Ordinary Things [2]

We have to go somewhere… now?!

And now that we are here,

Why did he bring me here?

To his home?

A small convenience shop for kids and street food was etched beside the house and I guessed, a family member was running a business there.

Still dauntless and rendered speechless by this abrupt visit Hyun Min had pulled me into, I squeezed my fingers around the strap of my bag waiting for him to say a word first because a lot was running through my mind in that moment.

What is he thinking?

Bringing a half nuked grenade to his home?

Me?

Am I worthy enough to be here?

Or am I too worthy?

Okay, scratch that.

"And… Why are we here?" I finally asked as I couldn't contain my bubbling questions anymore.

"Yes, this is my home. Not as fancy as yours, but it's definitely cozy and close." He replied as if he had practiced that line over and over again just to dish it out perfectly to fit into my ear.

"Is that a way to tell me my mansion drives my family apart?" I shrugged turning to face him while he blatantly ignored this act.

"I mentioned no such thing."

I let out a frail sigh, sincerely confused as to why he suddenly brought me here.

"Is there something you want to tell me? Or do you want an apology about last night?" I continued, my mood tensing up a bit.

His inappropriate silence was striking different beats in my heart and I was a little scared he was mad at me.

Rejecting his kiss was not the issue to be honest.

But…

Leaving him behind abruptly without an explanation was a little terrible.

For some reason, I could question myself.

Why does that matter?

Why am I bothered by this anyway?

"Did something happen last night?" He inquired obviously knowing how much I was delving into.

"Hyun Min." I groaned a little.

Why is he suddenly acting this way?

Is this his way of punishing me?

Is it outrightly okay for me to apologize?

I have the right over myself.

The right to refuse him.

But…

Why do I feel extremely bothered about him?

Why do I feel like I have wronged him?

Or should I ask myself the question I had asked him then.

Do I like Hyun Min?

"Sit here, I will go find something chill for you to drink."

He tried to walk away from me, but I grabbed his hand like a helpless bird seeking for help after getting drenched in the rain.

"It won't take long." He said and forced a little smile.

I didn't like it.

I don't want to see it.

He swiftly removed my hand from his and walked into the convenience shop.

Why is he making me feel like a bad guy here?

I sighed again and again and finally sat down under an umbrella shed.

I began playing with the cobblestones in the ground as I had nothing important to do aside thinking about the awkward situation Hyun Min had dragged me into.

Should I have rejected his offer to take me somewhere?

Suddenly, a sharp sting resonated through my scalp and I screamed.

"Ah!"

Someone was yanking my hair from behind and was intentionally dragging it to make me stand up from my seat.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I continued trying to free myself from the sharp hold of my attacker.

Who would dare to touch my hair?

My precious?

"Who are you?" My attacker asked, still dragging me out with my hair.

A girl?

I bet she had a bunch of my hair ripped out already and it felt like lava was being cooked on my scalp.

"Listen, I have very sensitive hair… let me go and let's talk like adults." I cried still trying to set myself free, but it seemed my attacker came prepared.

She was really rough with handling my hair.

My hairdresser would probably be sent to jail if she dared to pull my hair in this manner, but…

Is that even important at this moment?

"Adults?" The girl scoffed, still pulling hard. "I'm seventeen, bitch."

"Okay, I accept… just let me go and let's talk like normal humans would."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm not a normal human being. I am definitely nuts!" She growled like a mad dog seemingly not ready to set me free.

I could feel my scalp pores loosen and it hurt a lot.

I could cry if she continued pulling.

What have I done to deserve this unprecedented attack?

Or…

Is she Hyun Min's one-sided crush?

Or…

Is she his girlfriend?

Did I just get caught coming to her boyfriend's house?

I doubt Hyun Min has a girlfriend, but…

Is that even important right now?

"Hyun Ha!" Hyun Min's voice thundered as he exited the convenience shop.

He had probably heard our scuffling voice and had rushed out urgently. He caught up with us and carefully yanked the girl's hand away from my hair.

Finally, some air.

