Chapter 348: Family Affairs (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 348: Family Affairs (1)
The manager asked me after a brief silence.
“What do you want to do? I’m telling you this because you asked me to let you know if they contacted us, but if you’ve changed your mind, we’ll cut them off on our end.”
“No, it’s fine. I was actually thinking I needed to see them once anyway. Since you have their contact information, would it be alright if I reached out to them?”
“Well, they did leave a number, but…”
The manager hesitated for a moment before continuing with some difficulty.
“Don’t you want to communicate through the company?”
“With my family elders?”
“I know it’s meddling, so I didn’t want to say anything… but I think that would be better than you contacting them personally.”
After hearing a brief explanation of the situation, I understood. It seemed the company and those people had gotten into a verbal spat over me during their phone calls.
“They didn’t even come to the hospital when you had surgery, and beyond not acting like guardians, I’m worried they might try to harm you. If you absolutely have to meet them, I’d prefer it if you did it inside the company building. I can reserve a meeting room for you anytime.”
“Ah…”
“Sorry, is this talk making you uncomfortable? I just felt like I had to make the suggestion.”
“It’s not uncomfortable at all. I know you’re just looking out for me.”
The matter was settled with Ju-gyeong acting as a bridge between my parents and me. I tried to buy her a drink as a thank you, but the manager declined on her behalf, saying, ‘Ju-gyeong already gave strict orders not to accept anything from I-wol,’ so I could only convey my gratitude.
A few days later.
Min Ju-gyeong (UA-Spark Dedicated Team)
[I-wol, let’s meet in the 2nd-floor meeting room this Saturday at 2 PM!]
[If you change your mind before then, tell me anytime! Even late at night is fine!]
[Hang in there today too~]
For the first time in a very long while—years, regardless of whether it was before or after the regression—a meeting with those two was arranged.
Ever since the date was set, my mind had been half-checked out.
I would burn one side of the bread while baking, or bring my tablet along without realizing it wasn't charged. Lee Cheong-hyeon nagged me with worry, saying I’d been acting strange lately, but after being called away by the manager, he kept his mouth shut and just walked on eggshells around me. Even though I told them there was no need for that, the guys’ attitude toward me remained the same.
“Two, three… and turn!”
“Huh?”
It got to the point where I even tripped over my own feet during practice. If Park Ju-woo hadn't caught me, I would have tumbled straight onto the floor.
“Whoa, you almost sprained your ankle.”
“Are you okay…?”
“I’m fine. Ju-woo, your reflexes are amazing. You saved me.”
“I don’t think this is something to joke about.”
Kang Gi-yeon approached with a frown. He sat me down on the floor and began checking my ankle with hands as familiar with others' joints as his own.
“Does it hurt?”
“Not at all. I just messed up the step.”
As I brushed myself off and stood up, the members’ eyes were all fixed on me.
I could tell even without them saying it. They were telling me to call it a day.
“Um…”
I felt somewhat awkward. Scratching the back of my head for no reason, I asked, “Do I really look that bad?”
“Totally,” Lee Cheong-hyeon said with a gloomy face.
“Fix your expression. You’ll get wrinkles.”
“Fine.”
Normally, he was the type to say something like, ‘Right, I should ease my hyung’s worries!’ but this time, he answered with all the playfulness drained from his voice.
“…Are only the three of you meeting?” Lee Cheong-hyeon asked hesitantly. He seemed to be referring to me and my parents.
“Why? You want to come too?”
“Can I?”
“Why would you come when it’s just someone else’s family?”
“Hyung, you went to a cafe alone with my dad.”
“Your father is a gentleman, though.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon, immediately catching the hidden meaning in my words, raised his voice.
“What if you get hit again?”
Silence fell once more.
This atmosphere was heavy. I probably shouldn't have told them.
“We’re meeting at the company, so that won’t happen. They don’t act like that where people are watching.”
“That’s even more sinister. It’s the worst.”
“Then what should I do? Should I take Choi Je-ho with me?”
When I made the joke, Lee Cheong-hyeon rubbed his eyes vigorously and said, “Yeah.”
“Huh?”
“Take him and have him stand outside the door. There’s no visual better for crime prevention than Je-ho hyung’s. You weren't even going to consider me or Kang Gyeon as candidates, right?”
“What about Choi Je-ho’s opinion?”
“Have you ever even asked for my opinion?”
Despite his snarky remark, Choi Je-ho didn't say he wouldn't go.
Perhaps it was because I had been worrying too much.
On the night before the meeting, I had that old dream again.
Standing alone in the hospital corridor, I was snapped back to reality by the vibration of my sister’s phone.
Through the shattered screen, where parts of the display were missing, I saw the name of my sister’s friend.
‘…Hello?’
‘— …Is this Won-ju’s phone?’
Through the voice of an unfamiliar woman, I heard the name I couldn't remember no matter how hard I tried. My eyes squeezed shut involuntarily.
‘— Hello? I’m a friend of the owner of this phone. Did you happen to find a lost phone?’
‘I’m… Kim I-wol.’
‘— Oh, I-wol! I’ve heard so much about you! I’m Won-ju’s friend. She said she was going to see you; I guess she left her phone behind?’
I could feel her cheerful energy even over the phone.
I had no choice but to drag that bright atmosphere down.
‘— I should hurry up and hang up. Your sister might borrow a phone to call…’
‘No.’
Cold sweat broke out on my palms. My hand, which had been wiping down my pants, reflexively gripped my collar. I had nothing else to hold onto.
