XI: Work

Andy and Daehyun were still staring each other down when a group of voice broke out, "I told you, I didn't leave the -".

Andy, Dae-Hyun and I turned to the source, surprisingly gazing upon Javier, Marcus, and a girl with designer pumps. 

Both them and us having gotten silenced by the sight of each other, it was yet another voice that spoke up which brought us back to reality.

I couldn't understand what he said since it was in Korean.

Just then, Dae-Hyun's older brother walks off to where he should be going. I watch as he does.

"Hyung, were you talking about me?" Javier muttered questioningly, half-mockingly, I would think. From what limited things I know of Korean, I think the word Javier said meant olde brother. he groaned, apparently knowing well how his name is spoken in Korean.

Dae-Hyun turned to the guy and smirked, but then suddenly his face dropped, "What are you three doing here?"

"What is she doing here?" Marcus countered and nodded my way.

Dae-Hyun scoffed in a chuckle, "It's my house, I can bring whoever I want." He then threw the bag he had onto the couch with much force, "Besides, we're doing a project, something important. I can't say your business here is the same." 

Then, I was grabbed by the wrist by Dae-Hyun and dragged across the room to the stairs, but I pulled away only to be snatched again by someone else.

"Lilac Dahlberg isn't it?" the honey skinned brunette forced a genuine looking smile. I smiled softly back and forced my hand out her clutches, making her chuckle. 

"My, you're strong, I'm beginning to see why all these men are fawning over you."

Javier glared at the girl and muttered something under his breath. 

"Acalme-se. I'm just going to introduce myself." she smiled back and held out her hand, "Estrella Rosario, Javier's twin sister."

I shook her hand out of formality and as I did so, I remembered what Cece told me about her, "I'd introduce myself but you already know my name."

"That I do, that I do." she repeated with a menacing smile.

"We're done here," Dae-Hyun blurted out grabbing me by my shoulders and pulling me away. "Do what you have to do and be done with it."

It was awkward when we got to Dae-Hyun's room. Andy and him made nothing much of it when we got there, and so I felt partially calmed down because of that.

We slipped into a comfortable-ish silence after minutes of Andy typing on the computer inside Dae-Hyun's bedroom, me dictating what to put on each slide. I then recieved a text from my brother: U STILL AT THAT IDIOT DAEHYUN'S HOUSE???

I type and reply: yeah

nothing happened tho

almost done

Can we go get churros???? :D

"Is your mom calling for you already?" Dae-Hyun teased but seemed to be half serious about the question.

"Uh, actually it was my brother, he's picking me up."

Dae-Hyun pursed his lips and nodded, "You know I could just give you a ride home."

"Aww, really? Thanks, Daniel." Andy mocked, flaunting a million dollar smile. I clench my jaw and let out a breath upon hearing this.

All of a sudden, my phone rigns and I knit my brows at the sight of the caller ID. "What's up, Roux?"

"Tulila, something suddenly came up, and when I say sudden, I mean I'm in the car right now headed off to dad's office to help him."

My brows raised, "Oh, well what's happening?"

"I'm not sure yet, but I can't pick you up and you need to get home right away. Periwinkle's going to be left at home by herself. Mom, dad, and granny aren't here."

"Okay, we'll just wrap this up."

"Sorry, Tulila, I'll get you churros another time."

I scoffed out a chuckle, "Sure ya will, boy."

He laughed, "Just order a service, okay. I don't want that Korean moron to drive you."

My eyes widen. I can't afford a service! I don't bring that much money with me. I play it off however, not wanting Dae-Hyun to pick up on our conversation, "Yeah, I wasn't gonna. Bye."

"Stay safe, blondie."

I turned to Andy who gave me a cautious look. "Let me guess, Cinderella has to leave way before midnight and older brother is already going to pick you up?" Dae-Hyun blurted out, uninterested and slightly disappointed. 

I turned to him and sniffled, making my nose twitch, "Yeah," I lied, "but, uh, could I get a glass of water before I leave?"

Dae-Hyun nods, "let's all go down now."

On our way down, I catch Andy's arm and tell him him the dilemma, that I wasn't going to be picked up, but I also didn't want Dae-Hyun to drive me home, but I also didn't have the money for it.

He nods "Yeah, we could both just get a service and skip telling Dae-Hyun so he doesn't insist on driving you." 

We make our way to the large kitchen. Dae-Hyun hands me a glass of water. 

Andy raised his brows, "What about me?" 

"There's a glass there," Dae-Hyun pointed, "get your own." 

"Ah, are you two leaving now?" a voice asked from behind, making all of us turn. I saw the man from before. He changed his attire from the pyjamas from a while agot, into slacks, a polo shirt, and a trench coat. I couldn't help but feel my inside swirl at the smile he gave me, "I'll give you a ride, I'm leaving anyway."

Andy and I turned to each other in that instant. This was perfect.

