Chapter 5: Sense of Distance (2)
"Son, is your neck hurt?"
"Ah… It's a bit scratched."
"Be careful."
Her mother discovered her band-aid on the nape of her neck.
She wasn't that sick… It's slightly swollen like cupping.
It was said that she was bitten by her sister, and it was vague to make an excuse, so she covered it with a bandage, but it seems that it got into her mother's eyes.
Do you have to have this level of observation to make a living as a lecturer?
"Son, don't you want to do a part-time job?"
"Do you work?"
"You were a driver in my son's army."
"Yes."
"And winter starts tomorrow."
"…What does that matter?"
"Give me a ride when my brother goes to and from school. Since I don't use my mom's car anyway, I'll give her the keys as well. You don't know the way."
"Yes?"
I almost dropped the spoon I was holding.
…Are you asking me to be your brother's driver?
It's the location, since the building is next to my alma mater, so there's no way I wouldn't know…
"It only takes 30 minutes by bus there, so give me a ride."
"It only takes 20 minutes by car."
"It's 10 minutes, but why?"
"Even if you wear a mask in Amman, there are a lot of people on public transportation. In case you don't know yet."
Oh, that was the reason.
It's not that I don't understand, but maybe you've been overprotective, dear.
The word test taker is a cheat, but no matter what.
"And, after you were discharged, you became a bit closer with your brother."
"…Isn't it?"
"Then take this opportunity to get closer. In the end, when you go later, you rely on your brothers the most."
…I don't know what to say because it's like an experience.
Because it's not wrong again.
"…How much will you give me?"
"I'll give you 50,000 won a day."
"Well, if Winter doesn't refuse… "
Well, even if you go back and forth twice, it's about an hour and a half, but if it's 50,000 won… Not bad.
When you get the car key, it's actually a tumble escape.
"Don't worry, I already told you. He said he liked it too."
"…Why does it seem like the answer has already been decided without me knowing?"
Judging by the state of affairs, even if I had stubbornly refused, wouldn't I have been put in the driver's seat tomorrow morning?
I don't feel very refreshed because I feel like I'm being swayed by pennies.
"Then why don't you take the pocket money?"
"No. That's not it."
…Still, 50,000 won a day is sweet.
Even going to school 20 times a month is 1 million won.
It's not a penny since it's three digits.
***
"Brother, I think you can drop it off here."
"I don't know how long you've been there."
Back to school.
After a short summer vacation, I dropped my younger brother off near the front door.
Seeing her in her school uniform, she felt that time had surely passed.
I didn't know because I was crazy, but her sister's height came up to my chin.
I think it was around the chest when I enlisted.
Usually girls say that after middle school, she doesn't grow taller, but I guess that's not the case.
"School ends at 4:30, so you just have to wait in front of the mart even then."
"You don't do things like palms?"
"I will not. I'm going home right after it's over."
"… Do you have any friends?"
"Do you know that I am your brother?"
Words are harsh. I also have a friend tidy up.
I canceled the last time I contacted you because of you.
Even if I used it as a half-excuse.
"I have a friend. It's because the direction of the house is different."
"Okay? It must be a pity."
"…What are you sorry about?"
For the first time in a while, her brother put on an expression that suited his face.
It's kind of creepy to be glaring at. Is it hereditary too?
Look How frightening it is that the friends who are going to school now glance at us and then avoid us.
"I'm telling you just in case. If you run into my friends, don't act like you do to me."
"How much do you think I did wrong to you?"
"I mean, don't try to pretend to be friendly."
My family, Mr. Kim Winter, tends to treat his older brother as a very dangerous creature.
Of course, the impression is small… He has a sharp look, but he still likes college, and as long as he doesn't wrinkle his expression, he's a good-looking guy.
Personality too… He's almost at the level of an adult when he picks up his little sister from school.
"Do I look that harmful?"
"…The appearance."
"…Isn't that too much?"
In terms of harm, isn't it more harmful to her brother who hurts her brother?
Seriously, even if you pet a stray cat, it won't bite to this extent.
"Anyway. I'll go."
"Call me if you have an appointment or something happens."
"Huh."
"Call me even after your appointment."
"Why?"
"I got money, but I can't stop working. I have to go pick it up."
"…Overprotective."
"If you become an employee, you will know that the employee is concerned."
I don't get a lot of pocket money, but I still pay more than my military salary, so shouldn't I work harder than when I was in the military?
You should be loyal to your real mother rather than your motherland.
"…Late. I'll go."
