can i ask you a question?

9

When someone walks into the living room, we're still dividing our work. He's got his top off and is only wearing shorts, so I'm guessing he's Lisa's brother.

"Have you seen my charger, Lisa?" he inquires. Oh my God, I already despise him. First of all, given that there are people present, why can't he wear his shirt? Second, why on earth would you ask someone for your charger when you're the one using it? Do they even know where that is?

"No," Lisa responds briefly.

"Why did you take these out? This is mine," he said, grabbing a bag of chips from Lisa's hand.

"Not your money the last time I checked," Lisa sighs again. Her brother heard it and began mumbling as if he were the right person here. He did leave while still mumbling like a 7-year-old kid, and if I'm not mistaken, he's only a few years younger than Lisa to be that immature. What a family.

"My god, I really want to use my bitchiness here," I said quietly, so only Jisoo could hear me.

"I'm not going to stop you," she said.

"By the way, I've already started these parts, so we only have a few left," I lied. I now realize how foolish my decision was. I just lied about it to speed up the process. I haven't done any of that, but I'll just work on it at home so we can finish up quickly here.

"Lisa, where is your bathroom? I'll just change my shirt," I said, because I was wearing long sleeves and it was getting warm. I followed Lisa as she stood up. She walked straight down the corridor but came to a halt in the middle.

"My father is using it; would you mind changing elsewhere?" She stated that the lights at the door at the end of the hallway are on, indicating that it is in use.

"No," I said softly, knowing Lisa is not in the best of moods right now.

"Just use my room," she said as she opened a door and let me in before leaving. I take a look around her room, which is very simple. I also noticed some kitchen items on her table. So I guess she's trying to stack something up here so she won't have to deal with either her father or brother or even share a meal with them. Lisa's bedside table has a small calendar and a small note with her schedule next to it. No wonder she  appears extremely sleep deprived and exhausted when she arrives at school. She has been working late nights at a restaurant after school. It's no surprise she doesn't get enough sleep and rest. I moved closer to a frame and noticed one person in every picture with Lisa, her mother. Lisa looks exactly like her, and unlike the emotionless daughter outside, Lisa is actually smiling broadly here. There are at least four frames, one from when she was very young with her mother, one from a graduation probably from primary school, and a third that appears to be from a few years ago. Finally, there is her mother. When I took her mother's frame, a piece of paper fell out. I lower my gaze and take it. It's a tiny slip of paper. I'm such a creep for not only looking through these but also instantly recognizing Lisa's handwriting.

'You could have just gone ahead with the divorce and not held out in hope that you could still salvage everything because you wanted a happy family. You could have informed me that you were not feeling well. You could have gone to the hospital for treatment instead of giving the majority of the money to someone who only gambles with it. You could have avoided leaving me here alone and unsure of what to do now.'

I stand there, holding the piece of paper, trying to process what I've just read. I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard shuffling on the door knob, so I quickly returned everything to its original position. It could be Lisa, so I change my shirt quickly before opening the door to see Lisa's brother. He walked past me as if I didn't exist. It's strange that he didn't even bother knocking on the door earlier because it wasn't his room. And now he's opening drawers as if it were his own room. As if I wasn't standing there watching him do it all. He approached the bedside table and began grabbing coins and bills from it. As far as I know, this is Lisa's room. He appears unfazed, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He was about to walk out the door like that.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked, convinced that these men were about to unleash my villain story. "That's your sister's money," I pointed out.

"It's my money," he said casually, "it's my house, it's my money," he said as he walked away. I just didn't hear it correctly. He's mentally ill, that guy.

So, naturally, I went straight to Lisa. I noticed her in the living room, working with one of our classmates. I ask if I can speak to her, and she excuses herself as I lead her to the kitchen.

"Your dickhead brother just stole money in your room," I explained.

"Leave it be" I can't seem to hear clearly today. Did I hear that correctly? Leave it alone?

"That is stealing, whether it is a stranger or a family member. If they do not have your permission, that's stealing. " I said.

"It's partly my fault," she says, leaving me speechless once more. "I left my money there," she continues.

"That's your room, Lisa. You're free to leave anything there, and it's expected to stay there if you don't take it or if you don't ask someone to take it. You're victim blaming yourself, and that's just completely wrong." I said almost as if I am more insulted by how these people treat her when I am no better than them.

"I grew up with these people. I've spent my entire life with them. I should know better; as I said, leave it alone... I just don't want to deal with any more than I already do."