Chapter 39: C-37

C-37

Hyunjin is waiting by the entrance with Dori. I run to them and crush my baby in a hug.

"There you are." The tall boy laughs.

"Sorry for the inconvenience, Hyunjin."

"It's fine! He used to sneak out a lot when we first got him in the cafe, but he always came back so don't worry. He might've forgotten the way to your house that's why he went here," he explains.

I hug Dori once more before gently putting him in the cat carrier.

"Thank you for staying with him." I smile at him.

"No problem! What are friends for?" He gives me a fist bump. I notice his arms are dotted with red and his nose is slightly pink from sneezing.

"Are you okay? Did you catch a cold?"

"I'm alright." He grins. "It's just a cat allergy."

"What?! Why do you work here when you're allergic to cats?"

He giggles at my reaction. "It's just mild and only with long contact, plus Jinyoung-hyung employed me. Who am I to reject my most respected senior?"

I shake my head at him. We bid our goodbyes as he still has a couple hours of his shift left.

Dori and I head to the bus stop after finally getting him the cute beret. We arrive home safely and I promise to myself not to lose him ever again!

ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ

My mother is cutting the onion as I take care of the boiling pot. I take the rice when it's done and put it on a serving plate. I add the kimchi into the pot together with the other ingredients and wait for it to cook. Once it's finished, my cousin put it in a serving bowl.

"Woah, Y/n! This tastes better than I expected!" Yuta says as he slouches on the kitchen counter, tasting every dish.

"I told you I'm getting better..." I sulk but he just laughs at me.

"Yuta, stop eating everything! You're going to finish that before dinner," Mum scolds then orders him to take everything to the dining table.

When we hear a car parking in the garage, that's the cue that Dad is home. We're waiting for him before we start eating because they will tell us something.

I hope it's not about my grades from that History report months ago. They might think that it's because of my phone and take it away again.

After we say our prayers, we start to dig in. They complimented my cooking which made me feel giddy. I knew I was improving! Even Minho says so!

"How's the training going?"

"It's hard, but I can manage, uncle," Yuta says.

"Aren't they starving you? I will tell your mum about this! Why do you look thinner? Look at your little cousin! You kids look better with chubby cheeks," Mum exclaims and pinches my cheeks.

That's a good thing, right? I hope she's not indirectly roasting me.

"How about you, my dear daughter? I heard you're not a loner anymore."

I pout. "I just didn't have people to hangout with."

Dad laughs at me and ruffles my hair.

"Are you and Jisung together now?" he asks.

"Well, we rarely go home together now." My parents both shake their heads.

Yuta smirks. "Then who do you go home with now?"

My cheeks flush. "My seatmate..."

"You finally have a seatmate?" Mum smiles.

"That's good," Dad adds.

"The question is, is it really just a seatmate?" Yuta prods. Mum and Dad both look at him in confusion.

"A seatmate who's also a f-friend... I have friends now!" I defend myself before my parents start getting suspicious. My cousin laughs in amusement as I subtly glare at him.

We all headed to the living room after Yuta washed all the dishes in apology for teasing me. I'm starting to wonder what they'll tell us because it's not everyday that everyone's home.

Dad clears his throat. "Your grandad was admitted to the hospital last week and now grandma needs our help to take care of him."

"Is he okay?!"

My grannies are the sweetest and as much as possible I want them to live forever.

"He's stable now, don't worry," Mum assures us.

Yuta puts his arm on my shoulders and pats it soothingly. "When are we leaving?"

"We'll go to Gimpo tomorrow morning," Dad announces.

"Why don't they just move here in Seoul?" I ask them.

"It's not best for them to travel and they don't really want to live in the city," Mum says. "They won't even allow us to move here if you just didn't need the best hospital."

I tilt my head in confusion. "But I didn't have my eye surgery here."

Dad and Mum look at each other weirdly and then turn to my cousin. He blinks then suddenly starts chuckling.

"You slipped whilst you were still recovering from the LASIK and suffered a mild concussion." He looks back at Mum and Dad. "They took you here to make sure you're alright but then you begged to stay because you wanted to live in Seoul so bad for your KDrama boys. That's when you decided to move, and it's more convenient for my training too since I can come over."

