episode_0073

“Are you tired?”

“I’m just not feeling well physically.”

They said there’s no easy money to be made.

Well, I probably won’t make a lot of money, but it’ll be something.

“Want to take a break for a moment?”

“Yes…”

Strike a pose, hold it, release, change poses, and hold again.

And in the midst of these seemingly effortless actions, I felt like a fool.

Having to change clothes again, towards the end, I simply brought a wheeled curtain nearby to change into.

“Phew…”

Being a model must be quite a job.

If it were easy, they would have just hired regular people.

“Here, have a drink. Not sweating too much, are you?”

“Not really sweating.”

“Alright, take a short break, then run again and we’re done.”

“Let’s go!!”

“What’s that? So cute. Are you broadcasting this?”

Asking about three different topics in quick succession left me dizzy.

“Oh. Have a drink. It’s just something interesting, you know.”

Realizing I didn’t need to answer, I felt a bit relieved.

“Mmm… delicious.”

“If you need to touch up your makeup, do it now before we start, okay?”

“Yes, sure.”

Clicking sounds countless times, changing clothes endlessly.

I thought it would end where the clothes rack was… but my baseless thoughts had already vanished as I saw more clothes being brought over, from hands to face, causing me to feel discouraged once again.

The pose remained the same.

Struggling to maintain an expression that seemed faint but would soon fade due to low battery.

“Done! Good work. My eyes feel like they’re going to die too.”

“…”

It’s hot.

Insanely hot.

Like turning off the air conditioning in the middle of winter.

“Ji-hye, need help?”

“…I’m fine.”

Almost crawling to the chair, I sat down as if collapsing.

“Oh… wow. Seems like a lot of time has passed. I’ve gone over the time.”

“…?? Oh…”

A little late.

“Oh. Looks like I went over by an hour.”

“Oh!”

I need to go shopping.

This is bad.

“I… I’ll leave first. Good job!”

“Oh…? You need to put on your clothes before you go!”

“Oh… okay.”

Taking off clothes, putting on new ones.

“Hyun-jin, sorry to bother you, but could you give me a ride home again?”

“Of course. Sorry for taking up your time. I’ll add extra pay.”

“Oh. Thank you.”

Money, money, money. Looking for money, but the most important thing is my brother.

My brother might be disappointed… he probably won’t be, but it would be a shame.

We’re both busy, but as long as I can cook for my brother, it’s worth it.

“I need to go to the store too…”

“The store… oh. Your boyfriend?”

“Yeah. The store is to the right from here. Can you manage?”

“Yes, I think I’ve finished today’s tasks. I’ll help you with shopping and even drop you off at home tomorrow.”

“Wow…”

My tense body relaxed.

Arriving at the mart.

Embracing the cool atmosphere of the vegetable corner at the mart, I quickly focused solely on tonkatsu, without any other thoughts, and swiftly gathered what I needed.

After deep breaths to calm myself, I felt somewhat better.

“Wow. You shop so fast?”

“Huh?! Surprise. When did you arrive?”

“I noticed you’ve been struggling since earlier. I came to help, but… you’re already done?”

“I’m usually not like this, but I was in a rush.”

Without proper greetings, I swiftly moved back and forth with my small frame, avoiding collisions like a sprinter.

Taking out an eco bag from my bag, I finished shopping perfectly and got back into the car.

“Then let’s head home.”

“Yes.”

The car drove on, but my mind was still troubled.

After taking a shower and getting ready immediately, it seemed to fit perfectly.

Without even considering the possibility of thinking, I only thought about the ordinary, but ordinary enough to lack any distinctiveness.

My hand moved on its own accord.

However, considering that I hadn’t eaten much lately, looking back now, it was a bit of a good decision.

“Phew… I’m sleepy.”

“Here. Coffee for you.”

“Oh, thank you. You’ve got great sense.”

“I brought it because I felt like you might be sleepy too. I’m feeling a bit drowsy myself right now.”

Passing by the vegetable section and the aisle of beverages, I casually grabbed something.

“Hmm… It’s probably not time to leave work yet.”

The traffic unexpectedly congested, providing a moment to calm my mind a little.

“Anyway, thank you for today. Tomorrow… no, the day after tomorrow? I’ll ask about plans around dinner time after I get home.”

“Yes. Just with what you received today, it already feels overwhelming…”

“What are you talking about? Jihye, you need to realize your worth a bit more. Your figure is fine, and your face is actually good enough to appear in cosmetics ads.”

Broadcasting your face all over the country.

