episode_0024

“Are you okay? Not too cold or hot?”

“Yeah… I’m fine.”

Wide back. Muscles split like pieces.

I want to hug right away, but I’ve given myself the excuse that I’ve already wiped off the sweat, but sweat smells.

The smell of my brother was like a drug to me.

*Sigh*… *Exhale*….

But another worry arises.

Will my rough breathing be heard by my brother? Will he notice the sound of my breath against his back?

Wouldn’t he question why I’m wiping at a slower pace than before?

When he turns around, what will he think when he sees this flushed face?

Surely my face must be turning red.

“Brother… Should I turn off the light? It’s time to sleep now.”

“Yeah.”

To avoid being caught, I thought of every possible thing and finally found a way to escape.

……

“…Jihye…? What are you doing there?”

“Brother, let’s sleep together.”

Humans are insatiable.

And they repeat the same mistakes.

Since I barely avoided getting caught, I’ll barely dodge this as well.

“Well…”

“You shouldn’t sleep with your girlfriend…right?”

“Okay…come here.”

Unconsciously, I brought out the ultimate card of having a girlfriend.

Filled with thoughts of my brother, I was using every possible means.

“…Brother, can you hold me like a doll while we sleep?”

“Sure…I got it.”

“Hehe.”

As my brother hugged me, the scent that could comfort me immediately became stronger.

I’m so happy. I’m fine with dying now.

Oh no, I shouldn’t die. Then I won’t be able to marry my brother.

“Brother.”

“Yeah?”

-End

“Sleep well. I love you.”

With eyes accustomed to darkness, I briefly kissed the face with discernible features.

It was a momentary lapse on my part.

A slight… lack of control. This is as restrained as I can be.

“Yeah. I love you.”

Sleep well. I’m sure that’s what I said.

I can’t fall asleep.

I have to wake up early tomorrow morning.

I’m too excited.

It all feels like a dream, and even kissing my brother just now feels like a lie.

Did I just briefly entertain that thought?

*Gasp*…

My brother held me tighter, and happiness overwhelmed me in his warm embrace.

Feeling the satisfaction of being held and smelling my brother’s strong yet subtle fragrance, drowsiness crept over me unknowingly.

“(I…love you…)”

Thinking he wouldn’t hear, I quietly whispered my love to my brother and slowly closed my eyes.

Two weeks have passed since I started dating my brother.

Sweet but somewhat lacking, I live while pondering various thoughts.

*Tak!*

At that moment, my phone slipped from my hand.

“Oh…”

It had been working fine for several years.

Since high school, through military service and discharge, apart from changing the film, it had never been broken.

Since becoming a woman, I worried that it might get heavier and strain my wrist, but it was in such good condition that I didn’t really pay attention.

“Is it broken!?”

Carefully picking up the phone, the screen looked shattered as if hit by bullets, making it difficult to see due to the spreading cracks.

“…Huh!?”

Tapping it lightly, the screen lit up with green hues but soon went dark.

It couldn’t possibly break like this.

“Why!?”

Even facing reality, I thought it was a lie.

What kind of impact would dropping it from my small height have?

No matter how many times I accidentally dropped it, it never got a scratch, so why now…

“What should I do…?”

The phone used as a drama player isn’t precious.

One might think it’s sentimental, but what sentiment can there be in this stuttering delay between touching it and it turning on, then moving to an app after a second?

Simply because I can’t make a call.

I can’t call my brother.

I was going to call during lunchtime!

“…What should I do for real.”

Sitting alone on the floor and muttering to myself, what will change?

“Ugh!”

Picking up the broken phone, I quickly got up and prepared to leave.

Finishing work faster than anyone else to share love’s whispers at lunch, I checked the room and went outside.

The useless act of being excited to see me when my tired brother came back from work and covered me… What was the clothing… Let’s think it was work.

It’s a good thing because it helps increase the birth rate in South Korea!

“Sigh….”

The breath rising in puffs, the awkward tree branches, and the park still covered in snow.

Swiftly clearing the path… I walk fast, not running.

I feel like running, but knowing my body gets out of breath even while cleaning, I walk with faster steps than others towards the cellphone store.

Even a flip phone is fine. Just need to insert a SIM card and use it right away.

“…So where am I?”

Didn’t take the bus. Taxis are too expensive.

There are several reasons why I don’t take the bus.

Among them, it can be explained in three ways.