"I don't remember that?"

"You're always so clueless." Yuta shakes his head. "But at least you're not obsessed with those pretty sad boys anymore."

"Hey, don't talk about my Gong Taekwang that way!"

He raises his arms after I glare at him for disrespecting my best boy.

"I think we should rest now. We'll travel early in the morning so we can get there immediately." Both my parents stand up.

"Wait, how about me and Y/n?" Yuta asks.

"You have your training and Y/n can't take a one-month break from school since it's her last year now," Dad explains.

"You're leaving for a month?" My mouth hangs open.

"There are helpers, but I'll also ask the Hans next door to check on you from time to time," Mum says and kisses both of our cheeks. "Yuta, I know you're busy but can you look after your little cousin? Don't fail us."

My cousin turns serious as he nods at my parents. "I'll ask the company to let me stay here instead of the dorms."

After a few reminders, they finally go to their room.

I slouch on the sofa next to my cousin whilst processing everything that I found out. I try to remember what they were talking about. Am I too old that I'm starting to forget things already?

"What's with that face, huh?" Yuta asks me.

"I'm trying to remember things."

"Hm." He presses his lips into a thin line. "You might've hit your head too hard."

"Someone told me that I'm naïve. Maybe I really am..."

"They probably meant your naïveté is endearing." He messes my hair. "You're just an innocent little baby."

"Hey!" I swat his hand away.

"What's the deal with you and this mystery friend now?" he asks and really emphasises the word 'friend'.

I blush as I start telling him bits from my hangouts with Minho. Of course I won't tell him everything because he will just tease me, but I'm glad to fill him in.

Yuta acts like an older brother to me and I really appreciate it. I've been a loner since birth since I only have my cousins. We got used to telling secrets to each other and I'm so glad he moved here from Japan because I can't really gossip with Jeongin.

"I had a feeling you weren't at Jisung's that night!" he exclaims with wide eyes. "You're a rebel. What if he did something else to you?"

"He won't, okay? We've been classmates for a long time now and I know him well enough. He's a good guy!"

"You're so gullible." He facepalms. "Do you trust this 'catboy' that much?"

I can't help but laugh at our code for Minho's name. "I trust him so you shouldn't worry."

"The last time I didn't worry about you, you ended up at the hospital."

"I have a very big crush on him..." I pout. "He had never hurt me in any way and he makes me feel so safe."

A smile eventually creeps onto his face as he squeezes me into one of those warm brotherly hugs.

"It's been a while since you looked so happy talking about someone. I remembered back in 8th grade when you used to have a crush on that kid that rarely smiles." He shakes his head at me. "Do you have a thing for bad boys?"

"He's not a bad guy."

"He clearly is not if he's able to bring back the curious little rebel in you," he says sarcastically.

"Huh?"

"You were a kid who always went after things you're curious about, but since you moved here in Seoul you started being quieter. You're not as giddy like before," he says. "Puberty does hit hard."

"I'm happy now! I made some friends because of him." I beam. "Oh, and I met your co-trainees earlier."

"Who?"

"Kun, Ten, and Jungwoo!" I tell him. "They're sort of intimidating, but they helped me find Dori."

Yuta frowns. "Those guys..."

"You showed them my old pictures, didn't you? They said I look different! I told you the past is the past." I grimace. "They seem kind so I won't mind being friends with--"

"No. Don't talk to them again," he says flatly.

"Why?"

"It's for the better. They're troublemakers and I don't want you getting into danger."

"If you say so... Jungwoo seems nice though."

"No. Especially him. He may be sweet, but it's better if you stay away from him."

I'm glad I didn't tell him about the things that Minho does or he might tell me to stop being friends with him too. Even if he does tell me that, I know in myself that no one can stop me from being with Minho. My cousin says so himself. Minho brought back the curious little rebel in me and I'd be just that if it means being with him.

I started my last year of high school alone, but I eventually found people who make it so enjoyable. I hope my newfound friends stick with me even if I'm not the most exciting person.

Life is more tolerable with friends to brave it with.