Of course, online shopping malls are one thing, but advertisements are different. They’re way too different. It’s even going as far as appearing on television.

I don’t like the idea that people on the streets might start staring at me differently.

I just want to be an ordinary wife of an older brother.

That’s what I want before anything else, and I’m earning money on the side.

When the car stalled for a moment, Hyejin cautiously brought up a topic.

“Are you… living together right now? With your boyfriend?”

“Yes. I mentioned working before getting married… but…”

“…I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. If we hurry a bit, it will be just right.”

I’ve earned money and done the shopping.

Now, all that’s left is for my older brother to come and eat what I’ve prepared.

“I miss my brother.”

“……”

Even though my muttered words were a bit loud… it doesn’t matter.

The crowded car finally moved, and I arrived home after navigating through the roads.

“Ah. Please stop here. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Take care.”

Nodding slightly, I rushed towards home.

If things fit perfectly, I become unnecessarily impatient.

Theory is just theory.

I didn’t consider all the circumstances.

Thinking that doing this will lead to that result is nothing but a grand delusion.

And right now, the time I thought was fitting perfectly is slightly ahead.

I returned home, dragging my tired body.

“Ugh… Ugh.”

I want to sleep like this, but at least I have to prepare the tonkatsu.

But before that, I have to shower and lie down.

“Ha… Time is slipping away…”

I might be acting a bit strange.

Judging right from wrong in the comfortable home where I draw lines in the air is almost laughable.

Being busy like this is the most comfortable way.

When there’s a deadline and a goal set, doing things quickly from here to there and then deciding based on the next time is the fastest way.

“Hu… Hua…”

It’s good for slightly sharpening mental strength.

Although home is supposed to be comfortable, it doesn’t feel comfortable at home.

“Ouch!”

Clutching my fist tightly in the air, tying up my still damp hair, I take out the items from the eco-bag.

For my brother, to make his favorite food.

I tightened my apron and stood in front of the kitchen.

*

“Did you come?”

“Yeah. Did you have a good day today?”

“If I did well, that’s why I’m here in front of you, right?”

My brother smiled widely and hugged me.

There was no request for rewards or anything like that.

He just liked it.

Fortunately, not only did I manage to finish on time, but I even had some time left over.

I almost dozed off on the couch, but that’s something I should keep to myself.

“Yep. As expected, it’s delicious.”

“Hehe.”

That’s right. This is it.

The sight of what my older brother likes.

I couldn’t give up anything.

It was a bit tough, but I could still do it.

Because I did my best.

I earned money and gained my brother’s happiness.

“Oh…right. I might get busy soon.”

“…In that case.”

Oh no.

“Dinner might be delayed or I might not be able to eat.”

“Why…why?”

“Usually…around this time, I get busy. There have been times when I slept at work, woke up, had a meal, and worked again.”

This won’t do.

How can this be a married couple? Is this a long-distance relationship?

“…”

“I won’t go that far! I’ll definitely come back and sleep together. Really. Trust me.”

My vision blurred for a moment.

I almost burst into tears for real.

“Really…?”

“Yes, really. I will definitely come back. And let’s sleep together.”

I wanted assurance.

To keep that assurance, my brother embraced me.

It’s sad, but I had to accept the fact and bury myself in his warmer embrace.

“If we talk about a period, maybe a month or two…during that time, um…I won’t be able to do much.”

“Um…”

I was barely starting to stabilize.

“When the period ends, let’s really go on a trip or something.”

“That…doesn’t matter. As long as I have you, it’s enough.”

“Okay…”

Even if you earn a lot of money, what’s the point? If you get so busy that you only meet from morning till night.

That’s absurd…it doesn’t make any sense.

My brother looked at me with a gentle expression.

“There were quite a few bonuses…it won’t be a comfort, but…anyway, going on a trip is confirmed. You have to spend money at times like this.”

“Got it…Do I have to come home quickly after work?”

“Yeah.”

After my brother went to shower, I lay on the bed.

I don’t need such a big bed.

If I’m the only one using it.

Should I get busy too?

So busy that I can’t even think about my brother, so time passes quickly and it feels like we met a little earlier.

“Oh, really…”

Honestly, it’s annoying.

If I studied a bit better, I could work with my brother.

Through office romance or something like that.

Same workplace, same department, or team.

There might be partitions to slightly separate us, but we’d still be in the same space.

“Jihye~”

“…Oppa.”

“Yeah?”

“Please impregnate me.”

Same space. If that can happen at home too.

If you could bring me happiness quickly.

“Oh…huh?”

I pulled my brother close.

The tiredness had long since dissipated.