"Okay, be careful with the car."
"Take care of your brother who kicks."
Her brother turned her back and took her steps, holding her bag with both hands.
Did you talk too much in front of the car? Why are your eyes so hot
She watched the back of her sister as she trudged to the front door, then pulled out of her shoulder.
***
Weird.
After being discharged, why does it feel like my personal maintenance time has decreased?
After taking her brother in the morning, eating lunch and sleeping for a while, it was 4 o'clock before I knew it.
After hurriedly washing up and putting on decent clothes, I hurriedly drove to school.
It will be 5 o'clock when I take her back, and it will be 7 o'clock soon after I eat and clean up.
After a little exercise, the day is over.
Could it be that I've been scammed?
Feeling ominous, I touched the steering wheel, and my younger brother came into view.
With two people dressed identically.
"…Ha."
"What is it, friend?"
Her brother let out a deep breath, as if tired.
Isn't it that you lose all your energy as soon as you make eye contact?
""Hello~""
A friend who was much smaller than her sister and a friend who was slightly smaller nodded.
The smaller one has a familiar face, but where did you see it?
I'm running out of memory.
"…Is it okay? I'll go."
"Wow, your eyes really look alike. Is Winter your older brother?"
"Uh? Uh, right."
"… Oppa, what kind of respect are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"No, you can't talk flatly to someone you're meeting for the first time."
Talking to a stranger is something… Aren't you reluctant to pretend to be friendly?
And Ji told me not to do anything that doesn't suit me.
"Winter is your friend?"
"Yes, I followed Kyeol-gyeol because he said he would show me."
"Me too."
"…I followed you on my own."
The younger sister pointed to her friends with a tired expression.
…I'm not a zoo elephant.
Even if it's popular, it's popular in useless places.
"I heard about Winter."
"Georeum thinks of you a lot~"
"Oh really?"
"Yes, he always talks about his brother! Yesterday too, he sang a song saying he missed you."
"…"
Her brother glared at her acquaintances with a pitiful look and climbed into the passenger seat.
Seeing the two of them giggling at that figure, even if Amman didn't notice, I could tell that he was making fun of me.
No, it was vacation until yesterday.
It's a lot longer than the time that I'm attached to after being discharged, but if I get tired of it, I don't want to see it.
"Shall we go."
"Leave them alone?"
"It doesn't matter, hurry up."
He urged me, as if asking me not to leave quickly, and then leaned over and closed the window on my side.
I awkwardly waved at my younger siblings who nodded through the window and went out on the road.
"…I have a really good relationship with my friends."
"Are you serious?"
"Of course it's nonsense."
"Ha… That's why I didn't want to show it."
Carrying the bag forward, Chu-wook and his sagged brother sighed deeply.
Jeop, it was fun when I teased him, but it's not that comfortable when the two of us become parties together.
"Why is everyone so interested in other people's families?"
"You can be curious about your friends and family."
"…What do you think your brother would do if his friend asked to see me?"
"I won't show you even if I die."
Rather than worrying about my little brother, I didn't trust them at all.
Of course, I'm not such an asshole to the point of fooling around with my friend's younger brother, but I will definitely commit to slandering me, spreading false information, and defaming my reputation in a timely manner.
"I am for the same reason."
"They look kind of nice, though."
"…Does that mean something like that even after seeing that?"
"It's just that we're friendly enough. If it wasn't for you, you would have kicked it out."
"…Somehow."
In fact, sometimes I wonder why I am so close with my high school friends.
Even if it's like eating friends if you can communicate well, there are times when you're confused whether talking with them is a conversation or a collective monologue.
But when we get together again, it's fun.
"…And oppa, what was that earlier?"
"What."
"Why did you treat your friends with respect?"
"If it's awkward, don't you use casual language?"
"Your voice sounds strange."
"You can talk a little bit like on a phone call. What do you have with it?"
"That's creepy."
"It was always that voice when I called you, but what are you talking about?"
"It's strange to hear it while looking at your face."
Seeing goosebumps growing on her arm holding her bag tight, sadism lurking in the corner of her heart crept up.
Seeing her hate that much makes her mouth itchy.
Are there any disgusting sentences that make you shudder as soon as you hear them?
Umm…
"…Brother, don't you think it's strange again?"
"No, not at all?"
"Your neck is twitching, don't lie to me."
"…Winter."
"If you say anything strange, I will bite you."
He swallowed her words with saliva.
If you put on another band-aid, you can't even make excuses.