One Last Beer

The siblings stepped into the chicken spot near our house. Let's grab one last beer together. This was probably the first time the two of us had ever come out like this to drink. Even when we occasionally turned the kitchen table into a battlefield, we never went out together. We weren't close enough for that.

'I should drink moderately and head back.'

"Ugh, I'm so tired. Ugh. My legs are killing me."

Sis must have been exhausted because she groaned the moment she slipped off her shoes.

"Dressing up always bites you in the ass. That's why I told you to buy some slippers."

"It's a waste of money."

"Come on, how much could they possibly cost?"

"There are plenty of shoes at home that I don't even wear. But you were walking around in those heels like it was nothing. Honestly, I was embarrassed to be seen with you."

"You told me not to wipe it off."

I'm the problem for doing everything she asks, but isn't she also a problem for constantly making demands? I never dreamed she'd actually let it slide this long. I swallowed my embarrassment and held out until the end, afraid of upsetting her.

"I'm realizing it all over again. You're a total sis-con idiot. No, at this point it's a severe case. A complete sis-con retard."

In the end, Sis pulled out a napkin and started rubbing my cheek with it. When it wouldn't come off, she even licked her finger and tried again.

"....... Who asked you? Was there ever a time I didn't admit it?"

We clinked glasses lightly and I gulped it down. The refreshing chill that slid from my throat all the way down felt amazing.

"Still, you actually tried to act like a normal person today. I saw you in a slightly better light."

Her compliment felt awkward, so I flashed a 'V' sign instead of answering.

"We had a pretty fulfilling day today. The beach, a café, the department store. And now chicken on top of that."

I held up a chicken drumstick in front of her. Thinking I was going to feed her, she stretched her neck out toward me. When I simply handed it over, she munched on it cutely like a little rabbit.

In return, Sis also popped a piece into my mouth. The texture was off so I spat it out, and just as expected, she went straight for my throat. Seeing my sulky expression, she burst into loud laughter, clearly entertained.

Annoyed that she repaid a small favor with a massive one, I dipped my finger in salt and stuck it in her mouth.

'Huh.'

I thought she'd chew it, but she licked it in such a seductive way that I froze, dazed.

"Hey."

"Y-yeah."

"Let's make time for each other often from now on."

"S-sounds good. By the way, how's the novel coming? Think you'll be able to write it?"

"More or less. I think I got at least one chapter out of wandering around today."

"That's a terrible return rate. You walked until your soles were blistered and only got one chapter?"

"We had fun, so it's fine. Why? Did you hate going around with me?"

"No, no. I was just saying."

We clinked glasses again and drank it down in refreshing gulps. As the siblings chatted away, we had already emptied one glass. I called the staff over and ordered another round of draft beer.

"But what about today's chapter?"

"It's a hiatus. What else can I do?"

"The readers are going to be furious."

"Can't be helped. If I say I couldn't write because I was out playing with my little brother, wouldn't they actually enjoy that? Especially since they're all perverts who love incest stuff."

"They're already teasing that it's basically an essay. This will make it even worse."

"Let them tease if they want. Ah, this beer is seriously ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠delicious today."

The beer went glug glug down our throats once more.

'She drinks better than I thought.'

The story about how we couldn't clean up after drinking together at home was a complete lie. All those excuses like 'My head hurts so I can't do it. You handle it' were total nonsense.

"But earlier at the department store."

"Yeah?"

"That woman you said was less ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pretty than me."

"I said you were prettier. I never disparaged her. She's someone's precious daughter too."

"You fucking... Ah, I wasn't supposed to swear but now I'm annoyed. It's because you're taking her side."

'It's not even strong alcohol.'

Sis's cheeks were slowly turning red. Was this her drinking habit?

"You're currently targeting me—your parents' precious daughter. Trying to make a move on me."

"....... If you hate it, I won't do anything. I already told you."

"Anyway, that girl. She said you were cute, right? She pointed at some passing guy and told her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠coworker to look at his cheeks."

"Did she?"

"You were too busy staring at women to notice, but the staff were whispering about it."

Sis took another big gulp of beer.

"Sis. You're drinking too fast. Slow down."

"My throat's dry. So thirsty. Anyway, it must be nice, right? Getting called cute by other people?"

Was she jealous in her own way? I didn't know how to respond.

"What does it matter what they say? The only thing that matters is looking good in your eyes, Sis."

"Ugh, that's so cringy. Ugh. Ugh. I got goosebumps because of you."

Sis rubbed my cheek hard with the back of her hand.

"Hey, hey."

"Ugh, it tickles. How can you say things like that without changing your expression at all?"

'Maybe I should suggest we head home now.' I was starting to feel uneasy. She didn't usually initiate this much skinship. If I kept going along with it, she might cause a scene. We were in a partitioned corner with no one else around, but still. If she started vomiting and rolling around on the floor, the cleanup would be entirely on me.

