âA meritorious vassal that calmed the national crisis, huh.â
The first thing that came to his mind when he read the title âApguâ was Apgujeong, and when he looked inside the script, he realized the meaning of Apgu was the same as what he thought it was[1].
âOppa, dinnerâs ready,â Bada burst open the door and spoke.
âI made some ramyun so come quickly.â
âWhat made you cook some ramyun all of a sudden?â
When he went to the dining table, he saw a pot of ramyun with eggs in it as well. There was also some kimchi and some leftover rice. It was the perfect combo. He looked at Bada with suspicion. There was always a reason behind her actions when she did things that she usually didnât do.
âWhat are you doing? Eat already.â
âDid you do something wrong?â
âWhat the heck are you saying? Shut up and just eat.â
Bada was all smiles as she served a bowl for Maru. Although it was very suspicious, Maru decided to eat it anyway since he was hungry.
âHow is it going with Dowook these days?â
âWhy are you asking that all of a sudden?â
âNo real reason.â
Bada glanced at him before sighing.
âI wanted to hang out with him but things happened.â
âReally? Thatâs a pity.â
âBut why do I have to report to you about all this?â
âI need to know at least this much as the person thatâs giving you all your dating expenses.â
âGeez.â
âIf you donât want to, I wonât ask anymore. Sorry if I made you feel bad.â
â...No, itâs not like that.â
After tapping the bowl with her spoon, Bada grinned before starting to talk about events that happened with Dowook. From how they started dating to how cute Dowook was. Bada endlessly talked about Dowook just like the Arabian Nights.
âTTO Sungjae versus Dowook. Who do you like more?â
âOf course, itâs Dowook-oppa.â
âOh my word. Itâs Dowook over Sungjae?â
âWell, itâs not like Iâd ever get to date Sungjae-oppa.â
âYouâre quite realistic when it comes to that.â
Bada giggled. She put down her spoon and swung sideways.
âBut I never knew Iâd talk about this with you, oppa. I became annoyed when I looked at you up until last year.â
âReally? Thatâs a bit too much.â
âWhatâs too much? You didnât say a single word to me, had me run the errands, kicked me andâŚ. But these days, youâve changed a bit. Are you sure youâre not sick anywhere?â
âWhen you become a 2nd year in high school, youâll mature.â
âYeah, sure. Like Iâd believe that.â
âWhy donât you grow up first?â
âWeâre only two years apart. But hey, arenât you meeting unni?â
âWell, your brother is very busy.â
âPhew, sheâs so pitiful. The guy calling himself her boyfriend is like this.â
âIâm treating her extremely well so donât you worry.â
After eating all the noodles, Maru poured some leftover rice into the broth. When he ate every last bit of food in the bowl and was about to stand up, Bada stopped him.
âIâll clean it.â
âWhat?â
Household chores were always split between the two. If one did the cooking, the other would do the dishes, and if one did the laundry, the folding was done by the other. This was an unspoken rule theyâd developed since both of their parents were working, but Bada broke that rule and did the dishes as well. After watching his sister wash the dishes while humming a TTO song, Maru quietly entered his room and changed his clothes. He had a hunch. Bada treated him well without a single reason?
âYeah, right.â
He finished preparing to leave and carefully opened the door.
âWhere are you going?â
Bada stood there with a suspicious smile on her face. In one hand was a book, and it seemed that it was her school textbook.
âWhat is it?â
âIf you ate food, you must work for it.â
âIt wasnât free?â
âNothingâs free in this world. Oppa, do you think the world is that easy?â
Aah, he could see signs that his sister would be successful in society. It was something to be happy about, but still. Maru glanced at the door, but Bada stepped in.
âIf you keep doing this, Iâm going to take away the credit card from you.â
âThat wonât work on me anymore, you know? I know you arenât going to take it.â
Bada had a bold expression. So this method didnât work anymore. Maru became dejected and spoke,
âAlright, what do you need me to do?â
âHomework.â
âWhat homework?â
âHoliday homework. The day after tomorrow is the first day of school, but I havenât done anything yet. Itâs nothing hard. You just need to copy.â
âWhat are you going to do?â
âEnglish homework.â
âThere are two days left of your holiday. What have you been doing this whole time?â
âDonât nag me and help me out already. If I donât do this homework, the teacher will hit me.â
Bada pushed the textbook and the notebook to his hands.
