Sisters Know Everything
Ah-young pressed her face against the wall, or more precisely, her ear. “……”
Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might leap out of her mouth. The apartment was old, so the soundproofing wasn’t great. She could often hear her little sister’s voice through the thin wall when she was on the phone.
“…My god…”
She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop. She had simply been listening a little more carefully to the sounds that were already drifting over.
“…Since when…?”
No wonder things had felt off. There were too many clues to ignore. After all, the two of them had been glued to each other every single day. She had even wondered if something like this might happen. Eun-ji had always been foul-mouthed and rough around the edges, and she had never been shy about treating Kim Do-hyun however she pleased. That part wasn’t new.
But even so, Kim Do-hyun had stayed by her side. He kept coming back even when she cursed at him or hit him. And now it turned out they were actually like that with each other…
They still were. Through the wall, she could hear her sister’s ragged breathing—breathy, almost lewd little sounds that circled her ears.
“They’ve lost their minds… They’re only twenty… When the hell did this start…?”
Then it hit her. The smell she had noticed in her sister’s room finally made sense. Her gaze drifted down her own body, slowly, lower and lower.
“Ah…”
It wasn’t exactly the same, but it was similar. She had once curiously sniffed that slick, wet scent on herself. It wasn’t all that different from what she had smelled in Eun-ji’s room.
“…They’re adults now…”
It wasn’t like she had no interest in that sort of thing. She could have dated if she wanted to. She just hadn’t found anyone who satisfied her. She was still a virgin, after all. That made her think twice.
“Haa…”
She hadn’t expected to be the last one. The realization made her breath catch in her throat.
“…But I’m still here, and they’re doing it at home…”
She felt self-conscious. They had only just gotten back, and she was already wondering if she should leave again.
“……Gulp.”
The sounds on the other side of the wall were growing more intense. She found herself straining to listen to the noises her sister and Kim Do-hyun were making together.
*
“Hey!”
“Ah, you scared me!”
I jumped at the sound of my sister’s voice. My heart felt like it dropped straight into my stomach.
“…Did you commit a crime or something? Why are you so jumpy?”
“N-no, what crime… Anyway, why?”
“Where’s Do-hyun?”
“…He probably went home.”
“Really?”
I swallowed hard. Every time my sister said that bastard’s name, I flinched.
“He could’ve stayed longer.”
“…Why would he hang around our place?”
“I don’t know, it’s been a while since we all hung out.”
“A while? I see him every day.”
The air suddenly went quiet. My sister narrowed her eyes and looked up at me.
“……Was that supposed to be bragging?”
“Are you crazy?! I have nothing to brag about! Why would I brag about something like that!?”
“Ah, shit… Stop yelling.”
“…Because you keep saying weird things…”
Every time she brought up Kim Do-hyun, I got worked up without meaning to. I wished she would just stop saying his name.
“A-anyway! What are we doing today?”
“…Why are you asking so suddenly?”
“I’m bored now that I’m home. Want to go grab a drink?”
“Who drinks at this hour?”
“Why not? It’ll be evening soon.”
“…Ah, whatever… Fine.”
Drinking was whatever. I liked the atmosphere of a drinking session, but whether I actually drank or not didn’t matter much.
“Then let’s go?”
“Right now?”
“Come on, let’s go~ Yeah?”
My sister suddenly threw her arms around me and hung off my neck, bouncing on her toes.
“Ah, you’re heavy. Get off.”
“Let’s go, let’s go~ Come on~”
“Haa…”
Honestly, I didn’t care either way. I was just too tired to bother going out. But right now, I wanted to get out of the house and shake off this restless feeling. I couldn’t stand lying in my room with those memories still fresh in my head.
“…Fine. Let’s go. Where to?”
“Hmm~ We can decide once we’re out!”
She finally let go and grabbed my arm instead.
“…You want to leave like this?”
“Do you need to get ready? You already showered earlier.”
“…I guess. Whatever. Let’s just go.”
I didn’t have the energy to put on makeup. It was just the two of us anyway. No need to fuss.
“Yay~”
My excited sister looked more like my little sister than ever, even without the height difference. She was the same as always.
Thud— Thud— Thud—
Dragged along by her hand, I headed for the front door and slipped on the slippers lying around.
