Old Stories
A week had passed since I started tutoring Na-eun.
In that time, we'd had about three sessions, and one thing I'd learned was...
"Oppa, how do you solve this one?"
She's incredibly honest, for starters.
If she doesn't know something, she straight-up admits it and asks. From a teacher's perspective, kids like this are S-rank. It's way better than pretending to know just to look cool, only to get exposed later when the cracks show.
"Oppa, try this today. It's gonna be delicious!"
And she's amazing at cooking.
I told her, "Only if it doesn't feel like a burden," but she brings something every single time.
Even on back-to-back Saturday and Sunday sessions, it's always a different dessert.
And get this—they're all homemade, and not a single one has been bad.
Today's was pancakes, and for something so straightforward, they were surprisingly tasty.
I was starting to worry I might actually gain weight at this rate.
And then there's the unexpected part...
-scratch scratch scratch scratch-
-scratch scratch scratch scratch-
When it's time to study, her focus is insanely intense.
Exaggerating a bit, but even if I dozed off right next to her, I doubt Na-eun would notice.
Her concentration was on another level.
In contrast to that...
"Oppa, can't we take it easy today?"
She loves to play, too.
I prefer this type, actually. All-in on studying when it's study time, and fully, joyfully committed to fun when it's playtime.
That said, slyly trying to shorten study sessions is something I don't love.
"We'll play after you finish studying."
"Tch~ You always say that, then zoom out the door in seconds."
Hard to argue when she's right.
I do bolt right after her sessions end around 3 or 4 p.m., no looking back.
Two reasons. First, being alone with Na-eun next to me is subtly stressful.
She's the super-cute little sister I've known since she was a baby.
I've watched her grow from infancy, so there's this deep, built-in familiarity.
But that's from when she was really little.
Now? Impossible not to notice her as a woman. Great figure, pretty face, bright personality.
Stuck alone in her room with her? It's a special kind of torture, in a way.
Second reason: avoiding running into Seung-min while I'm with her.
That menace would absolutely pull some weird prank if he caught us.
So, escape as fast as possible.
"...Can't we hang out today?"
"Go play with your friends."
"All my friends are off with their boyfriends. Or at academies. So you play with me, Oppa? Please?"
Na-eun, whining so boldly about having no one else to play with.
Hard to say no at this point.
I'm her tutor now, but once sessions end, to her I'm just her brother's lifelong friend.
"...Fine, got it. Study well today, and we'll hang out."
"Yesss~!"
Her fist-pumping joy hit me with a pang of guilt.
Maybe I've been neglecting her too much lately.
I swear I played with her tons when she was little...
Shaking off the distraction, I focused on the task at hand.
"Na-eun, show me your homework first?"
"Sure~ Here!"
Na-eun handed it over.
She did it meticulously. For math, every step written out; for Korean, notes on exactly how she deduced each answer.
I was impressed, but also a little disappointed.
Where? It's become a habit for her now.
The problem is, she does the same on exams.
No need to fix it yet, but eventually...
Great habit for studying, sure. But the CSAT is about solving problems fast. Not note-taking.
Even if you're not the sharpest, solid problem-solving drill can get you high scores. Conversely, even geniuses flop without the training.
Na-eun's clearly the latter type right now.
Shelving that thought, I started grading her homework one by one.
"Grading time."
"Yes...! Please!"
She beamed at me, grinning ear to ear, like it was the best thing ever.
Of course, thirty minutes later...
-scratch scratch scratch scratch-
-scratch scratch scratch scratch-
She was laser-focused on her problems.
Her concentration really is awe-inspiring.
*
"Ughhh~ Groooan...!"
Studying from 9 a.m. wrapped up at 3:30 p.m.
Na-eun had spent those six hours—minus one for lunch—purely on studying.
"Good work~ You were super focused."
I praised her while helping tidy her books.
Na-eun shrugged proudly.
"I'm good at focusing~"
"Sure seemed like it. Feels like you stole all the concentration Seung-min was supposed to get."
"Mom says that too. 'All the focus that should've gone to your brother went straight to you~'"
She mimicked her mom's auntie voice perfectly, her bright personality on full blast.
She was so energetic, I wondered if all senior girls were this hyped.
Books sorted, I stretched and asked,
"So... what now?"
She'd wanted to hang out, so maybe she had plans. But apparently not.
"Dunno... What should we do, Oppa?"
She tilted her head, tossing the question back.
No plans on her end either, huh.
"Na-eun, no ideas at all?"
"Nope~ None!"
Her sunny innocence nearly left me speechless.
Giggling at my reaction, she tossed out a fun one.
"Then tell me old stories."
"Old stories?"
"Yeah, like how you met my brother, or your college life. High school stuff's fine too!"
"Mine aren't that exciting."
She shook her head vigorously.
"No way. They're definitely fun."
Her insistence left no room for refusal, so I nodded and rummaged through my memories.
And then...
"...Y'know, your brother and I had a huge fight the first time we met?"
"What!? For real!?"
I kicked off with a banger.
I don't remember exactly what stories followed.
But Na-eun laughed delightedly the whole time, so that was enough.
* * *
Oppa told so many fun stories from back in the day.
Like how he and my brother had a massive fight when they first met, but were inseparable besties the next day. Or snatching a book from quiet Jisoo Oppa and running off with it. So many cute tales—I couldn't stop laughing.
Hearing about baby Seonwoo Oppa's life, something clicked for me.
The moment I first developed feelings for him.
How could I forget? It's still vivid.
Even so, I subtly steered the conversation there.
"Seonwoo Oppa, remember that old thing?"
"Old thing? What?"
"Back at the amusement park, when my brother..."
I worried a bit as I spoke. What if he forgot?
My feelings wouldn't change, but I'd be a little down.
Luckily, he remembered.
"Oh, when Seung-min ditched you and ran?"
Yeah—that jerk of a big brother ditching his little sister because playing with her was boring, using hide-and-seek as an excuse.
I still remember crying my eyes out on the playground, Seonwoo Oppa rushing over to hug me, piggybacking me home. All of it.
To be sure, I probed deeper.
"Remember what you said then?"
"Of course~"
"Really?"
My heart raced. Maybe he'd remember the words that stole mine.
If he did, I might scrap all my plans, confess right there.
But Oppa's clueless about this stuff.
"Yeah, when Seung-min got an earful from your mom: 'Do that again and you're out!'"
...Not what I meant. Not the words I wanted. I asked about your words, not his.
Deflated, but it didn't matter.
Those were just a few of the countless things he'd done for me, all stacking up to make me who I am.
So, Seonwoo Oppa. I'm never giving up on you.
I'll seize this chance that might never come again.
I'll take that empty spot by your side. Whatever it takes.
...My resolve stayed unspoken as I played along.
"Right, I can still see him bawling and apologizing."
"Good thing he never pulled anything weird on you after."
"Still a slimeball, though."
"But he steps up when it counts. You know that."
"True."
No confession, but I savored the moment.
Chatting idly with Oppa like this.
Even defending that Seung-min—Oppa's such an angel. How'd my brother snag a friend like him?
Oppa must've seen something good in him. Otherwise, no way a sweetheart like Oppa would hang with him.