Chapter 14: I Will Never Date You!

Change (4)

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"Hoo."

Only after Ihyun left the house did Siwoo let out a deep sigh and sit down.

"What am I going to do with her..."

She has all of Ihyun's habits, from A to Z.

Just like Siwoo had gotten drunk in front of Ihyun before, Ihyun had also gotten drunk in front of Siwoo. Usually, she doesn't lose her mind completely. She remembers everything the next day, too. She just seems nauseous like now, and staggers a bit.

Maybe that's why Ihyun was able to somehow take Siwoo home even when they were both drunk.

Come to think of it, Ihyun probably had a clear head this time too. Well, of course, she was drunk, so she couldn't be completely normal, but she was probably just a little less discerning, but still remembered how to find her way home.

Ironically, even though Ihyun was drunk, the place she headed to was Siwoo's place.

"..."

Siwoo ran a hand over his face.

Of course, he had no intention of doing anything to Ihyun. It would have been the same even if it wasn't Ihyun, but another woman. No matter how pretty or how good her figure was, taking advantage of someone who's drunk is problematic in many ways.

But that doesn't mean he doesn't have any thoughts at all.

The fact that Ihyun might be mentally okay made him feel even stranger. Ihyun coming into Siwoo's place. Ihyun going to the bathroom.

He had even put on earphones to avoid hearing the sounds from inside, trying to ignore it as much as possible.

"Haa."

Where Ihyun had been, there were two empty banana milk bottles. Yiseul hadn't noticed them when she dragged Ihyun out.

He scratched his head and picked up the trash.

He thought this much was only natural.

Siwoo had spent his childhood with his grandmother. Both his father and mother were busy with their business. They had never been poor, but both of them traveled all over the country and often went abroad when they were busy with their business. Until the lower grades of elementary school, Siwoo was raised by his grandmother.

Only after the business had settled down to some extent did his father and mother take Siwoo to Seoul and settle down.

And the first friend he met there was Ihyun.

"..."

When his grandmother passed away, Ihyun was the first to come to the funeral and silently helped with the work until the last day, and he was also the one who silently stayed by his side whenever Siwoo was having a hard time.

So he can't refuse her now just because something like that happened. He didn't really want to, either.

But at the same time, he's embarrassed every time something like this happens. How should he treat Ihyun?

Will he be able to adapt over time? Will he be able to accept Ihyun as a normal friend again somehow, and just treat her naturally?

He doesn't know.

It's only been three days, though.

At least, so far, Ihyun thought she didn't know.

(T/N: I think it's supposed to be Siwoo here, but it's Ihyun in the raws. Might be a mistake, if it is, i'll edit this later)

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The subway ride home.

My sister and I didn't say a word for a while. To be honest, I don't really know why my sister is so angry.

It's not like I've never been drunk before. Before I got sick, I often went out drinking with Siwoo until late at night.

It's not like my sister doesn't know that.

"...Hey, Kim Ihyun."

"What."

She was just calling me by my name, but I've been calling her that so naturally for so long that I don't really care anymore.

At least she used the word 'oppa,' so this must be her way of expressing that she's angry.

"You drank and went to Siwoo oppa's house."

"Well, yeah. I thought I needed to use the bathroom."

"The bathroom."

My sister covered her eyes with her hand.

There weren't that many people on the train. Maybe it's because it's a weekday. The time I was drinking with Siwoo was just after the end of the rush hour, so there probably wouldn't be many people now.

So there weren't many people who could hear our conversation. Probably, it would be drowned out by the sound of the train, so you wouldn't be able to hear it unless you were close. That's also why I'm talking a little more comfortably.

My sister seemed very angry at my actions, but at the same time, she didn't know how to express it, so she couldn't say anything.

In the end, my sister, who had been groaning without saying anything for an hour on the way home, saw me after I took a shower and asked.

"If you had gotten something dirty on you, were you going to take a shower at Siwoo oppa's house?"

