Page 24: Trip To Busan (1)

Saturday, 10:30 pm

Metro bus

Amelia

Dear Diary,

After many long months, I can't believe I am finally going to Busan. Of course, even I know it's totally uncool since we are only travelling there for a stupid family get together with my relatives from my dad's side.

I had to listen to the nagging of my relatives of how I was studying, how I must put on a weight and when am I gonna start thinking about my future. Further more, even though there are almost twenty older members of our joint family who would occupy just 19 seats at the family, it is just so unfair that, I, Amelia Jeong aged 16 do not get a seat with the adults, the kids table since I look too young with a flat chest and a baby face..!

Yes, I repeat. I hate family reunions.

But, at the same time I don't.

At least, unlike many days my mom wasn't being a demon this time and actually did one little good thing. Though it's totally not for what you think it is.

I looked at the next seat on the bus beside me and saw an exhausted Alexander sitting with his eyes closed with a sleeper mask waiting for the bus to stop already.

Alex agreed to be my pretend date for the event.

But, mom totally just invited him since my cousin who's celebrating engagement day was quite close to Alex and mom hoped Alex would tutor me on the journey.

Which is totally not happening under my watch!

There seemed to be an endless traffic on the way, Alex soon woke up with a start at the sound of the loud noise.

He mumbled the words 'a2/a2t = c2 d2u/d2x like a math nerd.

I looked at him like he was crazy.

School prince with a perfect rank, was a School prince with a perfect rank. No doubt.

How can this friend of mine actually mumble arithmetics on his sleep? Is he even human?

Was what I thought for a moment..

But, what Alex did next conformed me that he wasn't at all..!

The sleepy Alex soon freshed up and dug his bag non chalantly like a robot. He then took a big bulk of math books and placed them on my lap.

"Take your note, Amelia. Let's not waste any more time and solve some math problems.."

Alex said with a rigid face.

I was out of my mind.

"Are you crazyyy!!!?! Do you want me to study on a beautiful night family trip with my relatives..!?? The outside air is so fresh. The night sites are beautiful. My relatives are so full of energy that they are very noisy and I have to study now..!??"

I yelled on top of my voice causing few of my cousins to look back at me.

"But.. Isn't that why I am here..?" Alex blinked innocently.

Ohhh.. I think, I know why mom invited this nerd.

This guy has zero EQ though he sometimes shows miraculous signs of actually understanding me. Any other guy might have definately took advantage of the situation and made an attempt to get close to me.

Of course, Alex is my childhood friend and he might not have any ulterior motives.

But, this..!! He is too much.

"Haha! That's my boy." My mother walked towards the two of us with a bright smile. She was obviously very pleased by the sight.

"Amelia is already getting much better because of your help, Alex dear. If this is your progress, I am sure Amelia would have no problem getting into a college!"

She said resting her arm on Alexander.

Alexander looked at mom and smiled back.

"Of course, Auntie. Amelia getting into college is the least of your problems. I have already prepared previous year question papers with solutions and stalked them into books to work on this holiday trip. Leave the rest to my care, auntie.."

My mother's eyes sparkled as though she was just charmed again by this studious Alex.

She closed her mouth as though she was over whelmed by Alex and then proudly rushed forward to boast about him to my aunts.

I cringed at the sight.

There was a good boy halo all around Alex at the moment as the elders praised him. He also had an innocent bashful smile that almost even gave me a heart attack, if I did hadn't known he was gonna bundle me with sacks of homework, pretty soon.

This must be the charm of The Golden Boy.

I had to rub my eyes to make the sparkles stop glimmering around him.

Not a single adult could question his sincerity or responsibility towards his duties. This is the reason Alex gets away from trouble even though I know he has a little rebellious and mischevious rule breaking side to him.

"Alex... Do you really have no ulterior motives..?" I asked him.

"Huh?"

I sighed to him. Should I explain him everything?

"I am taking you as a date for the engagement, Alex"

I came clean to him.

Alex blushed almost immediately.

"A-A-A.. D-Date..!! W-W-With you..!!! H-How could I-I.."

"Of course, it's a fake, idiot. Don't over react.."

I had to speak to stop Alexander's uncomfortable fluster.

"I need a date so I can prove myself as an older girl and don't get to sit in the kids table.."

I said blowing my front bangs and looked at the glass window of the bus.

"Oh.. It's like that.. Wait, you still sit at the kids table..??"

Alex calmed down. But then asked.

"That's a long miserable story that I do not like to talk about. But, having a date makes me sit with the adults! And, plus... Busan isn't all about just the engagement ceremony and my family reunion.. "

I said practically glowing and gestured Alex to come closer to me.

"My father's hometown.. Also has the greatest basketball field where the korean basketball league practices on the field once in a while! That is the reason many basketball couches often bring their teams to this field..!"

I whispered on male best friend's ears.

"A-A basketball field..?" Alex widened his eyes. He then smirked.

"I see you still have the same energy in pursuing it.."

But, I can see where Alex's thoughts are coming.

After that incident where my mom discovered about me working part times at basketball couching centers and grounded me, I haven't been allowed to breath about basketball for a while now.

But this does not mean that I have lost any of the spirit I had to pursue my dream to enter a Sports University. As a matter if fact, I always visit to the basketball stadium with my dad when I was a kid.

I remember he loved basketball too. Though.. He always gets this complicated expression on his face when I ask him if he wants to play the game with me with me.

