Eighteen's Bed-Chapter 17.2: The Arrogant Accuser (2)

“The property value in Gupseong is definitely rising. Well, it’s because they’re planning to build a KTX station there.”

“Is that so? From what I’ve heard, there’s quite a bit of opposition from the local residents.”

“No, once this administration ends, it will be built within a few years. I’ll let you know the location, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to invest around there.”

“Are you certain?”

The smile disappeared from Go Yohan’s mother’s eyes, and her gaze immediately shifted to my mother, sharp and deep. My mother took a sip of tea before speaking calmly.

“Trust me. Consider it a token of gratitude. It’s only right to offer you something like this.”

“I haven’t done anything significant enough to hear such information... You’re truly impressive. I’m not well-educated, so I don’t know much about these things. Neither do my kids. I should probably learn.”

“You’re already doing well. Your eldest son is already attending a prestigious university overseas.”

“Oh my, you’re just flattering me. But honestly, raising children is still so hard for me.”

“Three kids must be tough, right?”

“Tough. It’s amazing how they can be so different despite coming from the same womb.”

It was the kind of conversation you listen to with one ear and let out through the other. My gaze remained fixed on the glass display cabinet. I was certain it had been empty before. But now—now, a younger version of Go Yohan was beaming brightly, clutching a bouquet of flowers overflowing from his arms.

I wiped my sweaty palms on my thighs.

“...Yohan must have been a handful, wasn’t he?”

Still staring at the display, I asked the question as if in a trance.

“Well, he’s always had a... unique personality.”

“You think so?”

“Don’t you?”

At last, my eyes left the display case. I met Go Yohan’s mother’s gaze, almost by accident. Realizing it might seem like I was interrogating her, I quickly looked away. But then, she said something strange.

“Who knows.”

That was it. Just that. I lifted my head in confusion. That’s it? Who knows? What was that supposed to mean?

Yet, she wore that same inscrutable smile—the same one she had when she said something I couldn’t understand.

“I find my youngest daughter more difficult. Maybe it’s because she’s my first daughter.”

“Well, I can’t offer much advice. I don’t have a daughter. Sorry about that.”

“Funny, isn’t it? We were both daughters once, yet I still find raising one so difficult.”

A brief silence, broken only by the soft clatter of teacups.

The room settled into a polite lull, each person filling the space with faint smiles and idle laughter. Then, as if something had suddenly come to mind, my mother set her teacup down and spoke.

“Come to think of it, the second child of this family... The more I hear about him, the more mysterious he seems. He sounds like a rather... unique child. Maybe he has some artistic talent?”

“No, no. Kids are just like that. Complicated. Isn’t Jun the same?”

“Well... I suppose.”

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With a slow, familiar touch, my mother smoothed a stray lock of my hair.

“But Jun was easy to raise. He’s always been so independent.”

“I’m jealous. Mine’s the complete opposite.”

“A real handful?”

“Yes. So clingy. Too much.”

Yohan—a clingy child? Just another ordinary kid? What a joke. I could barely keep my mouth shut from the sheer absurdity. That sweet, gentle face was hiding such a thick mask. And here was his mother—so kind, so motherly, acting like the most devoted, loving parent in the world.

Liar.

You stood by and watched your son torment me.

“And come to think of it,” she said suddenly, looking at me with that same disarming smile, “I bet Jun had to put up with Yohan’s clinginess quite a bit. I’m sorry about that.”

An apology. Out of nowhere. So abrupt, it felt awkward.

“But, Jun... If Yohan ever messes up in the future, could you look after him for me?”

“Ah...”

What could I possibly say to that? With nowhere to go, I simply nodded—weakly, vaguely.

“...Yes.”

“Yohan? Is that his name?”

“Yes. It’s his baptismal name. You know we’re a Catholic family, right?”

“Of course. Your family’s quite known for it.”

But my reply scattered into the air, quickly buried under the resumption of their conversation. My unease only grew as I scanned the room.

Had they placed that photo on the shelf just because I was coming here? On purpose? My face burned hot. Was it anger—or shame? Maybe both. But above all, it was fear—the cold, humiliating kind of fear that crawled under your skin.

I felt exposed, as if my face—my true feelings—were about to be seen. I couldn’t stay any longer.

