D-7
Before I knew it, the Suneung was exactly one week away. In the meantime, really nothing had happened. Of course, I couldn't read my sister's innermost thoughts, but at least on the surface, she seemed okay. With the exam right around the corner, it looked like she wasn't thinking about anything besides studying. I was putting on a normal front too. Though my dreams had been pretty rough.
Look, I'm having a nightmare right now. Why are my cousin and friend nagging me with mugunghwa flowers pinned on? And judging by the bling-bling diamond on my military uniform, it seems I've been commissioned as a second lieutenant without even knowing it. But why are the officers sleeping in the barracks? Usually, once you realize it's a dream, you should be able to do whatever you want, right? Why can't I control a single thing?
"Son, aren't you getting up?"
"...Uh, yeah?"
I woke up drenched in cold sweat, checked my watch, and it was already 9 a.m. Wow, how long had it been since I slept in this late on a weekday? I'd slept pretty long, but I didn't feel refreshed at all. The dream had been kinda scary.
"It's morning."
"...Mom, aren't you heading out?"
"It's been a while since classes ended, and you're still sleep-talking."
"...Gyeo-ul's not going to school starting today, so I wanna sleep more."
"I know that. You want breakfast?"
"I'll eat after a bit more sleep..."
"You think I can count on you to drop her off on exam day like this?"
"I'll wake up on time then... Mom'll wake me anyway..."
"Look at you, talking back now—you're wide awake. Get up and eat."
Mom kept flipping back the blanket I'd pulled over my head, so I dragged myself out of bed and shuffled to the table. Well... at least I'd escaped the nightmare.
By the time I got to the table, my sister—who'd woken up earlier than me for once—had already finished eating.
"Good morning."
"Yeah, you too, bro."
"How's it feel to be chilling at home with one week left till Suneung?"
"Suffocating."
"You'll have to play even if you don't want to once it's over, so enjoy it. You won't get many moments in life this tense."
"Yeah."
"But don't stress too much. Suneung isn't that big a deal anyway. If it doesn't go well, just take it again next year."
"...Easy for you to say since you're not the one taking it."
"I'm her employee, and she's the boss's daughter—makes me a stakeholder too."
"...You said not to stress."
"I meant moderately."
I gave her a few words of advice as her senior before she left, and she seemed to get it. You can't have zero tension, after all. I tossed in some light jokes, and she nodded before vanishing into her room.
I sat alone at the empty table, sadly spooning rice and soup until the bowls were clean. As I cleared the dishes and washed up, Mom came rushing over from the living room, looking flustered after taking a call. ...Mom gets rattled sometimes too, huh.
"What's up, Mom?"
"...One of my academy students tested positive."
"What?"
"I'm a close contact, so I have to self-quarantine."
"Weren't classes online?"
"They switched back a while ago."
"W-well... you didn't test positive yourself, so it should be fine, right?"
"You never know. What if I pass it to Gyeo-ul?"
"True, but... quarantine means you can't go out. Don't you have to stay home?"
"Yeah... I'll think about it."
Mom frantically tapped away on her phone, then started making calls. What the hell—this was a bolt from the blue right before the big exam.
"Yeah, okay. Thanks. Sure, sure. I'll just pack and head over. Bye."
"...Who was that?"
"Youngest Aunt."
"Why her?"
"If I stay here and test positive, it'll be a disaster. Gyeo-ul won't be at her best for the exam. I'll quarantine at her place."
"...What about Uncle?"
"He's on a business trip. Big Aunt's place has too many people."
"S-so you're going to Youngest Aunt's?"
"Just for two weeks. Oh, right—gotta mask up. Ga-eul, sit on the couch for a sec. You mask up too."
I did as told, covering my mouth and sitting quietly on the couch. Mom fussed with her mask, packed in a hurry, then pounded on my sister's door.
"Gyeo-ul, come out for a minute?"
"Why?"
"Just come. Mom has something to say."
She peeked out, and Mom dragged her to sit beside me before launching into her speech.
"There's a positive case at the academy, so I have to self-quarantine. But I can't risk passing it to you."
"...Okay."
"So I'll stay at Youngest Aunt's for two weeks."
"Okay."
"In the meantime, boss your brother around like you would me."
