An Unexpected Houseguest
679 Words
Evening arrived as usual.
The hospital slowly emptied as nurses clocked out and doctors finished their final rounds.
Ayan packed the remaining files on her desk, slung her handbag over her shoulder, and headed to the parking lot.
As she drove out of the hospital, her phone suddenly rang.
She glanced at the caller ID.
Mom.
Ayan sighed before connecting the call.
"Hello, Mom—"
"Ayan!" her mother called before she could finish.
"You have to come and take Areum. I don't know what's wrong with her. She doesn't want to stay alone, and I have to travel tonight."
Without giving Ayan a chance to reply, her mother continued,
"She's your sister. Go and pick her up."
The call ended immediately.
Ayan stared at the phone in disbelief.
"...She hung up."
She let out a short laugh.
"Come and take who?"
"Areum is already sixteen."
"She's been staying by herself for years."
"I wasn't even her age when I got used to being alone."
She shook her head and continued driving.
---
An hour later...
Ayan parked in front of her house.
She unlocked the door, tossed her handbag onto the sofa, and stretched her arms.
"Finally..."
"I can relax."
She flopped onto the couch and reached for the remote.
"It's been a while since I watched a drama.”
She opened the streaming app, scrolling through different titles.
Then a familiar name caught her attention.
Ji Chang Wook.
A bright smile instantly spread across her face.
"I forgot..."
"He bears the same name as my crush."
She chuckled to herself before shaking her head.
"I'm talking about the actor, not that quiet angel at the hospital."
She laughed softly.
"What are the chances of meeting two people with the same name?"
She searched for one of Ji Chang Wook's dramas.
"I've watched almost everything."
Her finger finally stopped on Healer.
"This one again."
She pressed play.
The opening scene appeared on the television.
The moment Ji Chang Wook's face filled the screen, Ayan smiled.
"Watching your face alone makes me happy."
Completely absorbed in the drama...
She forgot everything else.
Including her mother's request.
One episode passed.
Then another.
Completely absorbed in the drama...
She forgot everything else.
Including her mother's request.
Suddenly...
Ding Dong.
The doorbell echoed through the house.
Ayan frowned.
"Who could that be?"
She paused the drama and lazily walked toward the front door.
The moment she opened it...
She froze.
A girl in a school uniform stood quietly by the gate, her suitcase beside her.
"...Areum."
The younger girl immediately looked up, a bright smile spreading across her face.
"Noona."
"I knew you'd forget, so I came instead."
Ayan blinked twice before rubbing the back of her neck.
"...Right."
"I actually forgot."
Areum laughed softly.
"I figured."
Without another word, Ayan stepped aside.
"Come in."
Areum wheeled her suitcase inside.
---
The moment Areum entered, her eyes sparkled.
"Your house is beautiful, Noona."
Ayan placed her keys on the table.
She neither agreed nor disagreed.
Instead, she walked to the kitchen, poured a glass of water, and placed it on the table.
"There."
Areum smiled.
"Thank you."
Ayan pointed toward the hallway.
"Second room."
"You'll sleep there."
Areum nodded excitedly.
"Okay."
She picked up her suitcase before stopping.
"Noona..."
Ayan looked at her.
"...Thank you for letting me stay."
For a brief second...
Their eyes met.
Ayan looked away first.
"I didn't really have a choice."
Those words made Areum's smile falter for only a moment.
"...I know."
She forced another smile before quietly walking into the guest room.
Ayan watched the door close.
She stood there in silence.
Her eyes drifted toward the living room.
The television was still paused on Healer.
She stared at the frozen screen for a few seconds...
Then quietly picked up the remote and turned it off.
Somehow...
She no longer felt like watching it.
Instead, she walked to her own room and shut the door behind her.
The house was occupied by two sisters...
Yet it still felt like they were living in separate worlds.
- Writer
