Chapter 162: Da-jeong is Happy Because She Has an Unnie!

Re​ad on‍ KatRe​&a;d​&i;ng̃Ｃafe

The whole way home after getting a new phone, a smile never left my face.

I was completely captivated by the performance of this brand-new phone—my first time using such a model.

“Ehehe…”

As if it were the most precious thing in the world, even after arriving home, I cradled the phone gently in both hands for a long time.

I mindlessly swiped through the screen this way and that, opened random Youtube videos I wasn’t even going to watch, and even downloaded and launched a trendy phone game for the first time.

“Pfft, you like it that much?”

While I was grinning like a fool and fiddling with the phone, Ra-hee unnie, who had come into my house with me to teach me how to use it, smiled and asked.

“Yes! I love it so much. Before, the screen would always lag when I swiped.”

“If it was that inconvenient, why didn’t you just replace it sooner?”

“Well, it was annoying, but I thought I could still use it a little longer.”

“If it’s inconvenient, that means it’s time to replace it. Being frugal is good, but being too stingy isn’t healthy either.”

“Hehe… yeah.”

I guess I really had been living like a miser.

Feeling a little embarrassed, I averted my gaze and let out a small laugh.

Honestly, I don’t even think I live that frugally now.

Though by Ra-hee unnie’s standards, maybe I do.

Even just occasionally buying myself a Frappuccino would’ve been an unimaginable luxury for the old me.

Maybe that’s why.

I was afraid that if I spent money too freely, I’d lose sight of the value of things.

Even though I knew I should replace it, I kept convincing myself to just keep using it.

“But unnie, how do I use this?”

“Ah, that? You just register it on your phone. I’ll do it for you.”

Once we finished checking out the phone, the next item was the wireless earbuds.

Truthfully, I wanted these even more than the phone itself.

Every time I watched the members’ videos outside, I had to pull out my tangled wired earphones, which was annoying and inconvenient in so many ways.

Sometimes, when I saw subway passengers wearing wireless ones, I’d briefly think, “Should I get them?”

But unfortunately, my old phone wasn’t compatible with the newer ones, so I just gave up.

But to get them as a free gift with this purchase…

I guess expensive phones really do come with different perks, huh?

Hehe, either way, happiness came rolling in double for me.

“Alright, wanna try putting them in your ears now?”

“Yes!”

With Ra-hee unnie’s help, I registered the earbuds to my phone, took out the two bean-shaped buds, and put them in my ears.

Then, I played a video of Ra-hee unnie from yesterday that popped up in my algorithm.

『See? Every time I see stuff like this, I think, “Yep, she’s definitely my favorite.”』

As Ra-hee unnie’s voice flowed into my ears, none of the surrounding noise mixed in at all.

Huh?! This is amazing!

I get that sound is supposed to be supressed, but the way all the background noise disappears and then everything becomes so quiet feels incredibly comfortable.

“How is it? Do you like them?”

“Hehe, I love them…! Thank you, unnie.”

I took out the earbuds to express my gratitude, and Ra-hee unnie, who had been staring at me with a somewhat dazed expression…

“Huuu, you’re just too cute…!”

“Wha—wah?!”

Squeeze—

I don’t know what part of me she found cute, but she suddenly pulled me into a tight hug and started shaking me back and forth violently.

Thanks to that, with my face buried in unnie’s chest, I got to experience what it must feel like to ride an amusement park ride for the first time in my life.

“I’ve never seen someone this happy over wireless earbuds before. You’re seriously adorable.”

“Ueeeh… I don’t know if that’s a compliment or not…”

“Of course it’s a compliment.”

“Uuu, reallyyy…?”

It’s a little embarrassing, like I’m being treated like a kid, but when unnie pats me like this, I immediately feel better.

Am I… slowly turning into Tofu or something…?

Growl—

“Huh…?!”

Quietly enjoying Unnie’s touch, I closed my eyes…

…Only for the silence to be shattered by the sound of my stomach growling, making my eyes fly open in reflex.

Of course, Ra-hee unnie heard it too— her eyes widened as she blinked at me in surprise.

