episode_0166

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“…Does this even make sense?”

The truth was, Jiyoon had feelings for me.

The sudden thought—’Am I crazy? There’s no way’—sinks me into doubt, but then, as more and more situations seem to fit, I float back up with a ‘Could it be…?’

“Ugh…”

That day I first brought Woojin home, didn’t Jiyoon glare at him with extreme hostility?

Sure, it could’ve just been her worrying whether he was a decent guy since it was my first time dating someone, but…

Maybe it was jealousy?

And that kid who never even greeted me when I got home, always shutting her door to play games—why has she been popping out of her room so often lately?

Again, like Jiyoon said earlier, it could just be because she’s cut back on gaming, but…

Maybe it was jealousy?

Cleaning my room without being asked, even running the washing machine—something she’s never touched in her life?

The most likely explanation is that she’s finally matured at twenty, but…

Maybe she was trying to look good in front of me out of jealousy?

“…Ugh…”

No, no.

This doesn’t make sense from the start.

Jealousy? What jealousy?

Jiyoon and I are like sisters.

And we’re both girls—jealousy? Gross.

For a moment, I make a disgusted face at the mirror before picking up the toothbrush I’d dropped in the sink and resuming brushing.

This is just… that.

Forcing pieces to fit based on a few clues.

Because a random idea loosely matches here and there, my brain is desperately adding unnecessary details to make it fit.

Let’s think logically.

If Jiyoon had even a speck of those kinds of feelings for me, wouldn’t she have shown some signs before things got to this point?

Like using thunder as an excuse to sleep with me,

or my supposedly unworn underwear already being in the laundry basket.

You know, suspicious little things like that.

“That never happened. Nope.”

No matter how much I think about it, nothing like that ever happened.

Sure, some memories might’ve faded over the years, but something that unsettling would’ve stuck in my mind.

Finishing my train of thought, I let out a dumb laugh and kept brushing.

Everything I just thought was pure delusion.

Jiyoon is straight.

Just a straight girl who really likes gaming.

I don’t want to overthink and get tainted by weird ideas, so the “Lee Jiyoon Incest Lesbian Theory” ends here.

Blegh—I spit out the toothpaste-filled water, sigh deeply, and turn off the faucet.

“…”

…If that’s the case, the question remains: “Then what the hell caused Jiyoon’s recent changes?”

But whatever.

I’ll think about that later.

It’s not like I have to solve it—it’s just my curiosity anyway…

I rinse my mouth with bubbling mouthwash, clearing my tangled thoughts, then step out of the bathroom.

“…Eek…?!”

“…? Stop being weird and move. I need to brush my teeth.”

The moment I open the door, I see—

Jiyoon, arms crossed under her chest, waiting for the bathroom door to open.

Maybe she has weird feelings for me…!

But before that absurd thought can fully form,

Jiyoon stares at me with the same utterly pitiful look as always.

“…”

Definitely my delusion.

…Right?

Mmm.

Right.

It has to be.

“I said move. …Did you see a bug or something?”

“No, no. It’s just… you were right there, so I got startled.”

“…Whatever. Just get out of my way. I need to wash up and sleep.”

“Okay…”

There’s no way she likes me.

If she really liked me, she wouldn’t just be nice occasionally—she’d always be sweet.

…This is ridiculous.

“Sigh…”

After Jiyoon enters the bathroom, I exhale deeply and walk to my room.

I grab my fully charged phone and bag, then head straight to the front door.

For a second, I think, Should I just leave first like I used to? but…

“…”

…Instead of obsessing over weird thoughts,

it’s better to settle this now.

Instead of slipping into my sneakers,

I lean my temple against the wall and wait.

166

…Unnie’s acting weird.

“…”

“…”

Normally, by now, she’d be chattering nonstop—

My friend did this and that yesterday… as we leave the front door,

That tteokbokki place we went to last time… as we exit the lobby,

Ugh, today’s classes are gonna be rough… as we leave the alley,

Should I get a new part-time job…? while waiting for the light to change.

Her annoying words would pour out nonstop, giving me a headache.

…But today, unnie’s unusually quiet.

For a full five minutes after leaving the house, no less.

“…”

“…”

By now, she’d have told me at least twice to shut up.

Why is she acting so unlike herself?

