My Younger Sister Was My First Love

23. I Can Take Care of It

Thanks to Jihui, I started playing a mobile game where you manage a kingdom.

[Kingdom of Delight]

Unexpectedly, I got really into it.

Maybe it was because I used to break my study sessions into 30-minute blocks.

Having something to do in my excessively free daily life wasn’t so bad.

It was great that the rewards for my labor were immediately visible.

My gold stash grew, and my troops got upgraded.

As I expanded my kingdom, my mood improved too.

Before I knew it, I reached level 25.

Meanwhile, Jihui, who had invited me to play together, was still stuck at level 13.

Students are indeed pitiful creatures.

They can’t even enjoy this fun game slowly.

“What’s up?”

It was morning, around the time we had breakfast.

8:10 am.

“Kingdom.”

I knew it wasn’t a good habit to check my phone at the dinner table, but I couldn’t help it.

The quest was ending right now, so I was glued to my phone screen while eating or not eating.

“Oppa, you’re more enthusiastic than I thought. Are you having fun?”

“Yeah. It’s more fun when we steal some time. It’s got a certain charm.”

“Are you going to level up solo, abandoning your wife and going crazy?”

“Wife, you say?”

It’s true that we’re a couple in the game, but it feels a bit off.

“If you want to keep your wife alive, it’s better to be a high-level player than to be incompetent.”

“Isn’t it just because you think it’s fun, Oppa?”

“Just wait and see. If I work hard, I’ll give you lots of good things too.”

Jihee was fiddling with her phone, looking unpleased, so I put mine down and picked up my chopsticks.

It was strange, but Jihee had a bit of a resemblance to her mom, even though they didn’t look alike at all.

She was being stubborn for some reason.

“What are you doing on Sunday?”

Since today was almost the weekend, I naturally changed the subject.

“What about you, Oppa?”

“What am I doing on Sunday?”

“Yeah. If you’re free, I was thinking of hanging out with you.”

“Hmm……”

To be honest, I didn’t have any plans.

I usually spent weekdays socializing with my new acquaintances.

I didn’t have anyone I was close enough to meet up with on the weekends.

“Don’t you have anything you want to do?”

“I don’t have anything in particular, but I want to go out.”

“Where?”

“Anywhere but this neighborhood.”

The Taehak-dong area was full of academies.

It was enough to make you sick.

“So? Then……”

Where would be a good place to go when I’m feeling stuck?

“How about the Han River?”

As I thought of a wide open space, the Han River was the only place that came to mind.

“……The Han River?”

“Yeah. But isn’t it a bit too early to go to the Han River? Or maybe……”

“I want to go!”

Jihee slammed her hand on the table so hard it almost made a loud noise.

“I definitely want to go!”

Jihee strongly expressed her opinion, as if she didn’t want to hear any other options.

“Okay. Yeah. Then let’s take a stroll along the Han River on Sunday.”

“How about we go in the evening?”

“……Do we have to?”

“I want to go and have a beer.”

I couldn’t bring myself to refuse her lively voice, which was full of energy.

“You still can’t drink too much. We have to get up early on Monday, remember?”

“Who gets drunk on beer?”

“Can you handle your liquor?”

We had promised to drink properly after the mock exam, but I had no idea about Ji-hui’s tolerance.

“I can handle it until I’m not dead from beer!”

“That’s right.”

“What about your brother? He drinks at school, doesn’t he?”

I had tried drinking a few times, but I had never drank until I passed out.

I didn’t want to lose control of my body and get caught on film because of excessive drinking.

It’s not a pleasant experience to lose control of myself.

Let’s try to get drunk somewhere weird.

To others, I’m a perfect idol.

“I’m not sure, but I think I can drink a bottle of soju.”

“Heh, then beer should be no problem!”

As soon as I gave her a definite answer, the air around Ji-hui became soft and fluffy, like flower-shaped stamps floating around.

I like going out and having fun like this.

No matter how you look at it, this kid doesn’t have the talent to succeed through studying.

“Are you coming at 5 pm today?”

As I was cleaning up my lunch bowl, Ji-hui came over and asked me.

“Ah, I might be a bit late today.”