“Da-jeong, are you hungry? Should we have eaten before coming?”

“Ah, no, it’s fine! I just had lunch a little early, so…”

“But you’re still hungry, right?”

“W-well… yeah…?”

I fidgeted, avoiding her gaze as the sharp blade of facts stabbed into me.

Honestly, I’d been hungry for a while now.

I’d even glanced at bakeries on the way home, but… if we’d stopped to eat, Ra-hee unnie would’ve obviously tried to pay.

So I’d stubbornly held out, planning to eat at home, but I hadn’t expected this to betray me.

Ugh… if I’d known, I would’ve put the phone down and eaten first thing!

“Alright, then I will order something delicious for you. What do you want?”

“Ah, no, you can’t!”

At the sound of my stomach, unnie immediately grabbed her phone to open a delivery app.

Panicking, I covered her screen with my tiny hands to stop her.

She just stared at me, baffled.

“Huh? ‘Can’t’? Don’t tell me… you don’t      want to eat with me? You’re just gonna take the iPhone and ditch me?”

“Wha—NO! That’s not what I meant at all!”

How could she even say something so rude?!

As if I wouldn’t want to eat with Ra-hee unnie!

If anything, I’m happy to have someone to eat with for once instead of always eating alone!

The real reason I stopped her was simple:

“I… I just wanted to cook for you myself…”

“Whoa, Da-jeong? Cooking? For me?”

“Y-yes. Though it won’t compare to what you’re used to…”

Having seen the lavish meals at unnie’s place last time, I couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated.

Wouldn’t it be better to just go out somewhere nice instead?

“Pfft, cooking is all about heart. Honestly, I’ve been wanting to try your homemade food at least once.”

“R-really? Hehe…”

Her words gave me a little courage.

I immediately jumped up and hurried to the kitchen, tying on an apron as I got ready to cook—

“Da-jeong, isn’t your hair bothering you? Want me to tie it up for you?”

“Huh? Yes…! I was about to do it myself, but… could you?”

“Sure, hold on.”

Before I knew it, Ra-hee unnie had followed me into the kitchen with a kind offer.

I agreed right away, and she rummaged through her handbag before returning.

“Turn around for me.”

“Okay.”

I turned my back to her as instructed.

Then, I felt her fingers gently gather my hair, followed by the soft shhk-shhk of a hair tie and the ticklish sensation of her adjusting it.

“Done!”

“Hehe, thank you, Unnie.”

As I thanked her, unnie stared at me intently.

I tilted my head, wondering if I had something on my face—

“Pffft—! Hey, Da-jeong, where’d you get that apron?”

Suddenly bursting into laughter, she pointed at the apron I was wearing.

“Ah, this? A while ago, I visited a daycare center I sponsor, and there was a chance to cook for the kids. The director gave it to me because they noticed I liked it.”

“Really? It suits you so well.”

“Hehe, you think so?”

I’d already liked the apron a lot, but hearing unnie say it suited me made me inexplicably happy.

Since I’m on the smaller side and so most aprons feel awkward, but this one fits like it was made for me. Plus, it has an adorable little cat printed on the front.

“Want me to help with anything?”

“Ah, no need! You’re the guest, so just relax.”

Even though she offered to help, it wasn’t that I doubted unnie’s skills— I genuinely just wanted her to rest.

Yeah, that’s totally the reason.

As if I’d ever distrust our Blue LUV members.

***************

“Unnie, it’s ready! It’s nothing fancy, but I hope you like it!”

“Nonsense, I’ll enjoy it. So this is the day I finally get to taste your homemade cooking?”

“I-it’s really nothing special…”

Before long, the meal was ready.

We sat cross-legged around the low table in the living room, chatting idly as we ate together.

“Mmm, this salad is really good. Did you make the dressing too, Da-jeong?”

“Yeah! I saw a tutorial on Youtube and thought it looked tasty.”

Luckily, the food seemed to suit unnie’s tastes— she kept humming in delight between bites. By the time our plates were half-empty…

“Oh, right. Da-jeong, would it be okay if I stayed over just tonight? My place is a mess since I just moved.”

