Chapter 72
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Lost My Wits Without Reading the Room
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Sujeong and I knelt side by side on the floor, eyes cast down like sinners, unable to lift our heads.
In front of us stood Geumbi noona with her arms crossed, glaring down at us. In the heavy silence, droplets from my bangs fell obliviously, plip plop.
"Come to think of it, Jigu, didn't you say you were going to wash up?"
"Uh-huh, yeah. I haven't finished yet, though..."
"Why? You went into the bathroom ages ago. What kept you dawdling in there all this time?"
"Well, it's like..."
"Did you lose your mind staring at Sujeong unnie's naked body?"
"N-no, it's not like that, noona."
Her words stabbed right through my chest, but I shook my head anyway.
Honestly... it was about 99% spot on. After Sujeong noona came into the bathroom, the thought of quickly showering and getting out never even crossed my mind.
'And once the filming started, I straight-up plopped down on purpose. I sat, and Sujeong noona sat too, spreading her legs... ahem.'
The more I thought back, the more excuses fell flat, so I just shut my mouth and stared at the floor.
Geumbi noona waited briefly for a response, but when I didn't answer, she turned her arrows toward Sujeong noona sitting beside me, looking disappointed.
"Unnie, then you explain. How the hell did you end up causing a scene in the bathroom with Jigu while he was showering?"
"W-what do you mean 'scene'? That's too harsh, Geumbi."
"Harsh where? Two grown siblings rolling around naked in the bathroom—which do you think people would call harsher, that or what I just said?"
"That's... ugh. Anyway, that kind of comparison isn't fair..."
"So it's fine for you to strip bare and spread your legs in front of Jigu?"
"Hey! You gonna keep talking like that?"
"Unnie, you're the one who's already busted. How much longer are you gonna play dumb?"
Geumbi noona was seriously pissed, not holding back her rough words even against Sujeong noona.
Sujeong noona bristled a bit at that, but she couldn't outright refute the mix of emotion and facts.
"...You snuck off to your room with Jigu and did stuff like that too."
"Eek?!"
"And now you're only coming at me... Who's the sneaky one here? Hmph."
Even so, her experience as the eldest shone through—she flustered Geumbi noona with a water ghost tactic instead of excuses.
It was a move Hwayeon would pull often, but coming from someone who never did, it was doubly effective.
'Good point. If we're splitting hairs, Geumbi noona has no room to talk either.'
I sneaked a glance up at her.
Geumbi noona's face flushed red as she hesitated, then shot me a sharp look.
"Noona, just so you know, I didn't say much? I just passed on the facts to Sujeong noona."
"T-that's exactly saying a lot! Jigu, how are you so shameless...!"
"Geumbi, what are you even saying? You're making it sound like we did something we absolutely couldn't get caught doing behind your back."
"No, that's not... ack! Unnie, you know full well and you're doing this on purpose, aren't you? Teaming up with Jigu to mess with me?!"
"Oh? What on earth are you talking about? No idea~ No way my sweet little Geumbi, who dragged her little brother into all sorts of mischief, would make her own unnie kneel on the floor like this, right?"
"Agh, ugh... damn it, this pisses me off!"
Emboldened by my backup, Sujeong noona kept provoking, and Geumbi noona stomped her feet, eyes welling up with tears.
This time, she was the one channeling Hwayeon, which meant we'd seized control of the conversation.
"So... our knees hurt. Should we get up now, Jigu?"
"Yeah, sure. Good job, noona."
"Hey, wait, hold on! Who said you could just wrap this up? You haven't explained what you two were even doing yet!"
"Geumbi, you gonna wake the whole house in the middle of the night? We have work tomorrow—how long are you planning to waste time?"
"Wow, unnie, you saying that right now? 'Tomorrow' is already this morning! Do you even know how long you two spent in there?!"
"...H-has it been that long? I lost track inside. Jigu, do you know?"
"No... I was busy washing up too. Let's check the time once we get out."
We tried to slip past the fuming Geumbi noona and head out, but...
She blocked the changing room door like she'd caught us red-handed.
"Nope, you're not going anywhere. Not until you tell me exactly how far you two went."
"How far? We were just in the bathroom the whole time, Geumbi."
"That's not what I mean! And unnie, you were running around the living room freaking out yesterday when Jigu went to a motel with Hwayeon—mmph?!"
"W-why are you making stuff up, Geumbi? Haha, you must be exhausted. Haven't slept well since yesterday, huh? Hohoho."
"Mmph, pfft! Where's the lie? You were so panicked I had to calm you do—mmph!"
"Jigu, you know she's just rambling from excitement, right? Don't mind her, hehe."
As Geumbi noona started spilling secrets recklessly too, Sujeong noona hurriedly clamped her mouth shut.
I pretended not to notice and averted my eyes from them, and after a brief tussle, the two panted as they faced off at a distance.
"Geumbi, seriously? I always looked the other way when you snuck Jigu into your room or made your little secrets."
