It was early in the morning, and everyone was sound asleep. I strolled out into the dark kitchen on tiptoe, like a thief who had crept in. I took one of the containers I had washed the night before. I carefully opened the lid, careful not to let any sound escape.
I proceeded to the refrigerator with my entire weight on my toes once again. I reached for the refrigerator’s handle and turned to look around. I cast a glance across the kitchen to my parent’s room and carefully opened the refrigerator door. The waist and head bowed toward the brightly illuminated refrigerator in the darkness.
I had decided to make Korean food. The boiled jangjorim with meat and boiled eggs, dried squid mixed, spinach with a savory sesame oil smell, and japchae, which my father likes, were all placed in the container in order. In a separate container, I add three or four eggs. Seasonings such as salt, pepper, and kelp at home were packed in a little plastic bag to eat later, and soy sauce for soup was put in a small container just in case. I put in the root of the green onion. I also packed peppers to make fish cake soup spicy. No matter how much I searched, I couldn’t find any fish cakes in the freezer, so I decided to buy rice and fish cakes at a convenience store near Tay's house on the way.
I tried to keep it simple, but the quantity was bigger than I expected. It was a hassle to move them all into the container. I glanced at my parents’ and older brother’s rooms. It was a bit after 4 a.m., so if my parents or elder brother showed up, they’d give me an odd look.
As carefully as I could, I brought the container with the green onion, the egg, and the seasoning into the room. I was thinking of packing up and leaving right now. I thought it would be fine to sleep with Tay. I was curious how he would react when he awoke and saw me beside him. Laughter flowed for no apparent reason.
I returned to the kitchen and was going to get some side dishes when I heard the sound of a door opening. I turned my head straight to my parents’ room, but it was still tightly closed. Then the other room…
“I was wondering how the cat got in.”
“…”
“What time do you think now and you’re wandering around.”
It was my older brother. He stared at me with a frowned brow and spoke in a muffled voice while half asleep. I was holding the side dish in both hands meekly, but I straightened and raised my eyes to my older brother.
“I’m going to school now…”
“School?”
I lied without realizing it. My older brother messed up his hair. His expression was still stiff. Yawning- my older brother asked me.
“Go to school knowing what time it is now.”
“Uh... I forgot about my performance review… I have to do that. I was supposed to finish it, but I forgot. I will eat breakfast at school in the morning.”
Oh, I shouldn’t have stuttered. Since my older brother was quick-witted, he would undoubtedly pick up on my lies. I was nervous. Even in the dark, I could see my older brother’s face quite well. I was scared. I wanted to cry.
“Well done.”
However, contrary to my expectations, my older brother passed it quite smoothly. He was probably more sluggish than usual because he didn’t sleep well. I guess I was lucky. It was a relief if I was lucky. My older brother then took the key from the kitchen shelf. It was the key to the car my parents had bought for him after my older brother had been discharged from the military. What’s wrong with him…? I glanced into my older brother’s eyes quietly.
“Take your bag and come out. I’ll take you there.”
“What?!”
My older brother tried to enter his room with the car key as if he was going to get dressed. I really shouldn’t go to school. I grabbed my older brother right away. He looked me up and down with a confused face. It was my older brother’s habit of scanning people from head to toe. “What?”
