Lunar New Year at the Big House
"When have I ever not worked hard?!"
As Hong Yu-bin's drama she'd filmed started airing in earnest, her shooting schedule dragged on longer. Our family watched Yu-bin on the screen while munching on potatoes.
"She looks so pretty."
Just as Dad said, Yu-bin came out looking stunning. She was building her fame right on schedule from today onward, no doubt.
Time flew by even faster, bringing winter break to a close. With Yu-bin not showing up at school, I spent more time hanging out with Hwang Jun-woo. Especially since we were in the same class now, and her class was way across the school.
Even during breaks, Jun-woo was always studying.
"I wish I had a brain like yours."
"You've got a good head on you."
"Do-hyun, you... you're good at soccer and studying."
Losing to a third-grader on test scores? I'd bite my tongue and die before letting that happen. But Jun-woo had no clue about the real me.
"But you put in the effort, at least."
"..."
"Exams are getting tougher. I bet I won't keep up. But you? You'll be fine since you work just as hard."
"Really?"
"Of course~"
Boosting this kid's ego was exhausting work. Whenever I took first place, second was always Jun-woo's. In other words, the guy was bragging from a full belly right now. It had been the same before my regression, too... until high school split us apart.
"Everyone else tries, but they still can't beat you. You've got talent, too."
"Still, you're... handsome on top of it all."
I had my pride in my looks, naturally. But I'd heard "thug-like" more times than I could count growing up—handsome? Never. I'd started taking a bit more care since that magazine shoot, but I still wouldn't call myself good-looking. Kids just saw it that way, I figured.
Jun-woo saying stuff like that was probably thanks to Yu-bin's influence. I'd heard he'd confessed to her recently and gotten shot down...
I brushed back the hair covering Jun-woo's forehead. The guy goes through a glow-up in late middle school—turns really handsome then. The kind that makes anyone double-take. Right now, with those bad eyes and his ratty glasses, it didn't help.
"Why...?"
I yanked off his glasses, and yeah—there was the face from the future.
"You'll see later. When you realize you're handsome yourself."
"No I'm not!"
"Wanna bet? You know I don't lose bets."
"..."
Of course, Mom's go-stop games were the exception. Who knew someone who'd never let me watch her play was a pro like that? And honestly, it wasn't even about skill anymore.
"Anyway, you practice Starcraft?"
"It's too hard... I only memorized Zergling rush into two-gate build..."
Switch the topic to games, and Jun-woo got dead serious. I'd noticed it before regression—he treated games like studying.
"Still, it works, right?"
"Yeah! No one could stop it."
"Guess it's time for a PC bang run."
Besides Jun-woo, I'd built some rapport with other kids too. Looking after them like a second nanny... In this stick-happy era, I'd bailed out more than a few from beatings.
A boy approached me while I chatted with Jun-woo.
"Do-hyun, you playing MapleStory too?"
The 2D RPG that'd just come out. Not my style, even back then. I'd tried getting Kim Min-ji into it since she might like it, but she wasn't a fan either.
Time passed, and Lunar New Year approached. Our family rushed preparations and headed to the big house in Buyeo.
Singing kids' songs in the car, Min-ji started getting bored from sitting too long. She stomped her feet, then handed me her white bear doll.
"Want some snacks from Mom?"
"Min-ji no eat. Oppa! Bear protect!"
"Got it~"
Min-ji's attachment rankings: pink bunny at number one. Second was the hooded polar bear I'd bought her next. Take off its hood and it loses its ears—she hates it so much she'd cry if I snuck it off at bedtime.
The big house... Mom never drove for these long hauls. Too many relatives. I hadn't gone since becoming an adult, so the family faces were fuzzy in my memory.
Suddenly Min-ji squirmed, saying she needed to pee. We pulled into a rest stop. Dad stretched out after the tiring drive.
Dad was the baby of our family by a wide margin. Three older siblings. Once we arrived, he'd be the star. Especially now, playing in the K1 League—he was our clan's pride.
