173. Take Me Home

"Little brother you've grown much skinnier than the last time I set my eyes on you. Should I assume Stan has is failing at his responsibilities as your marker?"

"Mijin, why are you here?"

"I was hurt when I first came to the knowledge of your wedding arrangements, hoping you'll be the one to break the news to me but it seems you were reluctant to share the good news with me. Therefore, you'll have to excuse me if I didn't bring you anything nice so consider my presence a generous gift."

"How did you know where I live?"

"Questions after questions. Don't you care a little concerning my well being?"

"You left without a word..."

"I told you I was planning on leaving earlier. Why are you acting offended when I was the victim?"

"Mijin, you did a number of despicable things... it's not like you left while in good terms with anyone."

"Princess... I mean Haesol, how is she?" Mijin asked, seeming frustrated. She'd expected a cold welcomed from Stan but not Yeon. Additionally, there was something oddly off with her brother, a lack of excitement for the wedding and her presence combined.

"You'll have to ask Mom and Dad concerning her. I haven't visited them in a while."

"Did something happen? You seem edgy and your scent was lingering in the air, as if you were upset about something."

"You're the last person I had expected to see today so excuse my shock at the sight of you."

Mijin sneered, unconvinced by her brother's explanation but chose not to press on. Shrugging her shoulders, she stated her purpose. "I came to pick you so pack up. We are going home."

"Home where?"

"To mom and dad. You're getting married in a week therefore you can't be with Stan until then. "

"Why would I tag along with you? Mom and dad never mentioned this." Yeon said, seeming suspicious.

"Don't you trust me?"

"No."

"Fair enough. It's not like I was ever nice to you anyway." Mijin chuckled then began walking around the livingroom, ignoring Stan's intense glare while he made a sandwich.

"Your place looks nice and homey. It has been a while since I was in one of these, I'd say I do feel your parents presence in the air." Leaning onto the kitchen counter, she stared at Stan in the eye and stated, "I wonder how you turned out to be such an overbearing snobby bastard..."

"Mijin," Yeon cut in, appearing behind his sister. "You said you came here to pick me up. You can proceed alone and let mom and dad know I'll join later."

"That's not up for negotiations, unless you'd rather I stay here instead for a week before you two do your thing. Honestly, I'd prefer the latter. I'm a bit jetlagged from my travels."

Within minutes, Yeon came out from his room with a bag pack and his laptop in his hand. He was about to rush down the stairs, worried about leaving his fated and his sister alone but the atmosphere in the air had had him confused. They were chatty as opposed to the previous tension that had been there before.

"When you add in pickles and a little bit of chili, the taste changers completely." Stan had said. "Yeon likes it so I figured you two share the same taste."

"You were right about that." Mijin said as she munched on the sandwich made by Stan. "We are both not picky when it comes to food, but how come I'd never heard tales of your cooking? You were pretty famous back in campus."

"It's not like people wanted to be friends with me to get to know me as a person."

"Who would care about your culinary skills when you have looks like that?"

"I wanted meaningful connections..."

"Come on, you can't blame people for liking what they see."

"Mijin let's go." Yeon interrupted upon reaching downstairs.

"Not going to say goodbye to your sweetheart?"

"I'll call you when I get there Stan." Yeon said and began walking towards the main door.

His dismissive gesture had his sister giggling while she followed him hurriedly behind. "See you at the rehearsal tomorrow Stan. I enjoyed our little chat."

It took a while before another taxi arrived to pick both Mijin and Yeon and in that time, Yeon couldn't help but wonder how within a few minutes of his absence, his sister had somehow managed to break into Stan's tough exterior. Mijin had always been like this and Yeon often wondered what works of magic or which formulae she used to get people to let her have her way.

Stan and one of the security detail helped in loading Mijin's luggage and soon enough they were on their way, the bodyguard taking the passenger seat at the front as Mijin and Yeon sat behind.

"You hate me that much huh?" Mijin asked, irritated by the prolonged silence from her brother.

"Why did you come back? What's your motive?"

"I'm not your enemy little brother. I'm here to support you."

"Where have you been all this time?"

Sighing exasperatedly, Mijin replied. "I left the country for a while. I only came back since I didn't want to miss your wedding but seeming how you don't want me around, I'll leave as soon as the ceremony is over."

