"Since when did you know?"
{Since you topped in the admission, I know}
Suho was seated in front of Mina, who was using her hands to communicate, then pointed at the iPad Suho got her, meaning she researched it online.
"I am sorry for not telling you."
{I understand, if I had such a bad sister, I wouldn’t tell her either.}
"You know that’s not true, you know how much I care for you."
Mina didn’t respond, just smiled and turned herself towards the desk and began to do her homework. Unlike other days, she was not even asking for help. Suho, seeing her giving him a cold shoulder, smiled and sat there for a while.
Her black hair was tied in a small bun, and her chubby cheeks moved around like the pencil in her hand. He doesn’t know how he should handle her, he has never faced this kind of situation before.
"Hey! Little Girl, I am sorry."
"Hey! I said, "I am sorry."
Soon her eyes bubbled up with tears as she couldn’t make any noise, it felt like someone put his heart inside a crusher. He felt so guilty hiding it from her, his eyes went moist, but he took several sniffs to suppress the bubbling tears.
"Hey, I am sorry I am moving away tomorrow, but it’s not like I won’t be seeing you anymore, I’ll come back to your new home."
{This is my home, with you.}
"Oh! You don’t know? Director Eunji is adopting you with Uncle Gunwo, so we might meet more often than you think."
Mina’s face was flushed red with tears flowing down her cheeks. Hearing his piece of news, she was bewildered, certainly after Suho, Eunji treats her the best, but to be adopted was like a dream of every orphan present.
"They are a very good couple, they will surely raise you better than I ever could."
{False, I... I don’t want to go with them.}
"It’s already done, I even gave her my permission, so you’ve got to listen to your brother."
For one last time.
Suho smiled at her and picked her up in his arms. She bawled her eyes out, and Suho could feel every emotion in her. Just like how he did when she was so little, he wiped the two tears that escaped his eyes secretly but vowed to become a doctor so great that he can cure Mina.
He lied a little to her, he never had any authority over her to give permission to Eunji, but she won’t understand that. Maybe someday when she grows up, she might realise what a big liar he was.
[Oppa, this is your chicken, don’t give me yours.]
[I am already full dummy]
[Oppa, you’re bleeding.]
[This is just paint, go back to sleep, or Sungjun will steal your chicken.]
[Oppa, *CRYING* I got second highest in the class.]
[It’s alright, I was the last boy once, so relax.]
...
After putting the crying Mina to sleep and tucking her inside a warm blanket, Suho left the children’s wing, usually after Mina he must have to put another kid to bed, but today Mina took so long the other children were already asleep.
*BUZZ*
Suho’s phone buzzed suddenly as he was about to enter his room, it’s usually some promotional message, so he wanted to ignore it, but something inside him wanted to check what this message was.
[Haein: Oppa, you’ve got to take care of yourself, my bodyguard, Unnie, told me your appetite is very unhealthy. Fix it. I’ll see you tomorrow at the campus.]
When did we exchange numbers? Why is she calling me ’oppa’ and even texting me in the middle of the night?
"Whatever!"
Shaking his head, he went to bed, the night felt long without any sleep in his eyes. He guessed maybe he slept the whole day, that’s why his night sleep was fucked.
Morning arrived soon, and when the sun was about to rise from the horizon, Suho’s eye slowly caught some sleep but woke up at 7 am in the morning as usual.
This coupon book should go to the director. Now that she’s taking care of Mina, I will let the cashier know. What was his name again? ’Park Jiho?
Suho freshened himself up, and there was nothing for him to take, so he directly went to the Eunji’s office. The office felt lively as soon as he was nearby, he could hear two voices talking lovingly with someone.
"Ahem!"
*KNOCK-KNOCK*
Suho knocked on the door with a smile. As he saw a kind-looking middle-aged man using his hands to make signs towards Mina, he was seated on the floor and was looking up to Mina, who was on the couch.
"Suho, come inside, we have decided to take her home today, so both of you are leaving this orphanage on the same day."
Eunji, who sat behind her desk, running her pen all over the papers that were everywhere on the table, looked up when she heard the knock and smiled seeing Suho.
{Oppa, Gunwo doesn’t know how to use fingers.}
"He’s trying his best, give him a little time. Also, never take Elder’s name it’s bad manners, Mina."
"Actually, I’ve...we have learned how to understand what she says first, because in case of some kind of emergency, I heard you learned this in two weeks? You have to come home and teach me, Suho."
Gunwo gestured for Suho to sit beside him as he smiled awkwardly, then pulled out two chocolate bars from his pocket and handed one to Mina and another to Suho when he sat besidess him and stared at Suho without blinking.
"Sigh! I am not a child anymore."
"I am staring at you until I see you finish this. This is a special rice bar. I am certain you didn’t have breakfast and will give it to someone else as soon as I take my eye off you."
...
"It’s time for me to go, I’ve got to catch a train."
"Here take this, it’s not much, but it will help you out in case you find difficulties. I would’ve driven you to Seoul myself if you were not going to a dorm."
Gunwo handed Suho twenty 50,000 ₩ notes, which even if Suho wants to can’t refuse. This man never gives him that leeway to say ’NO’, he just can’t say no to Gunwo.
"What’s with this face? Do you think I don’t understand you want to do things alone? If you didn’t have a dorm to go to, then I would’ve found you a place to stay and driven you there, but now that you have a place to stay, I can relax. Don’t forget to hug Eunji."
Saying this, Gunwo didn’t stay, he patted Suho’s shoulder and looked him in the eyes. Suho could see how proud Gunwo was of him, that slow nod showed how much trust he put in him.
[Updated]
[Side Mission: Tell Mina that you’re moving away]
[Result: Passed] [Passing Grade: B]
[Reward: Top Notch Driving Skill, Top Notch Car Mechanic Skill]
[Tap here to get the rewards.]
[New Main Mission: Hug Eunji and wipe her tears]
Portraits:
Lee Haein
Shin Mina
Kim Suho