episode_0048

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[Lee Jiyoon]

—Isn’t it weird to be embarrassed?

—Come to the café after you’re done.

Isn’t it weird to be embarrassed?

For someone saying that, you’re the one who seems more flustered.

After reading her text, I stiffened slightly and stared at my phone.

Sure, it’s fine that I took the bait on her clumsy attempt to lure me in…

But Lee Jiyoon.

Hasn’t she been acting a little off since that weird stunt at the karaoke yesterday?

That thought wouldn’t leave my head.

“Hmm…”

The DMs we exchanged yesterday were like this too,

and the text just now was no different.

Why is she suddenly acting so playful?

People don’t just change for no reason.

And if there was a reason, the only thing that came to mind was what happened at the karaoke yesterday.

[Seo Woojin]

—Yeah. See you later.

Because love blossomed?

Bullshit.

Because friendship bloomed?

Okay, maybe that much I could buy.

Maybe she thinks we’ve gotten close enough that she’s starting to tease me like she’s been holding back until now.

But if I brushed it off that lightly, wouldn’t I be ignoring the faintly sweet yet bitter feeling that was clearly not just friendship?

What the hell should I even call that feeling?

“This is hard…”

Well, maybe I’ll find some clues when I meet her today.

After Lee Hayoon—who had been sneaking glances at me all day—left the infirmary,

I leaned back in the chair, stretched, and turned my gaze to my phone as it buzzed again.

[Lee Jiyoon]

—I doubt it’ll happen, but…

—Don’t tell my sister. Just come secretly.

—It’s nothing serious, but she might misunderstand.

—Got it?

[Seo Woojin]

—Yeah.

—I’ll keep it a secret.

48

“You don’t have any other clothes?”

“Why?”

“Wearing the same jacket every day must get boring.”

“It doesn’t.”

“It does look warm, with the fleece lining and all… Hmm.”

“…As long as it’s comfy and warm, who cares? Stop nagging.”

“Does it smell?”

“Wanna die? …No, it doesn’t. I only wear it when I go out for a bit anyway.”

The evening dyed in caramel hues.

Pretending to be nonchalant, Jiyoon parried Woojin’s words while crossing her arms under her chest and staring holes into her empty coffee cup.

She was managing to keep up the small talk for now, but soon enough, she’d have to do that kind of thing with Woojin.

Well, it’s not like doing it was the issue—it was just advice, after all.

But was the location she’d agonized over for five hours during her part-time shift really the right choice?

Her head felt so tangled it might explode.

“You don’t go out much?”

“Where would I go besides work and the convenience store?”

“Hmm. What about meeting friends?”

“I don’t have any. Real-life friends.”

“…Why not?”

“Too much trouble.”

“Ah. So you were too busy gaming to make any.”

“……That’s not it.”

So, let’s think.

A motel.

Outdoors.

Or a karaoke room.

She’d rather have a knife to her throat than go to any of those places with Woojin.

That left Woojin’s place…

Or her own.

So, should a girl invite a guy to her house?

Or should a guy invite a girl to his?

Which one would feel more natural?

While agonizing over the two options and taking drink orders in between,

a sudden thought flashed through Jiyoon’s mind.

If I’m really going to immerse myself in helping Woojin as my sister…

If I’m going to convince myself, “I’m just doing my best to help Woojin”…

“…….”

Then shouldn’t I help him practice in my sister’s room?

That thought.

“…….”

Sure, she might’ve spilled a freshly made drink because of it,

but whatever.

Her sister wouldn’t be back until after 11 p.m.

It was 7:10 now.

The house would be empty for about four hours, so even if any suspicious smells lingered in her sister’s room…

…I mean,

not weird smells,

but like, Woojin’s scent or…

“Should we head out?”

“Huh? Oh.”

“Let’s go. We’ve been sitting here a while. Like, 30 minutes.”

“…Yeah.”

While Jiyoon was lost in thought, Woojin stood up with his empty cup.

Following suit, Jiyoon greeted the closing-shift part-timer (who happened to be looking their way) before leaving the café.

And then—

“Then, my place—”

“Let’s go to my place—”

Their voices overlapped as Woojin took the lead.

After a brief, awkward silence, Jiyoon slightly lifted her cap and met Woojin’s eyes.

“Your place?”

“Yeah. You told me not to tell Hayoon, right?”

“So? What does that have to do with—”

“I figured it’d be bad if we left any traces.”

“W-what?!”

“Why are you so surprised?”

“It’s just practice! Why would there be traces, you psycho?!”

“There could be. Right?”

“There won’t!”

Traces? How far does he even plan to take this “practice”?

The only “traces” Jiyoon had imagined were scents—and even then, just his natural body odor.

