Chapter 23
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Sister's Confession
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thankfully, Sujeong's misunderstanding was cleared up in no time.
She'd gone through something similar with Geumbi, and above all, my earnest expression must have been pretty convincing.
"W-Well, honestly, I thought it was weird too. There's no way you, Jigu, would do something like that to your little sisters…."
"But you grilled me like that just a minute ago?"
"Still, as the eldest sister, I had to confirm the truth…! I was agonizing over it too, you know? I even called you out alone to be considerate."
"I'm grateful for that. If you'd questioned me at home, someone might've overheard and caused another uproar."
In fact, when Geumbi had grilled me similarly, the conversation dragged on into the night, and I ended up sleeping in her room. That's when Hwayeon and Sujeong found out, and things blew up.
Today's incident was just an extension of that, so settling it one-on-one like this felt far more comfortable.
'The problem wasn't just Hwayeon anyway. The other stuff… I wasn't entirely blameless there.'
Spending the night in Geumbi's room without a word to Sujeong.
Or getting caught with my morning wood every day… Okay, that one's a bit unfair? It's an unavoidable instinct, and I didn't know even Sujeong was so clueless about guys.
'But when exactly did she notice? She always woke up later than me, didn't she?'
As we left the park and headed home, a sudden question popped into my head.
I turned to look beside me, and Sujeong was glancing my way guiltily, shrinking into herself.
"Noona."
"Hm? What? Is the anger… not fully gone, Jigu?"
"Nah, I'm over it now. You apologized properly after we talked it out."
"Still… from your perspective, you were unjustly suspected."
"If anything, I'm glad to know how much you worry about our family. Of course, I already knew you did~ hehe."
"D-Don't tease me. It's just because we're family… I care as much as anyone else does."
She'd been gauging my mood, but getting praised in return embarrassed her. Sujeong twirled her wavy side hair even more, her cheeks flushing red.
Seeing that eased my mind, making me think we could just gloss over past issues… but some things needed addressing.
"By the way, how exactly did you know?"
"Huh? About Hwayeon? I absolutely didn't hear it from her! I just overheard her chatting with Geumbi and jumped to conclusions…."
"No, not that."
"Eh? Then what?"
"When I wake up in the morning… my dick wakes up with me. You always got up later than me—when did you see it?"
"Uh…? Oh, right, that. When was it again, haha."
Sujeong had defended Hwayeon based on her own assumptions, but I could grill Hwayeon later.
The issue now was Sujeong herself, and her flailing hands looked even more suspicious.
"Noona."
"E-Eh, y-yeah? Why'd you call me, Jigu?"
"Did you… maybe wake up first in the mornings?"
"N-No way. You know I love sleeping in, hehe."
"Actually, thinking about it, that's the weird part. The most diligent person in our house has a weakness for mornings? Really?"
"I-It really is… Everyone has their weak spots…."
Sujeong trailed off, avoiding my eyes.
I stopped walking and cornered her against the wall.
"Ow?! Jigu? The wall's against my back now…."
"Come to think of it, you always got up fine for work, right? Quiet enough not to wake me."
"D-Did I? As a working adult, it's probably just habit…?"
"And before that, when Geumbi called you to the kitchen. You woke up alone in the room and even texted Mom."
"Ah, that time… Maybe I woke up because you got out of bed? Probably?"
"Decisively, you said it yourself in the park. That when I sleep with you, my dick is 'always' hard. You wouldn't be so sure from just one glimpse, right? Normally?"
"I-I'm not normal… I'm smart, so that's why…."
Sujeong tried to make excuses, but her logic was crumbling.
I planted a hand on the wall in kabedon position and glared down at her.
"Since when?"
"W-What?"
"Since when have you been checking out my dick?"
"I-I didn't observe it! I just looked because you were putting something in your pocket while sleeping… Urgh!"
"I see. So that's how you first saw it?"
"N-Nooo… Hiiing, sorryyy! I swear it wasn't on purpose!"
With no escape in words or actions, Sujeong finally gave up and clasped her hands begging, bowing her head.
"Really, at first I didn't know what it was… Then later I figured it out. But it was too embarrassing to say anything, so I pretended not to notice… And you did it every day."
"So you got to admire it every day too, noona?"
"It wasn't admiring! We were sleeping stuck together, so it was just in my view… Unavoidably."
Sujeong's eyes welled up as she vented her grievances.
The circumstantial evidence was damning, but seeing her desperation, I went easy with a suspended sentence.
"Ow. Why'd you hit me… Jeez."
