Chapter 51: The Clothes I Borrow, The Bonds We Share

It’s almost been a year since I started my first year of middle school.

These days, I get really, really excited on my way to school.

Most mornings, I spend a long time in front of the mirror, thinking about how to do my hair or what to wear outside.

The reason is simple.

I have a boy I like.

A boy in my class.

His name is a secret!

I’m not the only one who likes him.

Other girls like him too.

He has a cute face and is super handsome.

Whenever I see him smile, my heart pounds like crazy.

He doesn’t treat me in any special way, but just being around him makes my heart flutter and feel happy.

Today, I’m supposed to meet my friends at a hamburger place.

The boy I like is coming too.

  
“What should I wear?”

  
From the morning, I was tearing my hair out.

I wanted to look cool and pretty to him, but I had no idea what to wear.

I wanted to wear something a little different from usual.

It’d be nice if he noticed me.

I opened my closet.

I definitely have a lot of clothes in my closet, but nothing to wear.

  
“Ha...... Seriously, I have nothing to wear.”

  
Hing.

  
Nothing seemed right.

Should I ask Mom to buy me clothes?

I glanced over at Mom, who was cleaning the living room, and thought it over for a moment.

  
“No, then I’ll be late. There’s not much time left until the meeting. What should I do.”

  
My makeup and hair were perfect, but not having anything to wear was driving me into despair.

  
[Freely! Confidently! My style, just for me—I go with my own style.]

  
“Huh?”

  
Just then, through the open door, I saw on the TV a well-proportioned model filming a clothing commercial.

The woman on the screen was wearing a gray long coat, a loose black t-shirt, black pants, and sneakers as she walked down the street.

Over that, subtitles scrolled: ‘Winter 2001, Your Own Mood’.

  
I couldn’t take my eyes off that scene.

The way the actress wore a big t-shirt and walked down the street looked so cool.

The shoulder line drooped, and the sleeves went down to her hands.

She looked comfortable, not dressed up at all, but somehow, it was stylish.

  
“I want to try dressing like that too.”

  
No one at school dresses like that right now.

  
“If I wear that kind of outfit......”

  
Wouldn’t I stand out among the others? That thought crossed my mind.

  
“But I don’t have any big t-shirts like that.”

  
All I have are clothes that fit me just right.

Wait, if I think about big t-shirts...?!

  
“Ah! My brother’s clothes!”

  
A person popped into my head.

That’s right, my brother!

He’s at least 20cm taller than me.

It couldn’t be more perfect.

If it’s my brother’s t-shirt, I’m sure I can dress like the woman I saw on TV.

I quietly crept up to the second floor.

Just in case, I listened carefully at the door to see if my brother was in his room.

  
“Brother, brother. You’re not in there, right?”

  
─ ......

  
There was no sound from the room.

Luckily, it was quiet.

Still, just to be sure, I opened the door a little and peeked inside.

  
“He’s not here.”

  
I let out a small cheer inwardly, quickly approached the closet, and started looking for something to wear.

One black t-shirt.

No patterns, no lint—a neat shirt.

  
“Brother, I’ll wear this and bring it back.”

  
I whispered my thanks to my absent brother, then went back to my room and coordinated my outfit just like I’d seen on TV.

The sleeves went past my hands, and the shirt hem came down to the middle of my thighs.

I matched it with tight pants that emphasized my leg line and stood in front of the mirror.

Overall, it was a loose silhouette.

It wasn’t a style I was used to, but somehow, I looked like a model.

  
“Not bad.”

  
I fixed my t-shirt, tied and untied my hair with a rubber band over and over.

I lingered in front of the mirror for a while, then finally gave a faint smile.

  
“Brother, I’ll just borrow it for today.”

  
I was really satisfied with my look. Slinging the bag my brother gave me for my birthday over my shoulder, I stepped out the front door.

The weather was cold, but the sunlight was warm.

Holding onto my slightly nervous heart, I headed to the meeting spot with my friends.

  
---


  
For a while, Go Dae-sik couldn’t snap out of his shock after finding out I was ‘Unreal Oppa’.

He kept asking if it was true, then eventually clammed up and vanished into silence.

It went on for ten days.

Go Dae-sik finally accepted that I was Unreal Oppa, and from that moment, his attitude completely changed.

He looked at me with sparkling eyes, like a follower who’s joined some cult.

  
“I believe! Hallelujah! I believe, Namo Amitabha Avalokitesvara!”

  
Reciting these bizarre prayers became part of my daily routine, and I couldn’t help but sigh every time I saw him.

Before I could even open my mouth, he’d put his hands together and bow his head, waiting like he was about to chant some spell—unless I stopped him, it would go on and on.

So, Go Dae-sik became someone who’d do anything I said. As I told him, he signed up for a comic academy and started walking the path of a comic artist.

Of course, I paid all the academy fees out of my own pocket.

This was a kind of investment for me.

Knowing Dae-sik as I do, he’s definitely worth investing in.

Someday, he’ll build his own world, create the most vibrant characters, and leave people in awe—I look forward to that day.

In December 2001, on the last month of my second year here, I got a call from Faith Publishing.

  
─ Congratulations, Author. Your work has been selected as a winner for the upcoming Writer’s Night.

  
‘Living on Rent in the Chairman’s House’ had been chosen as the best work by Faith Publishing.

  
─ By any chance, can you attend the event?

  
So, they wanted me to come.

Back then, as a middle school student, I couldn’t attend Writer’s Night for various reasons, but now, I’m a high schooler.

