By Zephyria 
“It’s nice to meet you. It’s the first time Si-hu has brought friends over.”
Her pronunciation was pleasant, like an announcer’s, and it struck my ears clearly.
Perhaps it was because I had heard Ban Seo-yi say that she cared for Si-hu. Despite her expression, tone, and voice being serious and stiff, she didn’t feel cold or imposing. She just seemed a bit tense, like someone nervous before their first presentation.
“I heard you’re here for a group project. Please don’t feel pressured and work comfortably. Si-hu’s room is on the second floor.”
Although her words were overly formal for speaking to her son’s friends, she did offer a kind remark. However, her expression remained rigidly set, so I couldn’t deny the possibility that I was forcing a positive interpretation.
Min Si-hu, who came out to greet us, merely nodded his head from behind his mother. Perhaps because his mother was nearby, his usual mischievous expression was completely gone, replaced by a stiff face.
The mother-son relationship, where they didn’t even make eye contact out of courtesy in front of guests, was evident. Seeing them like this, it was clear their relationship was very bad.
Just then, the housekeeper appeared with a tray of water glasses filled with ice. She also had a calm presence and moved so quietly that she exuded the aura of a wealthy madam.
“You must have been hot on the way, so please have some water. I’ll bring some snacks to Si-hu’s room later.”
“Ah, thank you for taking care of us!”
It seemed rich people used different kinds of cups too. The luxurious glass cups reflected the light from all directions. The cups were heavier than I expected. I drank the water very carefully to avoid any mistakes. The cold sensation flowed down my esophagus.
As I took a breath to adjust to the biting cold, Min Si-hu, thinking I had finished my water, led the way upstairs to the second floor. Ban Pyo-ran quickly followed him.
“Then we’ll be heading up! Thank you!”
Hurriedly placing the water glass back on the tray, I offered my thanks and was about to ascend the stairs one step behind when…
“Um…”
“Yes?”
I turned my head sharply. I thought I had misheard because the voice was so quiet. But seeing his hand retract slightly as he tried to stop me, it seemed I hadn’t misheard. Min Si-hu’s mother, who had called me to a halt, lowered her voice considerably and quickly asked.
“I’m sorry to ask this on our first meeting, but… is our Si-hu…”
Her voice trailed off, hesitant and uncertain. Min Si-hu’s mother’s eyes cautiously turned towards me.
‘Ah.’
A sigh escaped me. I was familiar with that kind of gaze.
It couldn’t be helped. It was the same look Seong Hae-min had every day.
“Is he doing well in school… and is he healthy?”
Looking at eyes like that always made my chest feel uncomfortable. A sincere gaze, heavy with a mixture of worry and affection.
‘Min Si-hu thought his mother hated him looking at him like this?’
What? An abandoned child? Regretting giving birth? It was utterly absurd.
Ban Seo-yi’s reaction suddenly made sense. Given this, it was no wonder Ban Seo-yi said it couldn’t be true!
Regarding Min Si-hu’s school life, the only thing that immediately came to mind was his poor grades, but I couldn’t badmouth someone else’s son out of the blue. I recalled good memories of Min Si-hu and embellished them as much as possible.
“Yes! He’s very active and popular with his teachers and friends!”
I answered with a bright, hearty smile. Min Si-hu’s mother let out a sigh of relief. Her cold expression softened slightly, revealing a gentle affection for her son.
“Thank you…”
“Not at all!”
I was the one who felt grateful. The situation seemed like it could be resolved easily!
After bowing again, I quickly hurried up the stairs to explain what I had experienced to Min Si-hu and Ban Pyo-ran.
As I reached the second-floor hallway, I saw Min Si-hu and Ban Pyo-ran waiting for me. Standing side-by-side, their expressions were remarkably similar. They both had eyes sparkling like loyal puppies. Two pairs of large eyes were waiting for me.
“Why are you standing there? Aren’t you going into the room?”
“What… did you talk about with Mom?”
Min Si-hu asked cautiously. I answered directly, without holding back.
“She was worried about you.”
“Ah…”
But Min Si-hu just let out a breathy chuckle. I don’t think I could ever get used to that cynical expression. Min Si-hu muttered in a low voice.
“It was an investigation, wasn’t it?”
“Huh? No!”
Why was he so negative?
I wanted to explain the situation accurately and make him understand, but the hallway wasn’t the right place for this conversation. The housekeeper had said she would bring snacks, so we should at least sit in the room and pretend to do homework.
“Let’s go into the room and talk.”
I decided to explain in detail later in the room and, intending to head straight for the room, I stopped as I passed Min Si-hu. The clean second-floor hallway had more than one or two doors.
