Breakfast Banter and Lingering Doubts
I was setting the table, dragging my still-aching body around so we could start eating the moment Gayeong came out of her room, when Sena volunteered to fetch her and scampered upstairs to get Jina. "Come on, sit down already."
How much time passed after that? Jina appeared from the second floor, looking even more lively than when she'd gone up, with what seemed like a zombie in tow. Ah, but on closer inspection, it wasn't a zombie—it was Sena. Her face was that serious as she shuffled toward the table, prodded along by Jina. It was the kind of face you make when you can't sleep, stay up wide-eyed until dawn, finally nod off after pulling an all-nighter, only to be forcibly woken after an hour or two.
Maybe because of that, dark circles hung under Sena's eyes like unpurged fatigue dangling there. "Ugh... I'm... not hungry..." She dragged her feet, barely making it to the table before flopping face-first onto it. Of course, her protests fell on deaf ears with Jina.
"No backtalk—eat when it's served. You didn't lift a finger for the dishes, so don't whine about being hungry later."
"Aaaah..."
She looked half-dead from exhaustion, and resenting her sister for not letting her sleep, Sena pursed her lips while sprawled on the table. I glanced at her and chuckled. "What, sis? Did you really stay up all night?"
Hit the nail on the head, apparently. Sena's body twitched hard on the table—it had to be true.
"Jeez, what was so scary about it?"
"..."
"If it was that bad you couldn't sleep, you should've just come down. I didn't even lock the door."
"Th-that's not it! I had a late meeting for my Vtube channel, that's why I went to bed late!"
"Yeah, yeah, sure it was."
It wasn't exactly a normal conversation. And Jina, sitting right there with us, wasn't about to miss it. Thwack!
"What the hell was that?" Sure enough, Jina's eyes narrowed as she helped me set the utensils.
"Oh, last night Sena sis and I played a horror game together. She was super scared."
Of course, even those game monsters paled compared to Jina right in front of me now. Those things might look brutal, but they were just data chunks with no real substance. Jina, though? She was flesh and blood, capable of real damage. Same scary vibe, totally different impact. Though I couldn't really picture her hitting me or anything.
"So I told her if she was too scared to sleep alone, she could come up to my room."
The moment those words left my mouth, Jina's expression—held up like a mask over her face—was... complicated, to put it mildly. Like a manager staring at a new employee's first report. You know the one: so many issues, no clue where to start, total confusion etched on their face. That's exactly what was on Jina's now.
"Wait, what the...?" She stammered in disbelief for a moment before muttering in bewilderment. But she couldn't finish.
It was because of my innocent act. "Huh? Why?"
"Why? Because..."
Jina couldn't get the words out. Of course not. My comment had just made her realize our perspectives on the situation were fundamentally different. Pointing out the gap now would mean admitting it herself—that she saw me not just as a "little brother" or "family," but as a "man."
"We've slept together a few times when we were kids."
"That was... when we were kids."
I was ready to bluff that I'd dreamed it if she called bullshit, but luckily, it had happened a few times. Relieved, I relaxed—until a choked sound escaped Jina's throat. Like someone was strangling her.
"What's the difference?"
"...Anyway, no. Guys can't just say stuff like that casually. Even if it's family."
There was an urgency in her scolding tone, like she was rushing to convince herself.
"You always go on about guys and guys..."
"...What?"
"I'm 22 now, you know?"
She probably never expected me to talk back like that. Jina's eyes wavered slightly. Makes sense—up till now, to her, Yuhan was the obedient good little brother. For that guy to suddenly sass and rebel? Of course she'd be shocked.
But it was fleeting. She snapped back instantly, her face hardening into something sterner than when she coached me at the gym. "Lee Yu-han."
Her voice, lower and more gravelly than usual, had a shrinking magic to it. Maybe that's why Sena—who'd been dead silent and hunched since Jina's expression darkened—flinched hard. Hearing that tone probably dredged up memories of getting thrashed for mouthing off before.
"Got it. I said I get it. I won't, okay?"
"Hoo..."
"You think I say that to just anyone? It's 'cause it's you sisters..."
"That's exactly why family has to keep certain boundaries."
"Yessir."
As Jina lectured me, Gayeong's door creaked open, revealing the one who'd taken forever to change. "...Did something happen?"
"Nope. Come sit, Aunt Gayeong."
Her hangover must be brutal—face all twisted up like that. And why was she bundled up so tight today? Work wasn't even soon. Is she cold?
