I was walking around the park with Sung Byul. We were finished with our work and with us being neighbors as an addition, we just walk home. Everything was the way it usually was…until…

“Oh, unnie!”

“Hm? Mi Na-ya?” Sung Byul spoke while looking at someone.

I looked at where she was looking and I saw a very cute girl. Her hair was black, tied into a ponytail, wearing a pink sweatshirt, some denim shorts, white shoes, and a green apron. Knowing Sung Byul for a short while, I never knew who her other friends were, even her relatives.

“Who’s she?” I asked.

“Ah…she’s my little sister.” Sung Byul answered.

“Hello, unnie~” Mi Na smiled and bowed at me.

“Yes, hello…” I bowed back.

“Unnie, you look tired these days because of work. So I went grocery shopping with some pocket money to cook for you. I did a good job, right?” Mi Na said cutely, showing a basket full of groceries.

I wowed. Sung Byul responded with a ‘good job’ and Mi Na gave her very hearth-warming smile. Sung Byul went to her little sister and said:

“We’ll be off, Min Seo. Mi Na-ya needs my company.”

The thing is that I am jealous. As soon as I knew Sung Byul had Mi Na for a little sister, that attitude came out. I was always jealous of close friends or acquaintances that have younger sisters. It’s because I only have two bossy and nosy older sisters. Not only that, they were so lazy that they would greet me with nothing but their undergarments on with a very messy living room.

“Yah, Min Seo! Where’s the chicken?” Min Yeon, her eldest sister, asked while she was sprawled on the floor watching ‘Descendants of the Sun’ on the TV.

“I didn’t buy chicken because you agreed to buy food for all of us tonight.” I said back.

“What the actual [email protected] ?! We don’t have dinner~!!” Min Hyeong whined.

“Min Yeon-unnie promised.” I mumbled.

“Yah. I’m a busy woman and whether you accept this or not, I’m not the same Choi Min Yeon who keeps promises frequently. I told you that you should always have instincts to buy food if you’re not busy,” said Min Yeon.

“Why do I always have to do it? First of all, I have a lot of work more than both of your jobs combined. Second, why do I always have to do it!? Let Min Hyeong-unnie do it this time.” I reasoned.

“You’re the youngest so you listen to EVERY word we say. You’re the youngest so you’re the only one who needs to be tasked. And now, I tell you to buy chicken!!” Min Hyeong-unnie yelled.

“Yeah! Buy us some chicken!!” Min Yeon-unnie backed her up.

I snickered. I grabbed two pillows and spanked their heads with them. I may be a respectful dongsaeng but this has gone far enough.

“Here’s the chicken, here’s the chicken!” I yelled while I spanked their heads for the second time.

Min Yeon-unnie and Min Hyeong-unnie grabbed their own pillows and spanked me so hard. I flinched, almost wanting to cry.

“You hit us?!” Min Yeon-unnie yelled.

“Get out! Aish!! Get out!!!” Min-Hyeong yelled and spanked me again.

As of now, I felt so hopeless. Naturally, I would be going nuts and cry my heart out because of what they did to me but now…I couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

*CLICK*

I opened the door and the lights. I looked at the surroundings and smirked for it was my own mansion. Yes, I am a wealthy single lady. As I went inside and rest on the big sofa, I remembered how I lived and how I got this wonderful home.

+++

Ten years ago, despite of the endless riches our family had, there was a limit to that. My father died when I finished high school. We weren’t that rich anymore yet Min Yeon-unnie had a job at that time, supporting Min Hyeong-unnie and I in our studies, giving Min Hyeong-unnie almost everything while I almost got nothing. Eomma realized it too late but for me, it wasn’t too late. As a result, Eomma cut Min Yeon-unnie’s losses and gave her share to me. Because of that, Min Yeon-unnie left our home. Eomma became depressed with us incomplete. Min Hyeong-unnie blamed me for what I have done but I told myself otherwise. But then came a time that Eomma was so sick. I called my sisters to help me get her to the hospital but they gave me the cold shoulder. So I had to do everything again. I asked Eomma to let me use her savings to pay for the hospital rent but as I got to it, the money was all gone. Credits…savings…insurances…they were all consumed completely, not leaving a single cent. I wondered of that and then Eomma said:

“How could I’ve been a fool?”

“Eomma…”

“I gave and trusted your sisters the access to my account. How…how could they do this to me? What have I done wrong to make them do that to us…?” She cried so hard.

I shook my head and hugged Eomma. It’s not her fault. I sighed and had to be strong for her. I put a lot of effort every day, studying while working at almost every job due to my connections and opportunities. I took ALL, studied in the day and worked at night. My body would give in from all the stress and work but this was all for Eomma to be well.

“Min Seo-ah…” She called.

“Ne, Eomma?” I asked and sat next to her.

“Min Seo-ah…I know you’re doing this for me…but it has cost you your life. You don’t have to work. You only need to go to school and study.”

“How can I not work hard when I’m so close to healing you? I got to make sure that you will be healed and be out of this hospital. I will make sure all of your hardwork and Appa’s death mean something-“

“Min Seo-ah!” I flinched at Eomma’s yell and decided to obey.

“Your father would never want this for you. He expected a lot from you and you will become the woman you are now?” She asked me.

