Chapter 26
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: With Two Sisters and Restless Dreams
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I placed my hand on Geumbi's shoulder.
It was barely a touch, more like a butterfly lightly landing there.
"...What are you doing?"
"...".
Geumbi lowered her pillow just enough to peek over it and asked, facing me.
But I said nothing, simply meeting her gaze quietly with the bedside lamp's glow as a backdrop.
Her voice was prickly, but there was no irritation in her eyes.
They were like a child's in the dark, trembling with unease. My face reflected clearly in her pupils.
"It's not like you're the weird one, sis."
"...Then? Who's the weird one?"
"Who knows. But one thing's for sure—we didn't do anything wrong."
Rather than argue back, I chose gentle reassurance.
It was a conclusion I'd reached after much thought. No matter how I replayed it, neither of us was the bad guy.
"You worrying about me and Sujeong sis, me encouraging you both—none of that was wrong, right?"
"...But what about yesterday? Was that really just worry or encouragement?"
"I'm not entirely sure. But it's not like we can get an objective ruling on something like this, is it?"
"Well... yeah, obviously."
"Then let's just talk about how we feel, the people involved."
"How we feel? You and me, Jigu?"
"Yeah. At the time, we both thought it was fine, and I still do. Isn't that enough? Our intentions were pure, and the outcome wasn't bad."
The process was just a bit messy, that's all.
The mood, the worry, the desire, the rush... so many winds had swirled together, carrying us that way. That's why I could understand Geumbi's complicated feelings.
'It wasn't something siblings should do, blood-related or not.'
But we couldn't keep locking ourselves away in regret forever.
Besides, it was Geumbi who'd said we'd put it behind us after yesterday, so I hugged her to throw those words right back.
"Eek?!"
"I told you on the way home—I wasn't completely unaffected either. You weren't agonizing alone."
"B-but... you still said you'd keep sleeping with Sujeong sis after that...!"
"That's a separate issue. Actually, not dwelling on the past shows we're aboveboard, doesn't it?"
"...The way you're talking, Jigu, it makes it sound like only I was agonizing. You're way too nonchalant."
"We agreed it'd just be for one day, remember? You saying that helped me calm my own messy feelings."
Right now, seeing each other's faces would be awkward, embarrassing, hearts fluttering uneasily.
But time would pass, and this would become just another black history we'd rather forget.
'We'll crack open beers at the convenience store someday, laughing it off as a snack story. With Geumbi's personality, she'll shove the blame on me and tease that I was total trash.'
Then I'll counter by bringing this up. With such a good weapon now in hand, I smiled, and Geumbi stroked my back in return.
"Tch, idiot. I was a total wreck the whole way home because of you."
"H-hey, same here! If I hadn't run into you on the way out, we'd still be awkward as hell right now."
"Back then... I was pretty flustered too. Didn't expect to bump into you outside, and I couldn't exactly yell about it."
"And yet you ended up laughing and leaving?"
"Once we talked it out, things just... worked themselves out somehow. Anyway! Now that it's settled, let go. I'm your sister—don't get cocky."
Coming full circle like this must be a family tradition.
Geumbi and I reached roughly the same conclusion as before, but our faces felt much more at ease facing each other.
"So, you and me—we're back to normal now?"
"Says you. I never asked for that weird 'help' in the first place."
"Oh? You came just fine in my pants yesterday, and now you're playing innocent?"
"Eek?! Sis, is this the same person who was embarrassed a second ago? Teasing like this?"
"Heh heh, just zoned out for a bit. This is the real me. What, need it again? I might help if I'm in the mood."
"That's super inappropriate right now. We just neatly closed the lid on this."
We were just bantering, but nothing like that could actually happen again.
To keep the lid on that bottle from popping open, I fussed unnecessarily with my clothes, straightening them tightly.
"Sigh, honestly. You, Sujeong sis—everyone's struggling in their own way, so why do you all keep dragging my emotions into it?"
"Suddenly reflecting? Good, you're finally getting it. Heh."
"Still sassing me? Hmph... but thanks. Must've been complicated for you too, but you really helped a lot."
"Quit praising me. It doesn't suit you—feels out of character."
"Wanna die?"
"Heh heh. ...But Sujeong sis is taking forever to dry her hair. What's left?"
"She'll do her skincare, lotion, all that pre-bed routine. Sorting her thoughts, calming herself."
"Hmm~ How was showering together earlier? Sujeong sis seemed okay?"
"Worried about sis right after me? Don't act all grown-up when you're the little brother...."
I'm already an adult by age. Probably means don't act like an older guy.
Geumbi grumbled, staring intently at the slightly open door.
"Today with sis... things got kinda tense, right?"
"Super tense. I really thought you'd fight again."
"Whose fault was that? Mr. Culprit talks too much."
"Anyway, so?"
"We sorta patched things up on the way, but it really got resolved in the bath."
"Hmm, that's why you were in there so long."
"And then... toward the end, sis kinda cried a little."
"Huh? What? Sujeong sis?!"
I jolted at the unexpected news amid my calm listening.
But Geumbi waved it off like no big deal, hugging her pillow tighter as she continued.
"Not bawling or anything—just a little teary-eyed."
"Still... why would Sujeong sis...?"
"She's probably struggling too. Fighting with me a lot since Mom broke the news, acting spoiled with you, her little brother... and in the end, no one's sure who's adopted."
That last bit seemed to weigh on Geumbi too, not just Sujeong sis.
She crushed the pillow like it might burst, then muttered softly, eyes shifting to the bedsheets.
"It's scary. What if it's really me? What if it's someone else? Either way, it's a position with a lot to worry about."
It was like she was talking to herself, trying to understand—or accept—Sujeong sis's feelings.
Something clicked for me. I perched on the edge of the bed and looked at Geumbi.