"What about you, unnie? Wanna go over what you were up to sneaking out with Jigu every night?"
"That's different. I'm talking about your attitude, Geumbi!"
"Different how? This is total hypocrisy, unnie!"
After the physical scuffle came more verbal sparring, dredging up old grudges as it delved into the past.
'At least the filming issue's been glossed over... but this could go on forever. Down to our childhood at this rate.'
As expected, their fight grew childish, now bringing up teenage grudges.
At this point, I didn't care, but with work tomorrow—or rather, this morning—we needed to wrap it up.
"Ahem, uh, noonas? Can we cool down and hear me out?"
"Huff... what, punk?"
"Hoo... what is it, Jigu?"
Geumbi noona still scowled with lingering anger, but she seemed willing to listen.
Sujeong noona openly sighed in relief and focused on me.
Seizing both their attention, I boldly...
"I'm beat. Can we sleep and talk more tomorrow? Doesn't seem like we'll reach a conclusion yelling here anyway."
Postponed the whole thing.
Yeah, I know. Kinda cowardly. But what can you do? Situation's too tangled for a clean resolution.
"...Hmph, don't get the wrong idea. I was getting sleepy anyway and about to drop it."
"Sure... no misunderstanding. Just brace yourself for tomorrow's scolding."
"Unnie, who are you talking to? If anyone's getting mad, it's me!"
"If anything, I don't get why you're even mad, Geumbi. Jealous I'm close with Jigu? Got some possessiveness over your little brother?"
"What?! You're the one who's been babying Jigu nonstop lately!"
"Think I'm like you? I just felt bad for him caught in the middle, so I looked out for him!"
"I was helping him because he was getting dragged around!"
"Yang Geumbi, you really...!"
"Go on, yell some more!"
This was bad.
I thought they still had some sense since it was just words, but this was one step from wrecking the family—no fists yet, thankfully.
Couldn't let it go on.
Time for the last resort.
"Geumbi, you don't seriously have feelings for Jigu or some—kya?!"
"Hey, Yang Jigu! Your hand on unnie's body—kya?!"
"N-now, both of you, calm down! Hug it out nice and friendly. You really wanna pull an all-nighter? Sun's up soon, and we gotta head to work, noonas."
I yanked both noonas in and crushed them against my chest in a big embrace.
Our foreheads bumped lightly in the middle, but they ended up trapped in my arms, wriggling awkwardly.
"Ow, hey. Let go. Ngh."
"J-Jigu. Even at our age... this is a bit much."
"Arms aren't budging. You fought like kids despite being adults, so make up like kids too. Geez, always gotta be the little brother stepping in like this?"
"Brat! If we're pointing fingers, you're the root cause! What do you have to be smug about...!"
"Jigu... even so, trying to weasel out alone feels unfair."
"Ahem. Anyway, that's it for tonight! No makeup hugs, and I'm off to the study alone. Got it?"
"Ngh... kh."
"Ow... ugh."
Despite their fact-bombs, I held my head high without backing down, and after hesitating, they softly embraced each other.
"...Sorry, unnie. Even if it was true, I went too far earlier. Should've worded facts better."
"No, my bad. I got too sharp even if I felt wronged. Sorry for hurting your feelings."
"Heehee, hng..."
"Hehe, hee..."
Hmm, something felt a bit off.
But it was resolved, right?
'Haa, minor stuff tomorrow... seriously time to sleep. Can't hold out anymore.'
Felt like yesterday's booze was bubbling back up.
I hadn't touched any, but somehow the vibe from my noonas felt the same as we dragged our exhausted steps to bed.
That night, with me in the middle, who knows how much their hands wandered between us.
Talking it out would've been an all-nighter, so I buried it quietly in my chest.
"Heehee~. So unnies had a huge fight over oppa? Hng, just like a drama lead."
"This isn't funny. If we trace it back, you're a big part of the cause, Hwayeon."
The next day at the cafe.
Hwayeon giggled at me while I washed dishes behind the counter.
"But it's fun, right? And fighting all night over sleeping positions once in bed. Pfft, neither's even slept with oppa properly."
"What're you saying. I sleep with my noonas every—pfft?! Hey, brat! What nonsense in a cafe with customers?!"
Too late to realize, I whipped my head around.
Now openly smirking, Hwayeon poked my cheek and teased.
"If it's trouble, just say the word. I'll step in and sort out unnies~ for you."
"...I'd sooner turn myself in to the cops than take your help."
I had a feeling.
Bringing Hwayeon into this mess would turn our home's spark into a full bomb blast.
'Walking explosive right here... gonna lose my mind.'
Whether she heard me or not.
I spent the whole shift shuddering at the ominous grin twitching on Hwayeon's lips.
...Actually, even after shift.
In front of the two noonas who'd come to pick me up at the cafe, Hwayeon casually linked arms with me and strolled out.
Arm-in-arm, as if it were the most natural thing.