Dae-Hyun nodded in a disagreement while chuckling, "Lilac is going to get picked up by her brother and Andrew's walking." 

"No actually, my brother has something to do. I'd really appreciate it if you could drive me, back home." I say.

Dae-Hyun's older brother smiles and butterflies explode in my stomach. He nods, "of course." 

"Or I could take her home, Hyun-Ki," another voice spoke up, followed by the sound of crunching chips. It was Marcus with a bag of chips cradled in his arms. "I'm sure you're going somewhere important anyway."

Dae-Hyun and Marcus begin to stare at each other, the former was infitely annoyed, while Marcus seemed to be enjoying himself. What was he even doing here?

Hyun-Ki, so it seems, chuckle and nods, "I am going somewhere important but I am also the host and the eldest of this house. Also, I'm going to take them both home, not just her." He then motions his head, and urges us to follow him. Andy and I do just that.  

We go inside a Bently. Dae-Hyun's older brother speaks as he gets in front, "I'll drop her off first because it's the gentlemanly thing to do."

"Heard and accepted," Andy nods as he gets into the passenger seat. I was in the back.

"We weren't properly introduced, I'm Hugo Lee, Lee Hyun-Ki being my true, Korean name. But like my brother, I prefer being called my Korean name, unless it's business related." 

I nod at this

Hugo then asks, "Where do you live?" 

"Uh... in the Ashwood, but past the square-thing with the fountain but not past the side closer to the ranch."

Andy makes a face and turns to me, "Please don't tell me you don't know what your address is." 

Hyun-Ki laughs, "It seems to be that way. She's lucky I know what she's talking about." 

I smiled, guilty. "C'mon, cut me some slack, I just moved!" 

Andy chuckled, "Yeah but it's almost been a month." 

Hyun-Ki chuckled and nodded in disapproval upon hearing that and I pouted in defenselessness. 

"Look at you two, ganging up on the innocent," I grumbled, crossing my arms. 

"So, how's my brother?"

There is a thick silence.

"Is he bearable or a brute towards you two?"

Still, no answer. 

Hugo sighs, understanding what it means, "I apologize on behalf of him. He's overprotective of himself. He doesn't like getting pushed around which is why he ends up doing exactly that to others sometimes. He's a good man though, deep down. He just doesn't show it because he's afraid."

I knit my brows at that, "What is he afraid of?"

He chuckled, "Himself."

Once we arrived to my house, I saw my grandmother and little sister waiting for me outside. 

Catching sight of me in the car, my sister broke into a wide smile and waved, turning to my grandmother and pointing my way. 

"Looks like someone's excited to see you." Hyun-Ki spoke, stopping the car. 

I smiled, "Thank you for taking me home safely, Hugo." 

He chuckled, "Didn't I tell you I only like being called Hugo if it's business related? Call me Hyun-Ki, both of you alright." 

We then both nodded and so I corrected myself, "Thank you for taking me home safely, Hyun-Ki."

He smiled and nodded once, "You are welcome... uh, what's your name again?"

Andy and I laughed at that, "Lilac Dahlberg," I spoke. 

"And I'm Andy, by the way," the dark haired being beside me added.

I step out of the car. "Lilac!" my younger sister exclaimed and ran towards me, making me smile and open my arms out to hug her. 

My grandma came after, "Who are those two handsome men?" I turned to her and smiled just as they both put the windows down. 

"Granny, this is Andy O'Whitely, my classmate, and Lee Hyun-Ki, he's my other classmate's brother, the one whose house I went to."

She smiled, "Hello boys, thank you for bringing my granddaughter home safely."

Hyun-Ki leaned towards the window, "Ah, it was my pleasure, ma'am. You can't let students walk home after dark."

My grandmother smiled at that, "Well, would you fine gentlemen want to step in and have some dinner?"

"Ahh, thank you but I have somewhere to go and I still have to bring Andy home." Hyun-Ki smiled politely. 

"Yeah, I'm just hitching a ride, missus Sweeting, and not to make it seem weird but it's wonderful to finally meet you, by the way. Thank you for keeping our school paper alive and for the cafeteria renovation."

My grandmother laughed brightly at Andy's words, fully amused by him. "Well, if you have dinner with us, I could drive you home after dinner."

Andy smiles, "Oh no ma'am, I am really in not much of a position to accept any invitation. It's late anyway."

"Well alright," Grandma nodded, "you kids drive safely, and thank you again for bringing my Lourdes home safely."

Andy's brows quirked at that, "Lourdes?" I smiled and shrugged at his reaction, then waved goodbye as they drove away.

"Lilac, why does he have that thing on his lips?" my little sister asked, obviously about Andy's lip piercing, as we walked inside. 

"Well, just because he wants to, I guess."

My grandma laughed, "Don't worry, when you're older you can poke as many metal rings in your face as much as you want." She then reached out and tickled my sister. 

Periwinkle jaw drops, "no, no, no, no, no!"