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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Half a Hero, Lee Ha-yoon (4)
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Ponytailed Lee Ha-yoon swayed inside, her hair swishing lightly with each step.
Me, stuck holding eight cans of beer without a single word of explanation.
Should I take this as some kind of invitation?
…
But she definitely said earlier that Lee Ji-yoon was home.
"…"
My hesitation lasted only a moment. Grabbing the convenience store bag, I trudged after Lee Ha-yoon.
If she lived alone in some spacious, luxurious place with great soundproofing, it might be different. But this was a rundown villa that could collapse any day, shared with her little sister.
She probably just wanted to forget what happened earlier and grab a drink—literally.
…Eight cans of beer. It was ambiguous whether that was for two people or three.
Lee Ha-yoon reached the second floor first, navigating the dim villa hallway and stairs.
By the time I caught up, a series of four beeps sounded, and the door swung open.
She slipped inside without taking the bag from me, so it had to mean I was invited in too.
…Now that I was actually here, I felt a bit tense.
I rolled my shoulders to loosen up, careful not to rush things too far ahead, and stepped inside.
Part of me wanted to grab her wrist tight and drag her straight to the bedroom,
but for now, keeping a friendly underclassman distance felt right.
That way, someday, she'd crumble on her own.
"Unnie, you're home."
"…"
"I'm home."
"…"
"She's not even answering 'cause she's gaming."
Lee Ha-yoon headed straight into a lit room without paying me much mind.
Soon after, a playful scream echoed from inside—"Kyaaah!"
I set the convenience store bag on the floor and took off my shoes while listening to the sisters tussle.
A third pair of shoes joined the two already at the entrance.
Lee Ha-yoon's place was predictably cramped.
It was bigger than my own 10-pyeong one-room, sure. Two rooms, even.
But for two people—Lee Ji-yoon and Lee Ha-yoon—it felt a little tight.
If the living room were just 1.5 times bigger, it'd be perfect. Or they could ditch some unnecessary furniture taking up space.
Ah, swapping that yellowish lamp for bright white light would brighten the vibe too.
As I neatly arranged my shoes and scanned the place, the door to the room Lee Ha-yoon had entered burst open.
"Let's drink. Booze."
"You can't even handle booze…"
Lee Ji-yoon, in white polka-dot pajamas, wireless headset on, got dragged out.
The moment our eyes met, her meowing tone toward her sister shrank instantly.
Worried she might mistake me for a burglar, I pulled down my neck warmer to show my face quick—but no change.
She bolted from her sister's arms, hid behind the wall, and shot me a what-the-hell-are-you-doing-here look.
Compared to the witch she'd become in ten years, her emotions swung wildly.
"…You? Why? No, uh…"
She had plenty to say, but only one mouth.
Her flapping lips eventually turned to her sister instead of me.
Easier to nag the sister she'd shared 20 years with than curse the guy who'd eased her headache.
"…Lee Ha-yoon."
"Yeah?"
"Seo Woo-jin, right? Why's he here? Did you bring him? Is he stalking you?"
"Shopping cart duty."
"Shopping cart?"
"Over there. Convenience store bag. He carried it for me."
She lightly lifted the bag, and Lee Ji-yoon's eyes darted between me and it.
Her furrowed brows screamed she had a ton of questions.
But Lee Ha-yoon ignored her sister and headed to the kitchen, hauling out a tiny round table.
A cheap little thing that'd feel packed with three people around it.
"Anyway, Ji-yoon. Wanna drink?"
"Me? Booze? With Seo Woo-jin and you?"
"Yup. No charge."
"I know, but… suddenly? Why?"
"Just felt like it."
"Huh…?"
She clearly didn't want to spill what happened earlier to her sister.
I'd been standing quietly by the entrance. Now I crept into the living room toward Lee Ha-yoon, eyes on Lee Ji-yoon.
The floor was chilly—no boiler on.
"What're you drinking? Oh, shoulda grabbed something you wanted back at the store."
"I'm good. Not big on canned beer anyway."
"Not big on it? Never tried? Oh, right, you're just 20."
