Chapter 15
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Comfort
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I calmed my excitement and tested the waters to see just how much Geumbi knew.
If Hwayeon had spilled everything from the start... I'd confiscate her allowance and give her a lesson on trust between family members.
'Looks like I'm just sending 50,000 won after all. Tch.'
As I scowled, Geumbi, sitting beside me, fidgeted with her lips.
She hadn't done anything wrong, so I forced the brightest smile I could muster and asked,
"It's fine, just tell me. What did that brat... no, our little sister say?"
"Uh, well, it wasn't much. When I got back and was washing up, she started brushing her teeth right next to me, which was annoying, so I snapped at her."
"Yeah, and then?"
"She gave me this pissed-off glare and got snippy... So I asked if she had something to say, and she dodged it, saying it was nothing."
"Yeah, so?"
"That made her look even more suspicious, so I grabbed her and pressed her for details. She told me to ask you. And to tell you... to, uh, jerk off in moderation or something."
"......Huh? That's it?"
"Yeah. So I naturally assumed you'd been caught jerking off by Hwayeon... Wasn't that it?"
After hearing the story, it was hard to get mad right away.
Hwayeon's loose lips were the cause, just as I'd expected, but she hadn't completely broken our deal.
'At least she kept the peeping incident a secret. ...Though it was an accidental slip-up on my part, not actual peeping.'
Of course, I'd bribed her to keep quiet about the jerking off too, but I hadn't checked if her thick skull had processed it right.
Arguing about it would just blow things up unnecessarily. Staying silent made me the only embarrassed one. What a mess.
I weighed my little sister's malice against her cunning, but it was impossible to call a winner.
Still, the fact was my honor was tanking in real time, and as I agonized over it, Geumbi looked at me with pitying eyes, trying to comfort me.
"Hey, Jigu? I get it. You've got a lot pent up in all sorts of ways. A guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do, right?"
"No, it's not like that... but... ugh."
"It's okay, it happens. Big sis understands everything, so don't feel ashamed for no reason. Got it?"
That just made me even more embarrassed.
But I couldn't outright reject Geumbi's comfort either.
A bunch of stuff really had built up, leading to that slip-up.
'If I trace it back, it's because my sisters kept dragging me around, stealing my time. But using that as an excuse... nah, too pathetic.'
My shame gauge was full.
Dragging this out would mean no hole or underground cave could hide my humiliation.
So I wished Geumbi would drop it already.
And stop with those eyes. And why did her hand keep wrapping around the back of mine?
"Jigu, um... uh."
"Geumbi, I'm really fine. You don't need to comfort me anymore."
"No, that's not it... I was just hoping you'd tell me how you got caught, if possible."
"Huh?"
"Not in a weird way! Normally you'd handle that stuff alone in your room, so I'm curious how Hwayeon found out... Knowing could help you avoid it next time."
Geumbi, was her MBTI extreme T-type?
I thought she was being unusually comforting, but the moment I relaxed a bit, she dove straight into the core of the issue.
'Yeah, that's my second sis's real personality. Finally acting like herself.'
I should've just kept saying it was embarrassing.
When her face flushed and she started stuttering, I should've bolted back to my room.
"If it's too embarrassing, you don't have to say. I was just asking for reference. Uh... yeah."
Geumbi seemed aware it was a shameful question, leaving me an out while fidgeting with her fingers.
The problem was those fidgeting fingers were on the back of my hand, transmitting her hesitation crystal clear.
Even the curiosity and courage hidden beneath that mask of reluctance.
"Sigh... What are you curious about? Just how I got caught?"
"Ah, yeah. Just tell me as much as you're comfortable with, Jigu."
"Short version: I was jerking off in my room and didn't notice Hwayeon was there."
"Ehh? Jerking off... uh, so then?"
"Finished up and headed to the bathroom to wash, then bumped into her. End of story."
"Oh... I see. That must've been so embarrassing...."
Says the one who made the embarrassed party spill it.
'And why's the listener blushing harder? Who's the one who should be averting her eyes right now?'
I stared at Geumbi in disbelief as she floundered, clueless to my expression. Every time our eyes met, she'd jolt and shake her head side to side.
"Geumbi."
"Uh, yeah? What, what is it... Jigu?"
"Can I go now that we're done talking?"
"Huh? What?"
"Confessing stuff like this... it's pretty exhausting for me? Embarrassing, mortifying, I just wanna run."
"Ah, yeah, I get it! Of course it would be. Sorry for holding you back...!"
What was she even trying to do?
Geumbi fumbled all the way to the end, seeing me off, and I rose with a deep sigh.
Just as the long, long interrogation wrapped up and I opened the door to leave—
Something brushed my fingertips. I turned to see Geumbi reaching out with her head bowed, grabbing me.
"......Sis?"
