Chapter 110. Convenience Store... Like a Lamb to the Slaughter
Like a young lamb being dragged to the slaughterhouse. Was that a bit of an exaggeration? Still, I couldn't just break my promise.
"I'm heading out."
"Okay, have a good time, son~"
Mom's voice drifted over, mingling with the sound of stew bubbling away in the distance. Kimchi stew for dinner tonight. But in an instant, it had turned into chicken.
"Come back safe, oppa. ...Drink in moderation."
"I'm not going to drink. I'm going to eat."
"You say that, but you'll come home totally wasted, won't you?"
"Even if I chug beer till my stomach bursts, I won't get drunk. Don't worry."
"I wasn't worried."
Truth be told, I wanted to turn it down if I could. Exams started next Tuesday, after all. But bailing when everyone else was wrapping things up on such a warm note felt off, you know? I'd gone to Gyeo-ul hoping she'd give me an excuse to cancel, but...
'If it's just strangers, I wouldn't care. But oppa said it's only people I know there.'
'...Yeah.'
'...If you say you can't go because of me, wouldn't that be kinda... you know?'
The reason I didn't want to go was the same as the reason I couldn't make an excuse. ...I wondered if I was the only one agonizing and trembling over it. The class rep was visibly awkward, that much was clear. The couple, though, treated me normally without any hint of reluctance—more than I'd expected.
Of course, there was a huge difference in what they'd witnessed. Seeing siblings emerge from a motel was something you could rationalize away, but hearing a direct love confession between them? That was impossible to misinterpret.
I let out a deep sigh, on the verge of stepping out the door, when—
"...Why are you following me?"
"Mom, I'm just stepping out for a bit!"
"Where are you off to now, sweetie?"
Gyeo-ul had come out after me in an outfit that looked freezing. ...Even for spring, shorts to go outside? Come on.
"The convenience store! Gonna grab something to drink! Be right back!"
"Hey, we've got coffee and zero cola at home..."
I snapped at her nonsense, and she immediately pressed her index finger to her lips in a shh pose, zipping it. ...Total lie.
As we stepped out the front door together, I shrugged off my jacket and handed it to her.
"...I'm already wearing a cardigan."
"Wrap it around your waist."
"Why?"
"The clerk on night shift is a guy."
"...Can't you just go with me?"
"Then I'd have to do this?"
I pressed right up against Gyeo-ul's back, using my body to shield her lower half as she stood there blankly holding my jacket. Umm... What were we doing right in front of the house?
"Even outside, this is total pervert stuff. Pervert."
"It's 19 degrees, and you're the weird one wandering around in shorts."
"...Whose fault is that?"
"...Let's talk downstairs first."
With my arms wrapped around her from behind, we waddled down the stairs like penguins until we reached the apartment exit. No way could we keep this up outside, so Gyeo-ul obediently wrapped my jacket around her waist to cover her rear. ...Actually, this worked pretty well? I should have her try it sometime when I had time.
"You bring your wallet?"
"Ah, forgot."
"...Want me to go?"
"Gonna abandon your poor little sister?"
We bickered playfully as we trudged toward the convenience store. I'd left early anyway, so we had time to kill.
"Welcome..."
I let the unchanged greeting—same since my discharge—flow in one ear and out the other, then wandered the aisles with Gyeo-ul. ...Didn't she say she was buying a drink? She sure seemed interested in everything.
"Ah, oppa. Look at this."
"What."
"Ta-da."
Gyeo-ul, hands behind her back, whipped out what she'd been hiding and showed it to me.
"...Hey."
Stockings. Coffee-colored ones. I preferred white or black.
"Why buy those now?"
"Uh... cold?"
"Who told you to come out dressed like that?"
"You left early all of a sudden. Plenty of time before your plans."
"Get there early, leave early."
"What kinda logic is that?"
I snatched the stockings from her hand, put them back, and grabbed a pair of black leggings from right next to them, shoving them into her grip instead. Her playful expression instantly shifted to one of utter bafflement.
"Why?"
"...What do you mean?"
"You're cold, so I'm buying you something to wear. These don't cover your feet, so aren't they comfier for home?"
No way could she prance around the house in just stockings, Mom home or not. Leggings? Some people wore just those, sure. Though I'd never let her go out like that.
"...You really mean that? For real?"
"Black's better than coffee-colored, right?"
"...Fucking pervert."
