Episode 3
Wednesday morning.
I felt something heavy on my stomach and opened my eyes to find Si-ha lying on top of me.
‘He’s heavy.’
I thought about sitting up but decided against it.
I didn’t want to wake him.
His sleep was more important than the safety of my stomach.
I’ll just leave him be.
As I looked at the phone by my pillow, the pressure got intense.
It seems I’ve reached my limit.
He’s my beloved little brother, but if he’s threatening my life, he shouldn’t expect mercy.
I guess I’m not a good hyung after all.
I gently lifted him and laid him beside me.
Why did he fall asleep on top of me anyway?
Just as that question crossed my mind, my phone vibrated.
[ Moon Do-hwan hyung]
Now that I think about it, I haven’t heard from him since he comforted me at the funeral.
I’m so indifferent, yet he reaches out to check on me.
He’s truly a kind person.
When I worked as a student assistant, he was a staff member at the career center who looked out for me a lot.
Beep.
As I answered, a familiar voice greeted me.
“Have you been well?”
“Yes, hyung. I’m sorry. I should’ve called you first.”
“What are you talking about? I know how busy you are right now.”
“How do you know?”
“You think I don’t know what’s going on with you? Your heart must be all over the place, you’re preparing to move, probably looking for work too.”
How does he know so well?
Should he start a fortune-telling business or something?
“First I need to figure out where I’m moving to, then I can think about working.”
“Don’t worry about that right now. I have something to tell you, so come to the school. Wait—it’s not lunchtime yet, right? Let’s meet for lunch. I’ll get something Si-ha absolutely loves.”
“Hyung. Si-ha’s only three years old.”
“I know. There’s this lady I know, and she makes amazing seaweed soup. Even kids love it.”
As long as it’s not too spicy, he should be able to eat it.
I should start introducing him to all the delicious foods out there.
“What kind of place is it?”
“Just a diner. Auntie’s diner.”
Is it that auntie he knows?
At least the name is easy to remember.
“Alright. I’ll bring Si-ha. I was planning to take him out anyway, so that works out.”
“Great. See you at lunch then.”
Right after the call ended, the address came through.
He’s always quick with things like this.
I went back to wake Si-ha.
“Ahh.”
“You’re already awake, Si-ha? Ah, was hyung’s phone call too loud?”
Si-ha stared blankly for a moment before getting up.
He dragged each tissue roll with him and started his morning routine.
‘He really is a man of routine.’
I patted his head once and went into the bathroom to wash up.
After washing my hair and reaching for a towel, I noticed Si-ha looking at me.
“What is it? Do you want to wash up too?”
“Ahh.”
“Alright, let’s wash up.”
I quickly dried my hair and placed his tiny slippers on the floor.
Wearing his bunny-shaped slippers, Si-ha stretched out his arm.
He must want me to roll up his sleeves.
Si-ha is such a commendable child, trying to wash up on his own.
If only he had a bit more expression, he’d be perfect.
“Shall we wash up then?”
I filled Si-ha’s own little washbasin with water and held it out to him.
Si-ha splashed the water with his tiny, fern-like hands.
Splish splash.
After splashing his face twice, he asked for a towel, signaling he was done.
‘His clothes are all wet.’
I chuckled as I handed him the towel.
I folded it so it wouldn’t drag on the floor, and he pressed it into his face once and then handed it back, saying he was finished.
Truly a man’s man.
“Si-ha, let me wash you one more time.”
I held onto Si-ha and washed his hair and face properly.
Even though it meant doing things twice, it wasn’t tiring at all.
***
Auntie’s diner near Kangin University.
Moon Do-hwan, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, was waving at us.
His gentle-looking face really gave off a kind vibe.
“Over here! Here! Hi, Si-ha.”
“Ahh.”
“With that blank expression, it’s like he’s saying, ‘Ah, greetings to you as well.’”
I let out a small laugh at that.
“Why are you speaking in a historical drama tone?”
“Am I? Anyway, let’s go inside. The food’s good here. You excited, Si-ha?”
“He’s got a very excited expression.”
“You can tell?”
“His nostrils flared just a little.”
