In middle school

"Hey, Minah, I'm going to work after school everyday this week too so don't wait for me and just go straight home from your school, okay?" Minji told her sister at breakfast.

"All you ever do is work. You have to enjoy some time to yourself as well too you know? You're only in 8th grade, it's wrong for someone so young to work this much. It's not like our family needs the money anyway." Minah said with a pout

"My work isn't just a hobby-"

"It's a responsibility I know!!!! But as a teenager, you also have the responsibility to actually enjoy your youth."

Minji sighed and offered no reply to her sister. Sure, school would be more fun if she actually had friends. Everyone just sucks up to her, none of them are really her friends. They look at her status and her face and decide that they want to be her favorite person and try everyway to achieve that goal. School was an ugly representation of society to Minji, it seemed as if all people wanted to do was chase after status even at the ripe age of 13. Though she too was just a 13-year-old, Minji just couldn't have the same mindset as her peers, and she always felt disappointed in those who she refers to as "kids these days" (which usually results in a laugh from their parents during family dinners). Minji doesn't expect her sister to understand. The younger had always been more outgoing and friendly. She has many friends and stayed with them after school often as well. If Minji was around, her sister wouldn't have the chance to go home with said friends, thus Minji tried to avoid that as often as possible.

Everyday, Minji worked as much as possible and filled up what was left of her time by studying. As the oldest in a family considered "one of the most powerful in Korea", Minji never stopped running at full speed with a heavy burden on her shoulders. She had to prove to everyone and most importantly herself that she was worthy of this life, that she had true value. With such thoughts always lingering in her mind, Minji always picks herself up, off of the lonely practice room and into the crowded photo shoots, with her head held high. This is what she has to do. She may have to make some sacrifices, but as the eldest child, she has no other choice. Eventually, as she got older, her parents agreed to let her take on more jobs, as long as she kept her grades steady. They were happy that she enjoyed it and had so much responsibility from such a young age. Such pride only made Minji feel more and more stressed day by day, but what could she do? It's what she has chosen, and the path one draws for oneself is the hardest to escape of all.

                   ***

"Hey Minah, seems like your sister isn't here today to pick you up?"

Minah coils upon hearing that disgustingly fake sweet voice from behind her. She pretends not to hear and almost begins sprinting back home when a girl, one quite a bit taller than her, jumped out in front of her and stopped her dead in her tracks.

"Going somewhere? Why not come to town to do some shopping with us?"

Another one perked from behind her "Yeah, maybe we could even try to find something to help you feel less inferior, considering your whole... family situation."

Minah forced a smile, "Sorry guys, I don't have any cash on me today..."

Suddenly two girls from the group came up and put their arms around her, "That's fine. There are many other ways we can be entertained, isn't that right girls?" There it was again, a sickening laughter from all of them at once.

"Come one Minah, let's go to the back off the school, and have a nice, long chat. Like we have always had ever since you tried to steal my boyfriend."

Minah reluctantly followed them to the dark alleys nearby. These were the friends that Minji had thought Minah had. Friends who beat her up, steal her money and gossip about her every chance they get. "Steal her boyfriend" she said. That was wrong in so many ways and Minah knew it,it's not her fault the guy approached her. He pushed her against the wall and her strength was no match for him. She had been so thankful to find three girls stumbling in on them, thinking they were her saviors, until she found out the leader of the trio was partners with the guy... Her life went downhill from there, not that it was ever at a high point to be honest. At her school, she had tried to be very friendly with all the kids but for some reason they never managed to really get close to her. It was as if every single one of them had a hidden long-term grudge against her.

Her teacher was strange too. He gave her special treats a lot, from grades to candy all sorts of things. And when the other kids saw that they hated her even more. They claimed that she was lofty and only had such achievements due to her family. They compared her to Minji all the time, calling Minji the better twin right in her face every chance they got. Minah tries so hard to block the taunting out, but every single one of their words pierced through her heart like daggers. After hearing the same things over and over, she herself started to believe in it, Minah found herself harboring deep hatred against her sister more and more. She hated how the older always spent her time working, obtaining achievement after achievement, leaving Minah in the dust. She hated how the older seemed to shine brighter in everyone's eyes. Most of all, she hates how the older abandons her at time when she's needed the most. She hates how even when she's hurt, when she's alone, she still can't call out for help from the sister who is supposed to be so reliable. The only one she had left was her parents but she couldn't tell them. That would be "abusing the power" they always made fun of her for, and she couldn't let them have the last laugh. Not only did she hate her sister, but she hated herself as well. She started to believe when those kids called her useless and untalented, after all, there was no one to tell her otherwise.

Minah convinced herself that this was fine. That while Minji carried out the responsibilities of being the superior child, she could do this, she could take on this one burden. She convinced herself that she was fine, that there were many others who had it harder than she ever did. But at times, when she is left abandoned behind in the dark alleys, alone, bleeding, with tears flowing uncontrollably from her eyes. She just wished that she could escape.