First, except for my father’s house and my brother’s house, I don’t know which bus to take.

Second, without a phone, meaning I can’t turn on the map app, I didn’t take it because I might get further away if I just board any bus.

Third, whether taking the bus or walking, I’m bad with directions. If I walk, at least I remember the way I walked.

“…Ah.”

The problem is I don’t know where they sell phones.

When it comes to phones, it’s an electronics market, but where is that.

“…”

Yes. I don’t know.

Am I really clueless?

I don’t want to go back.

Then I won’t be able to call my brother today.

*Bbang!*

What should I do? When I’m about to shake my foot, suddenly I hear a car horn.

“Huh.”

“What are you doing here?”

It’s Jihyuk, my brother.

“I’m going to buy a phone.”

“…Here?”

He leaned out the window, looked around, then asked again.

“Yeah.”

“…Do you know where this is?”

“I don’t.”

“Jiwoo. By the way, Maehyeong Apartments are to the right, downtown, and here… Yeah, no… Anyway, just get in.”

I cautiously got into the car.

This guy strangely warns me not to spill sand when he drives roughly, but when I get in, he says something about not spilling sand.

“Oh. I’m not Jiwoo. Can you call me Jihye?”

I took out my ID from my handbag and showed it to him.

He glanced briefly as he was driving.

“Oh. Jihye. Got it.”

“Yeah. Thanks, brother.”

“…Whoa! Damn, that scared me.”

Although he reluctantly acknowledged it without much fuss, there was a slight sense of gratitude…

And who does he think he is calling me “brother.”

“Why’s that?”

“Oh, no. Nothing.”

There’s also a slightly softened feeling.

He only speeds up to 70 km/h, so it’s okay.

“Can you help me buy a phone?”

“If it’s a Galaxy, is that okay?”

“Yeah, that’s right. And please get something lightweight. I don’t know much about phones.”

“Okay.”

The car starts slowly with the hazard lights on.

“This isn’t it.”

“I’m picking up my wife.”

“I see.”

My brother touched the phone briefly and made a call.

“Oh, honey. I’ll be back soon, okay? I’ve prepared a gift~”

“Oh no, it’s not expensive. I found a cat on the way.”

…Why did I become a cat?

“Oh wait, brother!?”

Soon after saying we’re arriving, the car speeds up again, making a loud noise and rushing fast.

“Ahh!”

“Hey! That’s great!”

“Hey!!”

Trying to ignore the rapidly passing scenery, I closed my eyes.

Not long after feeling the car slowing down, I realized we had already arrived at a cafe.

“Ugh… Hyung!”

“Ah. It’s cool and nice.”

“Not that!”

I can’t call this person “oppa.”

“Hey! Why a cat… Oh. A cat!”

“…Yes?”

Seeing Suah unnie after a long time, she ran to me as soon as she saw me and hugged me right away.

A small explosion sound came from the padding, and feathers fluttered.

“Wow…! You’re so pretty!”

“Haha… Thank you.”

“Where are you going? Did you come to play with me?”

Oh. So lively.

If someone comes so close to me who has no friends…

“I don’t know.”

I decided to just hug her.

She seems cute for some reason, like my fan.

“Oh. To my wife…”

“Ji Hyuk. Quiet.”

“…Yes.”

“(Hm. I was going to buy a new phone today because mine broke.)”

The refreshing scent of unnie lightly spread.

I answered like a whisper because it seemed noisy to speak while hugging.

“Ha… your voice….”

“Unnie…?”

“Oh… my heart hurts….”

She clenched her chest immediately.

“Where does it hurt?”

“No…! If you come closer, I’ll really die!”

She reaches out her hand to keep her distance.

Is this excitement enough to die for or what?

There are so many people prettier than me.

“Let’s… go for now.”

Not sitting in the back seat like last time, she sat in the front passenger seat, avoiding me.

“Sorry… I think I got too excited.”

“Oh. It’s okay.”

If she stays quiet, I’m fine.

*Click!*

“Oh….”

“?”

“…Sorry! Can I take a picture!?”

I see.

“Yes… Well. You can take a picture. Just don’t post it on the internet or anything.”

“Yeah! I’ll remember that!”

It seems like I should strike a pose properly, so I slightly moistened my eyes, rested my arm on the armrest, propped my chin, and glanced out the window.

“Phew… my hands are shaking so much….”

It seems like it will take all day to take the picture.