Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Omniscient Little Sister Perspective - 2
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February 28th. Weather: Clear.
The evening before middle school entrance day arrived right around the corner, I suddenly got a call from Yerim.
"Hmm~ Yerim, just to make sure, you're saying this seriously right now...?"
"Maybe a little...?"
—Of course!
Both me and Yerim, and our Oppa and Jinhyuk Oppa—they're not strangers to each other.
Her suggestion to go to school separately and stick together from morning until lunch left me stunned beyond belief, bordering on admiration.
...What, is she planning to tail him like a shadow or something?
The usual Yerim is totally fine, reall~~~y great...!
But why does this mature, calm girl go berserk like a truck with busted brakes whenever it involves our Oppa...?
If I said "that's a bit much..." here, she'd obviously start reeling off all the reasons she prepared beforehand to convince me.
But Yerim.
I may not have reached Yerim-level black belt in mind-reading exams, settling for a decent second dan myself...
From my experience, the way to handle Yerim in moments like this isn't a flat "no"—you have to offer a compromise.
"Not 'a bit much,' but how about just two days a week? We don't hang out as a group of four that often anyway!"
"...Two days?"
"Yeah! The other days, like you said: me with Jinhyuk Oppa, you with our Oppa. Sound good~?"
Yerim let out a little "hmm..." like she was pondering my suggestion.
...Is it really that tough a decision? I wondered, but since I'd gotten used to my friend's antics, I waited patiently. Soon, she cautiously spoke up.
"......Wouldn't one day be enough?"
Heh heh, classic Yerim.
Does she realize I knew she'd say that, so I started with two days?
Given her personality, she wouldn't ignore my opinion, so I figured she'd compromise down to one~ and sure enough.
She might get mad if she knew what I was thinking.
What can you do?
To deal with a Yerim who turns endlessly clingy around our Oppa, I have no choice but to get a little scheming myself.
And with that, we wrapped up our secret little chat—unknown to some of the parties involved.
I sent Jinhyuk Oppa a message suggesting we walk to school together on opening day.
—Oh, was Jinhyuk Oppa already on his phone?
The reply came right away: sure thing.
He probably thinks all four of us are going together.
I could already picture both oppas' surprised faces on the day, and a smile crept onto mine unbidden.
How should I put it~? Something like "Oppa had to stop somewhere first, so he went ahead" oughta do it.
Too elaborate a lie to Jinhyuk Oppa would prick my conscience like the real thing, so this half-baked fib was just right.
Of course, our Oppa—the sacrificial lamb—would be a bit thrown off...
But Oppa wants alone time with Yerim more anyway, so yeah.
So, Oppa. Take good care of things that day, okay?♡
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
April 1st. Weather: Cloudy.
Ha.
"Hey, freshman."
...I never imagined something like this would happen to me.
I'd fantasized about it in my head, but never thought it'd actually go down.
"Crazy bitch isn't even answering."
"Ha, you got no mouth or what?"
It wasn't fear that left me speechless—it was sheer absurdity.
A classmate said two second-year girls were calling for me, so I stepped out into the hall wondering what it was about. There stood two seniors dolled up like they were screaming "we're here to mess with you~."
Obviously, I'd never seen either of them before.
I asked what they wanted, and they said follow us, so I did.
Then the words from Senior No. 1—with her clashing heavy lipstick—left me floored.
"Why you keep hitting on our Jinhyuk, you crazy bitch?"
"...Me?"
"Oh, reall~y? What bullshit."
"Oh my, look at this bitch's eyes. You nuts or something?"
Do they have some condition where they have to laugh after every line?
Senior No. 1 and 2 cackled like hyenas after every word, spewing curses as naturally as breathing. I considered ignoring them and heading back to class.
But even worms squirm when stepped on, and these two slightly dim bulbs might flip out if provoked.
I took a deep breath, engraving "endure" on my mind...
"Our Jinhyuk doesn't like girls like you, so quit acting up. Got it?"
"...You've been calling him 'our Jinhyuk'—you two must be close, huh?"
Ah, I tried to hold back~!
But those cigarette-stinking mouths kept grating on me, and I couldn't.
"What, pissed? He's wa~y closer to me than you, so go cry and seduce some other guy."
"If we catch you again, you're dead—so behave~?"
With that, they turned and giggled off like my response didn't matter, these two idiots... no, morons.
Snap—
Something inside me broke.
...Let's do this, huh?
I knew Jinhyuk Oppa's looks went beyond handsome, so I'd braced for some jealousy drama like this.
But actually facing it? No laughing it off like stepping in dog crap.
I pulled out my phone to text Oppa when Yerim popped into my head.
Lately, Oppa's been fine, but if he got hurt even a little, I'd never escape Yerim's wrath.
...Gotta get Yerim's permission first. Can I borrow Oppa a sec?
He's my real brother, but somehow it felt right to ask her anyway.
—
Back in class, Yerim caught my eye and asked where I'd been.
I gestured wildly, spilling the whole story in the short time.
"...For real?"
"Totally~!"
I whined and hugged her; she patted my back like checking if I was okay.
