Chapter 15
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 15: Unnoticed by Anyone
The night was deep.
I lay in bed in my room, staring blankly at the ceiling. Sleep didn't come even when I closed my eyes. No, I couldn't sleep.
Tomorrow, my brother moves out. Leaving this safe house for that dangerous outside world.
That fact pressed down frustratingly on my chest, making it impossible to lie still in bed.
'...Let's go see.'
I kicked off the blanket as if possessed.
I killed the sound of my footsteps, crossed the living room, and stood in front of his door. My heart pounded in my ears.
No matter if we are family, entering a grown man's room secretly at dawn isn't polite.
But if today passes, I didn't have the confidence to face this empty space.
Creaaak.
I opened the door carefully.
The specific air of my brother's room hit me. The scent of fabric softener, the smell of old books.
The room was dark, but faint moonlight seeping through the window crack was illuminating the bed. There, my brother was in a deep sleep, oblivious to the world.
I approached the bedside, holding my breath like a stray cat.
And resting my chin on the bed frame, I crouched down and quietly looked into my sleeping brother's face.
'...Was his body always this good?'
The forearm sticking out defenselessly from the blanket revealed a solid outline even in the darkness.
He didn't come out of his room often, and we didn't talk, so I didn't know.
I reached out as if possessed and slightly pressed my brother's arm.
"......!"
It's hard. It wasn't soft flab. Muscles clumped solidly like a rock.
Is this a man?
'...I don't want to have him taken away.'
If my brother leaves like this, what remains for me? The outside world must be teeming with women like hyenas targeting my brother.
Unable to overcome the impulse, I carefully climbed onto the bed.
The bed is wide... wouldn't it be okay to just lie slightly next to him?
I slid in behind my brother's back.
And just as I carefully put our backs together so he wouldn't wake up, and reached out my arm to hug him.
Thud.
With a dull sound, my body was pushed back.
"Ack!"
I rolled onto the floor with a short scream.
When I came to my senses, my brother was looking down at me with frowning eyes.
He kicked me. Just now. Me.
"...Hey. What are you doing here?"
It was a sleepy voice, but irritation was dripping from it.
"No... that is..."
I stuttered while rubbing my butt. My mind went blank on what excuse to give.
"Thought it was a ghost. Why are you crawling in while someone is sleeping and acting crazy."
My brother furrowed his brow and adjusted his pillow.
"Get out. I'm tired."
"No... since you're going tomorrow... just wanted to see your face..."
"Look all you want tomorrow morning. And don't come into a grown guy's room carelessly."
My brother turned his back and lay down without even looking at me.
He's stone-cold. Sharp as a knife.
"...Tch."
I got up, pouting my lips.
I felt hurt, but my butt stung from being kicked so I couldn't argue further.
"Close the door on your way out."
An indifferent voice coming from inside the blanket. I returned to my room leaving a timid rebellion by slamming the door.
Really... too much.
But on the other hand, seeing him put up an iron wall like that actually makes me feel relieved.
. . .
The next morning.
I went out to the living room as soon as I opened my eyes.
My brother had already packed all his luggage and was sitting on the sofa watching TV.
"Oh, you're up. You're all swollen."
My brother giggled and teased my puffy eyes. He seems very carefree, perhaps not even remembering kicking me yesterday.
"...Shut up."
I grumbled and went into the bathroom.
Today is the long-awaited moving day.
The day my brother leaves this house.