episode_0061

Episode 60: Noona. I have a girlfriend.

It was truly a lively day.

Every time the end of work approached, a smile would form on my face.

The sticky sensation unique to a massage came to mind.

Han Seyeon squeezed into the familiar subway.

It was just another ordinary day.

Appropriate work intensity and good people.

If asked if there were any frowns, that would be a lie.

At least it was different from the days spent with a dry expression.

It was a happy day.

I hoped it would continue like this.

Such a hopeful and fulfilling day.

“Noona, come in.”

“I’m back.”

Upon entering the house,

I took a shower while my younger brother prepared dinner.

It was the same routine as usual, but instinctively I realized something was off.

Setting the table, arranging the utensils,

As Han Seyeon dried her hair and sat down,

Her younger brother setting the table looked oddly unfamiliar.

Why, was something missing?

It’s hard to put into words, a feeling of discomfort.

Some call it instinct,

Some call it the subconscious.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, it’s nothing…”

Instinct was another word for a warning.

An algorithm humanity has acquired over time.

Han Seyeon threw out a question she would regret once again.

“Tell me. You seem worried.”

“Well, you see… I…”

The rice grain that was being stirred absentmindedly started to clump together.

Anxiety crept up from deep within her heart.

As the darkness approached reality.

“I have a girlfriend.”

“…What?”

Her world crumbled.

Her gaping mouth didn’t know how to close.

Her wandering eyes couldn’t even focus properly.

She looked at her one and only younger brother.

Feeling as if her head had been struck by reality she couldn’t believe.

How was her heart?

The heavy feeling in her chest started to tingle.

“A g-g-girlfriend.”

“Yeah. Her name is Jung Ayeong… from the other day.”

“Oh, I see. T-that’s how it is. Jung Ayeong…”

“When noona comes to pick me up…”

“Haha, I know. Yeah, I know…”

Han Seyeon grumbled.

Her malfunctioning mouth was so incoherent that she didn’t know what she was saying.

Her confused mind appealed for dizziness.

The darkness that had sunk deep into her heart crushed her.

It prevented her from saying what she should as a sister.

But she had to.

As a sister, she had to congratulate him.

Her forced lips twisted bitterly.

The naturally flowing breath sounded like a mockery.

“How did you end up dating?”

“Um…”

A sense of unease kept squeezing her heart.

It was jealousy.

No matter how rational she tried to be, he was still her younger brother.

As much as she cherished and loved him.

The sense of betrayal that came was beyond imagination.

Even.

[Sob, sniff, No, noona…]

Just a few days ago,

Didn’t he not even look for himself when he masturbated?

Her head grew cold.

She didn’t know what the situation was.

She felt like she might make a mistake if she wasn’t careful.

Should she run away?

Should she go outside pretending she had a phone call?

And then what?

She didn’t know. She was just dizzy.

Han Seyeon’s actions ultimately led to her keeping her mouth shut.

Since there was no response yet,

Regulating her breathing to calm her confused mind was the best option.

Then.

Han Seyin’s response came.

“Ayeong confessed.”

“So… did you accept?”

“…Yeah.”

A sense of unease.

A misconception that her heartbeats were resounding loudly.

The bitter pain pierced her heart.

Naturally, memories resurfaced.

Unfortunate family circumstances and distorted emotions.

The love that was not received properly went to a strange place.

Before looking for someone else.

Just looking at Han Seyeon was enough to see that.

He wasn’t like many other guys.

He wasn’t a classmate who had confessed to her.

She was in love with her one and only, adorable younger brother.

“Hah, haa… I-Is this your first time?”

“Yeah. That’s right… my first girlfriend.”

Her pounding heart kept itching.

Even though she tried to force a smile, it didn’t work well.

She tried to let out some trivial stories.

But she didn’t know how that would look to her brother.

“It’s interesting. Did you have feelings for her too?”

In the end.

She even let slip words that could be considered a mistake.

Doubting her brother’s feelings.

It was something she shouldn’t have said as an older sister.

However.

Han Seyeon didn’t have the luxury to worry about that.

She was barely holding back the urge to run away right now.

However.

The pain began to dissipate unexpectedly.

“Ah, um…”

“….”

The words dragged on.

Her brother’s answer didn’t come out properly.

He just maintained a vague attitude.

It was strange.

