Chapter 26
Chapter 26
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Family Teasing and Chuseok Prep
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Bro, can't you put in a good word with Dad for me?”
It wasn't a big room, but it wasn't small either. It was my brother Haneul Lee's room. The neatly arranged books lining the walls and his lone laptop were the only furnishings—a perfect reflection of Haneul's personality.
Just that morning, the bed he'd been using had become mine, while he lay on a blanket spread out on the floor, reading a book. He looked up.
“What do you want me to do?”
Haneul's response came with a completely baffled expression.
“You're Dad's favorite... Back me up a little!”
“Anyone hearing you would think you don't get any favoritism. You're the one who gets more than me.”
“Liar...! You saw it at dinner earlier! He kept going on and...”
“Worrying about their kids is universal for parents. He's just saying it because he wants the best for you—you know that.”
Did I really have no one on my side? I puffed out my cheeks.
“Why'd Seowon have to get into Seoul National University and make me look bad by comparison...!”
“It's just the first round pass. He's not in yet.”
“...And why's Seohun suddenly going to the military academy? He's never been interested in that!”
“Dad's been gaslighting him every holiday since New Year's. You tune out that stuff, so Seohun ended up sacrificing himself instead. Heh.”
“Ugh...!”
I kicked at the bed with my feet. What kind of family was this where everyone was thriving?
I had to wonder if we really shared the same blood.
Anyway!
“You're on my side, right, bro...!”
“You've thought that since school days.”
“Talk to Dad for me! I'm an adult now too...”
At my words, Haneul closed his book and propped himself up at an angle.
“Like you said, you're an adult now. Why not talk to him yourself?”
“...Huh?”
What was this all of a sudden...?
Haneul's eyes were unusually serious, so I stopped kicking the bed with my feet.
“You get too tense around Dad.”
“But...”
“Think about it—has he ever not listened to you? Back when you didn't want to move, he went around alone handling everything. Lived by himself for three years.”
“...”
“Why not try acting cute? His face lit up when he got a daughter.”
How did it end up there all of a sudden!
And where was that, exactly!
“His face looked the same to me...”
“What are you talking about? He was beaming.”
“...”
I really had no idea.
I puzzled over whether there'd been some subtle expression change I hadn't noticed, but I still couldn't tell.
No point thinking about it—it just gave me a headache. I rolled over, turning my back to him. The sound of turning pages came from behind again.
“And Dad's not some stiff guy.”
“...You call him Dad too. Can't exactly call him 'sir' or something.”
“Not that... Like 'Daddy' or some affectionate term.”
“...You call him Dad.”
“I'm me. You never copy the good stuff, just the weird habits.”
“...”
“Still in your rebellious phase? Or is it that 'after-puberty' thing?”
A soft voice murmured from behind, but I didn't turn around.
What a joke. I'd been calling him that since I was little, copying him—it was just habit. And he was the pot calling the kettle black.
“Dad likes you a lot, so try being a bit more friendly.”
“Bro...”
“You're his 'daughter' now, right? Be sweet and cuddly—who wouldn't love that? Throw in some baby talk, heh! He'll even buy you a house.”
Pretend I didn't hear that.
I closed my eyes. Better just sleep.
Haneul's grumbling continued from behind, but I ignored it.
“And can't you do something about that nickname? 'Bro' feels off.”
“...”
“Like 'oppa,' or even 'big brother' works for me...”
Damn it.
My eyes snapped open at the out-of-nowhere comment. Wasn't that settled last time?
I reluctantly turned back around.
“Why's everyone obsessed with 'oppa'?”
“...Everyone?”
Haneul closed his book again at my words.
Our eyes met. His gaze was oddly intense, sending chills up my arms for no reason.
“Everyone? What do you mean by that, little sis?”
“...Does it matter?”
“Not a trivial thing.”
“...?”
What was that supposed to mean?
Haneul leaned toward me even more.
“That parasite big brother from before?”
“...What?”
“Did he tell you to call him 'oppa'?”
“...W-what are you talking about!”
I couldn't grasp what was going on with him, and my voice shook without me realizing.
Misunderstandings should be cleared up fast. So I defended him.
