“Wow! Mom, dumpling soup! Yay!”
Actually, I didn’t really like dumpling soup.
When the dumpling skin bursts, it makes the broth taste murky, and since you can’t stop eating the bone broth once it’s been boiled, I guess I got sick of mom’s beef bone soup without realizing it.
So I preferred clear broth rice cake soup instead.
Especially the one packed with beef.
“Our princess~ Did you miss homemade meals?”
But if it’s the dumpling soup that mom makes for the New Year’s Day,
I can joyfully eat it with a wonderfully exaggerated reaction about how much I missed it—this is true filial piety of our time…
“What? Did Mom make the dumplings?”
“Yes! How is it? Isn’t it pretty? They say if you make dumplings beautifully, you’ll have a beautiful daughter, just like our Do-hee and Do-ah, all of them were made prettily by mom—”
“Oh, just use the store-bought ones.”
Store-bought dumplings are less likely to burst and tastier.
Ugh, I can already tell this is going to end up with skins bursting and the broth turning murky.
Ugh!
“Honey, it’s a nice day. Put the ladle down.”
“Mom is being patient…”
I took the dumplings out into a separate bowl, separating the skins from the filling.
This dumpling skin?
The kind you find at the supermarket.
The flour taste is way too strong.
Nope, not eating!
“Sigh… That daughter of mine comes home after a long time and hasn’t changed at all.”
“It hasn’t been that long, has it? I came home for New Year’s just a month ago?”
“Your tone.”
“Mom, they say if a person changes, it’s an omen of death. I want to be with my mom and dad for life. I’m a good daughter… Bye now.”
“Good daughter, good daughter.”
It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, yet how could you speak so harshly?
“Mom, you always call me princess, but you speak so harshly to me… It really hurts my heart…”
“Don’t say another word.”
“Now I have to talk to Dad. Dad.”
“Mom, please hold on…”
While Do-ah was holding onto mom’s sleeve, I looked at Dad.
“Uh, but Dad. Have you lost some weight?”
Just a little, but I think he has since the New Year.
I wondered if Dad could finally hide those beer belly and age pounds, but his face did seem a bit slimmer.
As someone who checks my weight every day, I noticed right away.
“Oh, really? How did you know? I’ve been trying to stay in shape for our Do-hee, you know. I quit drinking, changed my diet, and even go to the apartment gym with your mom every evening. We go hiking on weekends.”
I figured that’d be the case.
“Yeah? Mom should join in too.”
I gave Mom a thumbs up.
Of course, she didn’t seem to have lost any weight.
Honestly, Mom has always been pretty slim anyway.
That’s the sad part.
I want to send some love to Mom.
My heart feels sad…
“But you thought about it well. It’s not just because he’s our dad; Dad’s actually good-looking, and if he just manages a bit, he’d look great. Just look at those celebrities nowadays? Age really doesn’t show? If our dad managed himself well, he wouldn’t look out of place in his thirties.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, ask Mom.”
“I did marry him because of his face.”
Dad smiles adorably, though he’s nearing fifty.
Looks like he’s been quite conscious about his age.
“More than me.”
“Both Mom and Dad, I’ll even recommend a dermatologist, so we should go together once on the weekend. I’ll cover the cost.”
“Oh no, that’s too wasteful. Does our daughter have that much money?”
“Not really, but I can earn more in the future.”
In reality, I had plenty.
I had almost bought a whole house for my mom.
I mean, who would do this job if the singer who won the award didn’t have money?
Plus, I’m the number one idol in advertising among those currently active.
Of course, my rates are a bit… a bit lower than Coral Blue Lira, who’s second.
Mom probably doesn’t know about my settlements right now.
Since I dropped out of high school last year, I’ve effectively become a working adult and took over my bank account from my mom.
After the contract with Seven at Shock Entertainment ended and I started receiving settlements anew, my income has only increased.
Of course, I had no intention of splurging.
