Trip (5): BBQ Confessions
Before we knew it, evening had crept up on us while we were out playing. As the long summer sun dipped low, painting the sky in sunset hues, we made our way back to the lodging.
We headed straight to the outdoor terrace reserved exclusively for barbecues. The pension was on the smaller side, so it was meant for just one group at a time, but luckily, no one else had booked it. In other words, the terrace was all ours.
"Ooh, it's surprisingly spacious."
"They even have a dedicated kitchen."
It seemed big enough to split between two groups, but I guess they made it exclusive to one for a more luxurious feel.
"This is my first time doing BBQ."
"Mine too!"
"Meat~ meat~ delicious meat~"
Everyone was buzzing with excitement. Everyone except me, that is.
Because now the Kim Hayan flags were about to start chaining off one after another.
My stomach had been growling from nerves, but suddenly my appetite vanished.
"Should we divvy up the roles first?"
Seonwoo started smoothly organizing teams.
"...So this group for shopping, and Hayan and Juyeon, can you help me out here?"
"Sure."
"Hayan sis knows how to cook, so maybe she should go shopping for ingredients?"
I jumped in midway to try shifting the assignments. Because pairing Hayan sis with Seonwoo here would be a disaster. The flags were about to flow centered around her now.
"No need for that, right?"
"Yeah, it's just buying meat—what's the big deal?"
"Iri, we need veggies too."
"Might as well grab some on the way."
Um... guess that was a long shot.
"Then I'll stick around and help too. It'll be easier for you with another guy here, right?"
Seonwoo tilted his head at me, looking like What the hell is he thinking?
I flashed a grin, pretending not to notice, and pointed at the unassembled BBQ grill.
"Truth is, I love BBQ content, so I've studied tons of videos. I wanna set it up myself."
"Yeah? Works for me then."
He looked anything but thrilled, forcing a smile.
"Alright, shopping team's on it then."
"Aw... I wanted to go with Taeyang."
I pretended not to hear Gahee sis's mutter as we moved on. Time to put some distance between us—she was getting too close, and Yandere Stage 1 might kick in again.
"Taeyang, wanna grab those chairs with me?"
"Sure."
"Never pegged you for the type into this stuff."
"Looks fun. Got that romantic guy vibe to it."
Seonwoo chuckled vacantly.
"Weirdly, our tastes line up in a lot of ways~"
Things progressed smoothly from there. While Seonwoo and I prepped the outdoor setup, Juyeon sis and Hayan sis finished with the kitchen and table.
Once everything was ready, we gathered around the table and waited for the shopping team.
"Seonwoo, you do BBQ often?"
"Not really, but last time Juyeon and I came, we did."
"Seonwoo's been like that since we were kids—even when adults said it was dangerous, he'd go check it out."
"Hey! Why bring that up?"
"You were such a reckless kid back then."
Hayan sis watched their playful bickering with a grin, then dropped a total curveball.
"You two really do suit each other~"
"What?..."
"Wh-wh-what are you talking about!!"
Juyeon sis flushed beet red, snapping without confirming or denying.
The real issue was Seonwoo's reaction. For a split second, his face darkened?
"Y-yeah! She's just an annoying little sister to me!"
"There, you said it! Why am I your little sister? You're mine! The most irritating kind!"
Hayan sis just smirked like she was used to it, but I was baffled. What the hell was this?
Did sis ever say stuff like that in the game? Was she testing the waters? Or officially shipping them?
The unexpected twist made it impossible to read her mind. But she kept poking at them with a gleeful laugh.
"They say strong denial means affirmation~"
"Hayan, what the heck! Keep it up and I'll get mad!"
"We're really nothing."
"Oh? So Seonwoo, got a girl you like?"
"What?..."
The air froze solid.
Juyeon sis's eyes went wide in shock, staring at him while trembling.
Seonwoo looked flustered, glancing my way before clearing his throat.
"Dunno yet. Not even sure what dating's about."
"Hmm~ Really? What about you, Juyeon?"
"Eh, th-that's..."
Now it was Juyeon sis's turn, her face turning crimson from neck to ears—a dead giveaway she had someone in mind. Hayan sis laughed teasingly.
"I-I don't know! What about you, Hayan!!"
"Me?"
Hayan sis pointed at herself with an index finger, tilting her head. Truth be told, I was the most on edge waiting for her answer.
What if she had a thing for Seonwoo and was probing them? That grim thought hit me.
But as I watched, she stayed perfectly calm, then grinned at them both.
Juyeon sis and Seonwoo both looked oddly tense.
Then Hayan sis turned her gaze to me.
"What do you think, Taeyang?"
"...Dunno."
"Not curious who sis likes?"
My heart pounded like mad. No way was this suddenly veering into the Kim Hayan route, right?
