Love You
Lee Sihyun went to college orientation.
It struck her all over again just how far away the university really was.
By public transit, it had taken something like two hours to get there.
She could feel the need to live on her own.
“Haa...”
But it wasn’t easy. Even the security deposit for a nearby studio, let alone the monthly rent, would be a stretch.
How am I supposed to tell Mom this?
She’s already having such a hard time because money’s so tight.
She had even considered the absolute worst option.
What if I asked my divorced dad?
As if he’d listen.
If he were the kind of man who would, he wouldn’t have cut contact with them in the first place.
He had never been a good person.
Her chest felt tight.
With that heavy feeling, she headed to the orientation after-party.
She sipped beer.
A man sitting next to her started talking to her—another freshman like her.
If this had been back in school, she would have avoided him. All she’d ever thought about then was getting into college by focusing on her studies no matter what.
Now that she was actually enrolled, she had a little more room to breathe.
He’s handsome...
And objectively, the guy who’d struck up a conversation really was good-looking.
“Oh? We live in the same neighborhood. Want to head back together later after we finish drinking? It’d be nice to split the taxi fare in half.”
“...Okay.”
She was already worried about taxi fares.
It was getting too late to rely on public transportation.
Their backgrounds were similar, too, so the conversation came easily.
Before she knew it, they were nearing her home, not even the slightest bit awkward with each other.
Thank goodness. I made a good friend.
She’d been anxious because there wasn’t a single person she knew at the university.
It seemed like she could just go around with Suho from now on.
They were almost home, so she was about to say goodbye and part ways.
That was when—
Why now of all times...
She heard someone calling out to her from one side.
It was the older brother staying at her house.
It was absolutely not normal for him to be home. She worried Suho might find it strange.
Ugh...
Couldn’t he just pretend not to see us?
But now it was too late.
“Well...”
She didn’t know how to introduce him. It wasn’t that she disliked her brother. She just didn’t want to leave even the tiniest opening for a misunderstanding.
Before she could answer, her brother stepped in.
“Hello. I’m a brother that Sihyun knows.”
“Oh, um... hello.”
“What a coincidence. I was dropping by because I know Sihyun’s mother, and she said she’d give me some side dishes to take home. Then I happened to run into her out front.”
“Ah...”
Thank goodness.
He hadn’t said anything that could be misunderstood.
She let out a sigh of relief inside.
***
When I greeted her, Sihyun glanced nervously at the guy standing beside her.
Seeing that, I silently cheered.
They didn’t seem all that close yet.
They didn’t look like they were dating.
Tsk.
Honestly, even from a guy’s point of view, he didn’t look that appealing.
What good was a decent face?
He had the look of a total pretty boy.
A man ought to have some masculine charm.
What a guy—he should be studying, but instead he’s apparently got an eye for pretty things...
He was a man I really didn’t like.
Part of me wanted to say that Sihyun and I were practically living under the same roof, but I didn’t want to sour her on me for no reason, so I introduced myself as just an older brother she knew.
That was how things went: an “older brother and younger sister” at first, and then somehow “honey” and “baby” later on.
“You two are... friends?”
“Yes, we got close during college orientation.”
“Ah, so you’re friends with Sihyun. Please take good care of her so she can adjust well to college. This is pocket money for a younger sibling.”
“...”
I pulled two 50,000-won bills out of my wallet.
I could have taken out a check, or handed him dozens of bills.
Why would I?
He wasn’t even my Sihyun, and even two 50,000-won bills felt wasted on some pretty-boy bastard like him.
Still, it should have been enough to make the point.
That taking Sihyun for himself would take more than ordinary effort.
Not when a cool older brother like me was standing right there.
“You’re on your way home, right, Sihyun?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Then let’s go together. It’s been a while, so I’m a little fuzzy on the way. Thanks for walking Sihyun home.”
“...Yes. I live nearby anyway.”
“Then get home safely.”
I more or less shoved the hesitant pretty boy on his way home.
Where did he think he was going?
He must have thought he could even set his sights on Sihyun.
And right in front of me, too.
It was a little unfair to her aunt, but if a guy lived in a neighborhood like this, it was a given that his family wasn’t wealthy.
He wasn’t the kind of man you’d leave Sihyun with.
Come to think of it, I had no intention of leaving her with anyone at all.
“Sorry, I thought he was just your friend. I shouldn’t have acted so familiar.”
“...It’s okay. We were just about to say goodbye anyway, since we were already in front of my house.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
“More importantly... wasn’t that too much money?”
She seemed to have been bothered by the two 50,000-won bills I’d given him earlier.
To me, it was nothing.