‘My sister… had an accident.’
I continued, stumbling over my words.
‘My sister… died. This is the first time something like this has happened, and I don’t have anyone around to ask, so, um… I… I received the death certificate, but…’
My hands were shaking. Fearing I might drop the phone, I gripped the wrist of the hand holding it with my other hand and asked.
‘Where should I start sending the news of her passing?’
‘— Oh my god.’
I heard the sound of fabric rustling and someone collapsing.
‘— Oh my god, our Won-ju. What happened to Won-ju?’
The sound of sobbing, the voice of a funeral home employee looking for Kim Won-ju’s bereaved family, the ringing in my ears.
Everything was overwhelmingly too much. To the point where I didn't even have the presence of mind to cry.
My sister’s friend rushed to the funeral home in a heartbeat.
I, wearing a borrowed mourning suit, and she, in a black dress, recognized each other. Only the redness under her eyes hinted at the sorrow of someone who had lost a friend.
‘…So you’re I-wol.’
‘….’
‘I never thought we’d meet under these circumstances.’
If this was how we had to meet, it would have been better never to meet at all. Silence drifted slowly between us, both of us cradling the same emotion.
While my sister’s friends, who arrived one after another, handled various tasks, all I could do was answer questions. About what was needed, what I would do after the funeral, and so on.
‘There are no other relatives… to watch the condolence money box, right?’
‘Ah… I will.’
‘The bereaved family shouldn't have to worry about things like this. If it’s okay with you, her classmates will take turns doing it. Just make sure you contact Won-ju’s company.’
Everyone stepped up for my sister. It wasn't just because it was the last time they’d be with her. They all knew very well that we had no one else to ask for help.
I don’t know why, but at that moment, I thought my sister really was a brave person.
It hit me even in a place like this—that her way of living was different from mine, as I had never shown my weaknesses to the outside world.
I could imagine my sister’s attitude; she wouldn't have been ashamed or hidden things that weren't her fault.
After my sister’s company, I had to deliver the news to the company I worked for. Assistant Manager Hwang sounded tense when he picked up the call on a weekend. But that only lasted a moment; as soon as he heard my story, he said he would come right away. I could hear the sound of a closet opening over the phone.
‘There’s no need for that. Please just relay the message to the company.’
‘— Still.’
‘I don’t think I’ll be able to look after you even if you come. I’ll just take the thought.’
I barely managed to dissuade him from coming and hung up.
Beyond that, I had no one else to contact. My shallow interpersonal relationships were laid bare.
As I was staring at the photo of my sister that had become her funeral portrait, someone approached me. It was one of my sister’s high school classmates.
‘I-wol, take this.’
A white envelope was held out to me. It was a familiar condolence envelope, the kind I used to keep stocked in my cabinet for when I had to attend funerals on behalf of the company.
‘The classmates all chipped in a little. Don’t record this in the guest book or put it in the box; keep it for yourself.’
Even though it was my first time being the chief mourner, I knew basic funeral etiquette. I also knew that the current situation was not normal.
‘Your parents might show up.’
Those words pierced my heart.
‘A funeral costs a lot of money. Don’t let them take it… keep it safe and use it when you need it.’
Everyone was doing their best to stay rational. To send my sister off well. To reduce the threats that might suddenly befall me, as I struggled to return to reality.
Even in this unfamiliar warmth, I saw traces of my sister. The kindness strangers were showing me resembled my sister’s attitude toward me.
Maybe that was why I didn't want to accept it. Because I couldn't imagine a world where this warmth had completely vanished.
-
Around the time I had sent off a wave of mourners who had lingered for a while, more guests arrived. It was Assistant Manager Hwang and Supervisor Song.
‘Assistant Manager Kim, have you eaten?’
Assistant Manager Hwang asked as soon as he finished paying his respects.
‘What are you doing here…?’
‘What do you mean? How could a teammate not come?’
‘Still.’
‘I know your situation… how could I not come? Supervisor Song said he wanted to come today too, so we came together.’
Supervisor Song bowed his head beside him. He looked even more ready to cry than I did.
Assistant Manager Hwang, who managed the personnel cards, had once asked me if it was correct that I had listed my sister’s number as my emergency contact. He seemed to have remembered that small detail.
At Assistant Manager Hwang’s insistence, I ate a late dinner with the two of them. My mouth was moving, but I couldn't tell if there was food in it or if I had already swallowed.
After draining a glass of soju, Assistant Manager Hwang spoke.
‘Assistant Manager Kim.’
‘Yes.’
‘If the company calls, don’t answer.’
Supervisor Song nodded silently beside him.
‘I’m going to tell the Team Leader and the Department Head not to contact you… but they’re such unreasonable people, I’m telling you just in case.’
‘….’
‘Even if they call, ignore them. I’m saying this because I know your personality.’
Assistant Manager Hwang wiped his face with both hands.
‘The only thing you need to do is send your sister off well. Don’t worry about the company. Got it?’
Assistant Manager Hwang and Supervisor Song only left after they forced an answer out of me. Since there was no one else to watch the altar, I couldn't see them off far, but the sight of their backs as they left—after firmly gripping my hand and telling me not to bother coming out—kept flickering in my mind.
And very late that night.
People I had only met once before came to visit.
‘….’
A young couple dressed in black suits, whom I had encountered in the hospital corridor.
The parents of the young child my sister had saved by throwing herself into harm's way—the child who, if not for her sacrifice, might have left them standing in my place as the bereaved.