âInstead, Iâll do cleaning and make dinner all of next week.â
Now that was a rather attractive proposal. How hard would a middle school-level homework assignment be? And how much could she have? If he could be free from preparing dinner and cleaning with a couple of hours of investment, it would be worth it.
âYou canât go back on your words, okay?â
âWhat do you take me for? Well then, youâre doing it?â
âI get it so give it to me.â
Just as he thought that he should finish it up quickly and research more about the era that the drama was set in, Bada rushed into her room and came back out with a pile of books. It almost definitely didnât seem like it could be done in a day.
âAll of that?â
âYeah.â
Bada put down the books on the floor with an innocent smile. Did middle schools give so much homework for the holidays?
âYou canât go back on your words, okay?âÂ
Why did he suddenly think of the saying âa tiger father does not beget a dog sonâ. Maru, who just received the same words he said to Bada, scratched his eyebrows and thought about ways he could escape this situation. Persuasion, flattery, or getting angry. He didnât think that any of them would work. Bada wasnât someone who would be persuaded with words, nor would she be tempted because of some flattery. If he got angry, she would shout back at him, so he didnât have a choice.
He was going to spend the last weekend of his summer holiday while relaxing and reading his script, but it seemed that it was out of reach. Just as he was about to start his wrist labor, he thought of a solution from Badaâs face, who was grinning.
âFine, Iâll do it.â
âReally? Youâre doing all of that, okay?â
âOkay. Well, itâs just copying and simple problem solving, right?â
âYeah. Thereâs nothing hard.â
âAlright, that should be easy.â
Bada clenched her fist before shouting âyesâ.
âIf you canât do it by tonight, you can finish it off tomorrow.â
âSince Iâm doing it, I should finish it today.â
âThatâs good for me.â
Bada sat down in the living room and started writing something in her notebook. Seeing that, Maru quickly took out his phone. He scrolled through his contacts and called the person that would save him.
-What is it?
âWhat are you doing right now?â
-Iâm cycling.
âCome over to my house.â
-What the heck are you talking about?
âYou should come right now. Bada wants to see you.â
-What?
âAre you coming or not? Our parents arenât at home right now. So come and play with her a little. Itâs the holidays and sheâs staying at home all the time.â
-Why would IâŚ.
âI thought you two were dating?â
-Huh, what the heck is that about?
âYouâre not? I saw you walking together last time, heck, you were even locking arms.â
Dowook fell silent, even though the first thing he would usually do in such situations was to swear.
âHey, donât chicken out and come. You know where we live, right? Iâll give you the address. 30 minutes, then?â
-Do I really have to go?
âYes, you really have to go.â
-Iâm really going, okay?
âYou should really come, okay?â
He hung up and looked at Bada. She seemed to have heard that he was calling someone as she was looking his way.
âWho is it?â
âIs this the first time you saw me calling someone?â
âWho did you call?â
âLetâs respect each otherâs privacy, okay, young lady?â
â...Alright, so please get started. Iâll get into trouble if I donât finish it.â
It seemed that the teacher that gave her the homework was a strict one. Bada started focusing on the homework. Had she studied like that usually, she would have gotten great grades. She didnât have a bad head, but she just didnât try.
âWait, I think I heard that somewhere before.â[2]
Maru smiled and spoke,
âHan Bada.â
âWhat is it?â
âWhy donât you go wash yourself? Oh, and change your pants too.â
âAh, why should I? Iâm staying at home the whole day. Also, these pants are comfy.â
âI think itâll be better if you do. Also, you should tidy your hair a little.â
âWhat are you on about all of a sudden?â
âDowook is coming over.â
â...What?â
âI said Dowook is coming over.â
âWho?â
âKang Dowook.â
âWHY!â
When Bada abruptly stood up, Maru pointed at the bathroom for her. After glaring at him and panting for a while, Bada went to the bathroom. Some loud noises could be heard.
âHeâll be here in around 30 minutes.â
Maru called Dowook. Dowook was panting when he picked up.
âAre you rushing?â
-Why do you ask?
âSo you are rushing. When will you be here?â
-Soon!
âWow, that was quick. Hey.â
-Argh, why!
âWhat do you like about Bada? Sheâs not pretty at all.â
-Shut up, and also, Iâm in front of your apartment.
âYouâre here already?â
He went to the veranda and looked down. He saw Dowook who was looking up at the building while sitting on a bicycle. It seemed that he was cycling in a nearby park.
