Melatonin ~ Jungwon

~ 31 ~

"You guys finally ended the call, I see." Isla sat at the kitchen table, looking over some papers.

"Yeah."

"Everything all right?" Isla asked.

"I was just thinking about mom and everything."

"Oh?"

"Was she always the way she is?"

"No, she used to be caring, I swear."

"What happened?"

"Our older sister. That's what happened. Now, this will be a lot to take in, Mei Lin."

"As long as it's the truth."

"You've never met our older sister- well, technically, you have. When Soora was around my age, our sister, Jaesoo, returned to visit. She lived in China with her boyfriend. He got her pregnant, and they threatened to leave if she didn't get rid of the baby. So she did. Once the baby was born, Jaesoo came, saying she would just be here for a short visit. That visit lasted enough time for her to convince- force - Soora to take care of you. It's why there is such a difference between you and Soora. Soora didn't want a child, and I was only a few years older than you. Our parents didn't want to deal with another child.

At first, Soora tried hard to care for you. She did until you could take care of yourself. She constantly complained about no one wanting her because she had an illegitimate child. It caused a lot of problems in the family.

During Jaesoo's pregnancy, her boyfriend was studying for a year abroad. He told her to have you gone before he got back. So she did. Or she tried. Apparently, it wasn't enough.

When he found out that he still had a living, breathing child, he was furious. He went out drinking and came back to jet crying. She didn't want to give you away, but she didn't want him to leave. That's why she begged Soora.

He killed her that night. We didn't know what was happening. Suddenly, we weren't receiving phone cards or messages or anything. She said she wanted to be a part of your life. I know she did. But when we received that call, we knew. We didn't trust her boyfriend. We had to fly over a week later to get her things and attend her funeral. Her boyfriend was sentenced to life in jail with no chance of parole.

Please know that what I am about to say is going to hurt, and it is going to confuse you. And I hate that anyone feels this way about you.

Soora blames you for our sister's death."