Suspiciously Close Siblings (Going Up)

I got out of my room and washed my face.

I turned my head upside down with some cold water, and my mind cleared up a bit.

I didn't dry my hair on purpose because I wanted to cool off.

As I stared blankly at the mirror, my body temperature normalized a bit.

As I came out of the bathroom to go back to my room, the phone rang just in time.

"⋯Hello."

"Oh, autumn. Brother."

"Ah, bro. What's the matter."

"I wish you a happy birthday."

Someone said it was my cousin.

What's up

"Uh, thank you."

"Autumn, do you have some time right now?"

"Hour?"

"I'll buy you dinner."

"⋯I was supposed to eat with Winter."

"I'll buy it for you until winter. Even Anna wants to see you guys."

"Your sister?"

"Uh."

"⋯I'll ask Winter and come back, wait."

"Yes."

She muted her phone for a while and went back to her brother's room.

There was no answer when I knocked, so I carefully opened the door and poked her head in.

"⋯Winter?"

"Huh."

"My cousin brother and sister want to eat together. What should I do?"

"⋯Today?"

"He said he wanted to buy me food for my birthday. He said he wanted to see you too."

"Rejecting… Would you?"

"⋯Probably so."

"⋯Okay."

When I saw my younger brother with a reluctant expression, I felt uncomfortable for no reason.

⋯Hey, Yohan is having a hard time.

Well, if the age difference is 10 years old, it would be like that.

Still, I was a little close with my cousin. Would it be okay?

I turned my gaze and turned the mic back on.

"Ah, bro. I'm fine."

"Uh, yes? Then where should we eat?"

"Since it's where you were going, I'll send it via text message. Let's eat there."

"Okay. What time can I go?"

"Six o'clock?"

"Okay. See you then."

"Huh."

I hung up the phone and put the receiver back in my pocket.

Her brother kept reading something with his nose in her phone.

"⋯Winter."

"Huh."

"⋯I'll make a reservation first."

"Yes."

It was only when I saw her nod that I was able to close the door and leave.

I didn't feel very comfortable.

***

Wearing jeans over her half-sleeved suit, she and her brother sat down at the reserved seat.

As we sat next to each other, I saw that she was no different from her brother except for the color of the T-shirt.

I'm white, my brother is black.

Why does he like black so much even though his name is Winter?

I'm not sure.

"Winter."

"Huh."

"Why do you always wear black clothes?"

"⋯By burying it."

"What."

"Something like soup or sauce. Always put it on your t-shirt."

"⋯What, is that so."

⋯ Indeed.

Due to the structure of the body, if you drop it, it will get on your T-shirt.

I stared at the menu board again.

"Brother, what are you going to eat?"

"Since there is a 4-person set, we should use this one."

"So, what are you going to choose? Pasta"

"I don't really like tomatoes, so go for cream or carbonara."

"⋯ Me too."

"⋯Looking at this, they only give you two pasta anyways? We can share it among ourselves."

"You're not going to miss my brother?"

"What if it's a hat, let's order another menu."

As we looked at the menu and chatted, someone sat across from us.

It was a cousin brother and sister who met after a month.

"⋯What are the two of you looking at so intently? I didn't even know you came."

"Ah, bro. Hi. My sister too."

"It's been a while since autumn and winter~"

"⋯Hello."

The older brother, who seemed to be very dressed up, and the older sister, who were no different from us, stood out.

⋯Why is that nobleman dressed up like that? Don't fit

"⋯What are you looking at? Weird clothes?"

"No, just."

"I was with my girlfriend and came right after the appointment."

"⋯ Isn't your brother getting married?"

"Should I even hear that from you?"

Seeing his cousin complaining as if he was fed up with it, he seemed to be subtly sympathetic.

Will I be like that when I'm that age?

But honestly, isn't it self-defeating that I haven't married the girlfriend I've been dating since middle school?

Even I've seen it a few times.

At that point, I hope you get married.

If the eldest son gets married, he won't attract less aggro to me.

"Gyeol~ I missed you unnie~"

"Yes."

