Chapter 1.2 (2/2)

“Sukyung, it’s not that I’m not thankful for everything you did for me. Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to study abroad and become a hair designer.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I did it because I wanted to. It was my duty to help you.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

Sukyung didn’t help Jaewon because she wanted to hear him thank her. She has supported him since she was 19. She was going to turn 29 this winter, which meant she has been doing this for the past 10 years. She worked in that same office all this time, and everything she made was used for Jaewon’s education. But she didn’t do it because she wanted his thanks.

The problem was, it seemed that Jaewon didn’t understand her at all.

“Sis, you didn’t have to do this at all, yet you did. You took care of me and even paid for my education. I am really thankful, but I’m a grown up now. I can make my own living, so I will pay back everything.”

“You don’t have to do that. After all, we’re family, right?”

“That’s the problem.”

Jaewon’s face turned cold. Holding her breath, Sukyung just stared. Jaewon continued,

“We aren’t family. Sis, we aren’t related by blood. When our parents died, we should’ve lived separately. If we did, your life wouldn’t have been so hard. This is all my fault. I’m sorry.”

When Sukyung was 16, her father married Jaewon’s mother. Jaewon was 15 at the time. He was a tall middle school student who seemed to be too quiet. Three years later, their parents went on a vacation and died from a car accident. They received some insurance money from this, and Sukyung used all of it for Jaewon.

The truth was… Sukyung didn’t do it for Jaewon. She did it for herself because this was the only way to ensure Jaewon would return to her.

Sukyung couldn’t remember when she first fell in love with Jaewon. Was it when he turned from a quiet middle school student into a high school student with a big dream? Was it when she realized how he was blunt to everyone except to her? Was it his smile that made her fall for him?

She didn’t care if they would have to remain brother and sister forever. Just being able to see him once in a while was good enough for her. She would be happy to have him smile at her and call her his sister…

“Umm, Jaewon…”

***