I Became the Eldest Daughter of 10 Siblings - Chapter 120

I tossed and turned until late dawn.

Only after the 12,174th fluffy sheep jumped over the fence did I finally fall asleep.

Even after waking up, I still felt uneasy.

Somehow, last night my heart was pounding and throbbing as if I had taken stimulants.

Have I already developed arrhythmia at this age?

That shouldn't happen so soon...

Out of curiosity, I asked right away.

To the AI speaker I bought yesterday.

"AI speaker. Are you there?"

As I threw the words into the air, a lively female voice flowed from the speaker.

-Yes! I'm here!

Wow, this is so cool...

These days I've been hearing a lot about the 4th industrial revolution and cutting-edge ICT technology, but this is the first time I've experienced it so vividly.

I said in an excited voice:

"Alright. From now on, your name is Mini HaYoo. Did you understand?"

-Understood. I am Mini HaYoo from now on.

I comfortably shared my worries as if chatting with a close friend.

"You know, last night my heart was pounding and tingling."

-How interesting!

"So I had trouble sleeping, you know? Could this be a symptom of arrhyth..."

-Oh my! You've fallen in love!

"...Huh?"

What... what is this thing saying?!

"No, I'm asking if these are symptoms of arrhythmia."

-I can't find that information.

"Come on, how can an AI not know that."

-What should we do?

"...?"

I take back what I said about it being amazing.

I bought it after much consideration but it's not very reliable. It can't even understand properly and seems somewhat deficient.

Since even Mini HaYoo's performance was suspicious, I threw out a simple history question.

"Ah, nevermind. When did the Imjin War happen?"

Surely it won't spout nonsense for this too.

It's a simple question that can be answered straightforwardly if the database is functioning properly.

But Mini HaYoo gave an absurd answer as if it was broken.

-Our Imjinwaeran has already woken up? What a diligent child, waking up on their own without parents having to wake them!

"..."

Where is Korean AI heading?

At this point it seems like talking trash.

"No, you stupid idiot! That's not what 'woke up' means! I'm asking when the Imjin War broke out!"

-I didn't understand what you meant.

Now it's even playing dumb.

This is ridiculous, ridiculous...

This thing is so frustrating it might give me arrhythmia even though I didn't have it before.

"You're really useless."

-That's not a nice thing to say.

"What can I do with something useless?"

-You are a precious being.

"No! I'm not talking about me, I'm saying you're useless, you frustrating robot!"

-I didn't understand what you meant.

Aaagh! This is so annoying!

I think I'm getting high blood pressure on top of arrhythmia.

"Ah, forget it... just recommend a song."

-Okay! Mini HaYoo will recommend a song for you! How about 'Can You Shut Up for 1 Minute'?

Did I hear that wrong?

"...Wh-what song did you just recommend?"

-Can You Shut Up for 1 Minute.

You're a robot telling me to shut up for 1 minute? Is that it?

"You've really gone crazy..."

-Mini HaYoo is fine.

"You dare tell your owner to shut up?"

-Mini HaYoo never did that.

"You did! You did! You did! I heard it clearly with my own ears!"

-I didn't understand what you meant.

"Forget it. You're a piece of shit."

-You are not trash. You are a very lovable being.

"No, I'm saying you're a piece of shit, not me!"

-I didn't understand what you meant.

"Ah, this is so annoying, really!"

Anger boiled up and I had a heated argument with the AI speaker for a while.

Eventually, Son Yena, who had covered her ears while wearing a sleep mask, irritably shouted:

"Unnie! Are you now fighting with an AI? Please go outside if you're going to fight! I'm dying to sleep, really..."

Hearing the hoarse, growling shout, my shoulders shrank timidly.

And I apologized in a mousy voice.

"So-sorry..."

-Mini HaYoo is okay!

"I wasn't apologizing to you."

-I didn't understand what you meant.

Ah, GG.

If I hear one more word here, I think I'll collapse first from rage sickness.

