Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Return to Korea - 3
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"...That happened."
Deep into the night.
Of course, it was daytime for Sea, but I'd just answered her welcome call right before bed with a light heart.
But the story I heard from her lips was far from light.
From the worries she'd consulted with Oppa about during the day, to how he'd been waiting for me and what he must be feeling... Once I heard all that,
one thought came to mind first and foremost.
"...Sea, but is it okay for you to tell me this?"
"You don't like it?"
"No, I'm grateful, but still..."
I felt a bit uneasy learning a secret Oppa had kept from me through Sea instead of from him directly.
Even so, Oppa deserved his privacy...
Ah.
But since it was between Oppa and me, and we're... bound together for life... maybe it was okay after all.
...S-Sorry, Oppa.
"Ugh, I agonized over whether to tell you. I didn't want to meddle in someone else's romance when I have my own issues, or come off like some blabbermouth."
Sea pouted, then continued with a "but."
"Oppa helped me out today, too. I figured you'd be better off knowing, Yerim, so I called to repay the favor and all that. As you know, our Oppa—"
"He'd never talk about stuff like that with me. Yeah, thanks."
Oppa wasn't the type to never share his worries or vulnerabilities with me.
Just as I leaned on him when I was struggling, he leaned on me when he had troubles, too.
But.
"...Oppa said he was struggling?"
"...Yeah. But he emphasized it was just a little, a teeeny tiny bit."
"Pfft, what even is that..."
Her voice stressing "a little" so hard, like she was afraid I'd take it too seriously, made me laugh.
If Oppa called it "a little," he was probably hurting a lot.
That was just how he was.
More than anyone, he must have wondered when I'd come back, yet he'd never once asked, "When are you coming?"
That Oppa.
I'd suspected he was struggling, but hearing it confirmed still hurt.
A little.
No, a lot.
My heart ached.
The reason he hadn't told me and was bearing it alone was obvious.
It was for my sake.
He probably knew that the moment he said it, I'd feel guilty.
I hated myself for not being able to deny that.
...I can't take it anymore.
After hanging up with Sea last night, I tossed and turned in bed all night.
After a sleepless night of agonizing,
I made up my mind.
I'd talk to Mom and Dad about heading back to Korea. If the whole family going was too tough, I'd use Jinhyuk Oppa as bait and go alone if I had to.
Now that I knew for sure Oppa was struggling, staying put like this...
Would be taking his consideration for granted. I didn't want to get used to it.
— ...You've held out so long.
My study abroad was supposed to be at least three years, but three years and a half month had already passed.
I told Mom and Dad I had something to discuss over dinner, and they said they had something to talk about, too.
That evening,
the whole family gathered around the dinner table.
I was debating whether to speak first when Dad cleared his throat and started.
"There's something I'm sorry about, kids."
I'd been mulling over how to convince my parents just moments ago, but his unexpected words wiped all that from my mind.
...No way.
".........What is it?"
Both Jinhyuk Oppa and I stared blankly, waiting for Dad's next words.
"Well..."
"...Well?"
"Well... we're finally going back to Korea in March this year."
...................Korea...........?
"W-Wait, Dad. What did you just say?"
While I blankly repeated "Korea, Korea...?" in my head, Jinhyuk Oppa spoke up urgently instead.
"March this year—in other words, two months from now—we're going back to Korea."
"...And that's what you're sorry about?"
"Even if you wanted to go back, you've lived here over three years. You need time to say goodbyes to the friends you've made and prepare yourselves mentally, but telling you so suddenly..."
"Kyaaaaahh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We're aliiiiiive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Before Dad could finish, Jinhyuk Oppa jumped up from his chair yelling.
Not content with that, he climbed onto the chair and struck a pose—thrusting his hips out with a "Hoo-!!!!!!!!!!!!"—whatever it meant, it was so bizarre I felt my eyesight worsening just watching.
"Argh, seriously! You scared me saying it was something to apologize for! I thought we were going to Thailand or staying here another five years or something!"
"Coming here was sudden, and now leaving is too—you have every right to be upset with us..."
