A Little Favor

Traffic in Seoul could be hell sometimes.

It was something even the filthy rich couldn’t avoid, and that was the reason Seo Eun Hye was taking her business calls right there in the middle of the stagnant highway in her Tesla.

It was about 6 pm but the sun looked like it wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet. It was the time when all good-paying jobs closed but she wasn’t coming from a job. She was going to the company her parents entrusted to her while they dealt with the invincible workload.

Eun Hye let out another frustrated sigh, banging her head on the steering wheel of the electric car before looking at her map status.

She was nowhere close to her destination.

Her car suddenly became filled with the intro to Euphoria by Jungkook. It has been her ringing tone ever since the masterpiece was released.

It was her assistant, Heidi, who was calling.

Eun Hye snatched the phone from the holder and picked up the call with lightning speed.

“Heidi, tell me some good news,” She sounded desperate.

Heidi and Eun Hye were pretty close, and had one good thing in common; they worked fine under pressure.

Silence echoed after Heidi didn’t say anything.

“What did Mr. Seung-ho say?” Just give it to me straight, the project hearing is this weekend and this is Friday!” Eun Hye snapped, frustration from the traffic getting to her as she roamed her hands through her hair.

Heidi cleared her throat, knowing the sooner she let it off her chest, the quicker they could brainstorm on another solution.

“He said we shouldn’t contact him again, and that the seventh time would make him file a restraining order against us. He said he is not one to be bought out, he doesn’t deal with buyouts like-” She abruptly stopped speaking when she realized she couldn't hear Eun Hye breathing.

“Eun, are you there?” Heidi asked, waiting for a response.

Meanwhile, Eun Hye was making an effort to manage a meltdown in the middle of traffic. She gripped her steering wheel till her knuckles turned white.

“That arrogant prick.” she drawled, clenching her teeth.

Strong distaste was palpable in her expression as she looked out her window to see one of their digital billboards displaying colorful lights.

It was of some upcoming BL actors advertising facemasks.

“How about we call Cho Jeong?” Heidi suggested.

“I’m running a company, not a charity event.” Eun Hye snapped, letting out a stressful breath as she hung the call.

She was trying to calm her anxiety and think of a better alternative when her phone started to ring again.

“Who the hell is calling me?” Eun Hye snapped at no one exactly before checking who it was.

Min-a with a heart emoji displayed on her screen.

She sighed heavily before picking up.

“Now is not a good time. I have a fire to put out and-” Her younger brother didn’t let her finish before groaning,

“Older sister,”

Eun Hye rolled her eyes at his usual arrogant voice. She was about to hang up when he spoke up again, this time with urgency.

“Help me,” his pleading tone sounded strange to her so she decided to give him a listening ear. “Could you pick me up at Skyhouse Sports Center?” Min-a sounded meekly like a squirrel.

He usually played basketball at Skyhouse Sports Center every Friday and Sunday evening. The popular Sports Center was close to their home which meant it wouldn't actually be an issue picking him up but pressure from work made Eun Hye think otherwise.

“Have you forgotten how to drive?” She scoffed.

“Workshop has my car..” Min-a replied in a sheepish voice.

“Seo Min-a! What the heck do you use your Hellcat for, bullfighting?” Eun Hye exclaimed, searching her rare view mirror to see how long the traffic was getting.

“Eun Hye, don’t shout, or you’ll grow gray hair quickly.”

“This little—”

“Please, older sister,” he cut her off with a plea.

Min-a always seemed to ask for help at the worst possible moments. Last time, he was caught with explicit drugs, Fentanyl, and some candy he claimed was for stress.

Eun Hye had the leisure of bailing him out because according to him, she has “Big girl connections”

“Okay, I will pick you up,” she agreed begrudgingly, knowing that she couldn’t refuse her only younger brother.

Seo Eun Hye looked at herself in the mirror. Her fringe was still in the perfect position on her forehead making her round face appear more solid. She pouted her lips, adding another touch of lip gloss before making a smacking sound and then straightening her back.

“You are the best. I would be outside-”

Eun Hye didn’t let him finish before she interjected. “The traffic here is—” A loud, obnoxious horn blared from behind, startling her mid-sentence.

She took a deep breath to quell the murderous thoughts in her head before glancing ahead to see the cars already far gone.

“Fucking bastard!” Eun Hye cursed loudly, disbelief washing over her like a salty wave.

Seo Eun Hye’s car came to a halt in front of the SkyHouse building. The glass front was so clean she could see three doors through the first one.

She scoffed, her expression filled with dissatisfaction.

Seo Min-a stood by the side pillar at the end of the stairs. Two girls were fangirling beside him, trying to make small conversations but he was ignoring them, typing off on his phone.

Eun Hye rolled her eyes at the sight.

Some days, she wished her younger brother was ugly.

She knew he couldn’t be a regular guy because, with their wealth, their parents would fix him to look great. But the asshole came out like a fallen angel.

Min-a was a student at a private university in Seoul, South Korea, and an influencer model. He loved basketball and had a passion for painting. Min-a had long, dark brown hair, and it was currently packed into a loose ponytail.

He was 187 cm tall, wearing ripped joggers, and a basketball jersey. He had a glorious jaw, and a high cheekbone, with the most beautiful set of natural rosy lips, a trait they both shared with their mom.

