Pa-ttak Recruitment (4): Did I Do Something Wrong...?
My sister's expression hardened. It was obvious something had displeased her. What on earth had I done wrong today? I'd stayed home the whole time... then she told me to come eat, so we came to the Han River, wandered around together while grabbing food... and now we were riding this cruise, taking pictures. ...Just where was the problem?
Is it already that time? But it had only been three weeks. She hadn't made any announcement about her period. Ah, or was it PMS? Still, if that were the case she wouldn't have suggested going out to eat.... A woman's heart was truly impossible to understand, utterly impossible....
"It's over already."
"Yeah."
As expected, my sister's attitude was icy. Could it be because I'd teased her earlier when she was telling me what she wanted to eat? I'd seen plenty of times how women could get angry over such tiny things.
"Where should we go now?"
"Let's stop walking here."
My sister pointed at the 63 Building.
"Okay."
I had no idea what was going on, but the safest bet was to go along with whatever she wanted. There was no telling which way she'd bolt.
"Yeees!!!"
"Are you enjoying yourselves?"
"Yeees!!!"
"...?"
A group chant echoed from somewhere. I'd seen plenty of busking along the Han River, but never a group chant during one. Had some celebrity shown up? For a celebrity appearance, though, the crowd wasn't nearly as big as it got during the fireworks.
"What is that sound?"
"Isn't it a celebrity?"
"Should we go look?"
We headed toward the voices, and sure enough a crowd had gathered. It definitely wasn't busking. In this wide open space, people stood in neat rows doing a group chant.
"One more time~ For me~ Courage like a gale~"
"What the hell is that...?"
"Hmm... It's a disco. Silent disco."
"What's that?"
A quick search told me it was called silent disco. Since you couldn't blast music loudly in a place like this, participants each wore headsets and danced to the music. A DJ stood up front, calling out and getting responses from the crowd. It was genuinely fascinating.
"You searched it just now?"
"Yeah. I can't leave a question unanswered."
"As expected──"
"Huh?"
My phone started slipping from my grip, so I clutched it tighter. My sister stared at me with a thoroughly flustered face.
"What?"
"Nothing... never mind."
She puffed her cheeks like she was annoyed. It wasn't just cute; she looked genuinely upset.
"It's gotten cooler now that it's night."
"Yeah. As long as we don't run, I don't think we'll sweat."
Still, summer was summer; let your guard down and you'd sweat anyway. I had to be careful, like dodging falling leaves during my military days. We'd shower at home regardless, but I hated the idea of my sister smelling my sweat. Given her current mood, she'd probably be disgusted.
"Let's take a picture here."
"Again?"
"You don't like it?"
"I hate having my picture taken...."
"...Then take one of me."
"Okay."
When I asked her to take the photo, my sister held out her hand.
"Huh?"
"Eek?!"
Not understanding, I raised my hand, and she swatted it away.
"Why'd you hit me...."
"No... I got startled... I meant give me your phone...."
"Ah, you want to use mine to take it?"
"Y-yeah...."
"Here."
"...You're giving it to me?"
"Yeah. You asked. Ah, not permanently. Just while you're taking the picture."
"I know that... Okay. Yeah...."
I started to hand her my phone... then stopped.
"But since I'm the one taking it, it doesn't matter, right?"
"You idiot. I'm trying to teach you because you take terrible photos."
"......Yeah."
My sister took my phone and began fiddling with it. Her hands were trembling violently.
"Sister, what's wrong?"
"What...?"
"Your hands are shaking a lot."
"Are they...? Maybe I'm cold...?"
"It's twenty-six degrees right now...."
"Anyway!"
What could possibly make her shake like that? I just hoped it wasn't a fever chill.
"Um. Yeah...?"
"Why?"
"The camera... I can't find it."
"Ah. I see."
I tapped the camera button on the side and turned it on. I hadn't messed with the home screen, so the app should have been right there. Maybe the screen was too dark for her to spot it.
"It's on now."
"Yeah... it's on."
"How should I frame it?"
"Put me between those two pillars... angle slightly from below looking up."
"Okay...."
My sister's expression darkened even more. What was it? What had I done wrong? At this point it was actually scary.... Please just tell me....
I was screwed. Jiyun's phone theft grand operation had ended in total failure. To be exact, I'd gotten the phone but still couldn't find what I needed. This wasn't what I'd gone through all that trouble for.
After seeing that post, I'd come up with a brilliant plan. All I had to do was look at Jiyun's phone in person, open the auto-logged-in apps, and check. That was it. I'd thought simply getting his phone would be enough, but I was wrong.
Why isn't it there...! After several failed attempts I'd finally gotten Jiyun's phone into my hands. While pretending to check the camera I rummaged through the app drawer, but the gallery app didn't appear. Didn't everyone usually stay logged in on mobile? Was I the strange one...?
"Why?"
"......The, the camera isn't showing up."
"Ah. I see."
Jiyun took his phone back and turned the camera on for me. It wasn't that I couldn't find the camera. I knew how to open it.
I'm screwed....