“I... I need to use the restroom.”

“Oh, of course. Do you know where it is?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good. Take your time.”

Her elegant face smiled softly again. I turned away immediately.

The truth was, I only knew about the second-floor bathroom—because Yohan had shown it to me once. Not that it mattered. I wasn’t here for the bathroom. I just needed... a moment alone.

When I reached the sink, I didn’t even use the toilet. I just washed my hands. And then, I stared into the mirror for a long time.

“...What the hell.”

The faucet kept running. The sound of water filled my ears, cold and steady. My hands were already clean—clean enough—but I kept washing them anyway.

I was drowning in humiliation. I’d come here thinking I could figure out her intentions—what she wanted from me. But now, I just felt like a fool.

I had been so arrogant.

No, no. It’s not wrong to be curious, Kang Jun.

It’s only natural to wonder. Why is she being so kind to me? What the hell does she want?

But in the end, there was only one thing I had learned for certain.

‘Ah, and as I mentioned a few days ago... I was incredibly lucky to get the connections I had for my eldest’s college applications. The waiting list for that consultant is endless. Honestly, cutting in line like that was a little awkward for me. You haven’t mentioned it to the other parents, have you?’

That comment confirmed that Go Yohan’s mother had only recently offered my mother the consulting help. The day she helped me hadn’t been that long ago. Among all the reasonable doubts I could have, I chose the most logical one.

“...Could it be that Go Yohan asked for this?”

No, that wouldn’t make sense. Yohan had said he was being ostracized at home. He was the one who said that himself. So... was that a lie too? No, it didn’t seem that way. The atmosphere that night had been too strange, too eerie. That dinner—where Yohan had been the only one missing—had been completely unnatural.

I came to this house to uncover the truth about Go Yohan’s suspicious world, but somehow, it felt like I had walked into a trap. I was stuck, trapped inside a massive labyrinth.

Fuck, this house is seriously insane.

“Damn it, I got involved in the wrong thing. Everything about this is a mistake.”

Frustrated, I rubbed my damp face with both hands. I must have splashed more water on myself than I realized—my bangs were soaking wet. I pushed them back with the back of my hand and shut off the faucet.

With my face still dripping, I looked up.

The mirror reflected nothing but Kang Jun—staring straight ahead, his black eyes empty.

“...What are you going to do now?”

The version of me in the mirror asked.

I opened my mouth slightly but said nothing. Then, I straightened my back. What was the point of asking? Fuck.

What choice did I have to make... to have a future where I wasn’t completely miserable?

I had no clue.

My steps felt heavy as I left the bathroom. My gaze stayed locked on the floor, my mind still tangled in thought. That was when I sensed an unfamiliar presence approaching. Startled, I instinctively looked up.

“...Ah.”

“...Ah.”

It was Go Yohan’s younger sister.

She recoiled slightly, looking at me with a displeased expression. I had almost crashed into her as I stepped out of the bathroom.

And the moment I met those young, piercing eyes, a deep sense of dread washed over me.

I hadn’t wanted this to happen. I’d thought I could at least keep my composure in front of a kid. That, at least with someone younger, I could hold the upper hand.

But she had already seen too much. She had seen my weakness.

“...S-Sorry.”

“What the hell.”

Her brow twitched slightly.

Those narrow, sharp eyes scanned me from head to toe.

“Why are you here?”

Every word carries an inflection. No matter how emotionally detached a person might be, it’s impossible to completely hide their feelings in speech.

And that was exactly the case with Go Yohan’s sister—Gorosa.

She was looking at me with pure disdain.

That stare made me want to crawl into a hole.

But my pride refused to let me shrink away.

“Your mother was kind enough to help me, so I thought it would be best to thank her in person.”

“...Ah.”

Her pretty face twisted slightly as she pursed her lips and nodded.

That’s it? That’s all she had to say?

She was just as cold and cynical as ever.

They really were the same bloodline.

Normally, I would’ve clammed up and ignored her in return, but instead, I hesitated—awkwardly searching for something to say.

“So... you got out of school early?”

“...Do you not even know it’s summer break?”

“...Oh. Right.”

Embarrassed, I stretched out my fingers and let out a slow breath before hurriedly adding an excuse.

“Well, you know... schools all have different vacation schedules.”

