72. A Room We Can't Leave
A week had passed since the funeral shifted everything. In that short time, my feelings had subtly changed from before. The tenderness grew a bit stronger, the urge to hold her a bit fiercer, the desire to kiss her a bit deeper. More yesterday than the day before. More today than yesterday. Probably more tomorrow than today. The longer time went on, the bigger our feelings for each other swelled.
Almost every day. No, every single night. When Mom headed back to the master bedroom in the dead of night, we naturally gathered in one of the side rooms and kissed. We'd lie together in bed, hugging under the covers, sharing breaths. Even without doing anything naughty, we did it every day. Some nights it led to sex, but gently, nothing too intense. Facing each other, embracing, lost in kisses. Sometimes we'd both drift off to sleep like that without realizing. Luckily, we hadn't been caught yet.
Staying cooped up in the house meant too much scrutiny. Going out meant even more. I hated going alone, and going together felt risky, like it might spark suspicion. The excuse of meeting friends only worked once or twice. After Suneung and my discharge, if we suddenly started going out, it'd look suspicious. So we scoured everywhere for part-time jobs we could do together.
Given the circumstances, good gigs were hard to find. But then, right on cue, we got a call. From a department classmate who was also Gyeo-ul's friend's older sister. Offering a job at her aunt's cafe. The call went to Gyeo-ul, not me.
⋯Why?
"⋯Why'd she call you?"
"She got my number from Nara. I mentioned looking for work when I was texting her. ⋯With you."
My sister sprawled on the sofa, head resting on my thigh, fiddling with her phone. ⋯After Mom got back from the funeral, we'd have to separate quick. No, knee pillows were fine between siblings, right? This much was okay. It could happen.
"Then just have your friend say it. Why bother?"
"They're hiring two. They want you too."
"⋯Me?"
"Yeah."
Of course, she didn't have my number. ⋯Cafe job together. Not bad. No heavy lifting or anything.
"Where?"
"That place from our first⋯ kiss. There."
"⋯There?"
Something felt off. She practically dragged me there half-forced. So it was a ploy to boost her aunt's sales. ⋯Thanks to that, our first kiss was sweet, so I'll let it slide.
"Yeah. She saw my photo and insisted on bringing you."
"⋯Didn't they pick you for your face?"
"Well⋯ I am pretty cute. Enough to make my own brother fall for me."
"Then what about you, falling for that brother?"
"⋯Can't help it. We're siblings. We look alike."
She set her phone down, stretched out her arms, and toyed with my face. ⋯Her hands really are so soft. Not that only her hands are.
"When's the interview?"
"Just come the day after tomorrow. Said it doesn't matter since we're good students. And friends of her niece."
"⋯Tell Mom when she gets back later. That we got jobs."
"Okay."
"Gives us an excuse to go out together more often now⋯ hang out."
"⋯Hey, Oppa."
"What."
Her fingers tracing my eyes, nose, and lips paused as she looped her arms around my neck and sat up. Then she straddled me, rubbing her soft cheek against mine and whispering.
"Starting today, it's my⋯ period. ⋯Not possible."
"⋯Why say it while clinging like this."
"I'll do something else instead. Get clean⋯ and wait. I'll come to your room."
"⋯Something else?"
"You've been getting ki⋯sses every day lately. ⋯My turn to repay."
She'd gotten used to dirty talk now. A hint of shyness lingered, but after saying it, she gazed at me with a soft smile, eyes crinkling. ⋯Right as I leaned in for a kiss, we heard Mom's footsteps and sprang apart in a rush. Knee pillows were one thing. This was too much.
"So, you two got cafe jobs?"
"Yeah. A classmate said her aunt's place had openings."
"Classmate? Our son has close classmates?"
"⋯What, you think I have no friends in college?"
"You dorm kid only came home to crash when bored. Figured you had none."
"Too much."
Dinner for three. Mom chuckling. Sister shoveling food. Brother teased. A picture of family peace.
