Alleyway
A few days passed without any major incidents. My sex drive... I managed to restrain it, to some extent. Not for any other reason, but... that sensation from coming between her breasts had etched itself so deeply into me. Nothing short of that really got a rise out of me anymore. No awkwardness or embarrassment either. We'd long passed that point.
Of course, the next morning, I panicked hard when I saw the state of the car. ...If Mom had caught that, it would've been game over. I swept up all the trash and boxes and hauled them straight to the outdoor bin. ...Haa. Really dangerous. We could get busted anytime and it wouldn't be a shock. ...How the hell did things end up like this? It's obviously a serious problem. I... figured I'd mull it over long and hard.
I do cherish Gyeo-ul, that's true. And getting turned on by her sexually? Also true. But liking my little sister in a romantic way? That's a whole different beast. Dating or whatever comes after, the stares from everyone around us... ...How the hell do I explain that to the rest of the family? There are mountains to climb here.
I was going to find some kind of answer on my own, but... feels like it's already too late. Come this far, and pretending like nothing happened? No way.
"...Oppa?"
"Yeah, what."
"Your face looks kinda bad."
"...Just stressing over dinner."
"I don't really care."
"...So if I said let's grab gukbap, you'd be down?"
"Gukbap's tasty."
"...Kalguksu it is."
Somehow it felt like I was agonizing all alone here. Why does she look so carefree? ...Is this really that simple a problem?
"...Oppa."
"What."
"Um... you got something bothering you lately?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, for real...?"
"...Guess who it's about?"
"..."
...Well. Honestly, I don't wanna dump this kinda worry on a kid grinding for exams. But still... I wish she'd rein it in a bit. Don't wanna screw up my judgment just because of some dumb lust.
Parked in the apartment's first-floor lot and swung by the kalguksu joint nearby. Their dumplings are killer. Kalguksu's tough to screw up anyway. Always got delivery before, but hitting the actual shop felt kinda fresh.
"Kalguksu and a plate of dumplings?"
"Nah, manduguk for me."
"...Seriously?"
"Spaghetti showed up in school lunch."
"Shoulda said we go somewhere else then."
"This is still the best spot near home anyway."
"What about that restaurant from last time?"
"They got pasta too."
"...Fair point."
Ended up ordering one each. We were just kinda blankly sneaking glances at each other's profiles when some faces we've been seeing a lot lately walked in. ...Masks or no, I know 'em now.
"Huh? Gyeo-ul?"
"...Ga-eul? That you?"
"Ah... Nara."
"..."
The Shin sisters headed our way. ...These two make me uneasy.
"Ah, mind if we join?"
"..."
"...?"
"...Unnie. Um..."
"Ah... yeah, sure. Have a seat."
Gyeo-ul, zero read-the-room, pointed at the chairs across from us. ...Fine for you 'cause they're your friends. Me? Total strangers on both sides. See? Straight to grilling me.
"Siblings on a date?"
"Yeah."
"...For real?"
"Dinner with my sister counts as a date, right?"
"Not with your girlfriend?"
"...Didn't I say no girlfriend last time?"
"Oh, right. Not yet."
She yanked off her mask and cracked up ahaha, but Gyeo-ul's friend's eyes went all lost and wandering. ...What's her deal?
"Nara, ...something up?"
"Huh? Nah, nothing."
"...You sure?"
"Yeah. Ah, gonna wash my hands real quick."
Shaking her head and waving it off before bolting to the bathroom—suspicion confirmed. ...No clue why, though.
"...Gyeo-ul."
"What, oppa."
"Your friend acting weird. Why?"
"...Dunno."
Whispered it to Gyeo-ul, got zilch. Whatever. Not my circus.
"So, Ga-eul, you're the one dropping Gyeo-ul off at school and picking her up?"
"...Weird?"
"Yeah."
Snapped back a little at my friend who wouldn't shut up while we waited for the food. ...She's still full my-pace mode, though. This is why we don't vibe. I can't yap like that with near-strangers.