“Haa… It’s so hot…”
The moment we stepped outside, my sister let out a dying groan at the muggy heat.
“…Then let’s just stay home.”
“We can go somewhere cool!”
Her gloom lasted only a second. She was already bouncing ahead, full of energy again.
“Sis, that’s the wrong way— Ah, ahh!”
The elevator was in the other direction. Why was she going the opposite way? Had she gotten confused about the layout after being away so long…?
Ding-dong—
“Hey, sis!!”
“Hm? What?”
“W-why are you—”
—Oh my, Ah-young’s home?
“Hello!”
She chatted warmly with the auntie through the intercom.
“We’re going out with Do-hyun!”
—…Oh my, just a moment.
The auntie’s surprised voice came through. A moment later—
Clack—
“Look at me, forgetting. Come in for a bit, girls. Son! Are you ready yet!?”
The front door swung open. I barely held back a sigh at the now-familiar sight of the apartment interior.
“It’s been a while since Ah-young visited, and I see Eun-ji all the time these days, right?”
“…Ah, yes…”
“You could’ve stayed longer earlier.”
“N-no, it’s fine… I just, um… Hehe…”
I could only force an awkward smile. Following the auntie’s lead, I stepped back inside on my own two feet.
“Son! I asked if you’re ready yet!?”
She sat us down on the sofa and hurried toward Kim Do-hyun’s room. The sound of the door opening was louder than thunder.
“What’s with the sudden prep— Ah…”
My eyes met Kim Do-hyun’s blank face.
“Haa…”
I glared at my sister. She just gave me an innocent look and asked back,
“So, you came here today too?”
“…What does it matter?”
“Hehe~ Sisters know everything.”
She made a face like she really did know everything, and it was unpleasant. Under that expression, I felt completely exposed, like my clothes had been stripped away.
“Hey~ Kim Do-hyun! Hurry up and get ready~ Let’s go!”
“If you had plans, you should’ve told me earlier!”
It was a sudden visit, yet Kim Do-hyun didn’t even look surprised. He calmly went into his room and changed clothes.
“Let’s just head out.”
“Yeah~”
My sister, looking oddly cheerful, said goodbye to the auntie and the bewildered uncle. The three of us left the house together.
“What should we eat?”
“…You called people without even deciding?”
“Yeah! Three people deciding is better than two, right?”
“…Sis, can I talk to you for a second?”
“Huh, huh? Why~”
This was unnecessary. There was even less reason to drink with that bastard.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“What?”
“Why did you call him?”
“…To drink together?”
“Haa… So why?”
“It’s been a while. I’ve never even had a drink with Do-hyun before, and he happened to be home.”
“…Forget it. Let’s go separately. Hey! Kim Do-hyun! You figure it out on your own.”
I couldn’t leave my sister alone with that guy. Especially not for drinking. I didn’t even want to imagine what kind of mess could happen.
“Why? Let’s just go together.”
“…No. I’m not drinking with you.”
“Do-hyun, just go. Don’t worry about what she says.”
I was the only one getting worked up. While I fumed, the two of them naturally walked over to the elevator.
“…Can’t you hear me? Kim Do-hyun, seriously, just leave.”
In that moment, I was invisible. No matter what I said, they weren’t paying any attention.
“Beer? Soju?”
“…Soju?”
“Then what about meat?”
“…Isn’t it too hot for meat today?”
“We can go somewhere with air conditioning.”
“…It’ll still be hot because of the grill.”
“Then let’s find a place with strong AC.”
“Got any recommendations?”
“I went with my family once. It wasn’t too bad.”
My sister acted like she had no idea how much my insides were burning. If she did, she wouldn’t be acting like this. Irritation flared up instantly. I wanted nothing more than to go home, but I couldn’t just leave the two of them alone either. My frustration kept growing.
“Eun-ji! Hurry up~”
The elevator doors slid open. My sister and Kim Do-hyun waited inside with the doors held open. Kim Do-hyun’s lips twitched. That nasty little smirk on his face was disgusting.
He opened his mouth and said something to me.
‘Hey, Park Eun-ji.’
He was calling me.
‘You missed me that much again?’
“Haa… Fuck.”
I clenched my teeth hard and shoved myself between the two people already standing inside the elevator.