Since I’d already told my family back home that I’d succeeded, there was no need to hide it anymore.
“Actually, your brother made a lot of money after succeeding with an investment.”
“...Really?”
“Yeah. So I’ll probably be moving out of this house soon. I don’t know how long it’ll take, though.”
“Ah...”
“You’ve had to put up with a lot because of me. I really am grateful.”
“...I didn’t really do anything, though.”
“Hey, not giving me a hard time even though it must’ve been inconvenient—that matters.”
“But... just how big was your success?”
“Hmm... let’s see? Enough to buy a house in a prime part of Seoul?”
“...”
Her jaw dropped.
Looks like she hadn’t imagined that scale.
See? Doesn’t your brother look different now?
“So I want to buy gifts for Auntie, your sister, and you... Could you help me out this weekend? I’ll give you extra pocket money, too.”
“G-gifts?”
“Yeah.”
“...I’m free, but isn’t that kind of a burden?”
“Not at all. It’s a gift because I’m grateful.”
How about that? I’m different from that pretty-boy bastard, aren’t I?
“Just tell me on the weekend.”
“Thanks.”
What should I buy for our Sihyun?
Seeing her still looking dazed made me strangely grateful.
Part of me wanted to hug her right then and there.
But I held back.
If I got too physical too soon, it could backfire.
There was no rush yet.
I still had plenty of time.
I went into the house with Sihyun.
***
When I got inside, I saw my aunt sitting on the living room sofa.
“You’re back? The two of you came home together?”
“We ran into each other in front of the house.”
“Really? Did Sihyun have a good first day at university?”
“...Yeah. It’s insanely far.”
“...Really? They say the dorm life is hard?”
“There are so many people from outside the city, you know.”
“Haa... what a pity.”
The deeper my aunt’s sigh became, the sweeter it sounded to me.
It meant the odds of her relying on me later had gone up a lot.
Had Sihyun gone into her room first?
I stayed behind.
Because I had something to say.
“Doyun, you’re home early. Because of your part-time job?”
“I quit my part-time job.”
“...Huh? You quit your part-time job?”
“Yes.”
She looked startled when I said I’d quit.
It was so adorable.
She clearly hadn’t talked to Mom yet.
Behind the shock, worry was already settling in.
The money I gave her every month was 500,000 won.
To me, it was pocket change. But for my aunt, who had to pinch every won and could use even 100,000 a month, the sudden disappearance of that money would be devastating.
“And I think I’ll be able to move out soon, too.”
“Move out? Are you going back down to Gwangju?”
“No. Actually, the investing I’d been studying paid off big, so I’ve got some breathing room now.”
“Investing... I’m really glad for you.”
“I’m sorry to say this, but I don’t think I’ll be able to leave quickly. I still have to look at places and sign a contract and everything...”
“Oh, of course. You can stay as long as you want. I’m honestly a little sad about it, to be honest.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
What was there to be sad about?
The thing my aunt felt sad about right now was...
Money? Me?
By now, those two probably felt like the same thing to her.
“Until I move out, I’ll give you 1,000,000 won a month. Please let me stay under your roof until then.”
“...No. 500,000 won is enough. If you hand over 1,000,000 in a house like this, people will chew you out for it.”
“It’s not just because of the house. You’ve helped me so much, Auntie. More than anything... I’ve succeeded to the point where that money means nothing.”
“...So you really did make it big.”
“I just got lucky. It’s all thanks to you for helping me focus on work and study.”
“Oh, you little thing. As if I did anything...”
She was lovely. Just like Sihyun.
I wanted to pull her into my arms right then and there.
If Sihyun grew up with more polish, she’d probably end up looking like her aunt.
I wanted to experience the future and the present at the same time.
“So please take it. Let me feel at ease.”
“...”
Slowly.
Right now, even 1,000,000 won was a burden to her.
This wasn’t the kind of thing she’d simply rejoice over if I suddenly raised the amount.
My aunt needed time.
As for Sihyun, who still didn’t know the fear of money, I could give her as much as I wanted.
There was no need to rush.
“Let me ask you for one favor, Auntie.”
“...Then I’ll gratefully take it. Thank you. It’s not like I’m in such a comfortable place that I can refuse this money.”
“Of course. Honestly, I’m the one who should be sorry I can only give this much.”
“Absolutely not. Even taking this money makes me uneasy in my own heart. I’m not saying it to make you feel burdened. I just wanted to tell you, even a little, why I have no choice but to accept it.”
Just like this.
Later on, until life became impossible without me.
I’d raise both the money and the standard of living.
“Thank you so much...”
“I’m the one who should be thanking you.”
No.
I love you.
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