 “Eomma…I…”

“Your Appa might’ve never lasted for long but…he always wanted one thing from you…” She went closer and hugged me.

“He wanted you to love and have love…” She added, leaving me speechless.

I sighed again and hugged Eomma back. It’s what I have done already. I love Eomma. I love Appa. I even cared for my elder sisters despite of the mistreatment. But…why do I feel that what I’ve done isn’t enough?

“Eomma…it’s what I’ve done…I’ve already done it…” I mumbled.

“I know, my Min Seo. Don’t you ever stop that…” She said again.

“Ne.”

“Can you promise me one thing?” She asked me.

“What is it, Eomma?” I asked.

“Be a good girl and read this letter when it’s time.” She said, giving me an envelope.

I nodded again. She held my face, kissed my forehead, and hugged me. I huff my breath, resisting the urge to cry, and hugged her back. It has been one heck of a ride in my life. I may have everything but sometimes it’s not enough. Also, there are circumstances blocking me but then, I have to face them correctly.

“Min Seo-ya…sleep here with me in the hospital this time.” She pleaded.

Usually, I sleep in my random apartment to give Eomma some peace. But with her request, I couldn’t say no. I nodded and stayed by the windowsill. She asked me if I was comfortable and I nodded. At this time, she’d sleep so I wanted to watch her over.

“Good night, Eomma…"

The death of my mother was drastic. I never thought it would really be the last time that I would see her, hear her, even feel her. As usual, I called for my unnies to help with the earnings for the vigil and then it was ALL ON ME again. They came but paid no heed to the essence of this vigil and only came to see their friends which I also invited. For my friends, they also came. They supported me financially and emotionally and I thanked them. My unnies were on the farthest table while I was near the coffin where my friends and I drank some soju.

“Are you really considering your sisters again, Min Seo?” Yeon Ra asked me.

“Yes. I made my parents a promise.” I replied.

“Don’t ask that again. We don’t want Auntie and Uncle to be disturbed in this. Let’s talk something else,” said Ri An.

‘Thanks for that, Ri An.’ I thought.

“Are you still taking your offers, Min Seo?” She asked.

“Yeah. Even though the chances are less, I’m still going for it. It has been my goal, you know?” I answered.

“Woah~ the next time you get another raise, you treat us, okay?” Yeon Ra joined in.

“How could I forget you guys?” I asked and clanked our glasses.

I was true about it. How could I forget my friends who treated me like family? They were older than me, not as much as my unnies, but they cared for me like I was their sister too. And yes, I followed those opportunities and was at the top of my game. I would be caring less of what my unnies are and what they did but I would be so selfish. I wouldn’t want that at all. 

My unnies and I care for ourselves and each other. Eomma and Appa’s will was made for my unnies and I couldn’t argue. But eventually, they didn’t use everything well. The funds that would last them for a lifetime went zero in less than a week. With that, the both of them lived in my apartment. I obliged to give the place to them and I worked my life to get my own place. Despite of that, they call me all the time and I became the same youngest sister ten years ago. I met Park Sung Byul in my main business and we became friends. I even knew her sister Mi Na and she was really sweet and caring towards her unnie. If only I was like that too…

+++

I woke up on a doorbell. I yawned and remembered all those things but now, I face the present. I went to the door and felt a little angry. Maybe it was two hells of sisters coming here.

“Yah! The next time you’re coming here and calling me, I should hit you guys properly with a stake!” I yelled while opening the door.

I took a full look on the person outside and stopped saying . I gulped and regained my composure to ask the mysterious woman.

“Aigoo…who are you?”

“Good evening, Miss Choi. I’m from SK Telecom and have come here at your household for an important offer. You have won our promo for this. And based on your account, it seems that you will really love this.” She said, handing me a flyer.

“What is this? P101 Insurance Company…I.O.I Care Center…?” I asked, reading the flyer.

“P101 Insurance Company has been working for the past three years, taking care of 101 female children from broken families, poor families, and such. As of its final year in service, only 11 children were left while the rest of them already found new families. The company has been bankrupt and the children were transferred at the I.O.I Care Center invested by SK Telecom. Now, due to I.O.I Care Center’s termination, we decided to have this offer to all our telecom users.”

“Is this a long-term offer?” I asked.

“Due to fewer users declining this offer, we have conducted a survey. Of the 11 children, each of them will be evaluated by the 11 accepts from the winning users. This will last for one year with one child per month and with the last month for decision-making.”

“So…I have to pick a child that I wanted to adopt? Is that the real deal of this offer?” I asked again.

“Correct. With the 11 children at your disposal every month, you will pick one to adopt. She will stay on your household and hold your family name as your younger sister.”

“Wait a minute! I will have a younger sister?” I asked, my eyes gleaming.

“Yes. If you accept this offer, you’ll get a discount for each child on your telecom bills in every evaluation and you can have your dream younger sister starting tomorrow,” she said.

She gave me a box. She also told me of every detail and I agreed to it finally. She thanked me and left. I looked at the box and looked at the flyer with the picture of the eleven children. They were all so cute and one even looked like Sung Byul’s sister. I smiled and was excited yet I was nervous. And I know, starting from the very moment I accepted the box, my life was going to be a little twisted…in a good way.