Chapter 15

I calmed down and thought about how much she knew.

If Hwa-yeon had told me everything from the start, I would have had to take her pocket money and remind her of how important it is to be loyal to your family.

"After all, I'm only sending 50,000 won"

As I frowned, Geumbi's sister, who was sitting next to me, pursed her lips.

I smiled as much as I could and asked.

"It's okay, tell me. What did Hwa-yeon... I mean, what did my sister say?"

"Well, she didn't say anything. I was washing my hands and feet when I came back and she was brushing her teeth next to me, so I said something."

"Yes, and?"

"She was a bit upset with me, so I asked her if she had anything to say, and she said it was nothing."

"Yes, and?"

"He looked even more suspicious, so I grabbed him and questioned him, and he told me to ask you for details and to tell my daughter to moderate her behaviour."

"Is that all?"

"Well, yes. So, of course, I thought that Hwa-yeon had caught you while you were beating her? Didn't I?"

After hearing the story, I wasn't too sure that I wanted to get angry straight away.

As I thought, Hwa-yeon was to blame, but that doesn't mean he broke all his promises.

"Firstly, you didn't tell me about the peek in the bath. ...Of course it was an accident, not a peek.

I was obviously bribing her to keep quiet about the spanking, but I didn't check how well she reacted.

I don't think it would be a good idea to go into it, and I would only embarrass myself.It's ambiguous, isn't it?

I thought about whether my brother was being cruel or just smart, but I couldn't tell.

But the truth is, my honour was being destroyed right in front of me, and as I thought about it, Goldie consoled me with a wistful look.

"You know what, Terra? I understand, you've got a lot on your plate too. A man can't help it, right?"

"No, it's not like that... but... ugh."

"OK, OK, you can do it. I understand everything, so don't be embarrassed. OK?"

This made me feel even more ashamed.

But I couldn't deny that he was making me feel better.

The accident happened because of everything that had been building up.

'I know it's because I didn't call my sisters, but I don't want to use that as an excuse... again.It's too bad.

I felt very embarrassed.

If I said any more, I'd be in a cave, not a hole in the wall, and I wouldn't be able to hide my shame.

So I'd like you to stop talking too.

And why do you keep looking at me like that?And why does your hand keep wrapping around the back of my hand?

"Earth, you know... Ugh."

"Goldie, I'm fine, you don't have to comfort me anymore."

"No, it's not that... I just want you to tell me how you got caught, if you can."

"Huh?"

"No, no, I don't mean anything weird.Normally, you'd take care of things like this in your room, but I'd like to know why Hua Yan caught you... so I can be more careful next time."

Geum-bi, are you an MBTI T-type?

She was unusually consoling, but as soon as she felt a little better, she got straight to the heart of the matter.

"Yes, that's your personality. You're like my second sister now, yes.

I'd rather she kept embarrassing me.

When she blushed and stuttered, I had to hurry back to my room.

"Look, you don't have to tell me if it's too embarrassing. I was just asking for a reference...".

She seemed to realise the question was embarrassing, and wiggled her fingers to suggest we change the subject.

The only problem was that her restless hand was on the back of my hand, and her hesitation was clear.

I could see that she was curious and brave.

"Haha... What do you want to know, how did you get caught, is that all you have to say?"

"Ugh. Terra, you can be as detailed as you like."

"To cut a long story short, I was beating my daughter in her room and didn't notice the fire."

"Oh, you were chasing your daughter... So what?"

"I finished and went to the loo to wash up, and then I bumped into you. End of story."

"Oh, yes. Oh my God, that must have been so embarrassing..."

Well said.

You're the one who made them tell you the embarrassing news.

"Besides, why should the listener be more embarrassed when you're the one who should be blushing and averting your eyes?

I looked at Geumbi, confused, not knowing what to say.

She didn't seem to notice my expression, shaking her head angrily every time she looked at me.

"Sister Goldie."

"Why, why, why, why... Earth?"

"If you've finished talking, can I leave?"

"Huh? Huh?"

"No, I'm really tired of confessing. I'm embarrassed and ashamed. I just want to run away."

"Oh, I see! No, of course you do. OK, I'm sorry I held you back...!"

What on earth was she thinking?

Goldie breathed heavily the whole time, and I stood up from my chair, taking a deep breath.

After reading the long newspaper, I was about to open the door and leave.

But then something touched my fingertips and I turned round to see Geum-Bi leaning over, reaching out and grabbing me.

"Sis?"

"You know, Terra, just in case, just in case."

"Huh? What?"

"You mean the thing you picked up today? It wasn't me or Crystal, was it?"

"Huh? What, what?"

