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32 | when the souls ignite

32. WHEN THE SOULS IGNITE

— ANAIS' POV

"Anais, you crazy bitch— are you sure what you're doing now is a good thing?" Sunoo blabbers as he's keeping up those fast paces from his sister through those busy airport hallways, eyes already rolling in disbelief. Sunoo's head cocks to the side, arms resting against his chest as he turns to Anais as he demands for her answer. "I know what I'm doing, Sunoo. Just come and help me with this luggage" Anais mutters.

"Why can't you just wait for Jay to come back a little bit more, instead of going through hell just to visit him in the States?" Sunoo prattles, pulling the handle of the luggage away from Anais. "It's not a hell. I'm visiting him now while I'm taking some days off from work. Treat it as like I'm going for a vacation, okay?" Anais reassures.

"But you're just lying to Mom saying you're leaving for a week for a business trip?" Sunoo states, the idea of his older sister was purely ridiculous in his head especially when it's her first time stepping her foot in a foreign country she hasn't even visited before. Sunoo comes off as annoyed, but deep down Anais knows that her little brother is secretly worried of her going away for a long travel to another country.

"Geez, I'm a grown adult, Sunoo. I promise you, I'll be alright on my own. Besides, I don't want Mom to be worried of me so you just have one job in your hand right now, which is make sure to keep your mouth shut for the whole week until I return back home soon" Anais warns, eyes pierce through her younger's fiercely as they reach at the counter for a check-in.

The expression that Sunoo creates right after has shown that he's giving up to argue further with his older sister, it's like he's just going to accept the decision that Anais ridiculously made eventually. "Did Jay know that you're coming over to visit him?" Sunoo asks, only for him to earn a shake of head from Anais. "No, it's gonna be a surprise" Anais states boredly.

"Pfft, a surprise? This sounds like it's a not a good plan because what if he's out of town for work? Then, where will you stay over there?" Sunoo fires back as soon as he heard about Anais' plan, shaking his head multiple times in disbelief like the world is going to end so soon. "Please Sunoo. You're overthinking too much. I told you I'll be alright. As soon as I land in Seattle, I'll straight go to Jay's apartment. I promise" Anais chimes.

The younger rolls his eyes once again, a defeat sigh escapes relentlessly through his lip as he continues. "Give me his number" Sunoo commands, hand extending as he tries to reach for Anais' phone in her hand. "What are you doing with his number? You're not gonna ruin my surprise plan, aren't you?" Anais stumbles away, taken aback by the sudden request from Sunoo.

"I'm not, dummy! Just give me his number just incase something bad ever happen to you over there" Sunoo states, hand still extending towards Anais' direction. "Gosh nothing bad will ever happen. What's wrong with you, kiddo?" Anais mutters, finally passing her phone to Sunoo and he immediately scrolls through Anais' contact list and forward Jay's number to his phone. "He's the only person I could reach to, just in case. You know the world is a dangerous place. . ." Sunoo blabbers.

"I know, I know. Just pray for my safety while I'm in the States" Anais retorts before she's checking in her luggage. Once it's done, it's finally the time for her to go to the gate before boarding the flight within an hour. Anais pats on top of Sunoo's head, thanking and waving him a warm goodbye. "Thank you for dropping me off at the airport. I'll text you once I land in Seattle soon, I promise you. See you next week when you're free, Sunoo" Anais says.