Old Memories
Back when I was younger, I used to think...
The other person reacted so intensely that before long, after I’d inserted myself, I ended up finishing far too quickly.
“Haa...”
“Ahh...”
While we were taking a breather and I was spacing out, she headed for the shower first, looking at me with sparkling, expectant eyes.
Then again.
As more and more people had been coming into my life lately, doing it several times in a row had started to wear me out more than I expected.
I’d have to work out harder and keep myself in better shape.
That didn’t mean I had any intention of stopping meeting new women, though.
A little while later, after I’d showered too, I gave Lee Miso, who was still watching me with that eager look, the answer she deserved.
“Do your best. I’ll make it worth your while. I’ll make sure your base salary is more than enough, and your PT pay will depend on your performance. I’ll hand over all the revenue.”
“R-r-really? Th-thank you so much!”
Just a moment ago, she’d been all fire and heat.
Now she was clasping her hands together like she might fly up into the sky from happiness, and for some reason, it looked kind of cute.
Of course, I didn’t feel anything particularly special.
The only people who felt special to me now were Auntie, Sihyeon, Sister Seolhyeon, and Seola.
Maybe it was because of the times when I had so little.
That feeling had apparently carried over even after I came into a lot of things.
Especially toward Auntie, who had looked after me so well back then.
Maybe it all depended on how hard I tried.
To be honest, these days I could get into a relationship with just about any woman without much trouble. All I had to do was pay far more money than other men were willing to put in.
It was strange to think something so simple should come with special feelings.
“Then do your best.”
I left the gym.
The thought I’d had earlier kept circling back and eventually landed on Auntie too.
Let’s not rush it.
She was someone more special than anyone else. Even if that included Sihyeon.
When I got home, I saw Auntie cleaning.
“Auntie, you could just hire someone to do the cleaning... Please, just rest. Think of this as your home too.”
“I already feel nothing but gratitude toward you, Doyun... I should at least do something like this.”
She didn’t look like she was going to accept it easily.
Even so, I didn’t want her struggling through housework like this.
We were already living under the same roof.
There was no need to watch her go through unnecessary hardship.
“Then... could you at least help out with the household chores? Cleaning is going to be too much for you to handle alone. Honestly, I’ve been having a hard time even taking care of meals myself... so I was hoping you’d help me with that part.”
“But...”
“I’ll pay you a separate salary too. I’m offering this because I want to. It’s what I want.”
“...Then I can help with the cleaning and things like that.”
“No, don’t. Going grocery shopping and everything else will take a lot of time. As for cleaning... it’s not difficult for me at all to hire someone to help me with that.”
“...”
And that was true. A cleaner costing even three million won a month would already be on the high side.
For me, that was practically nothing.
The rent income from my buildings was far greater than that.
So much so that it was almost embarrassing to compare the two.
“I’m doing this because I want my conscience to feel at ease. I didn’t call you here to make things hard for you, Auntie. When I was living at your place, did you ever make me clean?”
“...No, but...”
“To me, Auntie...”
“...”
I kept persuading her for a long while. Maybe she was moved by it, because her eyes started to glisten with tears.
I was a little flustered. I hadn’t put on a show or anything—I was just telling her what I honestly felt.
“A-Auntie...”
“S-sorry. I’m being silly at my age. I’m just so grateful... Honestly, I felt so lost... I had no idea what I was supposed to do from here. But thanks to you, Doyun... I think I can at least keep living. Thank you so, so much.”
“No, I’m the one who should say that. When I came up to Seoul and was having a hard time, it was because of you, Auntie...”
When I answered, flustered, waving my hands around wildly, she let out a small laugh.
“You really are something else. Honestly, it’s strange. The feelings I should probably have for my husband... seeing them directed at you, Doyun...”
“Y-yes?”
“Ah, no! That’s not what I meant! It might sound weird, but you’re like the head of the household for me, so—oh dear. This is too much. S-sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. I’m happy to hear that. It makes me feel like I’m someone Auntie can rely on.”
“Of course you are.”
“So don’t cry.”
I slipped my arms around her.
Auntie flinched, startled, but she didn’t push me away.
Please.
I just hoped my hard-on wouldn’t ruin the mood.
I carefully shifted my hips back a little.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After that talk with Auntie, by the time evening rolled around, Auntie, my sister, and Sihyeon were gathered in the living room.
Me too.
“Really? Doyun’s being incredibly considerate. That’s so cool.”
“It’s nothing. I’m the one who got a lot of help when I came up to Seoul.”
