Mei Wang was not a jock nor a cool kid. She was one of these people you call a wallflower. She was sweet Mei, trustable Mei, Mei who cared for others, Mei who was respectable. Sure, she could act like her sister Ha Yeon and get herself drunk. Yes, she could be manga-crazy like her brother Kiku. Of course, she had potential to go psycho like Ha Eung. But Mei was many things, and she didn't have it in her to act like her siblings.

And that was why she was not enjoying her day off. It was a day off for all of her family. Yao had gone to what, gi class? Kiku had left to a comic festival. Ha Eung was watching TV. Leon had left to Emil's. Which had left her with- "Oh. My. God. We are totally buying this." Mei groaned as she stared at the zeros. "Do we have to?" "Of course!"

Her crazy sister, Yeon Lee was practically squealing over-what, software? It was expected of the Korean to be a shopaholic, to shop like crazy over shoes, clothes, accessories, makeup. It was unexpected of the girl to be a software geek. But then, the twins were talented in IT. Mei lifted the program thing. It cost like, a fortune? Ha Yeon was an empty headed fool when it came to shopping.

"Let's not buy this." Bad mistake. "Then what are we going to buy?" Her sister turned on her. She didn't want to hear about Samsung, Xiaomi, Apple and LG. "Fine, have it your way." "만세!(Mansae)" Ha Yeon skipped about, pulling out the credit card and running to the register.

Mei's cell phone beeped.

How's it going with the shopping trip?

-Kiku-

Oh, god, it was Kiku.

Horrible.

She thought better of it, and erased the word.

I really wish that someone else has to go next time.

Kiku would be smiling at the other end. This was his kind of joke. Mei grinned at the thought of her brother, then the grin slowly disappeared. It was wrong. What she was thinking of was foolish. He was her brother. Not by blood. A voice nagged in her head, but her conscience scoffed at her. He does not love you. Remember Hercules? It was her sister's loud voice that cut through her thoughts.

"What are you wearing?" That wasn't a very nice way to speak. "Clothes." Her retort was sharp, and Ha Yeon studied her. "Well, you could do better than that." "What's wrong with my clothes?" "Everything." And with that, the Korean pulled her along the racks of clothes.

"Check this out! Vera Wang!" "Um, that's a dress. I am never going to need..." "Whatever." The fashionista moved through, pulling out striped shirts, frilly blouses, tennis skirts, ripped jeans and so on. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing, Yeon?" The girl sighed at her. "Can't you see? You wear the same things you wore. When you were a middle schooler." "What's your problem with collared shirts?" "You wear them. All the time. Like, forever." Ha Yeon handed her a shirt and a skirt. "Try this on, and see if you still hate shopping."

She would always detest shopping. It was better to spend her time reading a good romance novel or watching a drama. Shopping was...shopping. It was annoying having people say stuff like you're so pretty in this, why don't you buy that when they didn't mean it. Still, she knew that Ha Yeon would kill her if she didn't put the clothes on. Mumbling, she went inside the changing room and started to undress.

Her sister stood there, waiting for her and clacking her heels in an irritated fashion. It was a habit that she had when she was bored, but she didn't look bored anymore. "Well?" "See for yourself." Mei stared at the mirror.

A girl was standing there, a girl wearing sneakers. She had a frilly blouse with a flower on it, and the neckline plunged. The skirt was short, coming higher than her knees and in black. She had an uncertain look on her face. This girl didn't look like a shy one, nor a wallflower. She looked more like the confident one standing next to her.

"So, are you still going to detest shopping?" She could say yes. "No." The answer was unprepared. "You see, you're really pretty, but you hide all your beauty. It's cooped up-yes, it's somewhere, but well..." Her sister seemed proud as she pulled out more clothes. Mei knew it was best to let her sister take over. For that point, she would be Ha Yeon's personal Barbie. It would make things easier than protesting.

The clothes business went on and on. Mei gulped as she checked the bags that started piling up at her feet. "Yao's going to be..." "Yao will always be Yao." Ha Yeon said as she pulled out a pair of high heels. "Here, try these on. I think these should fit." She hadn't spent so much money, and the bills were...well...

Mei wobbled in her heels. It wasn't like it was the first time, it was just the fact that they were eight centimeters high. "Any ideas on how to make this more comfortable?" "Powerwalk." Ha Yeon spoke, her hands loaded with shopping bags. Mei was actually enjoying this when she heard voices.

"Yeon!" Alfred F. Jones stood there with his basketball. There was his brother, Matthew, and his cousin Arthur. "Hi!" Her cousin chirped. What was wrong with her? Mei gave Yeon a look. Alfred didn't seem to notice. "Hey, so you've come shopping?" "Yes!" Mei gave Alfred the evil eye. Stop talking with her, so that I can sit down! The jock turned on her. "Um, hi. I'm Alfred Jones." The boy seemed a bit shy, or was it her imagination? "It's Mei, you idiot." "Oh. Sorry." Alfred shrugged. "You should go shopping more often." And with that he waved and left with his family.

"Yeon-ah?"

Her sister was staring at the ground. "Yeon?" She didn't answer. "난 왜 남 좋을 행동만 하는 걸까.(Why am I doing things that are good for other people.)" Ha Yeon's Korean was something she couldn't understand, but it wasn't anything good-judging by her expression.

