Overnight Stay

Drank too much beer on our overnight stay, huh. I'd fallen into such a deep sleep, but I ended up waking up anyway. Judging by how dark it still was outside, it wasn't morning yet.

"Mm..."

I blinked a few times, and her silhouette gradually came into focus. My sister, who had fallen asleep using not my arm but my shoulder as her pillow. Unconsciously, I brushed back the strand of hair that had slipped down and tucked it behind her ear.

...She won't wake up, right?

"Mm..."

Careful not to let her notice, I lifted her head just a bit and placed it properly on the pillow. I straightened out the blanket covering us and tucked it neatly up to her neck. Slipping out of bed, I couldn't see much ahead. I groped my way cautiously to the desk, fumbling around until my hand found my phone. I tapped the screen to check the time.

4:10 AM.

...Good thing. Means I can sleep a bit more with Gyeo-ul.

After hitting the bathroom and washing my hands thoroughly, I headed to the mini-fridge. Just as I pulled out a bottle of water for a sip, Gyeo-ul stirred, rubbing her eyes as she sat up.

"Oppa...?"

"Ah, Gyeo-ul."

"You awake...?"

"Just went to the bathroom. Go back to sleep. It's still 4."

"Me too... bathroom..."

She staggered up just like me, using the faint glow from the fridge to make her way without bumping into anything. I closed the fridge, waited for her to come back while rinsing my mouth with the opened water bottle, and turned on the bedside lamp. She lay there flat without a pillow, eyes squeezed shut, breathing steadily a few times. Before long, Gyeo-ul returned to my side.

"...Oppa."

"Want some water?"

"Mm..."

I propped up Gyeo-ul, who had collapsed with her face buried in my chest—not my arm or shoulder anymore—and handed her the rest of the water. She gulped it down to the last drop, carefully placing the empty bottle under the bed before slipping back under the covers. I pulled the blanket down just enough to reveal her face, then gazed softly at her sleepy, tousled eyes.

"Sleep more, Oppa..."

"Yeah."

I couldn't resist her coaxing tone, sweeter and more whiny than usual. I gave her cheek a light kiss. She let out a soft "Hng," exhaled deeply through her nose, and flashed a bright smile. I turned off the bedside lamp. Facing her as she clutched the blanket and closed her eyes, I slipped under the covers too. After stroking her hair a few times, she suddenly sat up. This time, she pressed her lips to my cheek before lying back down ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and drifting off as if nothing happened.

...Ah.

I won't be able to sleep without holding her.

"Isn't this too much first thing in the morning, Oppa?"

"I slept like a rock."

Her scolding voice as we left the motel didn't bother me at all. We'd slept soundly until past 8, right? She woke up first and poked my cheek, so I pretended to sleep longer before jumping up and tickling her—she seemed pretty satisfied. Once things calmed down, we held hands and went to the bathroom to gargle, then stripped off the bathrobe and panties. Filled the tub to warm up while groping around... and couldn't hold back anymore. It started with a kiss and led straight to more. Honestly, expecting not to when we're rubbing up naked against each other is just foolish.

"You seem to really like doing it while washing up, Oppa."

"Cleanup's easy. Do it and rinse right away."

Half a lie, really. If it's about convenience, doing it lying in bed is way better. Bath time means standing or sitting on the hard tub floor. Truth is, I just can't resist Gyeo-ul all wet.

"...Well, that's true."

Good thing she hasn't caught on yet. Her lips were pouting, but she didn't seem upset. We'd drunk a fair bit yesterday, so I was a little worried. But neither of us had hangovers—guess genes are everything. Thanks to Mom for the iron liver.

"Let's eat before heading home. I'm hungry."

"I want gukbap, Oppa."

"Gukbap? Why?"

"Hm... just?"

Gukbap, huh. Not bad. Not really romantic couple food for fresh lovebirds, but after getting comfy as lovers, drinking, sleeping, and filling an empty stomach in the morning? Fits pretty well.

...Or not. Still good for siblings, right?

