Hey, Let's Go to Your House
"Hey. Let's go."
"What the hell are you talking about this early on a weekend morning?"
I rubbed my sleepy eyes and shuffled out into the living room. Two massive suitcases sat abandoned by the front door. Sea, fully dressed to go out, grabbed the sleeve of my shirt and yanked me along.
"We're going to your house."
"What? Why my house all of a sudden?"
"Hurry up and get dressed. I've already packed everything."
Too dazed to process what was happening, I just stood there blankly until she shoved my back. In the end, with no clue what was going on, I threw on some outer clothes and followed her out.
We rode the elevator down to the first-floor lobby. The moment the automatic doors slid open, men in black suits blocked our path.
"Where are you headed?"
They were the surveillance guys Chairman Han had stationed below the penthouse.
Sea gripped the suitcase handles tight and stared the men down.
"Tell my dad that he can't just do whatever he wants."
"Miss."
"Move."
Her firm tone made the men glance at each other awkwardly before stepping aside. I let her drag me hurriedly through the parking lot.
It wasn't until I climbed into the passenger seat that I finally exhaled the breath I'd been holding.
"What the hell is this? Spill it now."
Sea sat behind the wheel, gripping it hard and staring straight ahead.
"I'm running away. So Dad can't control me anymore."
"Running away? Hey, you're not some kid..."
"He's right. I overlooked it."
Her voice trembled ever so slightly.
"Dad could change his mind anytime."
The words from her supposed ex-fiancé at the lounge yesterday must've stuck in her head.
'What if the chairman changes his mind tomorrow?'
"Just like how Dad forced this engagement and made us live together on a whim—if he doesn't like it, he could break us up in an instant and set me up with someone else."
"Well, yeah, but..."
"I don't want to get engaged to anyone else."
She let go of the wheel and turned her head toward me. Her unwavering dark gaze fixed on mine.
"So you're gonna keep being my fiancé."
"...Hey."
"What are we doing heading this way? My place is in the opposite direction."
"Your crappy apartment would get raided the second Dad sends people after us."
Sea gripped the wheel firmly as she declared it.
"So we're going all the way to your family home in Gyeonggi-do. Even Dad can't touch that place carelessly. Probably."
"How do you know? I basically got dragged to your place too."
"Dad doesn't mess with other people's families."
In the end, I caved to her stubbornness and we ended up driving all the way to my family home.
We got out of the car in front of an old single-family house at the end of a narrow alley.
"This is my house. Well, technically Grandma's old place."
I opened the front door, revealing a cool, quiet living room. After our parents passed early on, Grandma had raised my sister and me. Now that even she was gone, it was just Sis living here alone.
I opened the door to my room, and Sea shoved her suitcase into a corner before poking around. Her steps halted in front of the faded picture frame on my desk.
It was a family photo from when I was really little, with Mom, Dad, and me.
Sea stared at it for a long time before hopping over to my bed.
Plop.
She flopped onto the mattress like she'd collapsed. The old springs creaked loudly.
"Whoa. Bet you jerked off thinking about me right here, huh?"
"...What?"
Her sudden bullshit made my face crumple instantly.
"Be real—you totally used me as fap material. Back when you were a horny high school beast."
"That's ridiculous. You think I'm insane?"
"Nah. You definitely did. Be honest."
Sea shot up from the bed and strode toward me. With every step she took, I instinctively backed away.
My calf bumped into something hard—a desk leg. I ended up half-perched awkwardly on the corner of the desk.
She wedged herself between my knees and clung on persistently.
"Answer me. You never thought of me while doing it?"
"Hey, back off a bit."
"Answer."
"Don't talk nonsense."
"Oh? What about here?"
Her gaze suddenly dropped to my ass—right under me, to the desk drawer.
She yanked the handle open without warning.
"Hey, you asshole. What the hell?"
"Where'd you hide it? Some dirty mags or an onahole."
"I don't have that shit."
Despite my protests, she squatted down to the floor. She even started rummaging under the bed.
"Hold up? This isn't a book?"
Something hard caught on her hand as she groped around under there.
"W-Wait. That's..."
I flinched and reached out just as—
Beep-beep-beep, ding-dong.
The front door's lock chimed cheerfully through the house. It was past quitting time, and Sis had come home after I'd texted her earlier.
"Hey. Yoon Dojin. You home?"
Footsteps echoed from the living room, heading straight for my room.
Bang.
The door flew open. Sis froze mid-motion as she shrugged off her jacket and set down her bag. Her eyes flicked between Sea sprawled on the floor and me perched on the desk.
"Oh? Dojin's girlfriend from back then?"
