One and Only Sister
One and Only Sister
"This is my university, but..."
I had never told Aria which university I attended. That was only natural. It had barely been two days since we started living together, and yesterday had been such a major incident.
If we had kept in regular contact, that would be one thing, but I had never once reached out to Aria while she was in Sweden.
The only possibility was that Linnea had told Aria, but that didn't seem likely either.
During her time studying abroad in Sweden, hadn't Aria herself refused phone calls with me, saying her resolve might dull? If she was avoiding contact with me, would she have needed to hear about me?
"Wow, really? What an incredible coincidence!"
I didn't want to dampen my lovely younger sister's joy, but no matter how I looked at it, this was too much of a coincidence.
"Aria. Answer me honestly. You knew, didn't you?"
In that instant, Aria's body flinched and went rigid. After avoiding my gaze for a moment, Aria finally opened her mouth as if resigning herself.
"I want to always be an honest Aria in front of you, so I'll tell you. I truly didn't do it 'knowing.' It's just..."
"Just?"
"Every morning, after seeing you off, I watch from the window until you board the bus. When I looked up the route of the bus you take, there was only one university close to the stop."
Aria showed me her search history on her smartphone. Sure enough, there were records of her looking up the number and route map of the bus I take.
At the same time, I could clearly feel that Aria didn't want me to suspect her. She was even exposing her own privacy like this to prove her innocence.
Of course, she could have anticipated this question and fabricated her search history in advance...
But even if that were the case, I didn't want to suspect Aria that far over such a trivial matter.
Aria seemed to sense how I felt, because she put away her smartphone and spoke.
"I contacted the university, assuming this was probably where you attended. When I asked if they had a pipe organ, they said there happened to be one in a chapel that isn't used much, and that someone like me could use it freely."
"They gave permission that easily?"
Even if the Seohan University chapel wasn't used much, it was still a building on university grounds. To use it, an individual or group with verified identity would need to submit an application in advance.
And separately from that, there was no way the university would permit use of a pipe organ without any identity verification. If something went wrong with the organ, repairs would be an enormous hassle.
"Just in case, I contacted them through my public email, and they replied right away. They said I could use it as I pleased."
"Ah."
I understood immediately.
I don't know the details since I'm not deeply versed in music, but Aria's reputation was extraordinary.
Wasn't the very reason she went abroad to study because Linnea had recognized Aria's genius musical talent?
After going to Sweden, Aria's musical talent fully blossomed within three years. After that, I heard she entered prestigious organ competitions around the world, not just in Sweden, and repeatedly became their youngest-ever winner by unanimous decisions from the judges.
It was such a once-in-a-generation genius asking if she could use an organ for practice.
From the university's perspective, as long as her identity checked out, there was no reason to refuse. And if she had contacted them through her official email, her identity was effectively verified from that point.
"Anyway, so you didn't know for sure. You only guessed."
"Yes. Even if it weren't the university you attend, it's hard to find a place this good for practicing in Korea."
She had a point. A building large enough to have a pipe organ installed had to be a sizable religious facility, and yet it was well maintained despite being rarely used.
"Still, I'm happy. It's the same university you attend, so now we can commute together every day."
"Uh, um. I don't mind, but are you sure, Aria? Your practice hours will probably become irregular."
It went without saying that a university student's schedule was irregular. Some days I had no classes at all.
But Aria, as if she didn't care at all, buried her face in my chest and spoke.
"I just need to keep my skills from rusting. Besides, I worked hard for six years, so I'd like to spend time with you for a while."
If I hadn't heard her confession, I would have just thought of her as an admirable younger sister, but after hearing that confession, the words felt different somehow.
I would have to answer Aria's confession someday.
But at least not right now.
Aria had said it. That setting aside public opinion and ethical issues, she wanted to hear my true feelings.
But perhaps because of the confusing situation of being proposed to by a younger sister I'd met again after six years, I couldn't properly grasp what my own true feelings were.