"…Yeah."
I'd been spotted by that booze-loving bitch Yojora and force-fed soju and draft beer galore.
Couldn't say that, so I played dumb.
The reasons differed, but the result was the same.
"You've had some booze before, right? Like at bars."
"A bit."
"Tolerance?"
"Uh…"
…Come to think of it, I'd never gotten so wasted I stumbled.
Yojora always passed out first, then started mouthing off at people. I'd pin her down and stop her.
But with 6 or 7 soju bottles on the table each time, I'd probably downed more than half.
She'd fill my glass insisting on cheers first, spilling everywhere.
"Two bottles of soju."
"Two? In soju?"
"Yeah. Probably around there."
Didn't want to sound like a braggart, so I dialed it back to "decent drinker."
Worst case here was eight beers—equivalent to about two bottles anyway.
"And you don't even blush after one can?"
"Doubt it."
"For real?"
"Yeah. I've had some before."
"Then these won't get you drunk at all?"
"Probably not. …Why do you keep asking?"
"…Nah. Forget it."
She placed a can each on the table and squirmed out of her seat toward the kitchen corner.
She grabbed some ramen from the cupboard, crumbled it bit by bit, dumped it in a big bowl, and nuked it.
As the microwave hummed, she plopped back down beside me.
"Lee Ji-yoon."
"…W-what?"
"Not drinking?"
"…"
"Then just us?"
A brief silence.
She stared holes through our table, then vanished into her room.
Lee Ha-yoon scratched her cheek, muttering "Guess not," about to crack a beer.
But the door reopened. Out stepped Lee Ji-yoon, looking somewhat different.
"…"
…Not that different. Headset off, thin windbreaker over the polka-dot pajamas.
Unlike Lee Ha-yoon clinging lightly to me, she scooted way closer to her sister before sitting.
Less equilateral triangle, more right triangle with Lee Ha-yoon in the middle.
"Unnie."
"Yeah?"
"Just one can, okay? You suck at booze—why buy so much?"
"…Watch."
She snatched an apple-flavored beer from the assortment—her taste, apparently.
"And Seo Woo-jin… mister."
"Yes."
"If you're thinking anything weird, give up now."
"…"
"…! Hey, Lee Ji-yoon. Woo-jin's just here 'cause I called him."
Ignoring her sister's flinch and protest, Lee Ji-yoon pressed on.
"Unnie's had zero dating experience in 21 years, so one nice guy and her heart goes poof."
"What bullshit. It's not like that…"
"…I'll be watching tonight."
"…"
Her eyes made her sudden decision to join clear: bewilderment, suspicion, weirdness, mystery.
And dirty thoughts.
A cocktail of those hammering me and her sister alternately.
…Kinda fun.
"Anyway, just drink and go home. Got it?"
"…Sure."
I nodded, cracked a can like them, and slowly extended it.
Clink. A rough, cold sound tingled my fingertips.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
It'd only been a bit—munching crispy instant ramen with beer.
"…Haaah…"
"…"
"…"
The lively living room chat gradually quieted.
Lee Ha-yoon, midway through her convenience store tale (minus the intensity spike), started nodding off.
Lee Ji-yoon, who'd joined to watch me, dazedly sipped her beer at some point.
I just followed her lead, quietly nursing mine.
Only the clunk of Lee Ji-yoon setting down empty cans echoed softly.
She'd nagged her sister about booze tolerance, but clearly didn't know her own.
Makes sense—she'd just turned 20.
If she hadn't snuck drinks underage, she might not know.
…About a can and a half.
I thought she only matched her sister's eye color and erogenous zones, but tolerance too?
If she thinks she's never been drunk like this, she's in worse shape than her sister.
"…Hey."
"Yes."
"Trash… ugh… clean up the trash…"
"Trash?"
"Empty beer cans… rolling everywhere…"
"I'll gather 'em when I leave."
"…Yeeah… thanks…"
"…"
This was the fourth time.
She'd started chiming in quietly during Lee Ha-yoon's tale of accidentally ordering 500 triangle kimbaps—20 minutes ago.
