I Don't Know
I don't know. Whether Min-a had brought Mom along, or if the two of them had simply run into each other by chance. If it was the former, then she had planned the stage perfectly, just like the clever woman she was. A mother to act as judge, a niece to serve as the audience. All that remained was for the two of us to lay out the whole ugly story and put on a pathetic performance. Why, like two people who had just been fighting moments ago, airing their dirty laundry in front of others. Spilling the intimate details of a man and woman for everyone to hear. So that they could desperately grasp for the word reconciliation and force it to fit, no matter how unnatural.
"You two... are together. Did you run into Mom on the way?"
"You told me Mom was coming over, oppa. I said if she hadn't left yet, we should go together."
She made a face like she hated the idea of Mom coming, yet the moment she needed her, she went running first.
Besides, our business should have ended between the two of us. What on earth had she told Mom? Just thinking about it made my head start to throb.
"What were you thinking, leaving like that? People get worried, you know."
"We'll talk later. Later."
"It's not 'later'! We agreed to settle this between ourselves, and then you just go home? When I got to the company, you weren't there, so I had to ask around everywhere. I only found out you were sick through other people."
I couldn't exactly chase away someone who had come all this way, nor could I spill every humiliating detail in front of my family. I was already in a tight spot when Min-a spoke up first.
"So what? What do you want me to do? Should we just end it now?"
"I didn't say end it! I said let's talk!"
"Don't raise your voice in front of family. You're going to drive me insane before this is over."
As the two of us were growling at each other, Yerin quietly tugged at my wrist.
"Samchon. I understand how you feel, but... just a little. Please calm down a little."
The hand that had held my wrist now clasped my own. The girl who had been standing a step away moved closer. She held me completely now, her voice gentle as she soothed me.
"Sungmo must have been startled when she heard you were sick. She was probably shocked. That's why she came. So please don't be angry with your cousin. I... I'm scared when you get angry, samchon."
When I turned to look, her eyes were glistening with tears as she gazed up at me.
Yerin-ah, I understand how you feel too. But what makes me even angrier is that you're making that face because of me.
My niece, whose life should have been busy enough with nothing but smiles, was now crying, grieving, and frightened because of me. My throat tightened, emotions surging wildly. There were so many things I wanted to say, but I held them back somehow. So that we wouldn't cause any more problems here. So that Yerin, with her tear-filled eyes, wouldn't end up sobbing in my arms.
What surprised me just as much was Min-a's expression. Even though her niece was clearly taking her side, a look I had never seen before flashed across her face for a moment. No. To be precise, it was an expression she had never once shown toward me.
No way.
Before I went to her. Whenever I was lost beside another woman, Min-a would sometimes look at those women with exactly that gaze before pretending to be indifferent.
Is she jealous?
Of my own niece? Why? Of a girl who has nothing? When she has everything?
Just because my niece is crying beside me. Is she only satisfied once she takes every last part of me?
If that's the case, then I'd rather... give you nothing at all...
"Look at the two of you. What are you doing?"
"...I'm sorry, Mother."
"We're just talking. You can see that, can't you?"
"Talking, my foot. I came all the way with side dishes, and here you two are fighting. From what Min-a told me on the way, it sounds like it was entirely your fault."
Aigoo. As if I wasn't already suffocating, now Mom too. Min-a, you've really put together a solid lineup. It's enough to make a person choke.
Suddenly, the image of Mom and Min-a standing together overlapped in my mind. If—if I really did marry Min-a, which was now practically a done deal—I would have to see the two of them together often. I never imagined that thought would feel this stifling.
"Haa..."
"What kind of adult runs off just because someone says a few words? If your thoughts differ from your father-in-law's when you take over the company later, are you going to storm off in anger every time? Be a little more easygoing, like a man. Even your sister is more..."
Bang!
I slammed my fist into the wall with all my strength. A loud crash echoed through the room. A stinging pain shot through my head like lightning.
"That's enough. If you're all going to make such a fuss, then just... go. Get out. Stop suffocating me."
Everyone stared at me in shock.
Have I ever done this before?
Expressing my anger like this. Showing my emotions in front of two women. I had always only worried about what others thought, imagining even simple things like this. It could have felt so much more liberating.
"I'm sorry. Mom was just..."
"I know, so please just leave. Take your daughter-in-law with you."
"...Alright, oppa. I'll take Mother home. Yerin-ah, here."
My niece took the gifts the two of them had brought in my place.
"Later... once you've calmed down a bit, let's talk again, oppa. I... I was wrong."