"Can't I sit with her sister?"

"⋯No."

"Why?"

"⋯."

Her cousin hugged Winter and started rubbing her head against her chest.

⋯.

It's very embarrassing.

"⋯ Does Winter like her brother more than her sister?"

"⋯."

"⋯?"

⋯If you're in your late 20s this year, shouldn't you grow up a bit, sister?

Winter is uncomfortable.

"Hey, stop it. Can't you see the winter is terrifying?"

"What? What does my brother care about?"

"⋯That, a little. It's hot."

"Look. You hate dogs because you cling to them."

"⋯I was betrayed by Winter. How good I was when I was younger."

The older sister, who had been tipped off by her older brother, sat in the remaining seat as if in despair.

⋯I'm sorry

Of course, aren't siblings closer than cousins?

***

I ordered a set menu for 4 people and stumbled on the pre-dinner bread.

I always feel like this is the most delicious.

Can't you just sell this separately?

"Agaul, but don't you drink?"

"⋯To quit."

"Still, they say they'll give you wine, but why drink carbonated water?"

"⋯After I went to the army, I got better."

"Alth?"

"Alcohol crap."

As expected, he was a person who was walking towards his 30s, so he was weak at coining words.

Actually, when I first heard it, I wanted to shorten everything.

"Did you drink and crash?"

"⋯No?"

"I had an accident."

"There was no accident."

"Then you screwed up."

I got goosebumps from my older brother who knew me surprisingly well.

After all, the jjambab that was delivered to the taekwondo gym isn't going anywhere?

"Winter, what have you been doing?"

"Because I'm in high school. Studying for the SAT."

"I won't just study every day. Have you ever gone out to play?"

"⋯ With my brother. Sometimes."

"What about autumn?"

"⋯Eating, or at a cafe."

Winter nodded and replied.

⋯Why do you feel like you've become such a jjuguri today?

When I see him with friends, he pretends to be very chic.

After all, is it that older people can't draw a pulse?

"Autumn, what did you do to make Winter say that?"

"⋯I didn't do anything."

"Geo-ryeol follows you more than me."

"That's how much my sister's credit rating was lacking."

"⋯Winter, is it real?"

"⋯."

This time, he shook his head and expressed his disapproval.

It sucks.

I can see why your sister is doing that.

Am but it's still winter…

Ah.

No no no

As she kept her mouth shut, her sister, who was in a good mood again, started chattering with Winter.

90% of it seems to be what my sister says.

As she watched the conversation, her older brother asked me a question.

"Autumn, what are you doing these days?"

"⋯Winter is the driver."

"⋯What?"

"My mom asked me to pick you up from school."

"Why?"

"I thought you were afraid that you might catch a contagious disease. Well, they give me pocket money as well…"

"⋯ Well, really. It's like working part-time these days."

"That's right."

"How much time do you have left?"

"⋯Let's play."

"You too are enjoying the life of a good soldier."

I exercise, do the dishes, clean, and do housework.

I am stung by my conscience that I have been accused of doing productive activities.

Around the time when I was slightly regretting it, my older sister intervened in the conversation.

"What is it, Gae-gul said that Winter would drive the car?"

"I say so."

"Has autumn been full?"

"⋯My mom lent me the car keys."

"My second aunt's car is really nice. I envy you."

"⋯Isn't it the same as your car?"

"My brother's car has nothing to do with me. I have nothing to ride."

No, well, if it's brother and sister, can't we ride the car together sometimes?

⋯ Isn't it?

"Anyway, if you ride around in that car, you'll be attracted to a lot of girls."

"⋯I'm not walking around."

"Why?"

"Where are you going in this situation?"

"There won't be friends, girlfriends, or people to meet."

"It's been a month since I was discharged, but what?"

"Will your sister introduce you to a girl?"

"⋯Are you crazy?"

"Look at your mannerisms. Among the younger siblings that you know, there are many pretty ones, right?"

"I do not need."

"⋯If you've been discharged, don't you usually become more interested in things like that?"

