Chapter 47: Birthday (1)
Chapter 47: Birthday (1)
Time continued to flow mercilessly after that. It didn't matter what I expected or how my mind tried to process it.
To be honest, I didn't even know my own heart anymore.
I wanted to try and deny it, to reject the idea of having that kind of relationship with Yu-ri.
Yet, a part of my body and soul craved it desperately. It was as if I were on drugs.
The harmful nature of it was one thing, but the sheer addictiveness was another. I had turned into a perverted bastard who woke up in the morning and did nothing but stare at his younger sister’s lips.
It was absurd. Perhaps it was because the line had already been completely obliterated.
Even so, since I didn't lay a hand on her and she didn't try to push for more, we spent our time as if nothing had happened.
The events that took place in the interim weren't exactly what you'd call special, either.
"Happy New Year, everyone!"
Eldest Noona spoke to us with a bright, clear smile.
"You too, Unnie."
"Happy New Year, everyone!"
Kang Yu-min responded curtly, as if embarrassed, while Yu-ri shouted her greeting energetically.
In the midst of them, I simply nodded my head.
New Year's Day passed without much incident. Inwardly, I had wondered if Kang Yu-min or Noona might try to pounce on me, even if Yu-ri didn't.
Maybe it was because we had already done so much on the cruise and did it often enough normally.
Even if that wasn't the case, I thought we might at least have a party.
"Hmm? We had such a grand party on the cruise, so I thought it might be nice to keep things quiet this time."
That was Noona's answer to my question. It made sense.
The Christmas party on the cruise had certainly been extraordinary. I conceded the point, and so we welcomed the New Year as if everything were perfectly normal.
"The New Year's money..."
"Hmm? It's okay. I'm not a kid anymore."
"Yu-ri takes an allowance every time anyway."
"An allowance is different. New Year's money is..."
Noona insisted on giving Yu-ri New Year's money even though Yu-ri tried to refuse, and Yu-ri adamantly declined.
It was hard to understand. When I was Yu-ri's age, I was dying to get New Year's money. Maybe it was because she had earned money through the game recently, or maybe she just wasn't strapped for cash.
Regardless, Noona eventually gave her a small amount, and Yu-ri accepted it with an apologetic look.
"I'm going to bed now. I have to go to the gym tomorrow."
Kang Yu-min was obsessed with working out, claiming she had gained weight from the cruise party.
"Right, then I'll head to bed too. Goodnight, Yu-ri. Goodnight, Jin-i. Happy New Year."
Noona gave a little wave and returned to her room.
Only Yu-ri and I were left.
Is it starting now?
As I sat there tensed up, my sister let out a giggle at the sight of me.
"Oppa, what's wrong?"
"...Huh? Oh, nothing."
"Really? It looks like you're thinking about something strange."
Yu-ri approached me with a smirk. She sat down right next to me.
Meeting those half-lidded eyes made the blood rush to my head, so I desperately turned away. Yu-ri watched my face with a nonchalant expression before speaking.
"Seriously, you're so cute."
She whispered those words and kissed the shell of my ear.
For me, it was a shock that felt like an electric current surging through my body. Naturally, I couldn't help but jump.
My sister laughed, as if she found even that reaction cute.
"I'm looking forward to my birthday."
But she didn't actually do anything. I couldn't tell you how much I agonized after she left the room.
It was only natural to debate whether I should follow her to her room, but in the end, I lacked the courage to act.
And so, time continued its cruel march forward.
Feeling like a death row inmate awaiting execution, yet also like a model prisoner whose release date had finally been set, I harbored both anxiety and excitement.
Finally, the day arrived.
[January 7th]
I swallowed hard without realizing it. I stared at the date displayed prominently on my smartphone screen.
[1:12 PM]
Kang Yu-min had gone to the gym, and Noona was out at work. I was the only one home.
And even though I knew what was going to happen today, I didn't leave the house.
If I had wanted to, I could have made plans with friends to stay out, but I stayed home, clutching onto flimsy excuses.
There was the plausible excuse that my sister would be sad if no one was home on her birthday.
Or that I wasn't in the mood to drink today, or that I just felt like resting at home.
I even told myself nonsense like, Isn't it only natural to celebrate my sister's birthday?
Even if I had been out, Kang Yu-min or Noona would have returned in the evening, and the three of us could have celebrated her birthday then.
Yet, I made excuses to stay.
Because I wanted this.
And the moment was drawing near.
Gulping, I fidgeted anxiously with my smartphone in the silent living room.
It felt as if a quest could pop up at any moment.
And I knew that no matter what the reward for this quest was, I would carry it out.
The blood was already rushing. My heart hammered against my ribs, and my eyes darted toward the door and back again in a restless cycle.