Minji's POV – In the present

I have finally asked the question that has been bothering me not just today, but ever since middle school. It was a question I had avoided my whole life, but now that we were finally in high school, now that I was in charge of my family: I couldn't do this. The drea from before was like a slap in the face, I couldn't avoid these responsibilities anymore, and I have to face them. Back then, I always told myself that she would be fine, how could she not be? She was friendly and kind-hearted, nothing like me. Sometimes when our parents did speak up, and she gave them curt answers:

"I fell down the stairs."; "I tripped on something at the school ground."

These sound like obviously lies, but I was always looking past them. I only had my eyes set on one thing, becoming better and better, improving so that I could make everyone proud. And in that process, I forgot the things that really mattered. I ruined our relationship, and I had to fix it as well. At this school, I was determined to recreate a sibling bond we had lacked, and I knew that it all starts with this very question.

When I finally looked up into her eyes, I noticed her face had fallen, her eyes becoming cold and darkened.

"What made you think so?" She gives me a soft smile but it was so fake. The me back then would have chosen to believe in her soft smile, but I can't do that anymore, I can't allow us to be like this.

I inhaled and looked her straight in the eyes, more determined than ever. Minah sees it too, she also knows that this inevitable conversation has to be carried out.

"What if I said yes..." She drops her gaze to her foot and continues talking. "Even so, what would you do, what could you possibly do."

"Mi-- Minah..." I managed to stutter out her name.

Before I could even form a proper sentence, she had turned away and started home, "Come one sis, wouldn't want to keep Minjoon waiting at the gates, now would you."

Her words were cold and sharp. And the uncomfortable silence hung in the air all the way back home.

As soon as we arrived, Minah quietly went upstairs and changed. I look at her and couldn't help but let another sigh out. She is usually in a very cheerful mood whenever she gets back from school. Minjoon finally spoke up, upon sensing the tension between us.

"Is Minah sister angry because of me?" He asked.

"Well no, Joon, what made you think so?" I look at him.

"I ate her favorite candy bar that she kept in the locker in her desk yesterday." Joon said.

"You did that?" I chuckled softly at Minjoon whilst shaking my head at him.

"No, but I thought it would make you smile for a bit, and I was right." Minjoon admitted.

I looked down at him, tears quickly gathering in my eyes. Minjoon suddenly embraced me and said gently, "Personally, I think it will all work out. So don't worry too much."

I hugged him back and nodded in reply before answering him with a saddened smile, "Sometimes I really wonder who is the eldest in this house..."

Minjoon just looks straight back at me after pulling away form our hug and smiles, "I can be the eldest anytime you need me, Minji"

Thank you, Minjoon. I can always count on him... After that, I went upstairs and had a hot shower to refresh myself before going back down to get started on our meal. To my surprise, I found Minah standing in the kitchen, with her pink apron tied neatly around her waist. She quietly chops all the carrots, potatoes and onions into bite-size pieces.

"You're going to cook today?" I stood next to her and cautiously asked.

"Yup! Can you clean the pot and boiled the beans and corns please?" She smiles happily to me and continue chopping the ingredients. It was as if nothing had happened.

"What will you be making, Minah?" I asked as I tied my apron around my back and wash the pot. Although her behavior was strange, I still went along with it. Nothing good can come out of me asking her about the matter while we're cooking dinner anyway.

"Fried beef with those veggies we're boiling right now." She answered.

After more than half an hour, we finished all the cooking and started to dig in. There was so much food on the table: that fried beef of Minah's, kimchi, kimbap, rice and even some spicy fish soup. The table was arranged neatly and the aroma made me hungrier than ever.

"Wow Minah cooked today?" Joon asked me while looking at the food with sparkling eyes. He too acts as if nothing had happened this afternoon and continues, "It smells great. I can't wait to eat."

"Yeah, I'm starving." I added. "Okay, have a good meal, everyone."

And we enjoy our meal like we always do, as if we were the happy family everyone thought we were, the happy family we wanted to believe we were.

***

"Hey, sis?"

That night, while I was getting ready for bed, Minah entered our room and spoke up at last.

I looked back at her with curious eyes, wanting to have a conversation with her myself.

"Could you forget what we talked about on our way home?" She inhaled deeply.

Oh. That's what she wanted to say... I wanted to talk, I wanted to get this over with so that we could start on our journey to becoming the sisters we once were, tight-knit and joyful. However, if she wasn't ready then I couldn't force her. I nodded in response and watched her let out a small sigh, out of relief or exhaustion, I couldn't tell. For now, I guess we'll have to keep playing the role of the luckiest twins in the world who had all they could wish for. Though in reality, the things we craved for the most, we just couldn't grasp.

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That's the end of chapter 9 guys!!!!

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