The cigarette in my hand burns down, turning to ash.
I inhale, then exhale. As the paper wrapped around the tobacco nears its end, a vibration buzzes in my pocket.
The cigarette, flicked away after serving its purpose, hits the wall, sparking briefly before disappearing.
I glance to ensure the cigarette is fully extinguished, then pull my phone from my pocket. Checking the caller ID, I frown.
I thought it might be Hyemin or Suyoung, but it's someone completely unexpected someone I still feel a bit awkward around. I hesitate, wondering whether to answer.
*Click.*
I decide to pick up.
[ Sasha! ]
"Yes, Aunt. Hello."
[Right. I figured I'd call before heading back to Korea. Those infuriating bitches dragged out the plan longer than expected.]
My aunt's voice is laced with anger as she rants about someone. But I can't bring myself to sympathize with her.
Why?
(Because I just realized I don't even know what my aunt does.)
Her mention of a "plan" makes me wonder if she's a cop or something. If she is, that'd be quite the surprise. It's hard to imagine my rough-talking aunt in such a role.
After venting for a while, she finally calms down and asks about me.
[Ahem, ahem. Sorry for getting worked up. So, how's my pretty nephew doing these days?]
Her words sting my conscience. I can't exactly tell her that her immigrant nephew, who she went through so much trouble for, has been beating up kids at school and even breaking their bones.
"…Just quietly attending school"
*Bzzt.*
Suddenly, my ear vibrates from the phone. I switch to speaker mode to check the message it's from Hyemin.
[Hyemin: …I'm really sorry, Sehwa. You weren't answering, so I'm messaging instead. I managed to stop most of them, but… Minwoo's mom is still planning to sue you.]
Hyemin did better than I expected. I thought she'd convince maybe half of them, but she managed to persuade five out of six.
(But of course, the one left is a problem her mom's a prosecutor)
If she's really a prosecutor, Minwoo's claim about his mom's job is probably true. A legal battle could drag on for a while. Or it might turn into a messy fight. The worst part is, this might not be resolved before my aunt returns to Korea.
She's already so worried about me if she finds out about this, it'll double her stress.
I wrestle with whether to tell her now or later, groaning internally before deciding to come clean.
"Aunt, there's something I need to tell you."
[Huh?]
"So, I got into some trouble at school. Some kids started a fight, and I… beat them up pretty badly. One of them says they're going to sue me. I'm trying to handle it, but…"
[..Sasha. Just stay put. Please, hold back. If you act now, they might find out. Don't do anything until I get to Korea.]
She cuts me off, her voice so grave it's as if the world's about to end. I blink in confusion, unsure what she's talking about, and continue.
"Anyone would think I killed someone? And who's going to 'find out'?"
(Is she being chased by loan sharks or something? Who'd be after an 18-year-old kid)
[…Nephew, what's gotten into you all of a sudden? Stop it, you're scaring me. Why are you acting like you've lost your memory?]
"Lost my memory?"
I ask calmly, as if I genuinely don't understand, but my hands are sweating. I'm desperate to know how "Natalia Sasha" lived, but I'm completely in the dark.
(Was pretending to be Natalia Sasha to the end too much?)
Worse, after my words, the phone goes silent, as if the call has ended. Did I blow my cover? Just as panic sets in, my aunt's slightly agitated voice comes through.
[…Sasha. Do you really not remember anything?]
"…Yeah. Honestly, I don't remember anything from before. What you do, how I lived none of it."
Since it's come to this, I decide to stick with the amnesia act. I can't exactly say I'm possessing her nephew's body, and she already knew my memory was spotty, so it's a gamble worth taking.
Thankfully, my "poor nephew who lost his parents and now his memory" act seems to work. She responds more calmly than expected.
[…Alright. We'll figure it out when we meet. Honestly, it might be better if you forget those memories. So, Sasha, what's your plan moving forward?]
"Those memories"? Was I abused by my parents or something? But the parents in the photos looked so happy… What happened?*
Her cryptic words make me frown as I reply.
"They're suing me, so I'm planning to countersue."
[Good thinking. When I get to Korea, I'll handle that part… Oh, are you okay with money? Not for the lawsuit, but for living expenses.]
"I'm fine for now. There's still some money Mom left, and I'll get immigration support soon. About a million won?"
With the money they'll send, I'm not just fine I'm more than set. They even report to me via messages, so they won't stiff me. Plus, it's almost time for the support funds to hit my account.
When my aunt doesn't respond right away, I awkwardly kick a pebble on the ground.
(Did I say something wrong again?)
I expected her to laugh it off with something like, "Oh, that's great!" But as I keep kicking the pebble, her voice comes through, heavy with suspicion.
