Ch.369369. Sis, You Really Just Had a Meal, Right?

There’s no smoke without fire, as they say. If there really was nothing between my sister and this Baek Seonghyun person, why would Father have any reason to misunderstand that they were seriously dating?

This is just my guess, but Father must have had some reason for such a misunderstanding. Maybe my sister misspoke, or perhaps the other party said something misleading… something like that.

“Sis, I’m just asking to be sure… there’s really nothing going on between you and that person, right?”

[I told you already! We just had a meal together once, and that’s it. There’s nothing between us.]

“…You really just had a meal? You’re not hiding something embarrassing from me, are you?”

[I’m really not! Siwoo, do you want to die?!]

“Okay, if you say so.”

Seeing how angry she’s getting, it seems she’s telling the truth. But then why did Father misunderstand? Coming back to the same question, my sister sighs deeply.

[I know, I’m curious too. Why Father had such a misunderstanding… I think something I said during the meal might have been twisted by the time it reached Father’s ears…]

“Why, what did you say?”

[Nothing special. Just things like, ‘Do you have plans for children in the future? If so, how many would you like to have?’ That kind of thing.]

“Why would you talk about that while having a meal…?”

[Siwoo. I’m already over thirty. Isn’t this the age where I can have those kinds of conversations?]

“Well, that’s true, but why discuss family planning with someone you just met? No wonder Father misunderstood.”

For our generation it might be different, but for Father’s generation… he could easily misunderstand, couldn’t he? Especially since he’s already impatient about this, and then hearing such conversations secondhand, he must have been delighted.

I completely understand both Father’s feelings and my sister’s position. But still, it’s strange how things got so mixed up.

Even though I heard it secondhand, I wonder what process turns a conversation about family planning into a formal meeting between families? This is why you shouldn’t believe what people say unless it comes directly from the source.

[Even so, how could Father misunderstand like that… Ah, another call.]

“Who is it? Is it Father?”

[No, someone I know. Not very close though… probably because of Father again?]

“If they’re suddenly calling when they normally don’t, it’s pretty obvious.”

My sister sighs repeatedly, seemingly exhausted at the thought of repeating the same explanation again. Clearing up misunderstandings over and over must be mentally draining.

“Sis, do you have to answer it?”

[I should. I need to answer and repeat the same explanation again… sigh, really.]

“I’ll treat you to something delicious later, so hang in there, sis.”

[No need, I’ll just take the thought. I don’t want rumors spreading that I’m dating my brother while having a meal with you.]

“That would be… horrifying to even imagine…”

[Hey, what kind of talk is that? Why horrifying? Shouldn’t you be happy to have rumors about you and such a pretty sister?]

“What’s there to be happy about? We’d be known as that messed-up family where siblings are dating, and I wouldn’t be able to show my face in public…”

Just as I was about to add “and I already have someone,” someone knocked on the bedroom door. From the knocking, I thought it might be Hwa Nabi, but when the door cracked open, it was my daughter Woohee.

Woohee, with beautiful hair just like her mother’s, stood at the threshold silently staring at me. Could she have something to say but is waiting because I’m on the phone? I mouthed the words.

‘What is it, sweetheart?’

‘Dad, are you dating Auntie?’

‘…What?’

What nonsense is this? I was so surprised I couldn’t speak, and Woohee scurried away. From the sound of her footsteps, she seemed to be heading to the kitchen.

—Mom, Mom! Dad and Auntie are dating!

—Whaat…?!

“……”

Hearing this absurd statement, I could only press my fingers against my forehead.

Ah, so this is how rumors spread. I had wondered how information gets so distorted, and now I’ve witnessed it firsthand. So Woohee is the culprit…!

I jumped to my feet.

“Sis, let’s hang up for now. Make sure you clear up those rumors, okay?”

[Huh? Oh, okay. But where are you going? Why does your voice sound so urgent?]

“Yeah, something urgent came up. I’ll talk to you later.”

I hung up without waiting for a response. Just as I was about to go outside, coincidentally, Hwa Nabi appeared before me. Seeing her in an apron, she must have rushed over from doing housework.

“Husband, what’s going on? What did you say to our child to make her think you’re dating her aunt?!”

“…I’ll explain everything, so please calm down and sit.”

