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Part 1 of “Older Sister” by Shim Ah-jin

2024-01-02

The day we first laid our eyes on Jeong Mu-wun, my sister was startled as if she had seen a man whose feet were sprouting out of his face. But Jeong Mu-wun paid no attention to her at all. That apparently piqued my sister’s curiosity. She wondered what kind of a man could be so disinterested in her that he didn’t even pay her attention given to a pack of tissue handed out on the street.

나는 백방으로 뛰어다닌다.

머리를 굴리고 돈을 쓰고 미모를 이용한다.

그가 앉을 마을버스 좌석에 지난주 당첨 복권을 두기도 한다.

하지만 그는 종이를 그대로 좌석 아래로 떨어뜨리고 만다.

그는 심지어 어떤 노인이 벤치에 놓고 간 가방을 보고도 관심을 보이지 않는다.

가방의 지퍼 틈으로 돈뭉치가 삐죽 올라와 있기까지 한데도 말이다.

델포이의 사장이 느닷없이 인센티브를 챙겨주는데도 덤덤하다.

I used all the resources available to me. I used my brain, money, and even my looks. I even left a winning lottery ticket on the bus seat he was supposed to sit on. But he let the ticket fall to the floor. He didn’t show any interest in the bag some old man left on the bench, even when thick wads of money were clearly visible between the unclosed zippers. He remained detached even when Delphi’s owner gave him a bonus for no reason.

나는 필사적이다.

하지만 정무운은 여전히 나에 대해서도, 내가 하는 일에 대해서도 관심을 보이지 않는다.

그는 하지 말아야 할 일이나 해야 할 일,

할 수 없는 일이나 할 수 있는 일 모두에 공평하게 무관심하다.

I was desperate. But Mu-wun didn’t show any interest in me or what I did. He was equally indifferent to what shouldn’t be done, what should be done, what couldn’t be done, and what could be done.

# Interview with SNU Korean literature professor Bang Min-ho

The older sister brings him misfortune and the younger sister luck. This story is special in that it features supernatural beings as the main characters. But Mu-wun is the kind of a man who is immune to luck or trouble. The emotionally deprived man is indifferent to what is happening around him and even to himself. His job is a simple, repetitive one and he has to care for his demented mother, and he has no girlfriend. He is in no position to plan for the future. I think this story shows the situation young Koreans are in these days.

갑자기 무언가가 시야를 가린다.

매화도 아니고 진달래도 아니지만

어쨌거나 꽃이라고밖에 여길 수 없는 분홍덩어리다.

물론 우리는 곧바로 그게 꽃이 아니라는 사실을 알아차린다.

막내다.

분홍 리본, 분홍 귀고리, 분홍 후드티에 분홍 스커트, 분홍 신발,

분홍 일색, 아니 분홍 자체라 해야 할 그것이

우리에게 씩 웃어 보이나 싶더니

너무나 자연스럽게 다리를 꼬며 넘어진다.

Something blocked our view.

It wasn’t a plum blossom or an azalea, but a pink mass that most likely appeared to be a flower. We soon realized, however, that it wasn’t a flower.

It was our youngest sister.

Wrapped completely in pink - a pink ribbon, pink earrings, wearing a pink hoodie and a pink skirt and pink shoes – the girl smiled at us before throwing herself to the ground.

“저기요. 좀 도와주시겠어요?”

“Hey, mister. Can you help me?”

평범한 남자라면 달려와 다친 데를 살피고 부축해 일으키면서

본의 아니게 신체 여러 부위를 만질테지만,

우리의 정무운은 역시 다르다.

걷는 속도를 바꾸지 않고 느긋하게 다가오더니 막내 옆에 잠시 멈췄을 뿐이다.

If he were an ordinary man, he would have run over and helped her stand up after making sure she was not hurt. He would have touched her body unintentionally, but Mu-wun was no ordinary man. He walked toward her slowly, without speeding up his steps, and stopped next to the girl momentarily.

“어머, 무운씨! 저 좀 도와주세요.”

“Oh, it’s you, Mu-wun. Please help me.”

언니와 나는 적잖이 놀란다.

막내가 정무운과 아는 사이인가?

My sister and I were stunned. Our youngest sister already knew Mu-wun?

Shim Ah-jin (Born in Masan, Gyeongsangnam-do Prov., 1972~ )

Debuted with mid-length novel “Time for Tea” in 1999