Moon Do-hwan looked at me like I was speaking nonsense.
I shrugged.
When you live together, you notice these things.
We went inside and took a seat.
“Auntie, one seaweed soup for the kid and a mackerel set meal, please.”
The woman referred to as ‘Auntie’ responded.
“Geez, is this the only place you can eat? You’re here all the time.”
“Thanks to that, your business is booming. The food here is great, but strangely the place doesn’t get enough customers.”
“I’ve got plenty without you.”
“No way. Seriously, for this price and this taste, people should be lining up all the way to the pharmacy.”
“You and that mouth of yours.”
Auntie chuckled like she’d just heard a silly joke.
I looked at Moon Do-hwan.
“You two seem really close.”
“It’s been four years now. Of course we are.”
“You’re the ultimate regular. But do they not have a high chair for kids?”
“Of course they do. Over there.”
Moon Do-hwan, proving his regular status, brought over a high chair.
I thanked him and seated Si-ha.
“Ahh.”
Si-ha opened and closed his little hand.
“You want your spoon? Got it.”
I took out Si-ha’s personal spoon from the bag.
I also pulled out a handkerchief to use as his bib.
“It’s fascinating. How do you understand everything he says?”
“Once you’ve lived over two years with someone, this is how it goes.”
“Haha. Just like me and Auntie, huh?”
“Not quite.”
Just then, Auntie came out carrying the side dishes.
“What nonsense are you spouting? Just eat quietly.”
“Wow, Auntie. Even with Si-ha here, you’re still not holding back? Normally, you’d be saying shut u—”
“Ssshh.”
“Ahem. Right, Si-ha’s here.”
They really did seem close.
“The seaweed soup will come out first. You’ll need to cool it down before feeding him.”
“Thank you.”
She was very considerate.
“Ahh.”
“Oh my. Was that a thank you?”
“Ahh.”
Si-ha held up his spoon proudly.
Auntie, clearly finding him adorable, gave his cheek a gentle touch and walked away.
Our Si-ha is certainly cute.
But that’s not the point.
“So, what was it you wanted to talk about?”
“Oh, that.”
Moon Do-hwan, who had been picking at the soy-glazed beans, put down his chopsticks.
“You should just keep going to college.”
“Hyung.”
“Just hear me out and then decide. Kangin University isn’t SKY, but it’s still a prestigious school in Seoul. It’ll help you with alumni connections when you look for jobs later.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
“Of course you’re not. No, wait, that came out wrong. Maybe not when you’re job hunting, but once you’re employed, having alumni around is a huge help.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. It’s all about pushing and pulling within your own circle. Why do you think moms in Seoul are so desperate to get their kids into top universities?”
“Because people don’t treat you like a person otherwise?”
“No. It’s because they know people stick to their own kind. Honestly, do you think a woman who married well doesn’t know her husband got where he is thanks to support from senior colleagues from the same alma mater?”
“Hmm.”
It’s definitely not wrong.
Even at my dad’s workplace, the close seniors and juniors were all from the same school.
“Still, I can’t work at an office.”
“I know, I know. But what if you change your mind later? You might meet someone good, too.”
“Hyung…”
“I’m saying this because it’s a waste. A real waste. I totally understand how you feel. But who knows where life will take you? Working from home is nice, sure. But you need a company that offers remote work first.”
“That’s true.”
Moon Do-hwan smacked his lips.
“You think I don’t know your grades?”
“I am at the top of my class. GPA’s 4.4.”
“Exactly. I even gave you job counseling, didn’t I? Sure, it’s hard to get a job with a Korean Lit major, but with your specs…”
Here’s my current profile:
I wasn’t top of the department when I entered, but I’ve maintained the top position since.
I attended freshman and sophomore years for free on a merit scholarship.
Every break, I forced myself to take an extra class, bringing my total credits to 105.
Considering the graduation requirement is 130 credits, early graduation is within reach.
The only issue is that I still need to complete all the required major courses.
As for TOEIC, I raised my score over 800 during break after college entrance exams, and now it’s over 900.
For the graduation language requirement, I’ve basically fulfilled it.
