Matter of Harmony || Oneus Seoho

Double-Edged Sword (4)

Seoho's PoV

Despite my reservations, I know I have to do this for the good of my family. Seoyeon and my mother still live in the Kang mansion. A wave of nostalgia hits me as always when a maid lets me through the imposing garden door.

I grew up here, well maybe not in the grand house that I am walking towards but in the servants' quarter that's hidden behind. I played hopscotch on the stone path leading from there to the kitchen of the enormous building so many times... I climbed all the fruit trees to the gardener uncle's dismay. There on the patio, I taught Yuri how to make origami animals from paper. One time I made a makeshift swing on a branch of a hidden tree because she wouldn't stop asking for it. It's as if it was yesterday that she was trying to hold her laughter to not get caught as I pushed her on the swing. When Mrs. Kang eventually found out I took the responsibility, she was always calmer towards me for some reason.

As I am led through the corridors to where Mrs.Kang's supposed to be, I try to get the story straight in my mind. How much do I tell her, how much does she already know?

I knock and open the door to the study. She barely raises her eyes from the document she's reading to check who came in. I walk forward, my footsteps audible on the marble floor and when I'm across her I bow. She lets me hang on for a few seconds before acknowledging me. "Take a seat," I sit down as she removes her reading glasses, the maid that led me brings in two cups and a teapot. There are no pleasantries, Kang Yoonah doesn't ask you how you are or what you'd like to drink. She poises herself in a way that lets you know that she's far too important for such unnecessary things.

"So, what's Yuri up to?" "She's starring in a drama. It's called Matter of.." she fixes me with a look "Do you think I pay you to tell me things I can find in a news article?" "I suppose not," she laces her fingers and leans against her elbows "...Keonhee is back." I try.

It's so hard to tell what kind of information will sate her. She considers the information for a bit before asking "Yuri knows?" "He's the manager of the male lead of the drama." "I'll need to get him repositioned," she takes a note on a piece of paper. "Does she still like him?" "No, I don't think so," I answer, hoping that might change her mind about pulling her connections to mess up Keonhee's life. And besides, that's the reality. Yuri likes someone else now but should I mention it?

"When's the drama airing?" I bite my tongue to keep from saying 'Why are you asking me something you could find in a news article?' and tell her the date. She dismisses me and I find myself standing alone in the corridor while a wave of guilt washes over me. I didn't tell her anything she couldn't find out by other means but I still...

But I can't mope for long because Seoyeon, my little sister comes running to me for a bone-crushing hug. "You never visit anymore," she complains "I almost forgot how ugly you are," I push her away. "That's my line," I make my way to the kitchen, where I guess I'll find my mother. "It's hard to believe how ugly you've gotten since I last saw you." She sticks her tongue out at me.

"Besides, you know why I don't like coming here," I whisper the last part "You can come to visit me any time.." She rolls her eyes "You say that but you're always busy, what am I gonna do? Hang out in the dump you call a house waiting for you to come back at midnight?"

She's right, working several jobs while trying to take off as a singer means that I rarely have a moment of peace. "It's not that bad," I shrug "It's not the best apartment but it's not the worst place I lived in either." "That's not what you're supposed to say Seo... You need to promise me that you'll find the time," Before I get to answer I get attacked by another bone-crushing hug.

When she pulls away tears shine on the corners of my mother's eyes. Seoyeon makes fun of her for being a crybaby and I ruffle her hair in retaliation. High school girls can be too mean for their own good sometimes.

As we scuffle about, mom forgets her emotional moment and starts chiding us about the fragile stuff we can knock over running around the kitchen like toddlers. I gather the two of them for a hug panting from all the running. An easy smile finds its place on my face as I smell the cookies mom took off the oven just before we arrived. My eyes meet Yeon's and we have a moment of understanding that only siblings have.

We brake the embrace at the same time and grab a cookie. The same cookie... After a stubborn staredown that doesn't go on for more than a second –because we both need to run away before mom reacts—I yield and get another one from the tray as she stuffs her face and takes some more to-go.

Mom can barely keep herself from yelling after us,that would be considered inappropriate in this household even if the Kangs weren'there to hear it. "I cooked those for the Mister..."