Worried the hangover had given her chills, I quickly ladled steaming miso soup into her spot. "Stomach hurting bad? Start with the soup."
It was only day three living with them, but seeing Gayeong—who always defaulted to a smile—stiffen like that worried me. How bad did it have to be?
"Y-yeah..."
I meant nothing by it, just genuine care, but for some reason, Gayeong's face grew even more awkward as she sat. Her voice too. Was my doting making her uncomfortable? Maybe. She'd always been the one serving, never served. At work, sure, but even at home. Now accepting care from someone else probably felt embarrassing, awkward.
Separate from that, I hoped she'd try the soup quick—it'd settle her stomach. "Eat up."
"Uh, yeah... okay..."
Gayeong stared into her soup bowl like it was some ritual offering. The others seemed to see it differently. Sena, next to her, peered at it curiously, then grimaced hard at the floating bits. "Eww... what the hell? Is that bacon?"
"Yeah, bacon. Why?"
"Why put bacon in miso soup...?"
I ladled some into Sena's bowl too, as she grumbled that I'd have been better off just frying it. "The one who didn't lift a finger while I cooked is complaining about sides now?"
"But... you could've just told me to make it. You didn't call me..."
"No whining—try it first."
I turned to Jina, but she beat me. "I'm cutting sodium for a bit, so no soup for me."
Obvious excuse, but what could I do? I just served myself and sat.
"Weren't you using the air fryer for something?"
"Oh."
Right, mackerel too. No wonder the sides felt skimpy. Plenty of time had passed, so I popped up, plated the fish neatly, and brought it out.
"Eww... fish..."
"What's wrong? Mackerel rocks."
"I don't like fishy stuff..."
The fridge was stuffed with sausages and ham—thought it was for me, but guess it's Sena's stash. Picky at 24... what to do with this pitiful sis?
"Can't you make egg fries at least...?"
She mumbled around her chopsticks; I couldn't bring myself to say no. Too cute. Sighing like it was a chore, I stood. "Egg fries okay?"
"While you're at it, sausage too..."
I shot Sena an exasperated look; she averted her eyes slyly. Jina wasn't letting that slide. "Hey, if you want it, make it yourself. Don't boss Yuhan around."
"But... he offered..."
Sena shrank under Jina's glare and shot me a desperate SOS. "It's fine, sis. No big deal."
"Haa... when will that one grow up..."
I grinned at Sena, who'd perked up again, ignoring Jina's head-shake. "It was fun thanks to you last night, so special service today."
I headed to the fridge, and a cautious voice trailed me. "Uh, ahem... me too, one fry... with a sprinkle of salt on the yolk."
"Didn't you say no sodium?"
I swear she did...
"N-no... working out makes me crave protein...?"
Protein craving, huh. I could give you some protein.
Jina's embarrassed face almost made the sex joke slip out, but I swallowed it. Sighing dramatically, I turned to Gayeong. "What about you, Aunt?"
"H-huh?"
"Want me to make you some?"
"N-no, I'm good..."
Fine then—just three eggs and Vienna sausages. I fried them quick and served. Sena's chopsticks dove in like she'd been waiting. She grabbed two sausages at once, shoved them in, and chomped with a happy waaang.
"Ahh..."
Definitely a kid's palate. Shaking with joy over simple sausage juice. I watched her, then turned to Gayeong across from me. ...Huh?
What? She was just looking this way. But despite eating, Gayeong's gaze was fixed on the fridge, not her food. Anyone sitting here would've found it weird. As I tilted my head inwardly, Sena—choking down sausage, rice, more sausage, rice, ignoring other sides—grabbed her soup and gulped it noisily.
Her sleepy eyes flew wide in shock right after. "How's it taste? Way better than you thought, right?"
Sena didn't answer. She just slurped it down frantically. Looked like she loved it. She drained the bowl in seconds, jumped up with the empty dish...
Drag— Chair scraping right beside me.
While Sena discovered nirvana and Jina belatedly joined the soup massacre, what was I doing? "Here, Aunt."
Deboning fish for Gayeong. Made sense—even breathing hurt with that hangover; asking her to pick bones was cruel. But...
What's this...?
I noticed naturally. Something was off with Gayeong today. The her from the past two days would've been shyly pleased by this. But now, getting served, she just looked burdened. No joy, all discomfort. Why? Then it hit me—one thing I'd done to her this morning. The impulsive act. That memory gripped my mind, and anxiety slithered up from my chest.
Fuck... no way... was she awake then?