My Younger Sister Was My First Love

30. This is unreasonable.

“Do you guys want to go to the noraebang?”

“Ah~ I love noraebang!”

“Huh? Then who’s going to pay?”

“I’ll do it!”

We, who had taken hangover remedies bought at a convenience store, were getting ready to head out for round two.

To be exact, it was round three.

There was also a first round where we spent money without gaining anything, so to speak.

It was an unfamiliar dimension, one that Jihee usually waited for me at home, and I couldn’t even muster up the courage to try.

Since the person I was supposed to manage was right here, I didn’t think I had a curfew.

“Let’s go, oppa.”

As we left the bar, Jihee naturally stuck to my side, just like she would at home.

“…… Jihee.”

When I called her name in a small voice, Jihee looked up at me with a sulky face.

“Are you curious or something? Is Jihee your girlfriend, oppa?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re really something. You have a girlfriend, but you come to a place like this. If your girlfriend finds out, she’ll kill you.”

When did Jihee become my girlfriend’s name?

Even if we had dated, it wouldn’t be unfair.

You’re the one who messed with me.

Are you going to turn it around like that?

In the end, the conversation between siblings failed due to the teacher’s refusal to communicate.

The young people, who were quite excited, walked towards the karaoke room, laughing loudly.

Karaoke.

This was also a place that had nothing to do with me.

I could count on my fingers the number of times I’d been to a karaoke room in my life.

Before I became an adult, I didn’t even go out with friends that often.

And I didn’t particularly enjoy singing alone, either.

It was past 1 am, a late and quiet hour.

The smell of alcohol lingered every time I breathed out.

In the dimly lit room, the mirrored ball spun around, casting a colorful glow.

It was a night filled with unfamiliar things.

“Who’s going to sing first?”

Sehwa, who was holding the microphone, started to feel like a recreation instructor at a training camp.

Why was she proceeding so smoothly?

“I’ll go first!”

When Jihyun started with a familiar karaoke song, the reservations started piling up after that.

I worried that they might make me sing, but it turned out to be an unnecessary concern.

“Oppa.”

Under the table.

Jihee gently scratched my thigh with her finger.

“Oppa, aren’t you going to sing?”

It was a disgusting yet cute way of speaking.

Even her slightly drunken eyes, which were half-closed, felt seductive.

“No way.”

“Why?”

“I can’t.”

“Don’t you know any songs?”

“The national anthem.”

“What’s with that? It’s so boring.”

“I only studied, so I don’t know any songs.”

Originally, my voice wasn’t that loud, but trying to have a conversation in the karaoke room was difficult.

The answers didn’t seem to be heard well, and our distance from Ji-hui gradually decreased.

At some point, I came to my senses, and Ji-hui’s ear was right next to my lips.

“Oppa.”

“Yes?”

“Can I have a listen too?”

Seeing him use informal language, I thought he might finally say something right to me, so I lent him my ear.

*Chuup*

My whole body got goosebumps.

The drowsiness that had been creeping up on me due to the alcohol also disappeared.

My palms spread wide, and my open mouth wouldn’t close.

“No, no!”

Even though I knew there were other people around and Ji-hui was my dongsaeng, I just couldn’t hold it in.

“Hehehe.”

Ji-hui started laughing, lying on the table, and I couldn’t help but cover my ear to erase the remaining sensation.

No, why was Ji-hui licking my ear?

It wasn’t just a light touch with the tip of his tongue; he had sucked on it hard, which was the point.

“What’s going on? Hyung? Let’s laugh together.”

Ji-hui laughed so hard next to me that even Kyungho asked for an explanation.

“……I think I said something ridiculous that was funny.”

“Ah, Junho oppa! You’re so funny! The best, the best!”

As the over-the-top acting continued, my shock turned to fear.

What was the goal, anyway?

If he just wanted to hang out with guys or experience a meeting atmosphere, there was no reason to choose us.

To be honest, with this lineup, we could hang out with guys who are several times more handsome than us.

We didn’t even need a weekday.

Ji-hui had a legitimate holiday, Sunday.

But the teacher didn’t do that.

In the end, he intentionally targeted the seat where I was sitting, and I couldn’t understand what he would gain from doing this.

“Oppa, aren’t you going to sing?”

This time, the suggestion came from Sehwa, not Ji-hui.

“Ah, I’m bad at singing.”

“Then how about a duet with me? It’s burdensome to sing alone, so let’s sing together! You know, it’s a hassle.”

“I know, but…”

I automatically watched Ji-hui’s reaction, recalling the conversation between Ji-hui and Se-hwa, who told me not to touch oppa.

“Hey, if oppa is struggling, I’ll just sing with you!”

Ji-hui snatched the microphone that Se-hwa had handed over to me.

“Hey! The male part should be sung by a man!”

“I can do the low notes too! Um… Hmm…”

“Still, oppa has to do the n-part, so you have to do one song.”

“It’s Se-hwa.”

Ji-hui, who had cut off Se-hwa’s words, didn’t lose her smile.

“Oppa is having a hard time.”

If I had to list the people who made me struggle, you’d be number one.

The number one who doesn’t allow others to follow.

In the end, the duet was done by Se-hwa and Kyung-ho.

Of course, it was Ji-hui who handed the microphone to Kyung-ho.

For me, who didn’t sing, the karaoke room was a space that was close to a time-and-spirit-consuming prison.

