The Price of a Meal
"Is it really okay to do this?"
A text message promising to buy me something delicious as a thank you for all my help. I stared at that last sentence, blinking blankly. Obviously, it wasn't because I was having some cute, fluttery thoughts about what kind of food I should ask Seo Woojin to buy me. It was because, about fifteen seconds before receiving that text, I had casually asked him, "Do you want to have sex with me again behind my sister's back?"
And I had been rejected in an instant.
"…."
Why? Was I not attractive enough? I like to think I’m pretty... If I had to use the people around me as a benchmark, well... I’m exactly on my sister’s level. No, maybe a tiny bit better. Yeah. Or was it because he liked hearing her call him "Oppa" while they were having sex earlier? I suppose he’s only surrounded by people his own age or seniors, so maybe he liked the title...
If not that, was it her hairstyle? Did he have a thing for her long, black hair tied up in a ponytail? My hair only reaches my shoulders, so I can't pull off a look like hers. If it wasn't that, then...
...Was it just because it felt like cheating?
"...There's no way he'd care about that now."
It’s complicated. I feel like I’m on the verge of grasping why he’s acting like this, but it’s not as easy as I’d like. I mumbled to myself for a moment, but since the room had aired out enough, I shut the window tight, lay back down on my bed, and glared at the phone—the root cause of this whole incident.
If he were going to stop because it felt like cheating, he would have pushed me away before we even got to the sex, making up some excuse like, "I don't think this is right." If he only started feeling that way after we’d already slept together, he shouldn't have gone shopping with my sister and me. Didn't he have feelings for me to begin with, which is why he called it "sex practice" and slept with me? Dragging my sister along to go clothes shopping, and the way he leaned in close when she went to the bathroom—didn't all of that happen because he had bad intentions?
Honestly, I know men have those perverted fantasies about "sisters." You wanted to eat both of us to your heart's content, didn't you, you pervert? And yet, now he’s giving me the runaround.
"...Is he getting cold feet now...?"
He's scared my sister will find out about us. That’s the only reason I can think of. Or maybe this is that "push-and-pull" I’ve heard so much about... but why do that with me? Shouldn't he be doing that with my sister? What am I, his girlfriend?
I grumbled, furrowing my brow, and then curled up tightly in my blanket.
"...Anyway, it doesn't seem like he wants to end things cleanly."
The reason I’m leaning toward that conclusion is because of the text he sent earlier.
If you skim it, it’s just a rejection, but if you look at the details, it’s strangely filled with unnecessary words. He could have just replied with a dry "It's fine," but instead, he’s talking about guys I don't like and telling me not to worry because I wouldn't be thrilled... It feels like he’s trying to reject me politely because it’d be too much to just accept it outright. Instead of interpreting it as "I won't have sex with you," shouldn't I interpret it as "If you want to, I'll do it"? Or maybe, "If you want to, I'll let you take me"?
...The latter is probably a stretch, but still. Looking at it this way, he’s kind of cute. It’s like watching a middle-school boy standing in front of a high-school girl. Adding that to my earlier theory about him being scared of my sister finding out, I’m starting to... get a reaction.
Hmm.
"…."
Anyway, this makes things easier. I just have to be the one to aggressively push for sex first. Even if I don't like having sex with a guy I don't love, just like you, it’s not like I’m completely against it. If I tell him I’m willing to sacrifice my body to help him practice...
"...No."
Come to think of it, that’s not right. Things didn't get easier at all. Giving him a subtle hint is one thing, but just throwing myself at him would make me look like a total pervert. Plus, it would take all the fun out of it. Whether it’s from Woojin’s perspective of taking me behind my sister’s back, or my perspective of being taken by him behind her back, the sense of guilt and tension is what makes it the most delicious.
...Sigh. Either way, it’s difficult. My tastes are a bit twisted to begin with, so I suppose it’s bound to be hard.
What should I do? While I was tapping away at the screen, pretending to be as casual as possible while my head spun with thoughts, I heard a faint sound.
Click.
The sound of the door lock echoed softly. Like a startled hamster, I bolted upright in bed, sent a few more insults to Woojin, and grabbed the doorknob of my room. I had already changed into fresh pajamas, so that was fine. My hair, which had been messy from masturbating while lying face down, was also fine now. It just looked like I had just woken up. If the other person were highly observant, they might wonder why someone who usually plays games until this hour was lying down, but it’s fine. The person is my sister. I know her better than anyone.
"...You're home?"
"Eek—?!?"
As expected. When I peeked through the slightly opened door, I saw my sister sneaking in like a thief, and our eyes met. Usually, when you’ve done something wrong or suspicious, you’re supposed to act even more brazenly than usual, but since she’s always the one doing the scolding, she didn't seem to know that.
"Why, why are you greeting me? That’s not like you."
