Chapter XCVI - I’ll Handle It Somehow

Arthur - I apologize for delaying the meeting with Petra, but there was a critical development that drastically altered what we initially envisioned. I’m aware of your busy schedule, but if possible, I’d like to discuss things privately once I visit Ryung for his treatment tomorrow. Would you be able to find the time?

Arthur sent a text message to Tjay’s father as the taxi stopped in front of his house. Irene planned to pay for it, but he still had some cash in his wallet.

“Thanks for the ride,” Arthur said, taking his leave.

Approaching the front door, he took a deep breath, knowing he had a long conversation ahead of him as Irene patiently waited for his return; however, upon entering the house, he heard his sister’s voice coming from the living room.

“Ari mentioned we’ll be moving to a new classroom. Something about school renovations?”

"Pretty sure they started right after finals, but apparently it's taking longer than expected. Uncle told me we'll have access to the school roof, and they're working on a deal for us to have PE in a local indoor swimming pool."

“You’re kidding me?” Sophie sounded thrilled.

“We’ll even get school swimsuits.”

“Maybe they’ll make a new club,” Sophie pointed out, unsure if she wanted to continue attending drama club.

“Art!” Irene called out after he appeared by the door. “You’re back.”

“Hey,” he waved, glancing at Sophie. “What are you doing here?”

"Am I not supposed to be here, Oppa? Didn't know that's how you greet your sister." She smiled, sitting on the couch with her legs crossed, holding Kyu, who snuggled against her. Irene desperately tried warning him about something with her gaze, but he wasn't sure what her guilty look meant. "How was the trip to the store?"

“You could’ve messaged me to pick you up,” Art said, trying to avoid her question while greeting her with a smile. “Did you come here on your own?”

“Oppa,” Sophie said, gazing into his eyes. “Could we talk?”

“Sure?” He furrowed his brows, sitting down next to her.

“I wanted-” The buzzing sound of his phone interrupted her. “Need to get that?”

“Nah, it’s okay,” Arthur said, despite assuming it was Tjay’s father.

“You sure?” Sophie asked, but he nodded in response. “Okay then. . . So, how was your trip to the store?”

“Soph-” Irene wanted to say something, but she got Sophie silenced her with a glance.

“She knows, doesn’t she?” Arthur looked at Irene and sighed.

“Knows what?” Sophie acted ignorant, playing with Kyu’s ear. “Surely you’re not hiding something from me again?”

Arthur noticed Sophie’s feet constantly wiggling, and while she put on a tough act and used Kyu as a distraction, he could tell she was worried.

“How’d you find out?” Arthur asked.

“Find out what?” Sophie demanded a confession.

“Soph. . .” He sighed, placing his hand on her knee to calm her legs. "You know what I'm talking about, and I'm sure you also understand why I hid our grandpa's debt?"

“Why? Cuz I’m useless? Because I cried when we found him unconscious?” She dropped her gaze, lowering her voice. “I know I’m a burden, but please. . . I need to know the truth. I’ll handle it somehow.”

“I’ll go make some tea,” Irene said, excusing herself from the living room, a pained smile showing on her face.

Kyu didn’t hesitate to jump out of Sophie’s lap and follow Irene.

“Traitor. . .” Sophie mumbled jokingly, slapping her thigh.

“I don’t wanna hear you saying that. You're neither useless, nor a burden. Hell, without you, I’d be lost and alone.” Arthur pinched her cheek gently to get her to look at him. “You think I wouldn’t cry if something happened to you? In fact, all I think about is how to make sure you’re alright, and if anything were to make you sad, I’d be just as sad, if not more.”

“I know, I know. . .” Sophie sighed, still looking meek. “It’s just that I worry about you too, and I wanted to tell you yesterday that I’ll stop whining all the time and causing-”

“Wait, wait. . . wait.” Arthur placed his hand on her shoulder. “You’re not whining. You’re just sad, and so am I. That’s normal. That’s not why I kept stuff from you. It’s just that the last thing I wanted was for you to be worried over something I’ll take care of myself. Please trust me when I say that I’ll do anything to keep you safe, and we’ll get through this.”

“If you want my trust, then I need to know the truth. . .” Sophie mumbled, expecting him to deny her request. "The whole truth."

“Fine,” he said, looking in to her eyes that looked at him with nothing but love and care. “However, let’s wait for Irene to finish making the tea, so I don't have to explain it twice."

“Amm. . . so a funny story. You don’t actually have any tea in the house.” Irene peeked through the door, making Sophie chuckle as Kyu rushed back into Sophie’s lap.

“Come here,” Arthur shook his head smilingly, moving back a bit so she could fit between them. “Before I start, how’d you figure it out?”

Irene walked over and gestured to Sophie to be in the middle.

“I don’t know. . .” Sophie sarcastically said as Irene wrapped her arms around her waist, hugging her from behind. “Maybe it was the fact that you looked for a way to keep me out of the house or that I noticed someone following me to the store, or. . . when I entered the house, I caught Irene rushing to the door worried sick about you.”

"That'll do it. . . But, did you actually tell her I went to the store?" Arthur looked at Irene puzzled.

