RE: Keep it in the Family (Secret Class) 179 — Under the Stars

Once Mom understood I wasn’t about to pull off anything wild—like declaring out of nowhere that I’d join a celibate monastery on Mount Athos, a spot as distant from South Korea’s crowded streets as imaginable without a passport—her tension gradually dropped from DEFCON 1.

Still, she remembered we’d be climbing uphill to observe the comet, and the rural area wasn’t any monastery. A subtle glint of concern remained in her eyes. Caution.

Her eyes stayed on me, while mine stayed on her.

She struggled to act ordinary.

She fought to just be Mom.

To be fair, she pulled it off well. Since her fever passed, her mood lifted, and she appeared set to conquer the world armed with rubber gloves and loads of bleach.

We stood near the door. Mom fluttered around the entrance like a hummingbird, picking at an imaginary spot on Su Ah’s collar.

"You got everything? Nights turn chilly. Warm socks packed?" Eun Ha verified, giving Su Ah’s shoulder a final pat.

"Mom, I’m not five." Su Ah replied, shooting me a glance. Why me? Was she waiting for me to step in?

"And you!" Oh no. Eun Ha’s attention shifted to me, her concern now broader, not so pinpointed. "Stay careful. Not only... you know. But with falls too. Those paths get slippery. Oh, his shoelaces are loose."

Before I could object, she knelt down, her nimble fingers fixing my hiking boots into neat, even knots.

"His laces are perfectly tied, Mom..." Mia shouted from the living room. "I handled them. No need for extra mom fixes."

Truth be told, I could manage it alone, but Mia demanded control over smoothing out every fold and crease in our hiking packs as the ultimate packing expert. I’m no beginner at backpacking; yet Mia discovered secret compartments I’d missed and crammed in additional must-haves, plus items she swore were essential—another first-aid kit, mosquito wipes, duplicates for the duplicates, and more.

"Just stay safe. You two."

There, secured with expert tightness.

"So... you’ll keep my precious brother from tumbling off a cliff while he’s lost in football thoughts, Su Ah?" Mia joined the send-off group. She lounged against the doorframe, checking her nails. "We need him whole for the family vacation."

"He survived fifteen years with you as his big sister, Unnie..." Su Ah shot back, a small amused smile on her face. "I can manage a few hours around him."

"Hey, hey, no getting mean." I joked flatly, and they both rolled their eyes, though Mom chuckled. Her eyes wrinkled up like they did right before her mood soured. "Anyway, if that’s all..."

"That’s all." Su Ah spoke up for me.

I lifted Su Ah’s telescope case once more, checking its heft. It felt lighter now with the tripod strapped to my backpack.

"Okay, time to head out." I flashed a brief smile at both women, but my look hung on Mia. Hers, too eagerly, locked onto mine.

And from behind Eun Ha, she mimed a hand gesture, mouth agape, eyes rolling back like only when she’d given me the thing.

The clueless Eun Ha missed it entirely, but I caught it, and so did Su Ah beside me, her expression turning to solid ice.

Something stirred in my pants, yet my cool stayed rock-solid.

"......"

"I packed thermoses of herbal tea for your throats. One plain water, one ginseng." Mom whipped out three metal containers like a magician with rabbits. I was amazed.

I balanced them briefly. "Tea?"

"Special mix! It warms you right up." She touched my cheek with her hand’s back, then pulled away fast, as if scorched. "Go now, or you’ll miss the sunset."

And just like that, we departed into the bright, sweltering afternoon sunlight.

The road’s asphalt wavered faintly.

I wished for a car. We’d drive to the mountains instead of busing it. Though even with one, neither of us held licenses.

No issue. Buses covered even far-flung spots. Plus, walking without rush let me pause, absorb the scenery, dwell on anything interesting.

Mom and Mia observed us from the house gate.

As Su Ah and I strolled shoulder-to-shoulder down the scorching, deserted street, clusters of neighborhood moms, wives, and aunties peeked from windows, tracking our steps like the local gossip network on alert.

Actually, they eyed me. The football prodigy neighbor kid returning from glory.

Glory. An overstatement for my feats so far, but TV spots, interviews, national goals, and AFC wins definitely made waves.

Thus, even without following soccer—few really did—they knew the Cha family had a trophy-winning 15-year-old son. Pride-worthy stuff.

Su Ah and I climbed the suburb’s gentle slope at a leisurely stride.

At the intersection, a bunch of girls—near a dozen, middle-schoolers in uniforms—stared openly, then giggles and whispers trailed us like waves after the moon.

"See, Noona? Even kids know me." I boasted, chest out. "Ah, fame’s getting too much..."

Su Ah arched a brow, ignoring them completely. "They’re not staring ’cause they know you, idiot."

"Oh?" I cocked my head, grinning teasingly at her blank face. "Then why~?"

A quick flush hit her ears, catching my notice.

Was she... blushing?

"Shut it and speed up! If we miss the bus ’cause of you..." Su Ah snapped, though not truly mad.

"Ahh, summer sun really amps up little Su Ah’s attitude..." I fake-wiped an eye tear. "Jae-il will piggyback you forever, Little One."

Joking aside, Su Ah eyed me one second, and next I buckled under her sudden load. "Hmph!" She sniffed haughtily. "If so, carry me to the stop then? This heat’s miserable for walking..."

"Sure." I chuckled. I shifted her stuff and caught her strawberry-laundry scent. "I’ll haul you to the hilltop too."

This body brimmed with vigor. I could tote this slim, cool chihuahua straight to the comet if needed.

She rolled her eyes, lips curving slightly. "Idiotic guy pride... don’t drop me and brain yourself on the mountain. Or me!"

"What brain yourself, Noona? You’re safe with me~" I murmured, swapping her to my other side. "Anyway, you’re so light—like a feather sack?"

Su Ah snorted and tucked her face into my neck to mask the red. It cracked me up more.

Her heat and weight felt... good.

We hit the bus stop; I eased her down gently. The bus pulled up minutes later, hissing to stop. Inside was refreshingly chilly. We grabbed the rear empty seats. It packed fast.

As the bus pulled off, Su Ah leaned by the window, watching suburbs fade. City gave way to paddies and hills.

She stayed silent.

For ages, no words, her calm profile drawing my repeated looks. What? I wallowed fine in this immoral mess. So? Deal with it.

She wasn’t exactly absent from my thoughts either. Oh, sweet life. Therapist time? Normal teen crush or obsession rehab?

Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Logic evaded my teen brain, past life memories or sports smarts aside. Fifteen-year-old boy here.

When Su Ah turned just right, light hitting her eyes perfectly to shift and mellow that hue, my gut clenched uncontrollably again.

Surface-wise, I played innocent or fun, ’cause yeah, Su Ah nailed it—boy pride and macho stuff.

"What’re you staring at, Jae-il?" Su Ah hummed, arms folded. Her face closed in fast; one look, and I was busted. "At your sister?"

"Crime?"

Her smirk grew; she leaned nearer. Way too near. "What’s your excuse?"

I barely heard, fixated on those cherry lips. Eyes dipped down, up to hers—meeting triumphant glee like catching a cookie thief red-handed.

"Need an excuse? You don’t for staring back, do you…?"

She froze, a faint flush maybe from my call-out.

I grinned, shrugged. "And... you’re gorgeous, Noona. Can’t help it."

"......!"

Adorable, that rising warmth flooding her face. Fluttering lids, tiny throat squeak.