I just want to steadily save up.
I’m thinking of making a big donation later on.
Suddenly, I find myself liking how abundant my heart feels.
*
When I came out after washing my hair, my family was sitting together in the living room.
“Come sit here.”
Mom coldly gestured with her finger.
“Um, what’s going on…?”
I felt uneasy.
On the TV that Mom was pointing at, a YouTube video was playing.
[DEB: ON AIR | EP.2]
And it was the second episode of Self-Content, which went up early due to the Lunar New Year holiday.
From what I knew, today’s content was likely going to be behind-the-scenes of the album production.
It would cover everything from the recording to the filming of the music video.
“What’s going on…?”
Mom was moving the playback bar to skip to different segments.
[Do-hee: (calmly) Today is the recording day.]
Then, my room in the dorm appeared.
In the self-cam showing only me at the piano, even though I was wearing a loose hoodie, my face was captured sharply.
It looked incredibly elegant and beautiful with the backlight from the window.
“Wow, this is a legendary video, huh? GIFs are going to circulate again. And look at the performance!”
I quickly took out my phone and typed in the chat room.
[Debo] – 5
[Me: I’m so jealous of my sisters…]
[Me: They can see my side profile all they want…]
[Me: I can only see myself from the front in the mirror…]
Soon, my phone began to vibrate intensely, but I ignored it and looked at Mom again.
Maybe Mom was admiring my side profile once more?
“Speak properly, how much was that piano?”
Or not.
She probably searched it online.
The brand of the piano was clearly visible on the keyboard lid.
[STEINWAY & SONS]
“Hey, I said I was going to buy a piano.”
But I was sure I had gotten permission.
─Mom, I’m going to buy a piano.
─Suddenly? Why? There’s a piano at the office.
─I want to practice in my dorm too. Sometimes I want to get up and play whenever. I’ve even done soundproofing work in advance.
─Really? Then go ahead. You’re the one spending your money, so who am I to say anything?
─But it seems super expensive. I’m planning to buy something good.
─It’s okay, you really need it, right? Just save money on other things, okay? Don’t splurge and promise me.
─Uh~ I promise~
Mom would remember that clearly.
“I knew it would be expensive…”
Mom showed me the brand prices displayed in the search bar.
“But I thought it would only be a few million at most.”
The price range for new ones went from at least 100 million to even 350 million.
“That can’t be the most expensive one, right? That one…?”
“Hehe.”
Mom’s wail erupted.
“Wow, our daughter has a lot of money, huh? Should I definitely go to the dermatologist now?”
Unlike Dad, who was chuckling.
“Yeah, I’m treating you, right? Go brag to your coworkers.”
“Oh, speaking of which, I should take Do-ah shopping tomorrow, too. Her clothes don’t fit anymore now that she’s grown, right? It’s not like she can keep wearing my old clothes. Do-ah, wanna go shopping tomorrow? I’ll buy you lots of pretty clothes.”
Even in this moment, Do-ah was being nonchalant, but she couldn’t hide her twitching lips and raised brows.
‘Is it a good thing to shop with my sister?’
However, Mom was still alternating between sighing and looking at the price tags and the video of the piano.
She seemed to need some comforting.
“Mom, but it’s not that expensive. I bought it secondhand.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. Do you think I’m crazy enough to spend over 300 million? I hate wasting money. Honestly, I didn’t even want to accept that Cartier ad?”
“…Really?”
Even if it was secondhand, my piano, perfectly refined from the parts to the exterior, with the internal tuning done flawlessly, sounded just like a new one.
In fact, it was even easier to play since the internal components and key touch were broken in, and it had an expected lifespan of 80 years left.
“So how much was it?”
I raised one finger confidently.
Mom’s expression brightened a bit.
“Oh, really? That much is… not bad.”
I cutely raised one more finger.
“Hehe. But the tuning cost and installation are free.”
“…I’m losing my mind here.”
