Chapter 26 - Face-to-Face
The evening had become much later than planned.
They claimed to be busy with company problems, but this never occurred even once when their mother joined in.
Since they were family, if they hadn't said they would meet once a month, they wouldn't have gathered on their own.
At least not with Eun-a in the mix.
'Why did I come so early.'
Somehow, after all four of them had gathered, the real dinner time began.
On the wide table, home-cooked meals from various countries were laid out.
Eun-a thought that this rootless combination represented those who couldn't merge with each other.
It was a pitiful sight, but in the end, she was doing the same thing as them, playing separately.
Eun-a kept her head bowed and mechanically moved her chopsticks.
“Yoo Eun-a.”
Eun-a didn't answer right away.
She chewed the food in her mouth carefully and for a long time.
After the food was all gone, she took a sip of water and then answered.
“Why.”
“Not even a dog, what are you doing bowing your head to the rice bowl? It's rude.”
“...Now you're picking on all sorts of strange things.”
“What?”
“Did I say something wrong? Last month you said holding chopsticks is undignified, and this time eating like a dog? I know you don't like me, but you're not tired of picking on every little thing?”
Eun-a answered irritably.
She could have just let it slide, but those guys weren't the type to stay quiet.
They picked on her with every word and action, making her feel displeased.
Naturally, her reaction became blunt and sensitive.
“Don't you remember what Mom said last time? Please, just eat quietly and finish, okay?”
“Yoo Eun-a, don't rush ahead alone.”
The second brother with a stern expression opened his mouth, unlike the eldest brother who pointed out her eating manner.
“……”
The way he pointed it out didn't sit well with her, but since she also felt the same, she kept quiet.
But there was a reason she couldn't help but react so sensitively.
From her young teenage days until now, there were too many things she had endured.
Her siblings created a tense atmosphere by snarling at each other.
She tried to mediate, but it wasn't because the siblings got along; it was just that.
The housekeepers couldn't do anything, pacing back and forth anxiously, fearing another fight.
“……”
They stared at each other for a long time, then picked up their chopsticks again.
Until the meal was over, the only sound was the clinking of dishes.
Even though half their blood was connected, their relationship was worse than with others.
“...I'll clear the dishes.”
Eun-a's older sister placed the dishes down, ending the uncomfortable dinner.
The housekeepers quickly came over and removed the plates.
“Thank you.”
“……”
When Eun-a smiled at the housekeeper while making eye contact, she lowered her gaze and nodded slightly.
With this familiar sight, Eun-a no longer felt hurt.
It was because she knew they were afraid of them rather than ignoring her.
'I miss senior...'
She wanted to see the senior smiling at her.
She wanted to feel the scent, warmth, and love when she hugged her tightly.
After clearing all the plates and wiping the table, tea and sweets were served.
The annoying and stuffy time wasn't over yet.
“You gave money for that useless game again? Are you crazy?”
“Stop wasting money like that.”
“...If this succeeds, I can recover all the money I've put in so far. You know your brother and sister? It's money that can be chewed.”
“...Yeah, you figure it out.”
“So, anyway...”
Eun-a stared blankly at her teacup, occasionally crunching on cookies.
She wanted to contact the senior on her phone, but if she did, it would be full of old-fashioned complaints about manners.
If her mother was there, she would participate in meetings by asking questions often, but none of them wanted to include Eun-a in the meetings.
And Eun-a felt the same.
The moment she showed interest in company management, they would tear her apart.
In fact, that's what happened.
The reason she was kicked out was because she showed interest in management at a mere dinner table.
They warned her about such creepy and childish behavior.
And then she got caught because the handling was sloppy.
On the surface, they pretended to be competent and arrogant, but they were just people obsessed with the chaebol title.
'What... That's why I could have confidence in senior's heart.'
At first, he was just a kind senior in the department.
It was clear he liked her, but as someone who likes women, it was just annoying.
'I've been mistaken about that too.'
She wasn't the type to hide her personality.
Except for being lesbian, she didn't hide her silver spoon status.
So she thought he was one of the people who approached her because of her wealth.
After hearing his confession, even more so.
'But...'
After being kicked out, when the people she thought were close started distancing themselves from her, the one who got closer was him.
At first, she thought he was approaching with the flimsy idea of comforting her when she was in pain, and it would pass.
So she always treated him with a sharp attitude.
But he didn't back down even when hurt.
There were rumors that he bought, ate, and discarded women with money.
'Even though I hadn't held hands with a woman...'
When she was seriously considering quietly quitting school and leaving overseas, Gaeul, despite being slandered, persistently found the source of the rumor, cleared the misunderstandings at school, and added new ones.
Only then did Eun-a realize that he truly loved her.
No, with that much devotion, even if he was purely after money, it was fine.
'...Thinking about it, thanks to these trash.'
Thinking that, for the first time in her life, she didn't feel irritated by them.
