Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: To Keep Noona's Hands Clean
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“Dowon, be careful on the dark roads at night. Watch out for cars, and stay away from weird aunties and uncles too, okay?”
“Yes? Got it.”
I tilted my head. Wasn’t that something you’d say to my sister? I might look like this, but I’m a perfectly healthy guy...
‘Ah!’
I looked down at my hands. Come to think of it, they were still childish and undeveloped.
‘Still, I learned taekwondo, so I never got beat up wandering around.’
My appearance at this age was definitely a bit androgynous.
‘My body’s so skinny.’
I kneaded my shoulders and arms. There was some muscle, but they were way too thin.
A warm voice came from behind me.
“Something sore?”
I turned to see my uncle massaging my shoulders. I shook my head to say no.
“What time’s Jangji coming?”
“Oh, they said 5 o’clock.”
“No one’s here. Mind if we stick around with you all the way to Jangji today?”
“You’ve got work.”
“I took the day off.”
They’d pulled an all-nighter, but they were such good people.
‘They helped us back then too.’
Before my regression, they were the only ones who’d helped try to recover our family’s assets.
‘Of course, we didn’t get them back.’
Rage surged up again in an instant. I clenched my fists tight. I wanted to make those bald bastards taste bitter defeat right now.
‘No.’
I took a quiet deep breath.
‘Revenge on a child is done with planning, Cha Dowon.’
I flashed a grin. I fiddled with the smartphone in my pocket and looked around.
I spotted food scraps tangled with hair.
‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.’
I started by clearing the food off the table.
“Need help?”
My aunt asked, but I shook my head.
“No.”
I smiled as brightly as my boiling anger.
“I’ve got it.”
Cleaning up trash is something I have to do myself. In this life, I won’t let that filth and stench touch Noona even a little.
‘I’ll get better.’
It might be slow, but I had no intention of stopping. So I kept smiling.
***
Mom’s columbarium was on the third floor of a five-story building.
‘Who knew having proper adults around would make this much difference.’
My sister and I had been agonizing over where to put her. My aunt gave us crucial advice, and my uncle talked to the columbarium manager. In the end, we got a much better spot for a similar price.
We placed the still-warm urn on the shelf. Since Mom’s last bit of warmth hadn’t faded, a bitter smile crossed my lips.
The funeral was over.
As we closed the door and turned away, Noona finally burst into tears.
I wiped her eyes and walked slowly. The marble floor felt exceptionally smooth.
***
Back home, I changed out of my mourning clothes and lay on the bed. Maybe because it’d been so long since I lost this place, the room itself felt novel.
‘I lost this house to those bald bastards.’
Thinking of how they’d gradually taken everything made my blood boil. Recalling their slick words about me being the eldest grandson, I couldn’t stay lying down.
I shot up from the bed.
“Argh.”
I let out a deep sigh.
‘Sleep’s not coming anyway...’
What should I do?
The answer came quickly.
‘Make some food.’
Noona had gone straight to her room and hadn’t stirred. I bitterly recalled the old days. In a house without Mom, we’d ordered delivery.
‘It tasted awful.’
I didn’t want to repeat that. I dashed to the kitchen. Rummaging through the cabinets, I found decent ingredients.
‘Potatoes, carrots, onions, pork...’
Curry it was. I skillfully prepped the veggies and lit the gas stove. Only after stir-frying the meat and adding the onions did I realize there was no rice in the cooker.
‘Oopsie.’
I’d forgotten the most important thing. As I hurriedly washed the rice, rustling sounds came, and Noona emerged from her room.
“Cha Dowon. What’re you doing?”
I beamed and poured the washed rice into the cooker.
“Making rice.”
“You?”
“I told you, I’m good at cooking now. You okay with curry, Noona?”
Noona nodded. Of course—she loves curry. I set the timer on the cooker and mixed the curry powder. Turning back, I saw her staring at me like I was some curiosity.
Noona pinched her own cheek. Then she strode over and tugged mine.
“Noona?”
“It’s not a dream.”
“That hurts...”
Noona let go readily and looked down at her hands. I chuckled and said,
“Sit down.”
“You didn’t eat something weird, right? This isn’t like you.”
It’ll be like this from now on, you know. Cha Sora. I’m actually older than you right now.
“Perfect timing. Noona, let’s talk.”
Noona sat obediently at the table. I added the curry mix and turned down the flame.
“I’m thinking of renting this place out.”
“What?”
Noona’s eyes went wide. Why’s she surprised over this?
“I’ll go to a dorm when I start college, but what about you? Where’ll you live?”
“I’m going to an agency too. I’ll eat and sleep there. They probably provide dorms.”
Noona’s face twisted completely.
“You mean that audition? Did you pass?”
I grinned.
“Nope! Not yet!”
“Then why talk like you’re already going!”
I patted my chest.
“It’s a done deal.”
“This kid—really!”
“For real. Bet on it. I’ve got a feeling.”
“You think you’re Mom? ‘Got a feeling’?”
I chuckled. Yeah, right. Regressing once must’ve brought luck too.
“Anyway, let’s rent it out. We can cover your tuition with the rent and keep the house.”
“How much cash did Mom leave?”
“About 100 million won. But med school’s six years—that’ll blow past that easy.”
I wasn’t sure exactly, but living isn’t cheap.
“Plus I’ll spend some too. I’ll try for a debut group, but cash’ll vanish quick anyway.”
Noona furrowed her brow.
“What’s a debut group?”
