CHAPTER 4 – Yangpyeong (Part 2)

“Madam, I’ll do it.”

Heading to the kitchen, Seo-yeon took the plates brought out by the housekeeper.

“Oh no, it’s okay. It’s my job.”

Mrs. Ahn, the housekeeper who managed the chores, waved her hand and said to Seo-yeon. Seo-yeon gently smiled and took the plate from Mrs. Ahn’s hand.

“Then let me help you a little, okay?”

“I’m smiling because of you. You’ve gotten prettier in your absence here. And you always have a good heart, calling me so respectfully.”

Mrs. Ahn said with a satisfied smile.

“It must be hard for you to take care of Grandma.”

“Yes, it is. She can be a little frustrating at times, but during the day, we have caregivers come and go, so it’s easier.”

Mrs. Ahn said as she brought out a teapot and teacups.

“I’m always thankful.”

Seo-yeon picked up her clutch she had placed on the dining table. She held out the white envelope she had prepared for Mrs Ahn.

“Oh, no, I didn’t expect anything like this.”

“I know. But it’s from my heart.”

She slipped the envelope into Mrs Ahn’s hand and smiled broadly. The older woman’s face expressed embarrassment, gratitude, and affection all at once.

“This is why I can’t leave this house, because of you, Seo-yeon.”

“You have to stay for a long time. I really like you, Madam.”

“I have nowhere else to go.”

“Oh, come on, you know that’s not true. You get calls from everywhere, don’t you? Your skills are so well known.”

Seo-yeon conversed with Mrs. Ahn as she poured hot water into the teapot. As she prepared the tea to go with the cake, she heard Mi-seon’s voice behind her.

“Why are you two so affectionate? It’s making me sick.”

Mrs. Ahn turned around at Mi-seon’s words.

“Oh, it’s because Seo-yeon is so beautiful. Whenever she’s here, it just seems to brighten up the whole house.”

“Right? You heard that Seo-yeon, so come here more often.”

A series of compliments. A kind smile as a reward.

“I want that too. Haewon is waiting. Let’s go quickly and light the candles.”

Seo-yeon answered shyly with a smile. A smile she’d become so good at now that it seemed genuine.

“Wow, how beautiful.”

Mi-seon admired as Seo-yeon took out the cake. Her reaction to even small things was always positive, so it wasn’t particularly surprising. Seo-yeon inserted the candles into the cake.

“I have to go up early tomorrow, so let’s just do it today. They say birthday wishes should be made beforehand anyway.”

Seo-yeon said sweetly, like an older sister wishing her younger sister a happy birthday.

“Oh……. Is that so? Thank you.”

Haewon said in a small voice. Seo-yeon smiled and looked at her. Haewon was seven years younger than her at twenty-two. The age when she thinks she knows everything, but in reality, she knows nothing.

“I never imagined something like this…….”

Haewon’s voice trembled at the end of her sentence. Seeing her apologetic expression, Seo-yeon felt a surge of anger and frustration rising within her. She bit her lower lip.

Yeah, you wouldn’t have imagined it. I didn’t even know I’d be able to smile warmly and hand over the cake after receiving news of a break-up.

“It’s your birthday, so the chairman specially arranged it for you. Even if he hadn’t, I was going to buy it myself. The cake at our hotel is delicious.”

Seo-yeon said as she inserted the candles into the cake. Shee picked up the match that came with the cake and struck it. She lit them one by one and counted.

Ten, twenty. Twenty-one. Twenty-two.

Twenty-two.

Such a beautiful age. Twenty-two.

“Haewon, happy birthday. Now, blow. Make a wish too.”

I’ll congratulate you a lot, little sister.

Seo-yeon took out her mobile phone and took a picture of Hae-won blowing out the candles. She added a pretty emoji to the picture and posted it on the family chatroom.

“Is it okay if I post this on SNS, sis?”

She asked, smiling sweetly so she wouldn’t refuse. When Haewon gave her an embarrassed look, Seo-yeon smiled once more and said,

“I’ll make sure to blur your face. Okay?”

She didn’t forget to thank Haewon for reluctantly nodding. She added a rabbit sticker to Haewon’s face and uploaded it to her account connected with Sehyun. The image of their family was preserved.

[At our house in Yangpyeong].

She wrote a short caption and added hashtags.

#MySister #HappyBirthday #TwentyTwo #Congratulations

She thrust her phone screen in front of Haewon’s face to confirm. Haewon’s smile seemed to waver, almost as if she wanted to cry.

Yeah. I came to see that face of yours.

Seo-yeon smiled warmly as she cut the cake and offered it to Haewon. She also placed a small piece on her own plate. Though her heart felt bitter, the cake melted sweetly in her mouth.

Plates with slices of cake were placed in front of everyone as they gathered in the living room. Seo-yeon poured a cup of warm chrysanthemum tea in front of Sangcheol. After Sangcheol savored the aroma of the tea and took a sip, he set down the cup and asked Seo-yeon,

“Did Chairman Hwang mention anything else?”

“The chairman didn’t say anything else?”

Seo-yeon poured another cup of tea for herself. Haewon watched her closely. Even the simple act of pouring tea felt different when Seo-yeon did it. The graceful movements, fair face, and refined gestures made Haewon feel somewhat small.

“Oh, he just suggested having a meal together.”

“Oh, my. But what are you doing here?”

Mi-seon said, accepting the teacup from Seo-yeon.

