“Umma! Ji!” In-Na burst into the small apartment, looking around for the two people who meant the entire life to her. “I brought back dinner. The ramen stall was bloody packed. We ran out of hands to serve the customers. Fear nothing, I’m alive!”

Jiyong shook his head, grinning at his cousin’s dramatic entrance. In-Na rested the piping hot takeaway on the square glass tabletop, eyes searching for her mother. Her lips curled into a small smile. Her mother has comfortably wrapped herself under the blankets, knitting a cashmere sweater. Having to see her mother’s serene face, washed away all the exhaustion from working.

To her relief, no trace of sadness and worry was found on her mother’s features. It has been that way since they have started a new. She hasn’t spent any waking moment, grieving. Both of their lives improved. It changed the way her mother has seen life. It changed the person inside of her.

Joy filled In-Na’s heart.

“Umma, eat!” In-Na chirped, taking out the utensils from the wooden-installed cabinets. Her mother nodded, getting out of the couch. Jiyong took out the side dishes, pushing In-Na from helping with the dinner preparation. She refused to budge. She didn’t walk away even after Jiyong has dragged her out to the living room. Jiyong tried his utmost best.

“Go and get rest!” Jiyong said in a voice that meant business. He raised his brows, poking her to move. “Twelve hours in the ramen stall. Aren’t you sick and tired of working? I’ll prepare dinner.”

“It’s just-“ She retorted, trying to enter the kitchen. Jiyong blocked the kitchen’s entrance, shoving her stubborn self from entering. He took the tattered kitchen cloth off the rack, reprimanding her. She didn’t budge, clenching her teeth in disagreement. He pressed the cloth against her face, warning her to back off.

“It’s just setting the dinner table Ji. Let me help!”

“Stubborn.”

“Over-reacting!”

“Back off kid!”

“-“

“Language!” Jiyong smirked. “Freak off, In-Na.”

"Stop trying to be all decent Ji!"

“He’s right. You should get some rest,” her mother chimed in, shaking her head in disbelief. “Enough both of you. We’ll set the table. In-Na, go watch some television. We’ll bring the food to the living room.”

“But Umma-“

“No buts.”

Jiyong smirked with a sign of victory, turning his attention to the boiling pot. In-Na grunted, cursing under her breath. It wasn’t at all surprising for her mother. Jiyong and In-Na bickered like siblings. In-Na however, listened to their advice and propped her listless body on the couch.

“Don’t you dare have any ideas on sneaking in and help,” Jiyong threatened, waving the spatula provokingly. “Because I can do things that you won’t want me to do.” Jiyong and her mother chuckled in the kitchen, understanding the ways to go about handling situations like this.

“Shut up Ji!” In-Na screamed from the living room.

Her voice tainted with irritation.  At the end, she has decided to seal her lips and not let her pride take over. She knew what Jiyong was capable of. He would call the restaurant that she works at, and ask for a favor. Favors like – cutting off her working hours from twelve hours to five. She didn’t want that to happen. She has to work hard in order to support her mother.

They have to live.