My Feisty Sisters Are Coming After Me

Chapter 57

—–CROW—–

Hwa-yeon’s touch was harsh, but it did wake me up.

I grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator and rubbed my throbbing head.

*Gulp, gulp, ha!* “So, what happened? And why are you sitting there like that?”

“Whose fault do you think it is… *Oppa*, you really don’t remember anything? What’s the last thing you remember?”

“Hmm, I remember stumbling out of the restaurant.”

“And you don’t remember collapsing because you couldn’t walk, clinging to me because you were going to puke, or whining about wanting to lie down on the street?”

“I did that? I don’t remember at all…”

I pressed my temples, but nothing came to mind.

But Hwa-yeon’s sighing and shaking her head looked 200% sincere, so I bowed my head and offered her the rest of the water.

“I must have been a real handful. I’m sorry. Here, drink some water and settle your stomach.”

“You’re giving me your backwash? You have no sense… *gulp, gulp*”

“Anyway, you got a motel room nearby because I couldn’t move and was making a fuss, right? I guess they had a vacancy.”

“Ha! I checked and booked it through an app. Who goes and asks in person these days? How old-fashioned.”

True, it was a world where you could easily book a room with a few taps on your phone.

But she knew that kind of thing in detail? Had she been to places like this often?

‘As your *oppa*, I have mixed feelings… but if she’s so familiar with this, why was she clinging to me at the pub?’

Hwa-yeon, calmly booking a motel room, carrying me there, and even showering alone, didn’t match the flustered and embarrassed girl from a few hours ago at the pub.

‘Maybe it wasn’t just curiosity, maybe she’s actually interested in me… No, I must still be drunk.’

I dismissed the thought, but as I glanced at her, Hwa-yeon tilted her head and asked,

“Why are you staring at me? Do you have something to say?”

“No, not really… I was just wondering why you’re dressed like that.”

“This? Because a certain someone~ covered my favorite clothes in half-digested food. I had to take them all off, wash them, and hang them in the bathroom.”

“I-I see. Sorry. I don’t remember anything…”

“Ugh, whatever. It’s partly my fault for letting you drink so much, so I’ll let it slide in exchange for the laundry fee and some emotional distress compensation. For now, let’s worry about what to do next.”

She sounded forgiving, but adding emotional distress compensation to the laundry fee wasn’t forgiving at all.

But the drunk one had no right to complain, so I sat down on the edge of the bed and checked the time.

“It’s a bit late, but it’s not too late to go home, is it? We can wash your clothes when we get home, so let’s call a taxi and go back.”

“*Oppa*, can’t you see what state I’m in? I’m only wearing this, how can I go outside?”

“Hey, young lady, you shouldn’t be flashing your skin like that. You’re just wearing a robe, and yet you’re showing it off in front of your *oppa*.”

“Well, who put me in this state? Anyway, I need to do something about these clothes before I can go anywhere.”

“Then should I go home and get your clothes? Or should I dry the clothes you washed at a laundromat?”

“And leave me here alone? You’re going to leave your precious little sister alone in a motel room late at night?”

“What’s so dangerous? If you open the window, you can see the street, and the door locks properly, so what’s there to worry about?”

“That’s only true for a guy like *oppa*. A delicate and beautiful woman like me always has to be worried about what might happen.”

“Are you still drunk? Where do you see ‘delicate’ in your current state? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard all day.”

“I dragged you all the way to the bed, and you’re picking a fight? Anyway, I’m too scared to be alone. Don’t even think about leaving me here!”

Hwa-yeon slapped my arm and crossed her arms defiantly.

But how was she going to get clothes without going outside? Perplexed, I scratched my head and asked,

“So do you have any other bright ideas? Do you want to go out instead? I can lend you my clothes.”

“…No way. Your clothes are too loose, they’ll just fall off, and I don’t want to wear clothes that have been rolling around on the street.”

