Caught in the Act
Anyway.
Whether or not I really smelled like sweat as Haru unnie said, I was covered in dirt, so I had to wash up right away.
That's what Mama had taught us—to bathe immediately if we got dirty.
The moment I reached the small changing room in front of the bathroom, I roughly yanked off my mud-caked shirt and tossed it aside.
Thud, rustle.
The shed clothes fell into the old laundry basket in the corner of the changing room, like a snake's skin.
Looking down at that basket, a long-buried memory suddenly surfaced from the depths of my mind.
It was from a few years ago, around the time I was thirteen or fourteen, just hitting puberty.
Back then, we siblings would always toss our clothes and underwear into that basket before heading in to bathe one by one.
Mama had been functioning normally at that point, and all our laundry was her responsibility.
Unlike now, we didn't even have a washing machine or dryer back then, so she must have had it pretty tough.
Seonyu and I had only found those two machines recently in the exploration zone.
Anyway, drawing fresh bathwater every time would have been a huge waste, so we always followed the order Mama set for using the tub.
That meant we naturally ended up seeing the other girls' underwear in the basket—especially Haru unnie's.
What do you think went through the mind of a pubescent boy, suddenly obsessed with girls' bodies, when he spotted his crush's panties right there in the basket?
Admiration?
Pretending not to notice out of embarrassment?
Neither.
I couldn't hold back the uncontrollable, unfamiliar lust surging inside me. I stole Haru unnie's white panties from the top of the basket.
Then I fled to my room and buried my face in that faintly scented fabric, lost in masturbation.
...I don't remember exactly how many times I did it.
But as the saying goes, a long tail gets stepped on. I got caught red-handed right in front of Mama.
"Woohyun, that's very bad behavior. Masturbating by sniffing a girl's panties without her permission? You mustn't do that with family items."
Mama scolded me harshly, her face stern instead of her usual gentle one.
I sobbed my eyes out, snot and tears streaming, begging over and over that I'd never do it again.
Thankfully, she accepted my promise, and as far as I know, she never told Haru unnie or the other girls.
After that day, I never touched Haru unnie's underwear again.
But right now, at this very moment...
The explicit knowledge of coupling I'd seen in that book earlier.
The feel of Hari's large, soft breasts pressing down on me.
And Haru unnie's palm gliding over my back muscles.
All those stimuli began twisting strangely with that old, secret thrill of taboo.
Whoosh—
I stepped into the tub and turned on the lukewarm water.
The shower stream poured over my hair, down my shoulders, and below my waist.
Bracing both hands against the tiled wall, I panted heavily.
'Come to think of it... what would it be like if I ended up doing it with Haru unnie?'
I couldn't stop the impure fantasies blooming in my head.
Her face flushed red, burdened by her role as eldest, enduring the shame as she spread her legs beneath me.
Those hands that always gently stroked my hair, now clawing my back in ecstasy.
"Haa..."
I couldn't hold back.
Finally, my right hand slid between my thighs and gripped my already throbbing erection tight.
Hot water pounded my hand as I began stroking up and down, slowly.
Maybe because I hadn't masturbated lately?
The taut heat filling my palm and the slick friction shot electric jolts up my spine to my brain.
Squelch, squish!
The splashing water and wet friction sounds filled the narrow bathroom viscously.
"Ngh... Haru unnie... Haru unnie...!"
Her name slipped from my lips unbidden.
My strokes grew faster, rougher.
My mind was filled only with unnie's wet brown eyes and her white nape.
An unprecedented rush of pleasure set every nerve on fire.
I'd say it was the best masturbation of my life.
............
If only Haru unnie hadn't caught me midway.
***
***
Bang—!
"Woohyun, no answer, so I'm coming in! I forgot to apply the ointment earlier..."
The bathroom door flew open without warning, past the changing room.
Lost in my frenzy, I hadn't heard her footsteps at all. I whipped my head around and froze.
Haru unnie stood in the doorway, holding the ointment tube.
"......"
"......"
Whoosh—
The only sound was the merciless shower pounding our ears.
Unnie's gaze started at my face, trailed down my glistening chest following the water, and then...
Locked precisely on my right hand gripping my vein-bulging, angry-red cock.
Plop!
The small ointment tube slipped from her hand and hit the tile floor limply.
My mind went blank. My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth.
"N-no... this is... um..."
I tried to squeeze out an excuse, but only meaningless fragments spilled out.
The fact that the object of my secret crush had seen my most private, ugliest side felt like sharp glass shards ripping into my chest.
...Haru unnie must despise me now.
She'd turn away with a look of disgust, like I was a bug.
She'd never call my name with that gentle smile again...
That despair crushed me, and without realizing, a hot droplet trailed down my cheek amid the water.
"Hic, sob—"
I hung my head, shoulders heaving like a child.
That was the moment.
Click.
Haru unnie quietly closed the bathroom door.
Then she turned and walked straight under the pouring shower.
"U-un... unnie...!"
Her thin top soaked through instantly, clinging to her skin.
But she didn't care at all about her wet clothes.
She wrapped her arms around me—naked, drenched, and tear-streaked—and hugged me tight.
"It's okay, Woohyun. It's okay."
Her voice by my ear was so warm and calm.
She didn't scorn or push me away.
Instead, her wet hands gently stroked my trembling back as she whispered.
"Unnie understands everything."
Her soft whisper seeped in amid the shower's rain.
"Unnie's the oldest in our house. That's why Mama taught me a lot separately back then."
Her soft cheek pressed against my shoulder.
"I heard boys need to... release sometimes. Holding it in is actually bad for your health. So even if unnie sees you shaking it alone, she should understand—that's what Mama said."
She pulled me deeper into her embrace.
"So don't be ashamed. Unnie really does understand."
Her blind kindness and empathy broke me down.
Burying my face in her chest, I sobbed endlessly, squeezing out words.
"S-sorry... sob, I didn't want to show you this filthy side..."
It was the desire I'd hidden most desperately.
"Calling your name... while doing this... I'm really sorry... P-please forgive me just once..."
I felt her body stiffen ever so slightly at my apology.
But she soon stroked my wet hair gently and replied.
"It's okay. Even I... masturbate sometimes. Everyone does it. So don't blame yourself."
With that, she hugged me once more, patted my back, and pulled away.
Droplets fell from her soaked clothes.
"I'll leave the ointment on the shelf by the washer."
Her flushed face gave me a faint smile, then she quietly opened the door and left.
Click.
The door shut, leaving me alone in the bathroom again.
"Haa..."
Under the pouring shower, a massive wave of regret crashed over me.
I'd never felt so small and pathetic.
Throb!
Throb!
Yet amid that intense self-loathing, my beastly cock was lifting its head again.
The feel of unnie's soaked breasts when she'd hugged me moments ago.
And her secret confession that she masturbates too.
Those burned into my brain, making it twitch wildly once more.
"You crazy bastard... Jin Woohyun, you trash..."
Bam! Bam!
I slammed my forehead against the tile wall, groaning.
I couldn't control myself at all.
In the end, for the remaining time, I soaked in the filled tub...
Forcing my overheated body and mind to cool, until my fingers were pruned and swollen, before I could finally escape outside.