Uneasy Cleanup and the Haunted House Trap
In the game, Kim Hayan—who'd left the cleanup to the others—kept saying it was bothering her that she couldn't pitch in. She fidgeted restlessly, muttering, "Is it really okay?" until Seonwoo finally asked what was wrong, kicking off the conversation.
Ever since she was little, with Mom always swamped at work, Hayan had taken over caring for her kid brother and handling all the housework. She'd never fully handed things off to anyone else. Sure, sometimes we'd split tasks—like me doing the dishes—but in the game, Kim Taeyang was busy with the soccer team and didn't help out as much as I did now. So leaving it all to others and kicking back felt strangely empty, laced with guilt, she confessed.
Once he'd heard her out, Seonwoo comforted her, saying she didn't need to push herself so hard and that it was fine to lean on him or anyone else whenever she needed. Exactly the reliable guy type that Hayan noona had openly called her ideal. I'd planned to convince her first to just relax, but there was no need.
"Thanks to everyone being so considerate, it's been nice and easy. Should I grab some ice cream later to share?"
"Huh?"
It didn't go as I'd expected. Hayan noona stood from the bench without a hint of unease.
"Noona, aren't you eating a ton of sweets today?"
"One day won't hurt."
"Well, sharing after everyone's done for the day doesn't sound bad."
Seonwoo chimed in with agreement, and the group consensus headed toward the mart. Normally, this bench scene would've been the flag where Seonwoo starts getting to know Hayan noona better... but somehow, that flag had vanished completely.
I was stunned but followed her lead with gratitude anyway.
"Hayan and Taeyang get along so well as siblings."
Of course it wouldn't pass quietly. On the way to the mart, Seonwoo—maybe bored—asked just that.
"Yeah! We're pretty close, right?"
Hayan noona wrapped her arm cozily around my shoulders as she said it. I just nodded.
"Taeyang seems to really like his noona."
I stared at Seonwoo without a word. What the hell is this guy thinking? Is he probing because of my siscon declaration earlier?
Seonwoo wore that inscrutable smile of his. To outsiders, it might look like a cool guy's charm, but to me, it felt off—like something straight out of Silver Bell's playbook.
Come to think of it, what was Seonwoo even thinking? I hesitated, unsure how to respond, but Hayan noona jumped in for me.
"I like Taeyang, though~"
"Huh?"
She said it with a bright, unembarrassed smile, and somehow I was the one feeling awkward. You know that feeling? When saying "I love you" in front of family suddenly feels cringe. And here comes noona hitting me with it out of nowhere.
"Taeyang listens well and helps me out a lot."
She ruffled my hair as she explained.
"He pitches in with chores, and whenever there's a sports day or some trouble, he bails me out in all sorts of ways."
"Sounds like a great little brother."
"Yeah, so I rely on him a ton."
I got it now. With my past-life memories back, I'd been helping Hayan noona more, and gradually, she'd gotten used to leaning on someone. That variable had shattered this flag.
Outcome: all good.
"Taeyang, you like your noona?"
"...D-don't know!"
"Heehee, getting shy."
Still, admitting outright in front of family that I liked her felt embarrassing.
"I've got a little sister too, but mine doesn't listen like Taeyang."
"Oh? What's she like?"
"Same age as Taeyang. But her personality's the total opposite..."
Seonwoo's sister was just a background extra in the game, popping up briefly. Depending on the player base, she might have demand, but the devs treated her as irrelevant to the plot.
We kept walking to the mart, listening to Seonwoo's disinterested sibling stories.
"Good work, everyone~"
"Got ice cream, so grab one each."
The second the ice cream bag hit the table, everyone snatched one and dug in. They chatted about how hard everyone worked or how fun the trip had been, like the day was basically over.
One event left, though. Right then, as we stepped out onto the outdoor terrace, the pension owner—Juyeon noona's uncle—approached.
"Having fun, kids?"
"Yes~!"
"We are!"
"Good to hear you're enjoying yourselves."
He smiled warmly at our excited faces, then got to the point.
"Hey, kids. Want to try the haunted house experience?"
"Haunted house?"
Iri noona froze at the words. Just like at the amusement park, she was deathly scared of occult stuff.
"A friend of mine just opened a new one nearby and asked me to promo it to guests."
"Opening a haunted house?"
"It's not some dangerous abandoned building—it's a horror attraction. Like a ghost house at an amusement park? But way more realistic, they say."
Iri noona looked even more terrified. She hadn't even agreed to go, but just thinking about it repulsed her.
"Got some free tickets too. If you're going, just let me know."
He waved a few promo tickets and headed off.
"Hmm... haunted house, huh..."
