episode_0579

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To summarize the conversation with Da-bin sunbae, it roughly felt like this:

She already knew everything Lee Ha-yoon knew—surprisingly, she’s taking it rather calmly. She was just drunk back then, but now she’s extremely embarrassed. Still, she has no intention of taking back what she already blurted out.

To put it even more simply, it boiled down to: “She’s determined to get seduced by Seo Woo-jin.”

Listening to Da-bin sunbae’s story, it seemed like she had been holding back her feelings for Woo-jin for a while now, trying not to show them…

And now that she’s gotten this unexpected opportunity, she wants to take advantage of it—that’s probably the most accurate way to describe it.

Honestly, I didn’t feel great about it.

Not that it was the worst thing ever, but it was like a scale tipping slightly toward the bad side.

I mean, how could I?

She’s trying to take what’s mine—isn’t that exactly what I’ve been doing to Ha-yoon?

Of course, I’m well aware of the hypocrisy, but what can I do?

People are just like this.

It’s only fun when you’re the one doing it—being on the receiving end isn’t my taste.

But does that mean I can refuse sunbae’s request…?

No matter how positively I try to spin it, that’s just not an option.

Like I said earlier, Da-bin sunbae’s attitude is subtly firm.

And she’s treated me well so far, maybe because I’m her friend’s younger sister.

There’s also one more thing.

“…….”

That idiot—she’d definitely—

Her face.

And her body.

My eyes would inevitably drift toward them.

Even if I said no,

somewhere out of my sight,

she’d probably just do it anyway.

If that’s the case, then…

Might as well…

….

….

579

“How did it go?”

“How did it go? …We just talked a bit with Ji-yoon and that was it.”

“I mean, what kind of ‘talk’ was it? I want to hear how you two reached your conclusion.”

“…Just, …well. ……We’re going with it.”

“That’s good.”

“…….”

Maybe because the weather was so cold.

The playground corner, where children should’ve been but were nowhere to be seen, only drew the occasional glance from passing migratory birds.

Seol Da-bin and I sat on a small swing, exchanging brief words.

Since I had told Ha-yoon and Ji-yoon I was just running to the convenience store, we didn’t have much time for small talk.

Given the circumstances, I skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point, but the answer I got back was more lackluster than expected.

Still, the content itself wasn’t bad.

Even though I had a feeling it would work out, there was never a 100% guarantee.

For all I knew, Ji-yoon could’ve outright rejected the idea.

Well, if her reaction that night had been bad, I would’ve adjusted the plan.

At any rate, the first hurdle—”Ji-yoon’s permission”—had been cleared.

The first button was fastened, so as long as we kept it up from here, things should be fine.

Lost in thought, I tilted the swing slightly.

Pulling up my jacket zipper, I continued.

“But is that really it?”

“…That’s it?”

“That can’t be all. Did you at least decide when we’d meet later, or anything like that?”

“We didn’t really set anything… Like I said, we just talked a bit and that was it.”

“So it really was just a few words, huh.”

“We met in the morning and talked for like… 3 minutes…? 5…?”

“3 minutes….”

I wasn’t expecting them to talk about it all day, but I thought they’d at least go longer than 3 minutes. That part was a bit surprising.

But then again, having your private life exposed isn’t exactly a pleasant experience. It seems they just touched on the key points and left it at that.

Considering the way Ji-yoon usually talks to me or Ha-yoon, this approach actually suits her.

Of course, she puts on a bit of a mask around others… Anyway.

So, permission was granted, but nothing concrete was decided yet.

As I was lost in thought, Seol Da-bin’s voice came from beside me.

“…So, what do we do now?”

A question with an obvious answer.

“Simply put, we just need to show Ji-yoon us being close every now and then.”

“…….”

“The first button’s in place, so all we have to do is let this lifestyle blend into Ji-yoon’s life until she gets used to it… Well….”

It’s not hard.

As long as we don’t suddenly get caught by Ha-yoon, it should be fine.

At most, two weeks… Though honestly, she’ll probably get used to it in just a few days.

After that, we just prepare to come clean to her friend like Da-bin sunbae wants, and that’s it.

“We should get going. Be careful on your way back. The paths are a bit slippery from the rain the other day.”

After finishing the conversation, I got off the swing and stood firmly on the ground.

Even though I only heard a brief summary of today’s events, the short exchange took longer than expected.

The rubber playground floor, which had been dyed in sunset hues just moments ago, was now shadowed and dark.

At this point… Saying I went to another convenience store because the first one didn’t have what I wanted should be a believable enough excuse.

Just as I was about to hurry off with that flimsy excuse in mind—

Seol Da-bin approached me again with another question.

“…Before you go, there’s one thing we haven’t decided yet.”

“Undecided thing?”

