"Your phone keeps ringing," he brings my attention to it, so I grab it and check what it is.

Three missed calls from Joonha, who did not talk to me today yet. "Crap," I call him back and stand up from my chair, not ready to hear his voice after last night, I leave this room and get in the supply one where no one is. "Hey, I'm sorry for not answering. I was away."

"Hey, it's fine, don't worry. Are you busy? I can call again later if you want," he reminds me of the one in my dream, the one who was literally railing me at some point. "No, no. I'm not. We're on a break right now."

"Alright then," he feels reassured. "How are you doing?"

"Good and you?" I lean back against a wall, putting one hand on it. "Same, just a bit tired. Did you sleep well?"

"I did, why are you tired though? Were almost eight hours not enough?" I peek down at my feet, feeling some type of way today with him as if there was some weird tension between us. "Yeah, well, about that," he chuckles. "I didn't sleep right after the call, so, that's why."

"Oh, so you lied to me," I joke with him, not being serious at all. "I didn't. I tried to sleep, but I couldn't, but anyway," he clears his throat, not even sounding certain of his own answer. "I wanted to talk about some stuff, and like, you know," he seems different from usual, making me nervous. "I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable last night. I was a bit...I don't know...I felt a bit too good, but I hope I didn't go too far."

"You didn't make me uncomfortable at all. I loved it, if I didn't, I would have been a bit clear about it. Don't worry about that at all," I tell him with sincerity, feeling soft at how caring he is about this. "Good. I kept on thinking about it for the whole day, and I was worried about it. I'm glad to hear that you were comfortable."

"Did you regret it as soon as you woke up?" I wonder, hoping for him to not confirm this. "No. I mean, if you had told me that you were uncomfortable, I'd have regretted it, but since you didn't, I don't regret at all."

"Good then," I feel some relief but hear his soft laughter. "Good? I wonder what would have happened if I didn't hang up."

"I wonder too," I smile, probably thinking about the same as he does. We both remain quiet for a few seconds, my heartbeat not slowing down.

"What are you doing? Have you eaten well for lunch?" he breaks this loud and heavy silence, and I nod. "I did, and I'm just chilling before going back to work. What about you?"

"Same, I'm soon gonna leave work, so I can't wait to be home," he emits a sound of pleasure as if he stretched out. "Same. Today feels long, I don't know why."

"I feel the exact same, I'm so bored, and the customers decided to piss me off. So, I'll be glad once I'm home, cuddling Choco and playing games," he already thinks about the end of his day at his job, and I relate. "What are the customers doing?"

"They're complaining over small stuff, being picky as fuck and just trying to get on my nerves, but I'm maybe overreacting because I'm tired," he puts the blame on his state when I am pretty sure that his job must not be hard given the number of people he sees every day and has to deal with. "Just try to not mind those stupid people and think about how good you'll feel tonight in your bed. At least, you know you'll have a great night."

"Yeah, I'll call you before sleeping then," he causes me some joy, and my smile never fades away. "You can. I'll wait for your call."

"I'm even more eager to be in bed then, but you better not do what you did last night, otherwise, I might go even further," he already starts, making it hard for me to not want to be all alone in my bedroom. "I didn't do anything last night. Why are you saying it's my fault if you didn't sleep?"

"Because it was. Again," he asserts and holds me responsible. "Again?"

"Yeah, when I dreamed of you and that I couldn't go back to sleep," he tells me, and I laugh but sit down on the floor. "I dreamed of you too last night, and guess whose fault it was? Yours."

"And what happened in that dream?" he asks the question I know he would not be able to avoid. "Nothing special..." I tell a falsehood. "We were just playing, just like in your dream."

"What kind of game? I didn't specify what type of game we were playing, you know," he does not fear having this kind of conversation on the phone when none of us are home. "A game. That's all, but you were in my room, not yours."

"Oh, you were in mine in my dream," he now tells me the truth. "And what kind of game were we playing in yours?"

"The one we're playing right now, then it went downhill, and since you were in my room, I couldn't just hang up and take care of it by myself, so you know what happened," he proves me right, and I gulp down, hating the fact that I am at my workplace. "But let's stop right there. I need to go back to work."

"Me too, but I can't because of you, so see you later," I go back up to not stay on the floor, and he scoffs. "Sure. You'll tell me what happened in your dream then."

