Bathtub Panic and Bedtime Truth
My only thought was that I had to get out of there somehow, fast. Beep beep beep, click. That's when I heard the front door's electronic lock disengage.
"Yoon Dojin! Sis is home!"
A familiar voice boomed from the living room. My mind went completely blank. My sister had said she had a flight today and wouldn't be back until tomorrow. Here I was, buck naked without even a towel. Behind me in the tub sat Sea, wrapped in nothing but a thin towel.
"Hey, what do we do?" I muttered in a panic.
"Yoon Dojin, you in the bathroom?"
My sister's footsteps were heading straight for the bathroom. Frozen in place, not knowing what to do, Sea's hand shot out.
"H-hey!"
I tumbled roughly into the narrow tub. Splash. Hot water sprayed everywhere. My vision shook as I landed completely on top of her body.
"What the hell are you—"
I was about to whisper urgently when Sea clamped her wet palm over my mouth. At the same time, her arm yanked my nape hard, burying my face deep into her left breast. My mind blanked out again from the heavy pressure smothering my face. That's when it happened. Something small and bumpy touched my lower lip. The towel that had been acting as a barrier was already swept away by the water. What was touching my face now was Sea's bare skin, unadulterated. The moment I realized what that unfamiliar sensation on my lips was, my whole body went rigid.
"Mm."
A short moan slipped from Sea's lips onto the top of my head. I had to get up right now, but her arm was pinning my neck down tight. Knock knock.
"Yoon Dojin, you washing up?"
My sister's voice came from right outside the door. I froze, not even daring to breathe. There was no way I could let her catch us tangled up naked in the tub. Just as cold sweat was about to pour out, Sea spoke up.
"Ah, sis! You're here?"
She yelled casually while clutching the back of my head tight. Every word she spoke sent vibrations from her breast straight to my cheek and lips. My sister's flustered voice filtered through the door crack.
"Oh my, Sea? Sorry, I thought it was Dojin."
"It's fine. I'm washing up, so I can't open the door."
"No, I'm sorry. I heard the water and assumed it was Dojin."
The footsteps outside paused for a moment.
"Where'd he go?"
"He went to the convenience store to buy ice cream a bit ago."
There wasn't a hint of hesitation in Sea's answer.
"He'll be back soon."
"Okay? Take your time."
Click. The door closed again. But Sea didn't loosen her grip on my nape. Heat radiated straight from her bare skin. The sheer volume enveloping my face made it hard to breathe.
"Mmph, mmph."
I twisted in frustration, and Sea giggled softly in my ear.
"Stay still. Sis is still right outside the door."
Her whisper from above sounded unusually languid. I held my breath, unable to move an inch in the cramped tub. How much time passed like that? Then the problem hit. My nose was buried so deep in her breast that I couldn't breathe at all. I tried to hold out, but my vision started to blur white. In a desperate bid for air, I parted my tightly clenched lips just a bit. The instant I sucked in hot air through the gap, the soft flesh pressing my face pushed into my mouth. The firm bump that had been caught on my lower lip touched my tongue tip directly.
"Hngh."
Sea’s shoulders jerked sharply above me. A muffled, faint sound leaked from her mouth. I felt her arm around my nape tense up hard. Soon after, the footsteps headed fully toward the living room and faded away. Only then did Sea slowly release her grip on my nape. I shot my head up above the water like a cork popping out.
"Hah, hah."
My face burned like it was on fire as I gulped down air. Sea leaned obliquely against the tub edge, one arm draped over it and her other hand barely covering her breast.
"Hey, your face is seriously red right now."
She stared at my lips, curling the corner of her mouth up.
"Was my breast tasty?"
My mind blanked white, then blood rushed in all at once.
"You crazy bitch!"
I freaked out, snatching a nearby towel and covering her body with it before springing out of the tub. My two feet on the wet tile floor trembled faintly. Sea, who had been so brazen moments ago, now averted her gaze. She slyly wrapped her arms around her shoulders. A red mark lingered on her upper breast where my face had been pressed.
The sight made my mouth go dry as dust.
"I-I'm heading out first."
"Yeah. Go quick. Before we get caught."
We mumbled into the empty air without meeting eyes. I roughly wiped off the water and fled the bathroom. I barely managed to grab some clothes and retreated to my room. Soon after, Sea cautiously opened the door and came in. She was wearing one of my oversized T-shirts, towel-drying her wet hair. As if by unspoken agreement, neither of us said a word. We both stared at our phones, ears perked for any sounds from my sister in the living room.
