Ring.

As the front door opened with a sound, Jae’s body immediately collapsed onto the bed.

She didn’t know how she had endured today. Her head was throbbing and felt like it was about to burst.

Jae buried her face in the pillow.

‘See, Jae. Even if you run away like this, we’ll meet again.’

Why, of all places. Why did she meet her there? Why…

After returning from the seminar room, Jae’s face had turned pale, and Su Bin approached and asked.

“Jae, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“Deputy Han. Do you know about Woo Yeon Entertainment by any chance?”

“I know. That’s the company Park Tae In is signed with.”

‘Park Tae In.’ As his name flowed casually from someone else’s mouth, Jae bit her lower lip hard.

Why hadn’t she known?

“I heard he’s a hot new actor these days. They say he might even be selected as our group’s model this time.”

She had no idea at all.

Park Tae In had briefly worked as a model during college. But she never imagined he would have ventured into acting afterwards.

Once, he was truly a good younger brother to Jae.

Tae In, who used to comfort her when she was struggling because of her mother and elder sister Ga Yeon, was the only person Jae trusted.

* * *

At fourteen, she got a new family.

She met Park Ga Yeon, who was two years older, and Park Tae In, who was a year younger, for the first time.

Both of them were such good people to Jae.

“Jae. This is elder sister Ga Yeon, and this is Tae In. Our Jae must be happy. You got an elder sister and a younger brother.”

Jae nodded at her uncle’s words.

Having a family also meant the end of the gloomy life she had been living with just her mother.

Her mother, who used to get angry at Jae at the slightest provocation, started smiling a lot more after remarrying. The relationship between her uncle and mother was also very good.

However, that ended after just 3 months.

Only 3 months was all it took.

Her uncle had started several small businesses, and whenever a business failed, he would take out all his anger on her mother. Even just hearing the sounds from behind the tightly closed door, she could feel how much her mother was struggling. And the fights between the two became more and more frequent.

“Where are you going at this hour again?”

“Are you being jealous? When you’re in business, you might come home late sometimes, why are you like this? Really, it’s such a turn-off!”

“It should only be once or twice. You’ve completely changed since marrying me. We fight every day. You abuse me when you drink, and I feel like I’m dying trying to take care of your children too.”

“You came to me knowing all that. So why, do you regret it now?”

Whenever their voices grew louder, Jae would tightly cover Tae In’s ears as he trembled in fear.

“Elder sister. I’m scared.”

“It’s okay, Tae In. It’s okay.”

To Jae, Tae In was truly a precious younger brother. Because he was someone she could lean on together in these situations.

Ga Yeon came home late every day. Even so, there was no one who worried and told her to come home early. They were people who prioritized their own happiness over their children’s.

Nothing changed on Children’s Day.

Even on a day when all children should be happy and joyful, the parents spent time on their own and weren’t by their children’s side.

Her uncle wasn’t home because he was busy working, and her mother was sleeping with the door closed, saying everything was bothersome. It was Jae who spent Children’s Day with Tae In.

“Tae In.”

“Yes?”

“Close your eyes. Elder sister will give our Tae In a present.”

“A present?”

As Tae In looked at Jae with his eyes wide open, Jae grinned and covered his eyes with her palm.

“Now, hold out your hand.”

As Tae In held out his small hand, Jae took something out of her pocket and placed it on his palm.

As Jae slowly lowered her hand, Tae In’s eyes sparkled and shone. It was the most popular card at elementary schools these days.

“Wow, I really wanted this.”

“Really? Elder sister saved up her allowance to buy it for you.”

“Thank you, elder sister!”

Although there was only a year’s difference between them, she hoped Tae In would be happy. She hoped this child would always smile.

As the relationship between their parents deteriorated, the teenage Ga Yeon’s misbehavior also gradually worsened.

Her uncle stayed out more and more often, busy with his business, and her mother, who had to handle all the housework alone, seemed to be struggling as she would suddenly burst into anger while preparing meals, or while watching television.

Every time this happened, Tae In and Jae would startle and watch their mother’s mood carefully.

“Eat your meal.”

Jae, who was playing with Tae In in the room, said.

“Tae In. Let’s go eat quickly.”

“Okay, elder sister.”

The two came out of the room and sat at the table excitedly, but their faces soon turned glum.

The same side dishes every day. Kimchi, fried egg, and seaweed were all there was.

Nevertheless, Jae ate her meal without complaint. She knew that if she complained, she might not even be able to eat this meal. But Tae In wasn’t so flexible.

“The side dishes are always the same. I want to eat meat…”

At Tae In’s words, their mother put down the spoon she was holding with a clatter and snatched away the rice bowl that Jae was eating from deliciously.

“Mom…”

“Han Jae, don’t eat.”

She always scolded Jae.

“Why are you taking away elder sister’s food? I’m the one who complained. Give elder sister’s food back.”

At Tae In’s words, their mother spoke while stuffing kimchi into her mouth.

“It’s the elder sister’s fault for not managing her younger sibling properly. So Han Jae, you’re going to starve.”

Tears welled up in Jae’s eyes at her mother’s cold behavior, but Jae quickly swallowed her tears.

Tae In, feeling bad that his elder sister’s rice bowl had gone into the sink, pushed his own rice bowl to the center and said.

“Elder sister, I’m sorry. It’s because of me.”

“No, Tae In. Elder sister is full.”

“I’m sorry… Ma’am, I—”

“Am I just the housekeeper who cooks for you?”

“Pardon…?”

“How long are you and your elder sister going to call me ‘ma’am’? I’ve been living with your father for 8 months now. And yet, I’m still just ‘ma’am’ to you!”

Finally, their mother exploded and shouted, causing Tae In to burst into tears.