Wasn’t it obvious?

They weren’t a couple who had been together for ten years.

They had just started dating today.

Why was the answer about love so vague?

“I… I don’t know.”

“W-What…?”

“No, I mean… um…”

It was strange.

Even though Han Seyeon had no interest in dating and lived in reality.

She had basic common sense and understanding of relationships.

Was that the way a man who loves a woman should answer?

No, it wasn’t.

In fact, the answer that came out of her brother’s mouth was vague.

“Since this is my first relationship, I don’t really know. If it’s good, then it’s good… Is this love?”

“Ah…”

A sigh escaped from Han Seyeon’s lips.

Love.

The moment her brother mentioned love.

A woman was reflected in his eyes, shining like obsidian.

Negative emotions dispersed.

In the midst of distorted psychology, instinct, and confusing emotions.

Her rationality began to piece together the puzzle.

Her shy and introverted younger brother.

Although she didn’t know much about his school life.

Based on his life so far, he was a student with no friends.

It was natural.

He didn’t grow up in a normal family.

There might be many people who grew up well despite adversity.

But at least Han Seyeon’s family wasn’t like that.

If.

No, it’s not an if.

In fact…

If her younger brother also.

Had the same feelings for her?

If Han Seyeon wasn’t the only one who liked the other.

If Han Seyeon was also liked by her younger brother?

It wasn’t an unattainable love.

To realize that fact.

Han Seyeon’s heart began to beat with a different rhythm.

Not a pain like being pricked by thorns.

But a heart-pounding excitement filled with happiness.

“Well… if it’s your first time, it’s understandable.”

“Is that so?”

Her lips twitched.

Every time she saw her brother’s hesitant appearance.

Every time she lacked confidence in love.

A subtle emotion rose within her.

“Well, but one thing’s for sure.”

“Yeah yeah.”

A gaze of 100% trust.

The only protector and family she had been with all this time.

Although there were some unpleasant moments and they only recently became close.

It was a gaze that completely trusted his older sister.

That’s why.

Han Seyeon, who even her brother couldn’t suspect.

Contained the sticky emotions that settled in her heart.

“If you don’t like her, don’t do it. If you don’t think you love her, break up right away.”

“…I got it.”

“If she keeps bothering you, tell me. I’ll help with anything.”

“Yeah! Thank you, sis. Really.”

Under the words of gratitude.

She saw regret in the eyes that were cast down towards the table.

It was a look of concern that she would normally have.

However, Han Seyeon knew that gaze better than anyone.

So she began to nurture the emotions in her heart even more.

To the point of momentarily forgetting moral concepts.

Her fluctuating emotions were unpredictable.

“Let’s eat.”

“Yes.”

It was a happy day.

At the same time, it was an unhappy day.

It was a harmonious family.

It was a family that could fall into hardship.

Who knows what the future holds.

Han Seyeon was nurturing emotions even she herself was not aware of.

“Nowadays, my wrist condition has improved.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah. It seems like the massage helped.”

“Want me to do it for you?!”

“I’ll ask you.”

“Okay, okay.”

A natural smile formed.

Guilt was momentarily forgotten.

The emotions that fluctuated during the evening were profound.

It was love.

Unfortunately.

Time flies quickly.

From Wednesday to Friday.

Two days passed quickly.

Friday lunchtime, which Jung Ayeong feared the most and Kang Hyeon looked forward to, arrived.

This was just before club time, and for Jung Ayeong, it was the most anxious time as she recalled last week.

“Se, Sein. Let’s go to the store during break time.”

“When it changes from 5th period to 6th period?”

“Yeah. Anytime is fine. Let’s definitely go.”

“I’m not sure…”

The more lukewarm Han Sein’s response was, the more eager Jung Ayeong became.

It was a natural phenomenon in a way.

Did she expect Kang Hyeon to give some command and get a definite answer?

Even more so, Jung Ayeong was on the verge of going crazy.

Her boyfriend going to the blonde-haired Kang Hyeon…

Not knowing what would happen, she was on the brink of madness.

“Huh? It’ll only take 10 minutes….”

“Okay. I’ll make time once. See you later then?”

Jung Ayeong pleaded desperately.

If she went a little further, she would have kneeled down to the ground.

Did he realize that fact?

In the end, Han Sein nodded.

And so, the club time that everyone longed for arrived.