The man pulled the brake and turned off the machine before running out of the car to open the door for the heiress, but the girl beat him to it and went out from the car by herself. “You really don’t have to do that, Sehun.” She smoothed her satin skirt as the man held the door open for her, “We’re going out as a friend today.” Aerin looked at him and smiled. She was glad she had gotten more comfortable around him. She really felt that Sehun was a really nice companion. The girl didn’t even ask earlier when they were about to go, and she quickly seated herself in the front passenger side as soon as she got out from the house.

“Well, I’m just doing my job.” He said while closing the door. “Kyungsoo hyung would be ecstatic to see you. I didn’t tell him you’re coming with me.”

Aerin smiled hearing that, “It’s been a while since the last time I met him.”

Locking the car door, Sehun led their way up to his apartment. Aerin tried to recall that one time she was there because of her unexpected scene happened on her way back home, unfortunately, when she was alone. Recalling that memory now, she couldn’t help but feeling grateful that it was actually Sehun who was there to save her.

Sehun punched the combination in before he heard the door clicking open. “Hyung, I’m home.” Sehun greeted with the girl quietly tailing him behind.

“Sehun, I’m in the kitchen, come here it’s about the girl,” The younger who heard Kyungsoo shout from the kitchen couldn’t help but stormed to where the older was because he knew what he was up to. Noticing the younger’s presence, he turned his head towards him while arranging the dish he was doing to some of the prepared plate on the kitchen counter. “Hey, this is urgent, the heir—“

“Kyungsoo oppa,”

“Oh my…” Kyungsoo looked beyond startled when he saw a girl sending him a warm smile, coming from behind Sehun who obviously looked relieved because Kyungsoo finally noticed her presence. “Hello, Sweetie. It’s been a while.” Kyungsoo greeted her cheerily. He washed his hand on the sink before taking off his apron. The girl only smiled at him as Sehun ushered her to sit around the dining table. “Have you guys eaten your breakfast?”

“Yes, we already ate.” Sehun answered him. “Hyung, we’re going to the beach, do you want to come along?”

“Woah,” Kyungsoo brought the plates to the dining table, “Are you guys going for a trip?”

“Yes, you can come with us.” Aerin answered excitedly.

The older smiled at her but then he frowned, “Ah, too bad I already have some appointments this weekend. Shall we go together next time?” He asked which earned him a set of excited nods. “Just let me know some days beforehand, I’m a busy man.” Aerin laughed while Sehun at the side was rolling his eyes in annoyance. Kyungsoo shifted his attention to the younger brother signalling him to come with him. “Um, if you don’t mind, may I borrow Sehun for a couple minutes? I promise I won’t take long.”

The girl only chuckled at that before nodding, giving them the time they wanted. Before coming there, Sehun already asked her if it was okay to stop by his apartment first because Kyungsoo asked him to come. She really didn’t mind as long as she was out from the suffocating house. Chanyeol, her only close friend, had been busy with his preparation for the university exam entrance so she didn’t want to disturb him. Only then when Sehun asked her where to go—which Aerin herself actually didn’t really have any place in mind—she suddenly thought about how nice it was to go somewhere far from the city. And she couldn’t help but being excited when Sehun—after thinking for some minutes—suggested going to the beach.

“What is it, hyung?”

“You should’ve told me she is coming with you. I’m glad I didn’t accidentally spill everything in front of her though.”

“It was unplanned. I made sure that she doesn’t need anywhere to go today, but she came to me this morning asking if we could go somewhere.”

“And you surrendered because you just couldn’t resist those puppy eyes, didn’t you?”

“Oh, hyung, shut up. It’s been hard on her these past days. She didn’t even have time to hang out.”

Kyungsoo only scoffed, “Oh God, you sound like a lovesick teen.”

“Oh, come on don’t waste my time, what is it that you really need me to come? You could have just told me on the phone. I don’t have much time.”

“No.” Kyungsoo immediately turned his head towards the younger, his voice turned serious. “I still don’t know why and how because everything was just… tangled and ed up. You have to be careful because your move is being watched, and your every communication is being tapped.”

Sehun actually tensed at the elder’s words. “What?” Kyungsoo looked at him in the eyes before letting out a name which made Sehun knitted his brows in confusion. “Are you sure it isn’t because I am—“

“I’m very sure.” The older cut him right away. “There’s… there’s something you don’t know, and…” Kyungsoo stopped, and Sehun saw his eyes trembled in horror before it faded away and quickly replaced by the blank look the older always had. “Nah, I will tell you once I’m sure about everything.”

“Hyung, what? You can’t just tell me about a thing and decided to hide the rest of it. What are you hiding from me?”

“No, Sehun. I will tell you, but not now.”

Sehun only rolled his eyes because he knew he wouldn’t be able to force the older to spill it no matter how hard he tried. “I’m running out of time, Hyung. That bastard called the other day. I need to finish what should have been finished.”

“Are you sure you’re going to bring her to them just like that?” Sehun fell silence at the question and sighed, didn’t even know how to answer him. Kyungsoo could see how conflicted he was from how his eyebrows burrowed and how the shine in his eyes faded. “You’re not going to do it. I know it.”

“I don’t know…”

“Oh Sehun get a grip of yourself!” Kyungsoo pulled his collar and brought his face closer. The older gritted his teeth as he tightened his grip on Sehun, “You need the money, and you’re not going to back out from the task. You’ve been with the ing hostage for a long time and we knew it’s not difficult just to bring her to that bastard and you’ll be finished.”

“Hyung,”

“It’s your sister we are risking here!” Kyungsoo shouted.

“And I ing fall in love with the girl whom you just called a ing hostage!” Sehun screamed back at him. “ this!”

Kyungsoo let go of his grip as he laughed bitterly. “You fell in love with her…” He whispered.

“And here I thought you are helping me to get this task to be done,”

“I am! I am giving you the job to get you closer to her so that it would be easier for you!”

“I thought it was clear to you that I fell in love with her from the very start.” Sehun shot him a look of disbelief. “I thought you told me to take the job because you want to help to protect her. This is bull.” The younger turned away and walked to the door. “I’m leaving.”

“Sehun you should know tha—“

Aerin turned her head towards the room Sehun just burst out from, startled when the man slammed the door shut very loudly. “Aerin, let’s go.” He came to take her hand and held it tight on his, pulling her to stand and leave the apartment without any single word. The girl who didn’t have any idea about what’s going on could only follow him in silence and stared at their tangled hands. Aerin didn’t even have the chance to say her bye to Kyungsoo, but she didn’t even dare to ask because Sehun clearly looked furious.

Only then when they drove almost half an hour in silence, Aerin turned her head towards the man driving beside her. She still could see how his brows burrowed, and his knuckles turned white from gripping the wheel tightly. He really looked tense.

“Sehun… are you okay?” She asked carefully.

Her voice actually pulled him out of his own thought. He turned his head to meet her stare, and he could see slight fears lighting up on her eyes. Sehun pulled a small smile. “Yeah…” He answered, “I’m sorry if it’s startling you. Well, another fight with your brother, you know.” He sighed. He really had trouble of hiding his emotion.

“I hope it’s nothing serious. Do you want to go back and settle the matters?” There’s an obvious concern dripping in her voice Sehun noticed. “We c