Bonding Trip Day 2

"Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning, and unquenchable."

– Bruce Lee

My family and I are doing street shopping now. There is a narrow place where small shops are lined up, people are shouting and passing by making it seem so busy in the evening. We parted ways; mom and dad, me and my sisters. I decided to trail behind my sisters watching the shops while they dragged each other into shops and bought some things.

"Aren't you gonna buy something?" asked Jimin peaking into all the shops.

I can say he wanted to go with my sisters and check all the things. He is a shopping person, I know. And his craze for accessories and clothes, I've picked up from many BTS videos. Him wearing stylish earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets. Even now he's wearing some.

"I don't have anyone to buy to, Jimin" I sighed looking at Liya bargaining with the shopkeeper for a bangle." It's just me and my pathetic life".

"Don't call your life pathetic." he scolded me, "Besides I'm here" he grinned.

"Like if I'll buy you something" I scoffed.

"I'm offended by that, you know" he pouted, "If I come here, I'll make sure to buy everything. It's so beautiful and tempting".

"Go on, then. Wake up and visit here" I said.

"Oh, I wish." he sighed, "Aish, you are so boring, Mia. Just buy something instead of walking".

"Yes, I'm boring. If you can't stand my boring self, follow my sisters. No one is stopping you." I said blankly.

"Fine! I'm going" he stormed off towards my sisters.

I rolled my eyes and continued walking watching around. Then something caught my eye. I walked towards it and looked at it. Wow, it was beautiful and unique. It was just a necklace but was so alluring.

"Did you like that dear?" asked a lady who was watching me intently with a smile.

"Yeah, it's beautiful" I admitted.

"It sure is." she then picked it up from behind the display glass and gave it to me. "It's the last piece".

"How much is this?" I asked grazing it gently.

"It's ....... Rupees" she smiled.

"Okay, I'll take it," I said giving it to her to pack as I picked out my wallet.

"Is it for someone special?" she asked with a cheeky smile.

I glanced at the ghost, gawking at the rings Diya just freshly purchased.

"Sort of" I smiled taking the box from her.

She chuckled giving me a playful wink.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Let's go back, girls" called out dad from the door of our car.

After the shopping, it was already dusk and we decided to head back home. Jimin was still trailing behind my sisters even after the shopping. He looked pissed and disappointed I can say. He puffed his cheeks like a chipmunk and looked away whenever our eyes met. I'd to gulp down my laughter every time I saw that.

"Mia, please sit in the front seat. Your mom will fall asleep amidst the drive and you know, I'll be tempted to sleep seeing her" he chuckled looking at my fuming mom.

"Okay, dad," I said smiling.

Just like that, we started our journey back home. I put on my earbuds and stared outside, as usual, enjoying the ride in the dark. It was a clear sky and the stars were very much visible. I was trying to make out some constellations amidst the drive but I barely got any. It was foolish of me. I looked at the rearview mirror but I couldn't see him. Huh? I looked back but he was sitting there leaning against the window. Weird! Wasn't he supposed to see through the mirror of all things? Another thing to solve added to the list.

I sighed.

"How was the trip, Mia?" dad asked eyes straight ahead as he took dangerous turns.

"Fine as always, dad," I said without any emotions.

"How are your studies going?"

"Tiring as always".

"You know you are answering like a robot" he side-eyed me.

I just shrugged.

Conversation between us had a huge gap and I knew it. I wasn't ready to open up to him. My ability to trust people has long gone, even to my dad. I'm sorry, dad.

"See, your mother and sisters are already asleep" chuckled dad.

"Yeah. They tend to sleep early and get up early" I chuckled along.

"Unlike us who sleep late and wake up late," he added playfully.

"Yeah" I laughed lightly.

Bonding time, huh?

We successfully descended the mountains and are driving through the highway. It was almost midnight. We stopped by a supermarket to get some drinks and snacks to eat during the drive. Call it midnight drive snacks. As you've guessed my mom and sisters were oblivious to all these, hehe. Well, Jimin just sat silently at the very back beside Liya, watching her sleep. I had the urge to go and punch him in the face but held it in. Pervert!

"Mia, I'm getting a bit sleepy. Can you drive?" he asked.

"Okay"

Yes, I can drive and I have a license. Right after my eighteenth birthday, I took my license and you can say I'm a pro at driving. I rounded the car and took the driver's seat. I buckled the seatbelt and started driving towards home.

"Hm, you are a smooth driver. Good!" dad chirped placing his head on the window and closing his eyes.

"Thanks, dad" I replied and went back to driving.

There were not many cars so it went well. Everyone in the car was sleeping soundly. Except for our Jimin the Ghost of course. I thought he'd talk about something but he was very silent. I like silence and all but being followed around by a very talkative ghost for weeks made the silence uncomfortable for me now.

We reached a signal and I stopped the car and turned around to look whether he was there. Sure enough, he was. But with a blank expression.

"Jimin, you mad at me?" I asked finally tapping my fingers on the steering wheel impatiently.

"Yes," he replied shortly.

"Why?" I sighed.

"You know why" again came the reply.

"I don't".

"Yes, you know but you won't say it out loud" he spoke coldly. I've never heard that tone of his before. It did send a shiver down my spine. It was deadly.

"Just...don't look at my sister like that," I said with a low tone. I was surprised by my tone itself, it was not a stubborn one, but was rather weak. Where did my courage go?

Aish! This is not even a serious argument why are you getting frustrated?!

We kept silent afterward.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We reached home and everyone stumbled into their rooms groggily. I thought Jimin was coming into my room and I could show him the necklace I bought him and could keep things clean. But he stormed out to somewhere inside the house without even waiting for me. How can I find him now? I didn't expect him to behave that way. I don't even know what to do.

I sighed and decided to just sleep and think about it tomorrow. I didn't have the energy to confront him when I'm tired. Let's hope that everything's gonna be fine by tomorrow.

Aish! Who said girls are complicated? Noo...both are the same. I can't even read him now. Why is he different from everyone I saw and why am I even thinking about him. When someone doesn't talk to you, you didn't even bother to look that way. What's different about him?

I messed my hair in stress and fell on my bed.