"Um, Jigu. Just hypothetically, if."
"Yeah? What?"
"You getting caught today... it wasn't because of me or Sujeong unnie, right?"
"Huh? What, what?"
"Not in a weird way! I'm not saying you were fantasizing about us or anything—just that we stole your time and you couldn't... handle it in time. Don't misunderstand!"
"Uh, yeah, yeah, got it... ugh."
Her double-edged question threw me off, but luckily she hurriedly clarified.
Even so, answering definitively was tough, and at my reaction, Geumbi mumbled while staring at the floor.
"If I was... in the way somehow, I won't next time."
"......"
"I don't know what to do exactly, but I'll be careful. So don't worry too much... okay?"
She was the one fretting over everything, more flustered than anyone, yet her trembling fingertips barely managed to soothe her little brother.
Words offering no real support. Gestures unfit even for jokes.
But.
"Eek?! Hnng? Jigu?"
"...Thanks. I was super embarrassed, but you made me feel better."
I turned, knelt before Geumbi, and clasped her trembling fingertips with both hands.
Looking up, her tomato-red face was fully exposed, but I pretended not to notice and smiled gratefully.
"My sisters didn't steal enough time to mess up my routine. But... if it ever happens, I'll consult you first, Geumbi."
"Ahh, m-me?"
"Yeah. I can rely on you then, right? Sis?"
"Y-yeah, of course! Anytime... if you need, just say. I'll help with anything!"
The first thing I'd heard entering her room was an interrogation about getting caught jerking off.
How'd it turn into this? Looking back, we'd both be rolling in bed all night.
"Thanks, having you makes me feel secure. Love you, Geumbi."
"Hah?! Ahh, u-uh. I... like you a lot too, Jiguuu."
Since we'd come this far, I heated the air with the cringiest words buried deep in my heart.
Now not just her, but my face too must be beet red, so I fled her room before I overcooked in the heat.
"See you tomorrow. Early, but good night, sis!"
"Y-you too. Have a good even... no, night, Jigu."
Closing the door and catching my breath, my vision finally cleared.
Or rather, until moments ago, I couldn't recall what had happened right in front of me or what I'd done.
'Later... cool my head and think it over slowly.'
Glancing out the window, it was nearing night, just as Geumbi said.
I headed to the bathroom for a shower on the way down, having visited it a ton today but never properly washing until now.
Maybe that's why the evening bath dragged on unusually long.
By the time I returned to my room, it was pitch black night.
In the room...... an unexpected guest who'd arrived first was sound asleep, whenever she'd slipped in.
"Huh? Sujeong sis?"
"......Mmm."
Finally back in my room, Sujeong had beaten me there and lay with her eyes closed.
No response to my call—she must've been out cold, lights off too, dead tired.
'She left the bedside lamp on though. Worried about me?'
She had her phone flashlight, so no need, but.
The lamp was on the right drawer, so she should've slept on the left at least.
'Maybe because I always take the right? No real reason... whatever.'
Even exhausted, Sujeong brimmed with little considerations, and I awkwardly dragged over the blanket.
She never covered herself properly, so I approached to tuck her in.
"Eek?! What, did you drink, sis?"
"......Hm."
Her flushed cheeks and fidgeting—I thought it was just bad sleep habits.
But now I saw she'd kicked off the blanket. Body heated from booze.
"Didn't hear about any dinner party. Did you grab some canned beer in the kitchen?"
I touched her cheek to check her temperature.
Not too drunk, so I relaxed and finished setting up her bed.
"You'll kick it off anyway, so blanket's a lost cause. Phone's right here, good. No other worries?"
Her tight sleeveless tee had ridden up, exposing a sliver of lower belly that bugged me.
But with the warm weather, she wouldn't catch a cold like that.
"Pants are proper long ones, not dolphin shorts. ...Still clinging tight as ever."
After checking everything, I lay down to sleep too.
I spaced our pillows apart for safety, turned off the lamp, and that was when—
"Hng, Jiguuu...."
"Whoa?! S-Sis? Sis?!"
Reaching over her for the lamp switch—
Her bad habits kicked in; she squirmed, and I flopped right onto her.
"Sis? Ugh, booze smell. Let go, sis."
"Mmm, Jiguuu... hnng, hehe."
Not just wriggling, but heavy sleep-talking too—mumbling nonsense.
I'd ended up in a position like I was pinning her, so I tried carefully extracting myself without waking her—
"Jigu? You in there? You left your phone in my room, so I brought it... uh...?"
"......!"
Idiot.
I'd just thought about the phone flashlight, but I'd left mine in Geumbi's room.
'Forgot 'cause I rushed straight to shower. Damn it.'
Cursing inwardly, I robotically turned with a creak.
At the end of my gaze, Geumbi stood half in the door, freezing—then her eyes began to fire.