Brother Complex (2)
The evening sunset filtered through the window of the neighborhood cafe. During after-school hours, the place was fairly spacious, save for a few students. Still, the lively chatter of girls in their prime made the atmosphere appropriately bustling and energetic. But one girl, waiting intently for someone, was the exception.
Lee Yuyeong, who had been tense as could be, spotted someone entering through the door.
"Did I keep you waiting long?"
"No, not at all. Thank you for making time for me, Unnie."
"No need to thank me—I was curious how you've been doing anyway."
Kim Hayan smiled brightly at Lee Yuyeong as she asked.
"I'll treat you. You've already got your coffee... Want some dessert?"
"I'm good. I'll be having dinner at home soon anyway."
"Can't be helped, then. Next time, let's go grab something delicious together."
Lee Yuyeong watched Kim Hayan as she stepped away briefly to order. She looked as gentle and warm as ever. That's exactly why goosebumps prickled along Yuyeong's arms.
To think that behind such a kind facade, she harbors impure feelings for her little brother...
What had started as a faint suspicion that Kim Taeyang might be the siscon type had ballooned into full-blown doubts about Kim Hayan that very morning. On the way to school, Hayan's constant attention toward Taeyang, the way she hugged him tight like she couldn't contain her joy. She even smiled happily at rumors calling her a brocon. Unlike Taeyang, Hayan showed no aversion to the idea of incest.
"Yuyeong-ah."
"Ah, yes."
Snapping out of her thoughts, Yuyeong faced Hayan, who had returned unnoticed.
"You said you had something to tell me, right, Yuyeong-ah?"
"Yes."
"Go ahead—tell Unnie freely."
Kim Hayan tensed, wondering if this was about Taeyang, but she kept her voice calm. Maybe something had happened to him, and Yuyeong was here to relay it. After mulling it over, Yuyeong pulled out the excuse she'd prepared.
"It's nothing major, but Taeyang and I aren't really anything anymore, you know."
Hayan listened quietly. Reading her serious expression, Yuyeong pressed on.
"I mean, we said we'd stay friends, but it might be awkward hanging out now. I don't know how to act around you and the others going forward."
Hayan let out a relieved breath and smiled widely.
Is she relieved, thinking I've finally given up on Taeyang?
Blissfully unaware of Yuyeong's misconceptions, Hayan replied brightly.
"It's fine. We can keep getting along great from now on. Same with Gahee and the others. No need to avoid us just because of Taeyang."
"Thank you."
With that, Yuyeong had covered the formalities. Now came the real point. She'd use small talk as a pretext to probe how Hayan really felt about Taeyang.
"Hey, Yuyeong-ah. This is kinda personal, so I hesitate to ask, but..."
"It's okay. Go ahead."
"How's Taeyang been at school lately?"
Perfect—Hayan had brought up Taeyang first. Hayan felt a pang of guilt even as she asked; it wasn't fair to pry from a girl Taeyang had rejected. Bitterly, though, Yuyeong was the only friend of his that Hayan knew about.
"You don't have to answer if it's uncomfortable."
Sensing it was a bad idea, Hayan tried to move on. But Yuyeong latched on.
"Why do you ask?"
"Just sisterly curiosity. I'm worried if he's going through anything tough lately."
Hayan caught the guarded look on Yuyeong's face, wondering if she'd offended her.
"Is it really just that?"
"Huh? Of course, as his big sister..."
But Yuyeong's response felt a bit off.
"Nah, Taeyang's doing fine."
"Really?"
"Though he seems a bit tangled up with girl troubles."
Yuyeong slipped in a little white lie. If Hayan was a brocon, news of girl problems around Taeyang should provoke a strong reaction. And sure enough...
"Tell me more about that, Yuyeong-ah?"
Hayan's face turned grave.
"Is it something serious?"
"........."
This wasn't mere big-sister interest in her brother's dating life. She looked genuinely distressed, like it was killing her. Yep, Unnie Hayan really is worried about Taeyang dating.
Yuyeong rationalized her half-truth. There had been that love triangle with Ha Eunju, after all.
"Are you worried? About Taeyang getting a girlfriend?"
"If it's a healthy relationship, I wouldn't mind."
Hayan truly hoped Taeyang would have something wholesome. Back when the three of them—her, Taeyang, and Choi Gahee—had chatted over desserts, he'd earnestly picked "a girl who doesn't obsess" as his ideal type when it came up as a joke. Hayan had quietly worried if some past trauma from relationships was weighing on him.
She's just saying that.
Yuyeong sighed deeply, as if lightening the mood.
"Haa~ It's all in the past anyway."
"What?"
"No big deal. Taeyang's totally fine now—no issues at all. He's going to school just fine."
Her resolve crumbled, and Yuyeong spilled the truth. It was aftermath from that tragic incest anime she'd watched recently; the ending still haunted her.
Who knew an incest story could pull a stunt like that? I bawled my eyes out for days—nearly teared up at school remembering it.