"I'm not saying you had weird fantasies about us, I'm saying you wasted time because of us... and you couldn't sort it out in time, don't get me wrong!"

"Aaah, aaah, that's what you mean... ugh."

I was very confused by Geum-Bi's question, but luckily she quickly explained.

But it was still hard to answer even simple questions, and she was still looking at the floor and muttering.

"I'll try not to interrupt."

"...."

"I don't know what I can do, but I'll try to be careful, so don't worry too much, OK?"

I'm the one who's worried and panicked more than anyone else in the world.

With shaking fingers, she tried to make me feel better, her sister.

I don't trust words. It was a genuine gesture.

"What? Hmph, is it Earth?"

"Thank you. I'm very embarrassed, but you've made me feel stronger."

I turned around and knelt in front of her, holding her hands.

I looked down and saw her tomato-like face, but I smiled and thanked her, pretending not to notice.

"Your sisters' problems haven't taken up enough time to interfere with my work, but if they do, you'll be the first person I consult."

"Oh, me, me?"

"Yes. Can I count on you then, big sister?"

"Yes, of course... at any time... if you need anything, just let me know. I'll help you with anything!"

The first thing I heard when I entered the room was someone asking if I'd been caught.

Somehow, in the end, we both ended up rolling around in bed all night.

"Thanks, I'm glad to have you. I love you, Goldie."

"Ha?! Awww, ugh. I... I love you too, Terra."

I said the things I had been keeping secret, and I knew I would get this far anyway.

My face was now as red as my sister's, and I ran out of her room before I could blush.

"I'll see you tomorrow. It's early, but good night, sister!"

"You too. Good night... no, good night, Terra."

As I closed the door and caught my breath, I could finally think clearly.

Or, to put it another way, I couldn't remember what had just happened in front of me, or what I had done.

I'll think about it later, when I've calmed down.

I looked out of the window and saw that it was almost dark.

I went downstairs and into the bathroom to finish my shower. Even though I had been here many times before, this was the first time I had cleaned myself properly.

For some reason, my evening shower took longer than usual.

When I got back to my room, it was completely dark.

In the bedroom, the guest who arrived first was fast asleep.

* * *

"Eh? Sister Cristal?"

"Mmm."

When I finally returned to my room, she was the first to arrive and her eyes were closed.

I called out to her to see if she was asleep yet, but she didn't answer and the lights were off, so she must have been very tired.

I checked that I had left the bedside table on, and asked myself if she was worried about me.

I have a mobile phone flash, so I don't need to be attentive.

The bedside table is on top of the right drawer, so I'll sleep on the left if I have to.

Is it because I've always slept on the right?There's no reason for that...It doesn't matter.

She was tired, but she was very attentive, and I dragged the sofa over to her with a cold expression.

She didn't take very good care of herself, so I moved closer to put the blanket over her.

"What? What are you doing, have you been drinking?"

"Hmmm."

I thought it was because of her red cheeks and the fact that she was tossing and turning – she must have had a bad sleep.

I realised that she hadn't thrown the covers aside, but had kicked them off.The alcohol was making me feel hot.

"I didn't hear about the party. Did you drink a beer in the kitchen?"

I put my hand on my sister's cheek to check the temperature of her skin.

She didn't seem too drunk, I thought, and I finished making the bed.

"Put the duvet down, you're going to kick it anyway, and your phone is... put away.There's nothing else to worry about, right?"

I rolled up my tight sleeveless T-shirt, exposing a bit of my belly.

It was a hot day, so I was unlikely to catch a cold.

I told her I was wearing proper long trousers, not dolphin trousers, although they were still sticking to me.

After doing a few things on my phone, I lay down to try and get some sleep.

I leaned on my sister and some pillows, just in case, and switched off the light on the bedside table while I tried to fall asleep.

"Hmph, earthy..."

"Eca?! Nu, nuna, nunat?!"

I stretched over her to flick the switch on the bedside table next to her crystal.

She rolled over and I ended up on top of her, as if she'd had a bad night's sleep.

"Sis, you smell like booze. Let me go, sis".

"Mmmm, Terra... Hmph, hehe."

She wasn't just tossing and turning, she was muttering to herself in her sleep.

Somehow, I ended up on top of my crystal sister and tried to move away carefully so as not to wake her.

"Hey, is that Earth? Are you there? I forgot my phone in the bedroom, so I brought it... uh..."

"...!"

Stupidly.

I'd just said something about my phone flashing, but I must have left my phone in Geumbi's room.

"I didn't notice because I went straight to the toilet, damn it.

I looked at Kigigig, feeling annoyed.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Geum-Bi, with the door ajar, stiffening up and slowly starting to look at me.