Babymonster One Shot

A Day In Her Shoes | RORUKA

Rora was sitting on the floor of their small, cramped apartment, folding the last of the laundry. She could feel the weight of frustration building in her chest as she heard her older sister, Ruka, calling from the living room.

"Rora, can you bring me some water? I'm too tired to get up," Ruka's voice sounded as drained as always after work.

Rora gritted her teeth, muttering under her breath. "She's always too tired." This wasn't the first time Ruka had asked her to do things when she got home from her two jobs. While Ruka was working hard to support them both, it still felt unfair to Rora. She was the younger sister, sure, but that didn't mean she had to be treated like the household servant.

She stomped to the kitchen, poured the water, and brought it to her sister, handing it over without a word.

Ruka didn't notice Rora's annoyance. She took the glass, sighing gratefully as she sank deeper into the worn-out couch. "Thanks, Rora. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Rora didn't respond. Instead, she turned her back, walking into their shared bedroom. She sat on the bed, staring at the small crack in the ceiling, thinking about how tired she was of always picking up after her sister. "I wish I could be the big sister just for one day," she whispered to herself. "I'd make sure Ruka-unnie knows what it's like to be asked to do everything all the time."

Suddenly, a strange tingle spread through her body. The room spun, her vision blurred, and for a moment, it felt like the world itself shifted. When everything stopped, Rora opened her eyes, blinking rapidly.

Something was wrong.

She rushed to the mirror and gasped. She was taller now, her features more mature. She was... Ruka? Her reflection stared back at her with Ruka's face, her body having transformed into the older version of herself. Heart racing, Rora bolted out of the room to find Ruka sitting in the living room, but something had changed.

Ruka was smaller now, her eyes wide and innocent. She looked younger, almost like a little kid. When Rora stepped closer, the realization hit her-Ruka had turned into the younger sister.

Ruka looked up at her with curious eyes. "Unnie?" she asked in a soft, unfamiliar tone. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

Rora couldn't help the smirk that spread across her face. "Oh, Ruka, sweet little sister," she said, her voice dripping with exaggerated sweetness. "Could you bring me some water? I'm too tired to get it myself."

Ruka blinked, looking slightly confused, but she nodded and got up, walking to the kitchen. Watching Ruka do the very tasks she had once demanded of her felt strange. Rora sat back on the couch, marveling at the reversal of their roles.

"Let's see how you like it," Rora muttered, her mind already coming up with more things for Ruka to do.

As the day went on, Rora made Ruka do all the little chores around the house: sweeping, folding laundry, washing dishes, and tidying up. Ruka didn't complain once. She simply did what was asked, even though she occasionally glanced at her sister with confusion.

By the afternoon, Rora was feeling quite pleased with herself. She had finally gotten a taste of what it was like to be the older sibling. She made Ruka do everything, just as Ruka had done to her. But then, the phone rang.

Rora picked up, half-expecting it to be one of their friends, but her heart dropped when she heard the stern voice on the other end of the line.

"Ruka, where are you? Your shift started half an hour ago. We need you here."

Rora froze, realizing that now, as the older sister, she was responsible for Ruka's job. She had completely forgotten that Ruka worked two jobs just to keep them afloat. Swallowing hard, she quickly apologized and hurried out of the house, leaving a confused Ruka behind.

When Rora arrived at the convenience store where Ruka worked the night shift, she was immediately overwhelmed. The store was busy, customers were impatient, and the tasks seemed endless. Stocking shelves, managing the cash register, cleaning up spills-it all blurred together. The hours dragged on, and by the time her shift was over, Rora was exhausted. Her back ached, her feet hurt, and her head was pounding.

As she walked home, her mind started to race with thoughts of her sister. Ruka did this every day-working two jobs, coming home exhausted, and still managing to keep their little home running. All while making sure Rora had everything she needed.

Rora felt a wave of guilt wash over her. She had been so focused on how tired she felt from doing the chores that she never realized how much Ruka was actually doing. Her sister was working herself to the bone just to keep them going. And all Rora had done was complain.

By the time she arrived home, Ruka was already asleep in bed. Rora quietly walked over to her sister's side and sat down, staring at her younger-looking face. Ruka had always been her rock, ever since their parents had passed away. She had taken on the role of the provider, working herself to exhaustion without ever asking for much in return.

"I'm sorry, unnie," Rora whispered, her eyes filling with tears. "I didn't know how hard it was for you."

The next morning, everything returned to normal. Ruka was back to being the older sister, and Rora was once again the younger. But Rora wasn't the same. She had seen what it was like to walk in Ruka's shoes, and she had felt the weight of the responsibilities Ruka carried every day.

When Ruka woke up, rubbing her eyes and stretching, Rora approached her with a newfound appreciation.

"Ruka-unnie," Rora said softly, sitting beside her. "Thank you... for everything you do. I'm really sorry for all the times I complained."

Ruka blinked, surprised by her sister's sudden change in tone. "Rora? What's gotten into you?"

"I just... I know I've been difficult lately, but I see now how hard you work. I'll help more from now on, and I won't complain about doing the chores. You deserve to rest too."

Ruka's face softened, and she pulled Rora into a hug. "You don't have to thank me, Rora. We're family. We take care of each other, okay?"

Rora nodded, tears prickling at her eyes. "Okay, unnie."

From that day forward, Rora made sure to help her sister with a smile, knowing how much Ruka had sacrificed for both of them. The bond between them grew stronger, as they worked together to keep their lives moving forward, appreciating each other's efforts every step of the way.