Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: To the Night Market Together (1)
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From the morning, things outside were incredibly bustling.
Woken by the commotion, Dah Som toddled over to the window, rubbing her eyes.
Then she suddenly started calling me in a loud voice.
"Big Brother! Big Brother!"
"What's up, Dah Som?"
"Yeah! Look! Looook!"
Beyond Dah Som's pointing finger were the countless market stalls set up outside.
"...A night market."
A night market—one that ran from evening until dawn.
This neighborhood held one every season, and it seemed today was the day for the summer night market.
Yeah, the timing was perfect.
With everyone from elementary kids to college students on break, and folks just back from vacations, it was the ideal time to kick one off.
"Night market...! Wanna go...!"
Dah Som had never been to one before. Even when they'd opened in the past, she hadn't really seen them properly.
Last spring, she'd been too young to care during one, and before that, she wouldn't remember anyway. So this might be the first time she'd truly take one in.
"Dah Som, wanna go to the night market?"
"Yeah! Wanna go to the night market!"
If Dah Som wanted to go, I'd happily take her. I wanted her to have new experiences like this.
Well, might as well ask Mom for permission.
If she said yes, we could head straight there. And I doubted she'd say no anyway.
I took Dah Som to the kitchen, where Mom was prepping breakfast.
"Mom, can I take Dah Som to the night market tonight?"
"The night market? With Dah Som?"
"Yeah, she's dying to go."
I showed Mom Dah Som's sparkling eyes.
Think you can say no to that?
Mom chuckled and nodded.
"Alright, go ahead. Your dad's off work starting today anyway, so we were gonna catch a late movie. Leave Dah Som with you."
"Sounds good."
"Here, some pocket money too. Get her something tasty and have fun."
"Thanks so much."
As I bowed my head in thanks, Mom called me back like she'd remembered something.
"Oh, Haneul. What about Seol?"
"Seol?"
"Yeah, won't she come over today too?"
Come to think of it, yeah, Seol would probably show up.
She came every day—no reason she'd skip today.
"Take Seol along to the night market too. She loves the one around here."
I nodded.
Back when we were kids, still in elementary school.
Seol and I had come to the neighborhood night market a few times.
Not many, but we'd stuffed ourselves with delicious food and had a blast.
Now we could relive those times.
Thinking of those happy memories, I grabbed my phone and texted Seol.
[Seol]
[Night market's on in our neighborhood tonight]
[Wanna go together?]
About ten seconds after I sent it, Seol replied right away.
[Hyeon Seol: Let's go!]
[Hyeon Seol: What about Dah Som?]
[She's coming too]
[Hyeon Seol: Got it~ Can I come a bit late today then?]
We'd be out late at the night market, so I told her sure.
Yeah, if we're staying out late, better to come later. No need to hang at our place too long.
Or so I thought—but Seol turned out way more bold than I'd figured.
She showed up around 2 p.m., but not empty-handed like usual.
She had a bag.
"...Seol, what's with the bag?"
"I'm sleeping over at your place tonight!"
Not just staying late—she was crashing here.
Classic Seol. Her decisiveness outdid mine every time.
Mom welcomed her casually, so she'd clearly gotten the green light from her parents already.
Fine by me. More than fine—great, even.
But at the same time...
Sending your high school daughter to sleep over at a boy's house? Her folks are cool with that?
I wouldn't have questioned it before. I'd have just shrugged it off.
But now? Ever since that swimsuit... no, even before, I'd started noticing.
Seol wasn't the pure, cute little-sister type I used to see her as.
She was clearly a girl my age. Same as me.
Yeah, it bugged me.
With that in mind, I said to her,
"So, Seol, you wanna sleep in my room?"
She shook her head immediately.
"Nah, I'll just crash in the living room."
"Living room feels weird for a guest."
"That's why—'cause I'm a guest."
As we bickered lightly, Mom chimed in.
"Haneul."
"Yeah, Mom?"
"...Grab a blanket."
"...Huh?"
"A blanket to cover up. You're sleeping in the living room."
She was kicking me to the floor.
Seol didn't argue after that.
Yeah, that made sense.
But Seol still looked dissatisfied.
She just didn't like the idea of me sleeping in the living room.
No helping it, though. Mom ran the house—Seol knew she'd have to follow.
The moment she stepped in, she was under Mom's rules too.
*
After sorting Seol's stuff and playing with Dah Som a bit, it was already 4 p.m.
I checked outside and called to Seol and Dah Som.
"Ready to head to the night market?"
"Already? Isn't later better? Like... 7 or 8?"
"True, but showing her around while it's still light might be nice too."
I glanced at Dah Som.
She grinned at the TV but kept peeking outside. Her excitement was crystal clear—she wanted out now.
Seol giggled at the sight, then stood up.
"Okay, let's go. But can I change quick first?"
"Change?"
"Yeah, these are kinda uncomfortable."
No reason to stop her from comfy clothes.
I nodded, picked up Dah Som to keep her out of the way, and Seol smiled, heading to my room.
Sounds of her changing came from inside.
Before, I'd have ignored it as background noise.
Now? It nagged at me. Why was I like this? Felt like something in me was busted.
Funny thing—it wasn't all bad. My heart kept racing, like...
Seol and I were this close now. I was someone she relied on. But also, the thrill of her changing in my room, my daily space. A hint of taboo.
Caught in that whirlwind, I calmed myself by playing with Dah Som.
"Dah Som, wanna do spins?"
"Spins?"
"Yeah, Big Brother's got you~"
"Yeah...!"
I gripped her tight with both arms, spun around a few times, turning into her personal ride.
Watching her giggle in delight, and feeling a dizzy headache kick in, settled my swirling thoughts a bit.
And...
"Haneul, Dah Som, let's go...!"
Seol peeked out, calling us.
I set down Dah Som, who bolted straight to Seol the second her feet hit the floor.
-Hug!
As Seol scooped her up, Dah Som beamed happily.
Behind that heartwarming scene, I took in Seol's outfit.
A white blouse and a brown summer maxi skirt.
Hardly revealing, but that made her look all the more elegant and pretty.
Even the way she set Dah Som down and glanced at me was beautiful.
[]
"Long outfit, huh. Not uncomfortable?"
"It's fine! Super thin, actually pretty comfy!"
Her bright smile as she answered...
-Thump!
My heart skipped lightly.
It was her usual smile, her usual style—I'd seen it plenty.
So why? Why the flutter? Nothing different, yet my heart raced unlike before.
Before I could figure it out, Seol took my hand gently.
"Ready, Haneul?"
-Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
Her small hand in mine made it pound harder.
Luckily, the feeling vanished quick.
-Squeeze
Seol's hand slipped away, replaced by Dah Som's.
"Dah Som, gotta hold tight, okay?"
"Yeah!"
Seeing her laugh, trying to hog both my hand and Seol's, chased the flutters away with pure warmth.
Of course, a bit of that thrill lingered somewhere in my chest.