“Sure, no problem!”

“Really? Thanks.”

When unnie asked to stay, I nodded immediately.

I had a spare futon ready, and it wasn’t any trouble at all.

***************

…Yeah. That’s how it should’ve been.

Even two hours ago, I’d thought nothing of it.

After finishing dinner, showering, and chatting until drowsiness crept in—everything was fine.

But then…

…why…?

“Hey, what are you standing there for? Time to sleep.”

“Huh? W-well…”

Unnie was already sitting on my bed, acting as if sharing a bed was the most natural thing in the world. And the futon I’d laid out in the living room? Somehow, it had already been neatly folded and put away.

Sure, my bed was bigger than expected, so two people could fit… but was there really a need to squeeze together when there was plenty of space? Just as that doubt crossed my mind—

“If you won’t lie down, I’ll just have to make you. Heave-ho!”

“Eek?!”

Unnie lunged from the bed, wrapping her arms around me from behind, then executed a tactical “drowning ghost” maneuver—dragging us both onto the mattress in a flurry of giggles. Now trapped in Unnie’s octopus grip, I heard her whisper “kikiki…” behind me, like a villain celebrating a successful ambush.

“Hff— H-hey! Unnie, that tickles…!”

Then, without warning, she buried her face in the nape of my neck and inhaled—deeply, like she was savoring the scent of fresh bread.

A shiver shot down my spine.

“This is your fault, you know. Who told you to smell so sweet? Like a baby’s skin. Makes me want to gobble you up.”

“W-what does that even meeean?!”

All the unnies—no, everyone in our group—had their moments of doting on me, but Ra-hee unnie’s words and actions were especially hard to decipher. Resigned to my fate, I stopped squirming and wiggled my hips back slightly, letting myself sink into her embrace.

“A-anyway, Unnie… thank you. For today.”

“What’s there to thank me for? I just recommended a store.”

“B-but thanks to you, I got it so cheap! I didn’t even know places like that existed…”

True, Unnie hadn’t haggled for me, but she had led me to a great deal. As I mumbled my gratitude, she wordlessly stroked my hair and rested her chin on my shoulder.

“As long as you’re happy, that’s enough. Next time you need help, just ask, okay?”

“Hehe, okay.”

If I dared call this “troublesome,” Unnie would only retaliate with worse teasing—so I nodded meekly.

“Tomorrow on broadcast, I’m bragging to the Star Pieces that I got matching couple phones with Lulu.”

“I-is that… brag-worthy?”

“Obviously. Everyone’ll be jealous. Just watch me stir the group chat.”

“Hff…!”

I couldn’t fathom why anyone would envy us, but Unnie’s confidence made me wonder. Then it hit me.

“Oh! Then I’ll brag to the Cherries too!”

“About the phone?”

“Hehe, yes! I’ll say, Thanks to Unnie, I got it super cheap—even scored free wireless earbuds!”

“……”

Wouldn’t they be jealous? But the moment I said it, Unnie fell suspiciously silent.

“Um… Da-jeong. Maybe… leave out the ‘cheap’ part?”

“Huh? Why?”

After a long pause, she spoke in a strained tone. I tilted my head, baffled—until her next words clarified everything.

“If you say that, people’ll pester you for the store location. And if they track it back to me…”

“Gasp! R-right.”

Of course. A phone worth 1.68 million won, bought for just 100,000? Anyone would demand details and if I refused, they’d call me a liar.

Better to avoid the mess entirely.

“Got it! I’ll just tell the Cherries I got a new phone!”

“Our youngest is so good at listening, so well-behaved.”

“Ehehe…”

As Unnie’s praise lulled me, drowsiness crept in. My eyelids grew heavy, my thoughts foggy. In that fading haze, I instinctively turned and clung to the warm presence in front of me.

Mwah—

“…Sleep well, Da-jeong.”

“Nnn…”

Something soft brushed my forehead—a kiss?—as her voice pulled me under. I didn’t resist. Curled up, eyes shut tight, I drifted off, savoring the rare comfort of another’s warmth.