episode_0152

Back when I lived in this house, I never really thought much about the sauna.

It was just something natural to do, to go in occasionally, relax my body, relieve fatigue.

After living away for a year, I realized how blessed life is with a bathhouse and sauna at home.

“Ahh! Feels so refreshing!”

Little brother exclaims as he enters the hot water, looking more like a real uncle now with his protruding belly.

“Take better care of yourself.”

Seems big brother had the same thought as he furrows his brow and steps into the tub.

Despite being quite busy in his role as the vice president, big brother’s physique is surprisingly robust and healthy compared to mine, who has been doing daily home workouts. Makes me wonder if he’s getting some personal training.

“Taking care of yourself won’t hurt. My girlfriend likes guys who are a bit bear-like. That’s why I’m intentionally gaining weight.”

“You’re not a bear, just a pig.”

“Sigh, my girlfriend loves touching my belly. Anyway, you lack finesse.”

“Sigh.”

Perhaps thinking communication was futile, big brother closes his eyes tightly and immerses himself in the hot tub.

I also get into the sauna, feeling the fatigue melt away in the warm water, giving my mind a slight break from its complexities.

As we soak in the hot water, little brother speaks up first.

“What did you talk to Dad about? Was it about Yoonji?”

“…Yeah.”

“Anyway, Dad is too old-fashioned, right? I get that he’s concerned about Yoonji’s father, but what’s wrong with her?”

Little brother grumbles, waving his hands around. Seems like he knows a lot about Yoonji’s situation since they work together.

“We have no choice but to be concerned.”

But big brother counters, taking a stand.

“It’s not just any ordinary household; he’s the son of a corporate chairman. With his father being who he is, there can’t be even minor flaws.”

“What does that have to do with anything? If he wants to marry the person he loves.”

“You can’t act based on personal desires in such a position. Our every move could affect the families of our company employees.”

“You overcomplicate things.”

Though little brother pouts, tapping his forehead, big brother doesn’t seem inclined to argue further.

“So, what’s your plan?”

“…”

“I heard he’s involved with other girls besides Yoonji.”

“Yeah, I heard about three others. Is it an issue that our youngest is so popular? Right?”

“Sigh.”

Listening to my brothers talk only adds to the complexity in my head once again.

“We’ll have to decide.”

But the answer was clear.

Someone had to be chosen.

That was the right thing to do.

Lost in thought, I suddenly turned to big brother.

“I heard you had many girlfriends in college.”

“Haha! Our big brother was quite the catch. Girls just flocked to him unlike me.”

“Everyone knew I was the chairman’s son.”

Unlike me, big brother went through university with everyone already knowing he was the chairman’s son.

Perhaps that’s why a subtle sense of unease crept into his expression.

“Why did you choose your current wife?”

To my question, big brother replied bluntly.

“I thought she could be the most helpful for the company.”

“…”

“Holy hush.”

Although it was very much like big brother, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for his wife.

“That was the reason for choosing her, and that child knows it too. The company was everything to me.”

I had wondered how my brother could date someone, but it seems this was the sentiment.

As the atmosphere slightly soured, little brother immediately chimed in.

“I followed my heart. When I saw her on TV for the first time, I just knew. ‘Ah, I want to marry this woman!’”

“So, I tried to approach her in any way I could. I used my charms to gradually get closer, and eventually, I could win her over with my charm.”

Little brother’s girlfriend was an internet broadcaster, and quite a famous one at that.

According to what I heard, even the business was structured around that person.

It was complicated.

The two individuals were in such contrasting situations that I didn’t feel like I could offer much help in making a decision.

“Woojin.”

The elder brother calling out to me.

He was always serious, but at this moment, his seriousness felt subtly different. There was a warmth in his voice as he called my name.

It was as if it wasn’t the earnest older brother striving as the vice president. It was a tone reminiscent of the days when he knew nothing… full of consideration and care.

“You and I made different choices in luck.”

“….”

“Although we made opposite choices, we can see our results as the same.”

“Haha! I didn’t expect you to say that.”

The younger brother smiled but did not deny it.

“In the end, we made those choices to find our own happiness, and we achieved it.”

“Well, my girlfriend and I are living happily.”

“….”

It had been a long time.

My brothers.

A moment of trustworthiness.

“You must be similar to us.”

There was belief in the faint smile that formed.

“I believe you will do well.”

A feeling of tightness gripped my chest. However, I also wondered if it was right to accept that belief.

“What if I can’t?”

I couldn’t help but ask.

“I couldn’t refute a single thing Father said.”

I had called it trash with words, but I had never truly pondered the weight of my actions.

I knew I should, but I didn’t want to deeply contemplate it.

Continuing in the current situation was comforting.