“See? So what are we going to do…? Wait, rolling around? You didn’t say that before. You said you brought me here before I could fall down on the street.”

“Well, yeah, but… on the way here, you couldn’t walk straight, so I kind of… kicked you a little. Anyway! That’s not important, let’s move on from the trivial stuff.”

“No, no. Now that you mention it, my butt and thighs *do* hurt. Did you actually drag me here, or did you just kick me all the way…?”

“Ah, your breath! *Oppa*, you didn’t brush your teeth after drinking, did you? Go brush your teeth as soon as you wake up, your breath stinks. Go, go!”

Hwa-yeon suddenly pushed me into the bathroom and closed the door.

I was certain of her suspicious behavior, but seeing her clothes hanging on the towel rack, I couldn’t bring myself to question her further.

‘Well, however she did it, she did go through a lot… No allowance, though. The emotional distress compensation will cover the assault settlement.’

I nodded and stood in front of the sink. The slightly tired-looking man in the mirror frowned.

I washed my face, trying to clear my head, but being in this place made it hard to relax.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve been in a motel. I thought I’d only come here after getting a girlfriend when I went back to school. My first visit this year is with my younger sister… huh.’

After brushing my teeth, I checked the state of Hwa-yeon’s clothes hanging next to me.

She must have washed them very thoroughly, because they weren’t even close to being dry enough for a hairdryer. And given the material, if I even mentioned it, I’d probably get slapped silly.

‘Should I turn the AC on full blast and dry them in the room? But they won’t dry in an hour or two, should we just sleep here?’

I went back to bed and lay down, and Hwa-yeon recoiled in disgust.

I deliberately rolled around on the bed, and she got increasingly pushed to the edge, getting annoyed.

“Ah, why are you doing this? Is this the time to be playing around? And why did you leave the bathroom light on?”

“Playing around? I just brushed my teeth like you said and lay down comfortably. I left the light on just in case.”

“Just in case? Why?”

“Your clothes are going to take a while to dry, so I was thinking of bringing them out here to hang them.”

“Out here? …They’ll still take half a day to dry.”

“So, Hwa-yeon, did you book this room for an overnight stay?”

“Yeah. The places that offer hourly rates at this time are too far… why?”

“Then… Hwa-yeon, do you want to sleep here?”

“Huh? No, I just told you! I’m scared to be alone in a place like this…”

“I’ll stay with you.”

“W-What?”

“We can stay together. The bed is big, and we can just sleep until your clothes are dry… What? Why are you looking at me like that? What’s with that look?”

She had been complaining about this and that, so I offered what I thought was a reasonable solution after some thought.

Why was she looking at me with such suspicion?

Hey, *you* brought me here. *You* booked the room and paid for it with *your* money.

“*Oppa*… um…”

“Ah, you don’t like any of my suggestions? Then what, should I have new clothes delivered to the motel? They won’t arrive until the day after tomorrow at the earliest.”

“Ugh, that’s true, but… or should we call my *unnies*… um…”

“Even you know that’s not a good idea, right? If we were going to call them, we would have done it as soon as we left the restaurant.”

“It’s just… hard to explain. Geum-bi *unnie* will definitely freak out and interrogate me.”

“Don’t say ‘freak out’ about your *noona*. Let’s use nice words.”

“Ugh, it’s all your fault! Who told you to get so drunk and puke on my clothes?”

“That’s why I’m taking responsibility and staying with you until morning. Why are you suddenly so suspicious? It’s not like this is your first time sleeping in a place like this.”

“What?! No, that’s… how can you just assume things about me… what do you know…”

“Huh…? Wait, really? You booked this room so easily and managed to get my unconscious self onto the bed. You acted like you’d been here many times.”

“I did it because I had no choice! Booking a room through an app is the same as when I book pensions or hotels with my friends for trips. I’ve been to pensions and hotels, but this is my first time in a motel!”

“Really? I thought you were so calm, so I assumed you were experienced…”

“No way! Even today, I was so surprised when the lights didn’t turn on when we came in. I had to search online to figure out that you had to insert the card next to the door!”

