"You're pretty fancy aren't ya?" I smirked at Choccy. I know that compared to Lux, she's not that well off, but this is a pretty clear evidence of wealth. They called it a hanok which is basically the traditional Korean mansion.
The roof was moss-green and dark orange columns held it up. We are currently walking through a hallway lined with fancy-grained wood floor.
"My dad inherited it from my grandfather." She replied, smiling at us.
Seoul is quite different from what I thought. For some reason, it feels familiar; some streets look just like in LA, or when we visited Houston albeit not as wide. The air was what surprised me the most! It was super calming, unlike the stuffy air in Cali.
Seung Jee slid a door open, and gestured at us, "You can stay here—or us, we can stay here." Behind the sliding doors was a room wide enough to fit two cars side by side. The furniture was minimal, just some cushions and tall cabinets, a coffee table, and some pillows—I guess we sit there?
"This is lovely, Chocc," Lux commented, caressing the door frame.
"Glad you like it," She gave us a wide smile, her usual one.
I set down my bags, and some stuff we bought on the way here. Suddenly though, I felt a breeze of wind pass by. "Oh, it got quite windy all of sudden," I commented, "Didn't know we're in Texas," I jested.
"Lmao, what?" Seung Jee snickered, "Well, I'll get some thicker blankets then." I waved to us before bolting off.
The space we're in is just a part of a square garden. In the middle where the sky is exposed, is a water fountain with aquatic plants around it. Halls lined up each side of the square garden, and we are on one side of it.
I looked at the sky, and it got quite gloomy and dim compared to the weather earlier—which was bright and sunny.
"Hey Lux—" I abruptly stopped myself as my body suddenly had goosebumps, and from what I can tell, Lux too.
"D-did you feel that?" I hurriedly asked, it was akin to a blast of freezing breeze suddenly passing by.
"I d-did, you too?" She seemed surprised that I felt it as well.
I frowned, not because of confusion or surprise, but because I felt this before… 'When I saw his mana.' I thought.
It felt the same as when I went into a daze in the pool. "Mana." I blurted out, causing Lux to suddenly turn to me.
"Y-yea… it felt like when I was almost hit by…." She trailed off but she didn't have to continue since I got what she was trying to say.
Tap Tap Tap
We heard footsteps, and not long after was Seung Jee jogging toward us. "Guys I got the blankets…? What's up with your expressions?" She asked, seemingly amused with what she sees.
"Huh? Why? What's wrong?" I asked,
"You look like you saw ghosts." She chuckled, tossing the furred blankets to us.
"Well, it's not like that. Something just…" I thought about it for a moment, "You know what, can I make a phone call real quick?" and ultimately just decided to call Kolin, he might just be up to something crazy again.
"Sure. Go ahead." Choccy smiled wryly, while Lux looked at me and nodded with a serious expression. "What happened?" I heard Choccy ask Lux before I went outside.
-Brrrtt…Brrrtt…Brrrtt…
The phone which displayed Kolin's name and a silly picture of him rang. He picked up a couple of seconds later and his face popped up on the screen.
"Yo, why'd you call? I'm busy."
"Nothing…I just felt something…" I said, hesitating whether I tell him or not.
"Ho? What'd you feel? Did my adorable sister perhaps worry about me? HAHAHA! Well, worry not, since I'm fine."
"What?" I felt a twitch on my forehead, "No, you narcissistic bastard!… I thought I felt your mana." I said and his face turned serious instantly.
"It wasn't mine," He looked around.
"Not yours…? You're the only—wait you mean Caner? What are you guys up to again?!"
"Yes, it was Caner's and we weren't doing anything…well, I wasn't"
"You…aren't you supposed to be supervising him?" I asked, bewildered. I heard someone all of a sudden though. A woman.
"Kolin? Who's that?" A pretty, tanned, Asian woman suddenly popped up on the screen, "Woah, it's the cute sister! How come you're ugly and she's not?"
"Wha..? Kolin, who's that?" I asked, frowning…the woman was a beauty, 'Did he get a girlfriend?' I thought.
"Ah well, this is Sypher, she's a friend I just met."
