episode_0009
by fnovelpia“Hoo hoo. You can’t help but be surprised.”
Beyond being cheerful, I am now acting arrogantly.
Of course. I’ve done everything I can do right now.
I cleaned the blanket thoroughly and even the dust on the floor. I mopped it to make it shine.
I also put the piled up laundry in the dryer.
I put back everything that was roughly scattered and didn’t forget to check the status of ingredients.
“Now… Should I go see Jang?”
Stuffing tonkatsu into my brother’s mouth without any consideration…!
He might get handsome and lose weight again.
*
I go outside again and walk along the cold winter street to the mart.
Maybe it’s because the padding my sister gave me is warm. Most of the fat has disappeared, but I’m not cold.
“I want to make tonkatsu… Please give me sirloin.”
“Yes. How many servings would you like?”
“I want to eat about two servings with me and another guy.”
I never get tired of tonkatsu, but if I eat too much, it doesn’t taste the same as before.
“Okay, understood.”
I look for sauces to accompany the tonkatsu and other things.
And I have to make a few side dishes.
Hmm… Cheese. I want to eat cheese.
My body craves it.
“Uh… sure.”
My brother likes it too.
He prefers the taste of meat more, but this is for me… yeah.
Mozzarella is the best cheese.
“Thank you~”
After putting this and that in the cart, the meat seems to be already out, so I receive it and quickly leave.
Since my brother only consumes and doesn’t put things back, it’s almost empty.
“That will be 75,800 won. Do you have any points?”
“At 0806… Kim Soo-han.”
There’s a taste to collecting points. Just by using points to buy things, I feel good knowing how much I’ve saved.
“Um… Where did that friend go?”
“…Yes?”
“I heard that this person and that young man were living together… Isn’t that the case anymore?”
When you keep going to the same store, these things happen.
How does the manager of this mart or the person in charge remember the old Jiwoo?
I don’t know how they remember, but it’s probably best to keep it casual.
“Oh… yes. We’re not living together anymore.”
“You got married, so you live separately now? It was nice having that young man around. Bring him over sometime.”
“Ahaha…. Uh, married?”
I’ve never heard my brother mention having a wife.
“Oh. Not married yet? You’re still a couple.”
“I don’t know… No! What about a wife…”
Why did this misunderstanding arise?
Come to think of it, I’m a woman.
Maybe I acted too naturally. Honestly, I forgot.
It’s natural for a woman who’s a complete stranger to casually use her brother’s number and receive such misunderstandings.
“Really? Even at a glance, it’s obvious.”
“Uh… no. He’s… he’s my younger brother.”
I made some vague excuses and hurriedly left.
“Uh uh….”
I never dreamed of such a misunderstanding.
My face is slightly flushed.
Even though autumn has passed and winter has arrived with its chilly weather, my face has become even hotter.
I wrapped myself more tightly in the padding that smells like my sister.
My face must be really red.
***
Ring~!
“You’re here?”
“Uh… Hi…!?”
“Hyung, it’s Jinae. Why are you surprised when you’ve seen me before?”
It’s a bit late. My brother has come home from work.
His tired eyes looked surprised when they saw me, and his body took a step back accordingly.
“Quickly wash up and eat. Um… no. Since I’ve already made it, let’s eat first and then go take a bath.”
“Uh huh….”
Why do you look so gloomy?
I worked so hard. It was heavy and painful.
“…Oh.”
“Pork cutlet. Don’t you like it?”
“I… like it. I really like it. Thank you.”
Fortunately, the gloomy expression disappeared as soon as he saw the food, leaving only an excited expression.
“Oh… it’s delicious.”
“Of course! Who do you think made it?”
“Yeah. Yeah. It seems like Jiwon made it.”
This level of doubt is severe.
Why can’t you trust me? Everything is the same. Even the cooking suits my taste.
I might be the most different… but still!
“Ugh….”
“Sorry.”
“How can I make you believe?”
“Um… I don’t know. But I’ll try to believe. The pork cutlet… Jiwon made it. It’s definitely made by Jiwon.”
Even after a long time, the pork cutlet was crispy and delicious, especially with the mozzarella cheese.
“I’ll iron… your clothes for tomorrow. Wear the one hanging next to the bed.”
“Oh. Okay.”
He stood up with a grumble.
It was delicious, but he felt annoyed at his brother, his body was unnecessarily sore. He was slightly irritated by not being able to do this or that.
“Ouch!”
It’s not like there was no connection.
It seems like I’m getting older. Why are you doing this?
“Ugh….”
I’m still having a terrible period. The amount may have decreased. Menstrual cramps and menstrual blood seem to move separately.
Not wanting to show it to his brother even more, he hurriedly went to the bathroom, clutching his stomach while squatting.
It seems like at least two painkillers are needed.
“Huff… huff… huff.”
He splashed his face with water, trying to compose himself.
At least not to look more strange to his brother, to look normal like usual.