"Still, you guys getting along is nice to watch. Kinda envy it."
"You and your sister look tight too."
"Sisters are easy. Siblings? Different genders from the jump. Interests, hobbies—all different. No brothers, so who knows."
"...We didn't bond over shared interests or anything."
"Huh? Then how?"
"...Not telling you."
"What? Sketchy."
Drew a hard line with the nosy one. ...Like I can spill that. School rumors hit, and it's expulsion city. Discharged already—no army escape.
"Then Gyeo-ul. How'd you two get close?"
"Ah, um... me?"
"Yeah."
"...Reliable...?"
"Why so embarrassed? Makes sense."
"Even so... right in front of him..."
"Pure girly vibes. Nara, take notes. You'll wanna snag a boyfriend in college."
"...Unnie."
"Yeah?"
"...No."
"What, leaving me hanging."
...Head spinning. How's this not leaking audio? Wasn't Gyeo-ul's friend the chatty type? Totally owned.
"What you up to lately, Ga-eul?"
"Hitting the gym."
"Yeah, you look bulkier."
"...How after a few meets?"
"Just a hunch. Trying to impress a girl?"
"...How many times I gotta say no girlfriend."
"Yeah, yeah. No girlfriend then. Female friend? Situationship?"
"Why you so nosy about my love life."
"You were popular."
"...Huh?"
"Dude who screams 'has a girl' but shows zero interest."
"...Me?"
"Even rumors you liked guys."
"That track?"
"Almost bought it halfway, but last time proved otherwise."
"...You know that's kinda offensive?"
"Ahaha, sorry. Friends, right? Cut me slack?"
"..."
Somehow we're buddies now without me noticing. ...How does she yap nonstop in this vibe? Look—Gyeo-ul's face serious, I'm down, her friend shaking like a leaf... ...but seriously, why's she shaking?
"Ah, food's here."
"...Eat up."
Thank god the noodles arrived—momentary peace. ...Till we finished and it cranked up again.
Wanted to bail hard, but got cafe-napped as a Gyeo-ul set. ...Her face said her friend got dragged too. Leader aura? I'll stick to spinning in society's gears, thanks.
"Oppa. Gonna wash my hands."
"Me too."
Grabbed the escape-attempting Gyeo-ul and peaced to the bathroom. ...Sorry. Oppa's too spineless for the stage.
Sipping my watered-down ice leisurely, the last one left piped up at me. ...Why's everyone so chatty today?
"...Oppa."
"Yeah."
"...Sorry. Unnie's fault."
"Huh? Nah, it's cool."
"...Um, by chance... how's Gyeo-ul at home?"
"...Pardon?"
"...She okay?"
"Totally fine. What, she struggling at school?"
"No... not that... Just wondering if she's faking it or really good."
Anything Gyeo-ul'd be stressed about? ...Oh. Ah.
"...That thing?"
"Pardon?"
"You saw us at the bookstore or whatever. Then called her after."
"...Gyeo-ul told you?"
"Uh..."
...Huh? Wait... Why'd she tell Gyeo-ul? That I might have a girl.
"Um... mind saying what Gyeo-ul said...?"
"...Nothing special."
"...For real?"
"Flip it. Why'd you tell her?"
"That's... not mine to say."
"...What'd Gyeo-ul say about me?"
"..."
Damn it. Why blab this stuff around?
"...You asked her first?"
"...Kinda worried."
"She answered?"
"...Yeah."
"...What'd she say."
"...She'll get mad if I tell."
"...Never mind."
Stopped grilling—felt like picking on her for nothing. ...Why tho, really.
Awkwardly munching my coffee straw, Gyeo-ul and the friend rolled back.
"Gyeo-ul. Let's bounce."
"Huh, oppa?"
"Time to go."
"What, already?"
"Home curfew. Gotta head in."
"Oh? Alright then, bye. Was fun. Catch ya later."