Now, every time she saw Taeyang, that anime's ending flashed in her mind, and she pitied him for the painful path he might take. Half her anger at being dumped had given way to wanting to stop those two—and half to hating herself for it.
But I need to snap out of it. Anime's anime, reality's reality. Real-life incest is a no-go, no matter what.
Steeling herself, Yuyeong decided to persuade Hayan step by step.
"I get that you like Taeyang, Unnie."
As close siblings, naturally. Hayan nodded, taking it that way.
"But aren't you maybe too obsessed with him?"
"Huh?"
Yuyeong cut straight to it, ignoring context.
"Taeyang's in eighth grade now. If you cling like that, won't he end up hating it?"
"Huh? Me, obsessed? But he never acted like he minded."
Sure, he'd snapped at her once for babying him. But since moving here, he'd sought her out more, stuck around, forgave her pranks easily. Taeyang relied on his sister way more than before. Hayan couldn't imagine him resenting her for it.
Hm... Should I just ask him directly?
As Hayan pondered, Yuyeong drove the wedge home.
"Whatever Taeyang does—dating, school life—that's for him to decide, right? I think."
In other words, butt out. Hayan got the implication.
Which was why...
"You said Taeyang hates clingy girls."
Suddenly, Yuyeong's desperate backpedaling felt suspicious. Hayan eyed her.
"Yuyeong-ah."
"Yes?"
"...Got it. You're in his class, so you know best."
Hayan nodded amiably. Now it was Yuyeong's turn to feel off. She'd fold that easily? Just as panic set in, she realized how close she'd come to falling for it.
Of course—a severe brocon wouldn't buckle to outsider persuasion. Fans of incest anime knew that all too well. Love wasn't something you killed easily. Plus, she might fear admitting she truly loved her brother.
So when the talk didn't go her way and suspicion arose, she just shut it down.
Yuyeong chalked it up as a failed persuasion. Meanwhile, Hayan sensed something was up from Yuyeong's evasive dodges and wariness. And Taeyang avoiding her must have a reason too.
No way, but... Is Yuyeong bullying Taeyang on the sly?
Pieces clicked in Hayan's mind. Why had Yuyeong kept approaching despite Taeyang openly pulling away? Hayan had gently talked her down before, but if she hadn't changed, no wonder Taeyang drew hard lines.
Come to think of it, I don't even know why he dislikes her that much.
And yet, Hayan remembered pushing Taeyang to get along with her.
I need to ask him directly about this.
To check if she was messing up and making things worse for him.
"Thanks for your time, Unnie. Don't you have to head home soon?"
"Ah, yeah—I need to prep dinner, so I'll head out first."
"I'll walk out with you."
They parted with light farewells, each harboring complicated feelings—and the faint seed of distrust toward the other, despite their smiles.
Kim Hayan resolved to ask Taeyang straight-up first. Her suspicions and guesses were just that—her own judgments. She'd misunderstood before, thinking he liked Gahee; she wouldn't repeat it. One misstep could hurt him.
I hope he musters the courage to tell his big sister, even if he's scared...
One hopeful thought: maybe on the school trip night, he'd come to the girls' dorm to signal something, wanting to open up.
For now, I'll soothe him with something tasty.
And when she got home.
"I'm back."
"Sis, I'm hungry~"
Her adorable little brother was there, whining cutely as always.
"Why're you so late?"
"Just hung out with some kids."
"Who? Gahee-unnie?"
"Curious much, Taeyang?"
Oblivious that he was just fretting Wasn't with Seonwoo, right?, Hayan smiled warmly at Taeyang clinging to her. It eased her seeing him normal, but pity welled up for how much he'd hidden his struggles.
"Taeyang-ah, wanna talk with Sis after dinner?"
"Did you see something in my bag yesterday? The counseling center paper?"
"Huh?"
"Knew it."
Kim Taeyang gave an exasperated look. Hayan hadn't expected him to bring it up first.
"That was just from my part-time gig. I told you I did the mascot costume job."
He smoothly covered: the application form was something the coworker had tossed in.
"...Really? Nothing going on at school?"
Taeyang paused at Hayan's teary-eyed question, then sighed deeply.
"No wonder you were weird today... I'm the one worried about you, Sis."
Thud—the grocery bag hit the entryway floor.
"Eep... Sis, why the sudden hug again?"
"You idiot! I was so worried!!"
"Th-that's why you can't just yank me in like this!"
Hayan pulled her embarrassed, squirming brother tighter, all her pent-up worries bursting out.
"You're really okay? Not holding back? If something happened at school, tell Sis..."
"I'm fine. And my scary face keeps everyone away anyway."
"Still... No, this won't do! Tell me all about your school life properly!"
"Hoo~ Fine, got it. Calm down, Sis."
In the end, Taeyang couldn't escape her embrace. He stroked her hair gently, waiting for her to settle.