Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: The Uncles' Visit
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The holiday I'd promised to spend with Dad was drawing to a close today.
《There are way too many real jerks these daysㅠㅠ
(crying puppy emoticon)》
《lol, karma's a bitch. Take it with a smile.》
《Noeul-ssi, say something to themㅠ》
《They never listen to me lol》
《How about we do another collab stream next time?
(puppy with sparkling eyes emoticon)》
《No way;》
I was lounging on the bed, idly chatting with Haon Park on KakaoTalk, when suddenly my smartphone vanished from in front of my eyes.
"Ah, what the—!"
"Who's that?"
"…Give it back!"
"'Noeul-ssi, say something to them. Wanna do a collab stream?'"
The culprit was my brother, Haneul Lee. And he had the nerve to read my chat history out loud!
I had to wonder where my privacy had gone.
My brother shifted his gaze from the phone to me and asked in a low voice.
"What's a collab stream? Is it what I think it is?"
"What do you think it is!"
"When a guy and a girl share the same room?"
"…Are you insane!"
"I'll tell Dad everything."
"…Have you lost your mind!"
His sudden words made my face burn hot.
"Is that all you ever think about?"
"From the context, that's the only thing it could be. I told you I'm keeping an eye on this Haon Park guy."
"You never said that!"
"I am from now on."
His worthless banter made me hop up and snatch my smartphone back from his hand.
There was a twinge of injustice, too.
"Weren't you the one telling me to make some friends!"
"Friends who push you into collab streams aren't friends."
"It's not like that! It's about internet streaming!"
"You do internet streams too?"
"No!"
My lips puffed out in a pout.
As his eyes drifted back to my phone, I hurriedly pocketed it.
Then his hand landed on my shoulder, and he sat me down on the bed.
"…I won't pry into your private life."
"…."
You've pried plenty already.
I felt wronged but didn't voice it. I was curious what he'd say next, seeing his lips twitch.
"But you need to gain some awareness."
"…?"
"That clueless look on your face. Ha… You're a girl right now, aren't you?"
"…Y-Yeah…?"
"And this Haon Park is a guy, right?"
"No, he used to be a girl!"
"He's a guy now. Right?"
"…."
I protested out of frustration, but it fell on deaf ears. I nodded.
"It didn't look like just once or twice last time. Would any girl casually let a guy she's got no relation with into her house like that?"
What was he trying to say? I shook my head anyway.
"Someone who knows that. Huh? Even if you have an inferiority complex, that's not the way."
"…Huh?"
"Landlord? Fine. But no matter how rich the guy is, letting yourself go so easily…."
"Ah!"
No point listening anymore. This family was nuts. I buried my face in the bed to show I wasn't interested.
But my brother kept chattering from behind, in no mood to end the conversation.
"Looks like you lack a woman's awareness. First off, you should change that form of address. What do you think?"
"…."
So that's what this was about.
No matter what, you're a girl now—how long do you plan to call your big brother 'hyung'? People will misunderstand.
Dad had been nagging me about that too. Was it really that big a deal?
Fine! It's not like I can't do it!
In a fit of youthful defiance, I sat up straight with bold resolve and stared my brother down.
"Got it! I said I got it!"
"…For real?"
"Yeah! What's so hard about it? I'll just do it!"
"…."
"O, O… Op…."
But it wasn't as easy as I thought.
Goosebumps prickled my arms. My mouth opened, but the word wouldn't come.
"O… Op…."
My brother's eyes widened and narrowed in sync with my mouth. An awkward air suddenly filled the room.
And what broke it was none other than Dad's voice from the living room.
—Sounds like your uncles are here.
"O… Oh man, the uncles are here. L-Let's go out…!"
"…Ha. Since when did you care about the 'uncles' like that?"
At Dad's voice, I bolted out of the room on squeaky feet.
As my brother said, I never fussed over the uncles whose faces changed every holiday, but it was better than this situation.
"Alright, let's go over it one more time."
At Colonel Kang's words, Captain Cha and the rest of the staff stood in front of the officers' quarters, mentally reviewing once more.
