When we arrive home that evening Cassidy isn't home. Even though I try to hide it I'm glad that I don't have to have a "girl talk" with her, as my brother so eloquently put it. While my brother tries to call his fiancé, I head into the kitchen to prepare supper.

As I'm kneading dough for dumplings, my brother raises his voice, and I'm forced to eavesdrop. I creep closer to the kitchen door to hear better.

"What do you even mean? Why would say something like that?" Jin says, sounding more annoyed than anything. Recently annoyed Nam-jin has been a frequent occurrence. Even I can tell that this whole wedding thing is not what either of them thought it'd be. Both of them have been more easily set off by each other recently, as if the thought of spending forever with each other terrifies them.

"Now you're just being ridiculous," I flinch at Jin's tone, as he continues. "Why would I ask you to marry me if I didn't love you?"

After covering the dough to let it raise, I lean against the fridge to hear the conversation better. After it's been too quiet for a while, I realise that Jin went onto the balcony.

I guess my eavesdropping wasn't as covert as I'd thought.

Oh, well.

I decide to get some studying done while I wait for the dough to rise. I try to read over the chapters for tomorrow's classes, but I can't concentrate. Try as I may, I can't seem to get the information to stick.

Besides, who cares who invented the musical scale? How will knowing the history of musical notes help me? Not that I have anything against Guido D'Arezzo. I guess they just had to give us a module that requires more textbook studying then our usual practical modules do.

After reading the same paragraph over for the third time I throw the book down, disappointed. I can't seem to concentrate while I'm still concerned about my brother.

Even though I don't like Cassidy that much, mostly because I'm pretty sure she hates me, I still don't want things between her and Nam-jin to be ruined. As disturbing as it is, she makes my brother happy and I know he'd be crushed if she decides to call of their engagement. Although if it were up to me, I'd prefer for him not to marry her, not only because of how much she dislikes me, but mostly because of how much she has tried to change Jin.

Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I can't get over the fact that I suspect she is just staying with my brother simply because of how he good he looks next her, and not for who he is as a person. I remember when they started dating last year, and he introduced her to me for the first time. She had spent the whole evening talking about herself, and when she hadn't she had been talking about how much better Jin looked in button down shirts and chinos than in what he usually wore. Jin hasn't worn jeans since then.

Okay, maybe that is not such a big thing, but I can't fight this fear that all the little things she'll change about him will eventually add up, and I won't be able to recognise my brother anymore. He can’t see that she is molding him into someone that suits her lifestyle, instead of letting him grow and become the person he’s supposed to be. He is already in his late thirties, he doesn’t need her to mother him.

I go back to the kitchen and finish cooking. It has been a while since I’ve actually cooked a full meal, usually Cassidy does the cooking or I just prepare something quick.

Tonight though, I put in more effort.

I guess it’s because I know that right now Nam-jin needs someone on his side. The least I can do is make him his favourites.

                                                         ★★★

Cassidy doesn’t come home till midnight. I know this because Jin had been roaming around the flat, and his every step carried through the paper thin walls keeping me from sleep. I’d barely held myself back from shouting at him from keeping me up, but I thought he had enough stress without me adding to it.

Their whispering kept me up for most of the night, it was even more annoying because their voices were a low rumbling and I couldn’t even eavesdrop. Is so much to ask that if I have to listen to their drama that I can at least hear what’s been said? What’s the point of hearing them if I won’t get any details?

The next morning when I wake up and go to the kitchen for coffee, Cassidy is already there sitting on the counter next to the sink. I’m about to sneak back out when she spots me.

“Yun! How are you feeling this morning?” Her smile is blinding in it’s insincerity.

“I’ve told you not to call me that.” I scowl, as I reach behind her for a cup. I ignore the way her smile falls as I make me some coffee. I lean against the fridge and watch her over the brim of my cup. It’s because of her and Jin’s drama that I barely got five hours of sleep last night.

“Cassidy. What happened between you and my brother yesterday?” I ask. Normally I wouldn’t bother, but yesterday I’d told Jin I’d at least try. I’m not much of a conversationalist but I’m pretty sure I broached the topic in a way that is quite delicate for me. Usually I’d just ask her what the hell she did wrong this time.

She climbs down from the counter and puts her bowl of oats on the sink. She’s quiet for so long that I think she won’t answer, when she does she looks at me and I notice that she’d been crying. It’s the most genuine expression I’d ever seen her wear, and for a second I feel my dislike for her crumble.

“We had a little disagreement. Nothing to worry your pretty little head about.” She walks past me, petting me on the head like you would a puppy. I push her hand away, and ignore her laughter as she leaves.

Why did I even try?

As I finish the coffee there is a knock on the door. At first I assume I’d heard wrong, our neighbours aren’t really very neighbourly and hardly ever pay social visits. The knock comes a second time and I go over and take a look through the peephole. It’s a delivery guy from one of those overnight courier service companies.

I open the door wondering if Cassidy or my brother had recently ordered anything online.

“Good morning. I have a parcel for a Miss Seo-yun Park.” The delivery guy doesn’t even look up from the clipboard in his hands.

“Oh, I’m Seo-yun. But I think you must be mistaken. I haven’t ordered anything in a long while.”

The guy barely spares me a glance as he shows me the delivery slip.