Alcohol had sweetly melted her brain for about 20 minutes.
Left alone, she drained another can. Both were plastered now.
"Unnie… why two cans…"
"…Haa… Pfah…"
I grabbed a piece of leftover ramen, staring at Lee Ji-yoon's snowy hair, deep in thought.
…Both wasted. Should I make a move?
…Or wait—let tomorrow's memories stick with a good impression for next time.
"Trash… clean up…"
"…"
Instinct screamed yes, but lingering reason picked no.
If I were drunk too, I'd have dragged one by the wrist to the bedroom.
Probably raped them drunk, snapped pics for leverage.
Next day, desperate, they'd come to me—blackmail material for ongoing secret fun.
Or rape Lee Ha-yoon helpless, use pics to blackmail Lee Ji-yoon.
…Both options.
Unsatisfying.
Risk of police aside.
I wanted heroes abandoning cheering fans, sneaking to kneel and fawn in secret.
Forced blackmail sex would dull that conquest thrill.
Fans chanting hero names.
Heroes shutting them out, willingly visiting my quiet one-room.
…Inside, bitching like dogs in secret, ruined and blissful.
No snag here—why rush and cheapen it?
Better nurture the good vibes.
No more gains staying—use tonight for later…
"…Wait. Hold on…"
"…?"
"Bathroom…"
She set down her empty can, squirmed up, and shuffled to the living room corner.
Click. Door shut.
Just me and Lee Ha-yoon.
In the living room.
Bad soundproofing maybe?
Soon, faint drips from the bathroom.
Quietly.
Quietly.
Drips continued.
Then Lee Ha-yoon, dozing beside me, snuggled into my shoulder.
Too deliberate for sleep.
She'd been swaying like she'd bash her head moments ago—now clinging the instant her sister left.
"…"
"…"
In other words,
Lee Ha-yoon was awake.
In other words,
Lee Ha-yoon was pretending to sleep while cuddling up.
In other words,
Lee Ha-yoon wanted something from me while her sister was gone.
Bathroom drips didn't stop.
Couldn't say it in front of Lee Ji-yoon, but she'd held it forever.
Probably watching me.
Thinks I didn't notice.
Now rubbing her cheek on my shoulder like sleep-talk.
My restrained impulses boiled noisily.
If she wants it too, why not while sis is out? it urged.
You know her spots, right?
Someday…
…Sister jealous of brother,
Brother jealous of sister.
Don't you wanna see?
Slowly.
I lowered my head.
And gripped her slightly lolled chin, forcing her gaze up.
My sudden touch?
She flinched obviously—wide awake.
Ignoring her cute reaction, I gently pressed my lips to hers.
Beer breath mingled.
Plain and malty—miles from sweet candy kisses.
Savoring it, I slipped my tongue between her lips. Not deep.
Lightly.
Just grazing lips soaked in our saliva.
…Eyelashes trembling at each tongue flick.
Waist twitching like from a kiss alone.
Instead of her secret spots, I slowly stroked her exposed thigh.
Above, steadily feeding her my saliva to swallow.
Below, just the thigh, caressed slow.
I knew all her erogenous zones anyway.
Her kinks too.
As she started squirming to reciprocate—
Bathroom drips stopped.
"…"
"…"
I pulled back sharp, snapping the clear threads between us.
But Lee Ha-yoon, still dazed, mouth agape, panted hard.
Wanted to record every bit, but no time.
Quick think—I laid her sideways, hiding her from the bathroom door.
Perfect timing—flush roared beyond.
I wiped my lips with my hand, grabbed an empty can as Lee Ji-yoon emerged.
If she'd been quicker, she'd have seen me.
"…Leaving? Home?"
"Yeah. Booze is done."
"Yeeah… Unniee…"
"…"
Lee Ji-yoon went straight for her sister.
As she wedged hands under Lee Ha-yoon's armpits to hoist, I spotted her—tucked under the table.
"What'd she eat to be this heavy…"
"…"
…Booze?
Or something else?
Ears and cheeks flushed crimson.
Lee Ha-yoon, feigning sleep, dragged limply by her sister.
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