Silence.

Again.

And her expression said everything—So what?

I flexed my fingers again, pressing them into my palm. Then, as if it was a reflex, I exhaled deeply.

I was drowning in my own awkwardness.

Gorosa gave me a once-over before letting out a light scoff.

Then, she tried to walk past me.

Instinctively, I turned to block her path.

“...What now?”

“...I just—”

To be honest, I’d never had to ask anyone for a favor before.

If I ever needed something, I would just pay for it.

I had never had to ask, let alone beg.

Because I had never been in a position of such complete weakness before.

This was different from being bullied.

This was the humiliation of needing something from someone.

And the weight of that crushed me.

I was about to plead for something—from a girl younger than me.

“...You didn’t tell anyone, did you?”

My voice dropped in volume.

By the end, it was barely above a whisper.

“...About that night.”

“Hah. So that’s what this is about?”

“...You didn’t, right?”

Gorosa let out a breathy laugh.

Then, she glanced around—scanning the hallway and the empty rooms nearby.

Only after confirming that no one else was around did she lower her voice to match mine.

“Think about it for a second. Do I look fucking stupid enough to spread that story? What, for fun? For whose benefit? Me? My dad?”

“...I figured you wouldn’t. But still—”

“But still what?”

“...You’re just a kid.”

“I am not a kid.”

Her voice shot up.

She was clearly pissed.

But she didn’t yell outright—her tone had an edge, more steel than volume.

That was proof that she was smart.

That she had control.

I realized, then, that she was a lot more calculating than I had given her credit for.

“The real child here is you,” she snapped. “If it were me, I would never have come here. I thought you had lost your damn mind.”

“...Why?”

“Why?” she scoffed, “Are you seriously asking that?”

“...I have to, for appearances. They helped me. Your mother gave me information about the college entrance process...”

“Then why don’t you just take the information and fuck off?”

"...I thought she seemed kind."

At first, her impression wasn’t great, but Go Yohan’s mother, talking to my mother, was the embodiment of a compassionate parent. Moreover, she couldn’t criticize her own daughter in front of her. However, Gorosa wrinkled her face in a look of disdain as she spoke.

"Wow, you're not an idiot or anything."

"Did I make a mistake?"

I thought one of my strengths was how quickly I learned. Go Yohan had once mentioned that his younger sister had a crush on me. Of course, I knew it was just a joke, but there was definitely a small, detectable fondness in her words. It was clear that Gorosa didn’t think badly of me.

"Is there a reason your mom helped me? Is this something I shouldn’t have done?"

"Wow, hanging out with an idiot, and you really are one."

Gorosa was sharp, but still young. Really young. I felt a mix of overwhelming embarrassment and, at the same time, a strange sense of pleasure. Yeah, that's right, at the end of the day, she's still just a kid. She was the only one in this house who could help me uncover anything. That’s why I came here. To meet her.

My hands were covered in sweat from the tension. I naturally rubbed my palms on my clothes, but I must have looked even more foolish doing that. Gorosa looked at my hand and sneered again before suddenly asking me a question.

"Why did you act like that at our house?"

But that wasn’t the kind of question I wanted to be asked.

"...What do you mean?"

"Don't pretend you don’t know. When we were eating, you were honestly acting like an idiot."

I remembered hearing something like that before. The memory I had buried deep inside resurfaced painfully.

"What did you say back then? I swear, it felt like I was hearing nonsense. I can’t even remember it clearly. All I could think was, ‘I need to leave this place quickly.’ That idiot was suddenly saying... I was probably thinking something like that."

"...."

"Then I realized, ‘Ah, it was Go Yohan’s joke. This guy is messing around again.’"

Gorosa glanced at Go Yohan’s room with a look of contempt, as if looking at a bug. She clicked her tongue and then turned to face me directly.

"I’ll say one thing because I feel sorry for you. Don’t get close to Go Yohan."

"Why?"

I asked, slightly irritated. Honestly, I felt a twinge of anger at her unbearably dismissive tone.

"Afraid it’ll rub off on you?"

So I responded sharply. Yeah, let’s say I made a mistake. But was I really worthy of all this criticism? Even though the outcome was disastrous, my intentions were good. Is it fair for me to be blamed just because I made a fool of myself? The pent-up emotions I had been holding back spilled out.