...But Yerim, we were the same size once—what'd you eat to grow like this—
"...You okay? Let's tell Oppa or the teachers right now. They might pull something later even if they backed off..."
"Yeah, I was gonna tell our Oppa first—is that cool?"
"Sure, text him now."
...Honestly, kinda touched.
I figured Yerim would say no because Woojin Oppa might get hurt, but seeing her genuinely worry for me made my heart tingle.
Stupid Han Sea.
No way Yerim wouldn't help me for Oppa's sake.
I felt sorry for drawing that line in my head on my own.
—
Break was ending, so I'd text Oppa next one. But moments after sending, the back door slammed open with a bang.
"Ah, Oppa!"
"...Han Sea, that text just now. Real?"
"Yeah, these scary seniors cornered me and..."
"Whatever. Names. Those bitches."
...Whoa, he's seriously pissed.
I'd told him expecting he'd step up, sure.
But the raw fury—like he wouldn't let it slide.
I'd rarely seen Oppa this genuinely angry, even me. I almost worried for those two seniors.
"You okay, Oppa...?"
"Ah, yeah. Sorry to scare you. I'm fine."
Yerim flinched a bit at this unfamiliar side of Oppa; he noticed, softened his face quick, and forced an awkward smile.
Yerim's the perfect Oppa calmer...
Even max-raging, he forces a smile for her—Oppa really is something.
I gave the names; he nodded like he knew them.
"You tell Jinhyuk? What'd he say?"
"Not yet. Didn't want him blaming himself."
"...Yeah, he'd do that. Good call."
"Right? Didn't wanna worry him over something like this~?"
Oppa looked so mad; I teased lightly to lighten the mood. His big hand landed on my head.
"...Worried me plenty. I'll handle it quick—wait here."
His voice resigned yet firm as he stroked my hair slowly.
"...Yeah, thanks, Oppa."
And sorry..., I mumbled soft. He chuckled like "what're you saying" and turned.
That back was the same as when we were kids—he'd rush over strong and shield me when I cried.
In his eyes, I'm still the fragile sis to protect; in mine, he's the sturdy Oppa who has my back.
We're such steadfast siblings. My eyes welled up a bit.
—
He wasn't kidding about quick—he was back fast.
Dragging those two seniors, one on each side.
"At it again?"
"You bi—"
"Hey."
"............Sorry."
They bristled at my jab but cowered, heads down the second Oppa spoke.
What, is he some rabid dog tamer...?
"Apologize properly. Include what I said on the way."
"...Hey, Han Woojin, we wouldn't have touched her if we knew she was your sis."
"We said sorry—that's enough for a junior..."
".........I'm holding back. Real hard. Don't make me say it twice."
"Sea, sorry—we won't do it again......"
Oppa trembled fists clenched, eyes squeezed shut like barely containing himself. Honestly...
—Even I find it scary...
Sympathy flickered as they shook apologizing.
...But gotta do what must be done.
I shoved my phone in their faces.
"...What?"
"Look."
[Seo Jinhyuk]
-Oppa. Know Kim Bada, Moon Dam-bi? Second-years.
-?? No clue. First time hearing. Why? Friends of yours?
-They said they're close to you...?
-??????????? No. Seriously no! Only girl I'm close to is you, Sea;;;
-Right~?
"You were all 'our Jinhyuk' this and that... but Jinhyuk Oppa doesn't even know who you are~?"
"......This really Seo Jinhyuk?"
"Check the number and profile~? Oh, guess you don't have his number~?"
Ah, feels good to vent.
They stared holes in my phone in disbelief.
Won't change facts—keep looking if you want. Soon they shuffled out like souls fled.
"Ah~ Oppa, this kinda thing ain't half bad sometimes~?"
"You're mean. Don't jinx big trouble."
I laughed as he smirked and flicked my forehead.
I'd come out to greet my hardworking Oppa—no, today my mighty big bro.
"Won't happen again. If it does, tell me right away."
"Got it! Our Oppa's kinda scary, huh?"
"What're you on about."
I squealed and hugged him; he shoved me off with a grimace.
Psh, you love it.
"Oppa, I thought Yerim would say not to call you like she does Jinhyuk Oppa."
"Huh, why?"
"Cuz you might get hurt fighting. She's president of the Wicked Woojin Lovers' Club."
"...'Wicked' what now. Idiot, of course she'd say go for it."
"How come?"
Oppa looked at me like I should know.
"...Yerim went through some bad stuff before, right?"
"...Yeah."
"No way she'd sit by if you might face the same. If I hadn't stepped up, she would've."
His voice full of conviction.
This is Yerim black belt level.
I'm still second dan.
I thought I knew Yerim pretty well.
...Still a ways to go.
Oppa. You know?
Yerim believed you'd fix it for sure.
And you believed she'd help me no matter what.
I envied their rock-solid mutual trust.
Secret from Oppa, though.
I used to think, why would a girl like Yerim like our Oppa? Bad eyesight~?
Today, just a tiny bit, I wondered if he wasn't half bad after all.