"You're in no position to complain, noona. Be grateful I let it go with a flick to the forehead."
"I-I listened to everything even when you did stuff that could cause misunderstandings."
"After clinging to me for a test, right?"
"…I had to confirm first. Of course I trust you, Jigu, but what if?"
"Oh? Then can I test you too, just in case? To see if my noona has naughty thoughts about her little brother?"
"Eh? What? Whoa?! W-What… why are you coming closer again, eek?"
I leaned in toward Sujeong's reddening forehead.
She flushed all over without even being touched there, so I checked that no one was around and gently brushed back her bangs.
And then.
*Smack.*
I lightly kissed her forehead and pulled back.
"Hyah?! E-Eh? What was that…?"
"Sibling skinship. We've done this much before, right?"
"Not… that often, I think."
"Felt plenty frequent from my side. Mostly one-sided from you, though."
"Exactly…! You've never initiated something like this much."
"That's why it's a test. Hmm, let's see~?"
"W-What? Why closer again? Not the lips?!"
"Overreacting much? Even I'm hesitant about that spot. Hm, anyway, this should do?"
"Eh? Do what?"
"Checked your reaction, noona. Looks no different from usual. Okay, you pass!"
"Pass what? What're you—? Jigu, you don't mean…!"
"Yep. Just proved my Sujeong noona doesn't get turned on by her little brother. Now I can rest easy, haha."
"Heyyy! I obviously wouldn't! Who's suspecting who here? How dare you, toward your noona!"
"Only because you sisters put me through so much. Cute revenge from the little brother. No double standards in our house."
They went wild playing with me, but flipped out when it was their turn. It was kinda funny.
Still, since I'd teased her on purpose, I ruffled Sujeong's hair by way of apology.
"Hyah?! Hey, no messing with your noona's hair! Stop, I just fixed it this morning… Urgh."
"We're almost home anyway. You'll shower once we're in—what's the worry?"
"Still… embarrassing in front of the others."
"I'm your little brother too? Lemme see—yeah, looks cute. Natural and pretty, no worries."
"D-Don't give your noona weird compliments… It's embarrassing."
Normally, Sujeong would've grinned happily at praise like that.
Maybe because of everything that happened on the way, she gathered her side hair to hide her face and turned away sharply.
'Not that I can't see your red ears anyway.'
I chuckled and walked with her into the street where the gate came into view.
The day had already darkened quite a bit, and I paused, realizing I'd forgotten to text Geumbi.
'Eh, but calling now probably won't help.'
I checked my phone belatedly, but thankfully no messages from her side.
As I wondered if it was really that late, Sujeong peeked out from slightly behind me.
"What's up? Something wrong at home?"
"Nah, just wondering if we got back too late."
"Can't be late? Got plans to eat with someone?"
"Nothing like that. When we left for the park, Geumbi said to let her know if it'd be long."
"…Geumbi? Why?"
"Didn't ask… Probably just worried?"
"Hmm~ Really? Hmmm~."
What was that? Her eyes narrowed at the mention of Geumbi.
She protected Hwayeon like a kid, but Geumbi was still on watchlist?
'Trouble. If things get awkward between the sisters, I'm the one stuck in the middle suffering.'
Half the reason I got tangled with Geumbi was because of Sujeong in the first place.
Last night, she'd passed out drunk, forcing me to switch beds.
"…Oh yeah, I forgot to ask."
"Hm? What?"
"Noona, why'd you drink yesterday? No company dinner, and you don't usually drink alone."
"Oh, that… Well, actually…."
I decided to clear up the last lingering question before heading in.
It was just casual curiosity, but Sujeong hesitated, dragging her feet.
"Noona? Hard to talk about?"
"No, with you, Jigu… I think it's okay."
"With me? …What is it?"
"Y'know, it's not certain yet, but…."
Sujeong's eyes fluttered a few times before she lifted her head resolutely.
"The chances are… pretty high that you're adopted too, Jigu."
"Huh? What?"
"It's not definite, but an old memory surfaced."
Sujeong's words were quite a shock, explaining why she'd gotten drunk alone.
Still, sharing it meant she trusted and relied on me that much—but.
"What do you mean, sis? Jigu?"
""……!""
I had no idea what the sharp-eyed second sister, who'd flung open the gate, would think.
"Jigu's adopted?"
Sujeong and I whipped our heads around simultaneously.
There stood Geumbi, gripping the wall, her legs trembling slightly.
But her gaze pierced straight at me.
Incredulous, as if she couldn't believe it.
Even so…… if it were true, her shaking pupils stayed fixed on me, unsure what to do.