95. The Plan – One Month Until Dad Comes Back
One month until Dad came back. To get the outcome we wanted, I needed to refine every detail so the story fit together perfectly. Mom couldn't catch on, and Dad couldn't refuse. It was crucial to figure out what reactions would convince them to let us live independently, and once independence was secured, where we'd live. Near Anam? Sinchon? Or somewhere in between entirely? It might've been easier if we'd gone to the same school. Nah, then we'd just get dragged into the dorms.
"...Oppa, you up?"
While I was racking my brain over all this, Gyeo-ul knocked and poked her head in before I could even answer.
"Not sleeping. Mom?"
"Mom's cleaning the master bedroom. Can I come in?"
"...You got something to say?"
"...Can't I just hang out in your room if I don't?"
Of course... it's not weird for a brother and sister to chat.
"Come in for now. Close the door."
"Okay."
Gyeo-ul stepped inside, shut the door, and sat in the chair at my desk, facing me on the bed.
...Talking like this felt so awkward. Lately, we'd always been sitting side by side or lying down, wrapped in each other's arms while we talked.
"Um... oppa. Did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"...Why Mom's remarrying Dad."
"Oh... yeah, I heard that."
"I heard too. At breakfast earlier... from Mom."
Dad sucks. But she wants the family back together. She hates him so much, but she'll forgive him just this once. That future Mom wanted...
...It was a far cry from the one we envisioned, at least.
"Mom's amazing. I don't think I could do that."
"...I kinda get it, though."
"...You get it?"
"If you suddenly disappeared and came back saying we should get remar... I mean, get back together, I probably couldn't say no either."
She realized she'd picked the wrong word for the time and place, bit her tongue, and corrected herself.
...Be more careful. Even if Mom's cleaning.
"I'm not trash enough to abandon my family and run off."
"...Really?"
"...If I could abandon you, I wouldn't be agonizing over this."
I couldn't let go, that's why I was struggling. Gyeo-ul, Mom...
...Actually, even Cousin Bro, Anna Noona, and the aunts. They could be a hassle sometimes, but I didn't want to cut ties. They're all good people. They like me, I like them, and Gyeo-ul likes them too. Even if they weren't top priority, if possible.
"...You'll apologize when Dad gets back, right?"
"Who knows. If he were that type, he'd have contacted us ages ago."
Ah, Dad's a different story. He's not a good person. I'm only pondering this because he's useful right now—I don't want to keep ties. He cut them first, so why should we?
"...He probably will, though? He must've come back thinking that way."
"Apologies don't matter. Actions do."
"...Yeah."
"Still, if he does, we'll pretend to accept. Mom wants that, and... until we move out, if we're too hostile, Mom'll try to fix things."
Of course, we couldn't outright ignore Dad. To keep up the happy family act even after graduation—without cutting ties—we had to wear masks and not show we hated him. Beyond money issues, if Mom realized our relationship could never improve, she'd be heartbroken.
...I didn't want that.
"...It's tough. Pretending to forgive someone you hate... while still hating them."
"Eh, it's not really lying. ...We'll try to reconcile, but if it doesn't work out, that's how it'll go."
Sorry, Mom. I wanted to reconcile with Dad too, but it seems impossible. I don't hate him enough to avoid him, but living together? No way. Anyway, second semester means school, so we'll just move out.
...And Gyeo-ul wants to leave too. No point wasting double the money, right? Better to live together. The world's dangerous these days; it'd be risky for her alone. We'd visit home sometimes...
Nothing in that was a lie. Even if we hadn't become what we are, it'd probably play out the same. No deception.
"We still have to live together for two or three months, though. ...It's gonna be so awkward."
"No need to get close. Just act standoffish, like you can't approach him. That vibe."
"Hm... not sure."
"Like how you treated me when you were in middle school. Do that."
"...I didn't hate you back then either?"
"...I mean the stranger vibe. Be as wary as you were with me, but a bit colder."
Like a cat facing a stranger. Not hard. We'd done it before.
...Just amp up the feral edge. Claw at anyone who approaches.
"That was 'cause I was actually scared..."
"What was scary about your study-bug big bro?"
