The Date Begins at Midnight

The classroom was bustling with students on dates, but in the back corner, Taeyang and Ahyeon might as well have been in another world, lost in their own little bubble of time. Ahyeon cracked up giggling every time I said a few words, like whatever I was saying was the funniest thing ever.

"Hahaha, really? So what'd you have for dinner?"

"She just wanted the food I made, so I cooked at home. Soybean sprouts namul, tofu kimchi, and braised beef."

Moonbyeol must've been half-asleep when she woke up or something. She didn't really crave anything specific, and since we'd already gone grocery shopping, we figured we'd eat at home. No reason for me to say no, so I just whipped it up. Seeing her—who usually dieted so hard she barely finished half a bowl—polish off a full one made me oddly proud.

"Huh."

Ahyeon had been laughing like it was just some amusing story up until then, but her eyes narrowed at the mention of the dinner menu.

"I see."

Her mouth was smiling, but her eyes sure weren't. A cold chill settled over her expression. Ahyeon already had that sharp, intimidating look on a good day. Whenever she made that face, all the friends around us—except me—shivered with some inexplicable chill.

"And?"

"I tried prying a bit, but she clammed up like she was some independence fighter or whatever, so I grabbed some Adebek from the fridge and..."

"Booze? You drank booze?!"

"Not a ton. Like a bottle and a half? She loosened right up."

Ahyeon brought her thumb to her mouth and started gnashing her nail. Hey, I told her not to do that habit 'cause it ruins her nails.

"So that little vixen finally shows her true colors, huh."

"Hey, isn't treating someone else's little sister like that a bit much? She's so... well, not pure, but anyway. And I told you not to bite your nails."

"You don't get it, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Taeyang! Last time I went to your place, that insolent brat was all..."

"Hey now. Bad mouth."

I rarely got serious like that, but I chomped down on the nape of her neck. Not hard enough to hurt, of course—the inside, hidden by my lips, got tickled relentlessly by my tongue.

"Ahng! Ha-eut!"

When I pulled away, her nape glistened with saliva.

"Gotta get along."

"Hing... Got it."

Her words might come out rough sometimes, but whenever Ahyeon swung by our house or the neighborhood and ran into Moonbyeol, they'd greet each other warmly and chat just fine. Not bad at all.

"So, Taeyang..."

"Yeah?"

Ahyeon glanced around for a second. The other students nearby were too wrapped up in their own chatter to pay us any mind. She leaned in, whispering as low as she could.

"What if Moonbyeol starts seeing you not as her big bro, but as a man..."

Her tone drooped a bit more than usual as she gauged my reaction.

"What would you do?"

"I'd accept her."

"As a woman?"

"Obviously."

No hesitation. I wasn't making the first move out of familial bonds and not wanting to shock her, but if she confessed her real feelings and came at me straight? No reason to push her away. Sure, it'd be less "accepting" and more "educating" to a degree, but I've got plenty of room in my heart for a cute little sister like that.

But a sudden doubt furrowed my brow, and I shot back.

"And what're you gonna do if I do?"

Depending on her answer, she might need a little scolding...

Ahyeon grinned wickedly.

"Obviously, no more sneaking around—I'd hop in your bed for a proper round. Hehe, can't wait. For real. Your room's gotta reek even more of your scent, right?"

No scolding needed, then. Who knew that was her angle. Ahyeon always exceeds my expectations. My scent, though... I subtly lifted my sleeve and sniffed. Didn't smell like much, but it still bugged me.

"...Do I really smell that strong?"

"Pheromones! The kind that make bitches go crazy~"

She buried her nose in my solar plexus and inhaled deeply.

"Haa... Yogurt scent. Makes me wanna get knocked up..."

For all her age, she still pronounced "yogurt" like a kindergartener.

She puffed her cheeks, grumbling.

"Waiting every year for Moonbyeol's retreat is killing me—I'm dying of boredom! She could crash at a friend's, but she always drags home before dawn?"

"Obviously. I won't let her. How old does she think she is to be sleeping over already?"

Ahyeon blinked, baffled.

"Sleepovers—we did those way younger. Mmph!"

