15. The Ear
"Gyeo-ul, I'm heading to the bookstore."
"Why?"
"Gonna grab some certification books."
"...Do you have to go out?"
"Figured I'd browse around while I'm at it."
"You eating lunch out?"
"Nah, I'll be back before that."
"...Drive safe."
"I know, no need to tell me."
It was a Sunday morning when the sunlight still wasn't too harsh. Leaving my sister sprawled on the sofa behind me, I stepped out of the house. September was racing toward its end, but the summer heat hadn't fully faded yet. Not sweltering or anything. And just like that, blink and it'd be winter in no time. As someone whose name matched the season perfectly, I felt a bit wistful about the ideal autumn weather slipping away.
I didn't have to walk far to reach the large used bookstore. Used in name only—it was practically a full-fledged bookstore. Wandering the shelves aimlessly, pulling out this and that, I spotted a tiny girl with a petite frame.
...One of my sister's friends. What was she doing here?
"...Oh, um. Excuse me..."
"Hey... hi. You're Gyeo-ul's friend, right?"
"Ah, yeah."
She noticed my gaze and greeted me awkwardly.
...What was her name again? Never heard it, so no clue.
"You live around here?"
"Yeah. That's how I got close with Gyeo-ul."
"...I see."
"..."
...What do I even say? On second thought, did I need to chat at all? We're not close or anything.
"...How's Gyeo-ul doing?"
"Gyeo-ul?"
"She skipped school this week, so I called, and her voice sounded fine..."
"...Just a quick fever. She's good now."
"That's a relief..."
"..."
"..."
...God, I hate this awkward vibe. Honestly, I just wanted to bail as soon as possible.
"...Um, Oppa."
"Yeah."
"That thing from last time... were you gonna say..."
She fidgeted like she wanted to speak but couldn't get the words out.
...Spit it out already.
"...You're talking about that time, right?"
"Y-Yeah?"
"I saw you. In my room."
"..."
Her face flushed bright red, and she nodded with her head down.
...Big deal. Over something like that.
"...I know it might look weird, but Gyeo-ul and I are just really close. Like, super tight-knit siblings?"
"...Huh?"
"You know, we've built up this bond through fights and all, so we're super comfortable with each other. I get why you might misunderstand, though."
"...Right?"
It was total bullshit, actually. My sister and I hadn't fought once since elementary school.
...How can you fight if you don't talk? We only got close after I went to college. Sure, maybe we scrapped as kids, but if it's not in my brain, it didn't happen. No way she remembers if I don't.
"Anyway, thanks for worrying about Gyeo-ul, but no need for you guys to read into it. We're just... really close."
"Y-Yeah..."
"Anything else?"
"N-No."
"Cool, I've got somewhere to be. See ya."
"Ah, okay. Take care."
I left her there and walked away. I didn't really think a little talk like that would clear up any misunderstandings. Still, I brought it up first because... it was a hassle otherwise. Couldn't end the convo smoothly without addressing it. No point wasting time standing around awkwardly for both of us.
I bought an electrical engineer book and headed out. The exam wasn't till my senior year anyway, and it was related to my major. Things would be insane once I reenrolled, so better to study now while I had time. Having a book in my room would keep it from slipping my mind.
...Though it'd probably end up as interior decor.
Since I was out, I swung by a bakery nearby, grabbed a few kinds of bread, and headed home. With all three of us loving bread, I can't help buying some whenever I see it. Like sparrows flocking to a mill.
Bag in one hand, whistling as I opened the front door—
"..."
My sister was lying sideways on the sofa, fast asleep.
...Wearing an eye mask.
"...Asleep?"
"..."
...If it's too bright, go crash in your room and draw the curtains. Staring at her peacefully sleeping with just her mouth slightly open, covered eyes and all, made me wanna mess with her. I tossed the bread bag on the floor and poked her cheek.
...Not waking up.
She looked chilly in her tank top and shorts, so I grabbed a blanket and draped it over her. Then I swallowed hard, fetched a change of clothes, and slipped into the bathroom.
Standing under the running shower, zoning out as the water hit me, I finished up, toweled off my hair, and stepped out.
...Kicked the blanket off already.
I approached the sofa, sat with my legs spread to the side, and looked at her face. Hard to tell with the eye mask on... I pressed her cheek again, but no sign of stirring.
I pulled my finger away and gently toyed with her earlobe.
Still deep in dreamland.
"...Kim... Gyeo... ul..."
"..."
I leaned in until my lips nearly brushed her ear, whispering just loud enough for her to hear.
...Still not waking? Wouldn't even notice if I carried her.
"...Huu..."
"..."
She showed zero signs of waking, so I blew softly into her ear.
