episode_0026

“Oppa, did you work hard today?”

“Wisdom, you worked hard.”

As soon as we returned from work, Oppa hugged me.

“Oh… Oppa?”

“Hoo….”

Doesn’t seem drunk.

Oppa’s suit still has the scent of flowers and fruits from fabric softener.

Even his breath doesn’t feel particularly different.

“Sorry. I missed you.”

“Uh… yeah….”

I should react more, but I was too flustered to show anything other than a dazed emotion.

“Sh-should we eat? I’m hungry.”

“Yeah. Thank you.”

How could I not be flustered when Oppa hugged me because he missed me?

“Today’s slightly spicy, right? And it’s crispy even though it’s sprinkled like this.”

“I keep changing it. I thought it might not stick no matter what.”

“Thank you. Truly, there’s no one like Wisdom. I like you.”

“Well, she’s your girlfriend, so it’s natural! …I…like you too.”

I said nervously, clutching my chest.

My heart is in trouble.

Why are you so cute?

“Hmm~ Ah. After eating, want to go out for a bit?”

“Aren’t you tired?”

“Nah. I just don’t know much about Wisdom, so I thought we’d spend some time getting to know each other.”

Oppa lightly smiled, placing his hand on mine.

“If you say so…”

I also place my hand.

Our warm hands overlapped.

“I’ll change first and come back!”

“Yes yes. I’ll get ready too.”

Is this…a date?

It’s a date.

“Oh….”

Exciting.

Feels like doing something couple-like.

Kissing is what lovers do, right? But until now, I’ve been leading.

I want to be led.

While tidying up the finished table, I cleaned off the slight greasiness with cleansing foam.

I usually bathe before Oppa arrives.

Last time was a bit special, and if I don’t do it beforehand, my hair won’t dry properly.

“I’ve changed.”

Oppa wore a padded jacket, revealing a sweater and jeans inside.

“You look great. Oppa, you dress well.”

The suit with a coat is stylish, but this casual look isn’t bad either.

“Thank you.”

Honestly, there’s no time.

So let’s find a pretty way quickly.

Can’t do makeup yet, but I must apply toner and lotion.

Even men need to use them in the cold winter to prevent skin damage.

Clothes…right.

Let’s match since we’re a couple.

Oppa wears a sweater, so I wear a knit.

Wearing a sweater makes my chest tight.

The knit is thin but dense, while the sweater is thick.

So even with a padded jacket, it’s warm.

“Hmm…this.”

A knit with a check pattern and a fleece jacket.

Oppa’s jeans are dark blue, but I wore light blue.

“How is it?”

“Beautiful. Really beautiful.”

“Hehe thank you.”

I wanted to experience being enveloped by Oppa in a padded jacket.

“Oppa!”

“Whoa!”

Feeling the warmth under the padding made me feel so cozy that I almost wanted to fall asleep like this.

“Wisdom…shouldn’t we…go?”

“Phew…I really wanted to try this.”

I fixed my messy hair roughly and went outside.

I cautiously took Oppa’s arm.

*

“Why is everyone staring at us…?”

“Yeah…it’s night, so I thought they’d just pass by, but it seems like Wisdom is shining brightly.”

“Am I radiating a halo from Oppa too?”

I’m serious.

Just being there shines bright.

The neon sign of the building, yellowish lights are not shining.

It’s just light.

I might be hallucinating.

“Let’s not worry about it.”

“I only see my brother?”

“Thank you… I actually had a lot of questions for Ji-hye, so I made time like this.”

My brother slightly tightened his arm and hugged me.

It seems like he prevented me from bumping into someone.

My brother continued to speak with an unchanged face as if he had done the obvious action.

“…I feel like I don’t know anything about Ji-hye.”

“Yeah. I feel the same way.”

Is it because the meeting is special?

Even though I didn’t know much, others were ahead of me.

“So when is Ji-hye’s birthday?”

“Um… Mine is December 3rd.”

“Oh… It’s already passed.”

“It’s okay.”

Since I knew my brother’s birthday, I didn’t ask, “Yeah. I’ll take care of it this year.”

We walked aimlessly, laughing together.

My brother, who is much taller than me, matched his steps with mine, making it easy for me to walk.

There was a lot I didn’t know, but now I have to slowly learn as I go.

“Oppa, let’s take a picture!”

A spontaneous photo booth caught our eyes.

It’s a common unmanned photo booth where couples or friends gather to take pictures.

“Okay. I was just thinking about it, but taking one now seems fine.”

My brother also readily agreed, and we entered the photo booth.

“Do you want to wear something on your head? Like this.”

Before entering the room, there were large mirrors and various headbands and funny glasses in front of them, as if suggesting to do some simple makeup.

“A cat… Wouldn’t it be cute if Ji-hye wore it…?”

“Oh… Would it be cute?”

“Yeah.”

My brother picked up the headband in my hand and put it on my head.

“See. It looks really cute.”

“Ha… I got it.”

Blushing, I touched the cat ears and hid my expression.

Surely my face would be red, and I must look completely embarrassed.

“Oh… Sorry. I’ll finish quickly.”