“Really?” Irene tilted her head over Sophie’s shoulder. “You think that’s the best I’d do?”

“I’m not dumb, you know?” Sophie sighed. “I just wanted to see if you’d play along cuz you came back emptyhanded.”

“She’s a bully when she wants something,” Irene teased, resting her chin on Sophie's shoulder. “I told her about the debt and that you asked Tjay’s father for help.”

“That reminds me. . .” Arthur took out his phone.

I’ll be in my office around noon if you wish to drop by. - Mr. Jong (Tjay’s Dad)

Arthur - Thank you.

“Everything okay?” Irene asked.

“I wanted to meet up with Tjay’s dad to discuss what happened at the meeting. Does Sophie know about Moon?”

“Oh, she knows. . .” Irene’s soft smile turned scornful.

"Sophie, once you know, you know. There's no going back or changing your mind, nor will you forget what I said. You sure about this?" Arthur asked her one last time in the most dramatic way possible, turning to her with his leg up on the couch. "I don't want you to be scared."

Sophie lowered her head, thinking hard about what he had just said, but with a shy smile, she looked up at her brother confidently.

“You’re risking your life, aren’t you?” Sophie asked, feeling Irene’s grip tighten. Placing her hand over Irene’s and tilted her head back, resting it on her friend’s shoulder while still looking at Arthur. “You know we won’t forgive you if anything happens to you, right?”

“I was made aware beforehand.” Arthur chuckled, looking at the two most important people in his life. “But you don’t have to worry, as we came to an agreement that couldn’t have worked out better for me.”

“Which is?” Irene asked, sounding skeptical.

Arthur looked at Sophie one last time, sighing before he finally said it. “Moon’s brother, the man we owe money to made a bet with his sister about who’d win in a fight. So now, I have to beat up some guy I don’t know, and if I do, we’re walking away debt free.”

Arthur braced for Sophie to panic, but it never happened.

"That's it? All Oppa has to do is win?" Sophie asked, looking more confused than worried.

“And you’re okay with that?” Arthur furrowed his brows, not sure why he asked.

"More like skeptical, but I asked for the truth, and you gave it to me, so it's only fair I give you the trust you asked for in return. Besides, Unnie hasn't said anything yet, which means she trusts you too."

“I do, but he’ll get a piece of my mind once I’m alone with him,” Irene whispered, gazing over at Art.

"I'm counting on you." Sophie chuckled.

"W-what's even going on anymore?" Arthur mumbled, baffled by Sophie’s calmness.

He could understand why Irene wasn’t worried after the talk they had, but Sophie’s reaction was completely irrational. It made him wonder if she was showing him that she was ready for the whole truth, something he believed he’d never even thought of telling her, yet was now contemplating doing so to ease her mind.

“So when’s the fight?” Irene asked.

“Two months from now. Likely around midterms,” Arthur explained, taking Kyu away from them and putting him on his lap. “If you ask me, I wish we could’ve done it today, but Moon pretty much bet her life on it, so she wanted extra time to prepare.”

“Does that mean you’ll be seeing more of her?” Sophie asked, glancing at Irene thinking Arthur was screwed.

“Probably.” Arthur sighed.

“Well, I’m not leaving her alone with you, that’s for sure. And when all this is over, I’m gonna give her a piece of my mind.”

“Please don’t tell me that you think I’d do something?” Arthur looked confused.

“This has nothing to do with you. That blue-haired b-” Irene stopped herself and sighed. “Never mind. . . Sorry.”

“Wow. . . I think this is the first time I’ve seen you this resentful, Unnie,” Sophie said.

“Well. . . Yeah.” Irene averted her gaze, annoyed by what happened earlier. “Anyway, what about the two months in between?”

“The deal is that they won’t cause us any trouble, but I better not try and run. Though, it’s not like I planned to anyway.”

“I feel like something’s missing,” Sophie said.

“That’s the whole truth. The only thing I hadn’t told you is what they bet on, which is irrelevant to us anyway. What’s important is that I can keep you all safe by doing something as simple as fighting.”

“And you’re confident you’ll win?” Sophie asked.

“Of course he is. Your Oppa can't lose a fight,” Irene answered instead of him. “He doesn’t know how. Right?”

Arthur smiled, glad to hear Irene had his back, not that he doubted her. “Right.”

“If that’s true, then what do you two say we watch a movie tonight?” Sophie suggested, glancing over at the TV.

“First, we need to go to the store and get some food and snacks,” Irene said, breaking away from the hug.

“Could you make that sauce for us again? It’s been a while. . .” Sophie asked.

“Sure.” She smiled, looking at Arthur. “Anything you want?”

“No,” Arthur said, looking at the two with a placid smile. “I got everything I need already.”

“Dork.” Irene chuckled, leaning in for a kiss.

At that moment, Arthur didn't care about who he was going to fight. Be it a man that was supposed to show up, Moon's brother, or the entire group at once, Arthur was ready to go to war if it meant protecting them.

Irene, Sophie. . . Thank you.

Chapter End.

Thank you for reading.