“Oh, the group an agency’s already set to debut? Friends Entertainment’s big—they say they pay if you make debut group.”
That’s what made the company appealing. Even with Kang Minje there, I couldn’t give it up.
‘That should cover living expenses at least?’
If food, sleep, and clothes were sorted, I’d relax a bit.
Noona rubbed her dry face.
“So, rent it out?”
“No one’s living here—it’s waste. Stick furniture in storage. We’ll take clothes.”
“You’re okay losing this house?”
I grinned.
“Wherever you are is home, Noona.”
Noona’s face crumpled mercilessly. Why? It’s the truth.
“Did you really eat something bad...”
I grinned. Noona kept pinching her thigh.
“I grew up.”
“People don’t just grow up overnight...”
“Good-looking guys mature early too.”
Total nonsense excuse.
“Yeah, true.”
Huh? It worked?
“Idol, though?”
“Yes. I really want to.”
“Isn’t it tough? Like, 100 trainees, only three debut?”
“Probably.”
I shoved my face right up to hers.
“But I’ll be fine.”
“Hey, your breath stinks. Back off.”
“I’m handsome.”
Noona narrowed her eyes and scanned me top to bottom. Then she sighed deeply.
An ominous silence hung.
I quietly braced for the back spike. Get ready—her hands sting.
“Well.”
Huh?
‘It worked again?’
What? Does my face conquer all? No, is Noona weak to my face?
Suddenly, my back tingled. I shook my head.
‘No way.’
Reflect. Useless thoughts. I repent! Sorry, Mom in heaven!
“Yeah, sure.”
Noona slumped in the chair.
“I won’t stop you.”
“Wow. Why?”
“You seem like you need to be an idol.”
I tilted my head. She hadn’t said that before regression. Why now?
“You’re obsessed with attention.”
“...”
“When you were little, I promised meat, and you danced and sang at the butcher shop—everyone saw.”
Did I?
“Kimchi season, cheap cabbage? You did street dance in the market alley.”
Kinda rings a bell, but I don’t remember.
“Mom was thrilled we got it cheap.”
Of course Cha Yeonhwa would be, but I can’t admit it, Noona.
“Don’t look away.”
“No clue. Don’t remember.”
“What, you some politician at a hearing?”
I chuckled.
“Politicians aren’t the only ones who say that!”
“Hey!”
“You haven’t even hit wheelchair age yet!”
“This kid—anyway!”
Noona adjusted her glasses and swept her hair back.
“Idol seems fine. Even if it’s one or two out of a hundred who debut.”
I bowed my head.
“Thanks for approving, Noona.”
“If you fail, I’ll take you in.”
Hm?
“As a doctor, I can feed one loser.”
“Uh, Noona...”
“Do it! Give it a shot!”
In that moment, Noona looked so cool. Wow, my sister’s amazing! My heart pounded! She’ll support me!
“But what if I slack off relying on that?”
“Then I’ll end you myself.”
Sh-she’ll kill me?
“Doctors can do it legally.”
Scary.
I bowed my head.
“I’ll do my best not to dirty your hands, Noona.”
“Good. And there’s what Mom said.”
Huh, what’s this?
“What’d Mom say?”
What words did Cha Yeonhwa, light and truth of our family, leave?
“Yeah. She said I should make seeing blood my job.”
“Fits you.”
I smiled a little. Yeah, Noona stayed in medicine. Even as a nurse, she handled surgeries.
“I am short on blood anyway.”
N-Noona?
“She said you belong on stage.”
Yeah, figures.
I recalled the small theater stage I’d stood on. Lights from above and passing audience faces.
“Or you’d end up busking.”
“Didn’t know that.”
I imagined myself busking and shook my head. Damn. Gods, stay away. I want the big stage.
“That’s pro too, but I’d rather idol.”
“Good luck.”
I grinned at Noona. Come to think of it...
“You just said it.”
“What?”
“You’ll become a doctor and support me.”
Noona’s lips quivered slightly. I whistled.
“Decision made?”
She knew me well, and I knew her. She’d resolved already.
‘Neither of us looks back once we set a goal.’
Noona nodded.
“Dull guy’s gotten sharp.”
“Yeah.”
“Cha Dowon. Last question.”
“Ask anything.”
Noona rubbed her face dry and said,
“Can I really go to med school?”
I stroked my chin and grinned wide.
“Yes. Go for it, Noona.”
“I’m losing my mind. For real.”
Noona leaned back in the chair and sighed heavily. I watched her.
‘It’s hitting me again.’
She was just twenty then.
“You chase your dream, Noona. I’ll chase mine.”
“Worried sick. Leaving a fifteen-year-old to...”
“It’s fine.”
I patted my chest.
“You can trust me.”
“You think I can trust you?”
My words must’ve sounded hopeless—her pupils shook. No, why!
‘Yeah, no trust built yet.’
What was I like in second year middle school? No memory.
“Driving me crazy! Really!”
If Noona goes mad, we’re doomed.
“Come on, food’ll fix it, Noona.”
For her mind and body, I jumped up and stirred the curry. Right on cue, steam rose from the cooker—done.
“Yeah, let’s eat first.”
Noona grabbed side dishes from the fridge, and I served the curry. A pretty appetizing meal was set.
“Smells good.”
“Taste’ll be too.”
“But hey. You know how to cook?”
I chuckled.
“Didn’t, but tried and it worked.”
“Cooking’s just ‘do it and it’s done’?”
“Everything in the world’s like that.”
Well, you do it because it works.