episode_0021

“Makeup, you know. It’s like a weapon for women.”

“Oh… Like K2 or K3?”

“Um… What’s that.”

Ah. I don’t know.

“Well. No.”

“Anyway, wisdom was a man but it’s a skill you must learn. Fortunately, with fair skin and not too oily, makeup will suit you very well.”

“What do you mean by ‘suits you well’?”

“…Okay. Seems like you’re eager to learn.”

Ah. Again.

*

“I really don’t know. I’m sorry!”

“…I see. But… You know the basics, right…?”

“Toner, lotion, sunscreen!”

“…Basic makeup.”

“I don’t know!”

What’s a primer? What’s a base? What’s BB cream?

Even if I’m pretty, should I not be able to explain it easily?

“Well… With wisdom, just managing your skin like this makes you beautiful… Oh, I envy her.”

“Hehe. So just applying sunscreen properly is enough, right?”

“You’re learning makeup just to show a good side to your boyfriend, aren’t you going to give up?”

“I’ll learn later!”

This time, I decided to seek help from my sister.

Sitting at the dressing table, she spun around me, drawing on my face with a sponge or pen-like tool, and finally ran her fingers through my hair with a curling iron.

“…I’ll really learn makeup later.”

My face is beautiful. Now, it may seem natural, but there are preferences even in that beauty.

Should I call it a sharp-faced beauty?

When I smile, my sister says I look like a heavenly beauty, but when I turn expressionless, she says I become a cold-hearted woman. However, it’s impossible to smile all day to avoid muscle cramps in my face.

But makeup brings this to life.

Almost like painting on my face, the coldness felt in my expressionless face warms up, enveloping me in a cute and cozy atmosphere more like a rabbit than a beautiful cat.

“With this level… You’ll be able to captivate all men.”

“I only need you, Oppa.”

“Yeah yeah. I hope that love lasts forever.”

But… If I do this, won’t Oppa run away again?

Since I didn’t wear perfume, it should be fine.

“Ahem… I should go to Oppa first, right…?”

“That’s right…? Where should we go?”

I was planning to stop by my father’s house briefly to talk about recent events.

Today… I should do it over the phone.

If I act cute and apologize, maybe I can pass smoothly like a daughter’s free pass.

“It was there, but now it’s gone. Is it over now?”

“Yeah yeah. Let’s go now.”

As we stepped outside, I instinctively wrapped myself in the windless cold.

“It’s cold.”

“You’ll feel cold in your legs. I was going to wear stockings, but since we’re going straight home…”

“Yes yes…”

Shivering in the cold air of the corridor, then shivering once more in the chilly air of the underground parking lot, we got into the car.

“Uh… I’ll make a quick call.”

“Who are you calling?”

“My father. I’m going to tell him I can’t make it today.”

My sister looks at me with a mischievous expression.

“Hehe. Father. Wouldn’t he prefer being called ‘Dad’?”

Since when did I start calling him father?

Probably once before he went to the military. Even after discharge, I probably kept calling him father.

The military had that kind of feeling, and it was a way for me to declare that I was an adult now.

“Dad… Dad. Doesn’t it make me look too much like a kid? But I am an adult.”

“If it’s a son, it might be different. When a daughter calls her father ‘Dad,’ he feels happy to death.”

“Is that so?”

But now to call him dad again.

Of course, I visited last time.

Nothing special happened. Really.

Sitting in the living room, watching TV, preparing food, and dusting the ceiling.

And then saying hello and leaving.

“Hmm… I’ll give it a try.”

“If you do it cutely, maybe you’ll give me some pocket money?”

“Oh, come on. As if that would happen.”

I briefly imagined my perpetually gruff father laughing at my jokes and sending me pocket money.

“…But that’s not really it.”

The call goes through, but seconds later, the call disconnects.

“Hello.”

My blunt father. He appears.

“Dad~”

“…Tsk.”

“Oh.”

It got disconnected.

Thinking I might have dialed the wrong number, I checked the name and called again.

“Hello.”

“Dad~”

“…”

The only difference between the words “dad” and “brother” is the ‘a’ and ‘o.’

Maybe that’s why. Since I had practiced calling him “brother,” calling him “dad” seemed to come naturally.

“Right. I’m Jiwoo. I called to say I can’t make it today.”

“…Is that so.”

Was this a misunderstanding or a declaration of change for myself?

I suddenly felt greedy.

“And Dad.”

That desire to be loved.

“I love you~!”

I feel like I’ve become more lonely.

Living alone now.

I used to be excited about being alone, but now I want to be with someone.

“…Okay.”

His tone was still gruff, but I felt a slight difference.

It might just be my mood.

“Geez… what a fool.”

“Soon, your allowance will be deposited into your account, right?”

“What… is that supposed to mean?”

“Did I get the house by acting cute?”

“Uh…”

Isn’t the unit of allowance quite different?

“Cheer up. Don’t come looking for me crying again.”

“Fine… I got it.”

“If you cry again, I’ll make you my girlfriend for real.”

“Okay! I got it!”

After a brief hug with my sister, I said goodbye and went up to my brother’s house.

“Hoo… hoo…!”

Why am I so nervous?

I’ll sweat off my makeup.