"If you tell me more about yours, Sir," I check what time it is on my watch, hoping for my boss to not be mad for a few minutes. "Not 'Sir'."

"Baby boy?" I recall the nickname he made me repeat last night, but he does not show satisfaction with this one either. "No. Wrong again."

"What do you want me to call you? Daddy?" I wrap my free arm around my body. "Yes, it's better. See you, baby girl."

"Stop calling me baby—" I cannot end my sentence, he hangs up on me, and I chuckle but hold my phone down. What a little jerk.

•••

6:40 pm.

< hey, I won't be able to call you tonight bcs I have to be at a friend's house to celebrate his birthday that I forgot about:') ]

[ it's okay. Hope you have fun there >

< if you were there that'd be more fun but it's fine ]

[ sorry your bbgurl can't be there >

< daddy's disappointed and sad, you better comfort him this Wednesday ]

[ sure, I'll comfort you right in front of everyone while they're eating their burger:> >

< you can do it under the table, no one will see:> ]

[ of course Joonha:> stop being horny all the time >

< me horny? I'm not:0 ]

[ sure sure:) >

< yes sure:) anyway, what are you doing? Have you had dinner already? ]

[ yes and I'm looking for a new keyboard, and you? >

< I'm waiting for my dad to come and drive me to my friend's house ]

[ are you gonna stay there for a long time? >

< I have no idea but most of the time when I got at a birthday party, I'm still there after midnight so I might not sleep as much as I would want to ]

[ then come back before midnight...-_- >

< I'm gonna drink for sure so I have to wait for them to eat cake and then only start the party-_- ]

[ then you listen to me, don't drink and go home early to have a good night >

< alright mommy, I'll be a good boy and do as told to make you proud•u•<3 ]

[ good boy c:<3 >

< dont I deserve a kiss for that? ]

[ you haven't done it yet so no:) >

< alright, I'll wait...:) ]

I smile but leave my phone down on my lap. I cannot wait to be on Wednesday.

— Two weeks later —

Saturday, July 23rd, 2022.

10 am.

< hey, you're coming today, right? I can't stand another week away from my little brat:( ]

[ hey, yes I'm coming this time:3 >

I answer while putting my clothes on after a shower, missing the weekends we used to spend with each other, but which are happening less lately, only because of many unexpected things happening.

< good. I'll be there earlier this time and Seunggil told me he won't be there ]

[ really, why? >

< he has to stay with his sister again lmao ]

[ well we'll be alone then bcs Hyunjin is busy too >

< that's not a bad thing:> ]

[ what does that mean? Your girl's gonna be jealous:) >

< stop saying that Iseul is my girl, she's just a friend:) stop being so jealous babygirl:c ]

[ says the one who sulked for two days bcs I went out with my friend instead of you:) >

< shut up, I'm still hurt about that:( we haven't seen each other in two weeks and you empty a whole pack of salt on my wound ]

[ aw poor baby boy:c >

< shut up, I'm a daddy. Now hurry up and come to the skatepark ]

[ I'm coming:> >

< :> ]

I make it fast to put my phone in the pocket of my denim jeans but stand in front of my mirror to check how I look.

A blue see-through crop top with a pair of flared jeans. I fix my hair and spray some fragrance over my skin and clothes, then I go out and walk downstairs.

"Hey," my brother stops me right when I pass in front of him. "Where are you going?" he stares at me, and I sigh. "At the skatepark. Why?"

"You wear another top, it's see-through," he points his finger at it, exaggerating again. "I'm wearing another small one underneath to hide what I need to hide."

"But it looks like a bra, and you're wearing a new fragrance now? I'm not dumb, I know what that means," he understands why I have changed my habits. "Inhyuk," I turn towards him. "You are dumb."

He grins at me and kicks me in the butt. "You like that guy, don't you? The makeup, the fragrance, the joy. You're in love. Uh?"

I smile and shake my head to deny it. "I'm not. I've always been like that."

"That's not true," he crosses his arms and smiles at me. "I know you. You're my little sister, and I know you since you're a baby. You can't hide anything from me because I can tell when you're lying."

"Whatever. I don't want to be late," I move towards the entry room and put my shoes on, and he follows me with his car keys. He puts his shoes on as well, and since it is already hot outside, none of us put a jacket on, we leave the house, and I rush to his car.

"What the fuck happened for you to be so eager?" he unlocks the doors to let me in. "I haven't seen him in two weeks, so I miss him," I get in his Audi, and he joins me. "He's the one you're always on the phone with?"

