Ch.9696. Three-Way Confrontation

“What? Siwoo’s older brother… I mean, your brother-in-law came to Korea?”

Though since we’re not married yet, calling him brother-in-law seems premature. But pointing that out would be meaningless. I calmed my surprised heart and responded.

“Hmm, that’s what I heard.”

“When, when did he arrive?”

“Wait, let me see… Ah, he arrived this evening.”

“This evening… that wasn’t long ago at all! No, it wasn’t just recently—it hasn’t even been a few hours!”

Of course that would be the case. I nodded in agreement, and Hwa Nabi’s face gradually turned pale. Eventually, she turned completely blue and her eyes trembled.

Why is she suddenly acting like this? The news of my brother’s return was unexpected and I was surprised too, but… seeing Hwa Nabi more shocked than me and making such a fuss actually made me calm down instantly.

“Why are you making such a big deal out of this? Just calm down first. Someone might think it’s your sister returning, not my brother.”

“Oh, come on. Siwoo, think about it. If your brother returns after a long time and finds out his younger brother is away traveling with me… what will he think of me?”

“Well, what do you think he’ll think?”

“Won’t he think I’m some woman who’s bewitched his brother Siwoo and prevented him from seeing his brother? I’d rather have my own sister return a hundred times over…!”

“……”

Is this really such a big issue? I somewhat understand what she’s worried about, but isn’t she getting ahead of herself? If he had given us advance notice about his return, we would have obviously postponed our travel plans.

Coming to Korea without saying anything and then getting upset because his brother isn’t home—that would make him an unreasonable person.

It’s been over two years since I last saw him, and honestly my memory is a bit hazy so I can’t be certain.

The last image I have of my brother isn’t of someone uptight as Hwa Nabi imagines. How should I put it… he’s actually easy to get along with, but also has a somewhat slick side to him.

“Hwa Nabi, I understand why you’re anxious, but there’s no need to worry so much. My brother isn’t that narrow-minded.”

I took her hand as she fidgeted nervously and smiled gently. I could see her shifting gaze gradually steadying.

I gently stroked the back of her hand to calm her. Eventually, Hwa Nabi regained her composure and, seeming a bit embarrassed, avoided my gaze and mumbled.

“…That’s a relief then.”

She was making such a fuss earlier, but now she’s suddenly so docile—it’s actually quite cute.

I smiled unconsciously, and Hwa Nabi glanced at me with slightly narrowed eyes. With her cheeks flushed, she only looked more lovable.

“Well then… shall we get back to our date?”

“…Yes, let’s do that.”

She nodded shyly.

*

Later, after our trip ended.

Upon returning to my family home, before I could even recover from the travel fatigue, I had a three-way meeting with my father and brother.

Though calling it a three-way meeting makes it sound serious, it was probably just to catch up on conversations we couldn’t have before.

Anyway, the location was the same home office as before.

Father sat in the main seat on the sofa, while my brother and I sat facing each other beside him.

“Wow, the coffee smells amazing. Did you brew it yourself, Father?”

That was my brother’s assessment after taking a sip of coffee, having entered after Father.

In response to my brother’s question, Father silently looked at me, and following his gaze, my brother tilted his head.

“Siwoo, did you make this?”

“Huh? Ah, yes. I did.”

“Really? Well done. You could be a barista.”

I don’t mean to disrespect baristas, but it was a strange compliment to be genuinely happy about. My brother continued to express admiration while taking a few sips of coffee, and Father followed suit.

After this unexpected tea time, my brother, who had quickly emptied his cup, spoke up.

“Father, about Siwoo. He’s entering university the week after next, right?”

“…Wait, why bring that up? That’s something you could discuss over message or phone.”

I had planned to just listen, but the unexpected topic made me interject without thinking.

I immediately regretted it, but neither my brother nor Father seemed upset. Father quietly sipped his coffee, and my brother actually seemed pleased that I joined in.

“What are you saying? This is about my only brother’s future—we should discuss it face to face. Don’t you agree, Father?”

“Hmm… that’s right. These things should be discussed in person to deepen our bond.”

“……”

With two adults older than me saying so… as the youngest in the family, I had nothing to say. As I was just licking my lips awkwardly, my brother continued.

“Siwoo’s university is at Gwanaksan Station, and it takes at least two hours by car from here to get there.”

As my brother said, the rush hour highways near the metropolitan area are truly congested. With a bit of exaggeration, you can’t tell if it’s a road or a parking lot.

That’s why there’s a common joke that it’s faster to grab your passport and go to Japan than to drive from Gyeonggi Province to Gangnam.