“Oh… really? I didn’t know… sorry.”

Contrary to my expectations, it seemed like this was Hwa-yeon’s first time in a motel.

Seeing her wronged expression, I backed down. Hwa-yeon bit her lip and tapped her foot.

“So… you understand why I’m scared to be alone, right?”

“Yeah, I get it. Now that I think about it, it’s natural for a girl to be worried in a situation like this. I was being insensitive, sorry.”

“If you know, then that’s enough. …So, are we really sleeping here? Tonight? The two of us?”

“Well, it’s too late to find another place like a hotel… and we don’t have a way to get there. I know you’re uncomfortable, but I don’t think there’s any other way.”

I understood Hwa-yeon’s hesitation, but even considering that, this was the best option.

So, without changing my conclusion, I just softened my tone and asked for her understanding.

Hwa-yeon puffed out her cheeks and turned away, muttering something while facing the wall.

“It’s not that I’m… uncomfortable, it’s just awkward. Especially since I’m dressed like this…”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“N-Nothing! Yeah, it’s just *oppa* and me, so what’s there to worry about. Fine, do whatever you want. Just sleep here for one night, whatever!”

“Are you really okay with this? If you’re really uncomfortable, I’ll take the bullet and call my *noonas*…”

“No, it’s okay. This is a matter of pride now. Don’t call my *unnies*, absolutely not, never!”

I didn’t know what kind of pride she was talking about, but seeing Hwa-yeon’s determined look, I calmly got out of bed.

To leave as soon as possible, I brought her clothes from the bathroom, spread them out on a chair, and turned the AC to dehumidify the room.

“Ooh, you can control the AC with the TV remote?”

“All motels are like that. You can turn off the bathroom light with it too.”

“Really? Wow, that’s amazing! …But how does *oppa* know so much? Have you been to places like this a lot?”

“You just naturally learn these things as you get older. Hwa-yeon, you’re too young to know.”

“Hmm~ I don’t think this kind of thing has anything to do with age.”

I didn’t bother responding to her pointless question. I finished my preparations and got under the covers.

But Hwa-yeon just stared blankly, showing no sign of lying down.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to lie down? Are you going to sleep later?”

“No… but are we really sleeping together? In the same bed, the two of us?”

“Yeah. What’s wrong with that?”

“Ugh… don’t you find it weird, *oppa*? Do siblings our age normally sleep together?”

“Well, given the situation? And the world is a big place, I’m sure there are families out there who are close like that.”

“Even so, adult siblings sleeping in the same bed? I don’t think that ever happens…”

My dear sister, that’s exactly what’s happening right in front of you.

Unexpected things happen closer than you think.

“Whatever, if you don’t like it, I’ll give you a blanket and you can sleep on the floor. As long as you’re okay with waking up with a sore back tomorrow.”

“Ugh, I don’t want that. Fine, I’ll lie down, so move over. You’re way too close, it’s creepy.”

“It’s not that spacious once we’re both lying down. I’m already making a lot of concessions.”

“Tch, always with the excuses… Ugh. Today was the absolute worst. How did this even happen?”

I wanted to ask the same question.

Seriously, how did this happen?

“…Are you in bed? I’m turning off the lights.”

“Oh, yeah… are you going to sleep right now?”

“Or should we watch TV?”

“Let’s just talk. Turn off the lights first, it’s too bright.”

Click. Darkness enveloped us.

With my vision obscured, the faint scent of her body wash became stronger, and embarrassed, I turned my head and shifted my body.

“So, what do you want to talk about?”

“I don’t know… what we were talking about at the pub?”

“Which part? Your curiosity? Or me and my *noonas*?”

“Hmm… what do *you* want to talk about first, *oppa*?”

Answering a question with another question, the night deepened.

It was dark outside, but it seemed like we had a lot of time before we fell asleep.

—–CROW—–

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