[10] Getting ready

»  Ten o’clock suddenly ticks and immediately, Sehun’s alarm goes off, the male hitting the off button. He quickly sits up and looks up at the ceiling, his vision slowly turning clear to get used to the light. He stretches as he ruffles his bed hair that is sticking up slightly, his face slightly swollen from his sleep. “Finally getting out of this house…” He mutters to himself groggily as he steps out of bed and takes a deep breath.

On the other side of the town, Hayoung sleeps peacefully on her bed, hugging her stuffed animal that she has had for years ever since she was a baby. Jimin opens the door slowly and shakes his head, remembering what happened when Hayoung came home.

“Well, you came home later than expected,” Jimin grinned smugly as he sat down on the couch while reading, hearing his little sister’s footsteps from behind. Hayoung’s eyes widened as she notices her brother. It’s past 10:30 and Hayoung has promised to be home by 10.

“S-So?” Hayoung muttered as she tried to scurry towards her room. However, the male quickly stood up and ran towards the stairs, facing her, “So? C’mon, tell me what happened! You were in a café with royalties, something must have happened.” He wiggled his eyebrow and crossed his arms, blocking her way.

The female slapped her forehead and shook her head, “You’re always wanting to know things, oppa.” Jimin cleared his throat and stared at her, “I’m just being protective!” She laughed softly and sighed quietly, “Fine, I’ll tell you. Prince Sehun and I are starting to become friends. There, now let me go to bed.” She started to take a step up but Jimin stopped her gently, “No way, I can tell you have more to say.” Hayoung scratched the back of her head and mumbled, “And he’s going to take me out to buy me glasses tomorrow…”

Jimin had a wide grin plastered on his face, ruffling her hair, “My dongsaeng—is growing up! Sleep well, okay? I’ll wake you up tomorrow.”

However, Hayoung couldn’t sleep that night. All she could think of were the consequences of hanging out Prince Sehun and Jongin. Would she get even more threatened? Possibly get hurt more? All these questions roamed in her mind and she was up for the rest of the night.

Jimin starts walking towards his little sister, patting her shoulder gently, “Hayoung, wake up!” The female rolls over to the side of the bed, keeping her eyes shut, “No…”

“You know, Sehun and Jongin are already waiting downstairs,” He announces quite loudly as he places his hands on his hips, raising an eyebrow as he waits for her to get up. As expected, the girl frantically gets out of bed and fixes her frizzy hair, “What? I have to get ready!” She starts sliding towards her brother and pushes him out, but the older just laughs like there’s no tomorrow, clapping his hands.

“Hayoung, I’m just joking!” Jimin tries to say as he holds onto his stomach, “I’m just here to wake you up. No one is downstairs.” The younger stops and blinks, soon glaring at her older brother, “You—Agh…I don’t know anymore.” She rubs her face and pouts, “Don’t scare me like that!”

Jimin grins and ruffles her hair, “You know I love you, right? You’re a great sister, even if we aren’t blood related.” He starts exiting and smiles, “Mom left us some breakfast on the table. Go ahead and get ready!”

Hayoung sighs quietly and nods, “Love you too, brother.” She closes the door and leans her forehead on the door. I’m probably gonna have to get used to it. Jimin is quite playful when it comes to these types of things. She stands upright and starts walking towards her closet, searching through her clothes.

She wants to wear something casual, yet shows that she’s a sophisticated person. She picks out gray shorts and a white buttoned shirt along with a small pink purse (A/N: her airport fashion when going to Japan). She fixes her hair up into a ponytail and looks at herself in the mirror. “This should be fine…Yeah…” She whispers to herself as she starts heading downstairs, seeing Jimin already eating. “How does this look?” She asks as she twirls around, “Good?”

Jimin nods as he stuffs himself with food, raising a thumb up. “Go ahead and eat before they come,” He says as he scarfs down his food.

-

“The carriage is ready,” Jongin announces as he wears a plain black shirt with denim jeans and a black cap on top. Sehun on the other hand wears a plaid buttoned shirt along with jeans, placing a cap over his head. “Alright, let’s go,” He grins as he gets into the carriage with a smile plastering onto his face. Jongin follows in suit and sits across from him, staring at the younger one. He’s never seen Sehun smile so much in one morning or on a weekend. Usually, they’d be stuck at home or having to do things related to royalty. However, today--today is different. They now have the liberty to at least have some freedom outside the house.

