Chapter 20

I didn't realise I'd fallen asleep until the morning.

I turned over and looked for the clock on the bedside table, but I couldn't find it.

"Oh no, I'm not in my room."

I realised I was lying in Geumbi's room.

I pulled back the covers and looked around, and it was quiet, as if she and everyone else on the second floor had gone out.

"What time is it... Ugh, it's nearly lunchtime."

Even though she wasn't a student and didn't go to school, this was a bit much.

I hadn't realised how much I'd fallen in just a few weeks, even though I usually woke up at 7am.

"If you're awake, I'll wake you up... not. Maybe it's best we don't see each other today."

He went downstairs to the living room and checked that no one was home.

When she looked around the empty house, she felt relieved and went into the bathroom, where she ran warm water over her head to clear her thoughts.

"Yesterday was... so... crazy. I was completely out of my mind.

Looking back, I remember a series of even more bizarre scenes.

Especially the one that took place in the middle of the night on the living room sofa, in the direction of my sister-in-law... kwaang.I hit my forehead on the bathroom wall while showering.

"She's really gone back, no matter how stacked she is, how could she... ugh."

I even lost two feet that day.

I couldn't understand why I had an erection again in less than a day... or if she let it go again, no matter how hard I tried.

"Let's forget it. Forget about it and pretend it never happened. Yes."

I crouched on the floor, letting the water from the shower hit me.

I didn't even have the energy to use shampoo, so I just rinsed myself with water and staggered out of the changing room.

"Goldie said yesterday was just a day, so that's it... yeah.

My vision was blurred, but my body was familiar with the routine of messing up my hair, drying myself and taking off new clothes.

This is my normal routine and I have been acting normally since the day. So it is no surprise that at night it is no different.

I had to do this, I had to do that.

Maybe I'll go to the gym and have more energy now that I don't have such a busy schedule.

I didn't really want to think about why this was happening, but I knew that if I left it alone, things would get worse.

I put the blame on my body, so I switched on Instagram and looked for a gym with an event nearby.

I thought, "Why do you bother advertising when you're in bed, but when you're looking for something, you can't find anything?"

I bookmarked and searched, but most of the places I found were just a bunch of names.

Why are restaurants and coffee shops being listed as fitness places?

"Damn algorithms. I'd rather browse blogs... wouldn't you?"

I'm scrolling through my feed, drinking a cereal shake instead of breakfast.

A familiar face stopped me and I scrolled through the post.

"I haven't exercised in a while, so I'm going to start with a brisk walk. I found a good walk."

She washed and dried her empty glass.

I quickly got ready for the day and headed out the door with a less dry glass.

I didn't put anything in it.

Wherever I went, there was someone waiting to fill it.

* * *

-clink~.

"Welcome home, eh?!"

After walking for about 30 minutes, I arrived at a local coffee shop a short distance away.

Luckily, I opened the door when I heard the bell and the person behind the counter greeted me.

"Can I help you with something to eat or drink?"

"Yes, what are you doing here?"

"Oh, you're here as a customer. My brother, you're not being very nice to the staff."

The employee who blushed when she saw me enter the café was called Yang Hwa-yeon.

She was the fourth daughter in our family, a pretty little girl who was always adored for her complaining.

She was so pretty that she could throw away 100,000 won in pocket money with a single word.

"How did you know about this place... I didn't tell anyone."

"He turned up at the farewell. You got a lot of likes on the algorithm and they said you were a part-time student goddess~?"

"Don't be weird, I didn't get any comments."

"Hmph, you must be checking every comment, because I've seen all the replies."

"No, it's just to promote the cafeteria... I only do it when I'm working."

"I see. People are just saying that to be nice, but the comments are all nice."

"I like the atmosphere of the café. It's noisy, you have to choose a menu, hurry!"

When I complimented my sister, who was working hard at her part-time job, she became embarrassed and sulked.

Her flushed cheeks and nervous glances were funny, and her simple clothes and hair tied up in a single ponytail were even funnier because they didn't match her attitude.

You've lost your hair colour.You want to dye your hair, but you're fine on your own.

I was a little embarrassed, but I was also happy to have my natural reddish-brown hair.

I couldn't help but laugh when I thought about how much effort and money I'd spent to get that look.

Luckily, I didn't have any clients waiting for me at the time.

I decided to play with him some more.

"Do you have any recommendations? Does Hwa-yeon make the food herself?"

"No, we have a chef in the back."

"Great. We were about to spend our money."

"Hey, what are you talking about? I make a good cup of coffee... an Americano."

"How about a cappuccino or a caffè latte?"

"I'm learning, I just need to get used to adjusting the milk."

Aren't these two all about the milk?

In other words, they can't do it at all.

"I can't believe you're getting paid for this... Does the boss own a building or is volunteering your hobby?"

"Mr Lee, why are you here? Just order the food, Erin!"

"OK, OK, then I'll watch my brother work, do something you're good at."