"I don't like that very much. It's a bit natural… I'm looking for something like that."

"Totally kid. Aren't you watching too many movies?"

"That's my older sister…"

"⋯Sister."

While I was diligently refuting my sister's nonsense, I heard Winter's voice.

⋯What is it?

"Why, winter."

"⋯Does your sister have a boyfriend?"

This,

Crazy.

What do you do when you touch the seizure button?

My brother is fucking splitting it up.

"⋯Why?"

"Just curious."

"⋯Was there."

"Now?"

"⋯Will it happen soon?"

Seeing my older sister's smiling face made me feel creepy.

⋯ Why did you touch it? Really.

"Hey, the food has arrived. Let's eat. Let's eat."

"Uh, yes. Winter try the steak delicious."

Fortunately, the dish came out and Winter was able to put meat in his mouth.

My older brother, who giggled so much that his abs hurt, had never been so dependable.

***

After eating, I was fortunate enough not to have to say anything.

While sharing pasta with Winter, he started tapping his fork every time he tried to put noodles on the plate in front of him.

⋯ Why is this?

As a counterattack, I also tapped my foot, this time poking my side under the table.

What are you doing, really?

When I turned my head and looked, I pointed outward with a wink.

⋯.

He swallowed once and cleared his throat.

"Hyung, I'll wash my hands for a minute."

"Ah, brother. Me too."

"⋯Uh, yes."

My older brother looked at me in disbelief and said he knew, so I stood up right away.

I sneaked out and headed towards the side where I couldn't see Winter.

"Brother."

"Why."

"⋯What can I do?"

"What."

"A while ago, that… I was pissed off for a while."

"⋯Because of your sister?"

"Yes."

Winter made a worried expression and lowered his head.

⋯ What are you so angry about?

"Is your sister really mad at you? If you just go and get a little something, it will be all right?"

"⋯I guess?"

"That… Pretend you don't know. If you knew it was a Mac, no matter how much your older sister would be like that."

"Still, it's kind of a lie…"

"Why did you do that?"

"⋯ Oppa, can you stand it when Yohan says he will introduce me to him?"

"Why did it come out all of a sudden?"

"⋯Can you stand it?"

"You're in your third year of high school, but is it because your older brother is crazy?"

"⋯Assuming you graduated."

"⋯No."

⋯If I'm introducing you, you don't know,

Of course, even if I die, I won't introduce you.

Maybe if something like that happened, I would ask my brother if he was crazy.

"⋯So it was."

"⋯Go and tell your sister that you're sorry for clinging to her. If you act cute, he will like you right away."

"Yes."

After chatting lightly, he returned to his seat.

As expected, my sister was excited right away.

***

"Didn't you come by car?"

"If I had brought tea, would I have come with him? You didn't even drink wine then."

"Well… Anyway, good bye."

"Okay. ⋯Make a girlfriend."

"⋯I'll find out."

"⋯ Make it if you can."

"You should go quickly."

"I'm going, sister! Winter, see you again! Fall too!"

"Yeah, sister, see you again."

"Yep, be careful going in~"

When I finished eating and went back to the station, my brother and sister passed through the ticket gate.

We walked away from each other and saw them splitting in opposite directions without saying hello, so we moved on too.

"⋯It was fun."

"⋯Because they are pleasant people."

It was a bit chilly on the way home because the sun had set.

Maybe it's because it's short-sleeved, it looks like it's going to be autumn soon.

I turned around and saw my brother's face.

Eyelashes are long,

Although the eyes are sharp,

A strangely kind impression.

Is it because your nature is pure?

Your eyes are very similar to mine.

With my mother, of course.

"⋯Winter."

"Huh."

"⋯Let's go one more time together later."

"⋯Once?"

"Then three times."

"No. Five times."

"It's expensive over there. Even a set of four in Amman costs 140,000 won for dinner."

"⋯ Well, then. Four times."

"Okay. Four times."

I was finally able to walk home comfortably.

The weather of an early fall night walking after making an appointment with Winter

At least it wasn't quiet.