My Younger Sister Was My First Love

95. Unfair Conduct

People have different styles of enjoying travel!

Looking back, I didn’t have many memories of traveling because Mom had to raise me almost alone.

That doesn’t mean I never went on trips, though.

The last trip I remembered was a train journey with Mom during middle school summer break, when she took a holiday.

Back then, I thought it was so boring to travel quietly with just Mom, without any friends.

Now, looking back, I realize how immature that thought was.

So, I decided to make the most of this Gangneung trip.

I sat in front of my desk, laptop open, and started a heated debate with my re-taker brother.

“What’s the point of this trip? You’re planning out every 30 minutes like it’s a mission or something! Is this a variety show?”

“You don’t know when you’ll get to go to Gangneung again, so make the most of it this time.”

“But, if we just finish the college entrance exam, no one will care if we go to Gangneung or somewhere else every day!”

“I’m telling you, it’s not like that! If we’re just going to lounge around in the room, what’s the point of going all the way to Gangneung?”

I wanted to give Jihee the experience I never had, so I was a strict planner.

On the other hand, Jihee’s style was the complete opposite of mine.

“Haha, Dad booked a room that costs a fortune. We can just sleep all day and still have fun!”

Jihee’s comment made my body tremble.

I had secretly checked the accommodation fee for this trip, and it was an astronomical amount that students like us could never afford!

I had even considered asking Mom to refund the money and book a different place.

“But, we have to try the famous restaurants and tourist attractions so we don’t regret it later!”

Jihee let out a deep sigh and shook her head.

“I’m not mocking you, but I’m really curious – do people who study well at Korea University, like Oppa, always have such exemplary trips?”

Ouch!

I was hit with a straight shot of “no fun” and fell into despair.

“Just do what you want, then… I don’t care…”

“Did you get upset?”

My brother, who was pouring salt on my wound, asked.

“Do what you want. I won’t bother you.”

“What’s wrong?”

Jihee sat down behind me and wrapped her arms around my neck.

“I like watching you more than watching TV, that’s why.”

“You can see my face at home, what’s the big deal?”

“And this trip isn’t about sightseeing! It’s about relaxation!”

Jihee had her own logic, and she plopped herself down on my bed.

“Listen, you’re on break from being an idol, so what’s the big deal? You have part-time jobs, study, cook, and clean. It’s tiring! It’s really tiring!”

“…Isn’t it not that tiring?”

Her tone was as if seeking agreement, but I didn’t give in.

“No? When I see you, it looks tiring. It’s indeed tiring.”

If you’re going to insist, you might as well not ask the question.

“Anyway, so what?”

“I’m tired too!”

“That’s understandable.”

How boring would that be?

My daily routine was watching lectures, solving problem sets, reviewing, and practicing with past exams.

I spent six days a week like that, and if that’s enjoyable, then something’s wrong with my mind.

“You always recommend me manga, but I don’t even read it! When I go to part-time jobs, I’m busy flirting with other cute girls! When I say let’s have some fun on the weekends, you come up with all sorts of excuses.”

I, who thought I was understanding the struggles of a student, was slightly taken aback.

None of Jihee’s words were related to studying.

“No, wait. You’re saying that’s what’s tiring?”

“What’s tiring, then?”

“Studying!”

“What are you talking about? Studying is just something you do. What I care about more is obviously that side!”

The scale of my heart was severely broken.

I, who was about to complain, gave up and let out a deep sigh.

“So, you’re saying we both need to take a break and rest because we’re both tired? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Oh, of course, Korea University.”

“It’s not just Korea University; it’s the same everywhere.”

“But why can’t you understand why I’m tired?”

“That would be even more ridiculous, wouldn’t it?”

Although I didn’t intend to, my unfiltered thoughts were revealed.

“Heh, so our trip is a healing vacation, right? Okay?”

Jihee made a circle with her thumb and index finger, seeking agreement.

“……Alright. But let’s at least make a rough plan. It’s not like we’re going to stay in the lodge the whole time. Let’s choose the must-visit places.”

“Okay! If you agree with me, put your thumb up too.”

“What?”

“Put your thumb up here.”

Jihee stretched out her hand, making a hole with her fingers and holding it out in front of me.

“Don’t do something weird.”

“It’s people who think this is weird that are bad.”

As if telling me to stop, Jihee gazed at me with an expressionless face, and then she withdrew her hand.

“……Cold oppa.”

“Sigh.”

I sat back down in front of my laptop, checking the train schedule again.

I also checked the train app.

The date and time were all correct.

I hoped Jihee wouldn’t prepare anything and just go with the flow.

I’d do this annoying task anyway.

It’s not like I’m paying for it either.

“Did you pack?”

I glanced back to see Jihee nodding vigorously.

“Yes! And you, oppa?”

“I’m not done yet, but I’ll stop here for now.”

I was about to pack my bag, feeling comfortable with the schedule, but my plan was ruined.