He had clearly returned, but it didn’t feel like he had come back.
“Sorry.”
“…What is it?”
“I’m sorry for not trusting you.”
Apologies come quickly.
Yes. You know too well what you did wrong, so I have nothing to say.
“It’s okay. It happens.”
Although his brother clearly apologized, he couldn’t hide his annoyance.
Just treat it casually. It’s just that one thing.
“…Do you want to play a game?”
“No… it’s okay. I’m a bit tired today.”
With a sore body, not wanting to do anything, just feeling irritated.
There must be a reason why that day hasn’t ended yet, and although he understands his brother’s reaction… Ah, I don’t know.
“Is that so?”
“I’m sorry. I’m feeling a little off today.”
I really don’t know my emotions.
I don’t even have a clue how to unravel these countless and complex feelings.
Why do I have to think like this? Can’t I just keep it simple?
“Huff…”
Even if they ask me, what difference will it make? Who will answer.
‘I am me, not two.’
Even lying on the newly changed bed doesn’t feel comfortable at all.
The fabric softener scent has penetrated properly, the cotton is in place, and my whole body is warm, so I should fall asleep in a few minutes.
*Rustle*
“…?”
“Ah… sorry.”
“Where are you going?”
Opening his eyes reluctantly at the rustling sound, he looked around and saw his brother.
He was holding both the pillow and the blanket, as if he was about to leave.
For some reason, I can guess why he’s taking the blanket with him.
Unraveling the tangled and complicated emotions, I found only one emotion.
Discomfort.
“Well… yeah. I was going to sleep in the living room.”
“Don’t go.”
“…Still.”
“No. I don’t want to. Am I that uncomfortable for you?”
This is uncomfortable.
If everything is comfortable but one thing is uncomfortable, it keeps bothering you.
I’m uncomfortable too. If my brother is uncomfortable, then I will inevitably be bothered too.
“…that”
“Well, I’ll go out then. That should work, right?”
Now it’s unbelievable.
I know to erase… I really know, but this is what’s happening.
“No… that’s not it.”
“Then sleep on the bed. Why can’t you be comfortable in your own home like it’s your own home? Is it because I’m a woman? I hated being stubborn like that!?”
The high notes of the violin echoed through the room as if tearing it apart.
Unconsciously, I covered my mouth, and my brother lowered his head, looking elegant.
“I’m sorry. I’ll go home and sleep now.”
Forced it.
Only thought about myself.
It’s my brother’s house, my brother’s money, and he does as he pleases.
“……”
“I’m sorry. I’ll leave. I’m really sorry.”
I was too stubborn.
*
He may not be a real younger brother, but he is still a younger brother.
Doing everything to help me meet a good person, even listening to my nonsense.
“Sorry. Don’t go. It’s my fault.”
I misunderstood. I misunderstood completely.
I was surprised by Jiyoo suddenly becoming a woman, but that’s one thing, and Jiyoo still acts like denying himself, like a man.
What’s more surprising is Jiyoo.
I’ve been keeping my distance too much.
“It’s uncomfortable. Sleeping with me. You’ll come tomorrow. Just for today… I’ll go.”
“It’s nighttime now. There’s no bus. How are you going to go?”
“I’ll walk.”
“No, you can’t. Don’t go. Just sleep here.”
How could I push away a younger brother who tries so hard for me?
“…It’s uncomfortable.”
“No, it’s okay. I’m not uncomfortable at all.”
Changed my mind.
Jiyoo is still Jiyoo.
Even though she has become a woman.
“Really… right?”
“Yeah. Really.”
“T-then… let’s sleep together. You won’t regret it, right?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Despite feeling Jiyoo’s actions and way of speaking clearly, I realized how wrong I was to judge her solely based on appearances a few hours ago.
I had been eating triangular kimbap and cereal for a month, but when Jiyoo ate tonkatsu first and got up, I felt a sense of regret for no reason.
The suit was neatly pressed with sharp creases, and there was no sign of wrinkling.
The room was clean, and the blanket was soft, making me doubt if it was really my home.
All of this was because Jiyoo worked hard for it.
“…Jiyoo?”
“What?”
“About sleeping together…”
“Don’t you want to…?”
“No, it’s fine. Good night, Jiyoo.”
The scent of flowers is fragrant yet embarrassing.
Jiyoo was lying next to me on my bed.
Jiyoo is a man… a man.
“……”
I don’t know.
At least men don’t emit such a pleasant fragrance.
It shouldn’t be burdensome to touch someone just because they look delicate.
And… why is she so beautiful?
“Sigh….”
No, she’s a woman, Jiyoo.
Because she’s a woman, she emits this kind of fragrance.
I haven’t met many women, so I don’t really know.
Do people usually emit a floral scent?
“Um….”
I wonder if I can sleep well tonight, but surprisingly, sleep came quickly.
It must be tiredness pressing me down.
Before thinking like this, it was an order from my body to relieve fatigue.
I didn’t regret it.
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