Chapter 19
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Date (10)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Wow… so pretty…”
“Yeah.”
As soon as we got out of the car, we naturally joined hands.
My little sister playfully shook our clasped hands and beamed with a bright smile.
“The Han River night view is amazing…”
The Han River had been beautiful during the day, but at night, after the sun had set, it felt even more special.
Countless cars and the lights pouring from the buildings reflected off the water, creating a romantic atmosphere.
The moment we stepped out of the car, my little sister, who had donned a cap and mask for a thorough disguise, hummed a cheerful tune, clearly in high spirits.
She looked so cute that I absentmindedly reached out and stroked her hair.
“Gasp…”
My little sister froze for a moment.
Only then did I realize my mistake and apologize.
“Ah… sorry… it was just a reflex…”
I’d heard women don’t like having their hair touched, but patting my little sister’s head had become a habit.
My hand had moved on its own.
“Ah… no… it’s fine… my hair gets messed up under the cap anyway…”
“Ah…”
My little sister fidgeted with her fingers before suddenly grabbing my hand tight.
“You’re my little brother, so it’s okay anytime… you can pat it whenever you want.”
“…”
“I like it…”
“Ah… okay…”
This relationship was coming to an end soon anyway, so what did it matter getting permission now?
Still, I ran my fingers through my little sister’s pink hair with a soft rustle.
She stopped right there in the street, enjoying my touch like an obedient puppy.
“…”
This was seriously addictive.
My hand wouldn’t stop.
I finally understood why people kept pets at home.
Just petting them like this calmed the mind.
As I savored the feel of her hair, imprinting it in my memory, my little sister stepped closer, linked her arm with mine, and said,
“Patting is nice, but… we’ve got our reservation coming up soon.”
“Ah.”
I checked the time and saw we needed to hustle from here on out.
My little sister and I held hands and quickened our pace.
“Whew… that was close.”
“Yeah.”
Fortunately, we made it to the duck boat reservation just in the nick of time.
A few people who’d arrived early were already at the dock.
They all looked like happy couples or married pairs.
Seeing them all cozy together stirred a strange feeling in me.
To them, we probably looked like just another normal couple.
They’d never guess we were siblings.
“Next, please.”
The couple ahead of us left, and we approached the ticket booth side by side.
A tired-looking staff member sat there.
“Did you reserve in advance?”
“Yes.”
I showed the reservation screen on my smartphone. The staff scanned the barcode, handed me a pamphlet, and gave the standard spiel.
“We’re offering a free upgrade to the special couple duck boats this time. Are you a couple?”
The pamphlet showed a duck boat decked out with extra heart decorations—not the basic one I’d imagined.
The new one looked fun, and unlike in the elevator earlier, admitting we were siblings wouldn’t put us at any disadvantage here.
So this time, I planned to be honest and say we were brother and sister.
“Yep, we’re a couple.”
My little sister beat me to it.
I stared at her blankly, and the staff handed over the tickets.
“Head to the dock, and the attendant will assist you.”
“Sure~”
With my beaming little sister pulling my hand, we headed to the dock.
The staff directed us to our boat, and we boarded smoothly.
The structure looked tricky for a woman to climb, but my little sister’s physical prowess was superhuman.
She hopped on effortlessly.
Even the staff seemed impressed by her light movements.
“Wow, this is neat. Such a tiny boat floating along.”
Amid the admiration from onlookers, my little sister hopped on the duck boat and plopped down at the wheel like it was no big deal.
She went to pedal, then paused and turned around.
“What’s this… it’s automatic?”
“Huh? Oh… yeah, I set it that way.”
“Why?”
“Paying five thousand more to relax sounded better.”
“Ugh…”
My little sister smacked her lips in disappointment.
She’d clearly wanted to pedal it herself.
I couldn’t relate.
“Let’s just chat and enjoy the ride.”
“Fine…”
A bit bummed but compliant, my little sister started the engine and steered the boat.
The duck boat glided leisurely along the nighttime Han River.
We spotted one of Korea’s skyscrapers, wrecked in a Dungeon Break years ago and still under repairs, and even a subway train zipping across Cheongdam Bridge right on cue.
We took in Seoul’s nightscape while chatting about all sorts of things.
Stories of how I’d made snacks for her when she cried her eyes out as a kid.
Tales of her shy school days.
And family stories too.
Tap.
Before we knew it, our distance had closed during the conversation.
What started as our shoulders brushing lightly.
Had become us leaning fully against each other.
Just like back in our tough childhood days, when the family leaned on one another.
There were no beautiful stars, but the moonlight and Seoul’s lights twinkled in their place.
At some point, our chatter died down, and we drifted along in silence, simply feeling each other’s warmth.
About twenty minutes of quiet passage later?
My little sister finally spoke.
“Looks like our outings together are ending soon…”
Her voice carried a tinge of bitterness.
