Chapter 14: Chapter 14. It's Annoying

Rachel calls Sophia not long after she comes out of the bathroom; like yesterday, Harper left a warm chamomille tea on the table for her. In five rings, Sophia answered her call; her older sister sounded worried and immediately bombarded her with lots of questions.

Rachel took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts as Sophia bombarded her with questions. She knew her older sister always had a protective nature because she needed to report anything to their parents. Sophia, being the firstborn in their family, sometimes shoulders all the responsibilities, but this time, it seemed tinged with worry and curiosity. Finally, she found the words to respond.

"I'm fine, unnie," Rachel quickly reassured her. "There's no need to worry."

"And who is this, Harper Wilson?" Sophia pressed, her tone tinged with suspicion. "Why is she so willing to take you and accompany you? What's the deal with her?"

Rachel paused for a moment, trying to find the right words to explain the situation. "Harper is my friend. We met through an online gaming community, and she's been incredibly supportive ever since I told her about my dreams of becoming an idol."

""Why is she so willing to take you and accompany you?" Sophia pressed, her worry evident in her voice.

Rachel felt a twinge of annoyance. "Oh, you think I don't deserve a friend or someone who's willing to accompany me?" She couldn't help but lash out, knowing her sister's protective nature sometimes crossed the line.

Sophia raised her hands in a placating gesture, even though she knew Rachel couldn't see it since they were talking on the phone. "Don't put words in my mouth, Rach. You know what I mean."

"No, I don't! I don't know what you mean!" Rachel half-yelled, her frustration boiling over. "Harper is Harper. She's been a better older sister to me than you and Jonathan Oppa have been!"

Sophia's eyes widened at the accusation. "I support you!"

"Yeah? But are you willing to go to Los Angeles with me? Be with me. Wait for my audience to finish. Talk to the people without calling our mother." Rachel fired back, her questions laden with bitterness.

Sophia remained silent, unable to find the words to refute her sister's statement. She had chosen her own path, prioritizing her studies and social life over fully supporting Rachel's dreams.

Sensing the tension, Rachel continued, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Well? Are you, unnie?"

The silence that followed was deafening, and Sophia had no choice but to concede the point.

Trying to regain her composure, Sophia said, "She's still a stranger, Rach."

Rachel scoffed, her frustration evident. "You two are more strangers to me than Harper."

Sophia's face fell, hurt by her sister's words. "Rach, don't be like that."

But Rachel refused to back down. "Why, unnie? Because it hurts to hear the truth? Harper has been there for me in ways you and Jonathan Oppa have never been. She's willing to drop everything to support my dreams, while you two have always put yourselves first."

Sophia opened her mouth to protest, but the words caught in her throat. She knew, deep down, that her sister was right. She had been too focused on her own life, neglecting to truly understand and support Rachel's dreams of being a singer.

As the silence dragged on, Rachel sighed, her anger giving way to a profound sense of disappointment. "I thought you'd be happy for me, unnie. But all you seem to care about is who's helping me and why. Can't you just be there for me, like a real sister should?"

Sophia's heart sank as she realized the weight of her own shortcomings. She was a twenty-year-old law student, yet her thirteen-year-old sister seemed to possess a maturity and eloquence beyond her years. "I'm sorry," Sophia finally managed to utter, her voice filled with remorse. It was clear that her words could never fully capture the depth of her regret.

Rachel, however, didn't dwell on her sister's apology. Instead, she swiftly changed the topic, her voice filled with excitement. "Anyway, I got accepted to be a trainee! I'll be home in two days, and I'll talk to you and our parents about it," she announced, leaving no room for further discussion. "And don't worry, Harper will be coming with me to New York. She's been a great older sister figure to me."

Sophia couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and concern at Rachel's mention of Harper. "Why?" she asked, genuinely wanting to understand the nature of their relationship. But her words came out muddled, leaving an unintended air of skepticism.

"Because I'm thirteen, and she's being a good older sister for me." Rachel answered.

"Does she have a place to stay?" Sophia genuinely asks, but because Rachel is already annoyed with her sister, it comes out as negative. It made her sound like she didn't want some strangers staying in their house.

But Rachel, already irritated with her sister, snapped back with a defensive tone. "Because I'm thirteen, and she's been more of an older sister to me than you," she replied, her words dripping with frustration.

Sophia felt her heart sink even further, realizing the truth in Rachel's words. Her own absence in her sister's life had allowed someone else to fill the role of the supportive sibling. Regret flooded her, but she knew apologies would no longer suffice.

Concerned about Harper's accommodations, Sophia asked tentatively, "Does she have a place to stay?"

Rachel, still exasperated, responded, "Don't worry, no stranger is going to sleep in our house, unnie."

Sophia's eyes widened in surprise, realizing how her question had come across. "Rachel, I didn't mean it like that," she quickly clarified, desperately hoping her sister would understand.

Feeling the weight of the growing divide between them, Rachel sighed and softened her tone. "Harper will greet you and Jonathan Oppa when we get to New York, and then she'll have a flight to Berlin," she explained, hoping to put Sophia's concerns to rest.

"Berlin?" Sophia asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"Yeah, she's going to continue her studies there. Do you know Heidelberg University?" Rachel's voice grew lighter, and there was a hint of pride every time she spoke about Harper. "It's one of the best universities in Germany, you know."

Sophia's eyes widened at the mention of the prestigious institution. "One of the best? She's coming from the elite."

Rachel couldn't help but snort at her sister's use of the word 'elite." "She's the definition of elite herself," she replied, a touch of amusement in her voice.

Sensing the conversation was drawing to a close, Sophia quickly interjected, "Wait, Rachel! Where are you staying?"

"Chateau Marmont Hotel," Rachel answered without hesitation. "Bye, unnie. I'll call you again tomorrow."

Sophia opened her mouth to ask more questions, but Rachel had already ended the call, leaving her with a mix of emotions. As she placed her phone down, Sophia's gaze drifted to the family photo on her desk. It was a snapshot from their last vacation, a time when the five of them—Rachel, Jonathan, their parents, and herself—had been inseparable. Those carefree days now felt like a distant memory, and Sophia couldn't help but wonder what had changed.