Ring. The front door opened, and Ga Yeon, who came home close to 10 PM, looked at Tae In crying at the table and said.

“Did you make him cry?”

It wasn’t out of concern for Tae In. It was an attempt to find fault with her new mother, Hyun Joo, somehow.

“What?”

“I asked if you made him cry.”

“You come home just before 10 and that’s the first thing you say? Don’t make a fuss and just sit down and eat. All of you—”

“Damn it.”

Ga Yeon threw all the side dishes on the table onto the floor and shouted.

“How can I eat when you serve this beggar’s food every day!”

“What?”

“I came home late because I can’t stand seeing you act all nice only when Dad’s around. You’re just like a typical stepmother.”

Unable to hold back anymore, their mother’s hand rose up.

It was from then on.

That Park Ga Yeon’s behavior became even worse.

It started with small arguments at first, and after their mother hit her once, she began to interfere with everything their mother did.

If she set the table, Ga Yeon would overturn it. She would embarrass her mother in front of others, and when her uncle came home, she would wail and cry, making her mother out to be the bad person and causing a scene.

“I can’t live like this anymore. Really… It’s so hard because of Ga Yeon.”

“She’s just going through puberty, the business I’m doing now is going well. If you endure a little more, I’ll hire someone to help around the house then. Hyun Joo, just hang in there a little longer.”

Her uncle didn’t understand her mother’s struggles at all.

Whenever her uncle wasn’t around, her mother would come out to the living room every night and drink.

Every time the strong smell of alcohol permeated the entire house, it made her feel sick to her stomach.

Seeing her mother bringing the bottle to her lips with glazed eyes always made Jae terribly afraid.

Afraid that something might happen to her mother.

“…Mom.”

At the sound of Jae’s voice, her mother’s head, drunk on alcohol, slowly lifted.

“It’s… all because of you. If only you hadn’t existed. If only you hadn’t done that back then, I… wouldn’t be living like this. Your very existence is misfortune.”

“Sob… Mom. It’s all my fault.”

She doesn’t know what she did wrong.

But she has to apologize. Without even knowing the reason.

Hoping her mother’s anger would subside quickly.

Every time this happened, it was Tae In who comforted Jae crying in the corner.

“Elder sister. Don’t cry.”

“Tae In…”

Tae In would burst into tears along with her and comfort Jae. At those times, she prayed that her mother would become kind.

She hoped that the next day, her mother would smile at her.

She thought it would be nice if her mother treated her well, like other mothers do.

As time passed, the rebellious behavior of the teenage Ga Yeon reached its peak, and one day, Ga Yeon overturned all the food that her mother had spent half a day preparing for her uncle’s birthday.

Unable to bear it any longer, her mother sat on the floor and wept loudly.

Tae In cleaned up the food spilled on the floor, and Jae hugged her wailing mother.

“Please…! Stop it! I said stop!”

“If you’re so unhappy, then leave. I don’t want someone like you to be our mother.”

“What should I do for you to stop? What should I do!”

“You don’t have to do anything, just leave. Get out of our house right now.”

Her mother wiped her tear-stained face with the back of her hand and looked at Jae who was hugging and comforting her.

“If you’re so angry and irritated! Instead of ruining the mood in the house, take it out on her! Even without you, I feel like I’m dying!”

Jae’s surprised eyes and Ga Yeon’s interested eyes met.

It was from then on.

Starting with her mother’s words, Jae became the target of Ga Yeon’s anger.

She tormented Jae every single day without fail. Even if she begged while crying. Even if she told her to stop. Ga Yeon would just sneer.

“Elder sister, please…”

“I don’t want to do this either. But Mom says so. She says not to ruin the mood in the house and take it out on you instead. Turns out I’m pretty good at listening to my stepmother, Jae.”

There was no reason for her to torment her.

Just because she was in a bad mood.

Just because she wanted to torment her. That was all.

And exactly when Jae turned nineteen, she was able to be free from Ga Yeon.

When Ga Yeon went to a university in the countryside, she naturally moved out, and the atmosphere in the house gradually improved.

Of course, she experienced hell again during the holidays, but still, she felt at ease. Just being able to be apart from her for a while.

* * *

As the sound announcing the new year was heard from the large electronic display, Jae and Tae In began to shout the countdown together.

“Ding! Congratulations, Tae In.”

They welcomed Tae In’s first twenty years together.

Tae In was so happy about becoming an adult that he hugged Jae tightly. Jae also patted Tae In’s back.

“Sincerely congratulations on turning twenty, our Tae In.”

“Thank you, elder sister. I’m so happy I could welcome my first twenty years with you.”

“Me too, I’m so happy. Thank you, Tae In. For becoming my younger brother.”

At Jae’s words, Tae In met her gaze.

“Elder sister, are you happy that I’m your younger brother?”

“Of course. Whenever I was struggling because of Mom and elder sister, you always comforted me. I don’t know what would have happened to me if it weren’t for you.”

Jae smiled.

The bruise marks visible on her neck pained Tae In. He unwrapped his scarf and put it around Jae’s neck, saying.

“I’m an adult now too. Back then, I was too young to protect you and always watched like a bystander, but now I’ll protect our elder sister.”

Jae stood on her tiptoes and stroked her younger brother’s hair.

“What do you mean bystander, I always felt so reassured because you were always behind me, always holding my hand warmly.”

“I promise, elder sister. I’ll stay by your side for life.”

Jae said with her eyes crinkling.

“Your future girlfriend will be jealous. Even if it’s not for life, I’m grateful just for you being here like this always.”

As she burst into a bright smile, Tae In smiled along.

“Come here.”

As he slightly opened his arms, Jae naturally linked arms with her younger brother and smiled.