"Key career highlights?"
"Served as operations chief of the 30th Corps, commander of the 311th Division, and previously as chief of strategic planning."
"Good. Any foods he dislikes?"
"None in particular, but he dislikes shellfish and prefers coffee. Black coffee, and water in a paper cup filled three-quarters."
"Right. Family situation?"
"Two children: the eldest son works at a major corporation, and the younger son… uh…."
…What was it again?
When Captain Cha faltered, Sergeant Park beside him jumped in.
"…He said at the last staff meeting that the younger one still doesn't have a job."
"Still? The new chief must be worried sick."
Captain Cha gripped the holiday gift in his hand tighter at Colonel Kang's remark.
He'd definitely looked it up and memorized it yesterday, but the tension of meeting the new operations chief had blanked his mind.
Captain Cha shot a grateful look at Sergeant Park beside him and turned his gaze back to the entrance. As expected of a general—the officers' quarters were impressive.
Nothing like a lowly captain like him….
"Just think of it as casually visiting a senior from your army days. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Sir, yes sir!"
Like that's possible!
Despite Colonel Kang's words, Captain Cha and the other staff swallowed their tears.
Here's how it started.
What're you all doing for the holidays this time?
The new operations chief—Colonel Lee Kang-san—had casually asked at the weekly Friday staff meeting.
If you've got nothing going on, come to my place for holiday food.
So Captain Cha had tearfully canceled his first vacation in a year.
The chief's preparing the meal himself!
Who's on vacation for the holidays? Everyone out!
He's testing the operations department's unity!
Operations Section 1, all present!
Operations Section 2, all present!
Operations Section 3, all present!
And just like that, the operations department faced an emergency muster. The packed vacation list emptied in an instant.
Bring light gifts, think of me as your dad, come relaxed and just eat.
The mart near the quarters got ransacked by the operations crew.
Wear casual clothes. You know, like gym clothes.
The staff dug out their dress uniforms from the back of their closets.
And the result? Hands as heavy as possible, clothes as formal as possible, no absences!
"Alright, let's go in."
Everyone straightened their uniforms at Colonel Kang's words.
Ding-dong—
Unlike their complicated feelings, a clear chime rang out.
"Uh… hello?"
When the front door opened, Captain Cha saw an angel.
The bald-headed uncles surrounding the table spread in the living room numbered at least a dozen.
I felt their subtle stares as I helped Mom carry food around.
"Chief, your daughter is so pretty! She takes after her mother."
"Hm."
"Y-Yes, indeed. Quite the surprise. Haha."
"Hm!"
The baldies didn't skimp on compliments about me to Dad, seated at the head of the table.
The rank insignia gleaming on their shoulders suggested high ranks, but I didn't know their names.
…Why so awkwardly intense?
This batch of "uncles" seemed particularly burdensome. Not much different from past holidays, though….
"I told you all to come casual, so why'd you bring all this?"
"Th-This is casual for us! Right?"
"Y-Yes! Haha!!"
The living room was lively. Everyone laughed uproariously at Dad's every word.
Was it that funny? No idea.
After several silent trips shuttling food, my brother handed me a plate he'd filled and delegated again.
"Noeul, take this out too."
"Why don't you help for once?"
He only ever filled plates—suddenly annoying me for it—and in that instant, the boisterous house fell silent.
"…."
"…."
What? Hidden camera? I turned, and the eye-contacting baldies hurriedly looked away.
"Ah, about that document we showed you last time, as per your instructions…."
"Even here you're talking work? Relax today."
"Ah, yes! Haha!"
The atmosphere grew noisy again. What the heck?
As I stood confused, my brother spoke first.
"Ha… Noeul. Like I said earlier, can't you do something about that form of address?"
"Why?"
That again!
"What's wrong with calling you 'hyung'?"
I said it thinking, like he said, this "awareness" wasn't that crucial,
"…."
"…."
but the house went quiet once more.
What? Actual hidden camera?
In the sudden silence, I turned again, and the baldies averted their eyes hastily.
Something was off about this batch of uncles.