Straying From The Game

Chapter 15 First Destination

Genie

After eating, we sang along with our songs, probably deafening my brother now but he didn't complain, just smiled at our crazy looks. I'm glad that Chae-unnie is letting loose despite being with a stranger. Well, she's not the same as me, who tends to guard myself a lot with strangers.

We soon arrived at the city but I told my brother to direct us to my birthplace because I missed it the most. Touring can start later on. I warned my bestfriend for another three hour ride and she just nodded. I'm starting to feel dizzy however, riding a closed van for nine hours would give me a negative impact I'm sure.

I observed her from my peripheral view, and she is staring out the window, probably watching the sights we're passing by, though there's nothing interesting really, but the busy streets, roads and buildings.

I leaned on my side as I studied her bluntly. We were tired from singing already so we fell silent, just listening to the stereo now. She looks so calm watching everything outside. She's actually more beautiful in such calm reaction. We have already fixed our hair and retouched our light make-up after eating so we are more presentable now. Though, I really prefer her bare-faced.

'Genie, I think it's also time for you to analyze your feelings. You keep on insisting you can't see yourselves to be in a relationship with her. You'll have a week with her, should you try and see?' Jisoo unnie's words echoed in my mind. That's what she told me before leaving me after we packed their gifts. I sighed. Somewhere in my mind, I'm confident with my conclusion, but to be fully convinced, I think I'll take unnie's advice, should I? Wouldn't it be selfish? Wouldn't I just make her hopeful? And then probably hurt her if I'll prove Jisoo wrong? I frowned exactly as she turned to face me. Uh uh?

She raised her eyebrow, silently asking why am I frowning. I just shook my head and smiled. My bad! I asked my brother to stop for a while at an ice cream store since I recognized we are near one. He went out to get us three cones then we continued driving again.

I noticed her looking at me every now and then, probably wondering if why am I staring at her, for how long I didn't even know, gosh, probably an hour! Had she noticed it all along? Possible, because I can notice her occasional glances, how much more my blunt staring?

Soon, we left the highway and my brother directed the car to a provincial road. Finally, I can watch outside as well, trees starting to came into view. I opened the window on my side and welcomed the fresh air.

"This is my hometown" I introduced to my bestfriend who also lowered her window and admired the surroundings.

"It looks so peaceful in here" she commented.

"Not as peaceful as you imagine, there are troubles too" I shook my head.

We fall back to silence until we left the provincial road and shifted to a municipal road yet again. From a larger scale, as if we are delving deeper into the thick forest, and we are. More trees came into view, pine trees specifically, and I reveled at the smell. It's so refreshing.

After another twenty minutes, the car finally stopped and my brother pressed the horn for someone to open the gate. A familiar figure came and opened it, smiling widely when he recognized the vehicle. He closed the gate after us, while my brother parked in front of a two-storey concrete farm house.

I instructed my brother to just pull out the travelling bag and open the air condition in the vehicle, to keep inside cool, although he parked in a shaded garage. He brought it inside while we shuffled to leave the vehicle.

"Genie Rose! I didn't expect you to come over, when did you came home?" the man who opened the gate, the caretaker here, Joem, greeted me in our dialect.