Eun Hye felt weird after realizing she was secretly admiring her brother, then she honked sharply.

Seo Min-a raised his head immediately, relieved that she finally arrived. He walked away from the two girls in gym clothes without looking back.

“You are looking so beautiful, older sister.” Min-a greeted her with a wide smile as he settled into the passenger seat.

“Don’t flatter me. You owe me.” Eun Hye replied bluntly, driving off towards the highway leading to their up-city mansion in Gangnam.

“Yeah, got it,” Min-a mumbled in a distracted tone as he began to surf the internet.

“I see you got some new girlfriends..why are you still having a hard time choosing one?” Eun Hye raised a question with a playful smirk.

Min-a tensed up, turning off his phone before looking straight ahead. Eun Hye noticed Adam's apple go up and down. A habit when he was nervous.

“Really, Min-a. I think Dad is waiting for you to bring a girl from one of the Major families soon. You will be 22 in a few months..” she reminded him.

Min-a loved his family, but they were too demanding.

He didn’t know why his father and his older sister always talked about meeting his non-existent girlfriend.

He wasn’t in any relationship. He enjoyed fucking around, no strings attached, no commitments. It made him feel free, he was too young to be tied down.

Besides, all the girls were the same.

It wasn’t just his looks or his talent that they were after, it was his last name. Their ‘Seo’ family name was amongst the Major families that held power and wealth in Gangnam and throughout Seoul. He didn't want to participate in the political aspect of being a Seo, he liked his bad-boy reputation better.

Playboy delinquent with charms of the devil, it had a ring to it. Didn’t it?

“Older sister,” Min-a grumbled, a thoughtful expression on his face. “They’re just after Seo’s name. Too easy.”

“I want someone who can challenge me, and make me grow undeniable feelings for them.” He spoke, seemingly unaware of the deeper implications of his words.

Seo Eun Hye nodded either way. “Min-a, the clock is ticking.” She sighed, giving him a weird look. “You need to start your own family.” She reminded him.

“What? Are you playing cupid now?” Min-a grunted, switching on his phone to see thousands of I*******m messages, which made him more frustrated.

He needed a new fit for the opening party of Velvet Club tomorrow. He had invested some thousands in it alongside his friends, so he planned to enjoy every bit of its benefits.

They arrived home soon enough to meet their father having dinner on their spaced see-through glass dining table.

Eun Hye felt nerves crawling up her stomach, she couldn’t meet his gaze knowing she hadn’t still secured the desired artist for the project he entrusted to her, and the hearing tomorrow.

She dodged the dinner hall, following Min-a into his room.

“What are you doing?” Min-a asked, stopping in his tracks and turning to look down at her due to their distinct height difference.

“What,” Eun Hye muttered, “can’t I spend some time with my younger brother?” She tried to act cute, but it didn't work on Min-a.

Instead, his face developed a small frown.

“No,” was all he said before he got into his master room, but left the door open behind him, so she followed him in and shut the door.

Eun Hye looked around her brother’s room. She didn't come here often because his art was displayed all over his wall. He even used a side of his walls for minimalistic painting.

Min-a’s art was...abstract. If you were to put it in the simplest way. They were all creepy and didn’t fit into any box of art Eun Hye knew about from working with digital artists. She had convinced him once or twice to sell his art, but he refused, saying he wasn't a sell-out.

That was when the idea of lightning struck her.

“Oh, I know that look.” Min-a read her expression the instant he noticed it. “I’m not doing any life-endangering tasks for you again.” He asserted sternly and Eun Hye’s face collapsed.

That was what happens when your parents only birthed two kids, you end up knowing each other a little too well.

“You haven’t even listened to what I have to say,” Eun Hye pouted, moving closer to clasp his hands in her smaller ones. “Look, Dad must not find out that I haven’t secured the artist he is obsessed with.” She whined, batting her pretty, long eyelashes at her little brother.

Min-a calmly removed his hands and rolled his eyes at her beseeching face.

He took his shirt off to head for a shower.

“You stink.” Eun Hye scrunched her tiny nose.

“Really? Good luck with Dad.” Min-a shrugged nonchalantly, striding towards his bathroom.

“Min-a, I just took a bullet for you.” Eun Hye reminded him in a whiny voice.

“You only came to pick me up.” Min-a pointed out, shaking his head at his shameless, older sister.

“Look,” Eun Hye smiled victoriously, “you owe me, and that’s it.” She insisted when she noticed she had backed him into the corner.

“So much being family..” Min-a grumbled, rolling his eyes. “What do you want?”

“I need your help tonight.” Eun Hye breathed out, her expression set in determination. “I want you to convince this arrogant artist to work with our company.” She rubbed her hands together as she spoke.

A hopeful glint sparked in her deep, brown eyes, or it was the bright light in his room, either way, the expression disturbed Min-a.

He finally realized why their father granted her one of his biggest assets to take care of at the age of 21.

That was three years ago.

Eun Hye was crazy.

She was obsessed with being the best and doing the most.

Whereas, Min-a only wanted to fuck hot girls and do drugs, so he could forget that they simply desired him for his looks and last name.

“Eun Hye, I don’t want to. I’m not going to be your dark sword again. Remember what happened last time?”