A faint ache tugged at my chest as I replied.
“The pretend-couple thing ends, but I’ll keep hanging out with you, little sister.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. No more letting you go out alone like before.”
“Hee hee~”
She grinned ear to ear at my words, then cupped my face with her hand.
Her warm touch against my face, chilled by the night air, startled me at first.
But I didn’t pull away.
“Your big sis is really happy. Having such a sweet little brother like you.”
“Me too… I’m happy to have such a sweet sister.”
“Hee… this feels so good…”
Her face flushed—maybe from the night air—she whispered.
“You really don’t have a girlfriend, little bro? You’re too sweet… no secret girlfriend hiding somewhere?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Anyone you like?”
Someone I like…
I hesitated briefly before answering quietly.
“No…”
“Hee.”
My little sister seemed even more excited that I had no girl.
She stared up at me intently for a moment before saying,
“Ask me this time too?”
I didn’t know what she wanted, but I obliged.
“Don’t you have a real boyfriend, sis?”
She poked my solar plexus with her finger.
“Hee hee, I’ve got a temp boyfriend right here.”
“…”
“Kidding. No, really don’t.”
My little sister nodded, urging me to keep going.
I played along with her intent.
“Then, anyone you like?”
She leaned to my ear and whispered softly.
“I’ll tell you once we’re up.”
“…”
“Careful getting off.”
Finally, after thirty minutes, the duck boat docked.
Following the staff’s instructions, we carefully disembarked.
As I held my little sister’s hand tight while stepping off, my mind was filled with her whisper.
Did she really mean what I thought?
If that was her intention, shouldn’t I shut it down here?
But why couldn’t I bring myself to refuse?
“Ahh, so much better without the life jacket!”
Oblivious to my turmoil, my little sister approached with a refreshed face.
As I gazed at her with conflicted eyes, she naturally took my hand again.
“Little bro.”
“Yeah…”
“There’s a place I wanna go. Wanna come with?”
“…”
To stay just close family like before, I should refuse her request here.
I knew that, but…
“Yeah…”
“Hee hee, I’ve got a spot in mind. Follow me.”
I couldn’t say no.
Even guessing her intentions, I couldn’t refuse—and that realization hit me.
I could never go back to just normal siblings with her.
She led me by the hand to a new spot.
About five minutes later?
In the middle of a bridge with a stunning view of the Han River, my little sister stopped.
Her cheeks flushed, breathing ragged, she spoke.
“Little bro.”
“Yeah.”
“Midnight hasn’t come yet, so… we’re still a couple, right?”
Our deal was just me playing boyfriend.
Nothing said she had to play girlfriend.
But I didn’t want to ruin the mood and nodded.
“Hee…”
Satisfied, she nodded and gently nestled into my arms.
The soft press of her breasts and her warm body heat transmitted fully.
“Until… midnight… we’re still a couple… so this much is okay, right?”
“Yeah…”
“Then… saying I love you… since we’re still a couple… that’s okay too, right?”
“Whatever you want, sis…”
She nodded faintly at my answer, then, still in my arms, her face beet red, whispered slowly, deliberately.
“I’ll give you that answer I put off earlier.”
“…”
With teary eyes, she reached out and gently stroked my face.
“Little bro… I think I’ve fallen for you.”
“…”
“I like you as my brother… but as a man, more than anyone else in the world.”
“…”
“I know I shouldn’t… I know siblings can’t feel this way… but I like you so much.”
“Sis…”
“Every night I try to hold back… but this feeling’s too big…”
Her voice choked midway, catching in her throat.
But she gritted her teeth and kept going.
“I ended up confessing like a coward… Sorry for being such a pathetic sister who fell for her brother… I’m sorry…”
Tears streamed from her eyes.
My throat tightened.
We’d both known this deep down during the date.
But hearing it aloud made my chest constrict.
My hands trembled beyond my control.
Seeing me shake, she smiled softly, regaining some composure, and whispered,
“Midnight hasn’t come yet, so… I’ll be a little greedy. Sorry.”
She rose on tiptoes and pressed her lips to mine.
Her tongue invaded my mouth, ravaging it wildly.
Licking the roof, my teeth, pressing down on my tongue.
She moved with delicate ferocity, as if etching every sensation into my memory forever.
“Pha…”
The long kiss ended, our lips parting.
So intense that a thick string of saliva stretched between us before snapping.
Was it oxygen deprivation from the fierce kiss, or my brain melting from arousal?
No words came.
I needed to say something, anything.
But my mind wouldn’t turn.
As I sat stunned, lips touched, she checked her watch and whispered softly.
“Little bro.”
“Uh… yeah…”
“We’ve still got two hours till midnight?”
“Uh-huh…”
With a suggestive look, she murmured,
“Wanna rest somewhere before heading straight home?”