“Father was right; I am selfish and greedy.”

Most difficult of all was the fact that ultimately, I had proven to myself that I was that kind of person.

Not only did I despise myself, but I also felt like running away, cutting off all connections due to self-blame.

In that state, the younger brother pointed at me with a finger, smiling as if shooting a gun.

“It’s somewhat humorous.”

“What?”

I wondered what he was talking about out of the blue. But the younger brother continued speaking.

“The kid has some sense of loyalty. He tries to gain benefits, but he doesn’t go too far.”

“….”

“He also has a sense of justice in his own way. He may be average, but there are many who lack even that.”

“….”

“I might be bad at expressing myself because I don’t have a way with words.”

Turning to the elder brother, the younger brother said. The elder brother cleared his throat once, then sighed before responding.

“He knows how to protect important people.”

“….”

“As a result, he often sacrifices himself. It may not look good as an older brother… but that might be your strength.”

“So, what are you trying to say? Are you trying to comfort me by saying I’m a good guy?”

“I’m not saying you’re a great guy.”

“No one is blindly good.”

The two asserted, causing me to furrow my brow without realizing it. When I asked what they meant, they continued.

“But you’re not blindly bad either.”

“….”

“There are no one-dimensional people, Woojin.”

I vaguely remembered seeing a smile on the elder brother’s face.

“If you were truly the person Father described, we wouldn’t be offering you this kind of comfort.”

Furthermore,

“Many children wouldn’t have embraced you.”

The brothers didn’t say anything more to me. They simply fell silent, giving me time to think.

Thanks to that brief moment of positivity they showed towards me,

My heart felt slightly lighter.

* * *

After washing up, we had dinner together.

Father joined us, but unlike earlier when he was talking to me,

He left with just a brief smile and a single remark.

“It’s been a while since we all ate together.”

I understood the meaning behind it. Father had his own way of doing things.

I thought about returning to the dormitory, but tonight, I decided to stay here and sleep.

Before entering the room I used to write in, my mother came to me separately.

“Is it okay if we don’t sleep together? Are you crying?”

“Why would I cry? I’m not a kid.”

“You are a kid. At least that’s how I see it.”

When I quickly told her to stop with the fuss and leave, my mother patted my shoulder with a smile.

“It’s nice to see you like this. Come visit sometimes, alright?”

“Yeah, got it.”

“If you get scared while sleeping, call for Mom.”

“I won’t call.”

With that, my mom left briskly. It seems like her personality hasn’t changed despite getting older.

As I reached for the doorknob to enter my room, thoughts of my older brother in the adjacent room suddenly crossed my mind.

“I had some questions I wanted to ask him since earlier.”

I couldn’t ask him in the bath, but there were things I wanted to confirm with my brother.

I went straight into his room.

Click!

“Alright, I love you too.”

Knocking was irrelevant.

I just walked in, finding my older brother having a video call.

On the screen was his sister-in-law.

– Oh my.

His sister-in-law waved with a bright smile, and I greeted her as well.

“……”

My older brother was staring at me, biting his lower lip.

“I didn’t hear anything.”

“Just leave.”

I tried to make a futile excuse out of politeness.

Honestly, I wanted to leave and throw up, but I was forcing myself to stay here.

– Have a good conversation.

Click.

The call ended, and my brother, who was trying to lighten the mood with a fake cough, looked at me blankly.

“What’s the matter?”

“You’re going to pretend that didn’t happen just now?”

“Knock and come in.”

“I love you too?”

“……”

My brother kept his lips sealed.

“Weren’t you saying something about choosing the woman who would benefit the company the most because she was the best choice?”

When I asked him that, my brother sighed and replied.

“She’s someone I’m marrying. While that was a major factor in the decision, in the long run, it’s natural for emotions to support it.”

“So, summarizing, you chose the person who would be most beneficial to the company among those you loved?”

I thought they were getting married solely for the sake of the company without any emotions, but it seemed not to be the case.

“Why did you come looking for me? Get to the point.”

My brother politely hinted for me to leave. Scratching the back of my head, I recalled the past.

“When we met at Gold One, why did you talk about Yoonji as if you were investigating her like it had something to do with Dad?”

“……”

I had been curious about that for a while.

Until I heard it from Yoonji, I had no idea it had anything to do with Dad.

At the time in Gold One, my brother spoke as if he had orchestrated everything himself.

But in reality, my brother played only a minor role in passing on the information.

After a brief hesitation, my brother decided whether to speak or not.

“I hoped you wouldn’t hate Dad so much.”

“That’s all.”

“You’re weak.”

In response to my words, my brother smiled and gestured for me to leave quickly.

By telling me that, he weakened my resolve to resent Dad because of my brother, but I didn’t mind.