Chapter 87
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Pulling Her In
It had been a tumultuous day, but at least Mokhui's misunderstanding seemed sorted out.
Gazing at the sunset landscape beyond the window, I stretched lazily and mentally tallied up the rest of the day.
"Haa~ Time flies when you're chatting. So, Mokhui, when are you heading home?"
"Huh? Do I have to go today? I thought I was staying over?"
"What? Of course you have to go back. Even if I don't mind, you snuck out without telling anyone in the family."
"But you only told big sis Sujeong before leaving..."
"Telling Sujeong unnie is enough. She's basically the head of the household and the eldest, so that's as good as getting proper permission, right?"
Even as I said this, I was too scared of the fallout to even check my phone.
...But seriously, how many messages have piled up? I need to get it back from Mokhui before we leave.
"Then can I just get permission from big sis Sujeong too?"
"Huh? Hold on, Mokhui. You're really planning to stay over? You don't want to go back?"
"Nooo, it's just... I came all this way for once, and going back alone feels weird. Plus, the road back is kinda scary."
"It's not even that dark yet. I'll walk you to the taxi at least."
"M-more importantly, look at my clothes! You dragged me out of nowhere, and I'm still in my pajamas... How's a grown lady supposed to go out like this? Absolutely not, no way."
"Is it that bad? Hmm, if you wrap up in a thin blanket, you might pass."
With her baby face and petite frame, people would probably just think, A kid ran out on an errand~.
But Mokhui disagreed, shaking her head vigorously and wrapping herself tighter in the blanket.
"Anyway, I can't go out until the clothes issue is fixed. Tomorrow, can you buy me a decent coat or something?"
"Fine, fine. I'll grab a windbreaker or whatever. So, should I tell them you're staying tonight?"
"Yesss... Oh, I'll handle the call! Just to Sujeong unnie, right? I'll explain everything, so don't worry about it, hehe."
Thinking she'd won the argument, Mokhui nodded eagerly, her round eyes sparkling as she tapped away on her phone.
Her brisk movements and the innocent smile blooming on her lips were utterly adorable.
But she still wouldn't give my phone back, which made it awkward to get mad or press her on it.
Maybe I should just sneak it back later? If I ask now, it'll get embarrassing over those Sujeong unnie pics again.
Guessing her emphasis on contacting "Sujeong unnie" specifically stemmed from the same issue,
I said I'd think about dinner and left the bedroom for the balcony area.
The muggy air inside made the breeze from the open window feel amazing.
Wanting more of it, I stepped out onto the balcony, leaned my arms on the railing, and stared into the distance.
"Nice breeze, whew. Dinner can be takeout, so that's sorted. Left is... Mom's return and contacting the other two."
I couldn't do much about Mom coming back, so calling would just end vaguely anyway.
But there's a big difference between trying and not, so I resolved to call right after sending Mokhui home tomorrow.
As for Geumbi unnie and Hwayeon...
Honestly, I wanted to keep ignoring it and leave it to Sujeong unnie like now.
"Scary, huh. Geumbi unnie will blow up like fireworks, and Hwayeon's probably super pissed."
I'd be the same in their shoes.
If a family member up and left for days or months without a word, you'd be stomping your feet and glued to your phone, obviously.
Especially since the person involved had that ambiguous vibe with me lately—not quite a fling, not heavy petting, just... that murky atmosphere.
"What should I even say? My words could crank their anger levels up or down."
I tapped the railing in time with the blowing wind.
It reeked of a guy juggling two or three girls, scrambling for excuses, but I shook it off and rehearsed lines one by one.
"Wait until I pick one... Too playboy. Need time to confirm facts... Like a divorce trial. I'll meet Mom first and decide... They'll just grill me on why I left without a word, ugh."
Head bowed in complicated worries, I pressed my forehead with the back of my hand.
No matter what I said, I could only see a future where they stormed the hotel. In that pitch-black moment—
"Oppa, no! Stop!"
"Huh? Whoa, what, what?!"
The slightly ajar balcony door flew open, and someone from behind yanked my waist.
Caught off guard, I stumbled, barely keeping balance... or so I thought.
"Wait, if you keep pulling—ahh!"
The pull didn't let up, and my body was dragged into the living room, collapsing with a thud.
Luckily, I braced with my hands and avoided serious injury.
But the small body pinned beneath me had twisted her ankle, her eyes squeezed shut in pain.
"Mokhui, you okay? If you needed me, just call out—why yank me like that...?"
"Ow, but oppa... you were hanging your head low, looking down there, ugh."
"Huh? What's that got to—hey. You didn't think...? Crazy. I'd never. Out of nowhere, why?"
"Ugh, that's 'cause you're so oblivious! Think about it—if something awkward happens unintentionally with unnie or a dongsaeng, it shakes you up... right? Isn't it?"