“I don’t really have anything to say. I didn’t help you much back then...”
“Just letting a strange man move into the house was already helping.”
“Was it...? Honestly, I was so shocked back then... Mom...”
“I told you my brother was nice!”
“You only said that after ages...”
“It just took some time to get close, that’s all...”
They were talking about me. About how I’d asked Auntie to let me pay her a salary and help out with housework.
Hearing that, my sister thanked me in her own way too.
Sihyeon kept sneaking looks at me, her eyes slightly flushed.
I had the feeling she might slip into my room later.
My lower body was still a little sore from earlier...
but Sihyeon was always welcome.
At the same time, a cold sweat broke out down my back as I thought about the future.
Sihyeon believed she and I were lovers. I believed that too.
The difference between us was...
I had women besides Sihyeon, and I was sleeping with them.
Of course, I hadn’t given my heart deeply to anyone else besides her. If I had to name someone who came close, maybe Seola.
But I couldn’t excuse myself on that basis, because...
Maybe what I felt for Auntie was even stronger than what I felt for Sihyeon.
What would happen when that time came...
I had no idea.
I shook my head.
I knew very well that I was a bad person.
If I’d been worried about that from the start, I never would have gotten involved with Sihyeon in the first place.
And as much as I hated to say it to her...
if I had to choose between the two of them, it would be Auntie.
It had been a while since we’d all gathered in the living room like this, laughing and talking comfortably together.
When it was time for dinner, everyone headed off to their rooms to get ready for bed.
I did the same.
While I was brushing my teeth, my phone vibrated.
“What now?”
When I checked the caller ID, it was my younger sister.
I wasn’t surprised because I’d lost touch with her. We usually texted over KakaoTalk, but when she called, it usually meant something urgent.
I rinsed my mouth and answered.
“Yeah? What is it?”
“What do you mean, what is it? Do I need a reason to call my little brother?”
“So you’re just calling?”
“...Sort of. Wow, you’re making me feel awkward here.”
“Since when have you ever felt awkward?”
“Shut up.”
After some pointless chatter, we got to the point.
“That fine dining thing I mentioned before. It’s still on, right?”
“It’s still on for me. If it feels like too much for you, just say so. From what I’ve heard, the fine dining industry is brutally hard. You can make a living, sure... but it’s tough to really make it big.”
“Forget it. I’m not aiming that high. If I can just cook and make a living, that’s enough for me. I was only calling to see if anything had changed.”
“Actually, I think we’ll be able to open soon. I sped up the construction.”
“Really? Great. I was going to come up to Seoul because of that anyway.”
“...Seoul?”
“I wanted to look at some places. Better to prepare early, right?”
Hmm.
I didn’t really want to show her Signiel.
If she saw it and decided to crash there, that would be a serious problem.
Even this house was hard to use however I wanted because Auntie’s family was here.
And Signiel too?
Absolutely not.
I’d have to have a driver escort her around and sightsee with her some other way.
I could just book a hotel.
That was what I thought, anyway.
“Can my friend come too...? It’d be hard for me to go all the way to Seoul alone, and we already promised to go together.”
“Who is it? A guy?”
“What do you mean, a guy? Do you remember Yeonwoo?”
“Yeonwoo...”
The moment I heard my sister’s words, my mind changed in an instant.
Without meaning to, I shouted in surprise.
“W-wait, Yeonwoo noona?”
“Yeah. She used to come to the house all the time. Yeonwoo remembers you too. She asked if you were doing well.”
“I’m doing great. If she’s coming all the way to Seoul, I should make time and show her around properly.”
“Do you have to...? I’m not asking that much. I just called to see if you could help with a place to stay. If not, I was going to book us a room.”
“No, no. I’ve got a place ready. The house is big, so come comfortably.”
“...You’re not saying that just because of Yeonwoo, right?”
“Huh? No, of course not.”
“You bastard... wake up. There are a lot of guys circling around Yeonwoo.”
Come to think of it, that pissed me off a little.
What’s wrong with me?
More than that—
Some wolf bastard after our Yeonwoo noona!
Seriously, men lose their heads the second they see a pretty woman.
“What’s wrong with me?”
“You... no, never mind. You’ve changed a lot too. Still, don’t try anything shady. Just the thought of my friend dating you feels weird.”
“Fine. I’ll just show her around Seoul, that’s all.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Either way, I was planning to get close to her without my sister knowing.
That should work.
Yeonwoo noona...
Memories from when I was little came rushing back, one after another.