Bang. The door flew open without warning.
"Hey, Yoon Dojin."
My sister stood there gripping the doorknob.
"Oh. Sis, you're back early? Thought you said tomorrow."
"Flight schedule changed suddenly. But where's that ice cream you got from the convenience store?"
Cold sweat trickled down my spine. It was the excuse Sea had thrown out in the bathroom.
"Not in the fridge. Give sis some too."
"Uh, well..."
I fumbled for words, brain spinning. Sea, sitting beside me, cut in smoothly.
"He went but his phone battery died, so he couldn't pay at all."
Her voice was perfectly steady, without a tremor.
"Said he felt too embarrassed after picking stuff out, so he just put it back and came home."
"Aigoo, what a scatterbrain."
My sister clicked her tongue briefly.
"Got it. I'll cut some fruit—come eat when you're ready."
The door closed again. Footsteps faded toward the living room.
"Hah."
We both exhaled long-held breaths in unison, like we'd planned it.
"Damn, this is all your fault. What a hassle."
I muttered while rubbing my stiff neck.
"You were totally scared back there."
"Who wouldn't be?"
Sea giggled softly, stretching her legs out on the mattress. The suffocating awkwardness eased a bit.
"Kids, all cut up. Come out."
At my sister's call, we obediently headed to the living room. Slices of apple were neatly arranged on the coffee table. As soon as we sat, she pointed alternately at our wet hair.
"You two both have dripping wet hair."
"Ah, yes. I went first, then Dojin right after."
Sea replied nonchalantly, biting into an apple slice.
"Yeah? The water was running forever. Thought you two were bathing together."
I nearly stopped breathing at her light joke. The apple chunk heading down my throat caught, triggering a coughing fit.
"Kuh, cough."
"Jeez, eat slower. Who's gonna steal it?"
My sister tsked and smacked my back hard. I chugged cold water to hide my flushed face. Sea patted my waist lightly beside me, wearing an inscrutable smile.
Before long, the house fell completely quiet as bedtime approached. I stood, flicked off the wall light switch. The room plunged into pitch black. Lying side by side on the narrow mattress, an awkward air flowed. Staring at the ceiling in the dark, a voice suddenly came from beside me.
"Hey. You were this close to devouring my breast earlier."
I sucked in a breath at the straight pitch in the darkness.
"You smashed my head into it. I seriously thought I was gonna suffocate."
"Sure. Whatever."
Sea’s reply dripped with smug amusement.
"Aish, why'd you barge into the bathroom like that and cause all this mess?"
I grumbled, feeling wronged, and she rustled the blanket, rolling toward me.
"We've known each other years. Couldn't you at least scrub my back out of loyalty?"
"Loyalty? That damn loyalty is really touching."
She couldn't hold back a soft giggle at my complaint.
"Hilarious. Before, you'd blush and freak out at kiss talk."
"Shut up and sleep."
"Be honest."
Sea wriggled closer. Even in the dark, I felt her gaze pinning my face.
"That time, you got swept up in the mood and it was a mistake, right?"
I let out a short sigh at her annoying prodding. Dodging forever would just make me eternal teasing fodder. I slowly turned to face her, then pressed down on Sea's shoulder—which had rolled toward me—onto the mattress.
"Wasn't a mistake."
"What?"
Her shoulder twitched faintly under my palm in surprise.
"Not a mistake."
"Hey, don't mess around suddenly."
"Does it look like I'm messing?"
I released her shoulder, planting my arm right beside her cheek and leaning in close. Her pupils shook hugely at the distance where our breaths nearly mingled.
"Confused? Want me to confirm it properly right now?"
I'd expected her usual brazen comeback, but her lips just quivered.
"N... no."
She slyly averted her eyes, whipping her head away. Her voice was unusually subdued, not like her.
"Not confused. No need to confirm."
"For real?"
"Yeah. For real, so back off a bit. You're heavy."
Sea pushed weakly at my chest with both hands. I relented, loosening my arm and rolling back to my spot.
"Your neck's all red too, you know."
"It's not."
"I can see it even in the dark."
"Aish, seriously. Shut up and sleep. You're tired, right?"
Sea yanked the blanket up to her neck and fully turned away. Awkward silence settled back over the narrow mattress. The playful vibe from moments ago had vanished completely. Her breathing from behind sounded slower and more cautious than usual.