"Quiet."

Me and Moonbyeol are different cases. But explaining it'd get complicated, so I just shut her up—grabbing her face and covering her yapping lips with mine. Not bold enough for tongue in class, so the kiss stayed short. Lips parted.

"Her and me? Different stories."

Ahyeon replied softly to my words.

"Yeah... You're always right, Taeyang."

Her eyes half-lidded in a daze, she bowed her head and nuzzled the top of it against my chest, pressing firmly. Always so bold and lively, but one kiss and she melts. Stick my dick in, and she wouldn't even qualify as human anymore.

"Haah..."

She kept pressing into my chest, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠letting out sweet, sticky sighs—her telltale sign of heat.

I stroked down her back and whispered in her ear.

"Can't hold back?"

"No. Yeah. I can't. But I will."

Her mumble carried a resolute edge.

"Today, I'm holding out no matter what."

"For tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

She flashed a eye-smile and flicked her tongue. A proper one-on-one date. We did this six days a week, sure, but this one felt different. One she planned and led herself? Thrilling.

"Can't wait. Haven't slept a wink since yesterday."

Up close, you could see the dark circles under her eyes.

"What if you crash during the date?"

"That's why I'll nap in class today. You'll lend me your thigh, right?"

"Lend? You just use it."

"Ehehe. Kyahuwung...!"

Ahyeon stretched lightly atop my thigh before sliding off.

"Get excited. I'll make it a memory you never forget."

Excited or not, as long as it's just us, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could have fun even in a freezer. I tossed out a joke with a grin.

"Seriously curious. As long as it's not a 24-hour motel sex date or whatever..."

"Uh."

"Hm?"

"Ah..."

Ahyeon averted her eyes, turning her head slightly.

"I thought... it was a decent idea..."

I'd tried softening it, but let out a short sigh and declared.

No room for misunderstandings here.

"......Not that. Change it."

"Okay..."

Still hung up on the 24-hour sex date idea, she muttered under her breath till the end.

"It's really that bad, huh..."

After that, if her "no sleep" claim wasn't a joke, she slept through morning classes—pillowed on my thigh. And after that much pillow duty, sensation was fading from my leg. Midway through third period hit critical, but seeing her sleep so peacefully and obliviously, I couldn't wake her.

Moonbyeol paused her chopsticks, brow furrowing.

"Weekend date with Ahyeon-unnie?"

"Yeah, sleepover... not sure. She's handling the schedule."

"What kinda half-assed date is that..."

"This one?"

"Pfft."

A few bites of rice left in her bowl, but Moonbyeol shoveled them in one go and stood.

"...Thanks for the meal."

She rinsed her bowl and utensils in the sink. She never used to say that or even bother rinsing. Talk about a total turnaround.

Right before entering her room, hand on the knob, she twisted only her head back to stare at me.

"What?"

"...Clear next weekend. I called dibs."

Then she dashed inside without waiting for a reply. Seemed curt at a glance, but those flushed-red ears right before the door shut? Pure adorable.

I replied to the already-closed door.

"Got it."

Inside her room, Moonbyeol leaned against the door. Her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠face burned beet-red, ready to burst any second. She mumbled softly.

"I said it..."

Legs gave out—no strength left to stand. She slid down the door, hands cupping her cheeks. Scorching heat rose to her palms. How much had her heart pounded just to say that one line? Short as it was, the thrill of success made her smile.

"I did it..."

Thinking of a real date—not like yesterday's shopping—had her stomping her feet in excitement.

Finishing cleanup, I laid out my bed and flopped down. Earlier than usual, but with tomorrow's date and it being Friday, I figured I'd recharge.

As I closed my eyes to drift off—

—Bzzz. Bzzz—

My bedside phone buzzed wildly. I'd set it to silent, no vibrate, always. Only four contacts bypassed that: parents, Moonbyeol, and Ahyeon.

This hour? Obvious who.

Confirming the screen, I chuckled.

"...When'd it multiply again."

Hearts were at two just days ago. Now six. Why call this late? Something up? Half-worried, I picked up.

"Hello?"