12. Friends?

Opening the door I was greeted by a familiar cheerful face.

"MY TWINNIE! Sehun hyung why didn't you tell me that you were friends with my brother?!", Jongsuk said excitedly pulling me in a half hug.

Sehun rolled his eyes saying, "You cling unto Junseo as soon as you see him and give not even a 'hi hyung' to me? Some friend you are."

"Isn't that obvious? That's because Junseo is my twin while you're my childhood friend."

"Wow... You really hurt my feelings there", Sehun said sarcastically as he grin in amusement. "Wait, don't tell me you really are twins?"

"You know hyung, we have the same family name-"

"Even I am a 'Choi'! That doesn't make us brothers-"

"He's from Daegu and is 01' liner."

I sat quietly glancing back and forth from their discussion. Even their driver shook his head like saying 'Here we go again... Nothing new to see just carry on driving.'

"You're impossible, Jongsuk..."

"Anyways, don't make my baby twin uncomfy, hyung", Jongsuk said patting my head the same way as my mom.

Did he seriously accept me as his brother? I thought he was just fooling!

Sehun laughed at my shaken expression while Jongsuk played with his phone.

"What are you doing, Suk?"

"I'm telling Manager-nim to revoke today's shoot. I don't even like that brand."

"Is it not because you want to spend time with Junseo instead?", asked Sehun with a smirk which resulted in the younger getting flustered.

"You don't have to do that, Jongsuk," I said.

They genuinely seem like good people... Maybe we can even be friends if it weren't the same circumstances.

"But I want to. I want to get to know my new friend". His smile was unadulterated, void of any hidden intentions which made me speechless.

"Ar-are you sure you wanna be friends?", I fidgeted with my fingers nervously.

"Of cause," said Sehun. "I wanted to be friends with you since the first day we bumped."

I didn't expect him to remember that.

"Let's hang out someday." Jongsuk kindly offered.

I was too delighted to have made real friends after so long.

Sehun started, "I wish to help you and take down Daejung but we need a perfect strategy for it. We can't afford any missteps..."

Jongsuk spoke up, "Honestly, I'm sick of that bastard... Just who does he think he is? He thinks people's lives are just some objects he can play with and then throw away. Junseo, do you know about Seung?"

I nodded. "He was Daejung's first victim. Sunbae told me about him."

"That's correct. But it's not all," explained Sehun, "Daejung's father, the CEO of Hwang group shut off the case by bribing the higher-ranked police commissioners, prosecutors, judge, and even Seung's family. He took down every report which even mentioned his son. Seung never got the justice he had the right to..."

"But why is it that Daejung is the leader of all this and not his older brother Minseok?", I asked.

"That is because he is the illegitimate son", whispered Jongsuk. "No one in his family treats him right except Daejung that's why he follows him around like a puppy."

Now it all makes sense...

~~

We had finally reached my home. I got outside the car to bid Sehun and Jongsuk goodbye but they followed me as well.

"I need to make sure you get 'home' well and good", said Sehun grinning mischief.

I had no reason to decline him so I decided to let them be. I opened the door knowing that mom would still be at work. "Would you guys like to have some drin-", I was cut off when I heard my mom.

"Seo-ah you're late", she said coming out from the kitchen. When her eyes laid on Sehun and Jongsuk, the frown on her face was taken the place by a smile. "Oh my, it's been so long since you brought over your friends! Dinner's almost ready, please join us, boys."

Seeing her motherly smile Sehun was about to refuse but Jongsuk shut him off. "We'd love to, Mrs. Choi!"

They bowed and politely introduced themselves to mom. I whispered to my new friends, "Please don't tell her anything about school..."

They nodded and I excused myself to get changed from my uniform.

(Author's POV)

Once Junseo went to his room, the elder woman said, "Please take care of Junseo for me. If anything happens please just let me know. He would never tell me about his concerns no matter what. I'm happy that he made friends with such good kids."

Seeing her kind and loving eyes for Junseo, something in Sehun broke. "Of cause Mrs. Choi! He is a really good friend of ours."

The older woman sighed. "I'm glad... I was scared he would get bullied and won't tell me and suffer alone. It's a relief he has you guys as his friends."

Jongsuk and Sehun glimpsed at each other debating whether or not to tell Mrs. Choi. They decided against it and conclude it would be better to come up with a solution on their own.

~~

"Thank you for the dinner, Mrs. Choi. It was delicious!", exclaimed Sehun.

"Yeah, it's been years since I had homemade food." Said Jongsuk. He did not even remember when he last ate food made by his mother. The fancy food made by a professional chef was nothing compared to a mother's food.

Junseo's mother smiled at the young boys, "Come by again I will make you even more delicious meal. Seo-ah, do invite your rest of the friends next time."

"Sure, I will, mom."