Chapter 9
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Fight
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We moved from the kitchen to my room.
It was early morning, and we didn't want to wake the younger sisters with too much noise.
"Sis, what happened? Tell us the details."
"I got a text and then an international call... Hold on. Let me sort it out and explain."
Geumbi Sis was jittery, her foot tapping nervously.
She had her arms crossed and her brows furrowed so tightly that even I started feeling anxious just watching her.
'Given the situation, it's no wonder. ...Mom's not badly hurt, right?'
She'd said it wasn't a major accident, but we were all still waiting anxiously for more details.
Sujeong Sis, looking just as troubled as she rubbed her forehead, sat on the edge of the bed and spoke up.
"From what I heard... she was crossing the crosswalk when a truck hit her."
"What?!"
"Wait, Mom's in the hospital now, right? How is she?"
"Luckily, it doesn't seem too serious. The tests came back normal, just minor fractures in her leg and arm... that's what she said."
The word "truck" left Geumbi Sis speechless, and I couldn't hide my shock either.
Thankfully, Sujeong Sis calmly filled in the rest, allowing us to finally breathe a sigh of relief, albeit belatedly.
"Phew, I see... She got all the proper tests, right? MRI, CT, all that stuff."
"Yeah, hospitals overseas are crazy expensive, aren't they? She didn't skip any to save money, did she?"
"Calm down, Jigu. Their fault is crystal clear, so no worries about costs. And our family isn't strapped for that kind of money anyway. She probably has insurance there too, so don't stress."
"Ah, right... yeah, that makes sense. Whew."
When Geumbi Sis mentioned MRI and such, I panicked thinking about those news stories on overseas medical bills.
But Sujeong Sis reined us in, and once I realized it was really okay, my legs gave out and I staggered.
"Whoa."
"You okay? Can't have a guy passing out over something like this."
"S-Sorry. I just felt relief hit me all at once..."
"That can happen when you're really shocked. Geumbi, don't give him too much grief."
Geumbi Sis caught me as I nearly fell, grumbling but steadying me all the same.
Sujeong Sis comforted me while scrolling through her phone again, checking for any new updates before finally setting it down.
"That's the end of the updates... Whew. What a morning. You all did well."
"Lately, it feels like bad news about Mom keeps coming. I'm scared of what'll hit us next."
"Geumbi, words have power—don't say stuff like that."
"I'm just worried. Mom should take better care of herself living alone... Tsk."
Once Mom's safety was confirmed, Geumbi Sis slipped right back into her usual dissatisfied attitude.
Sujeong Sis shot her a glare at the tongue click, but Geumbi Sis's floodgates were open and wouldn't stop easily.
"First that bombshell last time, and now this—we're the ones left scrambling again. And we've got our own headaches here."
"Mom's the one who suffered the most. She says it's minor, but why else would she be hospitalized?"
"Who knows. Why have an accident at a crosswalk in the first place? Doesn't that mean she was careless?"
"Geumbi, that's enough. Keep it up, and I'll really get mad."
"...Okay, I went too far this time. But you feel it too, right? Mom's so irresponsible with us."
It started as worry for Mom but quickly turned into venting frustrations about her.
I tried to butt in from the middle, gauging the mood, but with Geumbi Sis still gripping my arm, it was awkward to intervene.
'She could let go now... Hmm, no. Maybe she's still shaky.'
With our arms linked, I could feel her trembling fully transmitted to me.
The shock from the accident news seemed to hit her late, and her sharp tone might have been covering it up.
The problem was how those heated words were turning more sincere by the minute.
"Just one question, Sis. Did Mom say anything extra to you?"
"...No, nothing particular."
"See? She drops that line the other day, then just sends her update now. Shouldn't she say when she's coming back or stopping by?"
"She probably doesn't have her bearings after the accident. Plus, this is kind of notice that her schedule's delayed..."
"Did Mom reach out first?"
"Urk...!"
Replacing shock with excitement, Geumbi Sis ramped up the intensity.
Her pointed remarks left Sujeong Sis at a loss for words now and then, while Geumbi Sis tousled her messy hair, acting like she'd known it all along.
"Knew it. That's Mom for you, huh."
"Geumbi, even so, that's too much. I told you, she's probably out of it from the accident."
"That accident wasn't just now, right? Tests and admission done means hours have passed."
"...She's overseas. Probably didn't think to tell us kids living apart."
"I'd tell right away. I'd want immediate contact if any family member got hurt."
"People... think differently."
"Families should at least be on the same wavelength."
The gap in their views on Mom showed no sign of closing.
It happened occasionally before, but with no younger sisters around and recent events fueling it, things really ignited this time.
'I should say something... But it's tough. Picking a side would just make it worse.'
Staying silent only made the tension thicken between them.
Sujeong Sis showed no sign of her usual gentle yielding, and Geumbi Sis wasn't backing down either.
