Parents' Observation Class
Groaning softly, Taeyang pushed himself upright. He checked the time on his phone by the bedside—it was the crack of dawn, before the sun had even risen. But instead of rolling over and going back to sleep, he got fully out of bed. It was far too early to get ready for school, but for someone who shouldered all the household chores, it was just the right time.
After setting the rice to cook and taking a quick wash, he pulled ingredients from the fridge. Then he rapped on the door of his still-sleeping sister's room.
Knock knock knock.
"Moonbyeol. Eat breakfast before heading to school."
Pubescent girls are impossible to pin down. Taeyang was feeling that truth more acutely these days. The only sounds at the breakfast table were the clinks of chopsticks and spoons. There wasn't any rule about staying quiet during meals, but no one opened their mouth first anyway.
It wasn't like this before... With that thought, Taeyang let out a deep sigh. His attitude toward Moonbyeol hadn't changed. What had changed was Moonbyeol. Sure, they'd had one big fight, but they'd apologized and moved past it, right? They weren't the type to let something like that make things awkward. Afterward, he'd paid even more attention to her, but Moonbyeol was the one openly keeping her distance.
Moonbyeol, who had been poking at her rice bowl with her chopsticks, finally stopped and looked up. Staring at Taeyang, she spoke.
"Hey."
That casual "hey" stung every time he heard it. He could still vividly recall the days when she'd cling to him, calling "Oppa, oppa~."
"Yeah?"
Moonbyeol fidgeted awkwardly for a moment, twisting her body.
"Anything going on lately?"
"Finally taking an interest in your oppa? I'm touched. For real."
"Ugh, if you're just gonna tease, don't answer!"
"Okay, okay. Nothing much. Oh!"
Taeyang said, spoon in hand.
"Midterms start today."
"What?"
"That's why school doesn't start till ten."
Moonbyeol fiddled with her chopsticks for a long while after hearing that. A flurry of expressions flashed across her face in an instant. Then, abruptly, she set down her chopsticks and stood up.
Thud!Scraaaape!
"What."
"Not hungry."
She'd barely touched her food. Taeyang pointed at her bowl reproachfully.
"Eat like that and you won't grow. Didn't they teach you in home ed about balanced nutrition?"
Taeyang was baffled by her sudden prickliness. Is she sulking just because I'm going to school late too?
Moonbyeol shot him a sharp glare with narrowed eyes, grabbed her bag from under the chair, and headed straight for the entryway.
"Hey! Brush your teeth!"
"I'll do it at school! And I can handle it myself, so stop nagging!"
Slam!
"Jeez."
Taeyang bristled for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. He'd gotten a peek at her diary recently, and ever since, no matter how she acted, it just came off as cute, childish tantrums. What could he do about her honest confession that she wanted to apologize but couldn't bring herself to say it? As her big brother, he just had to be patient.
After finishing breakfast and cleanup, Taeyang headed to Moonbyeol's room for separate waste collection. She'd told him never to come in, but if it bothered her, she should've emptied her trash on time. There, in the wastebasket, he found a crumpled sheet of paper.
Parents' Observation Class Notice
His expression turned complicated as he muttered to himself. So that's why she was extra prickly this morning. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"...Why didn't you just say something."
That hesitation at breakfast, when she'd seemed about to ask something—probably this. But then he'd mentioned midterms, and she'd held back. And at the bottom, it said bento required. Taeyang crossed his arms, pondering for a moment, then nodded. Knowing Moonbyeol's personality, she'd sooner hit the school store for a quick bite than share a friend's lunch. Skipping breakfast like this and having bread for lunch too? No way was he letting that slide during her growth spurt.
Honestly, midterms weren't that big a deal anyway.
*
Moonbyeol arrived at school and flopped face-down on her desk.
"What's up? Why the low pressure today?"
Her seatmate asked, but Moonbyeol just buried her forehead on the desk and let out heavy sighs instead of answering.
"It's parents' observation day today."
"Ah~"
Her friend nodded knowingly. They were close enough to call besties, barely. She knew a bit about Moonbyeol's family situation.
"It's fine. Both parents are overseas—what can you do?"
"No, that's not it."
Her breath fogged the cold desk white. Moonbyeol lifted her head slightly and mumbled in deep gloom.
"I snapped at my brother again."
"Why?"
"Honestly, I wanted him to come. But I couldn't say it and just got pissy instead. God, I hate myself. Why am I so selfish?"
"Well... high schoolers have it rough."
Moonbyeol pulled her knees up onto the chair and hugged them.
"Yeah, I know. That's why I didn't say anything. He handles all the chores, goes to school too—it's gotta be tough. He'll probably think I'm just throwing a fit for no reason again today, right?"
"Your brother's a saint."
Moonbyeol sighed. Puberty was this weird phase where your heart and mouth didn't sync up. But she felt like hers was worse than most.
"I know I shouldn't act like that."
"Just apologize when you get home."
"I want to."
In her heart, she'd already apologized ten, a hundred times. But face-to-face with him, the words wouldn't come out, and it was killing her. Her little diary had turned from a journal into an apology log long ago.
"But weirdly, I just can't get the words out. At least I shouldn't start with 'hey.'"
"If my little sister pulled that, I'd beat her to death."
Moonbyeol let out a snort at her friend's words. Exactly one year ago, she'd thrown a massive fit at their parents before they left for overseas dispatch, and Taeyang had beaten her within an inch of her life. Society assumed men were weaker than women, but Taeyang was the exception. Sure, there was an age and size difference. But even accounting for that, it'd been a one-sided thrashing. Taeyang had apologized for it, and so had she. But ever since, just seeing him made her stomach churn. At first, she'd thought it was fear of another beating, but a year later, she still didn't know the real reason.
"...Wanna eat lunch with me at least?"
At her friend's offer, Moonbyeol slowly shook her head.
"School store's there. I'll grab some bread."
"Hey, do you know how crucial nutrition is at our age? Growth spurt, balanced meals, remember?"
Moonbyeol burst out laughing at how her friend was parroting Taeyang's morning nagging word-for-word.
"Still... it's fine."
She was insisting so hard—no point pushing. Her friend shrugged helplessly.
"Okay... let me know if you change your mind."
"Yeah."
Their conversation cut off as the homeroom teacher arrived for roll call.
*
The observation classes were during 3rd and 4th period. After lunch and parent-teacher conferences, the school day ended. Midway through 3rd period, nearly half the parents had arrived, standing at the back of the classroom. Mostly stay-at-home dads, with a few couples here and there.
When break time hit, kids with parents there rushed to the back without a second thought.
"Whoa, you packed that much lunch?"
"You said 4th period, but you got here early?"
Moonbyeol pulled out her earbuds at the sound of cheerful family chatter from behind. Even her seatmate's parents were there. Break felt endless sitting alone. She laid her arms on the desk and buried her face. I wish I could just close my eyes and the whole day would be over...
She dozed off quickly, only to feel someone poking her back. Break's over—seatmate waking me up. With that, she sat up and turned her head.
".........!!!"
She was too shocked to even speak.
"Hey, you'll catch flies in your mouth."
Taeyang, standing beside her, grinned and gave a little wave.