*
Having watched over me my whole life, Mom knew I had a strong attachment to the piano.
“Take good care of it, don’t break it.”
“Yeah, I’ll call the Teacher Tuner every six months.”
Maybe that’s why she didn’t consider it a foolish luxury, and soon stopped her nagging.
But our family’s love was a tradition.
“Hey, Do-ah. Come here.”
“Ugh, why?”
It’s my turn now.
“Sigh, aren’t you going shopping with your sister tomorrow?”
─Tap tap
“Sit here. No, not there.”
─Tap tap
I sat her on my lap.
At 12 years old, she was still just a head shorter than me.
Do-ah’s hair smelled delightful…
“─Did you not wash your hair?”
“Yep.”
That’s understandable during vacation.
When your hair’s long, washing it becomes a hassle.
I often feel the same when I’m not on a schedule and sometimes don’t want to wash it.
“Just sit here for now.”
“Sit down.”
Of course, I liked our Do-ah’s smell.
I just wanted to look into her eyes.
“Hey, Do-ah. Are there any friends bullying you at school?”
“No, there aren’t.”
Well, our Do-ah seemed like quite the popular kid with lots of friends.
She’s classy, pretty, good at studying, and on top of that, she’s into Nintendo.
Wait, popular? For that age group…
“Do-ah, there aren’t any kids who smoke at your school, right?”
“Do elementary school kids smoke these days?”
Mom doesn’t know what she’s talking about.
“Mom, these days, elementary kids are quicker.”
Right now is the stormy adolescence phase.
Also, puberty is a time of strong animal instincts, and it’s the age where childish behavior increases.
You have no idea how annoyed I was with all the middle schoolers trying to show off in front of me…
“Just thinking about those times makes me want to curse…”
High school was okay, though.
“Yeah, there are. Kids who smoke.”
“I knew it. Do-ah, you can’t get influenced. Okay? Don’t hang out with the delinquents.”
Oh, no.
“Mom, Do-ah. How about homeschooling…? What if our Do-ah gets influenced… like turns into a delinquent. Smelling like cigarettes instead of her lovely scent…”
“Homeschooling? Do-ah will manage just fine.”
“No way, that’s a classic parent line. Our kid isn’t the type for that.”
“You better take care of yourself.”
“I’m doing just fine. Why do you ignore me? I’m nailing it. There’s no daughter like me in this world.”
“Really? Sorry.”
Mom apologizes quite readily.
Sure, Do-ah will handle that herself.
Worrying about Do-ah can wait until later; it’s not too late.
“Anyway, Do-ah. Which school are you going to?”
“Yeah—”
“I know. Do you think I don’t know our little sister’s school?”
Our Do-ah hasn’t played piano like me, but she’s been learning the flute diligently.
“But why are you going to an art middle school that’s 30 minutes away? You could easily go to a regular school…”
“Uh—”
“Is it because you want to be like your sister? You’re not thinking of becoming an idol, right…?”
Do-ah jumped up from her seat.
“Because of you! Because of you! From some day on, they’ve been whispering about being Do-hee’s sister!”
…Really?
“Say it isn’t so…”
“But the rumors are already out, what can I do?!”
“Maybe it’s because you resemble me… you know, famous for looking alike. Lucky you, Do-ah, being like me?”
Dad chimed in from the side.
“Yeah, it’s great to resemble your sister. Not that I’m saying this just because she’s our daughter, but Do-hee is quite the visual idol, you know.”
Who knew a middle-aged dad had such a dad vibe, constantly giving thumbs up like a total goof?
Surely, I’m not destined to become like that too, right?
“Ah, what to do. I’m suddenly more worried about dad than Do-ah.”
“Huh?”
“What to do, suddenly he feels like an uncle.”
“…Really…?”
What’s with that tone? It’s so uncle-like.
I’m just glad I was born a girl.
Tomorrow, it’s not just about Do-ah, but I definitely have to go shopping with dad too.
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