Why? I liked the contrast between clothes and skin tone. She'd dressed in all black forever, turning me into this, and now she blamed me?
"...Anyway, pick your drink quick. Gotta go."
"Ah, right. Forgot."
Was she forgetting her original goal, or was this the goal all along? As we headed to the counter after her vague shopping, Gyeo-ul hid behind me and poked my side.
"What."
"...This."
She shoved a box into my hand and bolted from the store. ...Wait. We don't even use these. Why'd she give it to me? ...Couldn't just not pay.
"...Points card?"
"Ah, no."
"Okay... Insert card in the front."
"Got it."
In the end, I paid for the extras too, enduring the clerk's sharp glare as I left the store. Plastic bag in hand outside, but no sister in sight. ...Naturally, I headed to our usual back alley, where Gyeo-ul was squatting and waiting.
"...Hey."
I was gonna chew her out for dressing sloppily, but she'd covered up fine. She stood as I approached, offering my jacket back, but wouldn't let go when I reached for it.
"What?"
"Kneel, oppa."
I lowered myself to her eye level obediently, and she pressed down on my shoulders, squishing me further. Then she made me set the bag on the ground too, issuing more orders.
"Left hand."
"Am I a dog?"
"...Left arm then."
A minimal dignity-preserving word tweak, and I lifted my arm. Now taller than me, Gyeo-ul wrapped the jacket around me, slipping my left arm in first. ...Hmm. This felt oddly nice.
"Right arm."
I extended my right arm the same way, then straightened my knees. Shorter again, she grabbed the hem, smoothing and adjusting it.
...What were we doing right before I went to eat with the college folks? They all lived nearby too.
"...Have a good time."
"Kim Gyeo-ul."
"Yeah."
"...Why'd you buy this?"
I wouldn't let her gloss over the sudden warm moment. I pulled the box from the bag on the ground and bonked her head with it.
"...Wanted to try it once?"
"If you wanted to try it, why make me buy it and run? Only I got embarrassed."
"You get embarrassed by that stuff too, oppa?"
"The clerk was staring like she wanted to deck me."
Truth be told... buying alone wouldn't have been an issue. But buying with her? That made the intent way too obvious. I hated the idea of other people eyeing Gyeo-ul like that. ...A tiny bit of superiority complex kicked in, sure. But we weren't at the stage to flaunt it.
"And we don't even use them."
"That's 'cause you're trash... that's why."
"...Yeah, okay, we don't use 'em 'cause I'm trash. But if we aren't gonna use it, isn't it a waste of money?"
"Ah... ...We will use it."
"How?"
"For other stuff... so the blanket doesn't get dirty..."
I pocketed the box while enjoying the sight of her buying it, saying it, and blushing over her own words. ...Fair enough. We couldn't do that every time. Plenty of uses for it. She didn't love oral anyway. Wouldn't refuse, but...
"...Go eat dinner. I'll call before I head back."
"...Yeah. Drink just a little."
"No, I told you beer doesn't get me drunk. It's chicken, not drinks. Even if they push for round two, I'm out. Not even that close with them."
"No. You get tipsy after one sip."
"When have I ever?"
"...You know you always cause trouble when you drink, right?"
...Me? No way... I just got sentimental from the mood. Never smashed anything or threw a bad drunk fit. Even blackout drunk, I just passed out. Felt wronged. Wronged, but... couldn't argue. I did pounce on Gyeo-ul a lot when buzzed.
"...Fine. If I get drunk, I'll call."
"Nah, can't trust you at all, so tell them to call Na-el if you're drinking."
"Na-el?"
"...You calling my friend by her name?"
"No, no. Just blanked on who for a sec."
"If you get wasted, I'll come drag you home. No incidents. For real."
"Won't happen."
"Only people I know are there, so... I don't want you going if you can help it."
"...They're all nice. Won't even act like they know me. No fake awkwardness."
Not entirely true. Plenty of genuine awkwardness, but whether it was consideration or their own way of understanding positively, one or the other was clear. I should be grateful... but couldn't exactly say thanks. Frustrating.
"...Yeah. Got it. See you, oppa."
"Alright."
One last hug before parting, then I headed to meet them without being late. Nice that everyone lived close. No subway needed. Gyeo-ul could reach me quick too. Booze... yeah, really gotta quit. Bad for health? Realized getting "drunk" on anything was plenty when we were together.