No childish pranks, no pointless small talk…

Not that I dislike the silence.

Honestly, I wish she’d stay like this forever—not just now, but at home too.

Cutting out useless chatter and sticking to necessary conversations is more efficient anyway.

…But,

the fact that unnie, who usually clings to me like a country dog, is suddenly like this is unsettling.

What if…

Just what if she’s starting to suspect something about me and Seo Woojin’s secret relationship?

After watching her carefully, I cautiously break the silence when no one’s around.

“Unnie.”

“Eek…?!”

As casually as possible.

…Do you know something about me and Woojin?

I strip away any hint of that thought.

“Tired today?”

“…Tired? …No. Not really.”

“Yeah?”

“…Why do you ask?”

“No reason. You’ve just been unusually quiet today. Especially since we left.”

“…”

“Did I complain about you being loud too much?”

“No, no. It’s not that…”

“…Oh, are you being quiet for my sake?”

“…”

Acting like she knows nothing.

Just, as casually as possible.

Like usual.

Like a passing comment on our morning walk to school.

Not even making eye contact.

Just exchanging idle chatter while staring at our phones.

“Hey, Jiyoon. Um… ugh…”

“What?”

And unnie replies—

like this.

“There’s something I wanna ask you…”

“…Ask me?”

Something she wants to ask.

“It’s not for any weird reason, so don’t take it the wrong way. Okay?”

“So what is it?”

Not for any weird reason.

A strange question.

“Just answer yes or no, okay? I’m just a little curious.”

“…Sure.”

Not just curiosity.

Answer yes or no.

“…Hey, Jiyoon, do you…”

“…”

“…Wh-what do you watch when you masturbate…?”

“…”

A question that can’t be answered with just yes or no,

one I wouldn’t want to answer properly even if it could be,

delivered with an oddly determined expression.

“…Masturbate?”

“…Yeah.”

…I was sure she was going to bring up Seo Woojin—that’s why I was so nervous.

But this?

What the hell is this?

“Unnie, what kind of—”

“You know, like… genres…? Stuff like that.”

“Why the hell are you asking that…?”

“I-I told you! Just a little curious…”

“A little? Curious? …What kind of unnie asks her little sister about her preferences?”

“Well… sigh…”

My tone was a bit sharp, but it’s not like I have no idea where this is coming from.

A few days ago, after that one-sided call with Woojin left me frustrated, I did do something a little… questionable.

Unnie said my tastes were weird,

that Woojin wouldn’t be able to handle me,

that she wouldn’t understand, so I should take a look… or something like that.

Anyway, that was the gist.

Seems like the criticism about my tastes festered.

Then again, wanting “a slightly rougher time in bed” isn’t exactly some degenerate,

trash-human-tier preference—

it’s pretty normal, actually.

“Can’t you just tell me? Hmm? It’s not fair—you’ve seen what I like before…”

“Trying to dig up dirt on me?”

“What would I even use it for? I’m just curious!”

“You could’ve just whined about it being unfair that only I know… What the hell…”

“…So you’ll tell me?”

“Even if I did, what if I lied?”

“…I’ll snoop through your computer when you’re not home.”

“My search history doesn’t save. And I’m home all day—how would you even do that?”

“Like last time—say I’m going to the PC bang with Woojin or something.”

“…”

For a moment, the memory of that time makes me forget what I was about to say.

I consider whether I can use this somehow, but soon give up and step closer to unnie.

…How can I use this?

If I say NTR is my thing, it’s over.

If I hint that threesomes are my preference, it’s over.

Best to just let this slide like nothing happened.

Sure, Woojin might be hoping to mess around with both me and unnie,

but for me, that’s like slitting the belly of the golden goose and then stitching it back up.

If I get greedy and recklessly cut it open, only to find no more golden eggs…

What then?

“…Just normal stuff. One guy, one girl.”

“…”

“Not like unnie, getting pounded like she’s being raped—more romantic…”

“…Okay, okay, back off…! Stop whispering, it’s ticklish… Ugh…”

So I need to be careful.

Disinfectant.

Anesthetic.

Scalpel.

Sutures.

Gather everything I might need.

…Before unnie notices anything strange,

I’ll make sure the wound heals without a trace.

Carefully.

Thoroughly.