52. The Report Card
The more stories we shared with each other, the more our emotions intertwined, steadily building our understanding of one another. Whether she wanted the kind of conversation typical between siblings or the skinship of lovers—I could tell just from her tone or gestures now. Slapping my arm was real anger. Tickling my soles, pinching my ears, or blowing into them usually meant something else. When she suggested going out, it usually meant she wanted a hug, and hugs naturally led to kisses. Whether I was in the mood or she was, we circled around it the same way.
So today, of all days, I wanted to take things further. Mom was supposed to sleep over at Big Aunt's, so I'd prepared—packed a change of clothes, grabbed condoms and lube from the convenience store. Everything was set as we held hands and headed out, but then she texted that something had come up and she was coming back soon. In the end, we were stuck just eating kkalguksu noodles and heading home.
"No one's around here, right?"
"Yeah. No one's ever here. It's dark, too."
"...Take off your mask."
Instead, we made up for it with plenty of kisses hidden in the alley. She bit so hard my lip split a little. It stung, so I winced slightly, and Gyeo-ul gave me an apologetic look.
"...Tsk."
"Sorry. Does it hurt?"
"Just a little sting. It's fine. ...Don't you like kissing way too much?"
"You love my boobs just as much, Oppa."
"Feels like it's been forever since I've seen them."
"...That much?"
"More like I wanna touch them than just look."
"You always grope them outside anyway. Sneaking feels while hugging."
"That's over clothes. Not really kneading them."
"You wanna knead them that bad?"
"Honestly, yeah. I've been holding back a while. ...Thought we could today."
"...Here."
Hiding in a deserted spot, Gyeo-ul handed me her outer jacket. She slipped her hand under her loose knit top, fiddled with the clasp in front of her chest, and pop—unhooked her bra. ...Looks like I wasn't the only one anticipating this. Worried she'd get cold, I draped the jacket over her front backward to cover her, hugged her from behind, and slid my hands under the knit to cup her breasts. They were so warm they heated my palms. Maybe because I couldn't see them, or because we were outside, they felt even fuller than usual.
"...Feels good?"
"Driving me crazy."
"It's just a lump of flesh—why do you get so excited, Oppa?"
"'Cause your ears turn red when I touch them. It's adorable."
"...Pervert."
"Can I bite your ear?"
"Don't ask about every little thing. You dog pervert."
"We're both the same anyway."
"I'm just going along with what you wanna do, so it's your—ah."
Her reaction was great when I nipped her ear mid-sentence. I ground my bulging pants against her ass, kneaded her breasts persistently, clung to her for a good while until the wind whipped our skin and forced us apart. We let the sweat air-dry on the walk home, then I skipped greeting Mom—who'd beaten us back—and headed straight to the bathroom. Jerking off twice in the shower, using the photo she'd sent last time as a side dish, before I could finally face her.
"Ugh, you don't even greet your mom anymore?"
"Sorry. I was dying in there. Why'd you come back so early, Mom? You said tomorrow."
"I was gonna sleep over, but your aunt's husband and cousin sis put me in a taxi home."
"...I see."
"Yeah. Brought snacks—eat up. On the table."
"What is it?"
"Bread. Honey on white bread."
"Oh, that honey bread thing?"
"Yeah, yeah. Tried it—too sweet for me."
As I forced down the bread at the table, Gyeo-ul emerged from the master bedroom, shaking out her hair. She sat beside me wordlessly, sharing the bread, but even indoors, I couldn't keep my eyes off her. Same clothes as always, but post-shower, her exposed skin stood out more. Plus, she kept nudging my leg under the table, so... I jerked off once more before bed. Felt like a waste not to use the condoms I'd bought. Way easier cleanup with one on.
Time flew by until the day the Suneung scores came out. I'd thought she wasn't going to school anymore, maybe graduated, but no. It made sense once I realized it was like my own unauthorized leave disguised as post-discharge vacation. She even scanned and sent her report card, so probably no more school for her. Whatever—Mom's an expert on this stuff. Whether she comes to my school or another, we'll be together anyway. From the looks of things outside, dorms weren't happening.
"...Alright, checking now."
"Don't peek—just do it quick. We already did mock grading."
"Easy for you to say—it's not your scores. I'm shaking here."
"Hurry up. Don't drag it out."
"Even Mom?"
Gyeo-ul rubbed her chest, face scrunched, finally opened the text from school. ...Oof. Exactly as the mock scores predicted. I lost.
"...I won."
"Won against who?"
"You, Oppa."
"Your oppas in sciences."
"Anyway! All 1st grades—I win."
"You can't go to Gwanak either, same as me?"
"Knew that already—doesn't matter. Mr. All-2nds wouldn't get it."
"Come to my school, and I'll school you proper as your strict sunbae. Look forward to it."
"Mom raised us smart, and here you two are bickering like kids? Enough—Gyeo-ul, come talk with Mom a sec."
"...Suddenly?"
"What sudden? Gotta think about applications. Mom's been around this block—scores tell me plenty. Master bedroom, now."
Mom whisked her off the second the scores loaded. They stayed in forever, and when Gyeo-ul finally emerged... her eyes were a bit misty.
"...You crying?"
"...Not crying."
Her voice as she shook her head didn't sound like full-on sobbing. Just a little choked up.
"What'd Mom say?"
"Nothing."
"Then why."
"...Mom got choked up."
"Mom did?"
"Just... thanked me for growing up well, then suddenly..."
"...Mom worked hard too."
She never showed it, but raising a son and daughter alone to this point? Can't even imagine. Grandmas helped, aunts too. At least we grew up loved, never wanting materially. Outwardly, proud, accomplished kids. Rotten inside, maybe.
"Hug her later, act cute."
"Can I...?"
"Why not. She hides it, but she'd love it from you."
"...I'm doing stuff to Mom I shouldn't."
Her voice steadied from the sniffles but dropped low. I matched it, just for us.
"That's on me—you did nothing wrong."
"..."
"I'm the older one. ...Just don't get caught."
"...Yeah."
"Can't act cute with Mom myself. Do it for me?"
"I can't do aegyo either."
"...For real?"
"Can't. That stuff."
For a second, I thought lies, but thinking back, it wasn't aegyo. More like coquettish charm.
"Anyway, got it. No talk like this with Mom around. ...You never know."
She nodded, sat beside me naturally. Not too close, just right distance. But our fingers, side by side in the gap, brushed lightly. Staring silently at the TV and phones, feeling each other out cautiously—then the bedroom door opened. We yanked hands back, looked over. Mom emerged, face dewy from washing up.
"Oh, Mom..."
"My son and daughter—what're we having for lunch?"
"...Lunch?"
"Not eating?"
"We are."
"Tonkkatsu? I'll fry some."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Gyeo-ul too?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, around noon."
"...What about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?"
"Christmas Eve. Nothing?"
"Tomorrow Mom's going to Big Aunt's? Uncle's church folk—something tasty. You two wanna come?"
"...Nah, got plans."
"Gyeo-ul?"
"...Me too."
"Even with no friends, gotta go out on Christmas Eve, huh?"
"Right. Good job."
"What time tomorrow—back when?"
"Afternoon, late night."
"...Really?"
"If I pass out drunk, might stay day. But probably before midnight."
"Don't drink too much. Bad for you."
"Mom knows limits. Don't worry, my sonny boy."
Her cheerful voice and smile were the same as ever, but my mind was elsewhere.