[No Title Provided]
"Wait just a moment... I'm gonna hit the restroom real quick."
Jia unnie stepped away briefly, leaving just the two of us sitting side by side. Our eyes didn't quite meet. Instead, I could see Yoo Seol-ah clearly feeling the booze—she had one hand covering her face. Her face was so small that even one hand mostly hid it.
"...If you're that dizzy, maybe you shouldn't drink."
"But it's tasty..."
She loved fruity drinks and anything delicious, so even if it hit her hard, she couldn't help herself.
"It went down easier than I thought, though. I was a little worried."
"...Honestly, I know unnie gets a bit dramatic when she's tipsy outside, and I know what you were worried about. You don't have to fret that much."
Jia unnie was the type who told even strangers her little sister was on another level of pretty. I got why she'd want to brag if she thought of Seol-ah as her own sister, but it was definitely not something you'd say unless you really adored your sibling.
"Dramatic?"
"...Yeah, a lot. But unnie cares about me that much, so she never does anything I'd hate. We've never even fought."
True, I couldn't picture Jia unnie throwing water from a glass like in some drama and yelling to break up. She had a subtly playful, bubbly vibe, but you could tell she was always kind. She just didn't seem capable of harsh words. Even her tone in group chats was super soft.
"Jia unnie really is sweet."
I gave my honest take since she was Seol-ah's sister, but suddenly Seol-ah turned her head toward me. I naturally tilted mine a bit, catching her super subtle expression. She seemed pleased her sister got praised, but it wasn't just happy.
"...But you two usually just... call each other by name? Like Jia unnie...?"
Was this jealousy? I wasn't the type to drop formalities first, so I explained right away.
"Everyone from the new hire gathering suggested casual speech over dinner, and calling her sunbae felt too old-fashioned, so she said to go with unnie."
It started as Yoo Jia sunbaenim, then Jia sunbae, and only recently Jia unnie. She must've been surprised hearing how I addressed her sister for the first time.
"Oh... yeah, unnie does get close to people fast."
The subtle look faded, but Seol-ah getting jealous over something this small was still adorable. If she asked, I'd call her by name, no problem.
"What, want me to just call you Seol-ah?"
"W-what are you talking about?!... I was just curious, don't get the wrong idea...!"
"No misunderstanding, Seol-ah."
"Uwaaaah!..."
She let out a weird yell, clenching her fist like she'd slam a desk if we were home. My toes curled in embarrassment too, so pushing further seemed impossible. This was tough.
But even freaking out, she couldn't hide her slightly upturned lips. So very Seol-ah.
"You two are having fun, huh?"
Jia unnie returned and sat down, commenting as she did. Honestly, we couldn't help it. Our tastes matched so well that we preferred doing stuff together over just flirting. Sure, sports or board games had a bit of playful bickering mixed in.
"We've done all sorts of things with her..."
"Yeah."
Board games and sports were tame compared to fighting demons. No one had more spectacular dates than us—if you could call life-or-death battles dates.
But suddenly, Jia unnie looked a little flustered. Her face even flushed a bit. Was face-reddening genetic in their family?
"What... kinds of things?"
"Just last time, basketball, badminton, tons of stuff. And board games recently."
Seol-ah answered casually, oblivious, but Jia unnie seemed to misunderstand big time. Not entirely wrong, though. We'd tumbled in bed right before leaving home, so it hit close.
She'd figure out we'd slept together anyway, for various reasons. Still, Jia unnie quickly smoothed her flustered look and smiled.
"Oh... Sion's athletic too? Seol-ah's been good since she was little."
"Baek Sion's great at it. He's got the build for it as a guy."
Seol-ah was brutally honest about stuff like this. Nothing embarrassing, so she praised skill straight-up.
"Jealous of you both. I'm terrible at sports... But you've been doing it since earlier—calling each other full names?"
"Yeah, both of us. Can't do just first names."
We looked like a couple, but sticking to full names must seem odd to outsiders. Baek Sia asked once too.
"Feels like childhood friends, huh? You must've been in touch forever."
"Yeah."
Way longer than most childhood friends. Over two years of nearly 24/7 together.
"Right, casual speech with me too, Sion. Honorifics feel awkward."
Truth was, I'd held back before partly because I mistook her friendliness for flirting and kept distance. Call it lingering feelings—I couldn't forget Shabu back then. But now, she was just super sociable, and casual was fine. Especially since Seol-ah knew her too.
"Kuo bao rou first. The mala hotpot's coming soon, so please wait a bit."
"Thanks."
Stomach growling, the tangy sauce smell instantly revved my appetite. Seol-ah grabbed chopsticks like she'd been waiting.
"You'd think we skipped dinner..."
"We really didn't eat today. Slept through it."
Seol-ah answered without hesitation, while Jia unnie paused again. Seol-ah realized her slip and backpedaled fast.
"W-we really just slept...! For real..."
Problem was, her fix made it sound like we'd slept together. Better excuse: I came over late for midnight snacks. Too late now.
Jia unnie's voice trembled slightly.
"...J-just sleeping sounds weirder, doesn't it...?"
Exactly. A guy and girl sharing a bed with nothing happening? You'd need to be married for that. We did just sleep when trying to, and we kinda were like a couple, but still.
"...You're both adults now, so... I-I get it..."
"......"
Jia unnie wasn't immune to these topics, and hearing this from Seol-ah's big sis made replying tough for us too. Especially since we'd actually gone a few rounds today, contrary to the excuse.
Seol-ah blushed and popped a piece of kuo bao rou in her mouth. Hunger won over awkwardness, apparently.
"Last time you went home, Mom and Dad said they wanted grandkids, and I was like, already?!"
"Unniii!..."
Not immune to sex talk, yet dropping baby bombs? Must be sisterly love. Seol-ah was clearly the home punching bag.
Her parents not being heavy types eased my mind a bit.
Seol-ah downed cold water like it was hot, then spoke in disbelief.
"Mom and Dad are nowhere near 50, why grandkids already... seriously..."
"They said the house feels empty without babies now..."
Right, Seol-ah was the youngest even among cousins. No kid thoughts yet, but marriage meant planning carefully.
Seol-ah glanced at me, so I raised a brow questioningly, but she looked away quick. Then her next words nearly made me choke on unchewed kuo bao rou.
"...Just wait a little longer."
"Kuh!..."
I coughed and grabbed water; Jia unnie looked shocked too, despite starting the joke.
Seol-ah added,
"Obviously kidding. Why so surprised...? You started it. I'll tell Mom and Dad myself later."
Booze aside, Seol-ah was the usual punching bag with a killer counter. High heat.
"At 20? No way, at least 25. For babies."
First time hearing her marriage views—surprisingly practical. Felt like wedding bells one step closer. Still far off, though.