Fortunately, Aria herself had said she would wait as a younger sister for the time being, so I intended to give her my answer after careful consideration.
So for now, I carefully stroked Aria's hair, keeping the sort of distance appropriate for a little sister.
* * *
The next day, at around ten in the morning—too late to call it early morning, too early for midday.
As always, I boarded the bus to go to university, but this time there was someone accompanying me.
"I'm excited. What's your university like?"
Inside the quiet bus, Aria, sitting in the corner of a two-person seat, whispered in my ear.
She probably meant to be considerate so as not to disturb those around us, but the tickling at my ear felt strange.
"The foundation has a lot of money, so the facilities are good. Other than that, well..."
I stopped mid-sentence and closed my mouth. It wasn't that I couldn't think of anything—it was because I could feel eyes on us from around.
It wasn't blatant. But the glances flicking toward us never stopped. Part of it was probably because Aria's appearance drew attention wherever she went...
"What's wrong?"
"No, it's nothing."
Among the glancing eyes, there were some faces I recognized. We had crossed paths a few times, but not enough to call it acquaintance—just students from the same university.
I wasn't embarrassed to be with my younger sister, but I was afraid of what might get posted on the school's anonymous community.
In the first place, Aria and I didn't look much alike, so there was no way we'd be seen as siblings. And since we were clinging to each other so affectionately, wouldn't that be more than enough to cause a misunderstanding?
Aria, who had been watching me intently, smiled playfully as if she'd realized something.
"There."
And just like that, she buried her face in my chest and nestled into me.
"Ah, Aria?!"
"We're siblings. A hug is allowed, isn't it? Right?"
The voice whispering from my chest was so quiet that only I, right next to her, could hear it.
"Still, we're outside. If we're like this, people will misunderstand."
"I don't mind. I have no intention of loving any man other than you for the rest of my life, anyway. Actually, I'd prefer to be misunderstood?"
My younger sister's love was heavy.
Wait, hold on—she'd prefer to be misunderstood?
'Come to think of it, maybe that wouldn't be so bad for me either?'
I had no plans to date anyone at the moment, and getting confessed to by women all the time was becoming a hassle.
If I had a lover, and rumors spread, wouldn't the annoying situations disappear?
There was the minor issue that the person in question was my half-sister, but Woo-jin was the only one who knew I had a half-sister anyway.
That guy would understand if I explained it well.
"Fine, Aria. If you're okay with it."
In the end, I accepted it too and stroked Aria's head. It was closer to how I'd treat a younger sister than a lover, but Aria seemed happy regardless.
A little later, the bus stopped and we got off at the stop.
Aria was looking around the university grounds with an interested expression, and I spoke to her.
"Want me to guide you to the chapel?"
"If it's guiding, I'm fine. The university said they'd assign a guide for me. Of course, I'd prefer to be with you..."
"Really? Then let's go together. I came out early to guide you to the chapel anyway, so there's still plenty of time."
"Yes! Ah, but I think I should still meet the guide. They might be put out if we miss each other."
"Got it. Where did you arrange to meet the guide?"
"By the main gate in front of the stop where we are. There's still a little time until the appointment, so shall we wait a bit?"
I checked the time. There was plenty of time until my lecture, but if the guide was too late, there might not be time left to watch Aria play.
"I hope they come quickly."
"...I apologize for being late."
When I muttered that without thinking, a voice I found familiar answered from behind me, as if responding to my words.
When I turned around, Han Seo-yeon was standing there.
Come to think of it, it wasn't that strange. Seohan University was operated by a foundation affiliated with Hancheon Group.
And this girl was one of Hancheon Group's heir candidates and also a student at this university. There was no better choice to put forward as a guide.
Seo-yeon shot me a brief glare, then composed her expression and bowed her head to Aria in greeting.
"I'm Han Seo-yeon, and I'll be guiding Aria today. It's an honor to meet you."
"I'm Aria Lindblom. There's no need for you to apologize, Seo-yeon. It's still before the appointment time."
"I'm grateful you say so. But who is the person next to you?"
