Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: New Family
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I was racking my brain over how to explain things to Min-ah.
Then Ji-ah suddenly spoke up.
"Ah, Uncle's not at fault. I... I had nowhere to go and was in a bind, so Uncle helped me out."
"What? Did you run away from home or something?"
Ji-ah, her head hanging low like she'd lost all spirit, answered weakly.
"...Yes."
I wasn't sure if it was seeing her like that that softened her heart, or if it reminded her of her own childhood.
But Min-ah's tone grew incredibly gentle.
"...I see. Sorry. I was a bit harsh earlier, sis."
"N-No, it's fine."
"Oppa. This kid's name is..."
"Ji-ah."
"Right. Ji-ah. Do you know why she ran away?"
The reason Ji-ah ran away?
"...No idea."
Min-ah continued as if she'd expected that answer.
"Sigh. Well, yeah. Oppa's too kind. He can't just ignore a kid in trouble. Still, shouldn't we know the reason? Right?"
"... ."
I couldn't respond to Min-ah. Because she was right.
But like I'd told Ji-ah on the way here, I had no intention of prying into her past first.
"Don't even think about lecturing me. I'm never, ever going back to that house..."
It had only been a little over two weeks since we met.
"H-How she ended up running away... It's weird. Treating a girl this well when you don't even know why she ran away..."
I could tell it wasn't some trivial fight with her parents.
That's why,
"Hey, Min-ah, if..."
Just as I was about to say I'd take responsibility if any problems arose—
"Uncle. It's okay. I'll tell you. ...Why I had to leave home."
Ji-ah cut me off.
"... ."
She took a deep breath, as if she'd made up her mind.
"Probably around the time Mom left home. That's when Dad started changing."
And so, Ji-ah slowly explained what led her to run away.
When she was young, her mom abandoned them, and after that, her dad's alcoholism worsened until he even started hitting Ji-ah sometimes.
"School was lucky... they had free lunches."
She'd mostly gotten her meals there and scraped by with odd jobs here and there.
And the day before she met me in the alley, he'd tried to do something unforgivable to her.
"...That's why, when I was sitting in that alley, Uncle talked to me."
Ji-ah paused here and there as emotions welled up, but she kept going steadily.
"... ."
By the time her story ended, a heavy silence settled over the room.
'...That damn bastard.'
My fists had been clenched the whole time, aching.
Part of me wanted to go beat that so-called father into the ground.
As I seethed with rage hearing Ji-ah's situation, Min-ah beside me...
"Hic, sniff... Ji-ah... You must've had it so rough..."
Her face was completely soaked with tears as she slowly approached Ji-ah.
"Eek..."
Ji-ah trembled slightly, caught off guard by Min-ah's actions.
Regardless, Min-ah pulled her into an embrace like she was hugging a doll and burst into sobs.
"Live with sis... Hic... I'll take good care of you..."
"Huh?!"
Min-ah often got mistaken for scary because of her piercings and sharp eyes, but she's actually the most affectionate person I know.
...Plus, having similar experiences probably made it hit closer to home.
"S-Sis... Can't breathe..."
"O-Oppa! Did you hear?! She called me sis! Can I raise her, Ji-ah?"
She's not a pet...
*
There was a bit of commotion, but things eventually settled back down.
"... ."
Min-ah, who'd plopped Ji-ah right onto her lap and was petting her head like a comfort doll, spoke up.
"Ji-ah. What do you want to do about that damn jerk... I mean, bastard? Sis'll help. Oppa will too. Our oppas a former cop, you know."
"...Really?"
Ji-ah looked at me in surprise at Min-ah's words.
Well, yeah. Up till now, Ji-ah and I hadn't shared much about ourselves.
She was hearing for the first time today that I grew up in an orphanage and used to be a cop.
I spoke to Ji-ah, who was staring at me wide-eyed.
"Yeah. Not for super long, though."
"...Wow."
A bit embarrassing.
Wait. Does she think I was just a bum before opening the cocktail bar...?
"I figured you were unemployed before the cocktail bar..."
She really thought that. Kinda depressing.
Anyway.
"Ji-ah. What do you want to do?"
"...About what?"
"Your dad. Honestly, I'd love to lock him up for life... but that's not realistic. We could at least get a restraining order."
Things have improved lately, but our country still has pretty weak penalties for domestic violence.
Usually just restraining orders, fines, or mandatory counseling at best.
"... ."
Ji-ah pondered my words for a moment, then shook her head.
"It's okay. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to report him, but..."