"...No, but I couldn't go to a public bath."

"You should have gone to a public bath."

"What?"

"Go to a public bath."

"Hey."

I didn't understand what my sister was saying and said.

"Even so, that's not right."

"Why? Don't you want to show your body to other women?"

"That too, but... I'll see it."

I don't think of it as a 'benefit' or anything. The idea that you'll definitely get eye candy if you go to a public bath is just something from fictions.

But whether I like it or not, if the other person finds out, isn't it practically a crime?

"They're just people you'll see once and never see again if you just go in anywhere. You can just wash quietly in the corner. It's the same with the bathroom. If you just go to a public bathroom, you won't see anything anyway. It's not like you're going to pee with the door open."

"..."

I stared at my sister.

"So, you're saying that me going to a public bath is better than me going to Siwoo's house? The same goes for the bathroom?"

"Yeah. That's right. You'll have to get used to it eventually anyway. Where are you going to go if not Siwoo oppa's house?"

A few examples came to mind.

This time, I was drunk and my head wasn't working properly, so I refused a place with only one stall like a cafe bathroom, but next time I can use a place like that.

But that's not what my sister wants to hear.

"I'll take care of it."

I said that and tried to pass by my sister, but she grabbed my wrist.

"No, listen to me."

My sister glared at me and said.

"It's a little weird to say this..."

My sister bit her lip slightly. As if she was really choosing her words.

"Wandering around drunk is dangerous. Without any other friends."

"Siwoo was there."

"That's the problem. So, if it wasn't Siwoo oppa... what if you had another friend? Would you go to that friend's house and take a shower? Would you drink alone with them and stagger home, and go to the bathroom? Would you borrow their clothes?"

"Hey, why are you thinking like that?"

"..."

My sister was just glaring at me silently.

Only then did I understand what my sister was trying to say.

"...So, you're saying that Siwoo might do something like that?"

My sister closed her mouth.

"Hey, you know that Siwoo called you, right?"

I said, shaking off my sister's hand.

"He's not the kind of guy who would do that."

"I know. I've known him since I was a kid, so I know."

It seemed like many thoughts were running through my sister's head. A feeling of wanting to convey her thoughts but not being able to.

She probably doesn't suspect Siwoo either. She's known him for that long.

"...Oppa."

My sister barely opened her mouth.

"What would oppa think if I said I was sleeping at Siwoo oppa's house while drunk?"

"I—"

The word "It's okay" got stuck in my throat and wouldn't come out.

So, to be honest, I wouldn't be too worried. I don't think it would be strange if my sister and Siwoo were dating. It would be natural, rather.

But, if that were to happen.

My promise to Siwoo that I would gladly vacate the room if he got a girlfriend suddenly came to mind. It can't be helped if I can't hang out with my friend on the weekends. If he has a girlfriend.

However, I can't easily imagine myself being stuck between his girlfriend and Siwoo during meals or anything like that.

No matter how much they trust me, it feels a little weird. It's awkward, and I feel like I'll make a mistake for no reason.

...I know what my sister wants to say.

So she's trying to tell me, 'It's better to avoid being alone with a man as much as possible.' Especially while drunk, because you don't know what might happen.

But still, I don't want to suspect Siwoo, and above all, that thought keeps coming to mind first.

If they start dating, I won't be able to meet Siwoo alone anymore. It would be different if I were a man. But I've become a woman.

"...Okay. I know what you're saying."

I took a small breath and said.

"I'll be careful from now on. Then how about this? I won't go into a stranger's house alone even while I'm sober?"

"...Well, that much is fine."

My sister still had a very uneasy expression, but she nodded in the end.

"I want to rest a little, is that okay?"

My parents haven't come home yet. They both often go on business trips. I'm glad I didn't show them this side of me directly.

My sister frowned as if she still had a lot to say, but again, she nodded in the end.

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