Chapter 6
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Changing Room
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I wonder what more Sujeong and Geumbi talked about.
The vibe between them wasn't exactly friendly, so they probably didn't end up yelling at each other from upstairs, right?
'Nah, no way. I didn't hear any noise, and Sujeong isn't the type to snap back at that anyway.'
The tension back in my room happened because Geumbi dragged me into it too.
Sujeong flares up quick over family stuff, but when it hits her personally, she just takes it like a pushover... Hmm. Saying it out loud kinda sounds like I'm defending her—or mocking her—instead.
'I can kinda guess how both of them feel, so butting in outright would be tough. And there's nothing useful online anyway.'
I fiddled around with my phone alone on the bed, but half of it was drama chatter, the other half just crude stories.
The scraps I managed to scrape together were things like how to get a genetic test or adoption records... but that felt way beyond me.
'Mom'll be back soon and it'll all blow over. This is just me being nosy, sigh.'
Even Geumbi had only thrown out warnings to us without straight-up suggesting we get tested.
With even less push than her, all I managed was messing with my phone before rolling around hugging the blanket over and over.
"Ugh, this isn't working. Gotta shower and clear my head."
Yesterday was the bombshell drop, and I'd spent all afternoon today agonizing—no proper shower till now.
Not sure if Sujeong would drop by again tonight, but greeting her without washing up for two straight days? Embarrassing.
With that in mind, I staggered to the bathroom door like a zombie.
Someone was inside—the light switch was on.
*knock knock*
"Anyone in there?"
I knocked and waited, but no answer came.
The handle turned easily; door wasn't locked. Probably one of my sisters forgot to kill the light after showering.
'Gotta be Hwayeon. I tell her every time, but she never learns... Huh?'
*clank*
I pushed the door open and stepped in.
Right there in the changing room before the bathroom, my eyes met Geumbi's as she vigorously toweled off her hair.
"Ah, y-you're here? Why didn't you answer..."
"Drying my hair—didn't hear you. But even without a reply, shouldn't you check for signs someone's inside?"
"I was paying attention, okay? Not everyone's as sharp as you, sis."
"You calling me oversensitive right now?"
"N-no, not what I meant..."
Call it lucky, but Geumbi had clearly finished her shower and was neatly dressed already.
No dramatic soap-opera scene unfolded, though I did hesitate for a sec on whether to head in.
'Should be fine to go in, right? It's just my sis—waiting out here now would be weird.'
If she'd been naked or even in her undies, maybe different story.
But dodging a fully clothed sis by backing out of the changing room? That felt like overkill.
...Was this the 'awkward attitude' Geumbi had griped about?
Sujeong was right. Acting normal is harder than it sounds.
"What're you doing just standing there gawking? Should I step out or something?"
"No, just zoned out for a bit. Sorry."
"Huh? Then why'd you come in...? To watch me dry my hair?"
"What? You do what you gotta do, sis. I'm here to wash up."
"Yeah, okay. ...Sorry for getting snippy."
Looked like I wasn't the only one fumbling awkwardly.
Normally, she'd have just averted her eyes and moved on, but instead she ramped up her guard as I came in.
And then, totally out of character, she tossed out an apology like she'd messed up.
'C'mon, don't... If you start acting weird too, it just tenses me up more.'
Had she forgotten all that grilling she gave Sujeong?
Right now in this changing room, two people moved like creaky robots: one drying her hair, the other stripping down.
'Top half should be fine, right? She struts around topless at home when it's hot anyway.'
Sujeong would tease that we were all grown up now, Hwayeon would grimace in disgust, and our little maknae would bolt to her room blushing.
Geumbi? Straight to nagging: 'Show off that body of yours in your room only!' That was just daily life...
"Why're you staring like that?"
"Huh? W-was I?"
"No... You're just staring right at me."
"Hey, when? Don't say weird stuff!"
"Fine then. Hmm, but could you turn your head?"
"Grown-ass man being extra... There, happy? Tsk."
I pulled my arms free from my shirt, and her stare burned so hot I glanced over at Geumbi.
She whipped her eyes away in a hurry, denying it, but that uncharacteristic dodge just confirmed it for me.
'Normal Geumbi sis would've ignored me flat-out. Why's she keep acting off?'
Definitely some big talk went down with Sujeong.
That's gotta be why she's treating me all awkward... Hmm, but why me specifically? No reason.
'Adoption suspects are Sujeong or Geumbi, right? Got nothing to do with me.'
Sure, family business, so not totally unrelated.
But as a bystander, I could tune it out more—why's she gotta keep acting so strange?
"Geumbi sis."
"Yeah? What now? I turned my head like you said."
"Your hair... isn't it dry now?"
"Huh?"
"How long you planning to stick around?"
"Oh, no, I was gonna hit the dryer before heading out."
"I'm about to shower."
"You close the bathroom door anyway, right? Frosted glass—what's the issue?"