She seemed asleep as ever, but her body twitched just a bit.
...Huh.
I blew into her ear again.
...Twitched again.
"...You're awake."
"...What're you doing?"
I peeled off the eye mask—her eyes were already open.
...She's terrible at faking sleep. Common sense: blow in someone's ear, they'll wake up. Or at least squirm.
"Came home and you were out."
"So, why?"
"Lunchtime's coming up."
"Besides that... why mess with me?"
"...Just did?"
With that, she clung to my shoulder from the sofa, wrapping her arms tight so I couldn't escape, chin resting on me. Then she lightly nibbled my ear.
"Ow!"
"Huh...?"
The moment her teeth grazed my ear, I reflexively tried to pull away. But pinned by her arms, yanking back just dragged her with me. Naturally, she tumbled off the sofa with me, and on instinct, I cradled the back of her head as we hit the floor—me crushed underneath.
"Ow..."
"...Oppa..."
"...You okay?"
"I'm fine. ...You?"
"...Me too."
Honestly, getting slammed flat hurt like hell, but it was my own fault, so I kept quiet.
"...Oppa."
"What."
"Don't you think messing with a sleeping sister is kinda rude?"
"Wasn't messing—just waking you."
"Who wakes someone up like that?"
"Me right here."
"I'd get mad if you woke me that way."
"Nah, you wouldn't."
"...Really?"
Of course, I'm the early bird, so it'd never happen. But if she tried... scary thought.
"If you're so sure, try it sometime."
"...Looking forward to it."
"...Then get off me first?"
"Why?"
"Heavy."
"I'm not heavy."
"Even if you're not, pressing down like that all over makes you heavy."
"...Then move your hand from my head first."
"You get up."
"You first."
Faces buried in shoulders, we bickered into each other's ears—no end in sight.
...Too sore to shove her off. So I wrapped my free arm around her back and squeezed tight. She'd let go if she couldn't breathe.
"..."
"..."
...Clinging like this, her heartbeat transmitted straight to me. Thump, thump. The steady rhythm started picking up speed. Thump-thump-thump.
"...Oppa."
"Yeah."
"Can't breathe."
"That's the point."
"...Huh?"
"Means get off."
"You're the one hugging."
"I'll let go if you move."
"...No."
...For real. Why's she doing this?
"...Oppa, you showered?"
"How'd you know?"
"Hair's wet."
"Haven't dried it yet."
"What'd you do outside?"
"Uh..."
...Tell her? Honesty's probably best. ...Wish she'd back off first, though.
"...Saw your friend at the bookstore."
"...Who?"
"The short one who came over last time."
"What'd you talk about?"
"She was worried 'cause you skipped school. Told her you're fine."
"...I see."
"Oh yeah, what's her name?"
"...Why?"
"Didn't know, so couldn't call her anything."
"...Shin Nara."
"That Nara was the one asking about—"
She bit my ear mid-sentence.
...Unfair. I squeezed my arms tighter to signal stop. But the harder I held, the more she clung to my ear.
"Ha... eep..."
"...Ngh."
Any slip and a sound would've escaped. We barely held it in, panting roughly—then the bell rang.
"..."
"..."
Too startled for even a scream. Our bodies trembled as we stared at the intercom.
...Delivery, thank god.
"...Let's get up."
"..."
"Might not get past the main entrance."
"...No."
She clung back on and nibbled my ear again.
...This is why I told her not to bite. I did warn her about the ears, though.
I flipped us over. Now Gyeo-ul was under me, face bright red.
"..."
"Oppa...?"
"...Hoo."
I exhaled long and hard. Swallowed big.
"O... ngh..."
I yanked the arm pinned between the floor and my waist. My fingers naturally brushed her side. Slipping my pinky under her t-shirt made her twitch. Blood flow cut off to the hand on her head. But her hair felt so soft, I barely noticed. Neck aching, I buried my face in her nape. Deep breath—her scent hit me. Sweet.
I relaxed my elbows and knees. Pinned her fully.
...The press of her chest against mine was driving me insane.
"...Gyeo-ul-ah."
"..."
"Lift your waist."
"...H-Huh?"
"So I can pull my arm out. It's stuck."
"Oh, yeah..."
Somehow, I held it together. She wriggled her back, but I was too heavy—no dice.
...No choice. I stood on my knees, still hugging, heads on each other's shoulders. After god knows how long, several deep breaths, I loosened—but nothing changed.
"...Bought bread, so let's have that for lunch."
"...Okay."
Only after that could we finally separate. She scrambled up and bolted to her room. Floor landing left my bones aching everywhere. Body too sticky—I showered again. Luckily, the package sat quietly by the door.
...Not even drunk, yet who knows if that's a blessing or curse.