Chapter 9: What do you call 21st century Korea?
“Malnutrition.”
“…”
It was shocking news when I brought Maknae to the hospital.
In 21st-century South Korea, the youngest daughter of the Zeus Group is hospitalized for malnutrition?
If reporters found out, it’d be plastered on the front page.
Watching Maknae sleep for days, my heart felt heavy.
She’s soft-hearted but kind. I knew that.
If I can’t even take care of my little sister, ten years younger, can I lead the Zeus Group?
Then my phone rang.
“…Hello.”
“No contact for days, are you out of your mind!?”
“…Maknae was sick, I’ve been nursing her at the hospital.”
“You can’t separate work and personal matters!? Do you know how many important meetings there were!?”
“…They said it’s malnutrition.”
“…”
“Didn’t Father say he’d handle everything about Maknae?”
“Well, that’s…”
“Does Mother know about this?”
“…”
“I’ll take care of everything regarding Maknae from now on. Trusting Father was a mistake.”
“…Do as you wish.”
I hung up.
If I kept talking, I didn’t know what I’d say.
Is there no way to turn back time? Thinking about how much Maknae must’ve been hurt…
Even her sleeping face looks anxious. What do I do moving forward…
‘For now, I’ll take her to my place.’
When was the last time I saw Maknae?
Years ago. She hasn’t grown since then.
I can’t even imagine how she’s been treated all this time.
‘Maknae, trust your big sister from now on. I’ll let you do everything you want.’
I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.
A white ceiling, like a hospital from a drama…
It’s a hospital. There’s an IV in my arm.
As I came to, I realized I was in a VIP room, like where chaebols stay in dramas.
This place must be expensive…
Lost in thought, the door slid open, and Big Sister walked in.
“Maknae!? You okay? Anywhere hurt?”
“U-uh, I-I’m fine.”
“…Maknae, you can relax around me.”
“…”
“Take your time, it’s okay. I’ll wait. Are you hungry? Hold on.”
She must’ve noticed I was nervous.
She patted me gently, then left to get porridge, probably giving me space to think.
Big Sister’s perfect, unlike me.
‘W-what happens to me now? Am I really getting kicked out?’
The more I thought, the worse my thoughts got, so I stopped.
I might hurt myself again if I keep going.
“Maknae, kept you waiting? I got porridge.”
She brought porridge, clearly not hospital food, far better.
Why is she doing this for someone like me?
“T-thanks.”
As I reached for the porridge—
“Your hands are still weak, right? I’ll help.”
She swiftly took the spoon and fed me, even blowing on it to cool it down.
“Heck!? N-no, I-I can eat…”
“My arm’s getting tired, not eating?”
“Heck!”
“Was it good?”
“Y-yeah, it was good, t-thanks.”
“By the way, Maknae, I have something to say…”
Here it comes.
Am I getting kicked out? Where do I go? Orphanages won’t take adults…
“Want to live with me?”
“…Huh?”
“Come live at my place.”
“…”
Her sudden words froze me.
Unlike me, she’s always busy, so we never had time together.
I barely know her.
We only talked occasionally, and she always reached out first. The first time I contacted her was to ask for money.
‘I’m really trash.’
“Maknae!? You look pale, still feeling unwell?”
“N-no. W-what do you mean?”
“Let’s live together. I’ve prepared a room for you.”
“…”
I glanced at her, thinking honestly, her place is a hundred, a thousand times better than mine.
I’d eat warm meals too.
But what if I get abandoned again?
I’ve been abandoned once, why not twice?
If I become a burden, she’ll kick me out.
“…C-can I have time to think?”
“Of course. You can do whatever you want.”
She hugged me.
“I’m always on your side, Maknae. I’ll wait anytime.”
“…”
“Maknae, I have to go to the company.”
She handed me a card.
“Buy whatever you want to eat with this, okay? Promise!”
“…Y-yeah, t-thanks.”
I took the black card she gave me, my first time seeing one in person.
It said something about America, like I’d seen on YouTube.
She hugged me, told me to rest, and left.
“…Ugh, finally alone!!!”
Having a sister care for me is nice.
But with my social anxiety, it’s so uncomfortable.
I don’t get why she’s taking care of me.
Does she want something? I can’t read her intentions…
Even if I did, what could I do? Probably something shady.
“W-what time is it?”
I checked my phone: October 17, 4 PM.
“…Huh? It was the 15th? Is my phone broken?”
I restarted it, but it was the same.
“…This is bad.”
I rushed out of the hospital and took a taxi home.
The nurses tried hard to stop me, but I escaped.
‘Hehe, no one can stop me!!!’
“Miss? Is this the place?”
“Y-yes…”
I jumped out of the taxi and ran into my house.
I immediately turned on the computer and set up the stream.
<Stream Started>
“Huff huff, s-sorry. I’m late, right?”
–Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you?
–Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you?
–Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you?
–Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you?
“Sob, sorry. I-I had something going on.”
–HotAndTastelessBingsu donated 1,000 KRW.
[Who are you? The Luna we know wouldn’t break a promise.]
“Sob, sorry. I was in the hospital.”
–PepeIsGreat donated 1,000 KRW.
[What!? Didn’t expect that!? What happened!? Are you okay!?]
“Hehe, I’m fine now. They said it was malnutrition.”
–Malnutrition?????????????????
–Malnutrition in 21st-century South Korea???????????
–What does that mean!? Bring Dr. Park Jung-won!!!!!!!!
–Doctor!! Our Luna’s dying!!!!!
–Please save our Luna!!!!!!!!!!!
“I’m fine now! I got an IV and ate porridge. Hehe.”
–FrozenApple donated 100,000 KRW.
[Don’t get sick, Luna ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Buy something tasty with this ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
“Oh! FrozenApple♡ Thank you for the donation!!!”
–Radomuna donated 50,000 KRW.
[Please don’t get sick ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
–SniperThief donated 80,000 KRW.
[This is stolen money, but please take it ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
–BlackHistory donated 70,000 KRW.
[I sold my dark past for this, please buy something tasty ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
“Sob, thank you so much, Doolgis, for the donations. I’ll stream hard today!!!”
–No, rest ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
–Your life comes before streaming ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
–Rest today, stream tomorrow ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
–Rest today and stream three times as much tomorrow ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
–Don’t die, Luna ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
“Thanks to my Doolgis, I feel strong enough to stream! Don’t worry!!”
–HorrorGameWhenSick donated 10,000 KRW.
[Did you know playing a horror game when sick can cure you?]
“…Eh?”