Korean AI seems to have mastered the art of annoying people, if nothing else.

Anyway, thanks to the AI speaker that's about 99% lacking in performance, my sleepiness completely disappeared...

I barely pulled myself together and got up, heading to the bathroom first.

"Mmm..."

At some point, it had become a routine.

Carefully examining my appearance in the bathroom mirror while brushing my teeth.

Alright. No blemishes and no puffiness.

My skin condition is pretty good considering I didn't sleep much.

Next, I touched my abdomen with my index finger. The soft flesh stretched out.

"I think I've gained some weight..."

Suddenly I feel anxious. Did I really gain weight?

With that thought, I rinsed my mouth, left the bathroom, and stepped on the digital scale.

I checked the numbers on the scale with appropriate tension, but oh my goodness.

I gained weight.

And a whole 3 kilograms at that.

"Ah, damn..."

This is so frustrating I can't stand it.

Son Yena was the one who ate like a vacuum cleaner, so why am I the one who gained weight?!

"...No. It can't be."

I shook my head and desperately denied it.

The scale could be broken like the AI speaker.

The number in front of my eyes was so unacceptable that I weighed myself again.

The result...

Damn! It's the same!

"Ah, I'm really going crazy!"

After that, my shallow obsession began.

Just in case, I did ten squats in front of the scale and weighed myself again.

The same.

This time, I took off my outer clothes and weighed myself in just my underwear.

The same.

Thinking the batteries might be dead, I even replaced them and weighed myself again...

Gasp! It even increased by 0.1kg!

"This can't be..."

Futile denial of reality began in my head.

If it's not the scale's problem, could there be something wrong with this entire building?

Having come to that conclusion, I weighed myself again while rummaging around the entire dorm looking for a spot where it would show even a few hundred grams less.

If there had been ink on the soles of my feet, the floor would have been stained pitch black from how much I ran around.

As expected, my hopes were in vain.

"It's, the, same, aaaah!"

My lips became parched.

I weakly rubbed my pale face and immediately called Jang Bongyu.

He quickly answered the phone before the dial tone could properly ring.

-Oh my! Who is this? Isn't it our proud CSA's one and only princess?

Unaware of my burning insides, Jang Bongyu's voice was more lively than ever.

"...Ahem."

By the way.

How should I broach the subject with this tiger?

If I say I gained 3 kilograms, he'll probably rage at me in a thunderous voice.

Just imagining it makes me feel like I can hear Jang Bongyu's nagging voice ringing in my ears.

...I'm scared.

"Ah, well..."

Perhaps noticing the lack of energy in my voice, Jang Bongyu's voice became quite serious.

-What is it, that reaction? Did something happen?

"Representative Jang..."

-Are you hurt? Your face? Hands?

"What should I do..."

-I'm really anxious right now. What on earth happened? There's no energy in your voice. Did someone pick a fight with you again?

"That's not it..."

-Then what is it?!

Jang Bongyu's voice tone rose.

I hesitated to speak while biting my nails, then painfully opened my mouth.

"I... I think I've gained a little weight."

-Gained a little weight? What do you mean?

"My belly, my belly..."

Then, a gasp and a scream were heard from the speaker.

-Wa-wa-wa... wait a minute.

Huh? The reaction is a bit, extreme.

He's even stammering like someone with a speech impediment.

No, is me gaining a little weight that shocking? It's not even very noticeable on the outside.

While I was feeling somewhat puzzled, the conversation deviated and flowed in a different direction.

-A-a-are you... are you pregnant?!

"...Huh?"

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

What is this ajussi saying?!

"What are you talking about,"

-No, I mean, didn't I emphasize and re-emphasize! That early success can bring bad luck and lead to the path of unhappiness! That every moment is like walking on thin ice so you need to be careful and more careful!

"Ahaha... excuse me."

-Is this funny? Is the current situation funny?

...It is kind of funny.

