, Kris-oppa’s fixing his luggage whereas Lu H