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Everyone has a dark history with play. Those pitiful memories from the past that make you bolt upright in bed even in your sleep, clutching your head and muttering curses to yourself in self-reproach—everyone has at least one or two of those.

But it's rare for someone to go further and seal those memories away in the depths of their mind, refusing to even glance at them. .....No, wait. Actually, thinking about it, maybe that's not so rare after all. Perhaps I'm not the only one carrying some horrific memory like that. Others might just lack the courage to face it and pretend it never happened.

'Hey, wanna play?'

But the box of memories I'd sealed away for so long was opening right before my eyes. That forbidden recollection I'd shoved down whenever it surfaced was now unfolding vividly in front of me.

'Yeah, oppa. Let's play.'

The memory began ten years ago—when I was 13.

'Where did we leave off last time?'

'We got engaged, remember!'

'Oh, right. Let's pick up from there.'

Back then, it was winter break. I was bored out of my mind at home, binge-watching anime. My little stepsister, Seongah Jeong, who went to the same school, was right there with me.

'Okay. So Suyeon wants to get matching rings now that they're engaged. Time to go buy some.'

'Uh... Minsu says that's fine too. Let's meet in the city at 3.'

The anime we were obsessed with was a teen romance called Our Wildly Blooming Days. It followed two childhood friends hitting 17, becoming aware of each other through some incident, bickering, and finally confessing their feelings—a straightforward story. But the directing was top-notch, and the characters were charming, so it blew up in popularity.

'Yeah. It's already 2. Suyeon's starting to wash up and do her makeup. She's wearing that dress she bought last time.'

'Minsu just woke up from sleeping in and crawled back into bed.'

'Oppa! You can't do that when you're going to buy rings! That's so irresponsible!'

'Nah, Minsu's always been lazy like that. He's late to everything.'

'That was when they were just childhood friends! Now they're dating! And we're going to buy rings!' ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

'Mm... Got it. Minsu's rushing to the bathroom for a quick shower.'

The ending split fans hard. The leads barely confess, but then the girl transfers schools, leaving the guy regretting his hesitation. The epilogue has them meeting as adults, but it cuts off with just smiles and stares—leaving everything to the imagination as an open ending.

'.....Suyeon's warning she'll make him pay if he's late again. She's doing her makeup, curling her hair, getting all pretty.'

'Minsu's shampooing fast to avoid being late. Shower done in five minutes flat!'

Because of that lingering regret, we started role-playing the "what if" sequel in our own way. We called it "play" for short, imagining the backstory we'd create ourselves.

'Suyeon's already at the meeting spot, waiting. Ribboned shoes, dress, perfect makeup.'

'Minsu's almost there. Oh! There he is. Heart pounding at the sight of Suyeon.'

'....Suyeon spots Minsu too. Seeing how much taller he's gotten has her heart racing.'

'Light's green anyway. Minsu crosses the street. But then—bam! Truck!'

'Agh—seriously! Not again!'

'...Almost, but he dodges with lightning reflexes.'

'Ugh, you ruined the immersion! Redo. Cancel the truck.'

'Kukukuku...'

'Aaaah—stop it!'

'Fine, sorry. Minsu just likes pranks.'

'.....That was back when they were childhood friends.'

'Ahem. Got it. I'll play it straight.'

We'd gotten hooked on this role-play as a post-anime hangover. Closer than most siblings, we spent a lot of time messing around together. Looking back, it's wild how tight we were.

'Up close, Suyeon makes Minsu's face flush. Ahem. He's scratching the back of his head, embarrassed.'

'...Suyeon's heart is pounding too.'

'But no time for shyness. Gotta buy those rings. Minsu takes Suyeon's hand.'

'Suyeon smiles happily. Off to get rings~'

We dove deep into the role-play. Empathizing as the leads, we'd mimic their voices, imagining their happy romance. We'd even hold hands for real, feeling their emotions firsthand.

'Arrived at the department store. Staff greeting them.'

'But a male clerk's giving Suyeon a creepy look. She's getting uneasy.'

'Minsu notices. He chews the guy out and pulls Suyeon away.'

'What happened to the clerk?'

'Nosebleed.'

'.....Suyeon's smitten.'

Our play was childish. No plot logic, just rapid-fire escalation—like a newbie writer's brain-dump fanfic, overflowing with emotions.

'A month later, wedding's set. Suyeon's thrilled.'

'Minsu smiles, glad he proposed.'

'.....Then their eyes meet.'

'...Uh... Minsu's embarrassed.'

'.....Guys don't get embarrassed.'

'...Minsu approaches Suyeon.'

'S, Suyeon's waiting...'

Those memories are still vivid. We stared at each other with affectionate eyes. I suddenly hugged Seongah and said:

'M, Minsu hugs Suyeon and says he'll make her happy from now on.'

My heart was pounding like mad. I'd fallen for my little sister romantically. And Seongah felt the same.

'.....Suyeon says ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠th, thank you. She hugs Minsu back.'

Seongah hugged me awkwardly as she said it. We kept playing like that, locked in each other's arms.

