Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Prank
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Heading home took longer than expected.
Not caring about others' opinions and acting freely—that's one of my strengths. Taking my friend's advice to make full use of it, I'd stopped by a few places on the way.
For later use... you could call it a preliminary check.
It had been a while since I'd wandered around outside on foot. No surprise, I got tired out fast. Doing something you don't normally do drains your stamina like crazy. All I wanted was to get home and flop into bed.
Come to think of it, this was the first time I'd gotten home later than Si-eun.
I'd been wondering what excuse to give if she asked why I was late, but no call or text came through.
Well, around now, she's probably deep into cooking. She might not have a moment to spare.
I stepped out of the elevator and stood in front of our door.
No sounds came from inside. Had she finished cooking and was waiting for me? If so, I'd feel bad. Should've texted ahead.
With those thoughts, I punched in the door lock code and entered the house.
And right there in the living room, visible from the entryway...
Si-eun was curled up in a nap.
"...Huh?"
The unexpected sight made the sound slip out before I knew it.
Si-eun's the type with a disciplined routine. She hardly ever sleeps in, even on weekends. I'd never even seen her doze off for a bit in the middle of the day.
Yet here she was, sleeping from Monday evening. Bizarre.
I quietly slipped off my shoes and tiptoed over to her.
Right in front of where she slept, I slowly lowered myself without a sound.
Up close, I saw several blankets layered beneath her.
At the bottom was probably the one she used. On top of that was mine—thin but plush.
And atop it all, Si-eun lay with her eyes closed, off in dreamland.
She looked just like a strawberry perched on a cake.
I shifted my gaze to Si-eun.
Her jet-black hair neatly arranged. Long lashes modestly veiling her closed eyes. Distinct features even without tension in her face. And that one beauty mark near her lips.
Her small, pale hands overlapped near her mouth. Curled up as she was, the curves of her body stood out even more.
...I'd said I didn't have a hobby of ogling sleeping people. Sorry, Si-eun, but maybe I do after all.
But I couldn't look away.
Seen like this, Si-eun really was stunning. No wonder rumors spread not just in high school, but across the whole university.
Until recently, I'd just thought she was pretty. But once I started taking an interest, every little detail felt incredibly appealing.
Should I wake her?
Her body would cool down while sleeping. She'd only laid the blankets out, not covered herself—she might catch a cold like this.
Plus, dinner looked untouched. Both of us needed to eat.
Weighing it all, waking her seemed best. Decision made, I tapped lightly near her head with my index finger.
"Mm..."
Interrupted from her rare nap (or evening snooze?), Si-eun furrowed her brows and scrunched her face. Her lips mumbled, fingers twitched.
Soon, her eyes slowly fluttered open.
"Sleep well?"
"...Yeah."
Still groggy, maybe. Her words were a bit dazed, voice low and husky.
"What time is it now?"
"Around 7:30."
"Oh no. I didn't prep dinner."
"It's fine. Ramen's good enough tonight."
"No matter how generous you act, I'm not boiling any for you."
Too bad.
I figured one chat would get her up, but she stayed lying down.
Did she wake up slow? Or was this spot too comfy? She showed no sign of getting up.
Time to ask what I'd been curious about.
"Why were you sleeping here, anyway?"
"Well... Truth is, after drying the blankets, I meant to move them to the room."
"And?"
"Your blanket looked so fluffy, I lay down for a sec... and passed out."
"Impressive reasoning."
At least she wasn't sick or anything. Small mercies.
I snorted and kept going.
"You been tired lately?"
"Why?"
"You don't usually nap."
"Mm, I've had some worries lately, so I've been sleeping poorly..."
Worries?
"What worries?"
"That's..."
"Yeah?"
"Not telling."
"What?"
Why dodge all of a sudden?
For a moment, I felt annoyed, but it made sense. Prying into someone's troubles was foolish to begin with. The kind of thing someone socially inept like me would do.
Anyway, wasn't it time to get up?
Si-eun was still curled like a shrimp. Eyes half-closed. She might drift off again.
As I stared at her dazed face...