From the moment she came to this place from the orphanage in middle school until now, she had only felt enmity and resentment.
When she thought they indirectly connected her and the senior, it was ridiculous, and just purely laughing was funny, so she couldn't hold back the joy bursting out.
“...Does it seem like our conversation is funny to you right now?”
“Then what, do you have any good ideas?”
Eun-a, who had stopped laughing, scanned the faces of the three alternately.
Connecting their expressions that showed no hiding of displeasure with what they said, it seemed they were having quite a serious talk about management issues.
“...You can't say anything but mock, what are you doing?”
She had no intention of listening to more sarcastic nonsense, so Eun-a immediately stood up from her seat.
She had tried to endure the awkward request her mother made before leaving for a business trip, but staying in this place felt like a fool.
“Yoo Eun-a, sit down right now.”
“If I say even one word, you'll come running immediately, so why?”
“Do you plan to ignore Mother's words?”
“They always ignore you, what do you mean. And I'm the one going to keep Mother's words.”
“What?”
“You always say that, Mom?”
“Love them.”
“Make someone you love.”
“As the head of a company, it's quite emotional words.”
“But because of that, it was even more meaningful.”
“...The rumor was true?”
“Insane...”
“...You lack self-awareness as a corporate heir. Do you think your lover thinks you're compatible?”
“You can't even participate in management while ranting.”
“Still, don't you forget that thanks to Mother's grace, you're in this position now?”
“Shouldn't you try to repay the grace in some other way?”
Eun-a looked at the three of them pitifully.
They frowned at her expression, which seemed displeasing.
“Mom's opinion ignored, and arranged marriage is repaying the grace?”
“After doing that, you don't live well at all, and even make adultery articles come out. Was that your love?”
“You know that was the one Mom hated the most, right? But what? Only I get all the love from Mom? Because the children don't listen to what she says from the old days, only I am loved. Me, who isn't connected by blood.”
After Eun-a poured out her words, silence came.
It wasn't because they reflected on their faults and repented for positive reasons.
It was just that it was too ridiculous, the sight of those dirty things who couldn't understand the situation making a scene was too ridiculous, so she couldn't say anything.
'After giving the "warning", they started crawling on their own.'
Because her expression was fully revealed on her face, Eun-a let out a deep sigh.
No matter what she said, it wouldn't work on them.
If a few words from her half-sister could change their minds, Mom wouldn't have suffered so much, and she packed her things.
“...I investigated the person you call your lover.”
“Insane stalker kid. So what.”
“Since Mom doesn't say much, I won't talk about your walls either. But at least find someone appropriate. Your lover seems to want something from you, so break up immediately.”
At those words, Eun-a lifted one corner of her mouth and said mockingly to him.
“I rather like it?”
“...What?”
“The senior won't break up with me, that's what I mean.”
The three fell silent with a different meaning from before and could only watch Eun-a leave in a daze.
*****
As I pulled out the car from the garage, the fence that looked like prison bars folded left and right.
As I descended the small hill, the road appeared immediately.
Since I wanted to see Gaeul as fast as possible, I stepped on the accelerator.
“Senior... isn't here?”
I came home panting for breath, but she wasn't there.
I called, but she didn't pick up.
When I was a man, I couldn't contact friends because I was fooling around, but now as a woman, that wouldn't be the case.
I couldn't be playing with another woman.
“Home... did she go?”
Eun-a recalled the image of Gaeul looking at her empty house after moving with a complicated expression.
I went back down to the parking lot, started the car, and quickly headed to where he lived.
Upon arriving at the villa, I took the stairs of the building without an elevator and quickly went up.
“The password is...”
I remembered it clearly because I had slept there several times and was told I could come anytime.
Recalling old memories, Eun-a smiled.
When I opened the door and entered, I found Gaeul sleeping sprawled out with arms and legs spread in the middle of the completely empty house.
I took a moment to catch my breath, then lay down next to Gaeul with a thud.
Looking at her sleeping like a cat, purring, I smiled softly.
“Um...”
Since there was no air conditioner or fan, I saw her sweating profusely and carefully undid the buttons of her shirt without waking her.
The breasts wrapped in a cute frilled bra maintained a beautiful shape without sagging to the side.
In the darkness, Eun-a felt a clean skin that could be seen even in the dark, slightly moist skin from sweat, and the scent flickering in front of her nose, and she scolded herself for the past.
Sleeping defenselessly next to the woman you like is a cruel torture for a male.
I had just thought of being next to her, and that alone would have been enough, but...
The hem of the skirt Gaeul gave me rose up.
“Senior, sorry...”
Even in the past, and now.
I'm really sorry....
But I'm not as good as the senior, I can't hold back....
Eun-a slowly undid the hook on the front of the bra with her slender fingers.
A soft ripple appeared on the delicate skin, and the breasts hidden by the bra were fully revealed.