Chapter 33
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 33: Touching Reunion (3)
"Sleep. Turning off lights."
*Click.*
The room submerged in darkness as the switch went down. I lay on the outer side of the bed, and Ji-hye lay stuck to the inner wall.
It's a double bed so there was plenty of room, but I threw a warning just in case.
"Hey, stick completely to the opposite side over there. Don't cross the center line."
"...Yeah."
"Move away a bit more. It's hot if we touch."
"Okay..."
Ji-hye wriggled and pressed her body close to the wall. Couldn't see because it was in the dark, but the punk's breathing was a bit rough.
Don't know if the aftermath of the disciplinary punishment earlier remained, or if she was nervous.
Lying in the dark, all sorts of distracting thoughts came to mind.
Suddenly remembered my classmate I abandoned at the pub earlier, the horn-rimmed glasses Park Hyun-woo.
'Did that bastard survive right now?'
Don't tell me he harbored a grudge against me, blew up the existing [Clean Male Student Room (5)], and is making a new one like [Clean Elite Male Student Room (4)] excluding only me? He's a guy who would more than do that.
An awkward silence flowed for a moment.
Only thing heard was the sound of the wall clock's second hand and the refrigerator motor running.
Just then, younger sister abruptly opened her mouth.
"Older Brother."
"Why."
"Today... what happened at school?"
Worry was buried in her voice.
Indeed, considering I read and ignored dozens of texts, it's understandable she'd be curious. How frustrated must she have been to take a taxi and storm in here in the middle of the night.
I deliberately put on some weight (acted serious).
"Don't ask. You'll get hurt if you know."
Kuehh. Cool line.
A line like a legendary fist who pulled out of the dark world. Thought it was quite cool. But the answer that returned was a fact bombing that broke the mood.
"No, saw the video of Older Brother running away spread all over your school's Facebook."
"......"
Instantly, breath blocked.
"What...?"
"Saw it taking the taxi here earlier. Said it was real-time best on Older Brother's school community?"
Ji-hye did a confirmation kill with an innocent voice.
"Was the title 'Comp Eng Freshman Party Rabbit Man's All-time Legend Fleeing'..."
"......"
Wow.
This world's information and communication network must be 6G, not 5G. My fleeing already went that far. The mood I was setting shattered completely. Embarrassment rushed in like a tsunami.
"Ha... don't know. Shut up and just sleep."
I covered myself with the blanket to the top of my head. Felt like my lifespan would only shorten if I conversed further.
Soon I fell asleep smoothly.
* * *
*Tick, tock.*
In the silent room, the sound of the wall clock's second hand scratched the eardrum.
2 AM. Consciousness that had sunk below the surface of deep sleep was dragged up forcibly by a heavy pressure pressing down on the body.
"Uh... Mmm..."
Was it sleep paralysis. No, it was too warm and had too much heavy weight to call it sleep paralysis.
When I opened my eyes in a half-asleep state, the first thing felt was the regular breath touching the nape of my neck. And the solid arm crossing my torso hugging me tight.
It was Older Brother.
The person who clearly laid down a threat with his own mouth not to cross over, saying it's hot if we touch, was currently hugging me tight as if I were some bamboo wife.
'Must be... his sleeping habit.'
A rough and broad arm was completely wrapping my back. One leg was thrown over my leg. Trapped helplessly.
"......"
Should I push him away? Should I wake him up?
But Older Brother was sleeping too soundly.
Above all... this feeling of being held solidly wasn't bad. No, honestly speaking, I felt relieved.
Men in this world are precious. The fact that such a healthy and strong man is sleeping hugging me defenselessly felt strangely unrealistic yet reassuring.
'Warm...'
Body temperature is high. The warmth transmitted from behind my back made me forget the cold dawn air.
I curled up my body carefully so as not to wake Older Brother.
Inside these solid arms felt like the safest fortress in the world. No matter how scary the outside world is, at least inside this blanket right now was peaceful.
I lightly grabbed the hem of Older Brother's clothes and closed my eyes again.
Feels like I won't have nightmares tonight.
.
.
.
The dazzling morning sunlight squeezed through the gap in the curtains and tickled my eyelids.
"Mmm..."
Forced open heavy eyes. An unfamiliar ceiling, and the scenery of the studio apartment came into view.
'Ah... this is Older Brother's house.'
Looked sideways with a hazy mind where sleepiness hadn't left yet.
"......"
Older Brother was still sleeping, oblivious to the world.
The limbs that ensnared me all night were now sprawled out in a star shape. The pose of sleeping having kicked off all the blankets is exactly like a little kid.
'Sleeping well.'
I carefully raised my body. As slowly as possible so the bed wouldn't creak.
Rolling stiff shoulders, I headed towards the veranda. Touched the clothes hung on the drying rack.
"Mm... Almost completely dry."
The underwear and clothes run in the washing machine yesterday were dried softly.
I changed clothes in the bathroom and came out. Coming out to the living room, a growling sound was heard.
Looking at the clock, it's 7 AM.