True enough.
Frosted glass, sure, but silhouettes show through clear as day.
'Not like we fuss over every little thing like that... and we don't put each other in awkward spots either. Geumbi especially.'
Curiosity was killing me now.
I chucked my shirt into the laundry basket and strode right up to Geumbi.
"W-what? Why're you coming at me like that?"
"Sis. You hear anything from Sujeong?"
"H-hear what?"
"Just curious. Around lunch, Hwayeon went looking for Sujeong—said you called her."
"That... 'Cause you and big sis were acting all shady. Dragged her off to talk about it."
"That all?"
"What else would there be?"
"The Geumbi I know? She'd have dug for more."
Last night, Sujeong had logically narrowed down the family suspects.
And the next oldest with real life experience? Geumbi had to at least suspect Sujeong knew something.
'Sujeong swore she'd zip it, but Geumbi ain't dumb. She probably picked up on it.'
That she might be the adopted one—or that me and Sujeong had been scheming about it since last night.
Sujeong worried she'd fret over her spot in the family shaking loose.
My read was a bit different.
The intense morning door pounding, the warning glare at lunch, this sudden fixation on her little bro's body—all pointed elsewhere.
"Geumbi sis."
"Yeah?"
"You think I'm gonna do something, and you're on guard?"
"Huh?! W-what? No way..."
"Be straight with me. That it?"
"N-no! Why would you even say that?"
"Then why snap so hard earlier? Over siblings just sharing a room."
"That wasn't just sharing a room, was it? Early morning too, and Hwayeon said you two were hugging..."
"Saw Sujeong looking down. Was cheering her up."
"Cheering up means hugging with the door shut?"
"Door was open. That's how Hwayeon peeked and bolted."
"Word games. When I got there, it was closed. You opened it after."
"First or later, open is open. Proof nothing shady."
"You can spin anything that way."
"Hugging Sujeong? Happens all the time. You saw us in the kitchen the other day—before Mom even reached out."
"That... Big sis might've known ahead."
"Sis. You realize what you're saying?"
We knew things were awkward, but damn, this was way off her usual.
Me pushing back this hard at Geumbi, even raising my voice.
'She's just hitting all my sore spots though? And just now—Sujeong knew and played along on purpose...? Ha! Hold up?'
I let out an incredulous chuckle, and only then did Geumbi seem to catch her slip, biting her lip.
But she still had more to say, glaring daggers as she fired back.
"Then what about you, Jigu? You really innocent?"
"Enough, sis. Keep pushing, and I'll actually get pissed."
"But it's suspicious as hell. Mom brings it up, and suddenly big sis is in your room nonstop. Dodging me like she hides stuff, glued to you."
"That's... Tough to spell out right now, but it ain't that."
"Can't explain, how am I supposed to get it? Big sis pulled the same—came to my room, danced around everything, spilled zero important deets...!"
I got her mix-up, her frustration, but spilling every last truth? No dice.
Like I said— the ones in the hot seat were Sujeong and Geumbi. How could I blab it? That one of them might be adopted.
'Even if I spoke up, it'd have to come from Sujeong. So... no helping it, even with those eyes.'
After getting chewed out by her little bro with zero reveals, Geumbi balled her fists tight and hung her head low.
Her shoulders trembled—reminded me of someone crying last night—and on reflex, I reached out a hand...
"Don't touch me."
"S-sorry."
"Jigu... Then just answer this one thing straight."
"...What?"
Not mopey like Sujeong—this was pure fury fueling it.
Geumbi lifted her own head, eyes sharp as she hit me with the question.
"The adopted kid in our family... it's you, Jigu, right? That's why big sis only looks out for you?"
"......Hah?"
For a split second, the words hit so out-of-left-field my jaw dropped—no prep, no imagination for it.
But her eyes were dead serious, and that's when it clicked: one possibility I'd totally overlooked.
'Oh. If she thinks I'm the adopted one, it lines up perfect. Sujeong only confiding in me, our weird vibes... every bit.'
Maybe me and Sujeong had misread Geumbi's worries entirely.
And now, her footsteps closing in flipped the script—I found myself edging back toward the bathroom door without thinking.
"Answer me. That it? So you two keep... sneaking hugs, acting shady behind my back?"
No room left to retreat—Geumbi slapped a hand to the door, penning me in with her arms.
I gulped hard enough to hear it, praying my bare chest didn't broadcast my hammering heart.
"Hey, big sis~! You still showering? Lemme hop in now too...... Eh?"
Perfect storm: the changing room door flew open as Hwayeon barged in.
One step in, and she froze like a statue.
Five seconds flat later, she rapid-fire-spat a goodbye and vanished like a shot.
"Oh right, homework's not done! Catch ya later, sis! O-Oppa?"
*bang*
We both scowled in sync at the slamming door: 'Told you not to shut it like that...'