Sea, who had her hand shoved under the bed, jolted hard. She sprang up like a coiled spring, brushed the dust off her pants, and instantly straightened her posture.
She clasped her hands politely above her navel and bowed at a perfect ninety degrees.
"H-Hello. Sister-in-law."
The sudden title made Sis's eyes go wide.
"Sister-in-law?"
"Yes. I was just helping Dojin clean his room. You must be tired from work."
She'd been digging through my desk drawer moments ago, but now she was all stiff military discipline. I was too stunned to speak, just gaping like a fish.
We moved to the living room. Sis stared piercingly at me and Sea sitting awkwardly side by side on the sofa.
I cleared my throat and explained the situation—or as much as I could without spilling everything. Sorry, Sis, but I played it like we were really engaged. I added that we'd come to the family home to hide from Sea's dad for a bit.
Sis listened quietly, then her mouth dropped open.
"Wait. So the regular guy who got engaged to that chaebol third-gen all over the news..."
She pointed at me.
"...that was you, Yoon Dojin? And the chaebol third-gen is your girlfriend, Han Sea?"
I nodded silently, and Sis let out a short gasp.
"Oh my god, this is insane. What the hell is going on?"
Sis jumped up in a fluster.
"Oh, hold on. I'm getting confused trying to process this all at once. You've got a precious guest—let me at least get some fruit."
"No, sister-in-law, it's fine. Don't trouble yourself."
Sea waved her hands frantically, but Sis was already heading to the kitchen.
Sis opened the fridge door and smiled warmly at Sea.
"Oh, duh, where are my manners? I'm Yoon Seo-yeon."
"Yes, sister-in-law. I've heard so much about you."
Sis brought washed apples on a tray and set it on the table. Her gaze lingered on Sea's small, delicately featured face.
"My goodness. I've got such a pretty sister-in-law now."
"N-No, you're the pretty one, sister-in-law."
Sea sat ramrod straight, even throwing up a thumbs-up as she replied. Sis covered her mouth and let out a light laugh.
"Flattery feels good even if it's lip service. I bought these apples—hope they suit your taste."
Sis smiled prettily, her eyes crinkling softly.
"That's not flattery..."
Sea muttered under her breath. Her gaze was fixed openly on Sis's face as she set down the tray—genuine admiration, not empty words.
Sis placed the washed apples and fruit knife on the tray on the living room table.
"I'll peel them, sister-in-law."
Sea snatched the knife and dropped to the floor. Sis waved for her to sit comfortably on the sofa, but Sea insisted on kneeling.
Her determined expression as she gripped the apple was fine and all. The problem? She'd probably never peeled fruit in her life.
Scrape, thunk.
It wasn't peeling—it was hacking off huge chunks of flesh. Soon, a pathetic pile formed on the plate: skeletal apple cores rolling around.
Sis blinked in confusion at the mangled remains. Sea slyly hid the knife behind her back and flashed an innocently demure smile.
"Th-These days, it's trendy to eat them in small, one-bite pieces. Try some, sister-in-law."
I swept a hand over my forehead at her brazen lie. Sis picked up a piece and burst into light laughter.
"It's the first time Dojin's ever brought someone home. Kinda surreal."
"Really?"
"And he didn't even tell me—went and got engaged behind my back. I'm hurt."
"W-Well, it all happened so suddenly."
As I stammered excuses under Sis's gentle scolding, Sea quickly hooked her arm through mine.
"But Oppa always praised you loads, sister-in-law."
My shoulder twitched hard at the sudden "Oppa."
"He said you're so kind and take such good care of him—my ears were gonna fall off from hearing it."
"When did I ever!"
The moment I opened my mouth in outrage, Sea viciously pinched my lower back.
"Eep!"
I barely swallowed the yelp. Sea glared at me murderously, lips curled in a smirk.
"I can't picture Dojin saying that about me."
Sis eyed me suspiciously.
"Pfft, what are you talking about? He's totally a sis-con."
Sea shot back shamelessly, hugging my arm tighter. Sis laughed out loud and leaned toward her.
"Got it. But 'sister-in-law' feels a bit formal still—kinda awkward."
"Yes, make yourself comfortable."
"How about just 'sis'?"
Sea’s face lit up instantly.
"Sure! Sis!"
She nodded eagerly.
"And just call me Sea for now, and talk casually too."
"Gotcha, Sea-ya."
Sis gazed at her with warm eyes. Sea's shoulders tensed slightly under the affectionate look.
"Yeah?"
"Mind if I give you a hug?"
Sea’s eyes widened at the unexpected offer. But she didn't hesitate.
"Yeah? Y-Yeah, sure!"