A week later, Haerin and Nayeon were doing household chores in the morning before going to work.
"Nayeon, make sure to wipe the windows properly." Haerin ordered.
"It's not like I wanted to be apart of this cleaning anyways. But as usual, you'll always force me." Nayeon sulked.
"My house, my rules."
Haerin got a sudden phone call and ran to get her phone. She picked the call quickly, and listened carefully.
Nayeon watched as Haerin's expression went from calm to terrified in a matter of seconds. Haerin dropped her phone slowly and started pacing up and down as she bit her lip.
"W-whats wrong?" Nayeon asked anxiously.
Haerin looked at Nayeon with a worried expression.
"Ariyana... She has appendicitis." Haerin spoke in an upset tone.
"She has what!?"
"Minju said she discovered that Ariyana had it since two weeks ago, but didn't want to bother us about it. But now, Minju says it had gotten severe and Ariyana needs instant surgery. They need about, eighty thousand won."
"Even my salary wouldn't be able to cover that, but I may go visit them."
"That would be great, because I have urgent work today. Next time we'll go together."
Haerin left the apartment in a haste and Nayeon got ready to leave. Minju lives like a forty minute distance from Haerin and Nayeon, so Nayeon would be taking a train.
She hadn't phoned Amazing water that she would have to take the day off but she was certain that someone would fill in for her.
Nayeon boarded the train, and as the train was about moving, she saw a mother and her kid. The kid and mother were homeless and begging for money. Nayeon saw how frail the child and mother were and felt sympathy for the both of them. Nayeon then remembered something and thought, "I actually see many influencers online pretend to be poor to test people. They must be doing the same."
The train started moving at full speed and Nayeon realised that she had not eaten that morning. Her stomach growled loudly and then she suddenly heard a familiar bubbly voice behind her.
"Are you hungry?"
Nayeon slowly turned her head along with her body and she was astonished to see Eunseo Yun (Her best friend).
"Eunseo? What are you doing here?" Nayeon lowered her voice as she did not want to disturb the people on the train.
Eunseo smiled mischievously.
"I ran away from home. I want to attend a kpop concert around this area." Eunseo giggled.
"I see. But is it that your parents won't allow you?" Nayeon asked as she tightly gripped unto the hanging strap.
"Yes, yes. They want me to go for swimming lessons."
"Okay."
"By the way, what's the occasion? Why are you going in this direction?"
"Family matters."
"Family matters? Aren't your parents dead?"
Nayeon fell deadly silent and Eunseo realised what she had just said.
"Oh, Nayeon, I'm sorry. She pleaded. I didn't mean to say it like that."
"You know, Eunseo. You don't have to rub it in my face that I don't have any parents while yours are still alive."
"Nayeon... I'm truly sorry. I'll buy you a meal to make it up to you."
"It's fine. But you must buy me spicy ramen."
"Haha, you don't remember the last time we had that? We drank twelve bottles of milk to run down the spiciness!"
"SHHHHHHHHH!" Everybody on the train shushed the two of them. Eunseo and Nayeon felt a flush of embarrassment running through their bodies.
They soon reached their destination and got down together. Eunseo looked around and spotted a small ramen shop.
"Let's go eat there!" Eunseo said to Nayeon.
"Alright, but lets make it quick. I must go really soon." Nayeon said and they went to eat.
Nayeon and Eunseo were gulping down their ramen and Eunseo suddenly asked Nayeon, "Have you got a boyfriend?"
Nayeon nearly choked on her ramen.
"Hehe, what makes you think i do?" She asked.
"You're different."
"Probably you think so because we haven't seen eachother for a while."
"Perhaps... but have you gotten any love interests? Tell me, tell me. I desire to know."
"No- wait, there is this one guy..."
"Oh? Now who is that?"
"The company i work at-"
"Wait, you have a job!?"
"Yeah."
"That means you're growing up, Nayeon. Congrats. Anyway, go on."
"Okay, so he's my boss, and his name is Dohyun Lee."
"I know that guy. His father, Mr Lee, has been my godfather since I was a child. They're a very prestigious family, the Lee's. How did you manage to get a job at Amazing water, though?"
"I applied for it online. No interviews were needed."
"Nice, nice. But does he not have a fiancée? I think it was Leah Kim or something."
'Yeah, but he's just forced to marry her for business stuff. We're friends, and he said he doesn't have any feelings for her."
"Interesting. Have you confessed yet?"
"I don't plan too. Something else came up..." (She means Savannah Harpson)
"I see."
Eunseo suddenly because conscious and checked the time on her phone. She squealed as she realised that the concert would soon start.
"Oh, seven minutes left! I must go. Please take care, Nayeon."
Eunseo raced out of the subway as she said that. Nayeon waved at her and continued her journey. She took a cab from the subway so that she could reach Minju's in a nick of time.
Nayeon thought about how long it had been since she had seen her elder sister. After she unexpectedly left to fend for herself and her young child. Nayeon knew that Minju would start being cold and hostile towards her.
She soon reached Minju's address and got out of the cab. It was a small cream coloured house which had plants growing around it.
She climbed unto the port and knocked twice.
Silence took over the environment for a while. Nayeon flinched as she suddenly heard keys twist and the door struggling to open. Nayeon braced herself to face her sister after seven years.
The door flung open and a fully dressed woman with black hair in a messy bun, eye bags probably gotten from exhaustion and work, she was wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt.
Minju looked flabbergasted to see Nayeon. She instantly recognised her, and her face went from neutral to disgusted in a matter of seconds.
Nayeon herself was surprised to see her sister looking so feeble. With the look on Minju's face, Nayeon could tell that Minju was most ungrateful and displeased to see her.
"Why are you here!?" Minju yelled with fury on her face.
Nayeon took a deep breath and stared into Minju's dark brown eyes that reflected her anger.
"I came to visit you after you called Haerin and told her what happened to Ariyana." Nayeon spoke.
"We are fine. And if I were expecting anyone, it would be Haerin, not you."
"Haerin is busy and said she would visit some other time. But why didn't you want me to come?"
"You are among those who relinquished me after I got pregnant with Ariyana."
Saying that made Nayeon fire up.
"What nonsense are you saying, Minju? She began. You're the one who was stupid enough to ruin your life by getting pregnant with someone seven years younger than you! And after that, you went rogue and no one knew where you went. So I'd say, you're the one who abandoned us!"
"No, if you really cared about me, you would have done something for me! Minju began. Haerin was the one who found me and sent funds to me every month. She always called and did her best to support us! I told her to not say where we were because I wanted to see if you'd go lengths to find me, but she told you anyways!"
"Why are you so selfish, Minju! Father died shortly soon after your departure. And if it weren't for Haerin, I don't know what i could have done."
"Me, selfish? Well, look who's talking... you were seventeen at the time father died, you could have gotten a damn job and did something with your life! But no, you always want Haerin to provide for you cause she's your guardian angel, isn't she?"
"I-"
"You have no excuse. Most of our money was drained because you and father would use it for useless bets. You're... you're just like him..."
Nayeon flared up with anger a slapped Minju across her face. Minju touched the place she had slapped her and fell silent.