'Minsu asks Suyeon where she wants to honeymoon.'

'...Suyeon says Hawaii sounds good.'

'Minsu agrees. Let's see the beach and eat tons of good food.'

'...Yeah. Suyeon's happy. Can't wait for the honeymoon.'

What started as a small regret over the anime turned into full immersion. Our feelings shifted from the characters to each other. The more we played, the more we acted like a real couple.

'Suyeon says she loves Minsu's arms. Feels all fuzzy, like floating on clouds.'

'...Minsu feels the same. Holding Suyeon makes his heart warm.'

'.....I love you. Suyeon says she loves him.'

'...Minsu too. Minsu loves Suyeon.'

Hugging tight, confessing love. The mood swept us away into emotional overload. Whispering "I love you" in each other's ears, we started using real names instead of characters.

'I love you, oppa.'

'I love you too, Seongah.'

'....! W, wait—Suyeon! You have to say Minsu!'

'Oh. R-right. Minsu... Minsu loves Suyeon.'

'...Y-yeah. Right.'

'....S, Suyeon wants a hug.'

'Yeah....'

'I love you.'

'I love you too.'

From that day, our feelings grew. What was "play" twisted into real romance.

'I love you... I really love you...'

'Yeah... Let's get married for sure...'

By the end of each play, we'd hug and confess. Using the characters as cover, we'd hold hands and shower affection.

'Does groom Kim Minsu swear to love bride Ha Suyeon?'

'I swear.'

Time passed, and we became a pretend married couple. It felt natural in the flow of play. That boldness led to daily love confessions.

'Oppa, what do you like about me?'

'Your pretty eyes, your fair skin, the most beautiful girl I've ever seen...'

We dropped the character names. In our "play," Minsu and Suyeon were married—no need for those anymore. Just "honey" or "oppa."

'Oppa, you'll love only me forever, right?'

'Of course! You're my wife.'

We'd fully confirmed our feelings as man and woman. Looking back, maybe it worked because we weren't blood-related. Seongah's real dad was our dad, my real mom was our mom—we were a blended family. Not true siblings. That might've let us dive so deep.

'Oppa. Wanna play?'

After that, Seongah visited my room way more. I'd hug and stroke her, whispering love. She'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cling back, repeating the same.

Then one day.

'Oppa. Wanna... play?'

'...No more of that.'

I realized the "play" was wrong. I'd known for a while but ignored it. Time to fix our sibling bond.

'...Why? Why all of a sudden.' ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

'Just... bored of it. We've done enough.'

'.....'

Her hurt face haunts me. Felt like I'd sinned against her. My chest aches.

'Oppa, I love you...'

A week after quitting, late at night, Seongah sneaks in, hugs me from behind, whispers love. Dead asleep, I make a huge mistake.

'Truth is, I love you too. I wanna marry you...'

'Then why won't you play?'

'Just... feels wrong.'

'I hate that. I wanna play with oppa. Let's play...'

Drunk on sleep, reality blurred with dreams. I hugged her back, whispering love like always. When she went for a kiss, I snapped awake and shoved her off.

'Eek! Wh-what!'

'....O, oppa. I really love you...'

'N-no! Get away!'

'......'

Her eyes welled with tears. I looked away. No blood tie, but still family. I kept pushing her away, acting like a jerk brother, hoping we'd fight like normal siblings.

'What's your girlfriend's name again? Chaemin?'

'Yeah. Chaemin.'

Four years later, at 17, co-ed school, first girlfriend Chaemin. Bumped into Mom on the street, got caught.

'...You're dating?'

Seongah overheard. Her expression crushed me—pure despair, like the world ended.

'What are you to your oppa? You two were so~ close as kids.'

'.....'

She stormed to her room. I wanted to talk, but heard her sobbing at the door. She still loved me romantically.

'I wanna be an idol.'

Another year. She watched Birth of a Star, caught idol fever.

'You? An idol? Think anyone's cut out for that?'

'Ugh—I'll work hard! I'm hot enough.'

By then, we'd patched things up. A year of effort paid off.

Day before leaving for idol dorms, she comes to my room.

'Hey. Last time seeing each other like this.'

'Yeah. And call me oppa.'

'.....Remember that anime Our Wildly Blooming Days?'

'.....Why bring that up.'

'Just... protagonist's 17. I'm 17 now.'

'.....'

'You did good stopping "that." Thanks for pushing me away. Just wanted to say that.'

'.....What? Random nonsense.'

'.....Tch. Yeah. But... think those two are happy?'

'....Yeah. Minsu just wants Suyeon happy.'

'...Haha. Right. See ya.'

Her voice choked with sobs. She left for the dorms, debut on the horizon.

"Haa...."

A long sigh escaped. Why dredge up those memories now?

"Maaaster~♥"

My slave's lewd voice snapped me out. I looked up at slave Heeyeon Lee's face.

"Seongah's corruption video is all set, Master...♥ Play it now?"

The USB of Seongah's fall from grace, a gift from Master for Sina Lee's return. I was about to watch.

I gave a bitter smile and commanded my slave bitch.

"Play it."