episode_0190

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On the way home.

…Under the umbrella.

Me.

Woojin, smiling softly.

And Ji-yoon, with a sullen expression.

The footsteps of the three of us leave faint traces on the wet pavement.

“I should’ve brought another umbrella. This one’s a bit small for three people.”

It’s fine. This is enough.

I grin back at Woojin and respond.

Not because I enjoy chatting casually like usual—

but for a slightly more mischievous reason.

“What did you buy? That green thing looks like a leek.”

“Ah, there’s leek. And, well… a bit of everything?”

“…”

“Onions. Radish. Cabbage. Stuff like that?”

“Yeah. The onions are right. And tofu… and…”

“…”

Leaving out Ji-yoon, who’s pouting beside us.

Right now, it’s just between me and him.

…As Woojin said,

it’s a warning not to dare crawl between us.

“…”

Since she’s his girlfriend, he could be a little more direct.

…But that’s just how he is.

He can’t be bold.

…Just, timidly.

190

Arriving home through the drizzling rain.

Coincidentally spotting a familiar face, I nod slightly.

“…Hello.”

“Ah, yes. Hello…”

Probably the guy who rents the same second-floor unit as us.

Either way, we don’t know each other’s names.

Don’t even know his family situation.

Just neighbors who exchange greetings when we bump into each other.

Nothing more.

“…Go on in.”

“Yes…”

How must we three look to him?

What could he possibly be thinking, eyeing us like that before stepping aside?

I pat my slightly flushed cheeks with the back of my hand as we climb the stairs.

Two familiar women.

And one unfamiliar man.

Most would assume we’re just friends, right?

Or maybe that he’s dating one of us…?

…But then again,

there are a lot of perverts among men.

Maybe, just maybe,

despite being sisters,

they’re sharing one man…?

…

Well,

could he have assumed something inappropriate like that…?

Then again, our place has been pretty noisy lately.

Ji-yoon was only quiet on the first day—after that, she’s been moaning like crazy.

And me too…

I’ve been,

really loud.

And the walls aren’t exactly soundproof…

…

Wait, do I look like a total pervert to him…?

“G-give me the umbrella. I’ll leave it open here to dry.”

…That guy earlier.

He had this fascinated look, so he was probably on his second or third assumption.

And since it’s not even a wild fantasy but uncomfortably close to the truth, shame burns through me.

Trying to cool my scorching cheeks and ears,

I take the umbrella from Woojin, spread it open in the hallway, and step inside, closing the front door behind me.

What greets me is—

“…Hey. Let go. We should put things away.”

“…”

Ji-yoon, who hasn’t even closed the door,

hugging Woojin from behind and nuzzling her face against him.

For a second, I wonder if I should hug him from the front and kiss him too…

A childish jealousy flares up,

but I suppress it.

Like an older sister should.

Like a noona should.

I pinch Ji-yoon’s elbow—not that it hurts, just leaves a sensation—and head to the living room.

But even after that, Ji-yoon stays glued to Woojin, arms wrapped tight.

Not that I didn’t expect this.

I get that he’s her first boyfriend, but isn’t she too clingy?

No, wait—he’s my boyfriend first. Isn’t she being too affectionate with someone else’s man?

Is this my fault for pitying her and letting her have him for two weeks?

Well…

…I did agree to it.

Hmm.

“…Noona’s watching, Ji-yoon.”

“…”

“Cut it out and let go. Okay?”

“…”

Honestly, I think she’s doing it because I’m watching.

If I say anything, she’ll just cling harder.

Swallowing the thought, I glance up and meet Woojin’s awkward gaze.

His lips part like he wants to say something,

but he just smiles reassuringly at me instead.

…Woojin, who looks far more mature than Ji-yoon right now.

“…Woojin, hand me that bag.”

“Wait… here.”

Taking the bag from him, I ignore the two fumbling nearby and start organizing the fridge.

Well, “stocking” it would be more accurate.

…Actually,

stocking the fridge while keeping an ear on them.

“…Hey. Ji-yoon. It’s hot. Get off a little.”

“…”

“…I said let go.”

“…”

“Sigh… why are you like this today?”

“…”

“…Stop pressing your chest against me and just—let go. It’s stuffy.”

“…”

“Ugh, seriously…”

Woojin’s low voice beside me.

Ji-yoon’s silent except for the sound of her feet shuffling.

The muffled noises drift past me,

further back,

until they reach the corner of the living room.

Then, rustling.

Ziiip—

The sound of a zipper mixed in.

“…”

I glance back, worried, but thankfully it’s not what I thought.

Just Ji-yoon unzipping Woojin’s crossbody bag.

