47. Back to Everyday Life
...Ugh. My ear's itchy. Ow, now it hurts. Feels like it got bitten. My body's heavy too. With moisture on my face, I was fully awake.
"...Why from the morning."
"I just... wanted to try it once."
"..."
Gyeo-ul had climbed on top of me and was messing with my ear. I kicked off the blanket and flipped us over, pinning her down instead. Now she was the one trapped under the covers. She'd gotten up first and showered or something—her hair was slightly damp.
...If you were awake, you could've woken me.
"You showered?"
"...Yeah."
"You feeling okay?"
"A little... tired."
"...Let's go home and eat since you're hungry. I'll shower too, so change your clothes."
"Ah, Oppa. Wait a sec."
Gyeo-ul, pinned beneath me, pulled her arms out from under the blanket, grabbed my head with both hands, and drew me in for a light kiss on the lips.
"...I wanted to try this too."
"...I haven't even brushed my teeth yet."
"I did, so it's fine."
"..."
Seeing that beaming smile, like she'd gotten one over on me, made me not want to get up at all. I lifted the blanket covering us, slipped inside, hugged Gyeo-ul close, and pulled it back down. Just like when we'd fallen asleep last night, lying side by side.
"You're... not attacking me. Oppa."
"What, you want me to?"
"...No, not that. I just... thought you would."
"Then why'd you do it."
"I thought... you'd go easy on me if I did."
"...Not today."
"...Why?"
"I didn't confess to you just to do that."
"..."
"We've got plenty of time anyway, even if it's not today."
Things were different now from before. We had time on our side. No more shallow deadlines like "just until today," no more excuses or deceptions. We'd decided on this.
"Once we're at university, we'll have lots of free time together. After graduation too. After we get jobs, go independent—there's still time left after all that. ...No rush."
"..."
"...Just hold me a bit instead. I'm not fully awake yet."
Truth be told, even when I confessed, holding back had never crossed my mind. I knew I couldn't. I'd planned to endure until you graduated university, until we both went independent. ...Thanks to you, that time just came a little sooner.
We had plenty of time before checkout anyway, so I closed my eyes again. Darkness fell, but Gyeo-ul's warmth in my arms was unmistakable. I wanted to stay like this forever.
A little under an hour later, after dozing while hugging my massive human heater, I woke up, showered, and we headed home. It was awkward wearing the same clothes from yesterday since we hadn't packed any, but oh well. At least I'd stripped down right away, so mine were fine—but Gyeo-ul... well, she hadn't worn her bra, just stuffed it in her padding pocket. Guess I should buy her a new one. She hadn't thrown it out, saying it was a waste. I got why now, sort of.
Gripping my starving stomach, I sent Gyeo-ul up first and parked. When I hurried up in my long padding, there she was, standing blankly in front of the open door, padding off inside.
"...What're you doing? Not cold?"
"...Oppa."
"Yeah."
"Once we go inside... we're siblings again... right?"
"...Yeah."
"So we're still... lovers... for now?"
"Still...?"
"So... before we part a little... can you kiss me...?"
"..."
Her usual rock tee at home, pink dolphin pants that didn't match the weather at all, and her breasts standing out especially since no bra. Maybe because we were outside the door, or it was her everyday look—nothing special—but for some reason, I wanted to kiss her more than usual.
I glanced around, confirmed no one was there. A too-steamy kiss might cause trouble, so I just pressed our lips lightly. Deeper than the morning one when we woke up, but no tongues. A lover's kiss, lips brushing just enough to tease the insides.
So focused on exploring each other's mouths, I didn't notice my feet stepping forward. Gyeo-ul backed up in response, one step at a time. Before long, my left foot and her right had been inside the entryway for ages—but we were still outside. We didn't stop pressing our mucous membranes together.
Soon we were both breathing hard, my body heating up under the padding. I resented the padding blocking our chests, but I didn't take it off. To do that, we'd have to go inside.
Eyes closed, savoring our time as lovers, we kept inching forward in our shoes until we'd fully entered the entryway. We parted briefly to catch our breath, closed the door, and returned to being siblings.
"...Let's eat. I'm hungry."
"...Yeah."
