My sister
Hey, do you want to be my friend?Sowon held Yerin's hand as they waited to be picked up by Sowon's sister, they had just gone to visit Yerin's mom in the hospital to let her know where Yerin was going to be, but the woman didn't even look to Yerin once.
"It's okay Yerin ah, she's just in a lot of pain."
"I guess so."
Seated on the benches outside, Sowon swung her legs, boredly waiting for her sister. Yerin's feet just stuck out over the edge of the seat, her legs not quite long enough to swing when seated all the way back in the seat.
"What do you usually do?"
"What do you mean?"
"When you're at home, how did it used to be?"
Yerin pouted, thinking deeply.
"Well, I'd have mom check my homework when she got back from work, brother in his room doing whatever he wanted. I'd have snacks with mom and then she'd start cooking dinner, since preparation always took long. I'd go color in my coloring book, read a book or watch tv in the living room if dad wasn't using it."
Sowon hummed, scooting closer to Yerin's side.
"The sky is getting dark."
"It is."
Yerin's hand went to hold Sowon's, her fingers wrapping around tightly.
"When you turned out the lights, I freaked out remember?"
"Yes. But you don't have to talk about it if it makes you sad."
"I want to tell you unnie, maybe you can help me."
Sowon wanted to argue that she might not be able to, being only one year older, but she kept shut to keep Yerin happy.
"The dark, was fine before. You knew, that's why it was so weird when it happened."
Nodding, Sowon pulled Yerin's hand to her lap, holding it with both her hands.
"It suddenly reminded me of when I was stuck in the closet. Mom was screaming, dad was screaming, oppa...didn't help at all."
Sowon felt a shiver pass through Yerin's small body, tucking her into a side hug, Sowon rubbed Yerin's shoulders.
"They were always fighting, and mom put me there to keep me safe? I think. But the screaming wouldn't stop, unnie."
Yerin looked up at Sowon with teary eyes.
"Why won't they stop?"
"Do you still hear them?"
Yerin shook her head a little.
"It gets louder when its dark."
Of course, Sowon knew that she would never understand what Yerin was going through exactly unless she was Yerin, but she tried her best to comfort Yerin.
"It'll be fine, they're not screaming anymore."
"But they are."
"Your dad...I'm sorry to say this, but he's probably going to jail."
Yerin didn't seem surprised, even though she had previously said she didn't want her father to be a criminal.
"I know. There's no avoiding it right?"
"Y-yea."
They sat in awkward silence, Sowon couldn't figure out what to say next, luckily a call of her name snapped their attention away.
"SOJUNG AH!"
"Unnie!"
Sowon jumped off the bench quickly and ran into her sister's open arms, getting lifted and spun in a circle, giggling a little.
"You're okay right? No injuries?"
Her sister checked her over, much like a mother would. Yerin watched from the bench.
"Unnie, we're taking Yerinnie with us."
"I know, mom called me, do you want to call her and let her know that I have you now?"
"Yea!"
Her sister smiled and handed Sowon her phone, unlocking it for the child to use. Walking Sowon back to the bench to sit and call, she turned to Yerin who was still staring.
"You're Yerinnie?"
"My name is Yerin, nice to meet you."
She made a slight bow, before looking back up at Sowon's super tall sister.
"It's nice to meet you too. If you don't mind, can I check you over? Just in case okay?"
Yerin nodded, not quite sure what Sowon's sister meant. That is, until she felt hands patting her all over, checking for any injuries.
"Wah!"
"Haha, sorry, I just wanted to make sure you didn't have any ouchies, I did find some, but they look like they're healing so I'll let them be."
Yerin felt comfortable with Sowon's sister, they were really alike, nice and pretty.
"We're going to play monopoly later, we have an ongoing game that never ends because Sojung keeps falling asleep every time."
"Sojung unnie said it was boring."
"Yah!"
Hitting Sowon's arm lightly in jest, she turned back to Yerin.
"Nono, it's super fun, besides I already kind of guessed Sojung wasn't into it, how else could you fall asleep as you wait your turn? But I assure you, its a lot of fun."
"What are you talking about unnie? It's boring! Buying houses and making me pay the max fine, it's a wonder I haven't gone bankrupt yet!"
"Well hurry and go bankrupt then! The game ends when either someone gets a monopoly or someone goes bankrupt, you know the rules."
"Well then hurry and make me bankrupt! It's not like the dice listen to me when I beg them to land me on your "Park Place" tile with max red houses!"
Yerin smiled as they bickered halfheartedly, she could tell they truly loved each other, a tear escaped her eye.
"Omo! Why are you crying? Let me hold you!"
"Unnie! I want to hold Yerin! Give her back to me!"
Sowon tugged on her sister's arms, trying to free Yerin from the clutches of her sister. Yerin just cried a little more, if only her family was as loving as this.
"Well, we should start walking to the bus stop okay?"
"Unnie? I don't have enough bus fare for Yerinnie."
"It's okay, unnie has her wallet remember?"
"You'll really pay for Yerin's bus fare?"
"Of course, what kind of sister would I be?"
"The worst!"
"YAH!"
Yerin giggled in the embrace of Sowon's sister, enjoying being carried to the bus stop.
"I can see why Sojung unnie loves you so much unnie."
"Aw, you love me Sojungie? Yerin just told me that you loved me!"
"Shush! As if I love such a nagging sister, come on, give me a hand to hold."
Although Sowon's eyes were fixed in a glare, was smiling, reaching up to hold her sister's hand which was carrying Yerin still.
"Hey, if I hold your hand, I can't carry Yerin."
"Weak! Yerin ah, give me your hand then."
"Sojung unnie, I don't think I can reach."
"Well, I'll grow taller then!"
"As if you can grow taller in a matter of seconds!"
"I didn't mean right now! The future! I meant in the future!"
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A cute cameo of Sowon's sister.
You know, writing keeps me sane. In a day, there are 24 hours, roughly 8 of that is dedicated to sleep. That leaves 16 hours left. I average at 3.5 hours of class a day, leaving 13 hours. In those 13 hours, I take roughly 1.5 out to write every day. The rest is split between my schoolwork, aka homework (oh the horror), crying over my grade(like today oh gosh I need a new tissue box) and playing games with my friends. Time management is key.
Ah well, despite my time management skills, today....is a day where I just feel like an idiot. So writing instead of studying my off rn is therapeutic. It's been a very bad day....can I please quit pretending to be a responsible adult?
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