“I’ll help you pack.”

“No need. It’s just an overnight trip, and we don’t need to bring much anyway.”

T-shirts. Underwear. Socks. Phone charger. Swimsuit.

Is there anything else?

Toiletries will be provided anyway.

“Should we buy condoms there?”

“No, don’t.”

Jihee covered her face with her hands, looking like she was mortified, after I firmly shook my head.

“Hmm, so you’re saying we’re going to take the college entrance exam with a baby in our belly?”

I turned my head back, looking shocked, with my hands still on the keyboard.

What was I even thinking?

No, how did I even come up with that response?

“……No way.”

“Why?”

You need to fight fire with fire.

“If we get caught, it’s cheating.”

Jihee looked puzzled, then understood my response and burst out laughing.

“Logical, right? Like a Korean university student?”

……I think I’m going crazy too.

* * *

Booking an early morning train wasn’t a problem.

Jihee’s wake-up time to prepare for the exam was around 8 am.

As I had to prepare breakfast at the same time, my wake-up time was fixed as well.

“Just a minute? Is it this way?”

My sibling and I, each carrying a backpack, wandered around inside Seoul Station.

“Hmm, is it not that way?”

“I thought so, but when I looked earlier…”

I wanted to guide him like a cool senior, but…

Unfortunately, this was also my first time traveling with someone of the same age.

As someone who thought the school grounds of Tae-hak-dong were the entire world, I felt that it wasn’t easy to take the first step alone from the start.

“Ah, you’re right.”

“Oppa, why are you so stiff? We’re going on a trip to have fun.”

Ji-hee, as if she knew I was nervous, put her arm around mine.

“I’m not nervous.”

“Are you not? You seem like you don’t know what to do.”

“Just calm down.”

Although we’re about the same age, I’m Ji-hee’s guardian.

I had to take good care of her and bring her back safely, and that thought dominated my mind.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay!”

Somehow, we safely arrived at our destination on the train.

Ji-hee leaned against the window, gazing intently at the scenery passing by like a child.

“I should take a picture of this and post it on my story.”

I, who wasn’t interested in SNS, just wanted to lean back and relax, but…

“Oppa, come quick and take a picture with me.”

“Do you want me to take one too?”

“No need to show your face, just your hand.”

Just like when we took a photo together before, Ji-hee made me do a V-sign and placed my hand on the window.

“I’ll tag you.”

“Do as you please.”

“Should I post a picture of us lying on the bed together later?”

I felt like asking if she was crazy, but a sudden question popped into my mind.

“Ji-hee.”

“Yes?”

“If we were really dating……”

I didn’t think it was a particularly desirable conversation topic, but I wanted to ask anyway.

“Will you open up about it?”

“Open up?”

“You know, to our friends and people around us…”

Coming out, I suppose.

It’s that kind of public declaration.

Maybe even announcing our relationship to our families would be included in that.

Ji-hee’s hand, which had been fiddling with her phone, moved downwards.

-The door opened-

Ji-hee’s left hand, which had put the phone away, pointed to the armrest that was blocking us.

The button on the side was pressed, and the raised bar went up, leaving nothing to block us anymore.

“How does it feel?”

“I don’t know, so I’m asking.”

“But by then, it’s not me who decides that.”

“Then?”

Jihee slowly raised her arm and brought her index finger to her upper lip.

“Oppa will decide.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. I’ll do whatever Oppa says.”

It was okay up until she touched her finger to my lip.

It’s not that skinship was unfamiliar, but it felt like nothing special at this point.

The problem was what came next.

Jihee’s finger parted my upper and lower lips and forcefully pried open my teeth.

“What are you doing?”

I tried to pull back, but Jihee’s finger was like a guided missile, circling around my mouth.

“If we announce that we’re in a romantic relationship, it’ll probably feel like this for the rest of our lives.”

What did she mean by ‘that feeling’?

The only impression I got from her finger being in my mouth was discomfort.

“It’s not another girl, but because you love me, Oppa will get treated strangely for the rest of his life and won’t even be able to say it properly.”

Jihee’s finger swept across the inside of my gums and then escaped my mouth.

– Thud thud

A thin stream of saliva left a faint stain on my pants.

“People who knew us before will distance themselves from Oppa, and new acquaintances will be shocked to learn that Oppa loves me.”

A bleak, isolated future.

But I didn’t think that was an unreasonable, absurd fantasy.

If someone said they were seriously dating my family member, I’d be hesitant too.

“But Oppa, instead…”

My saliva-soaked finger pointed towards Jihee’s mouth.

I watched with a bewildered expression as my younger sister’s tongue gently wrapped around my fingertip.

Jihee licked my finger with a sucking sound, as if my saliva was honey.

The finger, now indistinguishable from hers, slipped out of her mouth with a squelching sound.

“I promise to become a loving wife who makes you feel like you don’t need anyone else.”