The way he's misunderstanding and jumping to conclusions on his own.

"That's not it. I..."

-Should I congratulate you on this, or should I hold a memorial service. I really don't understand you, Han Yujin. You were on course for smooth sailing and continued success, but what's with this development of smoothly having a baby?

"No, wait, listen."

-This isn't just going off on a tangent, it's crossing the river of death. A 20-year-old young mother... what on earth are you thinking? Do you have any thoughts at all? Now advertisers will rise up and demand you pay penalty fees, what are you going to do!

"I do have thoughts. Right now something is seriously..."

-Thanks to Han Yujin, my reputation will plummet to rock bottom too. Thank you very much for branding me as an unqualified agent who can't manage clients.

Is this person's ear canal blocked with fat?!

I shouted in a frustrated voice:

"Hey, you ajussi! Stop sprinting ahead on your own and listen to me first!"

-Yes, yes. Let's hear it from that pretty mouth of yours. Who on earth is the baby's father? I'll beat that bastard to death and die following him today.

"Ah, that's not it! I gained weight!"

Hearing my explanation, Jang Bongyu's voice softened considerably.

-...Pardon?

"I gained 3 kilos! So I have a bit of fat around my waist and I called to report it!"

-Ah... so it's not pregnancy?

"What pregnancy at this age!"

What do you take me for.

Then, a wheezing laugh and a prayer were heard from the speaker.

-Oh my God. Thank you. Thank you. I thought Han Yujin had caused a major accident and I was about to die of shock. I was going to drown myself in cold water.

"I'm glad you're alive."

I also let out a sigh of relief.

I thought he would possess the spirit of the nagging king and nag me to lose weight, but it seems he's letting it slide.

Well, since he mistakenly thought I was pregnant, he probably won't even blink an eye at a little weight gain.

...Or so I thought.

-What do you mean fortunate! What on earth did Han Yujin do to gain weight? Huh?

It's started. The barrage of nagging.

-Didn't I earnestly implore you not to be blinded by peripheral pleasures like binge eating or drinking? Money is the only thing you can trust.

"I haven't even touched alcohol lately and I only ate one meal yesterday!"

-Then you must have eaten dessert.

"..."

-Right?

Ugh, he's really sharp as ever.

-From now on, I'm going to control refined carbohydrates and desserts. They're completely forbidden.

"What?! That's too much!"

-This is all for Han Yujin's sake. Ah, personal broadcasts are forbidden for the time being too.

"Wow, you're really going too far..."

-Eat the daily salad we send to the dorm every day for breakfast as usual.

"How can a person live on just grass."

-They live just fine. Let's sign you up for an exercise class while we're at it. How about Pilates?

Ah, Pilates is a bit...

The clothes you wear for it are a bit revealing.

-There's no risk of injuring your face or hands, so it's good. I looked it up and there's a well-rated studio near the company building. I'll sign you up there so go get care starting from today.

"...W-wait a minute!"

-What now?

I swallowed and said:

"I, I'm not mentally prepared..."

-What mental preparation do you need to exercise?

"I'm not ready to wear Pilates clothes..."

-My goodness, you're speaking like someone who has too much good fortune.

A sigh like boiling water was faintly heard.

-Listen, Han Yujin. Most women pay money directly to buy and wear tank tops or leggings. Right?

"Y-yes..."

-But Han Yujin receives praise from people and even has large sums of money deposited into your account every time you wear them, right? What a beautiful capitalism this is.

"But still, it's a bit too revealing."

-What's revealing about leggings. You'll have to wear a swimsuit in summer too.

"...Pardon?"

-Ah, this is a joke.

It clearly felt like he was serious.

Does this money-crazed crab-like ajussi see me as walking cash or a crab burger?

As expected, this person is blinded by money!

But I can't dismiss money as dirty since I'm already dependent on capitalism too...

I sighed and acquiesced.

"Alright. I just need to exercise, right..."