I’m eighteen, so now I can go.

  
“Can my family come with me?”

  
I asked if I could bring guests.

  
─ Of course. You’re welcome to bring them.
“Yes, I’ll attend that day.”
─ Thank you, Author. Then, see you at Writer’s Night.

  
That was the end of my call with Manager Oh.

  
“My parents will be happy.”

  
How proud will they be to see me receive an award in front of them?

The only award I’d ever gotten before was a hard work prize in middle school.

But now, I was getting recognition for my work, and a prize from a publishing company.

My heart raced.

  
“I shouldn’t just stand here. I need to go tell Mom.”

  
Mom, Mom.

  
I called out for Mom as I hurried down the stairs.

  
“What’s up now, running around calling for your mom like that? It’s dangerous.”

  
I couldn’t hide my excitement, so Mom scolded me a little.

But I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

  
“I’m going to get an award from the publisher.”

  
I told her what I’d just heard, watching to see how she’d react.

  
“Really? Is it true? My son, you’re amazing.”

  
Mom’s eyes grew round and she cheered, patting me on the back.

  
“So, I have to go to the publisher at the end of the year, and I’m going with the family. I think there’ll be a buffet.”

  
It’s not that big of an award, but for me, it’s huge and meaningful.

Being recognized as the best in the industry isn’t easy—it means a new line for my career.

It’s an honor I can’t ignore.

  
“That’s my boy. I’m proud of you. Truly.”

  
Mom patted my back again, full of pride.

Seeing her happier than if I’d earned a fortune reminded me of what it means to be a ‘parent’.

I resolved to keep working hard to make my parents happy.

  
“I’m home.”

  
Just then, I heard Da-hye coming in through the front door.

  
“Oh, you’re... huh? Those clothes?!”

  
The moment I looked over at Da-hye, my eyes were glued to what she was wearing.

  
“Hehe, your clothes are really comfy! I’ll take them off and give them back!!”

  
Watching Da-hye dash to her room after saying that,

  
“......”

  
I found myself thinking seriously for a moment.

Why?! Why does my sister always want to wear her brother’s big clothes?

She did it in our past life, and she’s doing it again in this one.

Maybe I really should have a proper talk and negotiate with her.

  
Haa......

  
Da-hye, everything else is fine, but can’t you just buy your own oversized clothes?!

I mumbled quietly to myself and shook my head as I climbed up to the second floor.

  
---


  
Since the day Da-hye started wearing my clothes, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking.

How do I stop her from wearing my clothes again?

  
“In the end, the only answer is to buy her everything she needs.”

  
After a long period of deliberation, I reached one conclusion.

I’ll have an event where I buy her everything she needs so she won’t need my clothes!

It just so happened I needed something to wear to Writer’s Night, so I had the perfect excuse to go shopping.

  
“Da-hye.”

  
I went into her room and called her.

  
“Yeah?”
“Wanna go to the department store today?”
“Are you buying me something?”

  
Her eyes instantly grew round and sparkled.

Her sense of timing is top-notch.

  
“Well, just because.”

  
I tried to sound as nonchalant as possible.

  
“Yay!”

  
Da-hye clenched her fist in delight.

She gets 200,000 won a month in allowance from Mom and me combined, but it probably isn’t enough for her to buy whatever she wants.

  
‘But what kind of face would she make if she found out she actually has hundreds of millions in her bank account, owns a shopping complex in Gwacheon, and has stocks worth about ten billion?’

  
Looking at my little sister, so happy just to get a few new outfits, I suddenly wondered how she’d react if she ever found out the truth.

I hope that day comes soon.

  
“Oppa, wait a sec. Let me shower and do my makeup!”

  
Da-hye rushed off to the bathroom to get ready.

It was two hours later when we finally left the house.

At the department store, we gave our all to a whirlwind shopping spree.

At first, Da-hye was careful, but before long, her hands were full of shopping bags.

  
‘I guess she’s thinking, “When else will I get to shop with Oppa’s card?”’

  
Well, today’s a special day.

  
All the clothes Da-hye picked out were practical and cute.

A loose-fit sweatshirt, a crisp white shirt, a toned-down plaid skirt.

There were some office-style outfits, too.

She packed a real variety of clothes into those shopping bags.

  
“Nice, right?”
“Really? It’s not weird?”
“It suits you. It’s the latest style.”

  
And just like that, I became Da-hye’s stylist.

  
“But Oppa, is it really okay for me to buy this much?”

  
She had more than six shopping bags in her hands.

I was carrying some, too.

Now, she finally started worrying about my bank account.

  
“It’s fine. But actually, there’s a condition.”

  
I raised a finger as I spoke.

  
“Knew there’d be a catch. What is it?”

  
She nodded knowingly.

  
“Don’t wear my clothes anymore.”
“......”
“If you wear my clothes again, your allowance gets cut.”
“Hmm, okay.”

  
Da-hye nodded, though she frowned a little.

But after all this, would she really do it again?

With her allowance on the line, I doubt she’ll try it.

  
“Oppa.”

  
In the taxi on the way home, Da-hye glanced at me and called out softly.

  
“Yeah?”

  
I turned away from the window to look at her.

  
“Thanks.”

  
Da-hye smiled brightly.

  
“I’ll wear them well.”
“Don’t mention it.”

  
I gave a little laugh and turned back to the window.

I might have gone a bit overboard today just to protect my clothes, but I don’t feel bad at all.

No, actually, spending money on my little sister and hearing her thank me made my heart feel incredibly warm.