Choi Gahee's Invitation (2)
If someone asked me what the advantage of cuteness is, I'd answer like this:
Weaknesses get covered by charm.
It's easy to understand with the expression "rose-tinted glasses." No matter how much they mess up—as long as they don't cross the line—you can just brush it off as "cute." Food stuck to their mouth while eating, failing at something they were confident about, screaming in embarrassment when a secret's exposed, even getting caught in something lewd and panicking... Once the "cute" impression takes hold, everything just looks cute.
But that advantage is ironically turning into massive hardship for me right now. Taking off those rose-tinted glasses isn't easy. Especially when it's a yandere's glasses.
"Sis... can't you stop with that?"
"Why, young master? Don't you like it?"
"No, what the hell are you doing!!"
Unable to hold back any longer, I yelled at her accusingly, and Gahee sis, dressed in a maid outfit, poured tea while smirking.
"Oh my, I thought you'd be into this kind of thing, Taeyang young master."
"...You saw it, didn't you, sis? You said you didn't yesterday."
"Huh? Saw what?"
She's playing innocent. Sure, I'd set things up on purpose for her to see, but this wasn't the result I wanted.
"I really hate liars."
"T-Taeyang, that's—!"
Gahee sis dropped the act and started panicking. I'd opened my mouth so coldly, like I truly despised it.
"And I really hate people who tease others with their secrets."
"This isn't exposing a secret; I just thought you'd like it and..."
Yeah, I know. She wore that for me—it's obvious. But right now, I needed to keep up the act a bit longer. If I stayed sulky all day like this, she'd try to soothe me, get fed up, and think, Male bastards drag this shit out forever?—and her affection would plummet.
Ah, of course, Gahee sis wouldn't actually say that. But no matter how sweet a girl is, she hates pathetic guys. Keep acting pathetic.
"Fine. If Taeyang hates it, I'll take it off right now."
And Gahee sis stood up immediately and started undressing. Right in front of me.
"Wait! Sis!! What are you doing? Don't change here!"
"If it makes Taeyang feel better..."
"At least change in your room! Not in front of me!"
Gahee sis's eyes clouded slightly. Was what I said really that triggering? I grabbed her hands as she was undressing and pleaded.
"Please, it's embarrassing! Stop!!"
"Huh? But."
"I was wrong! Calm down first! I don't hate it! I don't hate it!!"
"Really?"
Her face brightened, and she finally stopped undressing. She was already so exposed it was seriously dangerous.
"Phew~ I just meant it like that. Don't undress in front of me."
"Ah... what was I doing?!"
Only after some time passed did Gahee sis calm down and cover her exposed shoulders, the undone buttons, and her slipping chest with her hands.
"It's embarrassing, so go change in your room quick!!"
"I'm really sorry!!"
Gahee sis rushed into her room.
"Her affection didn't drop at all."
No matter how I pushed, she came at me so submissively and got stimulated into impulsive actions—it was seriously tough. Just now, she was on the verge of entering Yandere Stage 1.
I let out another deep sigh and looked around. The dining room I'd been dragged to by Gahee sis's hand in a daze. The Rococo-style table was piled high with all sorts of pastries. She'd even prepared a teapot herself to serve as a maid, ground coffee beans, a coffee brewer, and a small milk steamer. How seriously was she planning to serve?
"You prepared all this yourself?"
There were so many stacked pastries, enough to give away free to the neighbors. She'd said she started yesterday—didn't this take almost a whole day?
Stuff like this is what Hayan sis likes anyway... I won't eat it all, so maybe take a little home for her? I shook my head. Right now, lowering Gahee sis's affection was more important.
"Taeyang, did I keep you waiting long?"
"Now you look decent."
Gahee sis returned in a pure white dress, her eyes back to normal.
"Don't ever do that again."
"Ahaha, sorry. I just wanted to tease a little."
"When someone older does it, it's kinda gross."
"Ugh... gross is too much."
Seeing her cowed like that, I couldn't push harder. She might get stimulated again.
"More importantly, wanna try this cookie?"
Gahee sis picked up a cookie with her fingers and held it straight to my mouth. When I reached to take it, the cookie dodged.
"Huh?"
"Um... ahhhn~"
"........."
Gahee sis blushed and said it softly.
"Nah, I have hands."
"Sigh~ It was so hard making these."
"Still..."
"My hands got rough kneading the dough, my shoulders ache, but I put my heart into it thinking of you eating them."
She glanced at me subtly. Her hands did look a bit chapped. From the dough, maybe.
"Can't I get a little reward?"
I thought about pretending to give in and opening my mouth, but steeled myself. Reacting soft like this would just raise her affection more. I clamped my mouth shut and shook my head firmly.
Gahee sis drooped her head, deflated by my resolve. To keep her from flipping to yandere command mode again, I switched topics immediately.
"But did you make all this yourself?"
"Yeah. For you, Taeyang."