My friend's words popped into my head.
'You always act without minding others, right? Within the bounds of not bothering them, show the boldest move you can muster.'
In short, do the most unexpected thing possible, as long as it didn't harm Si-eun.
No guarantee it'd work. But advice from a romance veteran? Who was I to argue?
Alright, then. Time to act.
"The blanket you're lying on—I'm taking it to my room, right?"
Si-eun fiddled with the one under her.
"This one? Yeah. It's yours."
Hm. Got it.
"Okay."
I nodded, then said calmly,
"I'll move it myself."
"Huh?"
Ignoring her question, I slid my arms under the blanket, right beneath her. Then braced my legs and stood.
Si-eun lifted up blanket and all. The classic princess carry. With a layer of blanket in between.
"Wha? What, what're you doing?"
She looked flustered as her view flipped. I answered steadily.
"Taking it to my room."
"What do you—?"
"You said this blanket's going to my room."
"But why take me too?!"
"'Cause you're lying on it."
"That doesn't even—"
I tuned out the complaints and headed to my room.
Like last time when I'd carried her piggyback home, Si-eun was surprisingly light. Not skinny, and with a decent chest too. Must manage her weight meticulously.
"What the heck..."
I half-ignored her grumbling in my arms and entered the room.
I set her down on the bed blanket-first. She sat up immediately, glaring with a pout.
"What are you trying to pull?"
One arm clutched over her chest as she asked.
Shrunk back a bit—she must think I had something shady in mind.
I sat in the chair, propped my chin on the desk, and replied.
"Not planning anything weird."
"Then why'd you do that?"
"To move the blanket."
"Huh?"
"Yeah. Anyway, that's done. Go make dinner."
"What?"
Si-eun tilted her head.
Face screaming she had no clue what just happened. If this were a manga, a dozen question marks would've floated over her head.
Silence hung in the room for a few seconds.
"Pfft."
Then Si-eun burst out laughing out of nowhere.
"Good thing. Looks like you're over it."
"Wasn't mad."
"Then not good."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
After the pointless back-and-forth, Si-eun stretched with a big "Mmm~."
She perched on the bed's edge, smiling as she gazed at me.
"Actually, I'm the lucky one."
"Why?"
"You seemed awkward, but it's cleared up."
"You've been way better since the chocolate thing."
"Don't... mention the chocolate."
Just recalling it embarrassed her—her cheeks pinked up.
"Y'know, working here as housekeeper... I've gotten kinda used to living with someone."
"We haven't done much together, though."
"Eating meals, chatting when bored—we've done that much."
Fair point. I nodded, and she continued.
"Makes me think... if I had an older sister or brother, or a little sibling, it'd feel like this."
"Yeah?"
Our shared life seemed positive for her. Despite the minor clashes—like me drinking straight from the cup or getting caught watching weird videos.
Si-eun furrowed her brows.
"But then you suddenly started keeping distance, and last week felt like living alone again."
"Uh, sorry about that..."
"It's okay. Probably partly my fault."
She accepted the apology, shaking her head side to side. Legs swinging front and back—happy gestures, as she said.
"Talking like this, and occasional pranks... that's what makes it fun."
"Don't feel like I prank much."
"But when you do, you go all out. Like the maid outfit."
Hmm. Truth is, that had a lot of sincerity mixed in. Whatever. If she saw it as a prank, fine.
Her face brimmed with smiles.
Gazing at it, I pondered.
Si-eun wasn't usually this frank. Today, words flowed easy. After-wake-up daze? Or realizing my value after a break? ...Nah, probably not.
Either way, her energy lifted my mood too.
I'd said stuff like can't like the housekeeper, need distance, pay her off and send her away. But facing her straight, those thoughts vanished.
So what now?
The answer was simple.
Just keep living with Si-eun like this, doing what I want.
"Got something to say."
That realization brought words to mind.
"What?"
She tilted her head, staring. No clue what was coming.
She said she liked my pranks making her happy. Might as well prank once more.
Resolved, I grinned and said,
"This weekend—wanna go on a date?"