"...Huh?"
I couldn't help butting in—it was absurd. How did it end up like this?
"Son, you can handle the chores, right?"
"...I've been doing most of them anyway."
"That's why I trust you. Order food or cook—whatever."
"What about money?"
"I've been giving you plenty of allowance."
"No, that's mostly gone on gas and Gyeo-ul's meals that I've covered..."
"We'll talk later. Anyway, I'm counting on you."
"...Yes, ma'am."
"Neither of you go out."
"We need groceries, though."
"Everything delivers these days. Stay home as much as possible."
"...Got it."
"Gyeo-ul, you too—okay?"
"...Yeah."
"I'm sorry I can't be here for your big moment, but it's out of my hands. Have your brother do this and that instead."
"..."
"I'm heading out, so Gyeo-ul, get back to studying. You got this. Ga-eul, grab the car keys—we're going together. Gotta drop me off."
"Me?"
"Who'll bring the car back if I drive?"
"...Right."
I threw on some outer clothes and silently carried the bags down the stairs after her. ...Whew, what now? Should I learn to cook? My head was a mess, but my body moved on autopilot, starting the car and gripping the wheel.
"Mom, is that all the luggage?"
"I can borrow anything missing from Aunt. Or ask her to buy it."
"Fair enough."
"You know where?"
"No clue."
"Here, I'll send it."
Thirty minutes to the destination—an hour round trip. I slowly pressed the accelerator, following the nav. It was all so sudden and disorienting; speeding felt wrong.
"Son."
"Yes."
"...Take good care of Gyeo-ul. You've been getting close lately."
"...Yes."
"I can count on my boy, right?"
"Feels heavy."
"You've got broad shoulders—it's fine."
"...I'll try, but honestly, cooking's not my strong suit. Can't order every meal..."
My skills topped out at kimchi fried rice. I could learn, but home cooking had always been too good, and dorm life in college hadn't pushed me. Military? Forget it.
"We have preserves and stuff—just eat those. Soup, rice, sides—they all deliver. Buy what you need. I'll reimburse with receipts later."
"...Okay."
"...If Gyeo-ul seems anxious, comfort her."
"She was fine during the October mock."
"Mocks are different from the real thing. As an instructor, I've seen plenty crack under pressure."
Tension, huh. She'd feel it, sure. Anyone who's prepared can't just switch it off on exam day. And with the one reliable adult bailing like this, any latent stress would bubble up big time. It was getting to me too. Why? No idea.
"Anyway, I'm counting on you."
"...The exam's hers—aren't you expecting too much from me?"
"Can't burden her more, can I? You're her brother—share the load."
"Got it."
It was heavy. Mom's trusting gaze. Scary. Myself. Terrifyingly so.
I dropped Mom off at Aunt's and headed home leisurely. Stopped by a cafe on the way. Americano felt like a waste, so I grabbed two hazelnut lattes instead. As I opened the door with one in each hand, my sister greeted me.
"...Weren't you studying in your room?"
"Uh... just?"
"'Just' what."
"Just."
"Wanna coffee?"
"Yeah."
I handed her one still warm. ...Genuinely curious. Doesn't she get cold dressed like that? The house was heated, sure. But her home outfit hadn't changed since summer—pants color aside.
"Lunch plans?"
"Uh... wanna eat what you make, bro."
"Not ordering?"
"Craving home cooking."
"...You're overestimating my skills."
"Your fried rice was good. Ramen too."
"Those are easy."
"Not expecting gourmet."
"...Tuna fried rice then?"
"Yeah."
I wondered if bossing me around eased her mind that much. Maybe she was following Mom's words too well. Well... her acting normal was a relief.
"What time?"
"One. After coffee."
"Cool. Back to studying hard."
"...Telling someone who's already grinding to grind harder kills the mood."
"Then slack off. You're this far in—study or not, doesn't matter."
"Can't you encourage properly?"
"You've worked hard enough; even if you do nothing this week, you'll ace it."
"...Thanks."
"Thanks? Go rest or study—whatever. Out for lunch at one."
"Yeah."
She slurped her coffee and headed back to her room. I watched her go, then let out a big sigh. Calm down. Gotta follow through on my words. Least I didn't want to let Mom down.