"Cooking's a hassle... what should we order."
"Um... it's about lunchtime. Fried rice or something?"
"Chinese?"
"Not that. Like kimchi fried rice, or omelet rice..."
"...Fine, I'll have kimbap then."
"...Okay. I'll order—you go shower, Oppa."
"I did earlier."
"You sweated buckets, Oppa."
"...Yeah. Guess I should."
After separating all our touching skin, I went to the bathroom and washed off the sweat. I was definitely aroused, and the thought of doing it wasn't absent—but I held back. Knowing she was completely mine now made me less anxious.
Mom was coming back tomorrow, so we cleaned the house top to bottom again. Not to hide anything, just actual cleaning. At least for tomorrow, I wanted to show her a neat place. After dragging out the sofa and wiping every corner of dust, Gyeo-ul collapsed from exhaustion.
...Even though I did all the heavy lifting.
Her stamina was seriously lacking. I poked her sprawled-out form with a finger.
"Hey, Kim Gyeo-ul."
"What, Oppa. I'm tired—don't talk to me."
"Your mouth doesn't seem tired."
"...Whose fault is it I was up all night working so hard."
"You said you'd exercise after Suneung. If you collapse from this, what then."
"..."
"You've been going out lately too, so starting tomorrow, I'll teach you at home."
"...I don't trust you, Oppa. You won't make me lift super heavy stuff like you do, right?"
"I won't. Just bodyweight exercises. And the stuff at home isn't heavy—it's just dumbbells."
"...Really?"
"You could lift that much eventually."
My sister gawked at me in shock. Sure, lifting and training with it were different, but she could lift it. It was dumbbells, not a barbell.
"Gotta... put in effort."
"Yeah, consistency's key for exercise. Don't wanna suffer later."
"I know I need it. If you help, Oppa... I'll do it properly."
"...Okay."
Even flailing on the living room floor, her determination was admirable. ...In more ways than one.
Thankfully, the day passed uneventfully. We ate together like usual, chatted on the sofa watching TV, and when yawns hit, went to our rooms to sleep. It felt a bit lonely hugging my pillow tight, but... aside from that, no issues.
The date changed, and it was time for Mom to arrive. Ready to return to normal life, we sat side by side on the sofa, chatting with my sister.
"...Mom should be here soon."
"Yeah."
"What should we make her?"
"I want kimchi jjigae. With tuna."
"Really?"
"Your cooking wasn't bad, Oppa... but soups and stews were mostly instant."
"Be grateful I didn't even give you rice."
"I'd have told Mom if you did."
"Then I'd have moved out. 'Figure out your own meals.'"
"That's too much."
"I stayed home at this age, didn't meet friends, just cleaned up after you. Be thankful."
"...I never said I wasn't. I am thankful."
"Thanks for choking down my tasteless rice too."
"It wasn't tasteless. ...You just set the table anyway—no actual cooking."
"I made the egg roll."
"Oh, that was good. Thanks, Oppa."
As we bantered like perfectly close siblings—nothing odd or suspicious—cheerful footsteps echoed up the stairs.
"My baby girl! Mom's home~"
"Mom!"
The door opened, and Gyeo-ul jumped off the sofa into Mom's arms.
...Sigh. I couldn't do that. How do you cling to your parents like a kid at this age? Right?
"Aigoo, my girl. You must've had it rough."
"No, it was fine."
"Did he boss you around good?"
"...Yeah. Worked me to the bone."
"Aigoo, look at that belly. What'd he feed you to pack on the pounds?"
"We ordered... too much delivery."
"Son! Did you manage okay without Mom?"
"...We did."
"Didn't miss Mom's face? Barely looked at me."
"...I did. Cooking's no joke."
"You made rice?"
"Even instant rice is a hassle to heat up."
"If that's too much, how'll you survive alone later."
"I'll just live with you forever."
"Always got an answer. ...Anyway, good job. Thanks for taking care of Gyeo-ul."
I couldn't meet Mom's eyes as she hugged my sister, gazing at me gratefully. Shame and more shame piled up. Like clutching a dagger to carve out my heart—I couldn't stab or discard it. Hiding it was the path I'd chosen.