"Oh, did you text your friend?"

"Lemme check... ah, incoming call."

As we walked hand-in-hand toward the gukbap place near home, her phone rang. No ringtone or vibration, of course—just a notification when she pulled it out. On silent again.

...Hope Mom didn't call.

"Gyeo-u-u-u-ul!"

"...My ears."

The voice blasting through the receiver as soon as she answered made her wince and pull the phone away from her ear.

...Lots of missed calls?

"Keep it down. Yeah. Nael. ...Yeah. No issues."

Her tone sounded at least five times haughtier than usual.

...So this is how she talks to friends. Makes sense—she was like that chatting with them before. Tall for a girl and mature-looking, that attitude suits her. Of course, knowing she's a total baby inside makes it even hotter.

"What nonsense... Ha... It's fine. Why would I die."

"...What?"

She sighed heavily, like she'd had enough.

...What'd they say to make her like that?

"I'm really fine. Let's talk when we meet. Yeah. Coming back Saturday? ...Hold on."

She soothed her friend all grown-up like, then muted the phone with a tap and stared at me.

...Come on. How am I supposed to say don't go ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠here?

"Go ahead. Gotta see your friends to live."

"...No jealousy?"

"Heard the girl's voice clear as day."

Sure, there's that one friend around who likes girls, but... he shares our weakness, so no threat. And she said the name. Your friend, my junior, remember?

"Then can I... talk about Oppa?"

"What else would you talk about if not me."

"How you always grope my body... especially my boobs... and want sex all the time?"

"Hey, you crazy?"

"Pffft... kidding."

Didn't sound like a joke at all. I snapped a bit, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as usual, she grinned and dodged. Can't win with her. Though in bed, I always do...

...Lately it feels like she lets me win by force.

"Ah, yeah. Nael. Time's good. ...Yeah. Yeah. Oh, is Nara next to you? Nara maybe... Ah, not yet..."

I massaged the palm of her intertwined hand as we strolled slowly down the street.

...It worked out, right? Seems like it somehow. Friends worrying and calling first thing in the morning despite that mess, others hiding their own secrets and understanding, and then clueless soldier boys calling at bad times.

...What, morning vibes got me sentimental? Huh?

...Ah. Yeah, yesterday's vibe wasn't your standard offal joint. My sister's friend, my junior, my friend's girl—she said she was weak to booze? She's fine now, chatting with Gyeo-ul, but she must've passed out, so the clueless soldier's probably worried sick. I get it.

"Nah, nothing big. Just got wasted, her friend took her home."

"Friend...?"

"High school buddy came and dragged her back."

"...Ah. Girls' school. Right."

"Anyway, all good, so don't worry. Hit me up when you're on leave. I'll buy food."

But would he understand me? My juniors kinda... try to, even if not fully. Wonder about him and the others. Would they just curse me as a sick pervert fuck and move on? Or shun me in disgust?

...Dunno. But somehow... it'll work out like this time. No basis, just a gut feeling.

"Buying booze too?"

"Booze is Dutch pay. Don't mooch."

"No mercy even for a soldier?"

"Guy with a girlfriend shouldn't just mooch."

"Fine, shit. Probably out next month, see ya then."

"Yep yep."

I shoved my phone in my pocket and turned—Gyeo-ul, who'd already hung up, was staring at me.

A bit embarrassing. Hate showing the unpolished side. Y'know, that thing where you wanna look dignified to your little sis? Too late now, I've shown her plenty of mess.

"Oppa's friend?"

"Yeah. Your friend's boyfriend."

"...Who?"

"The one you just talked to. Turns out he's my buddy—found out yesterday."

"For real? So weird, Oppa."

"We all live nearby, makes sense."

"Does it?"

"Human connections are like that..."

We chatted like typical siblings—fingers locked suspiciously tight for siblings—matching strides to breakfast, then headed home.

...Didn't check missed calls, so Mom whacked my back hard. Twenty smacks, including Gyeo-ul's share. Didn't hurt much, though.