"Yeah, you too."
Snagged the returning Gyeo-ul and dipped from the cafe. ...Knew it'd be this easy—shoulda bounced sooner.
Outside, sun dipping low, wind biting sharp. Masks on quick, ducked into the alley corner.
"Gyeo-ul."
"What, oppa."
"...You tell your friend about us?"
"...Huh?"
"She was asking if you're okay."
"..."
"How much you spill."
"...Just sorta. Not everything."
"Why?"
"Kept fretting 'cause I wouldn't say."
"...Doesn't mean you blab to others."
"...What part?"
"What?"
"What exactly can't I say?"
Gyeo-ul shot back firm. ...What part? Obvious—stuff no one can know.
"...The stuff we're doing."
"...Didn't say that."
"Then what'd you say."
"Can't tell."
"Why."
"...Still waiting on your answer."
"For what."
"..."
She started to spill, then clammed up.
"What is it. Spit it out."
"...Thought you'd do it. That time... eyes covered."
"...What?"
"...Um..."
No, you said don't.
"What."
"...Can't say."
"Why."
"...Can't say that."
"...Why you being like this today."
"...Argh, seriously!"
Head down, dodging my eyes—then she snapped, locked stares dead-on.
"Why didn't you do it."
"Do what."
"...Kiss."
...Huh?
"...I figured... you'd do it then."
"..."
"But you just groped my body outta nowhere... did all that weird stuff..."
"...Hey."
"Didn't hate it... but there's an order to things."
"Gyeo-ul."
"...Barely told Nara anything. Just... I jumped the gun on my own and backed off."
"...Lying to your friend, though."
"...Already lying to Mom—what's one more."
"Gotta say it out loud?"
"Yeah."
Both too absurd—hollow laughs escaped. ...For real. Ah. Screwed. Life over. How do you even see your blood sister like this.
"...Gyeo-ul."
"...Yeah."
"How in that moment. To your sister faking sleep."
"...That stuff's okay on a faking-sleep sister?"
"Vibe's a thing."
"...What vibe?"
"...Mask off."
Ears beet red, eyes darting wild—I tugged her mask up over her eyes.
...Ah, never had this kink. Your fault.
"...Oppa. Can't see."
"Classics close eyes anyway."
"..."
"...Haa."
Yanked off mine too. ...Heart's gonna burst. Just ate, coffee too—what now.
"...Oppa?"
"Oppa?"
"...Ah."
Short pause, she called my name. ...I'm a man of my word, though. She got it, lips mumbling quiet—pursed silent, stretched sideways, pressed, released.
"..."
Legs dipped a bit. Hands lost—hers too. Laced our shaky fingers. Leaned till breaths mingled. Way warmer than the outside air. Faces overlapped closer. Sunset shadows bled into one. Eyes shut. Kept it light, no lewdness. Just lips brushing.
Syrup sweet. Then hazelnut stung my nose.
...Ah. Too sweet—don't wanna pull away. Time froze. No sounds. Just heart throbs shaking us, lips' softness, laced hands' warmth—proof the world's still turning.
"..."
"...Gyeo-ul."
Pulled back a sec. Dying to see her eyes. Slid the mask off... same gaze I'd glimpsed once before. Watched her—she shut 'em again. Lips met once more.
Glad we hit the cafe. First kiss tasting like kalguksu or dumplings? Weird. My sweet, your bitter—either way, not bad.
How long? Chill wind crept in. Heart steadying slow. Hand sweat drying. Still warm, though. Footsteps echoed. Alley passersby. What'd they think? Couple? Married? Definitely not siblings.
Parted again, deep breath. ...Lips only. Thirst unquenched, no matter how bad I crave. Seawater vibes.
"...Oppa."
"...Yeah."
"...Head home."
"...Yeah."
Unlaced. Masks on. Side by side down the darkening road. Chatted random stuff heading home. Pinkies hooked the whole way.