“Why? Are you meeting a friend?”

“Academy people.”

“Academy?”

“Haven’t I told you that I joined an academy?”

Today was the first time I was meeting the academy people in person.

I had been invited to the group chat by Min-ju a while ago, but this was the first time we were actually meeting up.

“What kind of academy is it? Is it like a club?”

“Yeah, it’s a English literature discussion academy.”

“Do you like literature, oppa? I didn’t know.”

“No, I’m not really interested in literature.”

“Then why did you join? It doesn’t seem like much fun.”

“Min-ju told me to join.”

As soon as Min-ju’s name came up, Ji-hui’s eyes narrowed like a cat’s claw.

“Is Min-ju that elementary school friend, that aunt?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re the one who brought her to the welcoming party, aren’t you?”

“You have a good memory.”

I still didn’t know the name of a single one of Ji-hui’s friends.

“Hmm……”

Ji-hui wasn’t saying anything and was just staring at me with a piercing gaze.

“……Why? Do you have something to say?”

“That unnie. It seems like she’s aiming for oppa.”

“Is it me she’s after?”

“Yes. I can smell it. I can smell it.”

It’s ridiculous that she can smell it even though we’ve never met before.

The way she expressed it was laughable.

“There’s no such thing. Why would she do that to me? I’m not even unpopular.”

“Is that unnie popular?”

“I’ve heard she is. She’s received a lot of confessions, right?”

“What’s going on? Did she have a boyfriend?”

“That’s not it.”

“Ugh, this is frustrating. I need to see that unnie’s face.”

It seemed like she was seriously thinking about it, but her conclusion was strange.

“Why do you need to see her face?”

“Originally, family members are interested in this kind of thing.”

Considering Mom was also curious about Min-ju’s situation, it didn’t seem like a big deal.

“Okay, study hard and focus.”

I playfully flicked the remaining water from my hand towards Ji-hui, and she rolled her eyes and headed back to her room.

I wore a light blue jeans and a thick brown knit sweater, and naturally put on a casual jacket over it.

It wasn’t that I wanted to feel a strong sense of belonging, but the casual jacket had a strangely comfortable feel, like a school uniform.

Is it a feeling of having one less thing to worry about in a day?

“I’ll be back.”

Ji-hui saw me off at the entrance, just like usual.

“If you come back late, I’ll be waiting in my panties.”

“What’s with that? That’s…”

“It’s because oppa doesn’t like waiting in his panties.”

Can’t you just say you don’t like it when I come back late?

The way she scolds me is also dynamic.

“Anyway, I’ll contact you if I’m late.”

“Okay, see you later.”

As Ji-hui waved goodbye, I also waved and headed out.

I put in my wireless earbuds and took out my phone, and saw that there were many notifications in the school group chat.

Of course, there was no discussion about English literature; it was all just casual chatter.

Since I was already part of the group, it would be nice to get along with the others.

* * *

Friday was a day with only morning classes.

After eating with my friends at the cafeteria, I searched for the club room inside the humanities building.

204. 204. 204.

After crossing the long corridor, I arrived at the club room door and found myself feeling a bit nervous.

What if I went in and didn’t know anyone?

I didn’t have the courage to think about sitting alone, looking pathetic.

I rummaged through my pocket and took out my phone, sending a subtle message to Minju.

[Where are you?]

[I’m in class. Why?]

A cute tiger emoticon was attached as well.

[I was going to come to the academy room if you were there.]

[It’s okay, just come in! Everyone knows you’re new anyway.]

[I’m awkward.]

[ㅋㅋ You can’t do without me, can you?]

Talking like that made me feel like I had to go in, somehow.

[Okay. I’ll go in.]

[Our people are all nice. I’ll go in and say hello.]

I didn’t reply and instead swallowed my saliva, then knocked on the door.

As the door creaked open, the first thing that caught my eye was a large screen that seemed to be for briefings.

[Ah…… Yeah……?]

[Yeah. And what about the seniors?]

[I’m like…… if you’re okay with it, I guess it’s fine.]

“Hey! Why are you giving that kind of answer there!”

Someone was getting angry.

“No way. That’s just them pretending to be clueless. They all know, right?”

