Operation Once Again (2)
“Taeyang, a package came for you?”
I took the delivery from Hayan sis.
“What'd you order?”
“Uh? Just...”
Should I just say it's a voice modulator? If she asks why I bought something like that, I'd have nothing to say. If I said I bought it out of boredom, she'd nag me about wasting money.
I hesitated for a moment, and Hayan sis smirked, covering her mouth with her hand. It was her usual reaction when she was teasing me.
“Oh my, if you can't even say it, did you buy some dirty magazine or something?”
“Wh-why would I buy something like that?”
Nowadays, you can just look at that stuff on your phone—no need to risk getting caught with a physical book.
Sis didn't drop her suspicion, humming “Hm~” and narrowing her eyes.
“I doubt it, but maybe it's sis-con stuff or something...”
Doesn't my sister feel embarrassed saying crap like that?
“No, it's not. You're the one looking at that stuff, sis.”
“Yeah.”
“……”
Never mind. I grabbed the package and headed to my room.
Soon, her voice came from beyond the door.
“What is it~? You could at least tell me~”
“The product's name is right there next to my name on the label. Why pretend you don't know?”
I realized too late—she already knew what it was.
“A voice modulator? Super suspicious. I wondered if you'd sneakily asked them to change the product name.”
Her voice filtered through the door. If I was gonna hide it, I wouldn't have picked something sketchy.
“It's a voice modulator, yeah.”
“Why'd you buy that? Oh, Taeyang, how much allowance do you have left?”
My allowance was pretty much gone. I braced for the lecture.
“You bought some weird clothes last time too.”
Last time, I'd caught her with some strange fluffy brown fur outfit. Looked like a Christmas Rudolph costume, only good for events.
“Ugh... That one was cute...”
Sis had her own guilt, so she dropped the nagging.
In the end, she sighed and we promised to save money together from now on. That wrapped it up.
I unpacked it while we talked. It looked like a toy, but it came in a professionally packaged box wrapped in plastic. Peeling it open revealed a microphone.
It was a wireless mic with no cord—a square box attached below the input with a built-in output speaker. Looked like your standard Bluetooth mic for sale. Except for the front panel loaded with voice modulation buttons.
“Ahh—mic test.”
I turned it on to check. My normal voice came through fine. Twisting the pitch lever adjusted the key.
“Oh, cool.”
I fiddled with the other buttons. The tone control let me go from grandpa voice to little girl voice. It was artificial and awkward, sure.
Who the hell makes something this risky for crime? Not that it was precise enough for serious stuff anyway.
At least it'd fool someone over the phone or in a quick chat. Strangers wouldn't pick up on the awkwardness from unfamiliar voices.
After a few practice runs, I kicked off the operation.
First, I needed Cho Yuli's address. Not too hard.
On an evening walk, I recalled the area around her house from playing Love Chain in the game and scouted it out. Soon enough, I spotted her house from the game.
Address confirmed. Now just send the order there and...
Fool 'em good. Had to make it natural, no interruptions.
Luckily, the delivery date and time were listed, so I could prep.
[The Teddy Bear is en route to your address.]
———
My phone rang. Unknown number.
“Hello?”
“Yes, hello! This is 'Sweet & Lovely'!”
Right, that was the dessert shop's name.
A lively, friendly guy's voice. I flipped on the modulator I'd been carrying. Let's go with a gruff uncle voice.
“Yes~”
“Is this Mr. Lee Soosung?”
“Yes, that's me.”
“You ordered the Teddy Bear, right~?”
“Forgot about it.”
“Um, the address seems wrong.”
“Oh, yeah. Sorry, could you put the homeowner on for a sec?”
“Pardon?”
“I moved outta there. Got a situation. Mind asking if it's okay to give it to them?”
“Ah... one sec~”
The delivery guy sounded flustered, then voices murmured distantly. Yuli's panicked tone, then a small, thin voice took the phone.
“……Hello?”
“Sorry about this. I put in the wrong address.”
“...Yes.”
“Wanna just take the cake?”
“Huh? But... this is... limited edition... Teddy Bear...”
She wavered at the cake's temptation, her voice trailing off. Or maybe scared of the gruff uncle voice?
“Sorry. Heading overseas for emigration in a rush. Was gonna delete this number anyway—perfect timing.”
“Yes?”
“Canceling's a waste. Just take it, miss. Think of it as good karma.”
“B-but...”
“Hey, doing a good deed never hurts! Haha! Oh, sorry—something came up. Enjoy!!”
I hung up abruptly.
Phew~ Done... I flopped onto the bed.