“Haon has nothing to do with it!”
“...Haon? Haon?”
“...Yeah, so what.”
“No idea how he sweet-talked you, but my worst fears came true.”
“...”
I was dumbfounded. The misunderstanding was deepening, so I quickly corrected him.
“Haon didn't say that! It was other people!”
“...Other people?”
“Why do you keep harping on it!”
“Care to elaborate?”
Haneul dragged it out wearily. No point in more talk—I turned away again.
Clear signal: conversation over!
“Oh ho, playing hard to get?”
I easily ignored the voice from behind.
“Fine. Then as of now, I'm cutting off all your allowance and telling Dad you want to come back home.”
He was insane. Haneul had to be crazy. All that studying must've fried his brain.
“When did I ever!”
“Mom will welcome you with open arms.”
“And I kept my promise! You keep yours!”
“Just tell the truth. Can't we be more honest as a family?”
What a lone wolf. Guess he got that stubborn Lee blood.
I kept my back turned, plugging my ears with my pillow.
“Ugh, whatever—I'm sleeping!”
“You're not asleep at this hour. You can't fool the sky with your hands, sis.”
“I don't care, I'm tired!”
“Even a passing dog would laugh. Lies suit you well, sis.”
“Argh, I'm on my period and exhausted! You wouldn't get it!”
“...”
Of course, that was a lie.
But it worked—the chattering from behind stopped.
Finally some peace—
“...Should I tell Mom and get her to make some seaweed soup?”
“Argh, seriously! Just sleep!”
Haneul really kept at it all night.
The whole house smelled of oil.
The scent of Chuseok after so long—it made my heart feel full just sniffing it.
“Yawn~ smack...”
Separate from that, I was suffering through labor.
These days people buy premade stuff, but thanks to Mom sticking to tradition, here I was from dawn.
After the diligently shaped donggrangddang patties came lumpy batter. I was starting to understand forced labor's misery.
Yawns kept bursting out nonstop, and my body felt heavy and sluggish.
Making songpyeon at the hour I'd normally be asleep wasn't easy.
“Seeing our daughter shape songpyeon so prettily means she'll bear beautiful children.”
“...Kuh, cough cough!”
Mom's sudden words made me choke and cough repeatedly.
“M-Mom, what're you saying all of a sudden...!”
“Why? You're at the age to get married and have a boyfriend, right?”
“Married? I'm 22!”
“So what? I was around that age when I married.”
“Still, that's... And boyfriend? I'm a girl!”
“Not yet, right? I saw on TV everyone dating just fine.”
“...”
Mom had no filter—she said whatever came to mind. Goosebumps prickled my arms.
And Dad, flipping donggrangddang beside her with Haneul, threw in useless commentary.
“Mom, she says she's on her period.”
“Oh my, something to celebrate. Should I buy her flowers?”
“Argh, bro!”
Haneul was utterly useless unless it came to financial aid.
“Son... no, daughter. Time to change that nickname.”
“...”
“'Bro'? People might get the wrong idea.”
And even Dad, across from Haneul flipping patties, joined in—with his usual stern face.
Haneul nodding vigorously at Dad's words just made me hate him more.
Deflated by Dad, I nodded meekly.
“...I'll think about it.”
“You'll consider it positively?”
“Yes...”
My 'yes' came out more like an 'eh'—a sulky slur to show I was annoyed.
“We'll need to update the family register too. Got your ID renewed?”
“Yes...”
“Faster than expected. Your mom and I only learned recently.”
“...”
I felt a pang of guilt and quietly shaped songpyeon. Star shapes this time, maybe.
With smaller hands, had my dexterity improved like Mom said? The songpyeon started coming out pretty as I imagined.
And Dad, now warmed up, launched into his usual spiel.
“At 22, it's not too late. Even community college leaves time for the military academy.”
The military academy gaslighting—or 'millighting'—had begun. Something I'd endured steadily through school, so maybe I was numb to it.
'No need to enlist anymore!'
—I couldn't voice the complaint.
Someone get me out of here. Just then,
*Ding-dong*
The doorbell rang.
“Oh, must be your little uncle. Go open the door, dear.”
Not much of a savior.