Someone was analyzing the situation calmly.

“Ah. Whatever they do, it’s just not my style.”

Someone who didn’t seem to care either way.

The people sitting in front of the screen were all watching a popular dating show these days.

“Th…….”

I tried to speak up a bit, but my voice was still too low.

“Hmm?”

Only then did people turn to look at me.

It seemed my knocking sound had been drowned out by the TV noise.

“Ah, I’m Lee Junho, the new student who just entered. Minju said I could come in and wait…”

“Ah!”

The video paused right there.

Everyone’s attention was now on me.

“Are you that guy? The elementary school friend Minju mentioned?”

“Yes.”

Unfortunately, I didn’t recognize a single face.

The people here were all seniors.

“Speak comfortably! I’m 21 too!”

“Yes… I mean…”

“Why don’t we do a self-introduction, then? There’s nothing else to do anyway.”

As the senior with a strong build took charge of the atmosphere, the mood suddenly shifted to a one-on-one interview setting.

“Junho… does he… have an interest in English literature?”

No.

“I’ll learn it gradually.”

“Alright, you’re hired.”

The female senior sitting next to him, with her legs crossed, threw in the next question.

“This is way more important than English literature. You have to answer well.”

Her serious tone made me nervously fidget with my fingers.

“Yes.”

“Did you watch what we were watching earlier?”

“…Yes?”

” Lovely Signal, right?”

I couldn’t believe I was watching a show where a bunch of self-absorbed people gathered and flirted with each other.

“No, I didn’t watch it.”

“Tsk… really…?”

“Ah, stop it. The kids will run away!”

Their giggles and whispers seemed to have a strong bond.

As time passed, would I also become part of their circle?

“Too bad. We’re all really into it these days.”

“Is that so.”

“It’s fun! You should watch it too.”

“Next question, then!”

I wondered how long I had to endure this.

The door opened, and in walked a familiar face from elementary school.

“What’s up! Junho! You’re in!”

“Hi.”

“Eh, you guys are talking nonsense again, saying some new student came.”

As Minju appeared like a relief pitcher, the others’ jeers poured in.

“What’s wrong with you? You’re the one who talks nonsense the most.”

And so, the new student interview was forcibly suspended.

The seniors went back to watching the video in observer mode.

“Is the atmosphere okay?”

Minju, who had pulled me to the back desk, stretched out comfortably.

“Yes, everyone seems friendly.”

“If you don’t like the fruit, you can come here and die. This place is bigger and more comfortable, anyway.”

The environment was undoubtedly pleasant.

The bookshelves on the right were filled with English books, and the desks were lined up next to them.

In the corner, an old sofa that didn’t match the overall atmosphere was also sitting there.

If I felt like it, I could even sleep there.

“Do you know we’re all meeting up later to have a short OT and go drinking?”

Min-ju leaned his chin on the desk, gazing at me.

His brown, short hair, which was styled in a charming way, slanted to one side, following the center of gravity.

A simple, silver earring that sparkled.

A pale pink nail polish on his thumb.

If I had met him as a senior in college and he had looked at me with those eyes, I would have fallen for him 100% without a doubt.

Perhaps at our next meeting, I would have bought him a drink and secretly handed it to him.

But the other person was Park Min-ju.

I, who had been tormented by him since childhood, couldn’t possibly have such a thought.

The structure itself was impossible to establish.

How could I look at that kid, who had made my life miserable, with such eyes?

It was impossible to recognize him as an adult.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes, I’m leaving.”

“How about your younger sibling?”

As soon as Ji-hui’s story came up, my thoughts about Min-ju were completely erased.

It would be nice if Ji-hui looked at Min-ju like that.

If Min-ju had become family, I would have been able to live without a care.

“Okay, I’ve told you.”

“Okay, then there’s no need to skip today’s meal?”

“I don’t want to. Let’s eat moderately and leave.”

“Aww, why not! Let’s have fun together! We got permission, didn’t we?”

“If I get drunk and die, will you take responsibility?”

Min-ju glanced at the seniors in front of him, wondering how to respond.

“……Since I’m living alone, if you get drunk, I can let you sleep at my place.”