My sister had gone out.
At Yu-ri's suggestion that we have an early birthday party, Noona had told her to go pick up the cake she'd ordered. Yu-ri had even asked for and received formal permission to buy alcohol, saying she wanted to drink.
I knew it wouldn't take her long to get back. Even though Yu-ri didn't have a license or a car, the public transportation around here was excellent.
I closed and opened my eyes, trying to hide my nerves. In my pocket was a condom I had purchased a few days ago.
In that sense, I couldn't deny that I was fully prepared to go through with it.
I just hoped things wouldn't spiral to the absolute worst.
It was just as I was enduring the indefinite wait.
I heard the sound of the door lock activating, followed by the leisurely pressing of the passcode.
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep.
The sound, which rang out slowly as if to tease me, stopped with the click of the lock cover closing. The door did its job and let the owner in.
"I'm ho~me!"
A bright greeting rang out. It was a voice full of charm, as always.
My eyes slowly shifted, and there was my younger sister.
"Ugh, it's so cold. Home really is the best."
I saw her approaching with a smirk. She pulled off her winter padding and shed the layers she had worn as outerwear.
Her intention was transparent.
"Ugh, Oppa, I'm cold..."
Yu-ri was suddenly in her indoor clothes. She approached me and, without a hint of hesitation, sat on my lap while acting cute.
I couldn't even resist.
"Mmm, Oppa, you're so warm. The best."
"You should have bundled up more..."
"Huh? If I wrap myself up too much, I won't look pretty."
It was an absurd thing to say, but also somewhat understandable. To survive this bitter cold, one usually had to bundle up until they looked more survival-oriented than attractive.
In that sense, Yu-ri's current attire was quite provocative.
She wore black leggings and a shirt that was strangely loose—not in a way that looked ill-fitting, but in a way that exposed her collarbones and shoulders.
Underneath, she wore something akin to a crop top, and there were no other layers covering the legs wrapped around my waist.
Despite my nerves, I gave her a mild scolding.
"Still. What if you catch a cold...?"
"Are you worried about me? As expected of Oppa. I love you."
The conversation was no different from usual.
In fact, it was a familiar exchange that made me reflect on the time we had spent together as siblings.
The problem was the change in Yu-ri and me.
The new attribute our relationship had acquired.
I felt the deep affection embedded in that "I love you" and couldn't find an answer. Yu-ri looked up at me and smirked, as if she knew exactly what I was thinking.
Feeling like I might lose myself if I kept meeting her gaze, I desperately changed the subject.
"So, the cake and the alcohol... what else did you buy?"
"Hmm? Sushi!"
"Sushi... did Noona buy it for you?"
"Nooo, I have the money we earned from the game. The 5 million won I got because Oppa's heart was thumping."
It wasn't a graphic description, but it was close enough. I fell silent. Yu-ri flicked my nose and lifted her chin from my chest.
"I bought it with that. You like sushi, Oppa."
"...I do."
"I like it too, and I thought it would be a good snack to go with the drinks."
I didn't think it was the best pairing for beer, but I didn't argue and simply nodded.
The important thing lay elsewhere, anyway.
A certain problem that was making me agonize even at this very moment.
"Alright, then."
Yu-ri stood up with practiced ease, and I helped her, my face still flushed.
We took out a few cans of beer and put them on the table, set out the cake, opened the sushi, and mixed the soy sauce and wasabi.
We set the table for a combined lunch and birthday celebration.
I wanted to do it as slowly and leisurely as possible... but I couldn't.
It might have been different if I were setting it up alone, but Yu-ri was there too.
She didn't give me any room to hesitate, and the setup was finished in less than a minute.
A sigh escaped me as the future loomed closer.
Conscious of the subtle excitement filling my chest, my racing heart, and the presence of the condom in my pocket, my sister smiled.
"Oppa, should we eat first? Or do the birthday celebration?"
"...Let's eat first. If we eat the cake first, the sushi won't taste as good."
"Right? Okay, then. We have to drink the beer too."
Yu-ri smirked as she grabbed a beer. I stared blankly at her hand.
"Oppa."
Yu-ri spoke to me in a low, whispering voice.
"Don't be so nervous. We haven't even started yet."
She was saying she wouldn't hold back anymore.
As I naturally grew tense and looked at her, Yu-ri curled her eyes into a seductive smile.
"Shall we toast?"
I nodded. Yu-ri and I cracked open our beers at the same time and held them out.
Hearing the sound of the cans clinking, I felt a sense of ambivalence.
I hoped the alcohol would ease my tension, yet I also hoped it wouldn't.
It was a futile wish.
I simply downed the beer with my sister.