"So, same shifts together?"
"⋯We'll see once we go, but probably."
"How'd your classmate know about our girl? Show her a photo? She into you?"
"She's a girl. Not a guy."
"What, a girl? ⋯Then she's into you?"
"⋯No way. We're not even close. She didn't have my number, called Gyeo-ul instead."
"Doesn't know your number but knows your sister's?"
"Her little sister's friends with Gyeo-ul. She saw Gyeo-ul's pic first and wanted her. I'm just extra."
"Oh? Dang. Thought I'd get a peek at my son's girlfriend for once."
"Not interested. Probably has a boyfriend anyway."
I don't really know. Not close. Doesn't matter to me. What caught my eye was my sister's toes nudging my leg under the table. Why keep kicking. During dinner.
"Anyway, good you got jobs. Mom was stifling with you two always lounging at home."
"⋯Mom finds her daughter home stifling?"
"Two big kids and a huge one wandering the house all day? Stifling. Go out, meet friends. Even with masks."
"We'll wander more from now on. Earning money too."
"Think I didn't give allowance? I know what's in your accounts."
⋯Does she really know everything in the accounts? Gotta stop using cards. Cash only from now on.
"Anyway, work hard. Especially since it's through connections. Don't cause trouble or your friends'll suffer."
"Don't worry, Mom. Whose daughter am I?"
"You're the worry. That beanpole at least did military. First job for you."
"⋯If the beanpole can't handle it, he'll cover for me."
"Who's a beanpole. Ever seen a beanpole this thick and smart?"
"Shut up, Oppa. Don't talk while eating."
She snapped at me like she was fed up. From this angle, she fit the little sister role perfectly. ⋯But even then. Her sole kept stroking the top of my foot.
Knock knock knock.
Another midnight past twelve. With the knock, someone entered my room without waiting. I pretended to sleep soundly as they approached, felt breath on my face, then something bumped my lips and pulled away. The blanket lifted. The bedside sleep light flicked on, stinging my eyes a bit. A warm body slipped into my arms. Fabric brushed instead of skin. Hair rubbed against my chest, then a deep inhale.
⋯That enough? I hugged the sister who'd snuck in to tease her sleeping brother tight and opened my eyes. ⋯Wearing this now too. My dress shirt, too big for her. Sleeves hiding her hands. No bra, judging by the bumps at her chest. The light made the shirt look orange, but it was mine—I knew the color. Below, that black tennis skirt from last year. Thin black stockings underneath. Panties probably inside. One layer off and it'd get lewd quick. Half-undressed seemed lewder than fully naked.
"Hi, Oppa. Sleep well?"
"Was sleeping till someone woke me."
"Came to scold the perv sleeping in just panties."
"⋯Someone stole my clothes, left me nothing."
"You sleep in a dress shirt?"
"Then why are you?"
"⋯Not planning to sleep yet."
We both knew, but danced around it. Sweeter that way. Lewder. Sometimes dressed was hotter than nude.
"⋯Can I unbutton?"
"Top's fine, but⋯ no panties. It's that⋯ day."
"⋯Oh."
"Kiss first⋯ I'll use my hands."
"⋯Hold on."
Can't do it today anyway. I opened the desk drawer, pulled out the now-useless box. Tossed it on the bed, took one out, unwrapped it, handed it to her.
"⋯Oppa. Can't today."
"That's why. ⋯Kissing'll stain the sheets otherwise."
"Not made for that. Seriously. ⋯Perv."
"Too wasteful to toss."
Grumbling, she pulled one out. Curious, she examined it closely, turning it over. ⋯First time touching one, huh. Never really used them.
"Want me to put it on?"
"Uh⋯ how?"
"Grab the tip, roll it on here⋯."
As I started explaining nicely, click. A door opened far off. Not mine or the next room's. We froze, breaths held. Footsteps thudded. TV clicked on. Sofa creaked as someone flopped down.
⋯Fuck. Screwed. What now.