At this rate I'd have to guess with a one-in-twenty-two chance. If I failed... I'd have to meet some weirdo. There was no way a person volunteering to be a Pa-ttak in an incest gallery could be normal.
What do I do, what do I do, what do I do, what do I do──
"Sister."
"Yeah?"
"...Is something really wrong?"
"......"
When I saw Jiyun's worried eyes watching me, I calmed down a little. I had almost thrown a full-blown tantrum at him. Or maybe I already had. He'd probably gotten angry because I kept trying to take his phone, right?
"No. I'm feeling better now."
"Sister."
"...?!"
Jiyun suddenly stopped and took my hand. What was this all of a sudden.... Why did I have to meet his eyes again? Mine were filled with guilt right now.
"There's nothing wrong, right?"
"......"
The way he hadn't looked at his phone while we were together earlier, the way he'd raised his hand... why did it make my heart flutter so much? He's my little brother, so stop giving me boyfriend moments....
"...There isn't."
No matter what happened, I could never tell Jiyun that I was the Ju-ttak. Honestly I wanted to confess everything, but I was terrified of looking him in the face afterward.
"Shall we head back?"
"Yeah."
Ah, whatever. I'd think about it later. Right now holding hands with Jiyun felt too good. I wanted to hold more than just his hand.
"Sit down."
"Jiyun."
"Yeah?"
"Do you know you've been really sweet today?"
"...Have I? I feel like I'm acting the same as usual."
"No. It's definitely different."
"Really...?"
Jiyun looked flustered by the small compliment. Good. This was the perfect opening to check his phone.
"Should we take the bus?"
"Yeah."
So many people were heading back that the bus stop was packed. It was honestly so crowded it was hard to breathe.
I'm exhausted.... The sense of defeat from earlier was so strong that all my energy had drained away. I didn't want to think about anything else today──
"Hoo."
"...?!?!?!"
What kind of luck was this? Jiyun had opened an app and was looking at the gallery. He seemed pretty tired; he hadn't even noticed me staring. It wasn't the right gallery, but this was still a golden opportunity.
It was the first time I'd seen Jiyun actually leaving comments. Since a nickname always appeared with the comment, I could check it.
"Oh, the bus is here."
"Ugh...!"
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"Nothing...."
The bus arrived before I could see everything, but one thing was certain. Jiyun's username contained the letter z. What should I do? My mood suddenly improved. Did I have bipolar disorder or something?
Whoa, sweat smell. When I sat down and leaned on Jiyun, the scent of sweat hit my nose. It wasn't disgusting at all. Instead it was... strangely pleasant. How could I even explain this?
"Sister...?"
"Mm."
"Aren't you leaning in too much...?"
"...!"
When I came to my senses, my face was buried in the middle of his chest. My mind went completely blank from the shock. I quickly pulled away from Jiyun. Ugh, I'd gotten way too excited over seeing one letter in his username....
"...It's because you smelled, Jiyun."
"...I smell?"
Jiyun sniffed his own clothes with a deadly serious expression. That was supposed to be a good thing. Ah, maybe I shouldn't have said anything....
"It's because you smelled, Jiyun."
"......"
I shouldn't have been enjoying the feeling of her pressing against me. She said I smelled. I'd been worried about it, and sure enough I did. God, this is so embarrassing.
It really is gross. Even though it was my own sweat, my face scrunched up so badly I couldn't forgive it. I'd thought I hadn't sweated because I only walked instead of running, but apparently I had without realizing. My sister was already in a bad mood, and now I'd made it worse. ...Though she looked kind of happy right now?
Anyway, it's her fault. She suddenly clung to me, so my body reacted on its own. That thin t-shirt made her bra completely visible. How was I supposed to endure that? At least the bra was white, so that was something. No, that wasn't lucky at all. I needed to adjust myself down there first.
"...Sigh."
"...Are you mad?"
"Huh? At what?"
We'd gotten off the bus and were walking home. My sister looked up at me.
"Because I said you smelled earlier."
"I'm not mad, I was just... wondering if I really smelled that bad."
"No, it's not...."
"Was it a lie?"
"It wasn't a lie... I never said it was unpleasant."
"...What?"
"It's just... it doesn't bother me at all."
"......"
What did it mean that my sweat smell didn't bother her? Ah, was it similar to how I liked the way she smelled? If so, I could understand it.... My sister liked the way I smelled? She did too?
"Whoa."
"You okay? Watch your step."
I caught my sister just as she nearly tripped in a crack in the asphalt. Somehow it turned into me naturally pulling her toward me.
"Smell."
"......"
Even though she said it smelled, she didn't pull away. And from her came that scent too, a little mixed with a feminine smell, my absolute favorite. Blood rushed downward so I quickly pulled my hips back. The lingering trace of that sweat scent still drifted into my nose.
"It's hot...."
"We'll shower when we get home."
"Want to go first, sister?"
"No? You go first, Jiyun."
"No, you first."
"I'm fine."
"I'm fine too."
I just wanted to savor this sweat scent a little longer. ...Could she possibly feel the same way?