Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Date (4)
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“Sis, let's head out.”
“...”
“Sis?”
“Huh?”
Da-jeong startled at the shake of her shoulder and snapped back to reality.
Once she came to, she turned to the side and saw her little brother gazing at her with worried eyes in the darkness.
“Sis, let's get going.”
“Uh... yeah?”
“Sorry, I should've checked the movie out properly before coming...”
Her little brother apologized while looking her straight in the eye.
Da-jeong felt a bit awkward watching him.
She hadn't been paying attention to the movie at all.
She might have looked absorbed on the surface, but from some point on, Da-jeong hadn't cared about the film one bit.
Instead, she'd been lost in an embarrassing... deeply shameful fantasy she could never admit to anyone.
“Let's go.”
Her little brother held out his hand.
His younger brother's large, broad hand.
Da-jeong swallowed hard at the sight and stood up on her own, cheeks flushing red.
“H-hand... no need for a hand...”
“Ah... okay.”
She felt bad for leaving his outstretched hand hanging and making him feel awkward, but if she took it now, those shameful fantasies might spiral out of control again.
So, sorry as she was, she turned down the offered hand.
Da-jeong fixed her seat back to normal and slipped out with her waist bent low to avoid bothering others.
Not that anyone was even watching the movie—they were all caught up in their own affectionate antics—so she probably didn't need to hunch over.
Thud.
She tossed the leftover popcorn and drinks into the trash bin outside the theater and trailed after her little brother, who was leading the way.
Normally, she would've walked side by side.
But right now, she needed some distance from her brother to sort out her thoughts.
“I-I'm gonna go settle the parking fee real quick.”
“Mm...”
Her brother vanished to handle parking, and only then did Da-jeong let out a sigh of relief while replaying what had just happened.
It started when the older sister and younger brother in the movie shared a tender hug— that's when Da-jeong, who'd been normally immersed, slipped into fantasy.
She didn't know why, but seeing that scene made her unconsciously imagine herself hugging Ha-seong.
Then she pictured them sharing a sweet kiss.
And later... embarrassingly, she imagined them embracing in bed.
“Am I really... going crazy...?”
Even Da-jeong couldn't understand herself from back then.
Why on earth had that happened?
Because the movie had such a steamy vibe?
Or because she'd been so blissfully happy spending the day on a date with her brother?
“Haa...”
There were limits to fantasies.
How could the old her have such vulgar imaginings about her own blood-related little brother...?
She felt so terribly sorry to her oblivious little brother for turning him into the object of such lowbrow fantasies.
“All settled.”
“Oh... yeah.”
As she wallowed in self-reproach alone, her brother returned from settling up.
“Let's head home now.”
“Yeah...”
Still lacking the confidence to walk beside him, Da-jeong quietly followed behind her brother again.
10 p.m.
Late night for some, early evening for others.
I quietly entered the house with my little sister.
Big Sis and my younger sister must've already gone to bed—the house was silent, all the lights off.
A movie with steamy scenes.
One about romance between an older sister and younger brother, no less.
Having done the insane thing of watching it with my actual older sister, my head was a mess, so I wanted to wash up quick and crash.
I slipped off my shoes and stepped inside.
“Huh?”
My younger sister was waiting by the door, staring right at us.
Little Sis, coming in right behind me, spotted her and jumped in surprise.
“Yu-rim?”
“...”
My younger sister scanned us both with an oddly cold gaze before speaking.
“Where were you guys?”
“We went shopping together.”
“Shopping? Where exactly?”
“Da-hyun Department Store.”
“Took this long just at the department store?”
“We watched a movie as a family too.”
“Hmmm...”
My younger sister was acting weird today.
She seemed pissed, or maybe sulky.
Her mood looked off.
‘Did she get upset that we went out without her?’
I'd figured she'd refuse anyway, so I hadn't invited her.
Guess that was a mistake.
I should've at least politely asked, even knowing it'd be a no.
‘Apologize now.’
Once you realize a mistake, you own up.
I was about to apologize politely.
When my younger sister suddenly spread her arms wide.
“What...?”
Perplexed by the inexplicable gesture, she urged me on by opening her arms even wider.
“The usual daily thing. Haven't gotten it yet today.”
“...”
I knew exactly what she wanted.
She was after her daily affection, of course.
But demanding it in front of Little Sis?
“What? What's going on?”
Little Sis, who'd been quietly observing, must've sensed something off and chimed in.
We usually held back on the “I love you”s around other family, so it made sense she wouldn't know.
“Hurry up.”
Ignoring Little Sis's question, my younger sister kept her arms out.
She clearly wasn't budging until she got what she wanted.
No choice—I had to say it to her.
But how to make it natural...
Racking my brain, I approached my younger sister, dressed in her black tracksuit.
With our height difference, she naturally looked up at me.
I slowly pulled her into my arms and patted her back.
“Little sis, I love you. You did great today too.”
“Mm...”
Finally satisfied, she beamed up at me.
She'd freaked out at the “I love you”s at first, but now she was hooked.
I comforted her with back pats for a bit before letting go, and she waved cheerfully.
“Alright, off to bed. You too, bro and sis~”
With that, she bolted to her room like the wind.
Causing trouble and fleeing...
I glanced at Little Sis.
Sure enough, her mouth hung open in shock.
To Little Sis, who'd only seen us bickering before, that must've been a huge jolt.
Honestly, even I still couldn't quite believe we were doing this.
“...”
“...”
With my younger sister gone, an awkward silence hung between Little Sis and me in the entryway.
One of us needed to speak to break it, but neither wanted to in this situation.
How to get past this?
My mind spun for a solution.
And I came up with a decent one—not a total fix, but workable.
To avoid looking weird, why not just do it to Sis too?
I took a step toward Little Sis.
“Wh-what?”
She panicked as I approached out of nowhere.
Steeling myself, I gently wrapped my arms around her slender waist.
“Eek!”
She jolted, cheeks burning at the sudden embrace.
She hugged me all the time, but getting hugged clearly embarrassed her.
“L-let... let go quick!”
If I panicked here, it was all over.
Stay calm, act natural.
Like with my younger sister, I whispered in Little Sis's ear.
“Sis, today was fun. I love you.”
“Eek...”
She flinched hard at my words, hiccupping.
So flustered her eyes lost focus.
“S-suddenly what...”
“Truth is, I've been trying lately to express affection more honestly. Started with little sis, but figured I'd try with you sisters too.”
“Express affection...?”
“Yeah.”
“...”
Little Sis stayed quiet in my arms for a moment.
Then...
“S-see you tomorrow!”
She bolted to her room in a fluster.
I felt the lingering warmth of Little Sis in my arms before heading to my own room.
No idea how she'd react tomorrow, but worrying wouldn't change it.
Time to sleep.
Tomorrow's problems for tomorrow's me.
“...”
Lying in bed, Da-jeong stared blankly at the ceiling.
Today's events.
Looking back slowly, so much had happened.
A happy date with her brother.
Those weird fantasies about him in the theater.
Being held in his arms and hearing “I love you.”
“Uwaaa...”
Da-jeong slapped her forehead and rolled around on the bed.
Her head spun from all the chaos, but she pushed it aside.
One thing was crystal clear.
Going out with her brother had been so much fun and happiness.
She'd thought she was fine going out alone.
But outings with him were way more enjoyable.
Da-jeong stopped rolling and muttered to herself.
“Will Ha-seong wanna hang out again next time...?”
“...”
Of course, alone in her room, no answer came.
Still, Da-jeong murmured once more.
“I hope he wants to play together tomorrow too...”