“You’re the one who brought it up first—don’t tell me you forgot?”

Something I asked first… Oh. That thing from earlier.

Was “showing Ji-yoon us being close every now and then” too abstract?

I meant it literally—just making it noticeable enough to register.

But it seems Da-bin sunbae wants a clearer frequency, so I laid out a basic framework.

“Then let’s do it tomorrow when I pick Ji-yoon up.”

“…Isn’t tomorrow a bit too soon?”

“It’ll be fine. Didn’t you say you already finished all the talking in front of Ji-yoon?”

“Well, yeah, but… Hmm…….”

“…….”

“…Alright. Tomorrow. When you come to pick up Ji-yoon.”

…Should I call it a relief?

After Da-bin sunbae found out about our “private life,” there were no noticeable changes.

No—it’s not that there were no changes. Honestly, it just felt exactly the same as usual.

In the morning, I’d briefly meet sunbae at the office.

We’d each trail after our seniors in the industry.

Take breaks when there was no work.

Meet up among the crowd around lunchtime.

When the director called me over, he suggested Da-bin sunbae and I go film some weird commercial together…

The only thing that changed was my inner thoughts.

And it seemed the same for everyone else watching from the sidelines.

“Sorry, but… could I get the number of that tall sunbae you’re close with…?”

“…Wouldn’t it be easier to ask her directly?”

Office Worker 1—a face I vaguely recognized but whose name I couldn’t recall.

A fairly built but otherwise unremarkable guy had just finished training and came up to me to ask for Da-bin sunbae’s number.

The idea of trying to get her number through me was ridiculous, but whatever.

No one would make this kind of request to someone they weren’t even close with.

Which must mean I still look like I’m on good terms with sunbae.

And it’s true—we only talked a bit about Woo-jin, and it wasn’t even an argument, just a very civil conversation.

I don’t have any strong negative feelings toward her either.

…Well, I’m a little annoyed, but not that much.

If anything, I’m more worried.

Like, if I just lift my head slightly, I’ll see Da-bin sunbae’s face.

Or the curves of her body, which are still pretty obvious even under her thick coat.

That idiot—who first messed with her girlfriend’s little sister and now is trying to get with another man’s woman—is definitely going to lose her mind.

“Ah, well, I don’t have the courage to ask for her number directly…”

“Courage… Sigh… Also, she has a boyfriend. A childhood friend, at that.”

“O-oh, sorry. I didn’t know she had a boyfriend.”

“So just go. I’ll keep what just happened a secret.”

“Thank you….”

And with so many guys eyeing Da-bin sunbae, Woo-jin wouldn’t be any different.

The conversation went off track for a bit, but for these reasons, I thought everything was just like usual.

Monday, then Tuesday.

Only two days had passed since that incident on Saturday night, but I couldn’t spot anything different.

Or so I thought.

A little more time passed, and by Tuesday evening—

When training ended and it was time to head home, I noticed a few small things.

“Hello.”

“…Ah, Woo-jin… …Seo Woo-jin-ssi.”

“Why are you so late today? …You’re usually on time.”

“Noona finished early today, so I stopped by somewhere else first.”

“…You didn’t mention that in the group chat.”

“It wasn’t something worth bringing up there.”

“…Right. Well. Last time, you and I were late because we were making out outside. So today, you must’ve been too busy licking Noona somewhere to come on time.”

“Hey. Sunbae’s right here…”

“So what? She already knows everything. …And we’re gonna have sex soon anyway.”

The fact that Da-bin sunbae was listening—

Somehow, it only stimulated me further.

Like I was trying to show off.

Without realizing it, I was spouting this vulgar nonsense.

And then there was one more thing.

“Um, I have something to say too…”

“Ah, yes. Go ahead.”

“Well…….”

From Da-bin sunbae’s side.

“About what Ji-yoon just said…”

“…….”

“…The promise we made about having sex.”

“…….”

“I was thinking… since we have a little time today…”

The sunbae who never talked about anything lewd.

The sunbae I thought was tough-looking but kind inside.

The sunbae who seemed so much more mature than my sister.

The sunbae who, yesterday, was so embarrassed after sobering up that she stumbled over her words.

Now, with her ears burning red above her cozy scarf—

She was bringing up that kind of topic.

Looking at this, I realized—more things had changed overnight than I thought.

“…Why are you looking at me like that? …Do it. You promised sunbae you’d keep it a secret.”

“Sigh… Then, after we drop Ji-yoon off at home… would my place be okay?”

“…I don’t care. I’m fine with it.”

Who would even think of her as just a girlfriend’s little sister or a girlfriend’s friend now?

…Like that Office Worker 1 from earlier.

Sex Partner 1.

Sex Partner 2.

That’s more like it.