Above me? No aunt, just six uncles. The two eldest were 13 and 12 years older than Dad. Next two: 10 and 9. Last two: 7 and 5. Flip it—the oldest uncle was only 5 years Dad's senior.
What a fucked-up family tree. That's why Min-ji was the Kim clan's one and only girl. Adults fawned over her like crazy, but her shy personality meant no close bonds yet. After Chuseok, maybe...
Min-ji and I split a hot bar. After a nap, we were in Buyeo.
"Do-hyun, we're here. Wake up."
"Yeah..."
Before First Uncle moved to Daejeon, we all gathered here. Now they'd downsized, so next time it'd be Second Uncle's place in Incheon. With our house as big as the old big house, maybe we'd host next.
The spacious place felt eerily empty.
"Hyung-nim, we're here."
"Oh! Hyun-seok. Finally? Why so late?"
"I floored it, but traffic... Haha..."
First Uncle doted on Dad most. Second and Third Aunts-in-law were territorial, but First Aunt had backed Mom, easing her in.
First Uncle and Dad were 21 years apart. Huge gap—First Uncle and Aunt basically raised Dad. When Aunt married in, Dad was four. Case closed.
"Do-hyun and Min-ji are here~!"
"Hello~"
"Hewwo..."
Min-ji's voice got tiny after so long.
"Our Min-ji gets prettier by the day... What a gem. Finally, a looker in the Kim line~"
"What about me?"
"Oh? With all the handsome boys in our family~"
"Hoo... None for me, huh."
"Hohoho. Showing off that you take after your dad? Of course, this Big Aunt thinks you're the best~"
Min-ji hated the attention. Big family meant eyes on the lone girl. Last Chuseok, she'd hidden away.
Mom naturally offered kitchen help. First Aunt stopped her—"Unpack first!"—so she dithered, dashed to a room, and came back quick.
Trips like this showed why Mom got stressed.
Dad chatted politely with First Uncle. With a 21-year gap, Uncle was practically an elder. My memories had it milder—maybe 'cause he was younger then.
While I played with Min-ji, whispers flew from both sides. Mom's crew: I'd grown up. Dad's: Min-ji'd brightened.
"Oppa~ You spilled water."
"Nah, the bear did."
"Aha!?"
Not real water—just dolls on tea time in her pretend play. Min-ji's games got more detailed as she grew.
The two eldest uncles burst in from outside, saluting Dad sharply.
"Greetings! Seoul EFC Ace! Player Kim Hyun-seok! It's an honor!"
"Wooow! Fan here! Kim Hyun-seok! What'd it feel like scoring that last goal this season!?"
"Overkill..."
Mimicking girl fans at Dad, who couldn't hide his grin.
"Little Dad! Hurry, soccer time. Kids are waiting!"
"Your little dad's beat, punk."
The eldest clung to Dad. Five-year gap, but he'd played tons with kid-Dad. Their bond was brotherly.
But the one a year younger than him spotted Min-ji and approached cautiously.
"Playing dolls? Let big bro join."
Would've been perfect if Min-ji hadn't hidden behind me. Objectively, a bearded guy calling himself "oppa"? Second Uncle was 16 years from Min-ji—same as Dad-me gap.
She grabbed my arm, ducking back. That creepy face would scare anyone.
"Hyung, we gotta go soccer."
"Ooh, been practicing?"
"Dad learns from me?"
I spilled the truth, but Second Uncle didn't buy it.
"Hyung! This kid's soccer ego is no joke?"
"Got little Dad's backing, huh. Do-hyun, gear up. Bros waiting outside."
Recently discharged duo—First and Second Uncles around the same time. Rumor: unit reps, played tons of soccer. Fourth Uncle too—high school ace aiming pro. Actually makes K1 League.
Our DNA screamed soccer. Ball-obsessed like cats batting yarn. Even Uncles loved foot volleyball—adults always played that.
We headed straight to the futsal court. Unlike Heroes, the big house vibe flipped 180 today. All thanks to Dad.
Post-morning soccer, he'd quit the game cold turkey. Never touched a ball since.
One of my butterfly effects, no doubt.