CLMO 03

Chapter 3

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[“Oppa, wait! Not like this…!”]

How long had she waited for this reunion? How many times had she dreamed of seeing him again?

She couldn’t let it end like this.

“Later.”

Aaron stopped Sian from charging back. Where such strength came from in his slim frame, she couldn’t imagine.

Thanks to that, Sian was helplessly dragged away and ultimately kicked out—fuming as she stormed out of the building entirely.

She was furious. Furious at the brother who presumed her dead without even confirming it, furious at Aaron who had shut her out without giving her a chance to speak.

But most of all… she was furious at herself.

At the stupid girl who’d believed that just setting foot in Wharton would magically fix everything.

“Are you okay?”

Sian hadn’t even gotten far. She was crouched nearby, trying to steady her breathing, when Aaron cautiously approached.

“No. Not even close.”

“…”

Aaron stood there awkwardly, doing neither enough to comfort her nor enough to pretend he didn’t care.

“What? Do you think I’m lying too?”

“Well…”

Aaron trailed off. Still, his response was far more civil than Ian, who had outright treated her like a con artist.

Eventually, he crouched beside her, his expression sincere.

“I’m sorry about the way Ian treated you. Tearing up that photo—that was way out of line. At the very least, he could’ve pretended to look at it.”

His words eased some of the sting in her chest.

‘Maybe he’s a better person than I thought.’

His tone was a little sharp, and he clearly avoided physical contact, but—

Still, the fact that he couldn’t just walk past a crying girl said something.

Thanks to that small act of kindness, Sian managed to pull herself together.

She wiped at her tears roughly.

She had dreamed of this reunion for so long. After that endless, freezing winter of waiting, she had finally taken her first step forward.

Just seeing her brother’s grown-up face—that was enough for now. She’d let that be enough, for today.

As Sian steadied her heart, remembering the now-manlike face of her brother, Aaron spoke.

“That photo from earlier… it wasn’t the only copy, right?”

Sian let out a small laugh. She understood now why he’d seemed so nervous.

He must’ve been worried it was the only photo she had with her brother—that it had been shredded into garbage.

“You’re really kind, you know.”

Aaron furrowed his brow at the sudden compliment.

“Was the shock that bad? You’re not making sense.”

Sian laughed out loud this time. The look on Aaron’s confused face was too funny.

“I still have the original. It’s on my phone too. Want to see?”

Aaron visibly relaxed. Clearly, he’d been worried.

Just knowing someone had worried for her warmed her heart.

Sian decided—for his sake too—she would pull herself together.

“For now, let’s retreat. Lunch is almost over, and I don’t want to be late for class on my first day.”

She stood, straightening her legs.

“But… why does my brother think I’m dead? Did something happen to him while we were apart?”

“No idea.”

“You don’t know anything? I heard you’ve been close since middle school.”

“…”

No reply.

Aaron simply looked at his watch, silently urging her to move along.

“Fine. I’ll find out myself.”

There was no use pushing him. With a shrug, Sian started walking toward the next lecture hall.

Just before they parted ways at their lockers, Aaron broke the silence.

“I’ll steal a strand of Ian’s hair. You can get a DNA test. If there’s scientific proof, maybe he won’t be able to ignore you anymore.”

So he hadn’t written her off—he’d been quietly trying to help.

Sian’s interest was piqued.

“But for a sibling match, don’t we need maternal DNA too? Our mom is…”

She couldn’t finish. They were both from the same orphanage. Neither knew their birth mother.

“You and Ian are enough for the test.”

As soon as he said it, Sian’s eyes sparkled.

“No need for you to steal it.”

“Then?”

“If it’s going to be stolen, I’ll do it myself.”

Aaron pinched the bridge of his nose. She was like a wild rugby ball—who knew where she’d bounce next?

“And how exactly are you planning to do that?”

“I’ll figure it out as I go.”

“…Good luck with that.”

He’d done more than enough. Now he just hoped this would be the end of interruptions to his peaceful reading time.

But no sooner had Aaron turned his back than Sian grabbed his arm again.

“What are you doing after school?”

“…”

“If you don’t have other plans, tell me everything you know about my brother. Except for that weird club president stuff.”