“This parcel was sent to a Miss Seo-yun Park at this address. Overnight express delivery.” He talks over my protests, “Just sign the form, Miss. I have other places to get to.”

I look down at the name and address on the sheet, and both are correct.

I hesitantly take the clipboard and sign the form. The delivery guy shoves the parcel into my arms before disappearing down the hall.

I go back to the kitchen where Jin is busy buttering some toast. He looks up at me and notices the small package in my hands.

“Who was that? What’s that in your arms?” He narrows his eyes at me, “You didn’t use my credit card to order anything, did you?”

“What? No. I don’t know what this is. The delivery dude was very unhelpful.”

My brother walks over and snatches the package from my hands. He ignores my protests as he gets out a pair of scissors and removes the plastic outer packaging. Inside is a simple small rectangular brown box. I grab it from my bother and use a kitchen knife to slice through the tape.

Inside there is a box of chocolates and an envelope with my name on it.

“Oh, wow.” I pick up the box of chocolates, “They’re imported. Chodladfabriken. Whoa.” It’s a white box with simple black script and black ribbon on the corners. I open the box and reach in for one of the dark beauties.

My brother slaps my hand away and takes the box from my grasp. I look at him eyes wide in surprise, but he looks even more shocked than me.

“Are you insane!? You don’t know where this came from, and you want to eat it?” He stared at me as if he can’t believe that we’re related.

I also wonder sometimes.

“Jin! Stop being so paranoid. Give them back! Maybe one of my friends sent them.” I try to take it, but he holds it over my head and out of my grasp, like he used to do when I was a kid.

“Check the envelope.” He glares down at me. I try to stare him down but barely makes it ten seconds before I cave.

“Fine.” I sigh, “You’re so unnecessary.” I pick up the envelope and pull out the contents. Inside there are two pages, one is a letter the other is… A sketch.

Of me.

The sketch is extremely well detailed, everything about it is so lifelike as to almost jump out off the page.

“Wow…” Jin says, eyes glued to the sketch.

I am momentarily dumbstruck as I stare at my face on the page. In the picture I’m sitting at my Yamaha keyboard, my face is tilted up in brilliant sunlight. The sunlight highlights my face, making it appear ethereal. The paper me is so completely engrossed in the music that it’s like she’s glowing. I guess the picture could be described as beautiful.

Except there is something off about it.

I can’t put my finger on the reason why, but staring at the picture sends a chill down my spine. I place the eerie picture facedown on the counter and read the letter.

This at least makes me smile. It’s a fan letter.

"I can’t seem to get over your beautiful voice. Your honey tones are truly something special, and I can’t wait for your next performance."  Jin reads the last line out loud, and turns to stare at me wide eyed. “Holy ship. You actually have a fan.”

The letter signed, “from your secret admirer”, doesn’t give a clue as to the sender’s identity. I stare at the letter, unexpectedly pleased at the flattering words. I smile as I fold up my first ever fan mail and return it to it’s envelope. I leave the disturbing sketch on the kitchen counter.

“So, can I have my chocolates back?” I hold my hand out to Jin, as I put the envelope into my backpack.

“No.” He says.

“Hey. Why not?” I stare at the box of chocolates in his hands, my mouth watering.

“Secret admirer? Who even says things like that in real life? You don’t know what kind of creeps are out there. I can’t allow you to eat these as they could have easily been tampered with.”

“Jin! Not everyone is out to get me. Why do you always have to treat me like a child?” I scowl, folding my arms over my chest. “Those have been imported. Look at the box, Chodladfabriken, that’s a chocolate shop in Stockholm that chocolate lovers all over Sweden frequent. Their chocolate is supposed to be one of a kind. When will I get another chance to experience it?”

My brother looks down at the box, brow scrunched in a frown.

“No. I’m sorry but you aren’t going to eat these.” He lifts his head up quickly and narrows his eyes at me. “Hey, how did you know all that stuff about this box of chocolates. Everything on the box is written in Swedish.”

I avoid his gaze as I blush. “I sometimes research chocolate stuff, so what? Everyone loves food blogs, especially the chocolate kind.” I stare at him again, my glare not fooling anyone in its weakness. “Jin, just give me the chocolate.”

I know I’ve lost the argument with that last protest even before he responds. “No, Seo-yun. Even a chocoholic like you can’t be stupid enough to eat something from an unknown source. Especially since this chocolate doesn’t have a tamper proof seal.” He sees the sad look on my face and sighs in frustration.

“Okay, fine. Compromise.”

“Really?” I perk up, “What?”

“I’ll get you a box of these, okay. Just give me a day or two to find a trusted source.”

I grin, “Thanks, brother Jin.”

“Gross. Don’t call me that again. Ever.” He says, as he smooshes my hair. For once I don’t complain and just smile up at him, already tasting the sweet rich taste of the chocolate.

My brother walks past me to throw the box into the dustbin, but I stop him.

“Hey, let me keep the box at least.” I quickly speak again before he can say no, “Come on. It’s my first fan mail. I just want to keep it as a memento.”

He sighs, but throws the chocolate into a separate plastic bag before handing me the box. He throws away the bag, as I head back to my room to put the box and letter away.

“Wait,” Jin calls after me, “You left the sketch behind.”

I continue on, pretending not to have heard him.