âBada, Dowook is here.â
âHey! Han Maru! Tell him that he canât come in right now!â
âYouâre calling your brother by name?â
âAh, oppa!â
âIâll tell him to take his time, so you can take your time as well. Also, have Dowook help out with your homework. This brother of yours needs to go out for a bit.â
The bathroom suddenly opened. Bada, who had shampoo on her hair, was glaring at him as though she was looking at a madman.
âWhy would Dowook-oppa do that?â
âBecause he and I are friends.â
âGoddammit! How can I possibly have him do such a thing?â
âAre you discriminating?â
âYouâre so dead. Iâm not letting this go.â
âSure, sure. I get it, so you can continue washing. Mom and dad will be late so there wonât be any problems, right? You two can finish your homework and play around together. Whew, where can you find a better brother than me? Iâm even considerate about your love life.â
Bada slammed the door shut. The sound of the shower could be heard for a while before Bada left with her hair wrapped in a towel.
âIs Dowook-oppa here?â
âHeâs down there.â
Badaâs face paled. She carefully walked to the veranda and looked down before quickly hiding behind the fence.
âOh my god! Heâs actually here!â
Maru handed her a hair dryer since she was dusting the water off her hair with the towel.
âTake your time.â
âYou really areâŚ.â
âDowook came immediately when I talked about you, you know? I mean, I think he had other plans too.â
âR-really?â
âYeah. I just called him and he was panting. It looks like he came here without rest. Man, someone has it good, with a passionate boyfriend and everything.â
Maru probed Bada out. Bada, who was glaring at him and was about to snap at any moment, shut her mouth and started tidying her hair. So she was a girl despite being so young, huh. Maru took his phone and wallet and left the house. He was able to dodge an annoying matter this time. He took the elevator to the first floor. He saw Dowook locking his bicycle.
âThat was quick.â
âI thought you wanted me to come quickly.â
âLooks like the sun will rise from the west tomorrow, I mean, with Kang Dowook listening to another person and all. Hey, wait here for around 10 minutes before going to apartment number 502. No, actually, come with me to the supermarket for a bit.â
He took Dowook to the supermarket. He bought a lot of snacks, drinks, and ice cream for Bada and handed it to Dowook.
âWhen you go up, tell her that youâre here to help with her homework.â
âHomework?â
âYeah. Man, Bada has it good, having a boyfriend like you.â
He pushed Dowookâs back when he looked at him with a questioning look. Nothing good would come out of explaining too much. He said âdonât cause any accidentsâ[3]Â into the elevator before turning around.
âWell, people have their own lives.â
Although his sister ended up getting divorced in his previous life, he had to respect her choices.
Life would never flow the same way. Bada would choose what was best for herself. That was why he should just leave it to her to make her decisions. He thought that he should just help out when she thought that she was in the wrong and was in agony. He now knew that life was something that did not go the way he expected.
After standing under the sun for a while, Maru opened his phone.
âDaemyung.â
-Yeah, Maru.
âWhat are you doing?â
-Watching TV.
âWanna go boxing?â
-...N-no. The master is too scary.
âJust joking. Letâs go to the jjimjilbang[4] together.â
-Jjimjilbang?
âYou have plans?â
-No, itâs not like that.
âThen come. Wash my back for a bit.â
-Haha, alright.
Maru thought that friends were beings that he could go to the public baths with. He decided to have a long talk with him in a warm spring. Also while at it, he thought that he should ask about the drama that Daemyung was helping to create the script.
Maru looked at his house before walking.
[1] According to the [Korea Creative Content Agency, KOCCA], The Apgujeong(lit. Gull-friendly gazebo) was built in the area that eventually became the Apgujeong-dong in present day Seoul (The gazebo no longer exists). It was built by a person named âHan Myung-hoeâ, who became a powerful official after helping Sejo take over the throne. Apparently, he also âgiftedâ his daughters to Kings Yejong and Seongjong to get appointed as a powerful official four times in his lifetime. Apgujeong was his pen name. Also, despite its name, gulls never visited this area, and some scholars used a different hanja for âApâ, which changed the meaning to âgull-suppressing gazeboâ. The drama is probably set in this era. Han Myung-hoe was also titled the âmeritorious vassal that calmed the national crisisâ, which appears at the beginning of the chapter.
[2]Â Not sure about other countries, but (some) Korean moms always say this about their children.
[3]Â This, along with âdonât overspeedâ, refers to âgetting her pregnantâ, or in this case, NOT getting her pregnant(...), when said in Korea.
[4] Korean dry sauna. Usually attached to public baths. Wikipedia for more details.
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