Throughout the ride, Jongin couldn’t help but think what Hayoung would look like. He can already imagine that pure innocent face of hers, but being a strong-minded person who won’t back down. He couldn’t help but daydream a little throughout the ride that he didn’t feel the carriage stop.

“We’re finally here!” Sehun glances at his watch and grins, “And we’re right on time. Let’s go.” He opens the carriage door and jumps down, looking at the house in front of him. Jongin follows behind him and looks left and right, seeing the sidewalks being empty at this time.

Sehun walks towards the door and knocks lightly, anticipating on the girl. However, as the door opened, his bright smile falls as he sees instead Jimin standing there with a huge grin spreading. “Thought I was Hayoung?” Jimin chuckles quietly and bows formally to the royalty, “Please, come inside, Prince Sehun.”

The other scratches his head and nods, walking inside with Jongin following. “Hayoung is just fixing herself one more time,” Jimin announces as he watches the two sit down on the couch. “Please, treat my sister well, okay?” Jimin suggests as the two nods firmly.

Jongin watches Hayoung’s brother in deep thought. Jimin and Hayoung looks nothing alike and it’s been bugging him the first time he saw him. “I have a question,” Jongin speaks up as Jimin looks at him. “Are you and Hayoung—blood related?” He tilts his head slightly to see Jimin pause for a moment.

“No,” Jimin whispers and looks up the stairs, checking if she’s coming down before he replies back, “She’s adopted actually. I know nothing about her past or her biological family, but I think my parents know. They’re not telling me though…” He rubs the back of his neck and takes a deep breath, “However, I’m lucky to have Hayoung as a little sister. I take care of her like she’s blood related.”

Sehun and Jongin smiles warmly and nods at his short tidbit. I wonder what happened… Sehun thinks as he purses his lips, soon seeing Hayoung walk down the stairs. Her eyes widen as she sees the three males looking straight at her, not muttering a word.

She scratches the back of her neck and raises an eyebrow, “Do I look weird?”

“No!” Jongin and Sehun says at the same time as they immediately stand up, being transfixed by Hayoung’s appearance. They’ve always seen her with her school uniform or work attire, but never casual or regular clothing. It amazed the two boys, whose mouths were almost hanging open.

“Oh, ah, thanks. Should we get going?” Hayoung asks as she starts walking towards the door, slipping on her shoes. Jongin and Sehun nods frantically as they start heading towards the door. “I’ll see you later, oppa,” Hayoung smiles as she waves and walks out the door, seeing the carriage.

Sehun and Jongin walk outside afterwards, thanking Jimin. “Let’s go,” Sehun smiles as he places his hand on the middle of her back, leading her to the left to start walking. Jongin stares blankly as Hayoung follows him casually. That same burning feeling starts creeping and it’s starting to make Jongin feel weird. He stares at the carriage and then at the two, “Wait! We’re not taking the carriage?”

Sehun looks back and shakes his head, “Nah. Let’s just walk for once.” Jongin nods and tells the driver to head back and meet them back later. He starts trailing behind the two and sighs quietly, staring at the hand on Hayoung’s back.

How can he do this out in the open and do it so casually too? He ruffles his hair and continues to stay in the back, doing his job.

Hayoung then turns her head back and stops, smiling, “C’mon, Jongin. Walk with us! You don’t need to stay in the back!” Jongin looks at her, hesitantly walking by her side. Never has he been requested to actually walk with someone other than Sehun. It was his job to stay in the back and protect the royalty and his acquaintances, but Hayoung was different.

Sehun starts hearing Hayoung and Jongin converse, talking about each other’s day and what they’re planning to do tomorrow. He slowly lifts his hand away from her back and stuffs his hand in his pocket, his smile disappearing suddenly. Jongin and Hayoung are suddenly really close. Did something happen between them when I wasn’t there?

Well—this is going to be a thrill ride today.