*

There wasn’t much to explain honestly, so I kept it simple. Though I spoke at length, the summary was: ‘The idea that my sister was close enough with someone named Baek Seonghyun to have a formal family meeting was a misunderstanding; they simply had a meal together. But Father misheard and is now spreading it to everyone around him.’

“…So I offered to treat my sister to something nice to comfort her, and she joked about it, saying people might misunderstand us as dating if we ate together.”

“So you’re saying Woohee misunderstood and told me that you and her aunt are dating… is that right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Husband, do you really think that makes sense?”

“……”

It’s the truth, why doesn’t she believe me?

“Our Woohee isn’t stupid. You think she misheard and mistold this?”

“I’m not saying she’s stupid, but she’s still young, right? She might not have understood the context.”

Even if she’s smarter than other kids her age, Woohee is only eight, a first-grader. As I said, she’s at an age where she could easily misinterpret something she overheard and cause misunderstandings.

“Woohee, do you remember what you heard earlier? Did Dad say with his own mouth that he’s dating Auntie?”

Hwa Nabi asked while stroking Woohee’s head as she sat in her lap. Woohee nodded while petting the cat Nabi’s bottom on her knee.

“Yes, Dad said something about a messed-up family where sister and brother are dating. He said if rumors spread, he wouldn’t be able to show his face in public.”

“Husband, is what Woohee saying true?”

“It’s true, but not in the way you’re thinking. I just explained it!”

Taken out of context like that, it’s understandable why she’d misunderstand. I shook my head in alarm.

Hwa Nabi narrowed her eyes at me.

“Could it be that our marriage is just a cover, and your real love was for your sister all along… that’s not the ridiculous situation we’re in, is it?”

“What are you talking about? Absolutely not. The only woman I love is you, Nabi. I can swear to that.”

“…Hmph, is that so? Then that’s fine.”

Her mood seemed to improve as she gently stroked Woohee’s hair with a subtle smile.

I awkwardly rubbed the back of my neck, suspecting that Hwa Nabi’s goal might have been to hear me say I love her.

“Well, anyway. You understand now, right? It’s a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding.”

“Dad, what about me? I’m a girl too, don’t you love me?”

“…Ah, of course I love you too, Woohee.”

I didn’t mention Woohee because she shouldn’t be in the same category of “women,” but of course I love her too. I caressed Woohee’s cheek and whispered my love.

Saying “whispered my love” sounds strange, but anyway. The misunderstanding seemed to be cleared up as Hwa Nabi’s gaze softened. I smiled back at her.

“By the way, husband. You just said the formal meeting with your sister was a misunderstanding, right? So how is she handling the aftermath?”

“She’s busy making calls. Answering incoming calls, responding to texts when they come in.”

“Ah, I see. Your sister must be having a hard time…”

“Yes, she is. Extremely so.”

From what I’ve heard, it doesn’t seem like she misspoke, so I wonder how this all happened. I’m curious about the truth, but calling to ask now would be inconsiderate, so I held back.

“It seems Father has been enthusiastically calling everyone around him, so my sister’s phone must be burning up by now.”

“I know, how did such a misunderstanding even happen…?”

Ring ring! Before she could finish speaking, my phone rang. Looking at the caller ID, it was my sister.

Well, my sister isn’t exactly well-mannered either. How does she call right when we start talking about her? I answered with an internal chuckle.

“Hello, sis?”

[Siwoo. Are you busy right now?]

“No, I’m not busy. I was just talking with Nabi and Woohee. Why, is something wrong?”

[Oh, really? Can you talk with me for a moment then?]

What’s this? I don’t know why, but my sister’s voice seems to be trembling a bit. As if she’s extremely nervous.

“Sure, I can. But why does your voice sound like that? It’s echoing—are you outside?”

[Not outside, I’m in a car. I’m on my way somewhere.]

“Where are you going at this hour?”

I asked without thinking much. Even though it’s a weekday, it’s well past working hours, so she’s probably meeting a friend.

However, her answer was unexpected.

[Yes, I’m going to meet Baek Seonghyun.]

“Ah, Baek Seonghyun… Wait, really? Why?”

[Well, Dad told everyone about me and Baek Seonghyun having a formal meeting, right? It seems that reached Baek Seonghyun’s ears too.]

“Yes, and?”

[So Baek Seonghyun suggested that since things have come to this, why don’t we meet one more time… I thought I should at least talk to him, so I’m heading to our meeting place.]

“…What did you say?”