Chapter XCIX - The Older Siblings

“Yes, yes. . . I know. I’ve already done all that.” Amelia was talking on the phone when she opened the door for Arthur, catching him in the middle of a yawn. Covering her phone, she stepped to the side and whispered, “Come in.”

It was surprising to hear her speak English, making Arthur believe it was her family or a friend back home.

“Thanks,” he said, entering their apartment.

“No I. . .” Amelia sighed, following me to the living room. “I know you wanted to see me earlier, but I’m going to stay two weeks longer.”

Arthur just stayed quiet, walking over to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

“Dad, I know. . . but- What?” She sounded flustered, suddenly turning away from Arthur. “No, I didn’t find a boyfriend. Don’t be ridiculous.” Arthur smirked, leaning against the counter, finding it hard not to listen in. “Listen. . . Dad. I have to go now, but I’ll call you later. . . Okay. Love you, bye.” She hung up the phone and turned to Arthur, switching to Korean immediately. “God. . . Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Really? Relax.” Arthur chuckled, setting the glass down. “So you’re officially staying a bit longer?”

“Just a few weeks,” she said, sending a message before finally setting her phone down on the table. “Besides, I’ve gotten used to staying here.”

“You’re gonna miss her, ain’t you?” Arthur asked, noticing Amelia’s expression soften as she glanced at the picture of Irene and her.

“I’m not sure how she does it, but I’ve always felt weird when we’re not together. Guess that’s all part of growing up, eh?” She looked back at Arthur with a gentle smile.

“Maybe she doesn’t say it, but I’m sure you know she’d love it if you could stay here for as long as possible.”

“I know. . .” Amelia smiled, glancing down at the ground. “Well, I still have like a month before I go back, so best I make the most of it.”

“Speaking of which, why not come with me if you’re not doing anything? We’re planning to play board games tonight.”

“The four of us?” She asked, seeing as Irene and Sophie were already at Arthur’s place.

“Why not?” Arthur was surprised she didn’t come by more often.

“Sounds fun.” Immediately Arthur could tell she got cheered up. “Let me just grab a few things, and I’ll drive us.”

“The car’s still with you?” Arthur was surprised, knowing it was her uncle’s car.

“Ye. Auntie has her own, so they let me keep hold of it while I’m in Seoul.”

“Ah, I see.” He wasn’t too surprised, considering how well off they were.

“Anyway, didn’t you come here to pick something up?”

“Right. . .” Arthur chuckled, walking toward Irene’s bedroom. “Irene asked me to bring her charger. Apparently, we don’t have the same one.”

“It’s in the wall by the bedside table.”

“Thanks,” he said, opening the bedroom door. “By the way. . . You weren’t avoiding coming over to our house because Sophie or I haven’t explicitly invited you, were you?”

“What? No way, why would I do that?” Amelia mumbled.

Arthur sighed, shaking his head. “You know you’re always invited, right? Don’t let Sophie hear what I just told you, or she’d feel guilty. . .”

“Amm, that’s not it. . .” Amelia awkwardly smiled. “Irene and Sophie invite me all the time.”

“So you just don’t want to come along?” Arthur furrowed his brows, knowing that wasn’t the case. “Wait. . . Don’t tell me it’s because of me?”

“Well, you know. . . I’m already here all the time, and I’ll be staying a bit longer now as well while knowing that I’m kinda in the way of you hanging out alone with sis, so you know. . .”

Listening to her made Arthur facepalm for the first time.

“That’s it. Pack your things.”

“Huh?”

“I’m not taking no for an answer. You’re staying with us for the entire week, and so is Irene.”

“Wait, what?” She looked confused.

“Honestly. . . How could you even think like that? I love having you around, and if we really wanted a place to ourselves, we always had my house.”

“But Sophie’s there.”

“She’s not in my room. . .” Arthur chuckled. “As I said, I’m not taking no for an answer.”

“Shouldn’t you ask Sophie and Riri first?”

“Wanna ask them so badly? Go for it,” Arthur teased, knowing she’d never do it.

“I can’t do that?! Do you know how awkward that’d be?” She nervously laughed. “What would I even say? Hey girls, mind if I spend a week with you at your house?”

“I don’t know, but if you’re determined to ask, I suggest you figure it out quickly because once you pack up, we’re leaving.”

“Fine, fine. . . I’ll pack up.” She sighed in defeat. “But I’m not gonna pack for the whole week. I’ll just come and grab what I need later.”

“Sounds good to me.” Arthur was glad that she didn’t resist for long. “Listen, I want Irene and you to spend as much time together as possible while you’re here. Of course, as long as you both want to. So don’t let me get in the way of that. Especially because I love hanging out with both of you, and let’s not even mention how much Sophie looks up to you and loves when you’re around.”

“She does?” Amelia looked down with a shy smile.

“You kidding? Iseul, Irene, and you are like her role models. For good reasons too.”

Arthur was surprised by how much Amelia lacked confidence the more he got to know her, leaving him wondering why that was. She was every bit as beautiful as Irene, and while their personalities differed since nobody was as headstrong as Irene, they were both loveable in their own way. Not to mention Amelia was smart as hell and had a mature look about her.

“Thanks,” she whispered, looking up at him again.

“Don’t worry about it.” He winked, entering the bedroom.

“You know. Sometimes when we talk, it’s hard to believe I’m talking to a teenager. Just thinking about what you’re going through and how well you’re handling it,” she sighed, looking for her bag. “I don’t think I’d ever be able to do it.”

“Being surrounded by amazing people helps,” he said, pulling out the charger and placing it in his pocket. “But thanks for the compliment.”