She bought it, right? I'd even tested the modulator on a call earlier, paranoid it'd get filtered out. It worked fine.
No reason for the delivery guy to refuse—he'd pass it on.
Adrenaline crash hit hard.
“Gotta shower...”
Mumbled it as I drifted off—classic pattern.
Knock knock knock—I cracked my eyes at the sound. Hadn't slept yet.
“Huh? Who's there?”
“Taeyang~”
Hayan sis's voice oozed syrupy sweetness.
“Sis? What?”
“Can I come in?”
“Yeah.”
She opened the door and came in.
“Taeyang~ Hehe.”
“You look like you want something.”
Sis smiled sweetly and approached my bed. Sat down, leaned over, gazing at me.
I met her eyes with a wary stare.
“Y'know... the Teddy Bear~”
“……Yeah...”
“You don't hate sweets, right?”
“I gave it away.”
“Huh?”
Sis blinked repeatedly, like I'd said something unbelievable. Her silent staring creeped me out.
“It's mine, so I can do what I want.”
“...Yeah. It's yours.”
Sis's lips twitched, then she got up.
“Haha, true. So... who'd you give it to?”
“A friend who likes sweets.”
“Yuyeong?”
“Nah, someone you don't know. Said she hadn't tried it.”
Hayan sis looked off. Nodding with a smile, but clearly not listening.
“Yeah, okay... Sniff... Sob...”
She plopped down.
This much?
“Sis, you okay?”
“Yeah, I'm fine. It was yours anyway. I shouldn't covet it. Right?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, rest well... Don't forget to shower before bed.”
Sis shuffled out, listless.
Now I felt bad... If it wasn't for Yuli, I'd have given it straight to sis.
Eh, she's not the type to sulk long over this. Invite her to a dessert shop next time or whatever.
———
……It was more serious than I thought.
“Sis?”
“……Yeah. Eat up.”
Hayan sis, all wilted—super rare sight. Reminded me of when I was a brat, ignored her, made her cry.
That bad?
“Hey, sis... Wanna go back there next time?”
“Nah, don't worry about it.”
She replied weakly. How'm I not supposed to worry with that face?
“After dinner, I'll grab ice cream?”
“No, I'm starting a diet.”
“What fat you got to lose...”
“……I do.”
“Doesn't look like it.”
“……Boobs or whatever.”
Come on, not over one cake.
“Haa~ Sis. My bad.”
“What? You did nothing wrong...”
“No! I messed up anyway! If I was giving it away, should've gone to you, who loves it most.”
Hayan sis shook her head limply. Still pouty.
“In exchange, want anything?”
“Anything?”
She glanced over, a spark of interest. Still sulky, though.
“I'll grant one wish. Within reason.”
“A wish...”
Hayan sis closed her eyes, murmuring quietly.
“Taeyang. I don't really need the Teddy Bear.”
“See! ...”
I started to say something, but froze.
“You can just be my Teddy Bear.”
She beamed like the pout never happened—like she'd planned this from the start.
Tricked.
“Sis?”
“You said anything, right?”
“You faked being down?”
“Who knows~?”
Sis grinned, dodging. For a sec, I swore devil horns sprouted from my angel sis's head.
“You're evil.”
“Yeah, sis is super evil. But good boy Taeyang keeps his promises, right?”
After dinner, I got dragged to her room. Forced into that fluffy brown fur monstrosity she'd bought.
“No way!”
“Taeyang, just once!”
……Felt bad, so I wore it. Mortifying.
Brown fur everywhere—full-body bear suit from hips to head. Bear ears poking from the hood, tail on the butt, mittens on the hands. Uncomfortable as hell.
Why buy this? She's the one wasting allowance!
“You like dressing your big middle school bro in a bear suit?!!”
“Eek— So cute~”
I yelled in the full getup, but she just cooed over it.
Damn... Shouldn't have listened.
Snap—
“No pics!”
“Sorry sorry, but gotta preserve this~”
“Ughh... Seriously!! Haa~”
I gave up.
Just one request.
“Don't show anyone!”
“Uh uh...”
“Sis, why the panic?”
“Sorry. Already sent it.”
“……To who?”
Bad vibes.
Fine, embarrass me all you want. But if that person sees...
“Gahee and...”
Doomed.
Ah, not saying I'm cute or anything. I know I'm not!
But if Gahee sis sees it, could throw a wrench in things. She has eyes—ain't falling for a scrub like me!
“Taeyang?”
“……Nah.”
“Taeyang! Sorryyy!!”
That day, I holed up so sis wouldn't see. Fell asleep in the bear suit—secret.
Comfy for sleeping, though.