My phone rang.
I looked at the screen.
Mother
Internally, every warning system activated at once.
Incoming call.Context: unstable.Father present.FMC present.Survival probability: declining.
I did not answer immediately.
Ha-rin noticed.
"…Why did you stop moving," she asked.
"I am assessing," I replied.
My father leaned closer to look at the screen.
"Oh."
That was not helpful.
"What does 'oh' mean," Ha-rin demanded.
"It means," my father said thoughtfully, "she already knows something is wrong."
The phone rang again.
I answered.
"Hello, Mother."
"SEO-JUN," my mother said immediately. "YOUR FATHER CALLED ME TEN MINUTES AGO."
Internally: Confirmed.
"Yes," I replied calmly.
"WHY," she continued, "DID HE SOUND LIKE HE WON THE LOTTERY."
My father coughed.
"That is an exaggeration," he said quietly.
I ignored him.
"He was emotional," my mother went on. "He was excited. HE NEVER SOUNDS EXCITED."
"That is true," I said.
"DON'T AGREE WITH ME," she snapped."WHAT HAPPENED."
"Nothing," I replied.
Silence.
"…You said that too fast."
"I am calm."
"That's when you lie," she said instantly.
Ha-rin grabbed my sleeve.
"…She's scary," she whispered.
"I know," I whispered back.
"WHO IS THAT," my mother demanded.
"That," I said evenly, "was the television."
"That did not sound like a television."
"It is a drama."
"…A WOMAN'S VOICE."
"Yes."
My mother inhaled sharply.
"SEO-JUN," she said slowly, "ARE YOU LIVING WITH SOMEONE."
"No."
"…Are you hiding something."
"No."
"…Are you hiding someone."
"No."
Ha-rin stared at me in disbelief.
My father leaned in and whispered, "You should lie better."
"I am considered good at this," I whispered back.
"THEN WHY," my mother continued, "DID YOUR FATHER SAY THE WORD 'GRAND—' AND THEN STOP TALKING."
I closed my eyes for half a second.
That was a mistake.
"He sneezed," I said immediately.
Silence.
"…Sneezed," my mother repeated.
"Yes."
"He sneezed grand."
"It was a strong sneeze."
Ha-rin bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.
My father looked impressed.
"Oh," my mother said slowly. "So you're alone."
"Yes."
"…Then I'm coming over."
"No," I said.
That stopped her.
"…You said 'no'."
"Yes."
"…Why."
"Because," I replied, "the house is not clean."
Ha-rin mouthed, That's your excuse?
"It's never clean," my mother said. "I don't care."
"I do," I said.
Silence.
"…You're hiding something," she said calmly.
"No."
"…I'm coming tomorrow."
"That is unnecessary."
"It's decided," she said. "I'll bring food."
The call ended.
I lowered the phone.
Ha-rin stared at me.
"…Tomorrow."
"Yes."
"…Your mother is coming."
"Yes."
"…And she already heard the word 'grand.'"
"Yes."
My father sighed. "I may have been… expressive."
"That is unacceptable," I said.
Ha-rin grabbed my sleeve again.
"…What do we do."
Internally, my thoughts were already moving at full speed.
Externally, I met her eyes.
"We prepare," I said.
She swallowed.
"…Your family is insane."
"Yes."
But she didn't let go of my sleeve.
And that worried me more than the call itself.