the other nine had stepped out of the room, rushing out once they heard chaeyeong's call for help with the groceries.

the two biological children stayed back, simply sitting and thinking of the long conversation they'd just finished having as a group.

the same question was running through both their minds- what would it be like if they actually dated?

if their innocent touches and nearly meaningless flirting were genuine, holding deeper meaning to them.

would it be awkward considering it all came so natural to them? neither of the two ever had to second guess the other's motives when they did anything, always knowing it was mere sibling-like affection and love they felt for the other.

nothing more.

the boy hesitantly cleared his throat after they'd surrounded themselves with deafening silence for the past few minutes, each in their own little mental arguments.

"so.."
"so.." she replied, the pair instantly falling into a fit of giggles at their unneeded awkwardness.

"what if we just.. do it?"

her eyebrows crinkled in confusion, "do what?"

"dated," he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

her eyes widened instantly, looking at the boy as if he'd grown another head. she giggled a few seconds afterward, "you're insane,"

"i mean it.. only as a joke, though,"

the final part caught her attention, no matter how much she wished she could deny the small spark of curiousity that'd ignited inside of her upon pondering on the idea.

they sat in another couple seconds of silence, dwelling on every possible outcome doing this could have.

nothing could ever prepare them for what it would turn out to be, though.

ella let out another chuckle, holding her hand out towards the hwang boy. "deal, innie.. but let's make a deal," she said before he could get a word out, this playing out like any other one of their harmless dares.

the corner of his lip turned upward, grasping her smaller hand with his own, "and that is..?"

"whoever falls for the other first loses,"

( 结束 )