Chapter 57
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: With My Little Sister at the Motel
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hwayeon's pinch on my nose stung like hell, but it chased away most of my sleepiness.
I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and chugged it down while rubbing my throbbing temples.
"Gulp gulp... Phew! So, what happened? Why are you sitting there like that, Hwayeon?"
"Who do you think this is all because of... Tch. Oppa, you really don't remember anything? How far do you recall?"
"Hmm, I remember staggering out of the bar."
"What about collapsing because you couldn't walk anymore? Or clinging to me saying you were gonna puke? Or whining that you wanted to lie down right there in the street?"
"I did that? No clue... Ugh."
I pressed my temples hard, but nothing came back to me.
Still, Hwayeon's exasperated expression looked 200% genuine, so I bowed my head and handed her the rest of the water.
"Looks like I caused a ton of trouble during my blackout. Sorry. Here, drink this and settle your stomach."
"You're giving me your backwash? God, you have zero sense... Gulp gulp."
"Anyway, when I was too wasted to move, you grabbed us a motel nearby, right? Lucky there was a room left."
"Pfft! I checked the app and booked it, duh. Who goes up to the desk these days? That's so outdated."
Fair enough—this was the era where a few taps on your phone got you a room anywhere.
But she talked about it like it was no big deal. Did she have a lot of experience with places like this? Hmm.
Oppa-wise, my feelings are kinda complicated... But if she's that casual, why'd she cling to innocent me at the bar?
The way she'd calmly booked the room, hauled me here alone, and now lounged by the bed in a robe...
It didn't match the flustered, blushing girl from the bar a few hours ago.
No way her curiosity was a smokescreen and she's actually into me... Nah, the alcohol must still be messing with my head.
I tried to shake it off, but when I kept glancing at her, Hwayeon tilted her head.
"Why do you keep sneaking peeks at my face? Got something to say?"
"Nah, not really... Just wondering why you're dressed like that."
"This? Because a certain someone~ turned my favorite outfit into a chewed-up mess of snacks and puke. I stripped it off to wash it and hung it in the bathroom. Tch."
"R-Right... Sorry about that. I seriously don't remember a thing..."
"Ugh, whatever. It's partly my fault for letting you drink that much, so I'll call it even with laundry fees and some consolation cash. For now, let's figure out what to do next."
She sounded chill about it, but tacking on laundry and consolation money meant she wasn't letting me off easy at all.
Still, the drunk asshole who caused it all wasn't in a position to argue. I plopped down by the bed and checked the time.
"It's late, but not so late we can't head home. We can wash the clothes later—let's just call a cab."
"Oppa, can't you see how I'm dressed? Just this robe on—how am I supposed to go outside like this? Huh?"
"Hey, quit flapping that open like some girl. It's just a robe—who are you posing for in front of oppa? Tch."
"Oh please, who put me in this getup? Anyway, we gotta deal with these clothes before we talk about going anywhere."
"Want me to grab some of yours from home? Or should I dry those washed ones at a laundromat?"
"And leave me here alone? Abandoning your precious little sis in a motel room late at night? Dangerous much?"
"Dangerous? The window looks out on a busy street, and the door locks fine. What's there to worry about?"
"That might fly for a guy like you. Fragile and gorgeous girls like me have to worry about what could happen anytime."
"Hwayeon, you still drunk? Where's the 'fragile' on that body? That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard all night. Ow."
"I busted my ass dragging you to the bed, and now you're picking fights? Anyway, I'm too nervous to be alone. Don't even think about leaving me!"
Hwayeon smacked my arm and crossed hers, digging in her heels.
But how were we supposed to get clothes without going outside? I scratched my head, baffled, and shot back.
"Got any better ideas? Want to go instead? I could lend you some of mine."
"...Pass. Yours would be too baggy and slip off, and I don't wanna wear street-grime clothes either."
"See? So what now... Wait, 'street-grime'? You didn't say that earlier. Didn't you bring me here before I faceplanted?"
"Er, yeah, but... You were wobbling so bad on the way that I kinda had to nudge you along... Ahem. Anyway! That's not the point—skip the details."
"No, hold up. Now that you mention it, my butt and thighs hurt too. Don't tell me you didn't drag me—you kicked me all the way here..."
"Ugh, morning breath! Oppa, you drank and didn't even brush? Get in there and do it now—your breath is killing me. Go, go!"
Hwayeon suddenly shoved me into the bathroom and slammed the door.
I was sure something was fishy now, but seeing my wet clothes hanging on the rack shut me up.
Fine, whatever method she used, she worked hard. ...No pocket money for it, though, Yang Hwayeon. Consolation cash covers the assault settlement too.
I nodded to myself, stepped up to the sink, and glared at my fatigued reflection frowning back.
Might as well wash up while I was at it. But being in a motel room kept my mind from settling.
Man, it's been forever since I hit a motel. Thought it'd be after going back to school and getting a girlfriend. First time this year—with my little sister...
I dried my face after brushing and eyed Hwayeon's clothes next to the towel.
They were soaked clean, but nowhere near blow-dryable. And the fabric? Try it, and I'd get a palm-print spanking.
Crank the AC full blast and air-dry in the room? Still won't dry in an hour or two. Maybe just crash here?
I mulled it over and flopped back onto the bed. Hwayeon recoiled in disgust.