"...Yeah. Mom, get home safely."
The handbag filled with side dishes and the shopping bag with the cake. I turned my back and saw them off with my rear view. Blood trickled from the hand that had pressed the passcode. It looked like the back of my hand had torn open.
"Samchon... samchon..."
When I opened the door and stepped inside, my niece followed right behind me.
"Go rest. You must be tired too."
"Samchon. Samchon."
I leaned back on the sofa, and she stood beside me, not knowing what to do. Just go rest. Don't worry about me. If you really want to do something for me, the best thing is for you to be happy.
That's hilarious. After showing me all that.
I had always been the pathetic uncle who only leaned on her and acted spoiled. Now I had hurt my kind niece's heart. The refreshing feeling I had gotten from expressing my anger had vanished without a trace, and in its place, a hollow emptiness filled the gap.
"I'm... pathetic."
I didn't want to show my face, so I covered it with my arm.
"Yelling in front of you. Throwing a tantrum. If you don't want to look at me, you can go to Grandma's. She has plenty of rooms. The nagging is a bit much, but..."
Tap, tap, tap.
I heard my niece walking toward me. She took my hand again, the one that had been bleeding.
Her lips touched the spot where blood had flowed.
"Who said they think you're pathetic? I don't think that at all."
"Just... just... even when I look at myself, I feel so pathetic I could die. Acting like this in front of you."
"Well, I don't, so stop talking nonsense. You idiot. It's bleeding."
"Leave it. It'll heal if I just leave it alone."
"You're really good at this. Hurting yourself like this. I don't know if it feels refreshing for you, samchon, but how do you think other people feel when you're in pain? Especially me?"
"...I'm sorry."
"I... I... Haa. You already have so many things that make you want to cry, samchon. If you act like this too, then I'll always be the one who has to cry."
This time, it was my niece who hugged me instead. She buried herself in my chest, soaking it with her tears. I could only soothe her with the usual words and gestures. Stroking her hair. Offering comfort.
"From now on, you absolutely cannot do this again, samchon. If you do, I'll kick you out."
"Okay."
Soon, as if she had calmed down a little, my niece wiped her tears and pulled away from my embrace.
"Don't get hurt. Never get hurt. Even if you do, I won't let it slide. Promise me you'll always stay healthy."
"Alright. I'll stay healthy. I promise."
"Haa. What are we going to do about your hand? It hurts so much even when you cut yourself cooking."
When I clenched and unclenched my fist in front of her, she snatched my hand away.
"Let me see."
"It'll be fine if I leave it. It's not like the bone is broken."
"That's why I'm telling you to give it to me."
She takes it and then...
She massaged my hand this way and that, then interlaced our fingers. Thinking it might cheer her up, I played a small prank.
"Kyaa!"
I squeezed her hand with just a little strength, and she shrieked, slapping my shoulder.
"See? It's fine."
Every time I touched her, I realized how incredibly soft my niece's hands were. Enjoying the sensation, I held her hand and shook it gently.
"You jerk."
My niece gripped my hand tightly in return, but it felt like a puppy who had just gotten its teeth, biting playfully. It tickled. When I looked at her as if to say how cute, she puffed out her cheeks.
After thinking for a moment, my niece brought my hand close to her lips.
Is she going to bite?
If I let her torment me until she's satisfied, you'll be the one hurting your samchon in the end...
"!"
Contrary to my expectations, my niece suddenly stuck out her tongue and licked the back of my hand. Right near the wound where blood was still seeping slightly. The stinging pain and the soft sensation alternated. A shiver ran down my spine, and my whole body trembled. All strength left me, leaving me unable to respond. The tip of her pink tongue, stained with my blood, turned red. It slipped into her mouth and came back out.
"How is it? It stings, right?"
When I flinched and stayed still, my niece seemed to think she had gotten me. She looked at me with a triumphant face and smiled.
"Yeah. It stings. Now please let it go. Your samchon might pass out from excessive blood loss."
"Then I'll just donate some blood for you."
"What kind of niece are you?"
"Type A. Samchon is..."
"Me too."
"See? No need to worry."
"Stop messing around. Get up now. We need to organize what we received. And I have to call Mom and Min-a."
Afraid that the feelings I had toward my niece might show, I quickly stood up.
"If you're going to talk to Grandma, put it on speaker. I'll help too."
"Is Mom some kind of loan shark? Why would I need help while talking on the phone?"
My innocent niece knew nothing. She simply followed her wicked samchon around like a little puppy.