A cold sweat slid down Aaron’s back.

It looked like his quiet reading hours would have to say goodbye—for now.

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Back in the now-empty club room after Sian and Aaron had left—

Ian took off his glasses and closed his eyes, his face weary.

Leaning back, trying to calm the storm in his chest, he was interrupted by a loud bang.

Only one person he knew would barge into the room without even knocking.

“It’s the first day of school—come on, at least show your face.”

Blay Williams. His familiar voice rang brightly in the once-quiet clubroom.

“Get lost.”

Ian threw a cushion without even looking, but Blay caught it with one hand.

Chuckling, Blay flopped onto the couch.

“You’re extra cranky today. Something happen?”

If someone looked that on edge, the polite thing would be to leave them alone.

Ian let out a sigh.

Blay had grown up like royalty in the Williams household—he’d never once had to worry about how others felt.

With practiced ease, Ian changed the subject.

“Nothing happened. What do you want?”

“Do I need a reason to drop by?”

Blay’s voice was light with amusement.

Something had him in a good mood, apparently. Ian didn’t care to ask—until he said:

“By the way, that new transfer student? She’s Asian. Everyone’s talking about how cute she is.”

She was cute. Cute enough to walk right up to.

Blay grinned, remembering the way her round eyes widened in surprise when she saw him.

Ian, meanwhile, scowled.

It was likely she was the same girl who’d barged into the club room earlier.

“So?”

“Why not get along with her? Asians should stick together.”

Blay suddenly fell quiet, then asked, now serious:

“Wait. Was that racist?”

“If it pissed me off, then yes. It was.”

Ian replied coolly.

After more than ten years in New York, comments like that didn’t even sting anymore.

“But it didn’t piss you off, right?”

Blay flashed his radiant smile. It was impossible to stay mad at a face like that.

Besides, they’d grown up together—friends since childhood.

Instead of answering, Ian snorted.

Seeing his mood ease slightly, Blay leaned in again.

“Seriously, though—nothing happened? No one annoyed you today?”

“…I mean this sincerely. Stop acting like a clingy girlfriend. It’s creepy.”

“You’ve never even had a girlfriend.”

Despite the complaint, Blay just laughed.

Clearly, teasing Ian was his favorite pastime.

“As team captain, it’s my duty to monitor the players’ mental state. We’ve got the Homecoming game coming up, remember?”

As if Ian cared about winning or losing a game.

He closed his eyes again.

But no matter how hard he tried to shut it out, the girl’s voice echoed in his ears—

Oppa… Oppa…

‘It can’t be.’

He’d even flown to Incheon five years ago—to visit where Sian’s ashes were interred.

The idea that she was alive now was simply impossible.

‘This must be another test.’

If anyone would try something this twisted, it would be the Morgans.

The Morgan couple had adopted Ian—and three other children.

Each adoptee came from a different ethnicity, but they shared one thing:

Exceptional talent.

The Morgans had cultivated those talents to be used for their benefit alone.

And Ian… had broken that rule.

That was why he lost his sister five years ago.

He had nothing left to lose—so what were they trying to test this time?

Ian let out a long, heavy sigh.

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The next morning.

Blay ran into the same girl again—this time loitering outside the Rockefeller building where the seniors had classes.

Not surprising. He’d expected to see her again.

No one ever saw his face just once and walked away satisfied.

“Hey.”

Her face when she turned around looked gloomier than expected.

She probably didn’t sleep much.
A common fate for girls who’d met him.

He sweetened his tone even more.

“Cheer up. You got to meet the person you were looking for.”

Even his dazzling good looks weren’t enough to bring her spirits up.

“He didn’t seem happy to see me.”

Blay frowned.

They’d only met once. It was too soon to decide if someone liked or disliked you.

“You’re kind of impatient, aren’t you?”

“…Huh?”

“We just met yesterday, after all.”

“…We did?”

The girl looked like she had a lot she wanted to say.

Her lips parted, hesitating. Blay shrugged casually.

He’d had so many girls confess to him that this kind of conversation was second nature by now.

“Why don’t we take our time? Get to know each other a little better.”

“But how? We don’t even have the same classes…”

“Well…”

 

Blay rubbed his chin, looking down at her with curious eyes.