"Not at all! Goodbyes and prep? Two months is plenty; we'd be fine even if it was two days! Ah, what a relief. I was gonna kill you if we hit four years!"
"What? Who dared say that to my son?"
"Sea! My girlfriend!"
"...That cute girl?"
Mom and Dad looked at Jinhyuk Oppa like they couldn't believe it,
but I knew.
Sea meant every word.
Having bought himself more time, Oppa let out another "Kyaaah-!!!" and bolted to his room without hearing more.
He was probably going to tell—or rather, report to—Sea.
Once Jinhyuk Oppa left with all that fanfare, Mom and Dad's worried gazes turned to me.
"Yerim, putting Jinhyuk aside. Are you okay?"
"It was so sudden...?"
"To be precise, talks about returning have been in the works for a while. The business has stabilized somewhat. But we didn't want to tell you ahead and risk disappointing you if it fell through, so we waited until it was certain."
"...So that means."
"Yes, it's certain now. If you're okay with it, we can time it for March enrollment. Everything's prepared."
"Really...?"
Plip.
"Oh my..."
"Aigoo..."
Plip. Plip.
Tears slid down my face onto the table.
Mom and Dad, watching, jumped up in surprise
and soon hurried over to wrap me in their arms.
"...R-Really, sniff, we can, go...?"
"Of course it's real. We're so sorry for making you go through this because of your incompetent parents."
"Aigoo, look at our pretty girl's face all messed up..."
"Hic, Oppa said, even when I cry, I'm pretty..."
".........Woojin has seen our daughter crying? Did he make you cry? When?"
"Honey, now's not the time. Probably watched some sad movie together."
"No, dear, we need to confirm this. That rascal Woojin making our Yerim..."
"Hic, Daddy, I hate you... Don't badmouth my Oppa..."
"W-What...? Yerim, what did you just call me...?"
"Yerim, Mommy will scold Daddy later, so hang in there. Sniff!"
"Sniff, sniff..."
After that, Dad—looking utterly shocked—kept asking Mom several more times.
Whether we were really going back to Korea in two months.
Mom assured him it was definite; the house wouldn't be the exact same one from before, but
they'd secured one in the same building we used to live in.
Hearing all the specific plans made my eyes well up again.
I even pinched my cheek, wondering if this was a dream born from wanting to see Oppa so badly, but it just felt soft—no waking up.
— I miss you. I really miss you, Oppa...
...Finally.
It's finally happening.
Thinking I could finally see Oppa,
relief washed over me like waves, mingled with joy,
and before I knew it, tears were streaming down.
After that day, things got insanely busy.
I only had one close friend, Uram, but I couldn't just say goodbyes to her and leave everyone else hanging,
so I went around bidding farewell to those around me while packing up.
Uram,
"Waaah, don't go, Yerimmm~!!! Who am I gonna play with if you leave~?!"
"Sorry... But if you come to Korea next time, we have to hang out, okay?"
"You'll come when I call...?"
"Of course...!"
"Even if it's a day you planned to meet your boyfriend?"
".........Can I bring Oppa?"
"Wow, can't you even pretend you'd come meet me?!"
"That's a pretty big compromise on my part..."
"Eek, I'm dying of regret here, and look at you all happy thinking about your boyfriend— I seriously hate you~!!!"
"......D-Does it show that much?"
"Sooo much!"
...That obvious? I touched my mouth, and sure enough, my lips were curved up just like she said.
"Sorry, but still..."
"Tch, I get it."
Uram grumbled like she was miffed, then pulled me into a tight hug.
"Don't forget me. Once you're there, live all sweet and lovey-dovey with that boyfriend you were so excited about. Send pics sometimes. Ah, not too often. Might make my stomach hurt from envy. Got it?"
"...Yeah. I will. Promise."
"And no news about getting married or pregnant right away. Got it?"
"........."
"...Yerim, why no answer?"
"...I don't make promises I can't keep."
"...Where in what I said couldn't you keep?"
"...There was."
"Seo Yerim you're crazy you're crazy you're crazy..."
Half-joking.
With that, we promised to meet again someday, and I said goodbye to my precious friend I'd made in America.
Now, all that was left
was telling Oppa this happy news.