Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: Sister's Advice
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Cha Sora stared at her medical textbook with bloodshot eyes. No matter how much she memorized, the amount she needed to cram into her head never seemed to decrease.
"Sora, made any progress?"
"Not even halfway."
"Ugh, I'm doomed."
Her classmate flopped face-down on the table in front of her. Cha Sora irritably chugged her iced Americano.
"Ah, my frayed nerves need a ray of sunshine."
The moment she heard that, Cha Sora stood up from her seat.
"Ahh! Cha Sora! Don't go!"
"You're going to watch idol videos again, aren't you?"
"No. Dowon is the cutest thing ever, but what I need right now is this!"
Her friend pulled out a magazine. She flipped through the pages and said,
"I just want to know what's going on in the world. Not guts and nerves."
Cha Sora chuckled. Well, she could understand that to some extent. She felt a bit disconnected from the world herself.
Her friend eagerly flipped through the magazine.
"Oh, Sora. Apparently this is trending this summer. What the hell is this?"
"Ah, trends are nice. But what does it have to do with us?"
All they needed were comfortable clothes, right?
Her friend nodded right away.
"You're right."
They were in the middle of this idle chitchat when suddenly a phone rang.
"Huh?"
Cha Sora tilted her head as she looked at the screen. It was an unknown number.
'Should I pick it up?'
She swiped the screen. Soon, an unfamiliar voice came through.
"Is this Cha Sora? From XX University? Where are you?"
"Yes?"
"Quick delivery. Where are you?"
"Huh? The cafeteria near the east gate."
"Got it. Heading there."
The call ended abruptly. Cha Sora tilted her head.
'Do I have a quick delivery coming?'
She couldn't think of anything. Wait, more importantly, who sent it? Her aunt?
'What is it?'
Her pondering didn't last long. A man in motorcycle gear entered and looked around. Cha Sora jumped up and rushed over.
"Cha Sora?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Quick delivery. Sign here, please."
"Um, is this really for me?"
"Yes. Cha Sora from XX University, right?"
Well, that was true...
After she signed, the delivery guy dashed out. She hugged the large box and tilted her head.
'What is this?'
She checked the recipient first. Her name was neatly written there.
'But who sent it?'
The ink was smudged, but she could make it out.
"Han Jinseok?"
It sounded like a grandpa's name. She eyed the box suspiciously.
'Should I open it?'
What if it's drugs?
'Nah, no way.'
Cha Sora placed the box on the table. Her friend looked up from the magazine and stared at it.
"What's this?"
"I don't know. Quick delivery."
"Ooh! Flower bouquet maybe? Friend, were you secretly dating?"
"Dating my ass. What if it's something weird? Like drugs?"
"Huh?"
Her friend poked at the box from various angles and said,
"Let's open it."
"Why?"
"Let's open it. Aren't you curious?"
Cha Sora shook her head.
"I am curious about who sent it."
"Let's open it! I wanna see so bad!"
"It might be something weird."
"Then I'll film it on video! If drugs come out, we'll go to the police together!"
Cha Sora furrowed her brow. Offering to report it together—what touching friendship.
She stared at the box. Honestly, even she was dying to know.
"Fine. Let's open it."
"Good choice! Customer!"
Her friend handed her a cutter knife right away.
"What? You carry this around normally?"
"Don't ask about the little things. Friend, I'm always prepared."
"Hey, you..."
"Come on, come on! Recording!"
Cha Sora glanced at the screen and sighed. She was always weak against these headstrong types.
'Is it hereditary?'
Cha Dowon was weak against fools too.
She carefully opened the box.
"Huh?"
After peeling off one layer, a packaging with a brand name visible at a glance appeared.
"Sora. This doesn't look like drugs."
"Hmm, it could just be fancy packaging. But the box..."
Everyone knew that brand.
She tilted her head. No way, it couldn't be that, right?
'Huh, what's this?'
But when she removed the box, something covered in white cloth was revealed.
"S-Sora. This is..."
"W-Wait a sec..."
N-No way! No way!
She peeked under the cloth slightly, then quickly rewrapped it.
'Damn it!'
It was a real bag!
At the same time, she realized who would pull a stunt like this. The only one who would quick-deliver a luxury bag to her was that thunderbolt-headed little brother.
'Cha Dowon! What the hell!'
Who spends money like this! Ever since he was little and started earning, his sense of money went haywire!
'I told him to buy a house first!'
C-Can this be returned? But how much is it?
'I'd have to buy it myself to know the price!'
As she hurriedly tried to repack it, her friend blocked her hands.
"Stop right there. Cha Sora. What did I just see?"
"Forget it."
"How could I!"
She snatched the box away.
"Th-This is the trendy one these days!"
Her friend rapidly flipped through the magazine and shoved it in front of Cha Sora.
"This one!"
Cha Sora blinked. Unfortunately, the magazine even listed the price.
Ah, not as expensive as I thought. No, still expensive! How much is this!
"Is he crazy? Buying these left and right?"
"Huh? Wh-Who! Who gave it to you?"
"Someone! A guy making bank these days!"
Cha Sora quickly repacked it and strode out of the cafeteria. Maybe because her friend was making a fuss, people behind were whispering like crazy.
"Damn it!"
Cha Dowon, you punk! Making your sister look bad?
She hurriedly called him. He might be busy with schedules, but whatever.
Amusingly, her brother picked up right away.
-Sis!
His voice was so clear. Acting all cute out of nowhere!
