Chapter Six
2203 Words
Word for the Day - 괜찮아
(Romanised as 'Gwaen-chanh-a') - It's okay.
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EMERALD’S POV
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Two weeks later…
It’s been two weeks since Kayla has been going on and on about her wedding. I couldn’t get any more exhausted from listening to her all-girl talk all day long.
“Daddy! Can she stop talking about it all over again?” I shrieked looking at Dad for some support. He was the only one I was hoping he’d help me with.
“Kayla…is just happy, Emmie. Bear with her for a few days.” Dad started but ended up taking her side. I narrowed my eyes at him but he just smiled.
“Em, can you come along with me for shopping?” Kayla asked and I groaned directly on her face.
“I don’t see the other way out,” I answered her and plopped on the couch. I was getting antsy because the match was cancelled last week and now if I was going out with her, I would have to miss this match.
“Emerald, don’t be rude to your sister.” Dad scolded me and I pouted. I glanced at Hayden and offered him an evil smile.
“I’m not going with you both!” He screeched and I laughed loudly. The way he knew me so well was already making me feel proud of myself.
“I’ll not be that mean to you. Just play COD with me.” I blinked my eyes at him.
“I wish I could come shopping with you both or even play COD with you but it seems I have date plans with Lincoln,” Hayden declared and walked away.
“I love how scared he is of me,” I commented, turning to see his back that was going away and I could feel him curse me all the way.
“Dad, why don’t you?” I wriggled my eyebrows at him. He shook his head but came forward sitting on the couch next to me. I put COD on my PlayStation 5 while handing him the controller and headphones.
“Let’s do it,” Dad cheered and we both started the game.
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“That was a good match!” I squealed and high-fived Dad. He smiled and stood up, stretching to relax.
“I know. I get it all the time.” Dad flaunted and I scoffed.
“That is because your daughter saves you every time.” I retorted and flashed him the ultimate truth. Dad was good at following my orders which Hayden failed terribly at so it was better to play with Dad than Hayden.
“Yes, you always save me,” Dad asserted in a soft tone and I stomped my foot walking towards him, jumping on his back. He didn’t say anything but held me up.
“I’m hungry! To the kitchen!” I ordered and he walked towards the kitchen.
“Your exercise is paying off,” I commented and he chuckled.
“Otherwise, how would I even be able to carry your weight?” He muttered and I gave him a weird look.
“Dad, are you emotional today? Feels like your emotional hormones are out in the field.” I commented and shook his head.
“If you’re thinking about marrying me off, be careful. I’m not leaving you just like that. I’m sticking with you forever.” I warned him, jumping down from his back. He turned to face me.
“I know you love me too much but a day would come when you have to leave me with Karen.” Dad justified and I shook my head.
“I’ll ask my husband to come here and stay. What do you say?” I wriggled my eyebrows at him and he caressed my hair.
“I'd rather have him take you away.” He teased me and I scoffed.
“We’ll see about that. Let’s go and have lunch. I’m starving and somehow I’m going to be worn out, too.” I grumbled thinking about bearing a shopping day out with an over-excited Kayla.
“Emerald.” Dad scolded me and I huffed.
“I get it. I’ll be nice.” I promised and he nodded.
We’ll see my definition of nice soon, dear Kayla.
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“Next.”
“Not a good colour.”
“Too big.”
“Too small.”
“Not your type.”
“Too covering.”
“Too exposing.”
“Too bright.”
“Too dull.”
“Ugh…boring.”
“This is…” I started but Kayla banged the clothes on the floor and glared at me.
“I understand you must feel annoyed but why don’t you help me shop? I’ve almost tried all the dresses and you like none!” Kayle yelled, breaking her patience.
“I’m just being honest.” I lied and she scoffed.
“You… Leave it.” She announced and walked away, angrily stomping her feet like a little child.
“Listen… remove these items and pack the other ones. Here’s the card.” I asserted as I discarded the ones that weren’t impressive and gave the worker my card.
“Yes, Ma’am.” She agreed and sauntered away. I roamed in the aisle as I waited for her call. I didn’t know why my feet were aching so bad today. I normally wore my heels but today it was something else.
I walked into the shoe section and picked up a pair of white socks and shoes. As I had worn a simple white dress, it fitted well with my attire.
I put it on the counter and asked them to bill them, too. I was about to wear the shoes when she handed me my card.
“West, take them,” I ordered and West; our personal bodyguard and butler. He picked up the bags and walked behind me. I only took the bag with my shoes so I could sit and change into them.
I found a chair so I walked towards it.
“West, go and check where Kayla is. I’ll be waiting here and changing my shoes until then.” I told him and he left, trying to find my stupid sister. I knew she wouldn’t answer my calls so I didn’t waste my energy on it.
I was about to sit but I felt a little dizzy. I blinked my eyes but it was still unclear to me. My hand was on my head but my body gave away. I was waiting for the fall impact but it didn’t come.