Yeon studied his sister's expression, hoping that what she said was true but despite wanting to believe her, he just couldn't. His sister's many faces was nothing new to him and the current look she had on might just be one that she'd used to manipulate Stan with moments ago. "Thanks for coming. You...seem happier than before."

"I am. Maybe all I had to do was change the environment, and move to a place nobody knows me. Additionally, Elric's mom recommended a good therapist so don't worry. I kept my promise to you on seeking help but that doesn't mean I'm considering taking Haesol. I only asked after her since she is now part of the family."

"You speak of her like some stranger when she looks just like you."

"Then she'll grow to become my little sister..."

"She isn't..."

"Yeon...please respect my decision. I'm choosing to start life afresh. I've not exactly been an upright person so abandoning my past self is the best way I know how to be accommodative of others. I still hate you though for being a too goody shoes. It's always been a one sided competition between you and I which you effortlessly won. I tried so hard to be like you but any progress I made proved my efforts useless. In the end, everyone liked you the most therefore, the only thing I can apologize for is allowing myself to be used as Mora's pawn to harm you."

"I see that you are still as selfish as ever."

"Yea. Indeed I am. That is why if there is anyone who has the right to bring you misfortune, it should only be me."

'What kind of logic is that?' Yeon wondered to himself. "I don't think you're going to therapy at all if you still choose to utter such nonsense. I've never brought you any harm so why would you wish me misfortune?"

"That's your problem not mine. I made sure Stan knows this too so, if he dares to break your heart, he'll have to answer to me."

"Stan should be the least of your worries. How about you just take care of yourself and focus on having a better mental state instead."

Mijin ignored her brother's remark and reached for his hand but Yeon pulled away, a gesture that made her frown, prompting her to retract her hand immediately. "Little brother, are you really happy?"

Her sudden question felt strange to Yeon's ears. It had been years since she'd genuinely asked of her brother's welfare. "Why are you asking me that out of the blue?"

"You seem stressed. I know you so don't lie to me. I'd be glad if you relied on me like before."

After a brief contemplation, Yeon admitted. "I was but not anymore."

"Are you sure little brother? I may be selfish as you said, but I'm still your sister."

"I'm fine."

Mijin smiled then looked outside the window. "Okay little brother. I believe you. I left the toffee flavored candy with Stan. He'll give them to you after your wedding..."

"Toffee?" Yeon's eyes lit up with anticipation. "The ones form Yummy Yum?"

"One and only. They have been your favorite since we were kids. I had to preorder in advance then pulled a string or two. I hope you'll like them."

Yeon formed a warm smile feeling touched by his sister's thoughtfulness. 'Maybe she really as changed to have remembered that...' "Thank you. I'd thought you forgot trivial things like that."

"Why would I? I'm your big sister." Mijin's response was plain and simple for her thoughts were on the conversation she'd had with Stan a few moments ago when Yeon had gone upstairs to get some of his belongings.

"Help me get along with my little brother."

"Why would you think I'd help you with anything to begin with?"

"Because you like my little brother and there is no one who knows him better than I do."

"I don't need anything from you."

"But you need to look good in front of my brother right?"

"I don't have to. I'm already good."

"I have pictures of him as a baby..."

"...I-I can get that from your parents..."

"I'm sure you can. I also brought his favorite snacks when he was a child, something only him and I used to have while coming from school. It's not ice-cream either."

"I'll ask him what it is."

"I had it preordered since that company doesn't make them anymore."

"What is it?"

"First, help me out. That's the deal."

"How many pictures are we talking about here?"

"How many do you want?"

"All of them."

"I'll give you two."

"Ten."

"Three."

"Deal."

"Yeon, while you went upstairs, did you call mam and dad about me taking you home?"

"They confirmed it. Where are you planning to stay anyway if you don't want to be around Haesol?"

"I have a temporary place of my own close by. Dad said you'll be taking my room since Hajin sleeps with Haesol in your old room. The old me would have kicked Hajin and his daughter out...and probably insisted on using my room but I don't want to do that anymore. Fighting and getting angry is exhausting...a waste of time and energy.

You see little brother, I'm being considerate. You called me selfish earlier, but I don't think I'm such a bad person as you think. I'm just jealous of you and what you have."

"You don't have to be. You're the prettier one..."

"Yet nobody seems to want me." Returning her gaze back to Yeon, Mijin spoke, "Little brother, you got everyones' attention without even lifting a finger."