“Which one is your room? They’re not all yours, are they?”
“Of course not.”
“Then?”
“Balcony, bathroom, guest room, my room.”
Min Si-hu pointed to each door as he listed them, but he paused at the last one.
“…And my sister’s room.”
“Sister?”
“Yeah.”
“What? You have a sister? Why didn’t you say anything!”
Min Si-hu and his sister seemed like a good match. Considering his personality, they would probably be a fun sibling pair.
Min Si-hu replied curtly.
“Ah. We’re not very close. My father is different…”
“……”
“Let’s go into the room.”
I had become the oblivious one!
My pupils trembled. I could only open and close my mouth in bewilderment.
Min Si-hu’s expression was the same as usual, but he seemed displeased. Ban Pyo-ran and I exchanged glances and followed Min Si-hu, who was walking steadily towards his room.
Deceased biological father, maternal grandfather who raised him, maternal grandmother with a bad relationship with her husband, remarriage, stepfather, half-sister. Just the enumeration of these words made Min Si-hu’s aggressive attitude somewhat understandable, but at the same time, it moved us further away from resolving the issue. My mind was in turmoil.
“Wow… the room is big!”
As Ban Pyo-ran exclaimed, Min Si-hu’s room was spacious and neat. The light blue walls and dark brown wood-grain tile flooring created a cool atmosphere. In the corner of the bed, where a dark blue comforter, possibly a gift from Jeon Jae-hyung, was neatly arranged, sat an orange Bboongyi doll incongruously.
“Wow! It’s awesome!”
Ban Pyo-ran exclaimed after looking around the room. I followed her gaze and also let out a sigh of admiration.
“Oh…”
On one wall, instead of books, the bookshelf was densely packed with CD albums. There was also a section filled with cassette tapes, though rare. It seemed he had a strong interest in music, given he was in a band in middle school.
“Did you collect all of these yourself?”
“Ugh! You must have gone through a lot to collect all this.”
Ban Pyo-ran rifled through the CD albums with a look of wonder. A massive radio with a built-in CD player and cassette player was also set up. Next to it, on a neat black stand, sat a guitar meticulously cared for, free of even a speck of dust.
While we were looking around the room, Min Si-hu pulled out a small folding table from a corner and placed it on the rug.
Once we finished looking around, we sat down on the plush rug. I casually spread out the books I’d brought on the round table, pretending to do homework.
With the brief tour and preparations complete, and Min Si-hu taking a seat opposite us, a silence fell. Everyone just stared blankly, their faces screaming, ‘What do we do now?’
I tried to lighten the mood and spoke up cheerfully.
“Your mother, when I first met her, she seemed like a nice person…”
“She might seem that way on the outside.”
But Min Si-hu’s reply was cold. Why had I said that? It felt like I’d stirred up trouble for no reason, so I shut my mouth. His curt reactions about his own mother made it difficult to bring up anything else.
As I fell silent, we were plunged into a collective quiet.
If you ask for help and then act like this, what am I supposed to do?
I didn’t know what to say. As I constantly remind myself, I wasn’t good at human relationships. I could solve five difficult math problems for the college entrance exam, but this was beyond me.
However, I couldn’t give up. I opened my mouth again.
“Um… Min Si-hu.”
“Yeah.”
“You said your mother dislikes you.”
“As you can see.”
“Well, I’m being careful because I don’t know anything about your situation… but from my perspective, that doesn’t seem right.”
“What doesn’t seem right?”
“Your mother doesn’t dislike you.”
Min Si-hu’s face stiffened uncomfortably. Who was he if not his mother’s son? The image of his mother’s awkward, stiff face from earlier flashed in my mind.
A suffocating silence followed. I wanted to explain what happened before we climbed the stairs, but it was difficult even to start. I nervously scanned their faces.
“Wait. I have a question!”
Just then, Ban Pyo-ran, who had been deep in thought, suddenly raised his hand. All eyes turned to him. Granted the floor, Ban Pyo-ran slowly lowered his hand and asked,
“Hae-jun, why do you think that? That Si-hu’s mother doesn’t seem to dislike him?”
I’m so glad I brought Ban Pyo-ran!
“Well, you see, earlier, as we were about to go up the stairs, your mother…”
I seized the opportunity and quickly explained in detail what had happened on the stairs. How she asked about Min Si-hu and worried about him. The look of someone who genuinely cared.
“……”
However, Min Si-hu remained silent, showing no reaction even after hearing the whole story. As I fidgeted nervously, Ban Pyo-ran raised his hand again, drawing attention.
“I have another question!”
Ban Pyo-ran’s gaze turned to Min Si-hu.
“What do you want to do with your mother?”