Feeling someone behind me, I turned around to see that people had gathered.

“…No, please continue.”

“Um… Yes?”

“Yeah. Ji-hye, let’s go.”

Although several people were gathered behind us, no one said anything in particular.

“Hey, wait a minute, Oppa. Wear this.”

“Got it. Let’s go first. There are too many people here.”

“Uh… Sorry~”

Quickly escaping, we entered an empty room.

From the scattered sighs, it seemed like we were the only ones who thought too much.

What should I do since it’s my first time?

“Uh… It’s because of Oppa.”

“It’s okay. Everyone was looking at you cutely, what’s the problem.”

A bittersweet emotion passed through me.

Embarrassed, my heart fluttered at the word “cute.”

“Oh… This is my first time. It’s fascinating…”

“Me too. So this is how everyone takes pictures.”

A machine greeted us with bright pink wallpaper behind us.

It even looked a bit narrow. How did four people manage to take pictures in a place like this?

“But how should we pose?”

“If we do it spontaneously…? I think we’ll both stand stiffly, so let’s decide beforehand.”

Stand stiffly?

Oh no.

“Ji-hye?”

“Ah. Should we search the internet for poses?”

Suddenly, they brushed off the mischievous thought and huddled close to a small phone.

“Um… this one?”

“It’s nice. And… I want to try this one.”

A pose where they embrace each other and gaze into each other’s faces.

Since it came up as a recommended couple pose search, physical contact became natural.

“Oh…”

“…Do you want to?”

A pose of kissing each other… Is it a pose?

“Yeah… It might be okay to cover it with a flower.”

Hmm… Then let’s just make a V-sign with our hands and take the picture.

What we saw was a posture where we held flowers, covering our faces while kissing each other.

Whether we actually kissed, only we know.

“I want to post this on SNS, is it okay?”

“Uh… Sure. I don’t usually do it… but it’s fine.”

“Since we’re already here, how about trying this?”

“I saw someone touching all the time, looked annoying. And I… yeah.”

Oppa slightly frowned.

It’s understandable.

The messages will probably fill up in 24 hours.

If you don’t turn off the notifications, they’ll keep coming all day.

It would be nice if there was a setting that prevented messages from strangers for people like Oppa.

Well… I might be similar.

“I’m going to use an account to post pictures of me and Oppa together as a nostalgic feeling.”

“Yeah. It’s fine. I’ll check it out occasionally too.”

For the third pose, we smiled at the camera and made heart shapes with our hands.

And finally…

“How about trying something spontaneous?”

“Yeah. Okay.”

“Let’s start.”

I touched the monitor in front to finish the setup.

After paying with my phone, we appeared on the screen.

“Oh. Oppa, pose, pose!”

“Uh, um. What was the first one again?”

“Wait, Oppa, take off your padding first!”

Thinking back, we were really unprepared.

On the internet, they say you get another chance.

The first one was automatically taken after the timer ran out.

The photos were just us moving around busily.

By then, we had taken off our outerwear, put a dog headband on Oppa, and barely finished getting ready.

“Okay. Are you ready?”

“Yeah. Perfect.”

“Do you remember the pose?”

“Yeah. I memorized it.”

Taking a photo, waiting for 10 seconds, and taking another one would make you feel rushed.

How is this popular?

Maybe it’s the MZ generation or something.

Even though I’m MZ, I don’t understand.

“Phew… Let’s begin.”

I pressed the button and hugged Oppa quickly.

It almost felt like I was hugging myself.

I faced the camera and showed my face properly.

*Click!*

“Next, next!”

Next is looking straight ahead.

“……”

“……”

Looking at each other felt awkward but funny, so we burst into laughter.

“Haha…!”

“Hehe…!”

*Click!*

For a moment, we fixed our expressions, then leaned on each other’s shoulders and made a heart shape.

“But Oppa, are you smiling?”

“Uh… Yes, I am.”

It’s just because I’m distracted; the monitor doesn’t lie.

A moment ago, I didn’t really frown, I just burst into laughter.

Checking the timer, I whispered into Oppa’s ear.

“(I love you, Oppa.)”

*Click!*

Returning to the right expression according to the timer, I had a satisfied look on my face in the fleeting screen.

“This one’s easy, right?”

“Yeah…?”

“Smiling is easy too~”

“Okay. Got it.”

Wondering how to show a V without covering our faces, I briefly remembered a pose that was trending in Japan.

“Oppa, turn the V downwards. Like me.”

“Like this?”

“Yes, yes.”

Gyaru… Was it peace?

It seems slightly different from what I remember from an old comedy program and the gyaru trend in Japan these days.

*Click!*

“Okay. This time, I have an idea.”

“What is it?”

Time passes.

Keep going. Without giving Oppa a chance to be surprised.

“Oppa, look at me.”

“Huh?”

2

1

-End.

I gently grabbed my brother’s face with my hand. I made him smile at his bewildered expression.

Even though a photo was being taken, I didn’t let go of my brother.

I wanted to continue like this.

Although our kiss was awkward, it was enough to make my heart flutter.