Alone Time in the One-Room... How Far is Saturday?
After finishing dinner with pizza on Saturday. No, wait—how far away is Saturday?
"……."
It was just past 6 p.m. Yoo Harang was staring at me intently from across the table. This was familiar territory. I had no idea what was so entertaining about it, but whenever she was with me, she'd either gaze at me silently like this or...
Thud. She'd scoot over to my side.
Stroke. And run her hand through my hair. Just like when I'd come out of the room earlier.
Honestly, based on actions like these, you might reasonably wonder if she actually liked me. But if she did, she would've said something by now—a confession or whatever. Harang was the quiet, blunt type, but she always said what needed saying.
So to me, it could only mean she was doting on her close little brother. Back in middle school, that realization had me secretly nursing a quiet ache. But now? Eh. I just enjoyed the cuteness from my pretty noona in my own way.
Like Seobin said, there was no way she saw me as a man.
"Gyeol."
"Yeah?"
"Noona's heading out now, so walk me."
"Already?"
"Yeah. Got homework."
"Wait, you just came to our house for food? This is basically a free buffet... Nah, you bought it. Thanks!"
"As long as it was good. Today was about seeing you. Let's go."
Got it. I just nodded at her calm words, flowing softly as she stroked my hair. She said it so matter-of-factly, there wasn't even room to get flustered. Besides, I'd heard lines like that plenty of times before.
I got up right away, threw on a jacket, and headed out with her. Surprisingly, she hated being alone, so she never walked the five minutes from our house to the bus stop by herself. Whenever she visited and it was time to go, she'd drag either me or my sister along.
Step, step. We walked side by side down the alley on this spring day, the chill not quite gone. No real conversation, but she wasn't the chatty type anyway, and by now, the silence between us felt comfortable. We just walked, step by step. Close enough that our arms brushed. But not so close we'd link arms like lovers. Just that distance.
Basking in the pleasant spring breeze like that, the bus stop came into view. I glanced sideways and...
"……."
Our eyes met. She'd turned her head just a bit, looking my way. The moment our gazes locked, the corners of her eyes crinkled down ever so slightly, a fresh smile blooming across her face. The kind of beautiful smile that could make any guy fall at first sight.
The instant I saw it, I made a huge fuss, like I'd witnessed something incredible.
"Whoa! Noona smiled!"
"So?"
"It's been forever since I've seen you smile that visibly! Your face muscles are alive!"
"Really? I smile like this all the time."
"...If you think so, then sure."
You didn't see her whole expression shift into a genuine smile often—not just a twitch of the lips. But was it worth making such a big deal? Well... kinda. It was just that seeing it reignited that old spark I'd buried, making me overreact for no reason.
This was all Langi Noona's fault for being too pretty. Up close like this, facing that killer smile, my heart rate shot straight to the stars. Even the casual arm-brushing contact I'd thought myself immune to started thumping again.
By then, we'd reached the bus stop. The bus pulled up soon after, and we waved goodbye.
"See you Saturday."
"Yeah~ Take care, Noona!"
"Okay."
This small farewell we'd shared hundreds of times by now. Harang sat in the back, waving faintly through the window until we couldn't see each other anymore. And kept waving.
I trudged home, shoving the unusually hollow feeling into a corner of my mind, and found my sister already back.
"Hey! Where's Harang?"
She shot at me with that expression—like the whole world pissed her off, brows furrowed but not quite. From the side, it might look like she wanted a fight, but this was her default mode. Like most sisters, she'd boss me around and tease me sometimes, but she quietly took care of stuff too. Kinda tsundere? Though Harang Noona was way better at it.
"She went home. Walked her to the stop."
"Oh? You eat?"
"Harang Noona got pizza."
"I said eat real food, not that junk."
"What could I do? She offered."
"Stop mooching off Harang!"
"Got it~"
This was the routine every time Harang bought me something. Sis talked big, but never pushed it further. Once, she told Harang to stop buying me food or clothes, and it sparked a cold war between them. I knew they were too close to fight seriously, but seeing my sharp-tongued sister face off against Harang's blank expression was terrifying. I ended up mediating back and forth.
"And you know Harang's moving this Saturday?"
"Yeah. I'm going to help."
"......What?"
"To help."
"Why?"
"...She asked."
"Harang did?"
"Harang Noona."
"......"
"......"
"Sigh..."
She scowled hard at my answer, ran a hand through her hair, and sighed. After radiating a menacing vibe for a moment, she continued in an irritated tone.
"Fine... Help her good. I can't make it—homework and part-time."
"......"
"Go inside. I'm calling someone and showering."
"Yep."
I had no clue what her deal was, but I wasn't about to probe her mood. Better not risk the fallout. I slipped into my room quick, held my breath, and booted up the computer. Figured I'd tell Seobin about Saturday upfront and surf the web.
Meanwhile, her voice leaked faintly from outside.
"...Harang! ......You know?! That kid's still a min...... If you do that, I'll kil...... ......you!! ......Right?!"
Most of it was muffled, but she was probably talking to Harang Noona. She'd brought her up right before calling. But why get mad about me helping? She'd usually tell me to go even if I was busy.
Her earlier irritation and this snappy call puzzled me, but I shook it off. Whatever. Sisters' business wasn't mine. I'd learned from experience—shrimp backs explode in whale fights.
All I had to do was help Harang Noona well that day. Sis had even told me to before.
I tuned out the room outside, and once the PC loaded, I opened chat and fired off messages to the Saturday group chat.
Perfect timing—they all checked quick, so I apologized right away. Sorry for bailing on last week's plan, but Harang Noona's move mattered more.
What were they expecting? Ridiculous. But glad they got it. Sure, I had other friends, but none as close as Min Seobin. I'd buy drinks next time.
We kept chatting with the trio, but my mind wandered to odd thoughts. I'd be the first guy—other than her brother—entering Harang Noona's place. Our house was big, family-sized. Hers? A one-room officetel. Heard it was spacious for one, but still one-room.
So I'd be alone with her in that tight space.
"...Hmm."
How far away is Saturday?