My mother on the other hand never had great interest to basketball it as long as I remember. And, after my dad died, that's when she started hating it forever.

Well, but she is not alone. All of my relatives from my father's side hate the game too. I wish I could find a way to convince them of how much joy a single game could give me, but. Apparently, Basketball is a taboo topic that I am forbidden to speak about it to anyone in my family.

But, to Alex it's not! Nor to Sarah. That is the reason I can openly be myself with these my two best friends of mine.

"Totally!" I answered Alex's question.

"But, Won't your mom be mad about-"

Alex whispered back.

"I know. That's why I am taking you along to the basketball field after the engagement ceremony..!"

"I-I.. I am coming too..? B-But.. Your mom.."

Alex looked very troubled.

"Don't worry! She will never suspect a thing if you tag along. She trusts you that much..!"

I chirped. I still remember how Alex called me out that day when I was grounded by my other. Though, Alex took the initiative my mom didn't really yell at him when he came back to our house for tutoring him. She simply considered that day as the day she was done grounding me and acted as though she thought she mustn't be too hard on me her child.

Mother always I repeat, Always had a soft spot for Alexander. So much that I think she would be very happy even if she actually adopted him.

The reason was mom loved having sons since young and Alex was the ideal kind of kid she wanted to have since we were kids.

That's why I also know that Alex is apparantly my adoptive brother and there is no way Alex would feel anything more than a little sister when it comes to me. I must remember that at all costs.

"But.. Ame-"

"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk." It was now Stella Jeong, my elder sister's turn to pester me.

"You two spend time with each other almost everyday at school. Won't you two just give it a rest at this family tour..? Someone might suspect you have a thing going on."

Stella blabbered nonsense.

"Hello, Stella noona." Alex greeted her with a shaky smile. I found him

My little cousin sudden pounced om Stella's neck from the seat next to us and roared.

"I am gonna eat you. Noona! ROARRR!"

"Markus, ow my neck, stop it!"

Little Mark then looked at me and then Alex and asked Stella blankly.

"This hyung (brother) is so handsome. Is he Amelia noona's boyfriend..!"

The little kid immediately bought the awkwardness between us.

"N-No! No.way..! I am not-"

"No, of course we are not. Looking at Alex I was thinking about how my mother loves dotting him. Alex is like a brother to me. You feel the same was too right Alex..?"

I chirped at him.

"Yeah.. Sure.." Alex's voice drooped. "Nothing more nothing less."

"Haha. You two are so funny. But, I really feel for ya Alex. Good luck next time.."

Stella patted Alex as though they were sharing something in secret and left to the front with my little cousin sitting on her neck.

"Stella noona.. " Alex gritted his teeth with a forceful smile.

I guess, after this Alex lost his energy to teach me that he packed his bag again and drowned in silence.

Let with nothing else to do, this is how I started writing you, dear diary.

It's just eleven at the night now.

7 hours to go for us to reach the destination...

____________

Sunday 9 am.

After Engagement Ceremony.

Amelia

Okay. Alex and I are sneaking out this noon. Right in time everyone gets busy with the family reunion time. Alex did not seem convinced about my plan no matter how many times I go through it. But, since I was strong on my reasons, he had to comply with me.

Thus, with a perfect normal outdoor shorts, T shirt and a summer cap, binoculars for getting better view if the field, a summer bag, bottle of water, canvas shoes and Alex's hand (In case my mom finds out) I got ready after lunch.

"Amelia.. I am still not sure we should be doing this.."

Alex mussed again crawling through the bushes following me.

"Shut upp.. That's fine. If not for today I can never see the stadium any time soon."

I pushed more bushes from the way and brightened after finally spotting the main gate.

This was my family house. The house my grandparents lived and my father grew up as his childhood home. It was old and big enough for all my aunts and uncles to visit. That was the reason my cousin planned to celebrate engagement here. The mansion is all big, ancient and sound. But, the problem with it is that it's too long especially it's garden. That was the reason Alex and I had a tough time making it here.

"I can see how much you love visiting this stadium. But, would it be that bad to spend more time with your family..?"

Alex asked me.

"Of course! Anything is better than this horrifying meet up!"

I ranted my thoughts.

Alexander smiled lightly.

"I don't think the same way.. It's not common to see a family who loves you enough to celebrate the tiny sweet ceremonies of our life. My parents never took me anywhere when I was young.. I-I am almost envious you have an option to choose to hate these events, you know.."

My bright excited face abruptly fazed.

That's because Alex's parents did not have a harmonious relationship and had different affairs on their own. Alex was super rich. But, he did not have a family that loved him. That was the truth about his household.

That's also one of the other reasons my mother loved talking doting on Alex. Alex's mother abandoned him and she feels kinda guilty about it towards Alex as his mother's friend.

I really hate myself for using him for my own selfish desires.

I looked back and saw Alex blinking at me.

"What?" Alex asked but soon said. "T-That must be the stadium you were talking about Amelia..!" He said pointing the great door before us.

I abruptly turned my head and sunk in the vision of the great basketball stadium with a bright smile.

Ranging crowds, thousands of seats, bright noisy energy oozing all around us, multiple coaches with their innumerous students scattered around in groups and the great basketball courts with my idols the players of the Winter Knight uniforms..!

What more can a girl ask..!!?!

"Is this heaven, Alex..!!!" I squealed agressively holding Alex's arm.

_____________