What Family Means
"Why are you leaving so soon? Why not rest a few more days..."
"I have to go to work tomorrow, you know. How about it? Will you be able to come home for the next holiday?"
After that precarious hospital visit with the mini Undine, I got roped into some strange bet... and after being treated to a dinner far larger than I could have finished without Founder, the chaotic day finally comes to an end.
Since there was no time to sit down for a leisurely cup of coffee and chat, I tried to stop my parents from leaving, but they only worried about my work schedule and hurried to get going.
"...Or how about you two just move here? You said you liked the house. I can find a nice place nearby—"
"What are you talking about? All our friends live back in our hometown. If we suddenly up and left, they'd all be lonely. And if we really did move, you'd have to play with us every single day. Do you even have time for that?"
"Well..."
Of course it would be tough, but...
"Then at least stop working the fields. You hurt your back doing farm work this time, didn't you? I can send you money now, so—"
"How could we do that? We barely managed to send you to school in Seoul... You paid for rent and living expenses with money you earned yourself. How could we accept anything from you now?"
"...Please don't say that. I'm already so grateful just for everything you've given me. Thanks to you, I was able to meet everyone here."
They said that, but I could tell they had been hoping to hear those words from me. It seemed I wasn't the only one carrying guilt, though I still couldn't understand why they felt sorry toward me. They had fed me until I was full, clothed me warmly, given me a place to sleep, and even sent me to the city so I could see a wider world. Earning my own way with this young, healthy body was my responsibility. So this wasn't me just saying what they wanted to hear—it was the honest truth.
"Are you really not going to stay even one more night? The mountain path is steep. At least leave while it's still light out. It'll put my mind at ease."
"It'd be a shame to interrupt a young couple's private time. Besides, there's nothing left for us to do here, and seeing your face has made my body feel better already."
"That's right. You should earn as much as you can while you're young so you can live comfortably later. But don't be too frugal either—do everything you want to try."
Even my usually quiet father chimed in, making it harder to keep them any longer. They say you can't win against your parents, and I've never once beaten mine. Maybe it's strange to even think about winning or losing with them...
"All right. Let's talk about it again later. At least let me walk you to the front."
"It's fine, it's fine. We're not so old that we need an escort just to leave. And we already sent back the hospital money you gave us, so use that to take Panda out to the zoo or something."
"Panda...?"
While I stood there flustered, wondering if he meant the black-and-white fluffy animal I was thinking of, Father patted my shoulder and walked out the door first.
"Hoho... She's such a cute child. She kept insisting we call her 'Panda,' so we did. She must really like it."
"Ah, yes... That's right. She does like it a lot. Panda."
Panda... Founder. Don't tell me she introduced herself using her code name exactly like that. Even if they'd heard "Founder," it wouldn't be strange for them to mishear it as "Panda." Maybe it was for the best.
"Keep your promise and go on a proper date with Nero. Sorry I couldn't help with the dishes—there must be so many. Make sure you eat well, and if you feel sick, don't just endure it. Go to the hospital right away..."
"Honey, the elevator's here."
"Your father and I are doing fine, so just call us often, okay?"
She looked like she still had so much more to say, but in the end, she left me with the one request she cared about most. I had a phone, and it wasn't hard to exchange a simple greeting... Maybe that was exactly why we didn't do it often.
"Yes, I'll call often..."
When Father called again, Mother, who had been about to close the door, turned back and pulled me into a tight hug. Whether it was because I'd grown taller or not, her shoulders seemed so small now, and the strength in her arms felt different from when I was young. It was a strange feeling.
"..."
During that brief embrace, Mother didn't say a word. As I blankly watched her retreating figure after she closed the door, something welled up inside me.
"...I'll walk you out after all. Everyone, just wait a moment."
We'd see each other again soon, and thanks to Undine, Mother's back was completely healed. Nothing bad had happened, but... maybe this was what family was. When I stopped the elevator that was just closing, Mother was wiping away tears. What surprised me even more was that Father was doing the same. I'd thought he'd spent the whole day completely charmed by Founder, but apparently that wasn't the whole story.
After chatting a little longer until the taxi arrived and properly seeing them off, I returned home to the sound of dishes clinking and water running. Peeking into the kitchen, I saw Nero and Yerin standing side by side, amicably cleaning up after dinner. Their heights and figures were so different that I almost laughed for no reason. They'd been bickering and snapping at each other just moments ago... but it was a nice sight.
"So this is what family is, huh."
"...Founder?"
Founder stood before me with a gentle smile different from her usual bright, innocent one, her long hair cascading down as she nodded.
"And this is what parents are like. I don't have any, so I didn't know, but I really like it. I'm jealous. You got good parents, Oppa."
"...Yeah. They really are good people, no matter how you look at it."
"Family is precious. There are so many humans, and even more varied relationships formed among them, but the one thing that never changes is family."
Friends, lovers, colleagues... As Founder said, no matter what happens—betrayal, disappointment, arguments—the only relationship that can never be severed is family. Divorce between parents... Well, that might complicate things, but the fact that I'm their child, or the bond with siblings if I had any, would be absolute and not something I could cut off on a whim.
But...
"That doesn't mean other relationships have no meaning either."
"Hm...?"
"If I had to say, you and I are... friends? But I've gotten so used to you that it feels like family now. I think this is what it would feel like to have a cute little sister."
With that adorable appearance, her ever-bright expression, and the occasional chilling remarks or unbelievable strength and abilities, she sometimes made me flinch... but even so, I couldn't help but think of her as a lovable girl and feel like she was a little sister. Hypothetically, if we were walking down the street and a truck suddenly charged toward Founder, I'd move to save her even knowing I'd be the one crushed instead. It's not because we're family that we care for each other—it's because we care for each other that we become family.
"Nero is the same. I definitely think of her as family now."
Blood ties were surely important and powerful, but I didn't believe family was only that. In the first place, family was something formed when two people met, spent enough time and care, and built trust and affection toward each other. Perhaps the ultimate form that any relationship between individuals could reach was family. Just like my mother and father.
"...So you could become my family too, Founder. I've already been thinking of you that way on my own."
After all, if sharing a bed and hugging wasn't some kind of family-like bond, I'd be in serious trouble. Not just trouble—very serious trouble.
"..."
Worried by the lack of an immediate reply, I glanced down to find Founder looking up at me with an expression like she'd just seen something fascinating. Those pitch-black eyes made me feel strangely intimidated...
She smiled.
"?!"
"Ehe... You say such cheeky things. And you, whose only reason for existing is to diligently pat my and my sister's heads..."
"...Ugh."
Her small, smiling mutter and that unnecessarily detailed scolding of my worth made my eyes sting for some reason.
"Still, though..."
"?"
"I'm glad you said that. Thank you, Oppa!"
"...Hah."
They say seeing a child's smile makes you happy. I think that's really true. Founder threw herself into my arms, rubbing her forehead against my chest as if asking to be petted. When I quickly stroked her hair, her whole body trembled lightly with joy, and I felt happy too. Come to think of it, just now...
She hadn't added "you bastard" after "Oppa," had she?
"Ehehe... As expected, Oppa is the best at patting heads..."
...Must have been my imagination.