"It’s not like I’m greeting you at the front door, I’m inside... And you said that last time, too."
"Anyway...! You must have popped out suddenly like that last time, too!"
"...Did I?"
"You did! ...Haa... You scared me."
She sighed with an exaggerated gesture and began taking off her fleece jacket and shoes. Maybe it’s because I already knew she had been with Seo Woojin, but even though there were so many suspicious things about her, a small, dry laugh escaped my lips. If she’d been out from the morning until now, her hair should be getting a bit oily, so why did it look so perfect? Why was the scent of an unfamiliar body wash wafting off her body as she moved? Why was she so busy giggling at her phone screen every time it buzzed?
...It’s making me jealous.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?"
"W-what..."
When I leaned against the doorframe and spoke, she immediately turned off her phone screen. Her voice sounded suddenly timid... Ah. Maybe it’s because I was talking with my arms crossed. Or maybe my expression was darker than I thought. Well, either way, it’s too much of a hassle to worry about every little thing.
"Your phone. You keep looking at it."
"...Someone I know."
"It’s Seo Woojin, isn't it?"
"...Ah, why do you ask when you already know?"
"Just because. You were laughing so much while looking at it, I thought it was your boyfriend."
"...Was it that obvious? Me laughing?"
"Yeah. Enough to piss off whoever’s watching."
"...Hehe..."
Did she drink on her way home? It was hard to keep up with her emotional changes—from timid to flustered to giggling—while sober, but I just let it slide and cleared my throat. If Seo Woojin hadn't given me such a weird answer earlier, this could have been a perfect plan. But it’s a shame to let this go without doing anything. I can't just go to sleep and waste this opportunity.
"...So, why are you late?"
"H-huh?"
"Lee Hayoon... no, Sis, you texted me earlier. You said you’d be late today."
"...Y-yeah, uh... I did..."
"But what were you doing to be this late? I heard you were meeting Seo Woojin, but is there really a place to stay for this long?"
"……."
"You wouldn't have gone to a PC bang."
"……."
"Did you go to a motel? The two of you?"
"……."
I don't remember the details because I was listening while masturbating, but given the circumstances, it had to be a motel or Seo Woojin’s place. Where else would they be so engrossed in sex for hours? When I asked the question with my arms still crossed and stared at her, I saw her dark green eyes darting around frantically, as if she were in big trouble. I figured this would happen eventually. It’s funny. I’m not some innocent little child. Is it really that hard to just say you had sex with your boyfriend?
...It’s frustrating, so I’ll just say it first.
"...I guess you did. The shampoo scent is different from the one we use at home. It’s strange that the scent is even still lingering."
"T-th-that..."
"Don't stutter, just say it straight. Am I scolding you?"
"...No..."
"You had sex. With Woojin."
"...Yes. We did..."
When I pointed it out without beating around the bush, she finally nodded, fiddling with her fingertips. It’s frustrating. But at the same time, it’s kind of cute. I wonder if that’s the part of her Seo Woojin fell for. ...I wonder if I should try being a little cuter too. I wonder if I should copy the way she wags her tail and calls him "Oppa." I continued speaking, lost in thought.
"...Since the academy ended until now?"
"N-not that long...! Th-three hours...? Four hours... ...Five...?"
"You must have squeezed him dry."
"Squeezed him..."
"Yeah. Woojin must have had a hard time."
"Is that... so?"
"Even in porn, it’s rare to see someone go for more than 30 minutes or an hour. Excluding foreplay."
"Umm..."
My sister nodded, hands folded politely as if she were being interrogated. I looked down at the top of her head and said it as casually as possible, just in passing.
"This is all because you only watch weird porn, Sis."
"...Wh-what...! You're talking about that time again, aren't you...?"
"Yeah. That’s right."
"That was just a mistake when I clicked it in high school... I prefer something a bit more romantic than something so violent..."
"You don't feel anything strange even after having sex for five hours with someone you don't particularly like?"
"……."
"You didn't think that was natural?"
"...I-I don't know..."
Using my sister in my initial plan wasn't part of it at all... but Seo Woojin. It’s your fault for acting so unmanly.
"I can't be at ease like this."
"...?"
"Next time you two meet, I’m coming with you."
"…??"
"Why the reaction? It’s not like I’m going to have sex with him instead of you, I’m just going to sit next to you and eat snacks while I watch."
"...No, that... ...Are you crazy? Are you serious?"
"...I’m serious. It’s not like I’d get turned on watching your body, Sis."
"…."
"So, are you going to do it or not?"
"...I-I might be okay with it, but...! ...Woojin will hate it."
"Then ask him. Let’s see if he really hates it."
"……."
"What are you doing? You just need to send one text."
"...It’s late today, so tomorrow... I’ll ask him tomorrow..."
"...Yeah. Alright then... Ugh... Good night, Sis."
"...Yeah."