"Yes," I put my seat belt on, and he does the same. "You still text each other every day?"

"Yes," I answer and check my phone to see if the concerned one sent me a message.

< Inhyuk is driving you, right? ]

[ yes, why? >

< just wanted to make sure you're not alone ]

"Look," I show my screen to my brother, and before getting on the road, he reads the text. "Hm. Good, but that won't make me like him. Some guys can pretend to be good at the beginning then show their real face, so I won't trust him so easily."

"You'll never trust him, I know you," I roll my eyes and put my phone back on my lap. "I will. One day. After one year if he hasn't changed, then—"

"One year?! Jeez. Inhyuk," I laugh, not believing this but knowing he is not even joking. "What? An asshole wouldn't last for so long because he would try with another one if that doesn't work with you."

"It's been almost two months, and he hasn't changed," I remark as he is focusing on the road, but he does not listen. "Two months is nothing. You know, I'm not doing this to piss you off or make sure you stay my innocent little sister all your life. I do this because I care and love you, and I know how guys are. I just don't want you to get heartbroken, used, or anything like that."

"He's just a friend right now anyway, so you don't have to worry," I look out of the window, understanding his point of view and feelings. "But you're already in love, and given the way he talks to you, I know where this is going. So I'm worried. That's all."

"Don't you think that if he wanted to date me but that he was a bad guy, he would have left me after seeing you and dad? He wouldn't try anything when he knows that you're overprotective, and dad too," I ask for his opinion since he is a man and that he knows as he said. "Maybe, but out of ego, some would find it enjoyable and exciting to ruin a girl and destroy the relationship she has with her family."

I do not respond, knowing he is right. I gaze down at my phone and check discord.

"I need to talk about something else," I change of subject, and he nods. "Tell me."

"There's this guy on discord. He's always texting me, inviting me for games, and asking me to send him vocals or use my mic when we play, and he's also asking me for pics almost every day," I do not keep it to myself, feeling the need to talk about everything with him since I do not have a mother to do it with. "Block him."

"But he's fun, and I like playing with him because he always cheers me up," I lean my head back and turn it towards him, but he expresses some bother. "He's an asshole. Do not talk to him anymore. Does the one you always hang out—"

"Joonha," I pronounce his name that seems forbidden in his mouth. "Yeah, Joonha," he raises his hand up from the gear stick. "Does he ask you for pics all the time too?"

"He never does, he just likes to FaceTime every Friday and weekend," I do not compare them both since Joonha is way better as a person. "And you're not dumb about this type of stuff, so you know why that guy wants to hear your voice and see you so much, don't you?"

"Yes, I'm not a baby," I check the time and where we are, impatient to see Joonha. "Then you know you should block him. If you like Joonha, tell him about this and see how he reacts. He'll tell you the exact same."

"I hung out with a friend last Wednesday to celebrate the fact he got his first job, but you know we're supposed to eat together on that day, right?" I ask to make sure that he has not forgotten, and he affirms, so I continue. "Well, he was sulking because he wanted to see me. He was acting like I cheated on him, and he kept making me feel bad by telling me he was sad."

"Th—"

"And before you could say 'That's immature', it's not, we're used to joking with each other like that," I clarify to not hear something stupid leave his mouth, and he chuckles. "Alright then, but you got your answer. He'll tell you to block that guy if he knows what he's doing."

"I'll tell him if he annoys me," I remove my seat belt now that I can see the skatepark. "I'll buy you a new skateboard tomorrow, alright? I forgot to do it," he stops the car, and I smile. "No need to, I'll get one, but thank you for the ride, I'll text you once I'm going back home."

"He'll be with you, right?" he needs reassurance, and I put his mind at rest. "He will. He won't ever let me go by myself again."

"Good, see you later. I love you," he holds the steering wheel with one hand, saying those words we both hate but want to tell each other. "I love you too, be careful on the road," I open the door and get out, and I smile at him. "I'm gonna make out with him," I slam the door and hurry to run away after hearing him yell and honk at me. I giggle but look for Joonha, who should already be here.

Some guys are already skating, but I cannot see the fluffy blond hair, so I check on the other ramps, and right when I turn on the right, I feel two hands squeeze my shoulders. "Daddy's here," he speaks in my ear, and I unconsciously twitch at the feeling of his breathing on my skin.