"Ah, so not your girlfriend then?" I asked, jeering at him.
"No, I'm not into mentally unstable women."
"But, Kolin…you're mentally unstable yourself," I commented, and he kinda is to be fair.
Chuckling, he replied, "Well, anyways, did you call just because of that? You're disturbing my well-deserved vacation."
"Wait, what? You went on a vacation?" I asked, "To where?"
"Everywhere, I took a cruise with Caner and we met Sypher on the way."
"Oh, that's cool." I said, and suddenly remembered, "Ah right! Those books, you haven't really shown them." I was curious about them, but it seems like I won't be able to go take a look anytime soon.
"Well, I'll show them after I go home. We're going to the Philippines in two weeks."
"Oh? Where are you at right now?" I asked but just did so because I didn't know how to proceed with this conversation.
"We're in South Korea."
I flinched, "What?"
"What 'what'?" He frowned.
"Ah well…to be honest with you….I'm in Seoul right now." I revealed. I didn't tell him since there's really no point, but I'm surprised my parents didn't.
"What?! We're on the way to Seoul right now!
"Actually, we just arrived," The woman added.
"Ohh. Send me your location, we're going there."
"Wait—" Before I could say anything though, he hung up.
"That damn bastard." I mumbled, 'I guess I'll inform Choccy.'
I went back into the room, and they were having tea while sitting around the coffee table with both of them on the cushion, cross-legged.
"Hey, Choc." I called out to Seung Jee, "Well, turns out that my brother is here in Seoul right now, and wants to go here." I said.
"Oh, that's totally fine with me. Do you know the address?" She asked, after taking a sip of her tea.
"I used my location on my phone." I smiled.
She then put a cup near me and poured some tea. It was green. "Thanks," I said, taking a sip. It was warm and soothing, just like this place.
"They should be arriving soon," I said, taking some of the mochi snacks on the table, "I already sent the location. Should we wait at the front?" I suggested.
"Yea, I think we should." She said and stood up and grabbed my hand. 'Ah, some skinship.' I thought, I didn't really mind it, however, since I'm used to Choccy's behavior.
The wind was blowing passively, but I feel little pricks when they touch me. 'Weird' I squinted my eyes.
"That must be them," Lux pointed but I didn't see any car.
"Where?" I asked, making my eyes narrower so I can see.
"That blue rover over there." She pointed.
"What? How do you know?" I asked since around the car was heavy traffic, how could she have known?
"I…Just do," She said, frowning slightly.
"Oh, you're right! They're turning over here." Choccy exclaimed cheerfully.
Not long after, the car parked just right outside the compound gate. The door opened up to two individuals. Kolin was wearing a sweaty flannel, and the other one…a beautiful woman, absolutely gorgeous of a lady walked out graciously. She was wearing a tightly fitted black casual dress. It accentuated her curves.
I whistled, "Damn." Lux and Choccy glanced at me, "What?" I said.
"I agree," Lux replied.
"Yo." Kolin held up a hand, and waved, "Sup Jee, Sup Lux."
"Hello."
"How ya dooin~?"
"Great. Great." He said, "Oh, by the way, this is Sypher. Sypher, meet my sister and her friends, Lux and Seung Jee."
"Oh, it's nice to see you guys." She gave us a stunning smile.
"Likewise."
"Henlo~"
"Nice to meet you," We greeted.
-'Damn, Kolin, when can I introduce myself?' I suddenly heard in my head, 'What? Did I just hear something?'
I looked around but saw nothing. 'Oh well.'
"Ah, so this is where you live huh?" Asked Kolin as he started to chat up Seung.
While they were talking, I approached the lady. "Hello, Ms. Sypher."
"Why hello, cute little sister," I already like her after she greeted me.
'Kolin, stop ignoring me.' A child's voice again sounded in my head, and I abruptly turned around, enticing a confused look from Sypher.
'What the hell…that's so creepy' I thought.
'What's creepy?' Sounded again.
'What?' I thought.
'Huh? Kolin? Your voice sounds different today.'
'What the actual—' I looked up, "Caner…?"