"Give me your card. I'll pay first."

"I'll eat well, Hwayeon~."

"Hey, are you stealing your brother's hard-earned money?"

When I shrugged and didn't even bother to reach for my wallet, Hwayeon looked at me in exasperation.

But I have a lot to say, don't I, my beautiful little brother?

"Hwa-yeon told you, Geum-bi's sister?"

"What? I don't know what you mean."

"She told you everything. Are you taking her allowance without feeling bad about it?"

"You told her everything?""Ah, Ciyi, but I didn't tell anyone you were in the bathroom."

"Considering that, I'll only take half the money. You can deposit the amount back to 50,000 won or give me 10 free coffee vouchers."

"You're threatening my sister and you're going to pay for the same cafeteria menu?"

"I don't think it was you who threatened him first and then got money from him."

"Give me the glass. I'll pour you a whole handful."

Hwayeon chose the free voucher over the refund, even though she had lost the argument.

Well done, I'll stop by every time I go to the gym and make fun of him to relieve the stress.

"Don't spit in my coffee, I'm watching you."

"I don't spit. This is still my workplace and I don't do that."

"You mean you do it at home?"

"Sit down, I'll get it for you."

"I thought it said you were no good."

"Um, where does it say that?"

"In the person-by-person post."

"Oh, Cii... don't stare at me. It's embarrassing."

Hwayeon turned away stiffly, fiddled with the stuttering machine and sipped his coffee.

After a few weeks of practice, his skills at serving the Americano weren't too bad.

Maybe he can't drink milk, or maybe it's because he's been picky about food since he was a child and it's not something he likes, so he has trouble controlling his taste buds.

That might be why Hwayeon was quite thin compared to her older sisters, even though they had the same genes.

She was quite tall for a girl her age, but she was weak in other ways, so she should build muscle.

"What? Why are you looking at people's bodies?

"Nothing, nothing. Do you want to go to the gym with me sometime?"

"Eww, no way, why should I have to pay and work out?"

"Well, that's just how your body is."

"Body...? Ew! What are you looking at and talking about?"

"Huh? What are you thinking? You won't be able to stand for long because you don't have the muscles of your sisters. If I work in the cafeteria, I'll have to stand all the time."

"Well, it wasn't like that, it was definitely here, in your chest... you were looking at it, weren't you?"

"Well, I was looking up and down, so it must have been a bit of looking.I'm not really interested, don't get me wrong."

"Oh, I'm not interested. Why would you open someone's bathroom door?"

"Are you still saying that? I told you it was all a misunderstanding."

"Hmph, no explanation. Since you're so brazen, I've been trying to warn you."

"Warn her about what?"

"I told her to watch out for you. You've been acting strangely lately."

"When did you say that... Oh, you mean yesterday?"

Hua Yan went red, avoiding the question.

But her silence confirmed what she had said, and I remembered what she had said yesterday, astonished.

Geum-bi... Hwa-yeon said that this girl is my daughter, in a patronising way.Which one is right?

Did Hwa-yeon really think she was worried about him, and was Geum-bi just teasing him?

I think they had a fight for similar reasons last time, so what do they really think of each other?

"They're like cats and dogs. ...But more than that, I'm going to have to scold her.

I took a sip of my coffee and cleared my throat, hoping to silence my brother for spreading such ridiculous rumours.

"Whew! Kek, Kek, what is this, what did you put in it?"

"Syrup and lots of love for you. Why? You like sweets a lot."

"I don't like sweets. I like my coffee bitter."

"Oh really? I'm sorry, I had no idea."

"That's really... Haha, Yang Hua-yan, are you serious?"

"What? Hehe?"

It was awful to see him acting innocent.

That kind of expression is usually seen on younger people. It's not cute, it's scary.

"That's one thing, but what are you talking about with Geum-bi? Did I do something wrong?"

"That's right. You hugged Crystal and wallpapered Geum-Bi."

"What? When?"

"What are you talking about? I saw you in your room and in the bathroom changing room."

"Hey, that's... Anyway, it's all a misunderstanding...."

"Then why did you sleep in Geumbi's room this morning?"

"Huh?"

"But that's wrong too, I saw you sleeping in there when your sister was visiting?"

This person was clearly the aggressor.

I was speechless at the counterattack.

"And you know what? Soo-jung saw you sleeping there, and then she went to work with a straight face."

"Eh? Huh? What, what?"

"You're just telling me what to do, but you did it to yourself. What are you doing between sisters?"

The roles had completely reversed, and Hwayeon crossed her arms and looked at me.

It reminded me of Geumbyeol's stern look, and I took a deep breath.

So Soo-jung saw me this morning and that's why the grass died?

I couldn't get the big question out of my head.

Another customer came into the shop with a jingle, and I quickly finished the conversation and left.

I went home and thought about what had happened.

The walk turned out to be... less encouraging than I had hoped.