“Are you alright?” The person asked and I felt like the voice was a very familiar one. I blinked my eyes to clear my vision and it was those teal eyes that I didn’t forget in the past two weeks.
“Aiden,” I breathed, unable to believe that it was indeed him. He helped me up and sat me down on the chair.
“Are you alright, Emerald?” He asked and I nodded. I felt better after the momentous dizzy feeling. We both just stared at each other.
“What are you doing here?” I asked him and he chuckled.
“Just what everyone does at a shopping mall.” He retorted and I scoffed. I ignored him and tried to remove my heels. Aiden immediately sat on his knees and stopped me from removing my heel. I looked at him and he shook his head.
“I shouldn’t let a lady do this while I’m here.” He proclaimed and I sat up. He removed the heels and I folded my hands.
“Being a gentleman, I see,” I commented and he smirked, looking at me in the eye.
“I’m not always gentle.” He retorted, and I clearly heard the pun in his tone. I felt my cheeks flame at the flash of images from that night.
“It’s not like I’m unaware,” I asserted and he smirked. I pointed towards the bag in which shoes were there. He took the bag and took the socks, putting them on.
“There is something about you, you know.” He said when he finished putting socks on both of my feet.
“I believe there’s everything about me,” I said and he chuckled.
“This… this is what I was talking about.” He muttered and put on my shoes for me. When he was doing so, I was busy gawking at him.
His aura and charms beat 99% of people over here and I wasn’t interested in the remaining 1%, either way.
“There, done.” He declared and I checked it. Surely, I had a good eye when being interested in a person. I saw West coming back and I knew what I had to do.
“Thank you so much, Aiden,” I said, giving him a peck and he gave me a confused look. As soon as West reached me, I walked towards him and held his arm. He didn’t react to anything.
“That’s my cue. See you sometime again, Aiden.” I asserted and let go of West’s arm. He picked up the bags and Aiden had a questioning look.
“This is West. West, meet Aiden, he is… well, special.” I announced looking straight into his eyes.
“See you,” I said to his shocked face and held West’s arm, letting him lead me away from there. I turned to see Aiden still standing over the same place with my heels in his hands.
“A souvenir,” I described loudly, before finally taking a right, leaving him behind.
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As I reached the food court where West led me, I saw a company along with Kayla.
“Kayla,” I made her aware of my presence and she looked up.
“You can go home, Em. I’ll shop with Alvin. I don’t want to bother you anymore.” She muttered playing with her blonde-brown hair, just like Karen’s.
“Kayla, stop being childish,” I advised her while I sat down in front of her.
“Honey, it’s okay. She is your younger sister. She might be just pranking you.” The guy I assumed was Alvin, my step-sister’s fiancé, coaxed her.
“I bought all that’s good,” I informed her, looking at her sulky face. Her eyes immediately lit up and she squealed.
"I’m sorry for lashing out on you, Em.” She apologized and I felt burdened, once again.
“괜찮아. Don’t sweat it now. I would’ve waited but I don’t wait once I’ve been told off.” I told her and her face turned down.
“I said I’m sorry.” She said it again and I shook my head.
“I’m just feeling under the weather and my legs are killing me. I’d like to rest. You can continue to shop.” I clarified to her and she nodded.
“By the way, nice to meet you.” I greeted, extending my hand towards Alvin. He had light brown hair with bluish-green eyes. He was quite handsome with a little stubble on his face.
“You, too. Kayla had told me so much about you.” He said, looking at Kayla. His adoration for her clearly flashed in his eyes.
“She never shuts up about you either,” I said and he chuckled.
“Well, why don’t you wait for longer, if you feel better. This is the first time I’m meeting you in three years.” He suggested and I chuckled.
“What can you say, I’m a very expensive appointment. You had to get married to my sister to finally meet me.” I retorted and he chuckled.
“And quite arrogant.” He commented and I smiled.
“I’m still being nice,” I informed him and he glanced at Kayla for confirmation. She nodded in agreement.
“You remind me of my brother. At least meet him before you leave.” He suggested it and I shook my head.
“Maybe when it’s your engagement. I can’t play nicer anymore.” I admitted and he chuckled.
“Sure then. I’ll introduce him to you at the ceremonies.” He announced and I nodded. I glanced at his face and my eyes narrowed at him.
“You look a little familiar, now that I think about it. Have I seen you before?” I asked him and his face turned into a confused one.
“I don’t think so.” He answered and I nodded.
“Enjoy your nice time,” I said, waving at them and leaving them alone. West followed me and we left.
"Once you've dropped the bags in my car, you should go back to them," I advised him and he nodded. He settled the bags in the car and soon went back.
As I sat in the car, my stomach growled and I realised that I didn’t buy anything for me to eat. I shut my eyes, exasperated.
Oh hell!
- Writer