"Wait... is that why you okayed us three sleeping together? Because you were worried about Sujeong sis?"
"If not, I'd have vetoed this weird setup hard. You have no idea how much I agonized over it."
Yeah, that tracked.
Unlike Sujeong sis, who'd eventually relented to stop the fight and go along with my idea, Geumbi had pondered right up to the very end.
Yet she'd bent her own stance ultimately out of care for Sujeong sis over herself.
'What an idiot sister. Fighting because she worries about Sujeong sis, backing down because she worries about Sujeong sis. She's gotta be the biggest fool in this family.'
I could never match that. Admiring it, I reached out without thinking and patted her head.
"...Idiot, what're you doing."
Geumbi set her pillow down, pouting as she glared at me.
But now, no trace of unease lingered in her eyes—a reward for sticking around.
"Jigu, you're getting bolder lately. Touchy-feely and reckless. Cross the line, and I won't let it slide."
"Yesss~ I'll keep that in mind."
"All talk, huh? Gonna have to muzzle that mouth sometime."
"How? What're you gonna use?"
"How? The obvious way to muzzle lips... Eek?"
Teasing her as she amped up the tsundere act to hide her embarrassment was fun.
I bantered freely, closing the distance with her.
...It was meant to be playful.
Maybe the dark messed with my sense of space. What was supposed to be a slight lean-in brought me way too close.
"You're too close... what're you doing."
"No, uh, the alcohol hasn't fully worn off. Can't control my balance."
"Idiot. Did you just pretend to drink the sobering pill? You bought it with your own money."
"Y-yeah. Anyway, sorry—I'll back off."
"...Whatever. You're climbing into bed anyway—what's the point. Just stay."
"Huh? Oh... uh, okay."
As I awkwardly started to pull away, Geumbi's hand grabbed my sleeve.
She didn't tug—just held it, saying don't go... but maybe the buzz was real, because my body swayed another centimeter toward her.
"...Sis is taking forever."
"...Women have a lot to do."
This time Geumbi checked on Sujeong sis, but the narrow door gap didn't reveal the dressing room.
The hairdryer had stopped, so once she finished lotion or whatever, she'd be back soon.
"...".
"...".
Lying pressed together on the bed like this, yesterday's memories resurfaced unbidden.
Maybe because we'd talked so much about it earlier—I clamped my legs together, praying nothing stupid happened.
"Jigu."
"Yeah?"
"Oh, yeah... I heard something while bathing with sis."
"What?"
"You kissed Sujeong sis?"
"Huh? Wha—?!"
In the midst of my self-restraint efforts, a sneak attack from left field.
I whipped my head around in shock, and Geumbi's face was right there—close enough that bowing would bump noses.
Yet she held her ground, staring without pulling back.
"Ah, on the forehead, obviously... Anyway, it just came up somehow."
"Y-you two talked about everything in the bathroom, huh."
"We had... plenty of time."
"Yeah... fair."
"...Ah, eek."
"...Ahem."
Our voices vibrated right in front of each other with every word. Geumbi trembled, lips parting like she wanted to say something.
I cleared my throat to fend off the silence, and finally, she timidly made a small request.
"You called it a 'test,' right? To check if there's any feelings between siblings."
"Yeah, you did something similar to me."
"...No issues with sis?"
"Of course not... that'd be a real problem if there were."
"Then... how about with me?"
"Huh?"
"Sis said it's fine, but I'm sleeping here too tonight? Shouldn't... we test this side?"
With that, Geumbi gently closed her eyes.
Like she'd said her piece—now it was up to me. She even clasped her hands demurely.
'No way, right? But... yesterday happened, so she might really be anxious...'
Fresh from the shower, the air was thick with body wash and shampoo scents.
If it were booze stench, I'd snap out of it, but the drowsy aroma made me close my eyes too.
"Hm?! Heh?!"
"...Smack. That do it?"
I pressed my lips to Geumbi's.
About two seconds. Too brief to count properly.
Our lips touched lightly, then parted.
'...Wait, did I do lips with Sujeong sis too?'
As my eyes fluttered open, a fuzzy memory resurfaced.
At the same time, Geumbi's flushed face filled my view—she gaped, speechless, fumbling incoherently.
"N-no, wha— who said lips...?"
"Ah...! Sorry, sis. I didn't mean to, it just... happened."
"Phew~ Took forever, huh? The snacks melted, so I ordered delivery on the way... Hm? What's with you two?"
As I knelt to apologize, Sujeong sis returned.
Any more words here would spark messy misunderstandings, so we locked eyes, silently agreeing to keep quiet about it.
"Oh, nothing, sis. Good job washing up."
"Yeah. So, sleeping spots? Sisters inside?"
"Nah~ Jigu, you in the middle. You're the room owner—can't have you rolling off."
"R-really? Then I won't hold back... whew."
I lay in the bed's center. Sujeong sis took right, Geumbi left.
Sujeong sis, experienced in my bed, relaxed with her back to me, legs stretched.
Geumbi turned away, curling shrimp-like, cocooned in the blanket.
'Maybe that's more comfortable for her... Sigh. What an idiot I am.'
We'd barely thawed the awkwardness, but tomorrow morning would bring it right back.
I shook my head silently, closed my eyes, praying for calm dreams at least.
Legs clamped tight below the waist, gripping the blanket firm.
To keep my lower half from stirring... if caught, it'd be less "help" from Geumbi and more a knife to the gut. I forced my mind to settle.
Yet my pounding heart matched something else that wouldn't calm.
And against expectations, the dreams were plenty restless.
Sujeong sis's hand grazed my stomach as she shifted in sleep.
Geumbi's wriggling hips brushed my thigh repeatedly.
The trio's drunken first night together faded into chaotic dreams as tumultuous as reality.