Seo-yeon asked, looking at me. She must have seen us talking as she approached from a distance, so she was probably curious about our relationship.
Instead of answering, Aria turned to me and asked with a playful smile.
"What answer would you prefer?"
"...She's my younger sister."
I answered Seo-yeon in Aria's place.
If I'd left it alone, Aria might have blurted out an answer like "lover" or "boyfriend."
With other people, I wouldn't have minded if some rumors spread, but this girl was the exception.
If she took a false rumor at face value and passed it straight to my biological mother, Mrs. Han, I dreaded the consequences.
"Ah, I see."
Seo-yeon was usually skilled at managing her expression in front of others, but the look she was giving me now was astonishingly cold.
She'd always been sharp. With that one sentence, she must have figured out whose daughter Aria was.
I understood how she felt. I'd felt the same way at first.
But directing her anger at Aria was completely misplaced.
I was ready to step in if necessary, but Seo-yeon soon composed herself and turned her gaze to Aria.
'Was I worrying over nothing?'
Well, Seo-yeon was a proper adult now. She was past the age of being swept up by momentary emotions and responding immaturely.
"Then I'll guide you."
Seo-yeon took the lead toward the chapel. We followed after her.
Throughout the walk, Seo-yeon said nothing. Aria watched the two of us the whole time, then asked me.
"Do you know her?"
"Ah, well..."
How should I answer Aria?
The answer didn't come readily.
To me, Aria was my only younger sister.
I had never once thought of Seo-yeon as a younger sister.
Our relationship was merely biological siblings—no different from strangers.
But that fact was only our tacit agreement. Saying it out loud in front of the person herself was a completely different matter.
Then should I answer that she was my younger sister?
In front of Aria?
I didn't want that either.
Aria, who had been watching me agonize, seemed to have guessed the truth without difficulty and answered for me.
"She's your biological younger sister, isn't she?"
Honestly, I was surprised. Aria, having spent a long time with me, would know that I had a biological younger sister, but that was about all.
They had never met. Naturally, she wouldn't know her name or face. Yet she guessed it immediately in this situation.
"I apologize, Aria, but Si-hyeon and I are not siblings."
Seo-yeon, walking ahead, answered. She didn't look back, but her voice was cold and sharp.
Honestly, I felt a little hurt and wronged. In my own way, I'd kept my mouth shut out of consideration for her, and she just flatly denied it like that.
But at Seo-yeon's answer, Aria smiled as if she'd finally understood everything completely, then whispered in my ear.
"Hehe, you're a sinful man."
"What do you mean?"
"The person Seo-yeon is angry at isn't me. It's you."
"Why?"
"Because Seo-yeon has never once shown a sharp attitude toward me."
Now that she mentioned it, that was true. Seo-yeon had responded to Aria with consistent politeness the entire time.
But that was exactly what I didn't understand.
"I don't get it. I can't think of any reason she'd be angry at me. Did I do something wrong?"
Things had been a bit awkward at our last meeting, but I thought we'd parted on decent terms. And today, I didn't think I'd done anything to her that could be called a wrongdoing.
"Don't worry. Objectively speaking, it isn't your fault. I think she just feels hurt."
"Hurt? About what?"
"It's a bit awkward for me to say it myself. It's a woman's heart, after all. And I might be wrong. Hmm, then how about this?"
After saying that, Aria asked Seo-yeon, who was walking ahead.
"Then, Seo-yeon, what is your relationship with my brother?"
"We're just university acquaintances. He's my upperclassman, that's all. But why do you ask?"
Seo-yeon turned around.
For some reason, her eyes held not curiosity but wariness.
"Hmm. An ordinary university senior-junior relationship. That's a relief."
Aria giggled, then stood on tiptoe, pulled my head down, and kissed me on the cheek.
"Because I got to confirm that Si-hyeon is my brother, mine alone, and that I'm his one and only little sister."
Pulling her lips away, Aria said that.
At the same time, Seo-yeon's expression hardened grimly.