The only things left are volunteer hours and reading certification. I’ve already completed the reading requirement through a class, so it’s just volunteering left.
I pushed myself so hard during freshman and sophomore years so I could take it easy in junior and senior years while preparing for employment.
That’s why Moon Do-hwan is saying it’s a waste.
“I guess I wasn’t meant for employment.”
“No. You can go to school this upcoming semester for free, right? Because you’re top of your class. Let’s take these next two years to think things through.”
“But living expenses…”
“Exactly, living expenses. I’ve found an easy way to handle that for the next two years.”
I widened my eyes.
There’s a way?
How does this hyung know stuff like that?
No. That can’t be. Even if he’s my hyung, there’s no way he’d know that kind of thing by chance.
This is something he researched just for me.
A lump formed in my throat.
Nobody else is trying to help me, but this hyung is doing everything he can.
He’s technically a stranger.
How could I ever repay him?
“Hey, hey. Don’t make that face. This is information you could’ve found out yourself if you looked.”
“I probably wouldn’t have thought of it. I was planning to quit school.”
“True enough.”
Just then, Auntie appeared.
She placed down the seaweed soup, mackerel, and a bowl of rice one by one.
A spicy soybean paste stew was also placed in the center.
The bowl of rice wasn’t a standard portion—it was piled high.
“Eat a lot. Stay strong. A man’s gotta walk with his shoulders back and confidence. That way, people won’t talk behind your back.”
“Auntie, he’s top of his class. His confidence could probably break through the sky.”
“Who’s arguing?”
As Auntie walked away, Si-ha started waving his spoon.
“Ahh!”
“Oh, Si-ha. Sorry, hyung didn’t pay enough attention to you, huh?”
“Ah?”
Si-ha shook his head side to side.
Did he really understand what I just said?
“Our Si-ha is so smart. Let’s eat now. Food time.”
“Hyung!”
“Yeah?”
I blew on the rice and fed it to Si-ha.
Moon Do-hwan spoke.
“Keep listening while you feed him. I looked into it—there’s a scholarship evaluation officer involved in the scholarship system. For external scholarships. With the department head’s recommendation, you can get one. You’re top of your class, so your image with the professors is good. And you’ve left a good impression with many of them through your work-study.”
“Heh. Ahh~ That does sound good. But I still have to take care of Si-ha.”
“Right. That. I came up with an amazing solution. A place where you can take care of Si-ha and attend university. Somewhere you can drop by during breaks and help out.”
“Such a place exists?”
“Yeah. At the end of Kangin University—Kangin Daycare. It was originally made for the kids of professors and staff, but I asked them. If they could take in just one student’s child.”
I was speechless at the unexpected answer.
“Hyung…”
“See now? Feeling like the sky’s opening up? Do you see how awesome I am? Look, with this, you can attend university for free, think things through, get living expenses through an external scholarship, graduate, and take care of Si-ha nearby. Honestly, it’s just two years. You can drop by during breaks, spend time with Si-ha, show your face, take care of him.”
My hands were trembling.
Out of sheer gratitude.
I was so thankful to have a hyung who thought this far ahead for me.
I couldn’t say anything.
“You said you wanted to raise Si-ha without casting a shadow on his face, right? Well, I want to wipe away some of the shadows on your face. You’ve already got one—I hope we can get rid of at least one of them.”
“Why are you doing all this for me…”
“I told you. I don’t want another shadow added to that face.”
“Thank you.”
My emotions were overflowing, but no words came to mind.
Just thank you. An endless thank you.
“Really… thank you.”
“Forget it. Just pay me back by sending me lots of pictures of Si-ha later. Smiling ones, okay? The rare kind.”
At that, I chuckled.
“I’d want those too.”
“Hyung!”
“Huh?”
Si-ha scooped some seaweed soup with his spoon and held it out to me.
“For hyung?”
“Ahh.”
I took it and ate it.
Can I really just keep receiving like this?
They were both too precious to me.
I’ve received too much.
Auntie’s warm words.
Hyung’s thoughtful actions.
Si-ha’s care.
I held all of that gratitude deep in my heart.