"Should we wrap up soon? You said you were tired. Let's go home and sleep so we can start tomorrow with energy."

"We've only had two glasses. What are you talking about? Just press the bell. Order more."

"Still......."

"Don't talk back. Hurry."

In the end, I couldn't resist Sis's pressure and ordered another round.

"We're only drinking this and then leaving, okay?"

"I know. Stop nagging. It's ruining the taste."

"Yes, yes."

'Is she actually drunk?'

As the alcohol entered her system, her true nature came out. Sis started initiating a lot of skinship. She acted cute, complaining the mug was too heavy and asking me to hold it for her. She'd say the one I drank from looked tastier, lick the rim where my lips had touched, then hand it back. Suddenly asking why my hair was so messy, she stroked it, then thrust her own head forward, saying I was younger so why was I only receiving and telling me to stroke hers.

"Good boy, good boy."

"Not so half-heartedly. Use your fingers and do it gently."

'Wow, damn.'

Pleasing her was difficult. It felt like juggling a live time bomb. The best option was to take her home and put her to bed, but she wouldn't listen. I couldn't just hoist her over my shoulder either.

"Sis."

"What?"

"Let's go now. You're drunk."

"I'm not drunk. I'm completely fine."

"Really?"

"Can't you tell just by looking? If I were drunk, would I be like this? I'm totally okay."

She was swaying all over the place. It was making my head spin.

"Then at least write a notice for the novel."

In the end, I brought up the one topic that might help her regain some composure.

"If you can't do it, we're leaving. You're definitely drunk."

If she couldn't manage it when ordered, I'd have to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠drag her out. I couldn't leave her like this any longer.

"What a pain. Jeez."

Sis took out her phone. She fiddled with the screen for a while before saying, "Ah, screw it. It's annoying. You do it."

In the end, she handed it over with an irritated huff.

"See? You can't do it. You really are drunk."

"I'm not drunk....... The letters just aren't focusing right."

"Of course. What should I write for the notice?"

"Um, just say sorry. That I didn't have time to write because I was playing with my brother. That we kissed, showered together, went on dates. That the siblings were too busy causing all kinds of chaos."

'It's not exactly a lie, but I should probably phrase it differently.'

"I'll just roughly say sorry."

'Huh.'

I accidentally tapped the wrong thing while trying to open the new chapter screen. It exited out. As I went back to the browser, curiosity got the better of me and I peeked.

'Maybe....... there won't be any guy's contacts, right.'

I checked the phone book. Even I thought this was pretty low, but I was genuinely curious.

'Good, there are no guys.'

No. There were no contacts at all. Just our family members and her department professors. A few female names that looked like old classmates. That's it.

'I should contact her more often from now on too.'

"Why is it taking so long?"

"Ah, I was just thinking for a second."

"Since your Korean is lacking, run spell check before you upload. If readers point out spelling mistakes later, I'll hit you once for every wrong letter."

"I at least know how to write 'I'm sorry,' you know?"

Since we rarely drank, it seemed Sis didn't know her own tolerance. Now she was humming and outright stealing my drink. She kept sipping only from the side where my mouth had been.

"Look? I have a mustache now?"

She showed me her foam-covered lips and laughed happily.

'Maybe I should take a photo. To tease her with later.'

When I didn't react, Sis huffed and rubbed her lips all over my face to wipe the foam off.

Anyway, let's write the notice and upload it.

If I wrote the truth it might be fun....... but no. When she sobers up later, Sis might lose her mind. She'd probably scream at me, asking what the hell I was thinking and how she was supposed to show her face now.

'I should have recorded that you made me write this notice.'

So she couldn't complain about it later.

After pressing the post button, I unconsciously tapped the tab list. It was a habit to close windows after using the phone. But then...

'Uh.......?'

Was it for the novel? It had to be. Otherwise it made no sense, but...

The novel's siblings weren't at the stage where they went on dates. And what was with the boyfriend stuff? Could it be....... me?

"If you're done, give it back."

Because Sis was urging me, I handed the phone back.

"Are you drunk? What's wrong? You were talking nonstop and suddenly went completely quiet."

"Yeah. I'm drunk."

"Your build is way bigger than mine yet your tolerance is terrible."

"Yeah, yeah. My tolerance is weak. Let's head home soon. Little brother is sleepy."

"Okay, okay. If little brother is sleepy, the good big sister has to take him home."

Sis staggered to her feet. She tried to walk out barefoot so I quickly sat her back down.

"You said let's go, so why?"

"Aish. What do you mean walking out without shoes?"

I took off my coat and draped it over her, then hoisted her onto my back again. Thanks to that, people stared at us once more. I flexed my biceps and glared until they finally looked away. I was already dazed beyond belief, and these people were treating it like a show.

Sis hummed and nagged me to pay quickly, but the alcohol had completely left my system. It felt like I had secretly stolen a glance at Sis's heart.