40 Promise - My Little Sister Is Only Ever Cold to Me, Yet Recently She’s Been Strangely Clingy

Chapter 40: Promise The sound of our parents arguing drifted from the living room. Ren was crying in her bed, frightened. "It's okay," I whispered, holding Ren tightly and gently stroking her head to comfort her. I didn't cry, because I'm her big sister. If I cried, there would be no one left to protect Ren. At some point, Dad had stopped coming home regularly. When he did return, he would end up fighting with Mom and then disappear again. It was a cycle that repeated over and over. The word "divorce," seen on TV before, flitted through my mind. We might not be able to live together as a family anymore. Holding that anxiety at bay, I hugged Ren's body even tighter. Yet, that fear became a reality. One day, Dad, who rarely came home, called Ren and me into his room. Piece by piece, he began to speak. "Dad can't live with Ai and Ren anymore." "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He repeated these words over and over again in a quivering voice, tears streaming down his face. We'd never seen Dad, who always acted cheerful in front of us, like this before. Next to me, Ren caught on and began to cry as well. I didn't cry. Because if I did, it would mean blaming Dad. In the room filled with sobs, I stood there, tightly holding Ren's small hand. Dad disappeared from our home. Mom, busy with work, often left the house during the day and sometimes returned late. We were enrolled in after-school care programs that looked after us until late. In the evenings when Mom worked late, Ren would often burst into tears in the living room. Each time, I placed Ren on my lap, embracing her from behind, wrapping my arms around her tiny body. Then, I stroked her head to comfort her. Eventually, Ren would stop crying, seemingly reassured. "Thank you, Onee-chan," she'd say with flushed cheeks, perhaps embarrassed by her tears. Each time she said that, I reminded myself that as her big sister, I had to stay strong. With that sense of responsibility, I never cried even once. The cityscape was enveloped in twilight. Surrounded by rice fields, Ren and I walked hand in hand again today, with me pulling her small hand. "Do you think Mom will come home early today?" "… She might be late again. Mom’s busy at work. But that doesn't mean she hates me or Ren. Mom's working hard for us, so, let's be good and wait for her," I told Ren. Ren nodded, trying her hardest to hold her tears. I gently stroked her head. It was then that we saw them—a father and daughter coming towards us, the tall father carrying the little girl on his shoulders. A memory flashed through my mind. Sitting on my father’s shoulders — the view from up there so much higher than my own, stretching endlessly before me. The warmth of his hands holding me steady, making sure I wouldn’t fall. That same warmth trickled down my cheeks. "Onee-chan…?" "Why am I…" Before I knew it, my vision blurred. Tears streamed relentlessly. Stunned, I tasted the warmth traveling down my cheeks. A sob escaped my throat. "I'm sorry, Ren. It's okay," I said, desperately wiping my eyes. As the big sister, I shouldn’t cry. But despite everything, the tears wouldn't stop. While I continued to frantically wipe them away, I felt a small warmth touch my head. Before me, Ren stood on tiptoe, stroking my head. "Don’t cry. Don’t cry, Onee-chan." "Thank… you," I managed to squeeze out between sobs. Surrounded by the orange hues of the sunset, I gazed at the blurred scenery. The father and daughter we’d passed were no longer in sight, but I could still feel the warmth of Ren's small hand. How long did we stay like that? Suddenly, Ren's hand dropped away.I couldn't help but stare at her face through my tear-filled eyes. Ren turned towards me, looked me in the eye, and took a deep, determined breath. Then, she spoke, strong and clear, as if blowing away my tears. "When I grow up, I will marry you, Onee-chan! I’ll always be by your side, so you'll never feel lonely or cry. I’ll always be by your side, Onee-chan," she declared. Then, she wrapped her pinky around mine. "Promise." Ren smiled bravely, holding back her tears. To reassure me. To stop my tears. Seeing Ren like that, I realized. If Ren stayed by my side as promised, I would continue to protect her forever. For my little sister, who's small, fragile, cute, and brave—I would dedicate my life to protecting her. "Thank you," I said, squeezing our linked pinkies. In my vision blurred with tears, my world was filled only with Ren. Beside this promise, I made a silent vow. ◇◇◇ Dreams, memories, and reality blend together in the morning air. I gazed at Ren’s sleeping face, unchanged since she was little, a picture of serenity. Ren has likely forgotten our promise from so long ago. Yet, I remember. Her kindness, and her courage that day. The promise that saved my heart and the vow engraved in my heart. I hugged Ren tightly, whispering. "I will always protect you, Ren."