But Woojin’s mention of it made her think of things like socks,

or semen,

or sweat stains,

or bed sheets smeared with each other’s sweat,

or the beeping sound of the door lock because they lost track of time—

Basically, scenes straight out of those kinds of videos flooded her mind, and she started punching Woojin’s arm with her clenched fist.

“Like, if a strand of your hair got left behind, that’d be bad, right?”

“…Oh, that’s what you meant…”

“What? What were you thinking?”

“…Shut up. Just shut up, please.”

After hitting Woojin’s firm shoulders a few more times, she muttered quietly,

“J-just stop saying weird stuff and follow me quietly.”

“So we’re going to your place?”

“Yeah. What, you don’t want to?”

“It’s not that… Isn’t it the same as my place?”

“…It’s not the same.”

“And didn’t you say you’d kill me if we got caught having sex at your place earlier?”

“Se—sex?!”

Why would you just blurt that out in public?!

After quickly scanning their surroundings, Jiyoon lowered her voice.

“…This isn’t sex, idiot.”

“It is sex practice.”

“It’s not sex practice! It’s just…”

“Just?”

“……A-advisory.”

“…….”

“Like, teaching you how to do it when you… y’know, with my sister. A guidebook?”

“…What’s the difference?”

“Um… well…”

This wasn’t working.

At this rate, they’d just keep having this conversation in front of the café forever.

“Anyway, we’re doing it at my place, so just follow me quietly…!”

Pulling her cap down firmly, Jiyoon turned and headed home.

“W-wait a sec.”

“Why?”

“Just in case. Hold on.”

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

After entering the passcode (making sure Woojin couldn’t see), Jiyoon checked the shoes in the entryway first.

Only two pairs of cute slippers sat neatly on the shoe rack.

Good. Sis isn’t home.

“…Come in.”

“Pardon the intrusion.”

“D-don’t say unnecessary stuff. It’s not like anyone’s home besides you and me.”

A house with just the two of them.

Breaking from her usual routine, Jiyoon didn’t head straight to her room but turned sideways instead.

While Woojin took off his shoes, she peeked into her sister’s room.

Even now, it was a mess.

A black polka-dot pajama top carelessly tossed over the bed,

underwear sticking out of a half-open drawer,

a blanket haphazardly shoved into a corner instead of being folded,

and assorted prize-machine plushies scattered across the floor.

She’s diligent with housework, so why doesn’t she clean her own room?

Is it like how chefs don’t want to cook at home? That kind of laziness?

If Woojin sees her room like this, he might be disappointed… I should tidy up a bit.

After hanging her cap on the doorknob, Jiyoon started roughly folding the crumpled blanket.

“What are you doing?”

“My sister overslept today, so her room’s a mess. I’m cleaning up for her.”

“…I get that, but why now?”

“You’re the one who asked me to help you practice.”

Once she finished folding the blanket, she turned to face Woojin.

“Okay. …Go ahead.”

With her hands shoved deep into her khaki jacket pockets,

as if daring him to try,

as if she wasn’t nervous at all,

…yet unable to hide the slight tremble in her voice.

“Here?”

“Yeah. Hurry up.”

“But this is Hayoon’s room.”

“I’m playing my sister right now, so of course we should practice here.”

“…….”

“If it gets too much, I’ll tell you to stop. You’ll know your own limits.”

“…You’re serious?”

“Not doing it? Oh, can’t you?”

Ugh. Coward.

I knew it.

Then again, if he’d just gone for it with her sister, they wouldn’t need this practice in the first place.

At least she wasn’t the only one nervous.

Still gripping his wrist, Jiyoon spoke again.

“……Here. Grab me like this and push me down. It’s not that hard, right?”

She placed his hand on her slender wrist—

ready for him to grip it tight and force her onto the bed.

Can he feel my pulse racing?

But judging by Woojin’s thoughtful expression, he hadn’t noticed.

“I’ll stay relaxed, so just try it.”

“…You’re really okay with this?”

“You’re the one who wanted to.”

“No, I mean, here? Not your room, but Hayoon’s?”

“Yeah. I’ll do my best to act like her… …Oh, wait.”

Right. If I’m going to act like her, I should go all the way.

After glancing around, Jiyoon spotted a hair tie holder on the dresser and pulled out a black elastic.

Her hair wasn’t as long as her sister’s, but she could at least tie it up…

“Okay. Do I look more like her now?”

She pulled her snow-white hair into a ponytail and gave Woojin an awkward smile.

…Like in those videos—

the ones she absolutely, definitely, definitely didn’t watch often,

just sometimes.

Really sometimes.

Pretending to be her sister.

In front of her sister’s boyfriend.

Behind her sister’s back.