I rolled around demonstratively, and she got shoved to the edge, starting to grumble.
"Ugh, cut it out. This the time for messing around? Why'd you leave the bathroom light on too?"
"Messing around? Just brushed like you said and got comfy. Light's on just in case."
"Just in case? For what?"
"Clothes'll take forever to dry. Thinking of hanging them outside."
"Outside? ...Still, it'd take half a day."
"That's what I mean—did you book this as an overnight stay?"
"Yeah. No day-use spots open this late anyway... Why?"
"So... Hwayeon, wanna crash here?"
"Huh? No, I've been saying it's kinda scary being alone in a place like this..."
"I'll stay with you."
"What?"
"Problem solved. Bed's big enough, we sleep till the clothes dry, then go... What? Why're you looking at me like that? Those eyes—what's your deal, Hwayeon?"
She'd griped about everything else.
I'd landed on the best compromise after thinking it over.
Why was Hwayeon staring at me like I was some creep?
Hey, you brought us here. You booked it, you paid, you dragged me in. Come on.
"Oppa... Um."
"You hated every other idea. What else we gonna do, order new clothes to the motel? Earliest delivery's the day after tomorrow."
"Ugh, true, but... Or call the sisters... Hm."
"You know that's no good. If we were calling them, we'd have done it right after the bar."
"Yeah, but explaining this... Geumbi sis would freak out and grill us."
"Don't call it 'freaking out' when the person's not here. Watch your mouth, little sis."
"Tch, it's all your fault anyway! Who gets blackout drunk and barfs on someone else's clothes? Why am I naked right now?"
"That's why I'm taking responsibility and staying till morning. Why the sudden suspicion? It's not like this is your first motel sleepover."
"Eek?! No, I mean—you can't just assume... What do you even know about me..."
"Huh? ...Wait, seriously? You've booked rooms fine, tucked blackout me into bed like a pro... Like you've done it tons of times?"
"That was just the situation forcing me! Booking's easy on the app, and anyway—this is my first motel ever!"
"For real? You seemed so casual, I figured you were experienced..."
"As if! Even today, I freaked when the lights didn't come on—had to google the card slot by the door!"
"Oh... Sorry. Didn't know."
Contrary to what I'd thought, this was Hwayeon's motel debut.
She looked so wronged that I backed off, and she bit her lip, tapping her feet together.
"So... You get why I'm nervous alone now, right?"
"Yeah, got it. Thinking about it, a girl would have a lot to worry about. I was clueless—sorry."
"Tch, as long as you get it. ...So, we're really crashing here? Just us?"
"Mm, too late for a hotel or anything, and no way to get there anyway. I know it's awkward, but no choice."
I got her mental barriers, but even accounting for that, we had no options.
I asked more humbly this time.
Hwayeon puffed her cheeks, turned away sharply, and mumbled at the wall.
"It's not awkward exactly... Just weird. Especially dressed like this... Sigh."
"Huh? What'd you say? Couldn't hear."
"Nothing! Fine, just us—what's there to worry about? Do whatever. We'll sleep one night, big deal!"
"You sure you're okay? If it's bugging you, I'll man up and call the sisters..."
"No, no! Now it's a pride thing. Don't call them—never!"
I didn't get the pride part, but seeing her resolve, I got up from the bed.
To leave ASAP, I fetched the bathroom clothes, spread them on a chair, and set the AC to dehumidify.
"Huh? TV remote controls the AC too?"
"Motel standard. Controls bathroom and other lights too."
"No way... Cool. But how do you know all this? Been to tons of places like this?"
"You pick it up at my age. You're too young to know."
"Hmph~ Age has nothing to do with it."
I ignored the pointless probing, finished prepping, and slipped under the covers.
But Hwayeon just stared blankly, showing no sign of lying down.
"What're you doing? Not sleeping? Planning to stay up longer, Hwayeon?"
"No... But we're really sharing? One bed, just us?"
"Yeah. What's wrong with that?"
"Ugh... Doesn't it feel weird to you? Do normal siblings our age even share a bed?"
"Circumstances, y'know? World's a big place—bet there are close families that do."
"Even so, grown siblings in one bed? Good luck finding an example."
Little sis, one’s right under your nose.
The unexpected always happens closer than you think.
"Whatever—if you hate it, take the blanket and floor. Hope your back doesn't kill tomorrow."
"Ugh, no way. Fine, I'll lie down—so scoot over. You're way too close, it's gross."
"Not as big as it looks once we're both in. This is me compromising plenty."
"Tch, always excuses... Ugh. Today was the absolute worst—how'd it end up like this?"
That’s what I wanted to know.
How the hell did the day wrap up like this?
"...All settled? Lights out?"
"Y-Yeah... But trying to sleep right now?"
"Or wanna watch TV?"
"Nah, let's just talk. Lights hurt my eyes—kill 'em now."
The main light clicked off, plunging us into darkness.
With my vision gone, the faint body wash scent from next to me hit stronger. Embarrassed, I turned away and shifted.
"So, what'd you wanna talk about?"
"Dunno... Pick up from the bar? Your curiosity about me? Or you and the sisters?"
"Mm... What do you wanna hear first, oppa?"
Questions bouncing back and forth, the night deepened bit by bit.
Outside had been dark for hours, but we had a long way to go before sleep.