I slowly open the door.

The sound of the door lock must have signaled my arrival.

“Excuse me…”

My brother’s slippers, shoes, and sneakers were still there. He hadn’t gone anywhere.

“Oh.”

“Oh… hi.”

My brother was eating yesterday’s leftovers.

Have you been well?

Didn’t you feel lonely without me?

It’s only been one day. In fact, not even a full day has passed.

Why do I miss him so much?

“Do you want something to eat?”

“No, it’s okay. This is delicious too.”

I wanted to take care of him for no reason, but he pointed to the dish indicating it was fine and continued eating.

Eating rice with soup and only one side dish of kimchi. What’s so fine about that?

“Eat… and come to the room.”

“Okay…”

Returning to the room, I threw my handbag on the chair and lay down on the bed, now familiar and comforting.

“Why am I like this…”

I mutter to myself as I toss on the bed.

I still don’t understand my feelings.

Wasn’t I angry?

“Jiwoo…”

“Y-yes.”

This brother’s timing is strangely perfect, almost as if he’s trying to preemptively suppress my embarrassment.

“I’ve thought a lot about yesterday.”

“What about?”

He scratches his head awkwardly and smiles.

“As expected… there was no one but Jiwoo. I did everything yesterday. Cooking, cleaning, laundry. Everything went wrong… My suit… something’s off. I’m sorry.”

“…Would you like to apologize to me?”

“Jiwoo…? Oh. Yeah. Sorry. I didn’t consider Jiwoo’s feelings and just acted stubbornly.”

Why is it so simple?

I am really listening to what I want to hear.

Why does my heart still crave something more?

“So… how should you think of me?”

“Uh… as a woman…?”

Casually thrown question, slightly pleased with any answer given in embarrassment.

“Haha… ha.”

“Am I still angry right now?”

“Oh… yes.”

Unknowingly smiling, even my brother was trying to smile.

No, it’s not okay. I will take advantage of this more.

“Um… I’ll give you a hint. I’m giving you one chance to make me not angry instantly.”

“Ugh… what is it.”

This time, I will set conditions.

Can’t escape front or back. To prevent my brother from running away, I need to establish certainty, a kind of verbal agreement.

“Instead, there will be no going back once you listen. If you say you won’t do it after listening, then it’s over. This time won’t end with just a day out.”

Slightly turning so he can’t escape.

“Um… got it. No going back. Got it. I’ll listen to almost anything within reason. How much has Jiyu done for me?”

“Ugh….”

I need to hold onto my feelings more than my brother.

If I do this, I might not get mad at my brother for gambling but rather cheer him on.

“Sigh… it’s normal. First of all…”

“Is there a second one?”

“Oh my. Listen and speak. First, don’t call me Jiyu.”

I picked up my handbag again and took out my wallet.

“Jihye. My name is now Lee Jihye. Just change one letter to call me.”

Easy to call, but a big step for me.

“The second one is easy too. It excludes money issues, so it’s very comfortable to listen.”

“Uh-huh. Jihye.”

“Ugh….”

I was surprised by suddenly hearing my name, but it wouldn’t be enough to make me shake.

“Um… please think of me as a woman.”

“…Like earlier.”

“Think of me as a woman.”

“…?”

This is a confession.

It feels like a confession, but it’s not a confession, that kind of confession.

“Lastly, thirdly…”

“No, as a woman…?”

“Third!”

Don’t have doubts about the question.

To answer a question, you must have doubts. At least for the second one, I wish you wouldn’t.

“Hug me tightly right now.”

“…Now?”

“Yes.”

Very simple. Just embrace me. It’s not related to money or words.

“Uh… you asked me to think of you as a woman earlier…”

“Does it matter?”

“…Does it?”

“No. Not anymore. Will you make it happen?”

My brother seemed tongue-tied, unsure of what to do, trembling.

“It’s easy. If you hug me, it’s all over. Um… maybe cheese tonkatsu would be good today.”

Confidence shouldn’t be received only by me.

My brother also needs his own calculations that I need to be there for it to work.

How could a housekeeper show her charm so forcefully?

So I sprinkle what my brother likes like sauce.

“Phew… shall I…?”

“Yes. Anytime.”

I’ve gathered my courage.

I, too, have been taking deep breaths to steady myself during this time.

“Uhhhh…!♡”

Collapsed miserably.

My body became a woman, making my shoulders narrower, my height shorter, and my waist thinner like an ant.

Maybe that’s why.

“Uhh… haa…♡”

Like jelly filling my whole body.

But in my brother’s firm, warm, and subtly excited body, I found myself moaning involuntarily.

It may be due to excitement, but thinking thinly, perhaps it’s happiness.

I am extremely happy and joyful right now.

Even though it’s a forced happiness, I’m still excited about the current situation.

I’m starting to pay attention to my makeup and feel my scent.

I probably didn’t spray perfume, but your scent is the fragrance.

I actually dislike perfume.

“Oppa…♡ Harder…♡”

The feeling that I wish I could be held tighter from my arms to my fingertips.

“Ah…♡”

Even when embraced, everything isn’t fully embraced.

Feeling like my head is spinning, my body trembled.

It became clear that I like you, Oppa.

It was a moment of being proven.