“Taking the subway would be a bit faster, but you know, Father? Line 2 during rush hour is absolute hell.

“…How do you know that, brother? Have you ever taken the subway?”

“What? Don’t you remember? I took the subway when I was in university… because Father absolutely refused to let me live on my own.”

After saying that, my brother gave Father a pointed look, and Father avoided his gaze while sipping coffee. Apparently there was something between them that I didn’t know about.

“Ah… right, that’s true.”

“Yeah, do you know how much I suffered because of Father? I had four 8 AM classes a week due to a failed course registration, the traffic was terrible, and I couldn’t live on my own. The first semester of freshman year, every morning was a battle.”

My brother seemed to reminisce about the past for a moment, then shuddered. Seeing him frown deeply and mutter, it must have been a truly unpleasant memory.

“…What’s the big deal? They say hardship in youth is worth buying… From that perspective, Jiwoo, you should be grateful to Father…”

“Come on, didn’t you once say ‘Three hours at your age is equivalent to thirty years at our age’? Then how much time did I waste because of you, Father?”

“We’ll be seeing dinosaurs next,” my brother muttered, looking at me and then back at Father.

In response to my brother’s words dripping with resentment, Father just cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Anyway… let’s put the past behind us, Father. Isn’t one person suffering like that enough?”

“They say raising children is thankless work, and here you are talking back to the parents who brought you into this world now that you’ve grown up a bit. Fine, fine. So what is it that you want to say, Jiwoo?”

As my brother fired off his words, Father finally shook his head and asked for my brother’s opinion. Essentially surrendering. Satisfied, my brother nodded and set down his coffee cup.

“What else? I’m saying we should let Siwoo live on his own.”

“Hmm, living alone. The monthly rental places near the school must be all taken by now.”

“Still, if we look around enough, we should find something, right? If not, we can go somewhere a bit more expensive. Since students’ financial situations are all similar, the more expensive places are usually more available.”

“You and Siwoo would know better about that than an old person like me. You young people can handle finding a place.”

“Come on, Father, what does your age matter? These days people live to be a hundred, and you’re just in your early fifties—you’re still in your prime!”

“You were talking back earlier, and now you’re suddenly full of flattery.”

I was dumbfounded that they were proceeding without including me, the person concerned, but I didn’t really have anything to say.

In truth, it makes sense to move out at around twenty. I’ve lived alone before, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

As I was thinking this to myself, both Father and my brother’s gazes suddenly fixed on me. They were asking for my opinion.

“Siwoo, what do you think?”

“Huh, my thoughts?”

“Yes, ultimately your opinion is what matters. We’re not forcing you, so if you don’t want to, you don’t have to. Commuting from home is fine too.”

“Ah, yes. Then I…”

Just as I was about to answer, I suddenly stopped. Something was bothering me.

…Hwa Nabi.

My fiancée and… girlfriend.

Living alone would shorten my commute time, which would be good, but wouldn’t that also increase the physical distance between Hwa Nabi and me?

They say when bodies grow apart, hearts naturally follow, and the thing couples should avoid most is growing distant from each other.

Distance inevitably creates gaps.

“Siwoo?”

As I just moved my lips without speaking, my brother looked at me with a puzzled expression. But I couldn’t answer quickly. I wondered if I should make such an important decision on my own.

Sensing my complex feelings, my brother gently suggested:

“Well, living alone isn’t an easy decision… so it’s hard to answer right away? Why don’t you take some time and think about it slowly?”

“Hmm… I think I should.”

I looked at Father as I mumbled this. Father didn’t say anything, but his silence was his answer.

“Alright, then think about it carefully and let us know later. If it’s difficult to tell Father, you can just tell me.”

*

After leaving the office, I looked out the window.

The March sky was incredibly blue, but unlike the scenery, my feelings were very complicated and tangled.

“Living alone…”

People who haven’t experienced it tend to think living alone is all good, but once you actually do it, the pros and cons become quite clear.

Of course, everyone’s circumstances are different so I can’t generalize, but in my case, the advantage would be the shorter commute time, allowing me to use my time more efficiently.

And the disadvantage would be having less time to meet Hwa Nabi.

In truth, without much need for deep contemplation, my heart is clearly leaning toward Hwa Nabi… but giving up the benefits of living alone had many regrettable aspects.

I looked at the pocket containing my phone. I have my brother’s number saved, so with just one call, things could progress quickly. That’s why I’m conflicted.

If I decide to live alone, I’d have to stay there for at least one semester due to the contract period.

“Hmm…”

After pondering for a long time, I finally took my phone in hand.

“…I should ask her directly.”