Chapter 54
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Happening
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'A text to Mom... Should I start with just checking in on her?'
I stared at a quiet table from the cafe counter, mulling over what to write in a message to Mom.
It might seem silly to overthink things between parent and child, but given the topic at hand, a little caution couldn't hurt.
'Thing is, worrying about this stuff never ends. We weren't exactly the type to chat often anyway... Hmm.'
Usually, texts or calls with Mom were handled by Sujeong sis.
Geumbi sis made no secret of her dislike, so she was the exception, and I'd naturally drifted away during my military service.
'No wonder the younger ones find it even tougher. Sigh. Situation's too messy to go asking for advice anywhere.'
The only person I could turn to was Sujeong sis, who was in the "wait for Mom to come back" camp.
Bringing it up out of nowhere might spark another fight like with Geumbi sis last time.
"Ugh, my head hurts. Should I just call? But international calls are pricey..."
"What? Something wrong? Why are you scratching your messy hair like that?"
"It's nothing, just pondering something. ...And what's wrong with my hair? I washed it fine this morning."
"Did you? There was a weird smell at the counter, so I thought it was your head."
"Hey, I use the same shampoo as you, Hwayeon. Wanna sniff my hair and check if it's weird?"
"Ow, don't mess it up! I styled it all this morning, you jerk!"
I grabbed Hwayeon's ponytail and shook it every which way.
Since it was tied low, the shape held, but the stray hairs sticking up got her seriously pissed—her face turned beet red with fury.
"Hm, watching this cheers me up. Thanks, little sis."
"Tch, I was worried and showed interest, and this is how you repay me? Pisses me off for real."
"Hey, watch your words. How was that 'interest'? Anyone could see it was just picking a fight out of nowhere."
"Whatever. Why would I be nice to a bro who gropes my chest?"
"You...! What if customers hear? And I explained it was all a misunderstanding!"
"Hmph! Let 'em hear. Besides, you only groveled to the sisters, right? ~All~ apologetic with them. Me? You tossed me a snack and called it a day."
"Should I have thrown in a drink too?"
"Ugh, tch! Fine, I won't give a damn about your stuff anymore. Handle it all yourself. Tsk!"
Hwayeon still held a grudge from last time and whipped her head away with a grumble.
Normally, I'd pretend to back down and soothe her by now, but with Mom on my mind already giving me a headache, I let it slide.
'Honestly, she groped my butt too, so we're even. No point dwelling.'
I set my phone down and tapped the screen, turning it off and on a few times.
The cafe next door must've had some event—our place was unusually empty today.
The tapping sounds like typing and the soft cafe BGM droned on endlessly, and bored of scrolling SNS, Hwayeon padded back over like a puppy.
"But seriously, what's bugging you? Want me to listen?"
"Didn't you just say zero interest in my problems?"
"Come on, your cute little sis offers help, and you're gonna keep snapping? Spill it. What's up?"
"You're just bored, right? It's not fun, so shoo."
"Ow. If it's boring, say so—why hit my forehead? Total domestic abuser."
"This is work, not home, so it's fine. Just taking care of my airheaded senior."
"If I'm the senior, you're the junior—listen to me. Why act all high and mighty? Ow."
"Acting high? Your mouth's why you don't get senior treatment. Act like one, geez."
She kept interrupting my thoughts, so I shot back extra curtly.
But she must've been really bored too—despite it all, Hwayeon stuck around, hovering.
"...What? Got something to say?"
"Huh? W-what makes you say that~? No idea here."
"Normally, you'd blow up and fight back or storm off huffing. Why stick to me like glue?"
"Tch, like glue? When did you get all buddy-buddy with the sisters...?"
"You've mentioned them non-stop. Related to what you wanna say?"
"Urk?! You're such a ~dumb~ guy usually, but sharp where it counts... Tch."
Who knows—compared to the sisters, I'm like dirt under their nails.
Or maybe from a sibling's view, I seem kinda like them.
'Like them. After all those years together, even if we hate it, we've got similarities.'
Which made revealing anyone's adoption all the scarier.
Right then, Hwayeon scooted a step closer.
"Bro... Um."
"What? Fair warning—no more allowance. Haven't even gotten my first paycheck."
"Not that! Do I look like a thug who mugs her own brother for cash?"
"Not far off."
"It is! Seriously?!"
"Starting fights outta nowhere, then bringing up chests—super suspicious. Trying to squeeze allowance again?"
"No, really not! Totally unrelated, never!"
"Fine, then. I'll listen seriously—go on."
"Ugh, okay... Just checking, y'know."
Hwayeon was dragging her feet uncharacteristically, so I turned toward her, ears perked.
Only then did she realize how close we were, cheeks flushing as she twirled her side ponytail.
'That habit's like Sujeong sis. Ponytail makes her look a bit like Geumbi sis too.'
I scanned Hwayeon's looks while waiting for her to speak.
Face-wise, totally our family, but personality or chest... not so much.
'Not small, but the upper ones are huge.'
Of course, talking heart, not size.
Unlike the two with big hearts, Hwayeon's was narrow—worrisome.
"Bro."
"Yeah."