"I've thought this before, but you're too lenient with Mom."
"And you're too harsh on her."
"What did I do? With five kids, isn't the one not even contacting properly the problem?"
"She's busy working abroad alone. Us being together lets her work without worry."
"Maybe now. But back then? Dad died when the eldest was barely middle school. We raised ourselves— that's neglect, right?"
"Think the other way. Raising five alone without Dad—how hard was that? She had to trust us young ones. Why can't you see that?"
"You said we're not hurting for money. Probably always were. She could've paid us more attention instead."
"Money doesn't grow on trees. Life's unpredictable; from her view, better save more while she can. For emergencies."
"Even abandoning her kids for it?"
"She hustled for us."
Listening made both sides ache with understanding.
Sujeong Sis, stepping into Mom's role as eldest, naturally empathized there.
Geumbi Sis, witnessing that hardship up close, harbored deeper resentment toward Mom.
'Me... I don't know. I grew up without much trouble thanks to my sisters, never lonely with the younger ones.'
Until puberty hit and we all holed up in our rooms, life was pretty okay, no real complaints.
Only after discharge lately did the distance feel real and lonely—and even that paled against my sisters' feelings.
So I got both sides.
But they couldn't understand each other at all.
"Yang Geumbi, cut it out. There's a limit to letting rude talk slide."
"Urk...! Every time this comes up, you end it like that—don't you think that's unfair?"
"Better than not knowing what to say to family."
"What? Who do you think I live with these thoughts because of... Urk!"
In the ongoing fight, Geumbi Sis was first to show tears.
But hating to cry in front of Sujeong Sis, she spun around to storm out.
"Whoa?! S-Sis. Calm down a sec."
"Let go, idiot."
"Don't snap like that emotionally..."
"I said let go, you punk!"
Geumbi Sis's escape was blocked by me, still arm-in-arm; she shook off my arm with curses and shoved my shoulder.
"Oof."
"Hey, Yang Geumbi!"
It didn't hurt much, but I stumbled back a bit, and Sujeong Sis bellowed at the sight.
Unable to take Sujeong Sis's reaction, Geumbi Sis bolted up the stairs to the second floor without looking back.
"Haa, that girl... Haaa."
Sujeong Sis shot up in anger, then frowned and sank back onto the bed edge.
I stood awkwardly at the doorway, glancing between Sujeong Sis rubbing her forehead and the vanished Geumbi Sis.
"...Jigu."
"Y-Yeah, Sis."
"Geumbi looked like she was crying at the end. Can you go console her?"
"Okay, got it. I'll do that."
Sujeong Sis, at least somewhat calmer, waved me off.
I carefully closed the door and trudged up to Geumbi Sis's room on the second floor.
'I'm here, but... what do I say to cheer her up?'
At the door marked [Geumbi], I paused my knocking hand.
I pondered a bit, but no sudden brilliant idea from the fight came now either.
'Yeah, just talk honestly. That's the little brother's job.'
Comforting adults was an older sibling's skill; as the younger, quiet empathy worked best.
With that shallow logic, I lightly knocked on Geumbi Sis's door.
"Get lost, moron."
"Ah, um, uh... Sorry."
Not just shut down—she wouldn't even show her face.
I considered slinking away obediently, but it felt wrong, so I plopped down in front of the door and whispered.
"Hey, let me know when you're okay. I'll wait here till you wanna talk."
I ended up like a pathetic ex begging at his girlfriend's door.
But no way I'd get reported as a stalker at home, so I hugged my knees and blankly counted ceiling patterns.
One line, two... ten, twenty.
How much time passed? Around 350 lines, assuming one per second, about six minutes.
"Idiot. Come in quick, dummy."
The door creaked open a crack, revealing Geumbi Sis with red eyes welcoming me.
Two curses in one short phrase, but I didn't mind and accepted the invite.
Click.
Clack.
How many years since I entered Geumbi Sis's room?
She seemed awkward too, firmly closing the door and even locking it.
...Did the lock need locking?
"Hey."
"Yeah."
"Sit there."
"Oh, yeah, here?"
"That's the bed, dummy. On the floor, idiot."
Whenever Sujeong Sis visited, I'd usher her straight to the bed.
Geumbi Sis made me sit on the cold floor, then fetched a cushion and plopped softly beside me.
'If I asked for one too... she'd kick me out, huh?'
I gauged the mood while searching for words.
Even inside, nothing clever came, and a little brother's empathy was useless without her opening up.
"......"
"......"
Time just dragged on pointlessly despite being in her room for once.
As the awkwardness peaked, Geumbi Sis finally parted her lips hesitantly.
"Jigu Yang."
"Yeah."
"Can you... hug me too?"
"Huh?"
I whipped my head around in surprise to find Geumbi Sis leaning her cheek on her knee, gazing at me.
Her eyes still red, tears unstopped... My hand moved toward her unconsciously.