"What am I doing, we're on a shopping trip and we are not shopping! We were supposed to have a blast!" Ha Yeon smiled, then took her hand. "Come on, we are going to the salon!" "Are you sure?" "Yes." And with that, Mei was dragged to the hair salon.

"You would look pretty with a perm." The stylist remarked to her, but Mei shook her head. "Only a haircut, please." Kiku had said she looked her best when her hair was straight. "Come on, get a permanent." Ha Yeon looked exasperated. "What about you? I don't see you getting a perm." "I, sister, have already decided on a C-curl." Gods, she hated her sister. "Fine. Do whatever you have to." The stylist smiled. "Of course."

While the irons were heating, Mei looked at the cover of a magazine she was planning to read. Stealth Interview with Wang Yao was written in big block letters. "You're proud of him, too." Ha Yeon's voice sounded from somewhere. "Yes. Of course." "I was always proud of him. He took me to the baseball park, the fancy parties, almost everywhere." Again. She knew about all of this, because she and Kiku had been left out on all of these occasions.

Why can't we go to baseball games? We'll try to like it.

Can't they stay behind for once? We want to meet important people.

Why are they always with you?

Do you even love us more than them?

"But I always wanted to have fun with my sister." Mei looked at the other girl, who was smiling. Excuse me? "Well, you can't take Yao shopping with you. He'll talk about economics, and that's boring." Through her harsh words, Mei got it.

The salon visit was over, and the girls were walking back home, Yeon swinging her bags, Mei humming softly under her breath. As they arrived at the house, the door opened and Yao stood to greet them.

"Looks like one Ha Yeon isn't enough." Yao spoke grimly, but he was smiling as he took their possessions. "Did you have a good time?" "Yes." "Yes." They spoke in unison, while the TV blared in the room. "Ha Eung Lee!" Yeon screamed as her twin emerged. "What?" "How dare you watch Red Cliff without me?" "Tough luck, sis." Ha Eung smirked as he ate his potato chips. "The American called. Wanted to know about when the hell you came back." Ha Yeon ignored him as she ran to her room. They all heard her door slam.

"Well, the frugal, sweet Mei is wearing something my bitchy, naughty sister wears." Mei flinched at Ha Eung's words, but his face was surprisingly soft. "It doesn't matter, you're always going to be sweet Mei." And the boy returned to his seat to the TV.

"Wow." Leon stood there, looking amused. "What." "This is something that not even Mother Nature can explain." "Stop it. Do you want me to sell your books again?" "Calm down." The boy grinned, and handed her a glass of water. "Thanks." But Leon was already gone. Sweet Mei was alone again.

"Hey, you shouldn't sleep here." Mei lifted her head. When did I fall asleep? Kiku was standing over her, a concerned expression on his face. "Kiku!" She couldn't help smiling. "Well, it seems your shopping trip wasn't that bad." Kiku laughed as he set down his bags-overloaded with comics. "Yes, we went to buy shoes and clothes and.." "Calm down."

Kiku frowned. "Mei, did you cut your hair?" Mei nodded. Her brother sighed and her heart seemed to plummet. "I...I'm sorry." "No, it's nothing to be sorry about." Kiku spoke gently. "Do I look ugly?" "No, it's just that I couldn't recognize you for a second."

Her brother sat down on the other side of the table, eyes downcast. "I'm really sorry! I knew you liked my hair, but the stylist and Yeon kept on insisting-" Kiku cut her off, and she could see he was laughing. "Well, you still look pretty. Don't worry too much. I like your hair just fine."

Whew. Kiku stood suddenly. "Well, I must retire to bed." "Really?" "Yes. Feliciano and Ludwig and- well, they're going to go downtown tomorrow." She had the feeling that Kiku wasn't finished. "Anyone else?" "Well.."Her brother was turning red. "Anyone else?" He sighed, looking resigned. "Hercules." Hercules. Always Hercules.

"Oh." "Why do you look so glum? Wish me luck! I mean, you know I liked him for like, forever." Mei managed to smile until she walked into her room. There, her facade broke, and she curled up in a ball, crying softly.

Yes, she had changed her hairstyle, her clothes, but she would always be sweet Mei to Kiku. Nothing more than a sister. She would see him falling in love with someone, see him marry later, see him having children. And she would never be his.

The door opened. Yeon stood there, looking bewildered, then comprehension seemed to hit her. Her sister left, and for a split second she wanted to stop her. But then she had to bemoan her loss. Why am I bemoaning the loss of what I have never owned?

She would gladly change her place as sweet, beloved Mei if she didn't have to feel this gap.

Name/Age/Country/Job

Yao Wang/30/China/CEO of Asia Corp.

Kiku Honda/18/Japan/S

Mei Wang/17/Taiwan/S

Ha-Yeon Lee/17/South Korea/S

Ha-Eung Lee/17/North Korea/S

Alfred F. Jones/17/America/S

Leon Wang/16/Hong Kong/S

Wow. Long Hiatus. Forgive me. School life hasn't been pleasant and I didn't get what I wanted to write for the Mei chapter. I think Writer's Block is happening to me. Yes, I am suffering. No, I am not giving up on this fanfiction. It will be finished when-well, maybe when Taiwan/SK/NK go to college. I can't promise anything, but I can promise you that the next chapter will be more cheerful, and that I'll inform you guys when this is about to be finished.So, thanks to all of you who are following this. I appreciate comments and feedback along with good ideas.See you soon.

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