"Whoa~ Sounds fun."
Gahee noona seemed intrigued. Juyeon noona and Seonwoo leaned toward giving it a shot too.
"Ah, but Iri..."
"Unnie can just hang at the lodge with me?"
The amusement park crew remembered and looked out for Iri noona.
"I'm not a kid—what's the big deal? If you're going, fine!"
Yup, called it. Just like in the game, Iri noona didn't want to go but her pride made her stubborn.
"Let's go! Haunted house time!"
"Iri noona, you sure?"
"Even you, Taeyang..."
"Me too what?"
I wasn't sure why she trailed off, but she flushed, probably remembering how she'd clung to me terrified in the ghost house last time.
"Whatever—just don't overdo it. I wasn't dying to go anyway."
Of course, if Hayan noona or Seonwoo went, she'd tag along no question. But if the no-go votes won, we could skip the flag event entirely.
"R-really?"
Iri noona seemed relieved to find an ally.
"We've got tomorrow's schedule too, and we've walked a ton today. Might be smart to wrap up early?"
"But trips are about staying up late having fun."
Seonwoo countered, clearly set on the haunted house.
"Noona, you really wanna go?"
I looked at Hayan noona—practically begging with my eyes. Seonwoo could do whatever; as long as she stayed back.
"Hmm... I kinda do, but if everyone's tired..."
"How about just those who want to go?"
Right when momentum was shifting our way, Seonwoo piped up.
He grinned eagerly. "Iri and Taeyang can chill at the lodge if they want."
"Guess I'll sit it out too?"
"Ah, me too~ C'mon, Taeyang."
Gahee noona, all hyped, lost interest the second I opted out. Yuyeong was already plotting to drag me back to the lodge.
Playing it like this, huh?
"Fine, I'll go."
"Huh? You can rest, y'know?"
Seonwoo tried coaxing me to stay. Like I'd leave them alone without me?
"Nah, haunted houses aren't everyday stuff. Gotta enjoy it while we can."
"Weren't you tired?"
"Like you said, the fun of trips is staying up late."
I threw his own words back. Seonwoo gave a wry smile, caught off guard.
"He's right! Makes sense when you put it that way."
"No point stopping people who wanna go, right?"
Gahee noona switched gears instantly. Juyeon noona subtly agreed—better for her if I came along.
"Haha... alright, together then?"
Seonwoo reluctantly okayed it.
"...I can go too."
"Unnie really wants to?"
Yuyeong asked worriedly, but Iri noona nodded seriously.
"It's all man-made anyway—what's scary? It's fake. Just jump scares and tricks. Ghosts aren't real."
"Iri noona's rambling."
"Anyway! We're all going!"
With Iri noona declaring it confidently, we dropped the objections. Just please don't cling to me like at the park. I had to watch Hayan noona and Seonwoo.
And so we headed to the next flag spot: the haunted house.
"Whoa, pretty spacious?"
"Multiple paths too."
"We could split into groups?"
The haunted house from the game looked even more eerie and ominous up close. Bat models flew in the distance, weird wind howls setting the mood before we even entered.
"For max fun, how about teams?"
Seonwoo jumped right in with his scheme. In the game, he and Hayan noona teamed up. Midway, she twists her ankle; he piggybacks her, boosting affection. Ties into his earlier "lean on me" talk and the band-aid he applies—synergy makes her follow him more.
No way in hell.
"Wouldn't sticking together be better than teams?"
Seonwoo glanced at me sharply.
"Iri noona too—splitting up might make it scarier."
"That's what makes it fun."
Seonwoo... your friend Iri's scared, dude?
"I'm fine. We can split."
Iri noona bluffed her support too. Pride wouldn't let her accept the consideration.
"What do you all think?"
"Well... if Iri's okay..."
"Don't worry about me, Hayan. I'm not scared at all."
Woooaaah— Then some freaky sound—wind or monster?—echoed out.
"Eek—! Ahem, it's fine. Totally."
Not convincing at all.
"I'm good too."
"...I wanna team with Taeyang."
Tch— With public opinion swaying, it was a timing battle now.
"Noona, team with me?"
I grabbed Hayan noona's arm quick.
"Sure, Taeyang. Let's stick together."
"Aw, I wanted Taeyang too."
Yuyeong stomped, disappointed. Tough luck—I wasn't switching.
Gahee noona approached, looking wistful. "But we're seven total, so one team's three, right?"
"Oh yeah..."
The moment Gahee noona and Yuyeong locked eyes, the air grew heavy.
Before drama erupted, I moved to defuse—but Hayan noona beat me.
"Wouldn't it be better if Iri joined the three-person team?"
Oh, yeah... it would.