"More than that, I don't want to get tangled up with him anymore. I'll be an adult next year anyway."
...I could kinda understand Ji-ah's feelings. She just didn't want anything more to do with that guy.
'Feels a bit unresolved.'
Well. Opportunity will come someday.
From what I heard, he's not even fully human anyway, so he might croak on his own before then.
That'd be preferable.
"Hey, it's a little hot..."
"What do we do, Oppa. Ji-ah smells so nice."
"... ."
Good thing Min-ah seems to like Ji-ah.
It's my house, so I could've ignored her anyway... but that would've felt awkward.
And after a while.
"Yawn... Ah."
Ji-ah yawned and covered her mouth, embarrassed. Her eyes were half-closed now.
Seeing that, Min-ah smiled warmly.
"Oppa. Ji-ah's using my room, right?"
"It's not your room."
When did she start claiming partial ownership of my place? Ironic.
"Anyway. Sleep with me, Ji-ah."
"Huh?"
Min-ah brushed off my minor protest effortlessly.
"Ji-ah. If you don't wanna sleep with Min-ah, use my room. I'll take the sofa."
"N-No, it's fine. We can sleep together..."
Ji-ah says it's okay, so whatever.
"Hehe. Just holding hands is all."
"Eek."
...Should be fine?
"Hoo."
Finally escaping Min-ah's embrace, Ji-ah thought to herself while doing a quick wash-up before bed.
Today felt exceptionally long.
Whoosh.
Listening to the sink filling up, she recalled Min-ah and Do-han, who'd listened to her story and grieved as if it were their own.
"Hic, sniff... Ji-ah... You must've had it so rough..."
"Your dad. Honestly, I'd love to lock him up for life..."
"... ."
A sensation she'd never felt before.
Something ticklish deep in her chest, unfamiliar but not unpleasant. Ji-ah smiled unconsciously.
Then she remembered her first meeting with Min-ah.
'Min-ah sis. Such a good person...'
Honestly, Ji-ah's first impression of Min-ah wasn't great.
"Hey, you. Who are you?"
Sharp eyes. Light purple hair. And all those ear piercings.
Ji-ah had thought she was super pretty at first sight, but that appearance made her shrink back a bit.
...Until she saw Min-ah in tears after hearing her story, which completely changed her mind.
"... ."
Min-ah was softer-hearted than expected, and Ji-ah felt a strange, warm coziness from her.
As if she might feel this way if she had an older sister.
After finishing up, Ji-ah entered the room.
And there,
"Sleep with sis tonight, Ji-ah."
Pat pat. Min-ah lay on the mattress first, patting the spot beside her.
"I-It's fine."
"Come on, don't hold back. Ah, kill the lights?"
"Yeah..."
In the end, Ji-ah and Min-ah ended up lying side by side on the bed.
"...Ugh."
Aside from sleeping with her mom as a kid, Ji-ah had never shared a bed with anyone, so this felt awkward.
But Min-ah, smiling happily regardless of Ji-ah's shyness.
Seeing her, Ji-ah lost herself for a moment in thought.
'...Pretty.'
Light purple hair like morning glories.
Plus that soft smile—it even made Ji-ah, another girl, feel her heart skip a beat.
Min-ah kept smiling innocently, unaware of Ji-ah's thoughts.
"... ."
Then, suddenly, a thought crossed Ji-ah's mind.
'They seemed really close, Uncle and her...'
Why? Her mood dipped a little. Envy? Jealousy?
'No way.'
As Ji-ah felt inexplicably unsettled,
Min-ah spoke to her with a gentle smile.
"Hehe. Honestly, I've always wanted a little sister like you."
"Ah..."
"We could be real sisters, right? Our names are so similar. Min-ah, Ji-ah."
Then, unable to hold back, she pulled Ji-ah into a tight hug.
"Ah..."
A bit startled, but feeling the warm, cozy embrace,
'...What do I do. Feels like I'm gonna cry.'
Ji-ah burrowed into Min-ah's arms without thinking.
"Oh my."
Min-ah let out a small surprised sound at Ji-ah's action.
"... ."
But soon, feeling Ji-ah's body trembling like she was sobbing in her arms,
"You've been through a lot. Ji-ah."
She said softly, stroking Ji-ah's hair.
And the next morning.
"...Why's this one here."
Do-han spotted a black cat... no, Ji-ah curled up asleep in the corner of his room.
"H-Hey, sis... Where're you touching..."
Hearing her sleep-talk, which hinted at whatever happened last night, he
"Sigh."
Quietly draped his blanket over her before heading to the kitchen.