"Scary. All that bulk, just studying."
"...And now?"
A bit hurt by her saying I was scary, I narrowed my eyes menacingly and leaned in. Gyeo-ul pretended to be terrified, tilting her head back with a squeak, squeezing her eyes shut, stealing a quick kiss from my lips before shoving my shoulder.
"...You're still scary sometimes. Like you'll pounce agai—"
The vacuum cleaner roared from the living room, cutting her off.
...Snap out of it. Mom's home. We haven't moved out yet. If we're caught, we're fucked. Even after moving, same deal.
"...Let's keep talking."
"Ah... yeah. What were we saying?"
"So about Dad..."
The door swung open.
"What are you two chattering about so merrily?"
Mom, vacuum in hand, rubbed the floor noisily as she called out to us.
"...Just chatting. Can't I talk with my sister?"
"Jeez, what do you two have to talk about so much? ...You weren't scheming to sneak some tasty snacks behind my back, were you?"
"No, Mom. Dad sto... uh."
"Lies. She was tempting me with chicken for dinner."
"...Really? Chicken for dinner then?"
"Ah... yeah. Chicken... sounds good."
I improvised with whatever came to mind, smoothly dodging like a snake over the wall.
...It's fine. Siblings can chat. We didn't do anything weird—just normal sibling stuff. For real.
That evening, we tore into some chicken, then ate gomguk all week until Friday. If we could just stay under the radar for three and a half months, we'd be way safer. Couldn't afford a disaster from impatience now. With our desired future feeling so close, I could hold out.
Vacation hits, we'll drive off somewhere unreachable—overseas, Jeju, anywhere—and when we return, pack up and declare our split from Dad.
...Weird to think of breaking up with someone I'd never met, but his karma.
"Son. No plans this weekend?"
"Ah, yeah. Kinda..."
"...Want something tasty for the weekend?"
"Sure... whatever you make, I'll gratefully eat. I'm not picky."
"Okay. Tell me if there's anything you want. Mom'll make it."
"...Sure."
I ended up basking in Mom's affectionate gaze, crushed by my own karma. Time to drop the fake-girlfriend act. Saying I have a girlfriend but wanna live alone... might make her oppose it. Mom's not narrow-minded, but my reasons are pretty bad.
"I'm home..."
"Ah, our girl's back?"
"Yeah. Met some friends. Ate dinner already."
"...Okay?"
"Yeah."
"...Got it. Wash up and change. Cold out there?"
"Not really. Spring must be here."
"True... March is almost over."
Of course, Gyeo-ul kept heading out all week, plans or not. Same logic—if her daughter seems to have a boyfriend but wants to live alone, Mom'd oppose. ...Then I'd say I'd go with her. After hashing it out face-to-face, it seemed easier if Gyeo-ul took the lead. Daughter's stubbornness is harder to break than son's, and me tagging along after her felt more natural than her following me.
"...I'm home, oppa."
"Back? Coffee?"
"Bought some. Got yours on the way. Oh, and Mom's too. Here."
"Aw, our girl knows to look after Mom. Who was it always bossing her around?"
"...Why do you keep staring at me?"
"Dunno. Why d'you think?"
I dodged Mom's persistent glances and watched Gyeo-ul shed her outer layer.
...Time to buy her new clothes? What this time. Got ideas, but... those aren't for outside.
I shook my head to clear the stray thoughts and kept up the brotherly banter.
"Where'd you get it?"
"...From that place you worked at."
"...Really?"
"Nara wanted to meet there... no choice."
"Ah... anyway, thanks. I'll enjoy it."
"Yeah."
I took the coffee from Gyeo-ul and headed to my room. Lying on the bed, chewing the straw noisily as I sipped, a KakaoTalk popped up from Gyeo-ul.
...Why send a shower pic mid-bath? Hands block everything—nothing to see—and it just stokes the fire. I'd been holding back all week too.
I swallowed hard, staring at the photo, imagining what lay ahead.
...Haah. Wish July would hurry up. Wanna go on that trip. Just a week away... holding each other, doing nothing.
...All this worrying and planning? Truth is, I hate it all.