"Cha Dowon! What the hell!"
-Um, a good deed?
"This is insane! Good my ass! Hey! You scared the crap out of me! Why's a luxury bag coming via quick delivery!"
-Ah, it went quick?
She heard her brother's voice through the smartphone.
-Manager sent it. Thought it'd be regular mail, but he used quick.
"Oh ho. Now you're dumping errands on your manager?"
-Ah, he insisted...
"You're a full idol now! Do your own stuff! Cha Dowon!"
Soon, laughter came from her brother.
'What does he think he's laughing at!'
But maybe because she was his sister. Hearing him laugh strangely softened her heart.
-Too much, right? Getting mad. It's all from the heart?
"Gives me chills, you brat! Who wants a luxury bag? Buy a house normally!"
-Hmm, buying a house doesn't sound normal...
"I'm saying don't waste money! Houses go up if you buy decent ones, but not this stuff!"
Her brother went quiet for a moment. Then he struck first.
-Still, no returns, sis.
"Why? They won't let you? Where'd you buy it?"
-Don't. Just use it. It's a gift for you. Wanted to get it for you for ages.
This guy?
"You treating my words like slippery eel pants?"
-What's that mean?
For a moment, Cha Sora reflected a bit.
'Ah, used the prof's phrase?'
Oops. Was this a generation gap?
-Please, sis. Just use it. It's me, Cha Dowon.
She knew exactly what that meant. Of course she did. His face was everywhere.
But to her, Cha Dowon was still just a kid.
"I changed your diapers, I know you're Cha Dowon."
-Sis. Cut me some slack.
Cha Sora let out a big sigh. Fine. She got his feelings.
'Well, when I get my first paycheck, I'd think of clothes for him first...'
She looked at the box. This much scolding should be enough.
"By the way, Cha Dowon. What's up."
-Huh?
"You've got worries, right?"
Laughter came through the smartphone. Not a brother she raised for nothing. She quietly waited for him to speak.
-Sis. You know.
Damn, he was dragging it out.
"Yeah. Spill."
-Someone I knew before... seems like they'll make a different choice now.
"Good for them."
-I assumed they were the same and got suspicious. Gotta apologize, right?
"Do it."
A sigh came from her brother.
"But do it sincerely."
-Like you, sis.
"Forgiving is harder than being forgiven. Cha Dowon."
-True words.
"If getting forgiven ends it, you're lucky, little bro. Some things in the world can't be undone."
Well, apologies didn't suit Cha Dowon at all.
'Whatever, his choice. Not mine.'
Cha Sora smiled brightly.
"Good luck."
-Tough. Sis.
"What now? Spit it out."
He chuckled softly.
-How'd you know?
"I raised you feeding you hot ramen."
-Ah, I remember. It was so bad, I started cooking after.
Yeah, that happened.
'He's way better at cooking.'
Cha Sora looked at her hands. She wasn't bad with crafts, but cooking was another story.
-Sis. Accomplice involved.
"Yeah."
-But I hate just one.
"One showed signs of reform, but the one you hate kept being annoying."
Her brother fell silent.
"Why agonize? Just hate them."
-R-Really?
"You're great at being rude and ruthless. Use your talents."
Cha Sora clicked her tongue.
'Only I know he turns dumb sometimes.'
He seemed good at sorting things out, but idled sometimes.
"More?"
-Huh?
"What else. Hurry up. Sis is busy."
-Ah, yeah. Sis, you know Kang Minje?
Cha Sora's face twisted.
"Yeah. Same team as you now."
-Remember when Minje hyung disappeared?
"How could I forget. You went looking for him, and I got chewed out chasing you!
-Do you know why he vanished?
Cha Sora thought.
"Why ask me?"
-You know something?
"No way I'd know why. I'm not psychic like Mom."
Cha Sora racked her brain. A few things came to mind.
"Kang Minje's mom wasn't right in the head, was she?"
-She was a bit off.
"You were making such a fuss looking for him, I asked his mom once."
Cha Sora still remembered. The woman, suddenly dressed in expensive clothes, yelled in the hallway.
'What business is it of yours?'
Then she tried to hit her outright. If Mom hadn't come out, she probably would've gotten smacked.
'First time I was scared of an adult.'
That's when she realized why Kang Minje had so many scars.
"She wouldn't tell and tried to hit me instead."
-Sis, did she hit you then?
"Mom stopped her. His mom seemed kinda crazy."
-So even you don't know where Minje went.
Cha Sora sighed deeply.
"Poor guy."
-But you hate Minje, sis.
"Why would I like him? Being pitiful doesn't make me like him. Looks like a fox, sneaky weakling..."
Cha Sora muttered at the ground.
"He's smart. You know that."
-Clever.
"He had our house phone memorized."
Cha Sora hated that.
"But he never called. If not kidnapped, he could've called once at night."
Her brother said nothing.
"You searching everywhere, Mom worrying... But no call from Kang Minje."
She'd slept in the living room in case, for about two weeks before giving up. No word after.
"Ungrateful punk. Feeding and housing him cost a pretty penny..."
-That's it.
"Huh?"
Laughter from her brother.
-Wondered why you hated him despite your soft heart. That's the reason.
Suddenly, Cha Sora's face flushed.
"Why! What's wrong with that!"
-Like you, sis. You worried about Minje hyung too.
"Of course. Even a pet dog disappearing worries you. A guy we fed and housed vanishes! So how'd he survive?"
Even Cha Sora was a bit curious about that.