"You... get chewed out a lot by the sisters yesterday?"
"Huh?"
"That's why you've looked off-color and drained since. 'Cause of me."
Just as I worried about her narrow mind, an unexpected concern hit.
I tilted my head, confused. Hwayeon peeked around nervously and brought up yesterday.
"Truth is, I saw you getting dragged off by the sisters one after another."
"You saw? All of it?"
"Yeah. Geumbi sis and Sujeong sis—both looked super pissed... Serious vibes."
"No, wait. 'Saw' means just catching you going in, right? Didn't hear inside?"
"I'm not some sneak thief ear-to-the-door. But... I did time how long you were in there."
Hwayeon had a knack for startling people.
I calmed my pounding heart, confirmed the room convos stayed secret, and listened calmly.
While I caught my breath from shock,
Hwayeon trembled, tense for different reasons.
"You were in there forever... With Geumbi sis and Sujeong sis."
"Y-yeah."
"When you came out of the room and changing area, they both looked troubled."
"Yeah... Must've been."
"All 'cause of me, right? I blabbed to them, ugh."
"Nah, not really. From your side, it was worth tattling."
"Still! Then I groped your butt before too. But I left that out, ugh."
So she did realize.
She'd teased me over the chest grab till moments ago, but guilt lingered inside.
'That's why the extra grumbling? Like, speak up if you've got beef?'
But since I didn't push, she got antsy.
After my back-to-back sister talks yesterday, her worried face stuck, making her more frustrated.
"I know you lean on the sisters a lot lately. Feels like I drove a wedge. Like with the bath peeking last time—always blowing things up."
"It's fine. Didn't ruin things that bad. ...And the bath was an accident, not peeking."
"Anyway, I panicked then... Sigh. Didn't check on you, the actual victim. You must've been the most messed up."
"Huh? What're you on about...?"
"You're the adopted one in our family. Worst timing, and getting yelled at by sisters on top? Right?"
Ah, so that's why she's acting weird today.
Last time it was a joke, so I brushed it off, but she'd settled on me being the adoptee.
'Add daytime drinking and thinks I drifted from sisters 'cause of her—hence the uncharacteristic worry. Puzzle solved.'
Probably her way of apologizing.
Awkward, inarticulate, feelings-first—but the remorse came through clear.
"Ahem, got it. I hear you, so chin up."
"Wah, sorry. Wasn't trying to frame you to them. I felt so wronged and flustered too...!"
"I said I get it. You weren't out to ruin me, so don't mope. Not even mad."
"...Really?"
"Yeah, really. If I was pissed, would I come to work buddy-buddy and chat? Geez."
I ruffled her hair like she was a total worrywart.
This time she didn't dodge, and the dog-eared mess made me grin.
'More than anything... Nothing to worry about. Got chewed out by sisters, sure, but scored good stuff too. Their weird faces after? 100% other reasons.'
Not bad—more odd, really.
From Hwayeon's view, sisters storming in mad and emerging sheepish wouldn't compute, so she read it as "bad vibes..." from afar.
'Ridiculous mix-up, but not bad. Rare apology from her in a million years.'
My gloomy mood over Mom cleared right up.
I mussed her hair harder, and Hwayeon peeked up, poking my side.
"Ow, how long you gonna... grope? Pervert."
"Pervert? Petting your lil sis head—how's that pervy?"
"Your touch is shady. Feels just like when you grabbed my chest."
"Totally different. I treat girls' chests with ~utmost~ care."
"Eww, gross. Pervert trash, blech. Whose chest you grope lately, bro?"
"...None. No one but you."
"Oh, yeah? Uh... R-right, ahem."
A cringey answer slipped in our banter, and Hwayeon flushed late, coughing awkwardly.
What kinda nonsense is this? Not sibling talk. Tch.
"...Come to think of it, bro."
"Yeah?"
"Drunk and messed up or whatever... Why me of all people?"
"Huh? What?"
"You're all chummy with the sisters... Skipped them and went for my chest. Curious why."
Isn't this all over?
She's embarrassed too—why dredge up the past?
"Why wonder that? Drunk guy messing up."
"Duh, gotta wonder! They’re way bigger and softer than mine."
"You say the wildest stuff in front of your bro. Wanna get scolded?!"
"...Says the guy who got day-drunk and groped his sis."
"Sorry on that. But it's even-steven, so forgive me once, sis?"
Somehow roles reversed, and I bowed quick to avoid customer complaints.
But Hwayeon's curiosity wasn't quenched—she scratched her cheek, pressing on.
"Be honest. Even if... that's part of why you're stressed, I'd get it."
"H-hey. What scary crap now...?"
"Obvious plot, right? Adopted in a family, eyeing non-blood kin for... y'know. Ahem."
"Wha—so you think I targeted you on purpose?"
"Dunno. Mistake... or not."
Hand that scratched her cheek now cupped it,
Hwayeon looked away, lips pursed again.
But no remorse like before.
Instead, some expectant, tangled vibe crept into the counter area.
'Shampoo scent? Gotta stock something else next time.'
The air grew awkward by the minute.
I glanced at the clock—shift end still far off.