I thought it was finally ending, but 30 minutes were added.

I thought it was really ending, but 20 minutes were added again.

If it’s going to be like this, why not just say it’s 2 hours and 30 minutes from the start?

Why do we have such an inefficient system…?

It’s obvious, but not everyone is a singer, so there were some noises that were hard to listen to.

Ah, when can I go home?

“Ah, it was fun!”

“Agreed! Agreed!”

I barely survived without singing a single song and came out.

My phone screen showed that it was past 3:30 am.

“How are you all going home?”

It was a time when public transportation had stopped.

The group split into two.

“Let’s go to the 24-hour cafe and wait for the first bus!”

“Ah, I’ll just take a taxi.”

“Is there anyone who lives in the Gangdong area?”

There were those who would wait and those who would take a taxi.

I was naturally the latter.

“I’ll take a taxi.”

“Oppa, I live in Tae-hak-dong! Let’s go together!”

Ji-hui pretended to know my address, which she had never been told.

The gaze naturally fell on us.

The guys and girls didn’t say anything, but they all sent us a look that seemed to say, “Do your best.”

It was weird that we didn’t get any romantic treatment despite being stuck together like this at the meeting spot.

“Let’s go.”

“Today was fun! Be careful going in!”

As we parted ways, waving goodbye, the quietness unique to early morning streets returned.

Since we were in the city, it wasn’t hard to catch a taxi.

The only problem was the exorbitant fare.

“……Okay.”

Once we were alone, I let out a deep sigh and opened the taxi door.

“Thanks, oppa.”

“Don’t use honorifics with me.”

“Why not?”

I debated whether to talk in the taxi or at home, but I chose to talk at home.

“Today was fun!”

Jihee was still beaming with a bright smile, seemingly lost in thought.

“……Did you finish your studies?”

“Yeah! I’m going to Korea University next year!”

“Weren’t you already a college student a while ago?”

“Ah, right. Wasn’t I, Saerom, an elite?”

Jihee didn’t even think of denying my sarcasm.

Should I scold him at home?

What would I say if I got angry?

It would’ve been better if Jihee’s appearance had ruined the meeting, making the story shorter.

Why did he have to bring his friends along, making it hard for me to live?

But Jihee and his friends’ appearance was a savior to our colleagues.

The awkward meeting became a memorable night, thanks to the heroes.

Everyone except me had a blast.

“Thank you.”

We didn’t exchange a word in the elevator, even after getting off at our floor.

“Jihee.”

“Yes?”

I finally brought up the main topic after taking off my shoes at the entrance.

“So, why did you come?”

“Why are you sulking after having fun?”

The subdued atmosphere seemed to be unpleasant for Jihee.

“That’s a result-oriented thing. You knew I was there, and you came on purpose.”

Living room hallway.

We stood facing each other, still in our outdoor clothes.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“So, why?”

“I didn’t like it when you were flirting with other girls.”

“Are you bringing that up as an excuse now?”

“Yep. There’s an extremely rational and important reason for me.”

“No. Yeah.”

“Then why did you do that, oppa?”

“What.”

“You also stopped other guys from flirting with me.”

“That’s……”

The memories of the guys who had thrown themselves at Jihee at the beginning of the meeting came flooding back.

I thought that was disgusting.

I wished nobody would do that to Jihee.

“Don’t I feel the same way?”

As Jihee took a step forward, I instinctively took a step back.

There was a feeling that something was off here.

Even though I was still drunk, the alarm bells in my head were ringing loudly.

“I also hate it. I hate it when other girls whisper in your ear and try to touch your hand.”

“I won’t do that.”

“What do you mean you won’t do that?”

“I’m not a popular person like you.”

“Oppa, don’t you know that the people who get hurt the most are those who are easily swayed by overwhelming popularity?”

“No. That’s why I’m like this.”

“Just be honest for once. You didn’t like it when I was with other guys, did you?”

He couldn’t deny it.

That was the truth.

“I’ll explain exactly why you felt that way, oppa. You.”

Jihee grabbed my hand and brought it to his cheek.

“That’s because you think I’m precious.”

The sweet and gentle words “precious” felt so out of place.

“Because I’m family. You like me, so you don’t want me to be with others, right?”

The soft voice was as sweet as hypnosis.

The warmth of his cheek transmitted to my fingertips.

Jihee was rubbing his face against my hand like a pet.

“Do you understand my heart now?”

I was confused.

What was the name of this feeling I was experiencing right now?

Was this really a feeling you could have towards family?

Was this what family was supposed to be?

I pulled my hand away from his cheek, biting my lip so hard it hurt.

“Make a wish.”

“A wish?”

“Aren’t you supposed to grant me a wish since I was your knight earlier?”

“That’s Park Saerom’s privilege. Ask Saerom for it.”

“Then, Saerom-ssi.”

As if he had something to say, Jihui strongly pushed forward, and his curious expression made me chuckle and nod my head.

“Don’t go to the meeting.”

“What?”

“Don’t go to the meeting until you die.”

This is an unreasonable demand.

It’s clear that it’s excessive freedom suppression to ask for this in exchange for just a few drinks.

I thought I would naturally be rejected, and even if I was, I didn’t think I’d blame Jihui.

But…

“Okay, I won’t go.”

My younger brother, as always, exceeded my expectations.

“If Oppa wants, I won’t go until the day I’m buried.”

Jihui’s lips, which had been puckered up, took mine again without permission.