Eighteen (1/2)

Byulyi have missed almost the entire day of Christmas. She was sleeping through the whole day and she wasn't even aware when she woke up and asked me about the time.

"It’s 3PM now." I said.

And she shot her eyes open, checking the clock and it proved that I'm not lying at all. She felt bad because she has plans on taking her little sisters out. Byulyi told me about how she promised her sisters that she will take them to the ice skate ring, it wasn't all fancy day out but it's a promise and the Byulyi I know takes promises seriously.

She said the day was about to end and the weather won't be good if Byulyi take Umji out. So, they made a deal to go out tomorrow. Umji made Byulyi do a pinky promise and suddenly I was taken back to the moment at the airport where I escorted Byulyi to the Departure gate. She made me promise that I will wait for her to come back, she made me do the pinky promise too. I got the idea that it must be their thing. It's the family's thing and I can't help but smile at the small gesture.

It was simple. It was innocent. Yet it holds such an important meaning. A promise. One that you should never even think of bailing from it.

And there's this pride knowing I get to be a part of it.

"So, unnie," Byulyi turns to me, a short look that only lasted for less than thirty seconds as she takes the empty space next to me. Without even asking for my permission, she already put a small pillow on my lap and laid her head on it. It's nothing new, we always did this to each other and it became a normal thing even when I still feel a little flustered.

I can feel my cheeks starting to feel hot. Not to mention, we're not exactly alone at my place.

Byulyi seemed to notice that I'm spacing out when she called my name softly. "Yongsun." I was a little taken aback. Did my ears trying to deceive me or did I just hear Byulyi call me with no honorifics?

Either way, it feels so good in my ears.

"Hm?" I drew my attention to her. Secretly hoping it wasn't a slip-tongue earlier.

She flashed me her hamster smile and says, "You were on the phone with the girls when I woke up. How are they? Did they plan a surprise to welcome me? Did you guys talk about me?"

I couldn't hold the urge to roll my eyes and flicked her forehead.

Sometimes Byulyi is so full of herself.

"They're doing great. I doubt they have some surprise for you, they're still pissed with the fact you didn't—we didn't tell them about your return." I heard a soft chuckle as she rests her arms to cover her eyes. "Also, we did talk about you."

Byulyi jolted a bit and her eyes were wide open.

"You did? What did you guys talk about me?"

I gave her a fake frown, raising my eyebrow with a smirk. "Why should I tell you?"

"'Cause you're my best friend."

Suddenly, my grips on the couch tightens, my jaws clenched so hard my teeth could break, something in my chest felt like it was forcefully pulled into a tight knot and it makes it hard for me to breathe. I tried hard to not scoff at her answer, but I failed.

"Yeah right," I even rolled my eyes. "We didn't really talk about you. Just mentioning you once or twice. The rest of it is…involving privacy so I can't spill."

"Privacy?" She frowns. "Yours or Wheein's?"

"…Mine."

"And you're not telling me?"

"Mmhm, yes."

Actually, no. It was just me wanting to piss her off a little for once because I know when Byulyi wants to know something, she can't just be left without a single clue. The truth is there's nothing even serious when I talked to Wheein on the phone earlier.