1st JULY, 2017

I have a problem.

"So, Beomgyu-ah, how have your studies been going?" Uncle Jae snickered, but I didn't know if it was taunting or good-natured humor. Considering Uncle Jae,  it was most probably the former. "Aiming any hospitals at the moment?"

My brother, Yeonjun, gave me a glance from beside Uncle Jae across me. He looked a bit helpless in that situation which, for some reason, made me blush. Not his fault, the situation was quite embarrassing in itself.
The thing is, I come from a family of doctors. My mom was a paediatrician, my dad a surgeon and a professor of Human Anatomy at a renowned Medical Institution of Daegu. My brother and I grew up with a similar passion, and considered following in our parent's footsteps. My brother came out of it as a dependable forensic expert, and trust me, I am so proud of him. I, however, became the black sheep of the lot.

"Uh... Uncle, I have actually kinda pursued a degree in astrophysics, you see. I dropped MBBS long ago." And it took all of me to not run away from there and hide away somewhere, probably on the terrace with my telescope, because observing Europa or Callisto seemed like a better option than determining whatever Uncle Jae's expressions meant. The man literally choked on his stew.

"Are you okay?" My dad asked with concern, passing over a glass of water. Uncle gulped it down and then shook his hand dismissively along with his head.
"I'm fine, I'm fine." Then he looked at me once again. "That was indeed a pleasant surprise." Of course it was pleasant for him, the man-- after all-- needed tea to take back home and spill it like we weren't even gonna know one way or the other; probably why no one really wanted him at their home in the entirety of our extended family.

That night, I found myself in my room, thinking about things that aren't as worth my time but still decide to wander around like everything that ever existed in this universe-- no purpose, yet they exist just to add to human curiosities. According to the red-giant theory, we are gonna die anyway. Finding water on Mars isn't gonna do shi-

I heard the door open, a head peeking through the gap. "Are you busy?" asked Yeonjun who now wore his... rather amusing night suit. What was it, Tinkerbell? I wondered where he even found those in his size range.

"Busy in the sense occupied with thoughts I'd rather dispose off? Then yes, yes I am. But do come in."

Yeonjun laughed, doing just that. He settled himself down on my bed, crossing his leg over the other. "I suppose you are thinking about Uncle."

"Bingo. You win nothing."

But this time, there were no laughs. He just watched me in that unsettling way all doctors do, as if they can see down to your fucking bones. I was used to that. "Don't think of him that much."

I rolled my eyes. "If I could help, dear YJ, I would've. It's not like I chose to be judged for doing what I actually enjoy, and that joy was never gonna come to me if I was locked away in a room with a lot of people herded around me as I cut someone's arteries."

I slumped onto my chair, staring at the beige ceiling. "It shouldn't be that hard to accept someone's differences. Yes, I am stupid and not so fascinating as you guys. Yes, I don't wear a white coat and a stethoscope to work, but that's how my world is. I love to know what lies beyond that 23% of what we already know, and I'm happy."

Oh boy, did I go overboard? That whole thing had been bubbling since ages now, it was only so much of gunk matters I could take up before the eventual big bang. It really was a big bang.

I chanced upon a glance at Yeonjun. Surprisingly, he looked sympathetic. "Does it feel any better now?"

And I threw him a pillow. Don't ask me why I had fucking pillow on my desk, it's just called ergonomics in simple words.

"How can you be so calm all the time?! Don't you ever stress over things like normal people?"

"Did you just call me abnormal?"

"Oh, maybe I did. Maybe you are that organic matter from Mars-"

"Oh you dare!"

To say the least I was jumped upon with a pillow attack, which left us both a laughing mess on the floor. But it then came to a state of tranquility as we stared above us, both in our own thoughts.

"I'd be going up towards Andong tomorrow," I suddenly said.

Yeonjun turned his gaze to me. "Work?"

I shrugged. "You can say that. There's a seminar."

"And you'd be driving there alone?"

"Of course. This is more of a personal trip."

Silence enveloped, leaving me marvelling why suddenly Yeonjun seemed so- I didn't know how to define it, but it definitely lay in the lower region of his mood spectra. "Is something wrong?" I tried at last when he did not make an effort to voice his concern.

He raised his hand, caressing my hair like he always did when he'd be at a loss of words.

He just managed out a, "Be safe." I decided against of digging. Maybe the reason won't have been so pleasant.

~~~

Fun fact: Yeonjun (NOD) is a big fan of Disney.