[…We should've changed your name, not just your age. All that effort was for nothing.]
"Sorry?"
She spoke so softly that even my sharp hearing couldn't catch it. When I ask her to repeat, she brushes it off, saying she'll come as soon as possible, then hangs up abruptly amid a clatter of noise.
I frown, frustrated. Even if I'm a male nephew living alone in a foreign country, her overreaction to every little thing I do feels unsettling.
(Whatever. I'll deal with this before she gets here.)
The vague past can wait my immediate crisis takes priority. If my aunt isn't as influential as I hope, she might not be able to help much when she arrives.
I clench my bruised palm, letting the sting clear my mind, then call Hyemin.
*Click.*
"It's me."
--
--
As Sehwa's call drags on, Hyemin waits anxiously for it to end.
Though brief, it was enough time for Hyemin's mother to regain her composure and gather information.
"Yes, yes. Understood."
Hyemin's mother puts down the phone and yanks off her tie in frustration. Hyemin flinches and asks, "Did you find out anything?"
"Yeah. That woman,Isia, hasn't been seen on the front lines for a while. Apparently, she's just running a club now."
Hyemin tilts her head, puzzled. It's strange to think someone like that is just managing a club. She asks if it's some important establishment, but her mother shakes her head.
"It's not some organization-run place. Probably just a personal hobby. But to pour that much effort into it, she'd likely have to quit her main job."
"So, what are you saying?"
"sia's retired and living a stable life. That Ryu Sehwa kid you mentioned might not be some big shot's contact. He could be way less important than you think. Not some prized son sent to Korea as a symbol of goodwill, but maybe just a regular student working a part-time job."
Her mother adds, "Of course, it's just my guess, so don't let your guard down." But Hyemin can't help but grit her teeth.
(What if he's not some mafia boss's son or a young master, but just a lowlife? What if I got scared and humiliated myself over someone pretending to be a nobody?)
Seeing Hyemin's trembling fists, her mother clicks her tongue and continues, "You idiot. Not all information is true, and you're already acting like you've been played? This is why I can't trust you with the business. I've told you time and again don't assume until you see it through."
"…"
Her mother's sharp words, digging into Hyemin's usual foolishness and fickle nature, make her lower her head to hide her twisted expression.
But her seasoned businesswoman mother notices immediately and is about to scold her when—
*Bzzt.*
Hyemin's phone lights up and vibrates in her pocket. Her mother gestures for her to answer, and Hyemin, feeling tense again, picks up.
[it's me.]
"Oh… yeah. Did your call go okay?"
[Sort of]
Hyemin glances at her mother, seeking approval, and gets a nod. She then smoothly delivers her rehearsed lines, mentioning that the money transfer might be delayed while subtly probing into Sehwa's background.
"Hey, Sehwa. Where's your guardian?"
[…Why do you ask?]
Sehwa's cold tone sends a chill down Hyemin's spine, but she takes a breath and presses on, her eyes glinting.
"No, it's nothing big. Minwoo's mom is coming to school tomorrow. I was just wondering if you're bringing… a guardian or something."
[What a hassle. It's fine, I'll go alone.]
(Huh. Why's he coming alone?)
Hyemin's lips curl slightly. Growing confident in her suspicions, she dives into the most awkward topic.
"…Really? Oh, I heard by chance… aren't you close with someone named Sia? If this situation's a hassle, maybe ask her for help?"
[Mina must've told you. We're practically strangers, what would I ask her for? And is Sia even someone who could handle this? As far as I know, she's not a lawyer]
(Handle it legally? Not by pulling strings or intimidating the prosecutor to wrap things up?)
Hyemin nearly snaps in frustration but holds back, her mother's icy glare warning her to stay composed.
Still, her emotions are a mess. She's lived a life of luxury, yet she had to kneel and beg for her life from some boy.
(This is so humiliating… damn it.)
She should've played it cool when it was just innocent feelings. Now, realizing Sehwa might be a nobody, her suppressed desires start to boil, mixed with a thirst for revenge. Like the first time she saw him, it's not about emotional connection—just raw attraction to his body, now twisted with vengeance.
If he has no powerful backing, and his connection to Isia is as flimsy as it seems—or even nonexistent—she won't let this pretty boy who humiliated her off the hook.
[Thanks for the effort. I'm starting to feel like forgiving you]
*Forgiving?* Hyemin wants to laugh in his face, but her mother's advice and her last shred of patience keep her silent.
The call ends with a beep, and her phone screen goes dark. Hyemin glares at it, muttering curses under her breath as she looks forward to what's coming.
_________________________________________
Translated by Reversalmanhwa.web.id
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