Nightmare (5)
Unnie grabbed Oppa's face. And pressed her lips to his. It was just a fleeting moment, but that scene burned into my eyes like slow motion.
"Thanks for coming to get me."
Her tiny voice, barely audible, brushed past my ear. Low and soft. Not the voice of someone drunk.
And then Unnie's gaze slowly slid sideways. Over Oppa's shoulder. Toward me.
"……."
Unnie was smiling. The corners of her mouth curved up just a touch—a strange, knowing smile. It was deliberate. She knew I was watching. She did it on purpose.
"Wh-what…… what the hell are you doing……!"
My voice trembled.
"Unnie, are you out of your mind?!"
I shouted loud enough for the whole apartment complex to hear, but Unnie didn't react at all. She just reached out, clinging to Oppa.
"Uju-mong-ah…. Help me walk. I can't stand properly."
Unnie dragged out her words suspiciously. Oppa carefully supported her. I stood there, completely ignored.
"Oppa!"
I called out to him. Oppa turned to look at me, his expression complicated. He seemed flustered, maybe embarrassed.
"Deulle-ya, calm down."
"D-didn't you see that just now? Unnie's not drunk!"
"……."
Oppa paused for a moment. Then he sighed and spoke.
"She's drunk. Probably mistook me for her boyfriend. It's just a mistake."
"No……."
Those words choked me. Unnie's eyes were clear. She looked right at me. Those weren't the eyes of someone drunk.
But no words came out. My lips just trembled; my voice wouldn't form. As if someone had clamped my throat shut.
"Let's just go home first, okay?"
Oppa said it soothingly. That gentleness made it hurt even more. Oppa wasn't on my side. He didn't believe what I'd seen.
…….
We walked toward the apartment. Oppa supported Unnie ahead of me, and I trailed behind. I stared at Unnie's back. She staggered, hanging on Oppa's arm, but her footsteps were precise. It was obvious she was faking being drunk.
Is she doing this because I said something in the car? Revenge or something?
I couldn't understand what was going through Unnie's head. She had a boyfriend. A platonic relationship, she'd said. No physical intimacy. So what? That's why she's using Oppa as a substitute? Using him without even really liking him?
Rage boiled up. But an even heavier emotion crushed my chest. It was sorrow.
Oppa called Unnie's actions a "mistake." That word echoed in my mind. Mistake. Just a mistake.
Oppa knows. He knows Unnie did it on purpose.
It's not that he doesn't believe me—he doesn't want to believe me. He's deliberately twisting what he saw and heard and felt.
Because he still has lingering feelings for Unnie.
Ten years. Ten years of liking her. I knew those feelings wouldn't vanish overnight.
Yeah. It's inevitable. Blaming Oppa won't change anything. I knew this could happen when we started. We're just getting started.
I couldn't blame Oppa. If anything, I felt ashamed for yelling earlier. From his perspective, it must've been awkward. Unnie kissing him, me screaming like a maniac. What was he supposed to do, caught in the middle?
Whew…. Calm down. It's fine. And this is just a dream anyway. Oppa didn't really side with Unnie. At worst, it's just that they kissed in the dream.
I needed to wake up from this dream fast. For some reason, this one felt off. Really bad vibes.
"Deulle-ya. Can you open the door?"
Oppa looked back at me from in front of the entrance. His hand around Unnie's waist was brushing her breast. Unnie's ridiculously huge chest had spilled right into his palm.
"Just a sec."
I stepped forward and punched in the code. The glass door to the lobby slid open smoothly.
"Thanks."
Oppa said. I gave a short reply.
"……Yeah."
There was nothing more to say.
…….
The elevator was cramped. Unnie leaned against Oppa with her eyes closed, and I stood in the corner. I stared blankly at the rising floor numbers.
If I'd gone with him then, would this really have happened? Better than getting hit by a car, at least?
