Chapter 44

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 44

Chapter Title: Family Frenzy Over a Fling

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They say even if the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sky comes crashing down, there's always a hole to pop up through. For me and my sister, who were on the verge of suffocating amid the swarm of relatives at our paternal family home, Kim Hyun-min was exactly that.

Tak, tak!

Kim Hyun-ah tapping the ash off her cigarette with her index finger couldn't have looked more natural. For the record, she does it even better than I do. And why not? She started smoking before I did.

"Ah, shit. Nearly let a curse slip. I'm dying of exhaustion here. What the hell is this on a weekend? Can't even get any rest."

She talks ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like that, but in front of the adults, she's always full of charm, laughing haha-ho-ho and even planting kisses on Grandpa.

"Heh heh, Hyun-ah's pretty pissed off seeing Hyun-woo looking so down."

"You know it. I've never liked these gatherings anyway. Man, once Grandma and Grandpa both pass, let's ditch these ancestral rites for good."

"Obviously. We'll just hit up a Chinese place for jajangmyeon and tangsuyuk."

Just imagining it feels great.

Unlike us two guys, Kim Hyun-ah was leisurely smoking and spoke up.

"Oh, right. Bro. I'm quitting my job the month after next."

"Why?"

"My section chief's a total asshole. Sigh... The prick dumps all the work on me and then takes credit for it. Pisses me off so bad I can't stand it."

I chuckled.

"Our Hyun-ah can't put up with that crap."

"I bust my ass on my work. When they screw me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠over on the little things, my pride takes a hit. Better to quit."

"Emergency fund?"

"Got some saved. Enough to coast for a year. Still, planning to find a new job within three months."

"Unemployment benefits?"

"Should get 'em. About three months' worth."

She's really my sister, but damn, she's sharp as a tack.

Hyun-ah tapped off the last of the ash and crushed her butt in the nearby trash can. Seeing that, I asked,

"Dad still hasn't caught on that you smoke?"

"I'd be dead if he had."

"Boyfriend?"

"...Thinks something's up, maybe."

This girl's impressive.

She's kept her boyfriend of four years a secret this whole time. And they even meet up around the neighborhood for drinks sometimes.

"Maybe time to spill it."

"Ugh, no way. My guy's in his forties. How could I even say that? I'd die."

"......"

Yeah, fair point. Even I'd be scared to admit it. A 26-year-old girl seriously dating a guy in his forties for four years?

Dad's old-school; he might grab that baseball bat from the shed.

'This girl's something else.'

I muttered that to myself.

Then Kim Hyun-ah shot me a glare and said,

"More importantly, Bro, you seeing anyone these days? No, seriously, how long you gonna live as a total virgin loner? Hit thirty like that, and you might never hold a girl's hand."

I coughed hard.

If I hadn't met Han Ae-bom and Oh Hana, I might've played it cool with some excuse. But right now, two women I've slept with are at my place.

"W-Wanna take you somewhere nice? My treat—a spot that's a million won a night. For my favorite sis, I can swing that."

"...Pass."

Honestly, I was tempted for a sec.

Before Oh Hana and Han Ae-bom, back when I was green, I'd have shot it down flat. But after racking up some experience, I've got confidence now—no more fear.

I was dying to know what it'd feel like to pay for it, after hearing about it forever at drinking parties.

"Huh?"

The problem? My sister and cousin are sharper than they look, and they adore me. They pick up on the tiniest changes.

"What's that reaction?"

"Yeah, not like the old you. You seeing someone?"

Two faces shoving right up to mine—I'm dying here.

"No way. For real?"

I hadn't said a word.

Do these two have mind-reading powers or what?

"Now that you mention it, your fashion's on point today."

"Hair looks blow-dried nice too."

"Argh, it's not like that!"

I denied it weakly, then mumbled under my breath,

"Just... kinda flirting stage."

I've gotten confessions. We've had sex.

But we're not officially dating, and pinning it down like that would complicate things. So I fudged it.

Still, a 29-year lifelong virgin admitting to flirting? Huge news for sis and cousin.

"Whoa, no way. For real? Bro's flirting? Who's the girl? Got pics?"

"Sh-Show us a pic at least."

For a split second, I considered it.

Part of me wanted to brag about Oh Hana and Han Ae-bom. But I quickly scrapped the idea in horror.

Every photo of them in my gallery was straight-up 19+—nudes, videos. Nothing shareable.

"Ugh, come on! We're just flirting—no pics."