I'd mentioned it before. In my past life, there was this weird rumor about a fast-track to heroine routes while playing Love Chain.
We ignored it for lack of clues, but... was Hayan sis already... Nah.
When I fully turned to her, she wore a mischievous smile.
"I'm really curious. Who do you think sis likes?"
Better to hear it straight and act accordingly.
"Who?"
"Guess."
"...Sis, you enjoy teasing people that much?"
"Oops? Busted?"
"Sigh~"
"Ahaha! Truth is, I haven't thought about dating yet either."
It bugged me that her answer matched Seonwoo's, but at least no massive flag exploded.
"Hayan, you rascal! Teasing people like that!"
"Sorry. Your reactions were too funny."
"What reactions!!"
"Hayan's such a tease."
The moment passed, more or less.
"Taeyang, got anyone you like?"
Now it was my turn. I met Seonwoo hyung's eyes briefly.
"Nah. Not really."
I'd admitted to being a siscon when it was just us guys, but declaring that in front of my actual sister? Insane.
Seonwoo got it, his lips twitching up then down ever so slightly.
"Really?"
Hayan sis pressed, looking mildly surprised. Juyeon sis too.
"C'mon, spill~"
After freaking out herself earlier, Juyeon sis now grinned mischievously just like Hayan sis, grilling me.
"You and Gahee seemed cozy earlier."
"Yeah, you two match well."
Seonwoo chimed in. Seriously, this couple was zero help to me.
"I told you before. Gahee sis is just a friend."
"What about Iri then?"
I tilted my head at Hayan sis's question. I'd been wary of Yuyeong or Gahee sis, but never really guarded against Iri sis like that.
"What about Iri sis?"
"You two get along great~"
"We've been tight since we were kids. Natural we'd still be close. Plus, she's reliable."
"Reliable, huh... So not a bad pick?"
"No, I've never thought of her that way."
I rarely pictured Iri sis romantically. All the roughhousing and skinship made it... nah. Though that was mostly kid stuff now. She was holding back lately, which left a weird distance. Still, she was comfy as a big sis figure.
"Too bad. Iri's been kinda..."
Juyeon sis trailed off.
"Iri sis too?"
"N-no, nothing."
Hayan sis shushed Juyeon sis with a finger to her lips, like keep it quiet.
"Sigh~ Kinda disappointing."
"Sis, no shipping your little bro."
"Shipping? I'm just worried about my brother's future as a big sis."
Ironic—I was the one fretting over her future. Especially because of that Seonwoo jerk.
"What about Yuyeong then?"
Seonwoo tossed one my way.
"Absolutely not."
I shook my head firmly.
"Haha, way too harsh? Strong denial means..."
"Just a strong denial."
They might think I was too harsh on Yuyeong, but her hardcore otaku obsession left no choice. It wasn't the otaku part—it was the extreme immersion.
Stare into the abyss, and all that.
"Argh, fine! I don't have anyone like you guys do! So if you're not gonna be honest, quit asking!"
The table went quiet for a beat. Were they all lying except me? Especially Hayan sis—her unreadable heart nagged at me.
Just... keep her away from Seonwoo.
"We're back!!"
"Good work."
"Nice setup~"
The brief silence shattered into chaos.
"Hurry up already! Kim Taeyang, what've you been doing without preheating the grill?"
"Iri sis, I'm not a kid—quit whining."
"What'd you just say?"
"Taeyang, soda?"
"Gahee sis, later."
"Guys, veggies first?"
"You must be starving, so I'll start on the meat."
In the frenzy, roles somehow sorted out. Hayan sis led the kitchen crew (prep), Seonwoo the grill crew (cooking).
"Ugh~ I wanted to grill."
"Sis grills, and nothing'll be left."
As Yuyeong said, Iri sis's bid got shot down—her "grilling" would've gone straight to her stomach.
"I have some self-control."
"Iri, prep quick so we can eat."
Hayan sis handled her like a pro little sis wrangler, getting her on prep duty.
"Taeyang, you know how to grill?"
"Hyung, I'm in middle school?"
"Haha, right. Yeah."
Grill duty fell to us guys. Seonwoo and I laid out pork belly on the hot plate, waiting as it sizzled.
With extra hands, some helped the kitchen too. But crowding there would've been a mess, so Hayan sis wisely shooed Iri and Yuyeong to the table.
Thus, kitchen holdouts: Gahee sis, Hayan sis, Juyeon sis.
"Iri sis, not done yet."
"I-I was just checking!"
"Taeyang, cola?"
I mumbled sure to Yuyeong and glanced at the kitchen. Showtime soon...
"Ow—! Hot..."
"Hayan, you okay!!"
"Band-Aid, quick—band-aid!"
Right on cue, chaos erupted from the kitchen.