"Back then... was I really that foolish? I— I was just trying to be kind to Go Yohan. If not understanding the atmosphere makes me an idiot, then sure, I’ll accept that."

"What? What are you talking about?"

Gorosa looked at me, confused, and her attitude made me even angrier.

"I admit Go Yohan is strange. But all of this is because of what happened at home. I was just trying to protect someone who was being bullied. Was that so stupid?"

"Bullied?"

Gorosa's expression froze at my words. But instead of guilt, it looked more like someone hearing something they couldn't understand. She raised an eyebrow and asked again.

"Bullied? By who?"

Only someone who’s been hit with stones can understand that pain. Of course, it’s problematic that the one who threw the stones was Go Yohan. But I learned the pain of being rejected by a group.

It felt disgusting. While my own exclusion had only lasted a short while, Go Yohan’s rejection had lasted his entire life. I could [N O V E L I G H T] almost think it served him right, but at the same time, I felt wronged. If only they hadn’t tormented him first, none of this would have happened. Why did they raise him like this? My primal resentment pointed straight to the source.

"Go Yohan. Who else in this house is being excluded except him?"

"Go Yohan? Excluded? In our house? What the hell?!"

Gorosa, raising her voice again, stopped abruptly and quickly shut her mouth.

Her small hand grabbed my shirt and yanked me forcefully. She didn’t say to follow, but it was implied. I was pulled along behind her, and we both breathed heavily as we headed to a small room I had never been in before. Once she pushed me into the room and locked the door behind us, she screamed loudly.

"Crazy, you’re going to listen to all this nonsense?!"

"Nonsense? I’ve seen and heard everything."

"Hey! What do you know?"

Gorosa’s slender finger poked sharply into my neck. It didn’t hurt, but I frowned at the unpleasant sensation. However, Gorosa didn’t care at all. She just yelled, her face flushed red.

"You don’t know anything! The one who’s the most spoiled in our house is Go Yohan!"

"What?"

What the hell is that supposed to mean? I wanted to ask her. She needed to make sense. What about Go Yohan’s father’s scorn? What about the insults, the neglected dinner table, and Go Yohan’s sad expression? Hearing her speak such absurd lies to cover up the truth made me feel disgusted. It was sickening.

"How can you say that to the kid who gets all the praise? Is that how your parents act?"

"Don’t tell me that guy doesn’t deserve insults. If it were me, I would’ve kicked him out of the family. He should be grateful that he's even still living here. That damn sociopath, he should be in a mental hospital, not at school! Yeah, I hate him. I wish he’d just leave the house!"

Gorosa couldn’t contain her anger and yelled. I couldn’t help but respond loudly in kind, my own anger bubbling up.

"Sociopath? What has he done? Just that he likes men? Is that all?"

"You want to defend him after all that?"

No, I wasn’t defending Go Yohan. I was defending myself. I took her words not as an attack on Go Yohan, but as an attack on me. How could it be justified for someone to be treated like this just for liking someone of the same gender? It didn’t make sense. I wasn’t a sociopath, and I didn’t belong in a mental hospital.

I’ve lived better than anyone else, without causing harm to anyone.

"All because of that one reason? You think that’s enough to treat him like this? Calling him a psycho or a sociopath. Who exposed the secret in the first place? It was your family. And you’re just using that to cover it up, aren't you?"

"What? Who said that? Go Yohan said it? Did he say that himself? Is that what you're saying?"

Gorosa’s eyes widened, and her mouth hung open.

"Who exposed it? He said it first! That crazy bastard, that crazy bastard said it during Christmas in middle school! In front of his whole family! While everyone was praying for their family’s safety and peace, he said the one thing he wanted for Christmas was a 'boyfriend!' That bastard said that!"

"...What are you saying?"

"Bullied? That bastard rides around on his expensive motorcycle, crashes it all the time, and his parents stop him from facing the consequences? He’s the one who walked up to his parents and exposed the secret that everyone was hiding! The backlash? My family took all of it! That guy is seriously insane. He’s not just some regular freak, do you hear me? That second-child complex, wanting to take all the love from his parents, while causing all that trouble, and you’re going to treat him like this?"

"What the hell are you saying?"