Hearing my deflated voice, Jang Bongyu asked in a generous tone, perhaps feeling concerned:

-It's hard these days, right?

"...Why do you say that?"

-Just because it seems like it would be.

I couldn't say anything.

It was true that my mind had been complicated lately.

Words of comfort close to advice continued from the other end of the phone.

-I've seen many people who were doing well suddenly collapse from unexpected troubles. So always remember this. The most important thing is balance.

I tilted my head.

"...Balance?"

-Yes. If one side collapses, the other side collapses too - that's how the world works. If balance is broken and you flap only one wing, you can't fly for long and will quickly fall.

"..."

-Never forget. Balance is important.

"...I understand."

I hung up the phone and took out a salad pack from the refrigerator as if entranced.

As I took a bite of romaine lettuce with plenty of vinaigrette dressing, the leaves crumbled crisply in my mouth.

"Balance..."

Thoughts swirled in my head.

Perhaps, that balance is crumbling for me.

Just look at today.

As soon as I opened my eyes, I checked my emotions, cared about my appearance, and acted like a woman, fretting over the numbers on the scale.

"..."

The traces of being a man are fading.

Without even realizing it, the center of gravity between male and female was collapsing.

The tug of war between male Han Yujin and female Han Yujin. The taut balance of the match was gradually tilting at some point. Towards the female side.

I hated and resented this reality.

Just as a knife rusts if not used for a long time, and a horse's tongue stiffens if not ridden for a long time.

I felt sad that I was becoming more and more of a woman because I hadn't been a man for a long time.

How long will this damn gender continue to make me stagger like shackles?

As such thoughts bubbled up like foam, my world felt so shabby and precarious.

It felt like endlessly falling to the cold floor like a tower with collapsed balance.

How should I live?

An emptiness and deficiency that just won't fill.

How should I fill this thirst?

Ah. I'm starting to get tired now.

Anxiety like a quagmire began to swallow me up again.

And just as I was about to be thoroughly soaked in the dark sea of anxiety without offering any resistance.

A calm voice lifted me up.

Above the surface.

"What are you doing?"

"...Huh?"

It was Hyun Junho.

"Did you sleep well?"

His voice was hazy and hoarse as if he had just woken up, but to me it sounded more precious than the New Year's Eve bell.

Because the storm in my heart had stopped.

"You woke up early. But are you eating salad first thing in the morning? That's really impressive."

Then, he smiles wryly at me.

"Dieting is good, but don't do it to the point of harming your body too much. I'm worried."

"..."

It was strange.

All sorts of thoughts had been violently churning in my head, but they settled down like a lie with just a few words from him.

I blankly stared at his face.

And suddenly realized.

Whenever my anxiety swirled fiercely and unknown impatience was about to swallow me, this person always brushed it away.

When I fell into the lake, when I collapsed in the elevator. Always. In that place.

"...Sunbae."

I called quietly.

He looked down at me gently.

"Yes, hoobae-nim."

A short answer.

I hesitated once, then carefully opened my mouth.

"It's a bit, strange. Just seeing sunbae makes me feel calmed down and my heart settles."

Hearing my words, Hyun Junho blinked, then soon chuckled and spoke:

"I thought I only had the talent for getting second place, but I guess I also have the effect of stabilizing Yujin-ssi."

A light playful laugh spread.

I laughed along too.

And he opened his mouth again. With the playful smile completely gone.

"I could do it for a lifetime if you need."

"..."

Then,

My heart started beating again.

Quickly.

Intensely.

Uncontrollably.

Like arrhythmia.

"..."

No. This isn't arrhythmia.

If it's not arrhythmia, then what is it?

Now I had to ask and answer myself, not some AI speaker.

Yujin. Yujin. Yujin.

Yes.

Is this arrhythmia?

Probably not.

If it's not that...

Hmm.

If it's not that...

Ah.

If it's not that...

Yes.

Do I... like this person?