“It’s Haewon’s birthday.”

“Oh, right. But what’s the big deal about birthdays?”

Mi-seon blurted out, then seemed to regret it as she glanced at Sangcheol. He pretended not to hear and silently took a sip of his chrysanthemum tea.

“It was just a spontaneous suggestion on his way back. His thoughtfulness alone is more than enough.”

A cup of chrysanthemum tea was also placed in front of Haewon. After taking a sip, however, it tasted like a flavor she couldn’t quite discern. 

The words about the chairman, and the hotel, all seemed like they were from a distant dream when they came out of Seo-yeon’s mouth. Even in this house, Seo-yeon seemed to belong to some far-off world.

“Is that supervisor treating you well? Why didn’t he propose with a ring?”

Mi-seon remarked, drawing everyone’s attention to Seo-yeon’s story. Even Haewon listened with bated breath.

“We met briefly again today. He said he was busy, so he just had tea and left. The proposal still feels awkward and I didn’t feel comfortable wearing a ring.”

“I guess so. It should have been grand. But now we should start arranging formal introductions and setting dates.”

“After Sehyun’s busy season. He’s very busy right now.”

Seo-yeon smiled gracefully as she spoke. The living room seemed to be filled with a warm and cheerful atmosphere, more so than usual, with Seo-yeon’s presence. Even Grandma, who was always irritable, was quietly eating the cake.

“How’s Kyuhyun, he’s doing well, right? The last email I got from him said he was doing well.”

Seo-yeon said, looking at Mi-seon. She widened her eyes, a little surprised, and asked Seo-yeon.

“Did you send an email to Kyuhyun?”

“And sent him some allowance too.”

Seo-yeon replied with a smile. Mi-seon tapped Seo-yeon’s knee and said,

“You’ve got your hands full, yet you still take care of Kyuhyun.”

“He’s my little brother, what can I do?”

On days like this, Haewon sometimes felt like a little match girl.

In the warm living room with a blazing fireplace. The large Christmas tree shimmering in the house. A kind mother and a gentle father. A bountiful table filled with food and a pretty little girl who is loved by everyone. And outside the window, a pitiful little child peeking in.

The world seems to revolve around Seo-yeon. She has a good background, good looks, and a great job. And a kind heart and a gentle smile. Just standing in front of Seo-yeon made Haewon feel somehow insignificant.

“Haewon.”

Amidst everyone seemingly forgetting about Haewon, Seo-yeon called out to her with a pretty smile. 

“Yes, sis?”

“I didn’t prepare a gift. I’ll remember to prepare one next year. Please accept this for this year.”

Seo-yeon handed Haewon a white envelope. Haewon waved her hands up in the air and said,

“No, I’m fine. I’m sorry you had to bring me a cake…….”

Haewon said softly.

“What is there to be sorry for?” 

Haewon swallowed hard. She felt nervous. 

Deceiving such a kind sister like this. Is it really okay for me to do this? 

She was the only one who had cared for her since she’d walked into this house with a suitcase.

“Take it. It’s okay. And don’t hesitate to buy yourself some nice clothes. Originally, I was planning to buy you an outfit. Dress nicely, start dating, and come to Seoul to visit. I’ll treat you to a delicious meal.”

Seo-yeon said as she handed the envelope to Haewon.

“Yes, take it. Your sister put thought into it.”

Sangcheol added his words. Seo-yeon was smiling brightly. Haewon received the envelope with an embarrassed expression.

Doesn’t she really…… know, she’s doing this because she doesn’t know?

If she finds out about my affair with the supervisor, she’s going to…….

Haewon took a deep breath. She felt embarrassed, grateful, and sorry at the same time. In her thoughts, she told herself she should stop meeting Sehyun, but when Sehyun contacted her, she couldn’t help but respond.

It’s too dreamlike, she’s too cool.

My sister has everything, and I have nothing.

Love… isn’t a sin, right?

Since my sister is kind, maybe she’ll understand if I’m honest.

I should… be able to compromise at least once, right?

Haewon replied to Seo-yeon while holding the envelope tightly.

“Thank you, sister.”

Seo-yeon’s smile was gentle as she looked at Haewon.

* * *

After helping Mrs. Ahn clear away the dishes and taking a hot shower, it was close to midnight. The first floor of the main house in Yangpyeong is occupied by their parents and grandmother, while the second floor has rooms for Seo-yeon, Haewon, and Kyuhyun.

Kyuhyun, a middle school student, is studying abroad in the UK with his aunt, and Seo-yeon is in Seoul, so Haewon has the second floor almost to herself. She sat on the bed in comfortable clothes and applied lotion, but she heard a soft knock on the door.

“Um… sis.” 

Haewon’s voice came from outside the door. Seo-yeon finished applying the lotion and answered slowly.

“Yeah. What is it?”

“Um… can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Oh. Sorry, I just lay down to sleep.”

“Uh… okay…”

Haewon hesitated outside the door. Seo-yeon cast an indifferent glance at the door and lay down on the bed.

“I’ll go to bed first. We’ll talk later.”

Although she covered herself with a blanket, she kept her ears open to the door. Rustling sounds. The slight creaking of the wooden floor. The hesitant sound of Haewon’s voice.

Squeak-.

As the tinnitus came again, Seo-yeon pinched her ears. She closed her eyes and wrapped herself in her blanket, but the sharp ringing wouldn’t go away.