When Have I Not Worked Hard?
"When have I not worked hard!"
The moment I arrived home, I grabbed Min-ji and headed straight to my room. As I opened my bag, I caught Mom peeking through the door crack with a sly grin.
"...Why."
"Hehehe. I wonder what's in that bag~"
Min-ji poked her head out just like Mom, mimicking her pose. I ignored Mom and ruffled Min-ji's hair.
"Did you have a good day at kindergarten?"
"Yeah!"
"Then big bro's gotta give you a present, right~"
I pulled out some chocolate from my bag, and Min-ji's eyes went wide as saucers. Suddenly, she flipped out and charged at me like a wild animal.
"Choco!!!"
"Min-ji, you can't have chocolate!"
Mom freaked out at my actions. I yanked Min-ji back—she'd already shoved a piece in her mouth—and stopped her.
I don't really like chocolate anyway. I figured our family just didn't buy it because none of us were into it... but watching Min-ji, that didn't seem right. We gave her candy all the time, so why not chocolate?
Even with Mom scolding her, Min-ji stuffed her mouth full and looked totally satisfied.
"Whoa... you brought so much."
"How could I throw away gifts?"
"My boy's popular..."
I pulled out even more chocolate from my indoor shoes bag.
"...How are you gonna eat all this? And look, so many letters too? How cute."
Mom spotted the cookies wrapped in clear plastic and reached for them.
"These must be from Yu-bin, huh?"
"She said eat it alone—it might be poisoned."
"Pfft."
Still, loyalty's a thing. I snapped a photo of the chocolates Yu-bin gave me, sent it as proof I'd kept them separate. Her jealousy could be pretty intense sometimes.
The stocks I'd invested in were growing like crazy day by day. More buys, more sells. Up to a million won was manageable, but tens of millions? Reality was starting to slip away, and even I felt the pressure now.
Just then, Min-ji—who'd gotten scolded by Mom for sneaking chocolate—came running to me.
"Mommy... sniff."
"Kim Min-ji! You think running to your brother changes anything?"
I pulled her into a tight hug. Mom sighed at the sight of Min-ji in my arms and walked off. Secretly, I slipped another piece of chocolate into Min-ji's mouth.
"Shh. Our little secret."
"Mm."
I chuckled at Min-ji munching away, tears still streaming down her cheeks.
The house was always full of energy these days, but Mom and Min-ji clashed a lot. Back in the past, Min-ji had only had eyes for Mom. She'd changed a ton, but she was still sharp as ever—stubbornly sticking to her guns with Mom.
A year ago, Min-ji could barely speak clearly. But after all our bonding and chats, her pronunciation had improved dramatically along with her personality shift. Now she voiced her opinions loud and clear.
Which meant she grilled Mom relentlessly, word for word. Right now, convinced she was right, Min-ji was screeching at her.
Min-ji's attitude seemed to be veering off in a bad direction... I stepped in before Mom's forehead vein could pop, warning Min-ji and explaining she couldn't yell at Mom like that.
When I sided with Mom, Min-ji looked so betrayed, her eyes welling up. She shook her head furiously, clutched her doll tight, and plopped down in the corner. That pitiful pout of hers tugged at the heartstrings.
But I couldn't let it slide.
"Mom."
"What? Hungry?"
"You think I'd come to you if I was hungry?"
"True~"
Mom ignored her too. I glanced at Mom lounging comfortably, then back to my smartphone on the book.
Meanwhile, Min-ji was inching her butt over toward Mom bit by bit.
Dad's contract bonus had finally been settled. Seoul FEC had tried lowballing him due to his lack of experience, but with all the teams scouting him, they couldn't. Dad came home a bit late with the adjusted amount.
We waited and greeted him with cheers and confetti. It was his birthday too, after all.
"Happy birthday~"
Dad smiled as he unwrapped our gifts. He didn't seem overly thrilled, like he was getting used to the word "happiness" now. Made sense—feeling joy here wasn't novel anymore.
Though if Min-ji had tackled him from her seat, that might've changed things.
Dad whispered to Mom about the contract bonus.
"Eek! That much!?"
"What do you think? Promote me quick."
"Our Hyun-seok is the best!!!"
Min-ji, uninterested, eyed the chicken more than Dad. She'd be full after one leg, but she took after Mom in her small appetite.
"Min-ji's drooling already."
Dad and Min-ji's relationship wasn't the greatest. With his three jobs back then, they barely crossed paths. Even I still felt awkward talking to him.
He approached me easily because I was a kid. But for Min-ji, it was worse. Dad just didn't know how to handle a daughter.
He silently ruffled her hair.
"Min-ji must be hungry. Let's eat quick."
"Yeah!"
Yeah, that's all it took—but Dad overthought it.
Dad watched me eat.
"What? You like breast meat, son? Just like your mom?"
I didn't particularly love chicken breast. Before regression, I had no clue what family parts everyone liked. I'd let Min-ji devour the legs she loved, then eat the rest.
I'd wondered why I pitied her not finishing more... Now post-regression, I left extra legs for her.
"But one leg's symbolic, son. Eat up."
"Nah, just two legs total. You and Min-ji split 'em."
"Sounds good~"
Dad tore into a leg. Min-ji chowed down beside him, fried crumbs all over her mouth.
"Min-ji's eating two today. Tasty?"
"Yeah!"
I wiped her chubby cheeks with my finger.
Sibling bonds outshining parent-child wasn't easy... But with all my time invested in Min-ji, she preferred me over Dad now.
Parents' chats were always the same. Aggressive Mom and oblivious Dad. He'd tease her when she was off, get cussed out instead. He couldn't tank it, just stood there hurt.
We munched chicken while flipping to Dad's K1 League highlights.
"Son, workout after eating?"
"Play with Min-ji too."
"Should... I?"
"Nooo."
Min-ji's firm rejection. Dad got hurt again. They played fine making snowmen or splashing in water, though.
I whispered to Dad: once digested, give Min-ji airplane rides.
After finishing Dad's birthday spread and taekwondo, I got home. Dad was in the living room giving Min-ji airplane rides. She giggled wildly—she secretly loved it.
She disarmed eventually, begging for more and tackling him.
I felt it too... Min-ji cracked open hearts that seemed locked tight.
Short spring passed. Not quite summer, but short-sleeve weather.
The smartphone's real perk: checking that era's weather. This summer would be brutally hot, breaking records yearly. No biggie. Last year's mad cow disease scare, this year cicadas. Seoul felt the cows more, but I remembered cicadas for our house's lightning strike blackout.
My butterfly effect. Prep lists for family shrank fast like this.
Skipping soccer with the half-pints, I dribbled solo against the wall. PE teacher approached.
"Why not join?"
"If I play, ball's mine all hour."
I bounced it without looking; he nodded.
"That's why I said join soccer club last year. Other school, but talented kids?"
"Talented my ass."
"..."
"Beat the high school national champs' ace recently. Felt light."
I juggled flashy, trapped it; teacher speechless.
That high school ace was Cousin Jeong-hyun, big house's fourth. Aspiring pro. Honestly not light, but doable.
Solo dribbling, I headed it high, smashed wall.
Bam!
"Honestly, solo or Dad's basics are more fun."
"Your dad's Kim Hyun-seok the player?"
"Yep."
Bam~ Bam~ Elementary kids? Size gap whatever. I outpowered them. Taekwondo was more fun.
"How about goalie for the kids?"
I'd sworn as a man: no hands on ball. Dodgeball if grabbing.
But I managed hair, skincare with Mom, dressed sharp. Pepper already down 5cm.
After pondering, I chipped the ball toward goal.