Older Brother showed no sign of waking up. Thought about waking him, but couldn't bring myself to do it looking at his soundly sleeping face. Must be tired having caused that fuss yesterday.
'Should I make him some food.'
Opened the refrigerator. It was desolate.
A few bottles of bottled water, and one kimchi container Mom packed. That was all.
'Is this a refrigerator a person lives with...?'
Sigh came out automatically. Even if it's only been a few days since he started living alone, isn't this too much. Not a single sauce, not a single egg.
If left like this, obvious Older Brother would wake up and boil bloated cup ramen again, or rummage through the delivery app.
They said a healthy man's body comes from what he eats. Couldn't let that good body be filled with ramen broth.
'No. Have to feed him rice.'
I quietly stepped out the front door. Opened my wallet while waiting for the elevator.
'Allowance left is...'
Checking inside the wallet, saw a few crumpled one-thousand won bills and a couple of ten-thousand won bills. Counting it, roughly about 30,000 won.
Bit my lip nervously. Want to make lots of delicious things for Older Brother, but will this be enough? Have to buy meat, buy ham, buy eggs too. Prices are no joke these days so I got a bit worried.
Pondering for a moment, I opened the space hidden deep inside the wallet, behind the ID card. Saw one crisp 50,000 won bill stashed away for emergencies.
'Well, if it's not enough I can just use the emergency fund.'
Hesitation wasn't long. Clothes I can just save allowance and buy later. Filling Older Brother's stomach with oil is the priority right now.
I took out the emergency fund and moved it to the bill compartment. As the wallet became thick, my heart felt reassured too.
*Ding-.*
Elevator arrived. I got on with light footsteps.
Food section of the nearby mart. I pushed the cart and chose items carefully.
"First, eggs are essential."
Older Brother likes rolled omelet. No, likes everything with eggs in it. Put a tray of jumbo eggs into the cart.
And the vegetable section.
"... Uh? Green onions are on sale? Put this in too. Buy onions too..."
Filtered out wilted ones, and picked and put in ones looking fresh with dirt on them.
Fell into thought for a moment at the ham section. Should I buy the cost-effective large capacity ham, or the premium ham with high meat content. After 3 seconds of agonizing, I picked up the expensive one.
'As expected needs to have chewing taste.'
Picked up both Vienna sausages and heavy canned ham that Older Brother likes. The cart became quite heavy.
Stood in front of the checkout counter.
"It is 38,500 won."
"Yes, here."
There was no hesitation in the hand taking out the wallet. As expected it was over budget, but looking at the full shopping basket, only my heart was affluent.
Thinking that Older Brother would eat food with ingredients I bought, money wasn't a waste at all.
Returned to the studio apartment again and carefully opened the door lock.
*Click.*
"......"
Looking inside, Older Brother was still in dreamland. Only changed posture and was sleeping hugging the pillow this time.
I organized the food ingredients without making noise.
Now cooking starts.
Poured cooking oil into the heated pan, and took out the kimchi container from the corner of the refrigerator. The kimchi Mom packed when he moved.
'...Will it be okay to use this?'
Paused for a moment trying to open the lid.
Before Older Brother changed, I mean if it was those timid days in the past, probably wouldn't have been able to even touch it.
Because he was so easily scared and sensitive, someone who would just gauge moods and suffer inwardly if someone touched his things. Had to gauge his mood too just in case he disliked it.
'But now...'
Different. The Older Brother who opened the door worried about me yesterday (?), boldly lent me clothes, and reliably protected me.
'It'll be fine. No, wouldn't he rather like it?'
I felt relieved and took out plenty of kimchi.
Sliced green onions on the cutting board.
*Chop, chop, chop, chop.*
Cheerful chopping sound cut through the quiet morning air.
Stir-fried green onions first in the pan to make green onion oil. When the savory aroma rose, boldly dropped in diced ham and kimchi.
*Sizzle!*
Along with the loud sound, spicy and savory smell started filling the narrow studio apartment.
The menu Older Brother praised saying "Delicious" for the first time when I made it for him at our main house before.
Kimchi Fried Rice.
Opening the rice cooker, fortunately there was a little cold rice left. Put in the cold rice and stood the spatula up to stir-fry so the rice grains wouldn't be crushed.
Every single rice grain was coated with red kimchi juice and started to shine.
Lastly, drizzled a circle of savory sesame oil, and placed a soft-boiled fried egg cooked almost like deep-frying on the side burner on top. So that if you pop the yolk, it seeps between the rice grains.
*Sizzle sizzle.*
Delicious smell pierced the nose. With this much smell, he'd jump up even while sleeping.
I plated the steaming hot fried rice on a pretty plate. Placed spoon and chopsticks neatly, and waited for Older Brother to wake up.
'Hope he wakes up quickly and gets surprised.'
I looked down at myself wearing an apron found in the corner of Older Brother's closet.
Having the absurd imagination that I might quite look like the lady of the house of this studio apartment, I couldn't hide the smile seeping out of my mouth.
2,080 words
120 views