Chapter 7: Squirrel Pajamas and Family Sparks

What do I remember about Kang Jaehyuk’s little sister?
‘Scary.’
Like she’d be the brains in a gang of delinquents—that’s Kang Eunju.
I didn’t spend much of my parents’ allowance, so Eunju often mooched off me.
No clue how our relationship changed after my TS…
‘My notebook said meeting her sucked the life out of me.’
Eunju charged at me so fast Jaehyuk couldn’t stop her.
She reached me in a flash.
“Whoa!”
Eunju slipped her hands under my armpits and lifted me up.
I dangled in the air, locking eyes with her.
Her face screamed excitement, but this was a clear threat to my survival.
I said with a trembling voice.
“S-Save me…”
“…Oh, right. S-Sorry.”
Guess she heard I lost my memory.
Realizing what she did, she gently set me down.
Then a sharp sound.
Smack!
“Ow! Hey! Why’d you hit me!”
“She’s pregnant—be careful, not reckless…”
“Ugh…”
While they bickered, I clung to Lady Han and shuffled forward.
Those two together are too intense.
I’m too scared to stay near them.

“Oh, that looks so cute on you. Hehe.”
“This is really all we’ve got…?”
“I forgot to pack your pajamas… sorry, dear.”
“No, you don’t need to apologize…”
I was wearing pajamas… animal pajamas.
A squirrel onesie, to be exact.
Loose, comfy, and warm, but isn’t it a bit much to wear around?
Still, Lady Han and Jaehyuk looked so pleased I went with it.
‘I’m not a dress-up doll.’
“Eek! It’s way too cute!”
“…”
Eunju’s reaction was over the top.
While she stepped out to wash up, I sat next to Jaehyuk.
“Hey, why’s she like that? What was our deal?”
“Our deal? She just tormented you one-sidedly.”
“?”
“Eunju goes nuts for pretty people or stylish clothes.”
“For real?”
“You were her target.”
No wonder my closet’s full of clothes that aren’t my style.
I usually like dark colors.
Black, navy, that vibe.
But my closet was bursting with bright colors for a reason.
They fit my body well, but now I get the cause.
“Still, Eunju took care of you a lot.”
“…”
“She picked out clothes for your gigs, worried about you with me.”
“I lost all those memories, so what now?”
“It’s fine.”
Jaehyuk patted my back.
Right then, Lady Han brought out fruit, telling me to eat up.
One of the house’s real bosses arrived.
To me, Father.
Jaehyuk’s dad, Kang Jin, in a black suit, looked almost like Jaehyuk.
Kang Jin had a stern, handsome vibe; Jaehyuk’s was sharper.
Like he’d suit a general’s role?
Back when my family lived nearby, when I was a kid sneaking in and out, Kang Jin always felt unapproachable.
I stood up and said.
“H-Hello…”
Jaehyuk’s dad—Father—looked at me with a heavy expression.
…Why are his eyes tearing up?
Now I know where Jaehyuk gets it from.
“You… feeling okay?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a relief.”
He kept staring at me.
Like he was waiting for something…
Oh, I’ve got something to ask.
“What should I… call you?”
“!!!!”
Father looked shocked, like he’d been struck by lightning.
Wasn’t he usually stoic?
Seeing his face, Lady Han chuckled and spoke to me.
“Yeju?”
“Yes, Mother?”
At that, Father’s face crumpled completely.
Meanwhile, Mother grinned ear to ear, like she’d won.
Father said in a shaky voice.
“M-Mother…?”
“Yes. What else could I call her…?”
A staring contest sparked between Father and Lady Han.
I leaned closer to Jaehyuk and whispered.
“What’s wrong with me calling her that?”
“Dad used to tease Mom because you called her Lady Han.”
“Huh? Over that?”
“You called her Lady Han, but me Father, so he’d rub it in.”
“…”
So calling Mother “Mother” and asking what to call Father caused this vibe?
Honestly, cozying up to someone I used to find intimidating with a “Father~” feels weird!
“Hey, save me…”
“This is beyond my control.”
“You’re just gonna skate by alone, huh?”
Jaehyuk avoided my gaze and popped a fruit in my mouth.
I ate it but had to make a tough call.
Gulp—
After swallowing, I clenched my fists and shouted.
“F-Father!”
A provocative tone.
I took a deep breath and said.
“C-Come eat some fruit…”
Self-loathing.
This shame consumed me from head to toe.
Father’s face bloomed with a bright smile, nodding as he went to his room.
Mother looked slightly miffed.
Jaehyuk patted my shoulder, saying it was a hard choice.
Hyuk, we’ll talk later.
That’s that, but I let out a deep sigh in my head.
‘Phew, one hurdle down.’
When I looked down, my outfit hit me.
Squirrel pajamas.
I’d called the unapproachable Father “Father” in a squirrel onesie, not some classy outfit.
I bit my tongue.
‘I wanna die.’
Later, Father ate fruit and checked on me.
Anything uncomfortable? Call if it’s too much…
Each time, Mother chimed in.
“She’s with me—how could she be uncomfortable?”
Or.
“Ho ho, call me if it’s tough, not your dad.”
Was that a spark between them, or my imagination?

After some TV and chatting, my eyes started closing.
This body… too weak to sleepiness.
The tenants’ fault?
Jaehyuk patted my back and said.
“We’re heading to bed.”
“Okay.”
“Sweet dreams.”
Too tired, I practically hung onto Jaehyuk’s arm as we walked.
Why am I so sleepy?
“Jaehyuk…”
“…What?”
“We’re not sleeping in the same bed, right?”
“Haha, of course we are. We’re married, after all.”
“Ugh…”
I figured the bed would be big, but damn it.
It wasn’t that big.
Just enough for two to sleep close with a bit of wiggle room.
Normally, I’d bicker with Hyuk over this, but I was too tired.
Flop—
I collapsed onto the bed, not caring about my hair.
The soft blanket sank around me, its coziness washing over me.
‘Haa, nice.’
I rubbed my face into the blanket.
Jaehyuk lifted me slightly, fixed the covers, and tucked me in up to my neck.
So warm…
Rustle.
Jaehyuk lay beside me, pulling the blanket to his neck.
He didn’t look sleepy, more like lying down for my sake.
I grabbed his arm and said.
“Hey… you don’t regret marrying me?”
“Why ask that?”
“You jerk, back in high school you wanted a curvy ideal type… I’m all skinny and flat as hell… Flat, I said!”
Jaehyuk was quiet, then spoke.
“Would I have cried that hard when you lost your memory if I regretted it?”
“Yeah… true. Wait, that’s beside the point.”
Sleepiness hit so hard my inner thoughts spilled out like I was blackout drunk.
I’ll probably forget this by tomorrow.
“You must’ve gotten a ton of hate too, right? Marrying a TS patient… called gay or something?”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“Ugh!”
I lightly smacked Jaehyuk’s face as he looked at me.
Probably felt like getting hit with a stuffed toy.
“I’ll remember all that hate… and get revenge. Show them I’m living well.”
“…”
“You did good already.”
“Did what? Got a bucket of hate. You’re the weird one, idiot!”
“…Sleep now.”
Jaehyuk covered my mouth.
“Mmph! Mmph!”
“You had so much to say, why didn’t you speak up?”
He slowly let go of my mouth.
My voice sounded like someone about to pass out, dripping with sleep.
“You’re so worried, but I’m not gonna just say ‘Oh, it’s so hard!’ to your face…”
“Sleep.”
“I’m sleeping…”
Too groggy to talk, I closed my eyes.
I should’ve fallen into deep sleep, but my head ached all night.