Deulle's Delusion (5)
Uju-mong props the mop against the wall and heads toward the counter. "Welcome."
His voice is the same as always. But his footsteps look incredibly heavy.
It's fine. It's just a dream anyway, right? I pick up the mop he left behind. The coffee spilled on the floor is still there. The ice has half-melted into a brown puddle.
"Unni, why don't you help a little?" I look up at my sister. She's still sitting in the same spot, forehead in hand, face grave.
"Deulle. Do you really think this situation is something light you can just brush off?"
"It's only heavy because you're making it that way, Unni."
"Promise me right now you'll stop that kind of crap."
"Ha...". A sigh escapes me. I stop mopping and look at her.
"Unni, why don't you just worry about yourself?"
"......"
"Keep this up, and I'll post those pictures online myself."
"What...?"
Her eyes widen. Panic clear on her face. Like she never expected those words from me.
Well, it's a dream, so posting pics won't ruin my real life, right? I figure I can do anything. Honestly, it's something I'd never try in reality, which kinda tempts me. Like those ruin stories— the heroine decides her life's over, lets it all go, drowns in pleasure, and devotes herself completely to the man.
"Whatever. You pissed me off so bad I went to kiss him and spilled it. So help me clean."
"...This isn't working." She unzips her bag and starts packing.
"I can't talk to you at all."
"You're not seriously gonna tell Jangmi Unni or Mom, are you?"
She slings her bag over her shoulder. No answer.
"Fine, then I'll run away. You think I won't?"
Still no reply. She just brushes past me. Our shoulders nearly touch, but she twists away first.
"Ari."
Ding—. Uju-mong calls her name, but she ignores even that and storms out of the cafe.
Hmm, feels like I won something. Kinda good? But I gotta be careful in reality. If she really finds out, cleanup would be a nightmare. I could brush off the embarrassment, but it'd put Oppa in real trouble.
Thinking that, I grab the mop again. So much coffee—won't clean it all in one go.
...
"Phew...".
After sending the customer off, I slump into the counter chair and let out a deep sigh. My head's a total mess.
I should've paid more attention to my phone.
Shouldn't have just gotten up like that—should've grabbed it. Hell, shouldn't have accepted those pics in the first place.
Uju-mong. Snap out of it. No point dwelling now. Gotta figure out how to fix this mess.
Close the cafe and chase Ari? Go home—will I see her there? What if she's already spilled everything?
Jangmi noona's fine. She's a perv anyway. She'd probably send her own pics.
The problem's Mom. In the dream, I seduced her into silence. Pushed her down, said give me your pussy instead of your daughter's. Once she took my whole cock, she couldn't even protest—just moaned like crazy.
But that was all in a dream. Could I pull that off for real?
Mom's definitely gonna flip. Scold Deulle, sure, but chew me out too. Might even ban me from the cafe. Could make Deulle run away, wreck the family.
I don't want that plot twist.
Call Ari? What do I even say? Beg her to keep the pics secret? She won't listen to begging...
I know her that well—she's the one I've crushed on forever. Once she decides, she does it, no matter what I say. At least until recently.
Maybe now? She's been weirdly obsessed with me lately. If I grovel for real... cry and swear never again...
Not likely. What do I even say? Sorry for getting your daughter's nudes? Sorry I jerked off to them like crazy in a moment of weakness? Won't happen again?
"Haa...". I scratch my head. Irritation bubbles up oddly.
Bottom line, like Deulle said—we're adults. Two adults implicitly agreeing? Should be fine, right?
Not dating, not lovers, but no law says adults can't swap dirty pics.
Thoughts spiral. No clear path forward.
Use the app to rewrite reality? Can't add Ari to dreams. Add Mom, tweak the past...
Then the bathroom door opens. Deulle steps out, footsteps light.
"Oppa, all cleaned up."
Her voice bright and cheery. Face lit with a beaming smile. Like nothing happened. Like nothing went down.
"......"
She just had a huge fight with her sister, threatened blackmail, sister stormed out furious. Family threat hanging over us. My situation's a disaster.
How can she act like this?
"Deulle. Come here."
I step out from the counter and grab her wrist.
"Huh? Oppa?"
She blinks, startled. I don't answer—just lead her to the corner booth. Where we were sitting. The coffee puddle's spotless now.
"Sit."
"Okay."
I seat her where Ari always sits. Then plop down across from her.
"Deulle."
"Yeah?"
She leans forward, pressing her chest together. I notice instantly. That's a no-bra shape. Must've ditched it in the bathroom.
No worry in her eyes. If anything, they're sparkling with expectation.
"Mouth first?"
"......"
"Or tits?"
Words catch in my throat. She's going off like Jangmi noona in heat, making my heart race pointlessly.
"Deulle!"
Thud! I slap the table lightly. Voice rises on its own.
"Eek...!"
Her shoulders flinch. Eyes widen, body recoils, shrinking back. Maybe 'cause I've never yelled at her before. Good—it's working.
"Ah... is the nightmare still going...?"
A tiny mutter. Barely audible, but I catch it.
"...Nightmare?"
My brow furrows. The word echoes in my head.
"Oh, nothing." She forces an awkward smile, straightening up. But I can't let it slide.
Wait... does she think this is a dream?
Dreams from the Dream Manipulation App are indistinguishable from reality. Can't tell by senses alone. I can because I control them—make the scenarios, live them out. No confusion for me.
But not Deulle.
If she remembers the car accident and falling asleep in the hospital... she might think that's reality.
Plus, no creampie this time. Different pattern. From her view, makes sense: no creampie, still dreaming. Hasn't woken in hospital, still dreaming. Natural conclusion.
"Deulle... you don't think this is a dream, do you?"
"Huh?"
She blinks. Then grins. Like finally figured it out.
"No. This isn't a dream."
Her smile freezes. Eyes go wide.
"...Huh?"
"......"
How do I explain? How to clear this up?
Logic means showing the app. But that's...
I don't want to go there.
"This is reality. Not some dream you wake from and everything resets."
"......"
Her face twists in confusion. Smile gone, replaced by bewilderment. Good. Though hints of worry and anxiety flicker in her expression.
"I'll talk to Ari. Not sure she'll listen, but..."
"......"
"If she really tells the family and Jangmi noona or Mom says something, call me right away."
Her eyes waver slightly. Doesn't fully believe yet.
"Like Ari said, it's partly my fault. We'll handle it together."
"......"
She opens her mouth like to speak, but clams up, lost in thought. I stand, move to her side, and hug her.
Her small body fits in my arms. Slim shoulders under my hands. Warmth seeps through.
This is mostly on me. Saved her with the app, but side effect's this misunderstanding.
"Deulle. I don't get why you think it's a dream."
"......"
"But this is real. No weird shit. Absolutely not."
"Ah... no... that can't..."
Her voice trembles. She tilts her head up from my chest.
"That can't be...?"
She cocks her head. Voice full of disbelief.
"This has to be a dream...?"
"......"
Anxiety swells. If she thinks it's a dream, she'll do anything—no holds barred. Look at what I've done in dreams. Stuff I'd never do awake.
If she goes further... irreversible damage.
Tell her about the app? Force her to see it's real...?
Then she mutters like she just realized something.
"Oh, right. There's a way to check. If this is a dream... there's that one pattern that always wakes you up."