Inessa quickly shook her head and waved her hands. “Oh no, I couldn’t. That’s yours! It’s okay. I’m okay!” she said, nodding a little too eagerly as if to convince herself that it was the right response. She felt a bit rude declining, but she didn’t want to take something that was probably special to him. If her mom had sent her something, she wouldn’t use it carelessly either.
“She had a rough first few days, but she’s doing okay now,” Tae mentioned. Inessa nodded again, her hands anxiously fidgeting with the strap of her bag. Her fingers traced the same small, circular pattern over and over, feeling the roughness of the fabric under her fingertips. She wondered if, at this rate, she might wear a hole into it. “It’s hard to adjust for most people to be back here,” she replied with a shrug, though it wasn’t something she could relate to. She loved being back. But then again, maybe it was exhausting, always having to maintain her perfectly curated image, guard constantly up, playing her role seamlessly.
Tae’s next words came quietly. “Your father hates me for being born.”
Her stomach twisted, and she stumbled over her words, something that never happened to her. That’s um…not exactly what I meant. I was just trying to—" her voice trailed off, shoulders slumping slightly under the weight of the awkwardness. She never got tongue-tied. Why was she even here? She wanted to leave, to run out of the room, but what if someone saw her? That would be even worse. She bit the inside of her cheek hard, the taste of iron filling her mouth as a reminder of how badly she had miscalculated.
“I don’t know why I came,” she finally admitted, her voice quieter. “Maybe for myself, really. Maybe for my brother’s sake. I’ll leave, okay?” Her fingers worked faster now, the circles she rubbed into the strap getting tighter and more frantic. Her whole body felt stiff, like a rubber band pulled too tight, ready to snap. She’d thought she was doing the right thing, but this wasn’t it. This was a mess.
On second thought, this was not the way to leave here. Not the way her family would want her to handle things. Not the way people knew her to be. Almost as if a switch had flipped, Inessa’s smile grew again, perfectly in place, and she straightened her posture. It was almost unsettling, how quickly she could change, like a performer slipping back into character mid-scene. Her eyes gleamed with that familiar shine, confident and controlled.
She wouldn’t leave with her head hanging low. No, that wasn’t her. It wasn’t how she was raised. Instead, she gathered herself, brushing away the momentary vulnerability like dust off her sleeve. Her mind whirred, recalculating the situation. If anything, she had to exit the room on her own terms, just as polished as when she walked in.
With a renewed sense of composure, Inessa gave a soft smile, more convincing now. Actually, let me know how the cream works. I’m sure it’ll help." Her voice was steady again, no hint of the discomfort that had been there just moments before. She exuded warmth but with an edge, everything perfectly calculated.
Inessa’s smile tightened as she glanced at Tae, her voice still sweet but laced with something sharper. “You know, Tae, it’s funny how some people always end up needing help, isn’t it? But I’m sure you get it, considering… everything.” She let her words trail off, the implication hanging between them. Did she believe what she was implying? Not fully, but she knew how her brother thought and would stand by his side as for now. She came here to be kind and that was taken away from her. She came here to some what make amends and it was not reciprocated.
Inessa’s smile tightened, a sharp edge creeping into her voice. Tae, my brother might be reckless, but at least he’s predictable in his stupidity. Always the hothead, always charging in without thinking." She shrugged, playing it off as casual, though her eyes lingered on him, daring a reaction.
But you," she added, the sweetness of her tone masking the sting, “It’s impressive, really. Almost like no matter what happens, you get away with it. Must be nice.”
She gave a small laugh, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Anyway, maybe next time try not to pull him into whatever mess you’ve gotten yourself into. We both know he’s not clever enough to slip out of things like you are.”
Part of her wasn’t loving the words slipping from her mouth. They felt like venom, sharp and stinging, and yet… it felt good. Too good. Like a hiss from a snake, coiling and ready to strike. She could feel the bitterness lacing each syllable, the satisfaction in the bite, but this wasn’t her. No, not the “rainbows and sunshine” girl she was known to be. The one who smoothed over conflicts with a smile and found ways to make everything seem brighter.
But here she was, standing in Tae’s room, letting these bitter words spill out, words meant to cut. What was worse, she knew they would hit their mark. And that satisfaction she felt? It made her feel sick.
@Caticorn baby Tae