"Could be. You see a movie together? Hit an amusement park? Seoul, so Neverland maybe. Or these days, Lotte World."

I ignored Hyun-ah mumbling seriously as Kim Hyun-min threw me in a headlock and said,

"Damn, you've grown up! Yo, need clothes or anything, hit your bro up anytime. Got tons of good stuff. Worst case, I'll buy new and send."

"Whoa, Bro's flirting? You dog. Holy shit, nice one."

We naturally headed to the corner store for cheongju, chatting the whole way. Naturally, all about the girl I'm flirting with.

"What's she look like? Pretty?"

"Uh? Blonde... no, black hair..."

"What're you on about? Blonde, black hair. Sounds like you're juggling two girls."

I flinched hard.

"Bro, stuttering like that—she must be smoking hot. No way. A virgin loner like you? You imagining it?"

Imagining my ass. One of them straight-up confessed and asked me out. I turned her down, but still.

'Can't say that.'

They'd think I was writing a novel.

"Held hands at least, right?"

"Yeah, sure."

Hands? That's it?

"Real shot at dating?"

"Maybe... pretty good chance."

I have no idea what I'm even saying. Hyun-ah's over the moon hearing it, practically tearing up that her bro's seeing a girl.

"Ha. The total shut-in finally lands a girl. No wonder your skin's glowing."

"Totally. You looked half-dead at Grandma's earlier, but up close, your face is brighter. Damn, love's the shit, huh?"

"Argh, not like that."

Right. Hard to call it love. Honestly, what goes down in my one-room? Unexplainable to anyone.

Who'd believe it? Feels like a dream even to me.

"5,800 won."

"Got it."

Hyun-min paid as usual, and I grabbed the cheongju. Sis gets princess treatment in the family.

More than that, heading back to that heavy space, why did this not-even-heavy bottle feel so damn weighty?

Ancestral rite wouldn't start for another three hours.

"Wanna play yutnori?"

"Sure."

Sounded better than nothing, so we nodded and filed in side by side. That's when the newly added great-uncle and great-aunt showed up.

Makes you realize anew: how many kids did Grandma have? Every one except Uncle Maknae is married.

"Oh! Hyun-woo! Long time."

Copy-paste much? Everyone hits me with the same lines.

"Our Hyun-woo's job hunt going well? Seoul air must be great—your skin's glowing."

That heavy air from earlier was closing in again.

Then ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hyun-ah, slipping off her slippers behind me, dropped a bomb.

"Our bro! He's got a girl he's flirting with right now! So ease up on the job talk—it's suffocating him. Let's hear about the fling instead. Who knows, maybe he'll bring her at Chuseok."

Hey, you little...

I glared daggers at Hyun-ah, who grinned and winked back.

*

Chaos erupted.

If it'd been Hyun-ah or Hyun-min with a fling, maybe shrugs. They've got dating experience.

But me? Not even dating—just flirting—and the whole house lost it. They even shoved the funeral table aside to crowd in.

"Oh my! My grandson finally has a girl. When's the wedding? Bring her next time, okay?"

"Son! You should've told Mom right away! No wonder your skin looked good. Dating, huh."

"Need allowance? Tell Dad. Dating girls costs money."

...Can the vibe flip 180 like this?

Guilt hit me thinking of the two clueless girls at home, reading or working out under the covers.

But I didn't hate this atmosphere.

Way better than the suffocating, pointless concern from climbing the stairs earlier.

The issue?

"Got pics? Uncle's curious."

"P-Pics?"

I do. Problem is, like I said—bare pussy, ass, skin pics. 19+ stuff. And masturbation vids. Should've secure-foldered them.

"Yeah, show a pic. Or a call."

Did they pregame before the rite?

Absurd.

Wasn't this supposed to be non-sudden? Quests popping like this.

But damn, I was kinda excited too.

Quick think, then messaged the one back at the one-room.

Tok tok!

Reply came fast: Han Ae-bom's selfie, head tilted.

A bit underwhelming. Doesn't capture her full charm. Still a knockout, though.

Moments later, a full-body shot of Han Ae-bom with an exasperated look.

She hesitated, then:

Sounded oddly pumped. Nah, my imagination.

"Got a pic, but it's not the best. Wanna see anyway?"

I'd already moved all the 19+ stuff to secure folder. Adults nodded like kids grabbing for candy.

"Here. Look."

The moment I held up my phone.

Dozens of eyes locked on it in an instant.