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"No Jia, you don't touch other people's things without their permission."

I rubbed my butt which was stinging, due to me crashing into the leg of the bed while trying to take my property.

"But I wanted to see!"

"I would show you something else. Do you want candies?" I sweetly smiled at her, trying any way to divert her mind.

"I'm not a kid, unnie!" She crossed her arms and I couldn't control my laughter that slipped through my teeth.

"Then I will eat all the candies myself," I sighed, standing up from the ground with the sketchbook firmly secured under my arm.

"No, I want candies."

Gotcha.

"Okay, come this way."

"But unnie, your drawings are so good! I liked them." She whispered as she waddled behind me to the cupboard, and I pressed my lips into a line, taking in the compliment.

"You did?"

"Yes! The flowers were so beautiful. They looked real, just like my teacher draws in school."

Oh, so she only saw my floral designs.

"O-Oh, I'm happy that you liked them... I don't show them to anyone, so don't tell this to your mom or my mom, alright? It's our secret."

"Our secret?" She smiled mischievously, to which I couldn't decipher I could trust or not.

"Yes, our little secret."

"Okay!"

"Now here comes the candies!" I placed the book under the pile of clothes in my wardrobe before picking up the jar filled with colourful candies of different flavours.

She squealed happily and we both made our way back to the bed, plopping down on the mattress as I pulled out some random packets of candies, sharing them with my little sister.

She popped one in her mouth, suddenly scrunching her nose. "It's sour!"

"Mine is sweet," I stuck my tongue out at her, showing the pink strawberry flavoured candy dancing on my tastebuds.

"Not fair, I got orange." Jia muttered incoherently and placed her head on my lap, still sucking in the sour flavour with her face twisting a hundred ways.

I stroked her short black hair as I felt my eyelids shut down. I licked my lips after the candy fully dissolved in my mouth. It was just afternoon, and I already felt the need to take a small nap.

The warm windy air filled the room as the satin curtains flew in different directions, gleaming sunlight slowly peeking through and hitting my eyes like lazers.

I looked down at Jia, whose mouth was parted open, a soft snore coming out of her flared nostrils.

"Oh, you're asleep.." I muttered, gently lifting her head from my lap and placing it on the pillow, her skirt stuck between her crossed legs.

How can kids sleep in any position without hurting their back?

I smiled absent-mindedly, staring at her soft features. I knew she would be tired. After all, a flight of six hours is exhausting.

Slowly getting up and leaving her frail figure sleeping soundly, I made my way out of the room, to have a talk with my aunt.

Both of them were present in the kitchen, gossiping about God knows who. Upon noticing my presence, aunt Jaehee quickly made her way to me, looking back at the corridor.

"Where is Jia?"

"Oh, she's asleep. Must be tired." I replied, not sparing a glance at my mom. I was mad at her, and this was the only way to display my fury. I wouldn't talk unless it was important and after some time, we would automatically forget everything and would start chatting as usual.

It was kind of childish...

"That's good, I got you something." She smiled, digging in her suitcase as she pulled out a package, covered in shiny wrap.

"Oh, what's this?" My mouth hung open at the item. I loved gifts and surprises, but unfortunately... there was no one to arrange anything like that for me.

Not even on my Birthdays.

My parents were old-fashioned, they didn't believe in arranging 12 am surprises in my room. We would get a small cake in the evening and cut it between us three. The rest of the day would be spent talking to relatives on calls. No friends, no gifts, just mere wishes from elders.

Well, the wishes were satisfactory. Who would gift a teddy bear to this eighteen year old? Laughable.

I smiled at her, taking the package from her hands. I opened it with shaky hands, still processing that I received a gift after so long.

After removing the red shiny wrapping, I noticed a colourful outfit, which made me confused at first. I glanced at aunt and she gave a positive grin, signalling for me to continue. I removed the package and figured it was a pink and white unicorn onesie.

"Oh my God, how cute is that!" I mumbled, touching the fluffy fabric. With it was a booklet or more like a notebook with white shiny cover and unicorns carved on it, making it look like a 3D exterior.

And a pen, to accompany the cute notebook.

I felt my heart rocketing at this. Aunt remembered how much I loved unicorns when I was 11.

"Thank you for this, I love you.." I left the items there, getting up and hugging my aunt. She mimicked the action, fondly hugging me back.

She was like my best friend till I was 11. I shared things with her more than I did with my mom. But then she got married and went away.

"I love you too," she replied, "I saw this at the airport and remembered you. I knew you'll like it."

"I loved it!" I cut her in between, "sometimes I wish you were my mom instead." I whispered in her ear and she laughed at that.

"Why? Aren't you happy with your mom?"

Um....am I?

"I don't think your niece is happy with either of her parents." Mom said and I sighed at her words, bending down and picking up my items.

"What happened? Anything I'm not aware of?" She asked confusedly.

"I'm happy aunt, don't worry." I turned back to her before going to my room. "I think it's them who are not happy with me... maybe I'm still not enough."

"Who said that? Tell them to fight me." She said, more like in a joking way.

"Your sister."

"Your niece."

Me and my mom blurted out together, which made me freeze and stare back at her.

And aunt bursted into a hearty laugh, making me break into an awkward smile too.

"Are you both enemies or mother-daughter?"

"I don't know, ask them." I replied, trying to maintain a straight face. If I was petty then I must showcase it that way.

With that, I stomped out.

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The day passed like that, with me trying to divert my mind from Jia who was soundly sleeping in my sheets to my heavy workbook resting between my nose.

There were two days left for my exams and I wasn't ready. It was going to be tough for me, as I already assumed. I promised myself not to touch my laptop or my phone until my exams were over.

Trying hard to divert my mind any way, I flipped the pages over, the fresh aroma of the smooth paper reminding me of my unfinished novel.

"Dang it! I was still stuck over that cliffhanger!" I facepalmed.

I swiftly got up, reaching out to my bookshelf but then stopped when it hit me.

Ugh. Stupid exams.

Why can't they ask questions from these type of novels? If it was possible, I would be the topper of my college...

I picked up my phone from the ground, staring at the already cracked screen where I noticed a new crack at the bottom.

I tapped the screen but it froze. My heart stopped for a second wondering how I'd be able to talk to my friends with this stupid device, which started to hang.

Oh...but I don't have friends.

Bingo! No need to worry about.

An unwilling smile made it's way to my lips and I laughed at my own joke.

I've got nice sarcasm. If I had actual friends they'd think I'm so cool.

But atleast I can joke around Dr. Hoseok. He understands my jokes.

A tiny laugh bubbled up my throat, but then I felt a faint shock.

My mind started clouding once again with the same stinging ache at back of my head. Thin white lines blocked my vision and I stumbled, trying to grip on the nearest object for support.

It was the door of my wardrobe.

I pulled at the handle, trying to balance myself but instead it opened with a squeak, leading to me lose balance and land on the carpet, the whole impact going on my left arm and shoulder, along with my spine.

Jia woke up hearing the thud and I hissed in pain. It was like my whole body suddenly went numb.

This had never happened before.

"Unnie! Are you okay!?"

It was the last thing I heard before my eyes started turning black at the corners and I clenched my fists, feeling the atmosphere turn faint around my now fragile body.

A/N

I'm a bad author.

I'm sorry for making you all wait. I really am.

Many people recently added this to their "waiting for update" kinda reading lists and I can't tell how happy I felt. How are you liking this shit? Akdjskddkdk

But atleast I'm getting motivated that people are waiting for me. I'll work harder on updates. Thank you for the kind support! You all mean so much to me🥺

Borahaeeee💜