I was free.

But…

My scalp hurt so much like it was being cooked under a furnace.

Maintaining maximum composure, I straightened my hair despite the fringe of pains that panned through.

"Aera, are you okay?" Hyun Min asked, his voice completely filled with concern, hurt and a little hint of anger.

How did I notice all these?

"I'm… I'm fine." I replied a little shaky because I was moved to tears a bit.

Confirming my reply, he turned back at the girl he had called Hyun Ha, ready to pull out some answers from her.

"Why did you do this? Why did you attack her when she was defenseless? Did you think you'd win over her easily just because you could stab her in the back?" He asked her continuously, his tone tense and filled with rage.

It was the first time.

Or it is my first time witnessing Hyun Min's anger.

Is this how it feels like to tempt the calm devil all along?

Hyun Min is like a soft petal, but a moth sucking on him had made him grow thorns.

It was a little scary, but I felt protected.

Now, let's listen to this Hyun Ha girl and her reason for pulling my hair.

"She's the one, right? Aera?" She started, folding her arms against her chest like a rude brat.

That used to be me.

"Yes, she's the one. And what problem do you have with that?"

"I knew you'd bring this bitch over to our house soon. Are you still stupid? Did you not think of mom before bringing her here? You think your life is a romance book? A melodrama where the rich girl falls in love with a wretched guy like you? Wake up, Hyun Min… she's just using you!" Hyun Ha ranted heavily.

Hyun Ha… Hyun Min.

They are siblings.

And for the first time since the little scuffle began, I took notice of Hyun Ha. She could make a pass for being Hyun Min's twin sister, but she was quite the opposite of Hyun Min with the little of her attitude I had just witnessed.

But…

What is she talking about?

Me using Hyun Min?

Their mother not being happy about me coming to their house?

"And what if she's using me? Do you have a problem with that? It's my life and I can fucking live it how I want. Now, stop running that stupid mouth of yours and apologize to Aera!"

"Apologize?" Hyun Ha scoffed again. "You're impossible." She raged, rolling her eyes at her brother before flashing me a sharp irritated look.

And with that, she walked away with her horns extremely red.

Standing still for about a minute, Hyun Min finally turned around to face me.

I clenched my skirt tight as I was a little confused about what had just happened before me.

"Here…" He said, his voice extremely calm like still water as he stretched his hand out to me.

"Ice-cream?" I asked, managing a little smile.

Tch.

"How do you know this? It's an ordinary thing you probably haven't seen before."

He was a little nervous and I could read that much.

"I watch movies too." I replied, tearing the nylon apart and pulling out the chocolate filled stick ice cream.

I smiled.

"I love chocolate." I continued taking a small bite and Hyun Min walked closer to me.

He swept his hand through my hair and carefully arranged it properly like a well trained dresser.

"I'm glad you like ordinary things like this." He cooed, still settling my hair into the clan they belong to. "I'm sorry, Aera. I'm sorry this happened to you because of me."

"It was ordinary too… in dramas, the hair pull fight is a common thing, no? I feel like it is the beginning of a bond too." I giggled, hoping my cupid act was enough to make him not worry about me.

"How can you think of that in this situation? This is real life, Aera. Do you think the hair fights really happen in dramas? Don't make me laugh."

"I'm really okay." I lied smoothly through my teeth.

I felt a little bad.

I really wanted to be honest with Hyun Min.

He deserves that much.

Maybe my lie would make him worry less about me.

Then that is enough.

He paused at my silence and looked deeply into my eyes and different thoughts began to float into my mind.

What happens in this situation in dramas?

In books?

What do you do when an intense eye contact makes your heart flutter?

What do you do when he looks at you with so much innocence that you start to burn?

Fuck that!

Stepping on tiptoes, I slowly pulled the ice cream away from between us and lurched towards his face…

…towards his lips.

Is this right?

Is the timing right?

I really didn't take that much into consideration and all I wanted at that moment was to take him into mine.

Have his lips smooched a little against mine, or maybe a lot more.