“Mind if I pry a bit?” Amelia asked, grabbing Irene’s backpack before starting to pack her stuff.

“Sure?” Arthur looked confused, thinking they were open enough that she could ask anything.

“How are you doing?” She looked at him worried. “And I mean truly how you’re doing.”

Arthur hummed, sitting down on the bed while thinking of an answer.

“You know. . . That’s kinda hard to answer.”

“I can imagine.”

“Genuinely, despite everything that happened, I’d say that I’m fine. However, I’m also exhausted.”

“You went to see your grandpa before coming here, right?”

“Yeah. . .”

“It’s nice that you visit him every day. I hope he recovers soon.”

“I’m sure he will, but it’ll take time.”

“If there’s anything I can do to help you guys out, just ask. Even if it’s something as silly as taking care of Kyu when school starts.”

“You’re already helping out more than you know,” he reassured her. “Just being there for Sophie is more than enough for me.”

“It’s sweet how much you care about your sister.” She smiled, finishing up with the packing.

“Well, we certainly have that in common.” He chuckled. “Besides, I could never repay her for what she had done for me, even if she might not see it that way.”

“Irene’s been a blessing for me too. You wouldn’t believe how many times I felt like shit and got through it because of her.”

“She said the same thing about you.”

“Maybe, but I’m her older sister, so it’s expected, isn’t it?”

“I don’t know. . .” Arthur mumbled, looking up at the ceiling. “I’ve yet to figure out what’s normal when it comes to family, but I do know I’d do anything for Sophie. Without her, I wouldn’t’ve even made it out of the hospital. Not to mention school would’ve been a nightmare, and I likely wouldn’t be friends with the people I consider close now. Maybe I wouldn’t even be with Irene had it not been for her.”

“Why do you think that?”

“She made adjusting to school that much easier after I made a full recovery from the accident. Thanks to her guide on how to survive high school, I was able to meet Don and Nabi. Then I met Max and Tjay before finally meeting Irene on the street for the first time. If I wasn’t friends with them, I would’ve never helped Irene, and thus we’d never become friends.”

“I’m sure you could backtrack a lot of things that way, but that’s a bit extreme.”

“It’s true though. Irene admitted that she asked to be put into my class after finding my student ID.”

“She never told me that.” Amelia cracked a smile. “Not that I’m doubting what she told you. Damn, she must’ve really fallen hard for you way back then.”

“It certainly made school that much more interesting. Can you imagine the look on everyone’s faces when the transfer student that everyone is enthralled by is crushing on the unpopular kid everyone used to bully?”

“Sounds like your typical romance novel.” She giggled.

“Right?” He couldn’t help but laugh along with her before exhaling. “It’s been a wild ride.”

“How was it for you before you got together? I only ever got her side of the story.”

“Hmm. . . At first, I wasn’t even sure if Irene truly liked me, but the guys kept insisting. We were close from the start, and eventually, it turned into what it is now.”

“Weren’t sure if she liked you? Didn’t she like kiss you within the first few days?” Amelia furrowed her brows.

“Above the lip. I don’t think that counts.”

“She said the same thing, but come on. . .”

“Maybe you’re right.” He awkwardly chuckled but was unable to tell her that his truth which he hid from everyone was a major hurdle he had to go over to be with her.

“So once you knew, what stopped you for so long?”

“Fear,” Arthur mumbled with a soft smile on his face. “I was afraid that if she rejected me, I’d lose her forever.”

“Ah. . .” She zipped her bag and placed it on the bed. “Can’t say I’m a stranger to that, but I’m glad it didn’t stop you from giving it a chance.”

“It was only a matter of time,” Arthur said, slowly standing back up. “Besides, it was the best decision I ever made.”

“You two make the cutest couple.” Amelia giggled, leaving the room slowly. “Can’t wait to hear how everyone at school reacts.”

“I don’t even wanna think about that. . . It’ll be interesting for sure.” He sighed, looking out the window before following behind her. “Anyway, you looking forward to going back to college?”

“Honestly? Not really.”

“Don’t like it?”

“It’s a bit more complicated than that, but I think I just want to get it over with and start working.”

“Taking over for your parents?”

“Not right away, but that’s the plan in the end. What about you? College ideas?”

“Not sure yet,” Arthur lowered his voice. “Honestly, I’m still adjusting to everything, and I have no clue what I’d even do in life.”

“Any subject you find interesting?”

“Not really. I just want to retire,” Arthur nervously chuckled, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. “I still have time to figure stuff out, so we’ll see what the future holds for me. I sound like a lazy bum, don’t I?”

“Nope, just a teenager for once.” Amelia smiled, placing a hand on his head and messing with Arthur’s hair jokingly. “You’ll figure it out once you need to. I’m not worried.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, but if push comes to shove, I’m certain that a certain someone will help me go in the right direction.”

“I’m sure Riri would love nothing more than to spoil you,” she teased before she started looking for the keys.

“I’m sure she would,” Arthur said, walking over to the kitchen counter, grabbing the keys he saw before, and tossing them to her.

“What were they doing there?” She looked confused.

“Hardly the strangest place you two left things. Anyway, ready to go?”

“Yup.” She said, making her way to the door. “By the way, what board games do we have?”

“Sophie took some of Don’s games, so I think there’s plenty to choose from.”

“Got a favorite?”

“Not yet, but who knows? I might find one tonight.”

“Don’t you always lose?” Amelia chortled.

“Yeah, yeah. . . Whatever.”

Chapter End.

Thank you for reading.