Sure, baking once means making a lot, I get that. But the plates of treats were not just varied but way too abundant.
"You could've stopped when it got tough."
Gahee sis said it like it was obvious.
"But then there'd be less for you to eat. Then—"
"I don't eat much. Not big on sweets anyway."
"Really? Did I make too much...?"
This makes me feel like the bad guy for no reason. Complaining to someone who went to the trouble.
I had to be the bad guy for her affection's sake, but...
"Fine, I'll eat a little."
"Yeah, eat up!"
Half apology, half insistence on just a bit—but her face lit up.
"Here, try this first. Freshly baked, still hot."
I took a bite of the cookie she offered. Delicious, as expected. Back when I first met Gahee sis, I'd casually scarfed these down. Her skills hadn't dulled.
"Your face relaxed, so it must be good?"
She looked pleased watching me—good, her mood seemed better. Is killing her vibe without crushing it the only way to lower affection?
While eating cookies, I went "Burp—" loud and obvious. No covering, mouth wide open.
Best way to lose favor with girls: unhygienic shit.
"Oh my, want me to pat your back?"
"No thanks. Burp—"
"Burping means it's nap time, huh~?"
"......"
Am I at kindergarten? Gahee sis smirked and mouthed "cute" inaudibly. I demonstratively picked my nose.
"Here, tissue."
"Huh?"
She wrapped my booger in tissue, balled it up, and tossed it in the trash.
"Wanna go wash hands?"
"No need to bother."
A guy who picks his nose and doesn't wash? Gross, right? Just then, her hand wrapped mine in a wet wipe.
"Still gotta wash... No helping it. Can't eat with dirty hands, so sis will feed you."
Her other hand still held mine, blocking me from grabbing cookies.
"Here, ahhhn~"
"Sorry, I'll wash up."
I yanked my hand free and bolted to the bathroom.
"He's so cute~."
Her voice from behind made me scream internally.
"Taeyang, you tired?"
Talking with Gahee sis at the table, fatigue hit me. A early summer breeze blew through the window. Sleepy and cozy like spring, my body went limp.
"I'm fine. Coffee, sis."
"Hm... Americano too bitter, right?"
...How'd she know I don't drink Americano 'cause it's bitter? I was gonna ask for one but shut my mouth—no point acting cool. Don't wanna hear "grimacing from bitterness is cute~."
She handed me a cup. Not cafe latte type.
"What's this?"
"Sis made it tasty. Try it."
She wouldn't spike it weird, right? Brief suspicion, but I took the cup and drank. Not full-blown yandere yet to slip sleep meds in drinks.
Rich chocolate hot cocoa filled my mouth.
"I asked for coffee..."
Warm, perfect pre-sleep temp—my eyes started drooping instead.
"If you're tired, sleep a bit. It's okay."
And her warm hand stroking my back. I knew I should resist, but temptation whispered it'd be fine to just doze off. I'd barely slept last night from nerves about coming here.
When I opened my eyes, I was in a bed. Gahee sis's familiar scent wafted from the pillow and blankets.
"...No way."
I propped up and looked around. Neat room full of cute dolls and dainty decorations. Just like Gahee sis, who loves cute stuff. The pricey large camera on the desk corner stood out against the girly interior.
"Awake?"
"Gahee sis?"
I turned toward the door—she walked in. Click. Why lock the door?
Her approaching eyes were clouding.
"Brought you to my room so you could sleep comfy."
"Ah, th-thanks."
The moment I saw her smirking down at me, chills ran down my spine.
"Well, you're awake now, so let's go!"
I jumped out of bed in a hurry.
"It's fine. Sleep more. Sis'll be quiet."
"Nah, I'm here to hang out—sleeping's rude. I'm good now."
I urged her to leave the room.
"The pastries are done, so wanna play in the room with sis?"
Gahee sis showed no sign of leaving.
"Got your favorite game console ready too."
She pulled out a latest-model gaming system from the corner—still boxed, the kind boys my age go nuts for.
"Still, can't just barge into a girl's room. Let's go to the living room."
"Oh? You see sis as a girl?"
"I mean, biologically!"
"Hehe, got it. But sis is fine with you in here."
I'm not.
"Right, Willie! You said Willie missed me? I wanna walk Willie too."
First, escape this mansion—if Gahee sis's state worsens, people around would keep it safe.
Saying that and prodding, she frowned slightly.
"No need to rush."
"Gotta go before it's too late. Any later and it'll be time to head home."
"......"
As I headed for the door, Gahee sis lightly grabbed my shoulder.
"What now?"
Chills hit; I turned. Her state...
"......"
Her eyes weren't clouded. What? Snapped out of it?
But her eyes were moist. She looked at me desperately, sadly.
Why the sudden pleading gaze?
"Taeyang, can I ask one thing?"
"What?"
"Do you... hate being with sis?"
"........."
"You hate sis?"