"Well, yeah, that makes sense in a way, hmm."
But I wasn't brooding that deeply on weird worries.
I wasn't taking it lightly either, but the weight was in a different direction from what Mokhui imagined.
Then again, even when she thought she was adopted, she had that vibe. Figures she'd assume everyone else would too.
Her timid, introverted nature works against her in times like this.
Maybe this is normal, and I've been too nonchalant all along.
Wonder if it's 'cause Hwayeon was the first one... Kinda took it lightly in hindsight, huh.
Scratching my head, I scooped up Mokhui, who was still wincing at me.
She looked half annoyed, half worried, then freaked out in my arms, flailing her limbs.
"Wh-what, oppa? What're you doing, suddenly like this... eek!"
"Calm down, let's go to the bed. We can talk there."
"B-bed? Oppa, no, I'm not ready to fight the unnies yet... ughh."
"Hey, what're you on about? Your ankle might be sprained bad—let's sit on the mattress and check. Quit messing around, tch."
"...Hehe, busted? But you looked so serious, so I thought pulling you like this might snap you out of it... hehe."
"Who was the one with the serious face yanking me? Anyway, we're here—get down carefully, no bumping the ankle."
I set her down on the bed, her face a mix of awkwardness that left me unsure if it was real or a prank.
Kneeling on the bedroom floor, I gently massaged her slim calf. My hands were cold from the breeze, making her twitch and squeak, "Eek! Hah!"
"Better check right away. Bear with it a sec. Hmm, visually, no big issues."
"Ah, doesn't really hurt anywhere. Probably not bad."
"Good. Let me press a bit—if it hurts, say so."
"Y-yes? No, eek! Hnng, hnya, hauk!"
"Hurts? Or cold? Anything weird?"
"N-nooo. Nothing too weird... Ah, below the calf. Kinda stings?"
"Here? Behind the ankle bone? This spot?"
"Ugh, eek, ha. Yeah, stings a bit there... but, haat."
Thankfully not too bad—she didn't fuss even when I pressed hard.
But she'd let out odd moans now and then, or vaguely point to her heel, so I rubbed for a few more minutes.
"Mmm, if it holds up this much, you're good. One last firm press."
"Ugh, okay... Hngg! Ha, oppa, this one's, hii?!"
"What's wrong? Hurt anywhere, Mokhui?"
"Ahh, nooo... Not that. Just, something, something... ugh."
"What? If it's bad, say so clearly."
"N-not bad. Feels good actually... No, not bad! Like tense muscles loosening, hehe."
I was just palpating her foot and leg, not massaging.
Guess it felt the same to her. Whatever, if she liked it, fine.
"Phew, no pain means we're good. Look at the mess you caused, huh?"
"Wuu~ Rub a bit more. Was right at the good part, ow."
"You think I'm your personal masseuse? Anyway, punishment: porridge for dinner. Rest up and nourish yourself."
"Ehh, oppa, I hate porridge."
"Whiners don't get choices. Gimme my phone—I'll order."
Having indulged her whims plenty, it was time to wrap up the day for real.
Finally, she hesitantly pulled my phone from under the pillow, and I chuckled wryly, wondering where she'd hidden it this time, then turned it on.
"...What? Why's it like this? Battery dead?"
"Oh~ Is it? What to do—want me to order with mine? Plug yours in here, hehe."
"...You didn't mess with it, did you, Mokhui?"
"Me? Oppa, I'm totally tech-illiterate? I don't know how to do that."
"Says the baby of the family. ...Sigh, fine, you order something decent. I'll grab the charger from my bag."
"Sure~ Take your time, oppa. Hehe."
My ever-present phone felt oddly hard to look at today.
I killed time watching Netflix on TV until the food arrived.
"Ah, oppa watches this variety show too? It's super hot right now!"
"Heard all the kids buzzing about it. Wanna binge while eating?"
"Yes! Lie down comfy, oppa. Lean on my back too, heave-ho."
I'd sat on the bed waiting for delivery, but soon lay back staring at the TV.
Once down, I melted into the pillows propping my back, with no will to get up.
"Feels just like old times... right, oppa? Hehe."
"Yeah. But I'll sleep out there, so don't worry."
"Wasn't worried. ...Kinda prefer it this way."
"What'd you say? TV's too loud—didn't catch it."
"Th-the volume's low too. I'll turn it up, hehehe."
We ate dinner, took turns brushing teeth, spending most of the time on the bed.
Embarrassing to admit twice, but amid the food coma, my eyes started drooping softly.
"......Good night, oppa."
Just a light doze, and a soft goodnight came from beside me.
I thought to shake my head, but with my mind drifting and head lolling, I flopped fully into the bed.