The thought flashed through my mind. Back at the cafe, when we parted ways. When Oppa said he was going to pick up Unnie. If I'd just said I was coming too.
Then the accident wouldn't have happened. Oppa wouldn't feel guilty because of me. I wouldn't be agonizing over what they might be doing somewhere I couldn't see.
Lying in that hospital bed, those were my thoughts right up until I passed out from exhaustion.
Suddenly, the cold bite of asphalt came back to me. The pain creeping up my left leg. The moment I fumbled for my phone, hesitating who to call. Oppa came to mind first, but I dialed Jangmi Unnie instead. Sweet Oppa would surely blame himself for not taking me home himself.
After that, honestly, things are fuzzy. The shock must've been too much—memories come in fragments. Painkillers, tests, a cast on my leg. And they said surgery might be needed depending on the results.
I can still walk properly, right? To run the cafe with Oppa…. To be loved by him, I need to heal right…….
Ding—!
The elevator jolted to a stop, snapping me back. And my mood sank even lower.
Even if I escape this dream, a better reality isn't waiting. Dreams have always been prettier than reality. Even nightmares like this.
"Deulle-ya?"
"Oh, coming."
I followed Oppa out and headed to the front door. Punching in the code sounded eerily hollow.
…….
Mom was in the living room. The TV was on, but she wasn't watching it. She lay on the sofa, scrolling her phone. Jangmi Unnie must be asleep; she wasn't around.
While heading out to get Unnie, I'd texted from Oppa's car. Told her Oppa and I went to pick up Unnie. So Mom wasn't too surprised.
"Oh dear. Sorry about this. What on earth did Min Ari drink so much for? Is something stressing her out lately?"
"I'll take her to her room."
I froze in the living room as Oppa supported Unnie inside. I quickly replayed all the naughty dreams where Oppa had appeared so far. They all ended with him creampieing me and me waking up.
Would this one be the same? What if I resist all the way to the end? Would the dream drag on forever?
"Deulle-ya. Why are you just standing there? Aren't you tired? Go wash up and get ready for bed."
"No. I'll wash up after Oppa leaves."
Oppa entered Unnie's room without turning on the light and gently laid her down. Then he stood there for a few seconds, looking down at her.
No way he'd try to hold her here, right? Even in a nightmare, I couldn't take that…….
Thankfully, Oppa turned and came right back out.
"She's in bed. Covered her with the blanket too."
"You should've changed her clothes at least."
"Ah……."
Oppa flustered at Mom's teasing remark. Both Mom and Oppa sneaking glances at me—it irritated me for no reason.
"Oppa, you're tired, right? Head back and rest. I'll see you out."
"Wh-what? Deulle-ya."
I grabbed Oppa's hand and headed to the door.
"Um…. Mom, I'll be going then. See you later."
"Okay. Thanks so much. Drive safe."
As I slipped on my shoes at the door, Oppa asked,
"Deulle-ya. You going out too? You don't have to."
"Just to the elevator."
In the end, we stepped out together. But I was still holding onto Oppa's arm.
"Oppa, come here."
I led him toward the emergency stairs. The sensor light in the stairwell ceiling flicked on, brightening the space.
"Deulle-ya. Why here……."
Oppa asked, puzzled. I didn't answer, just climbed one step. Now our heights lined up perfectly for lips.
"……."
I reached out silently toward Oppa's face. Just like Unnie had in the car.
"……."
Oppa's eyes widened slightly. But he didn't push me away.
"You worked hard today……."
Gathering my courage, I kissed him. Oppa tilted his head a little, accepting it.
This wasn't Unnie's sneak attack. It was a proper kiss, with mutual consent.
Suddenly, the hallway sensor light clicked off. Eyes closed, I felt the light vanish through my lids.
Smack—.
In the silent stairwell, devoid of light and sound, only the quiet press of our lips echoed softly.
Even if it's a dream……. I don't want Oppa going home thinking of Unnie's lips.