She rummages through it like a cat, Woojin trying to stop her, their tussling lasting a moment.

Easily winning from her ambush, Ji-yoon pulls out a familiar item.

Namely,

a square condom box.

…The one he promised me he’d use,

but never did.

She shakes it at me like she’s showing off.

“…Put it away. Noona’s still organizing the fridge.”

“…”

“We’ll do it later.”

Amusingly,

Woojin soon snatches the condom back.

Like a cat whose treat got taken away,

Ji-yoon makes a face I’ve never seen before.

…Kinda cute.

“…”

“…”

…Good?

Weirdos.

The two whisper something in the distance.

Eventually freed from Ji-yoon’s grip, Woojin crouches beside me.

“Noona, should I just put all these in the vegetable drawer?”

“…I’ll do it. You rest.”

“It’ll go faster if we do it together.”

“…”

“Let’s see… Should I put the meat in the fridge? We’ll probably eat it soon anyway.”

“…Yeah.”

“And then… ah.”

“Oops…”

“…”

Even after Ji-yoon kicks him and stomps off to her room alone,

he doesn’t get mad—just meets my eyes and grins.

Taking advantage of Ji-yoon’s absence, he strokes my hair.

You’re not treating me like a noona again…, I grumble in my head,

but he ignores it.

You’re gonna keep treating me like a little sister…? I grumble again,

but he ignores that too.

Until I finally give in and let him pet me.

And then, as if that’s not enough, I tilt my head, asking for more.

He obliges, teasingly.

If the first day’s hour were a metaphor, it’d be worry.

The second day’s hour, noise.

The third day’s hour, annoyance.

All negative words.

But the fourth day’s hour—

could be described with something a little more positive.

– Ngh…! H-hah…?! Nngh…? …….

Anticipation.

Once this hour is over,

from evening to night.

To dawn.

…Until I collapse from exhaustion and sleep.

Then wake up rubbing my eyes,

bodies tangled sweetly.

Lunch.

And then, as the sun lazily sets in the afternoon—

it’ll all be my time.

While Ji-yoon,

has no choice but to listen.

Anticipation.

– Nngh…! No, nooo…!

Maybe because of the petty revenge at the store.

Or because she lost to Woojin earlier.

From behind Ji-yoon’s door, sounds far more shameless than before leak out…

…But it’s fine.

Now, it just sounds like a cornered cat puffing up its fur.

Well, not 100%.

More like 60%.

– Hah… Ha, ngh… ……Hic…

No male groans—just Ji-yoon’s moans from behind the door.

Lingering nearby, I flee to my room when the thump, thump of sex quiets down.

Woojin said he’d make sure she couldn’t crawl over anymore, right?

If I get caught eavesdropping on them…

…it’d be pretty pathetic.

Whether it’s Woojin or Ji-yoon,

I should act like the mature one in front of them.

Mhm.

“…”

Click— The distant sound of a door opening.

Followed by footsteps.

The glug-glug of water being poured.

The gulp-gulp of someone chugging.

The clink of a cup set in the sink.

And then.

…Knock-knock-knock.

On my door.

I open it slightly, pull Woojin inside,

and—

so no one outside can eavesdrop,

but also can’t enter—

lock it.

…And as for the condom soaked in someone else’s fluids,

so no one can even think of using it for solo play—

without a second thought,

I cram it deep into my trash can.

Thud.

Lying on the bed, breathing heavily.

After calming down, heading to the shower to wash off the sweat.

Returning to my room 30 minutes later, still dripping.

Bzzzt— Turning on my PC with the noisy dryer.

Game booted up, wearing pajamas haphazardly.

Trying to play like usual, but my hands won’t cooperate—so I quit.

Clicking through game forums, then taking off my noise-canceling headphones.

…The sounds from the living room are too lewd, so I put them back on.

Trying a ridiculous one-ear-on, one-ear-off setup.

Sighing as I replay Woojin’s words from earlier.

Sliding down my chair into the worst possible posture for my back.

Blankly staring at the ceiling, the walls, the corners.

Killing time.

“…”

The feeling watching Woojin and my sister talk so sweetly under the umbrella.

The feeling when he whispered, “It’s just an act for Noona,” before hugging me tightly from behind.

The feeling after pulling out the condom, only to be scolded in hushed tones.

The feeling after finishing sex that, unlike usual, was just about filling three condoms.

The feeling now, listening to the moans from my sister’s room.

I could just cover my ears with the headphones,

but I keep the door slightly ajar anyway…

…The reason.

And at the same time,

this emotion pressing down on my chest.

Trying to find the right word for it, I creak, creak, torment my poor chair instead.

“…”

What is this?

I really,

don’t know.