Vol. 3 Chapter 85 – Side Story 4: To a 20-year-old Part 2  

Translated by Springlila

I took a nap. When I opened my eyes, there was a blanket wrapped around my body, which I knew had been brought for me. While still in light sleep, I turned my head to the side. On TV, there was an obvious year-end program. My gaze was drawn to Lim Dae-han, who sat directly in front of the sofa and rested one arm on it.

I was curious as to why Lim Dae-han’s house was as comfortable as mine, whether it was his own or his parents. I turned my body to the side after a brief moment of thought. The reason I thought his house was comfortable was probably because Lim Dae-han was there. Because he always prioritizes me. My body wriggled in the blanket, and I tapped Lim Dae-han with my toe.

“What is it.”

Without hesitation, Lim Dae-han looked back at me, raising the corners of his mouth cheerfully. When I didn’t say anything, Lim Dae-han turned away from watching TV and got up. Then he came up on my body.

We kissed until we were out of breath, but Lim Dae-han kissed my lips like he was starving and then parted. He licked my tongue as he moved his tongue around. When I closed my eyes tightly and opened them, he was staring intently at me. I wriggled and clenched my hand in the blanket. He opened his lips slightly, then bit my lip and sucked it.

The sound of saliva being tangled was occasionally heard. I took a short breath in and then exhaled. Kiss, kiss… The sound repeated several times. What a passionate kiss we shared. The intercom, which rarely rings, rang. We were always together, except when we were told to come to eat, so the constant ringing of the intercom in one tone was strange.

I glanced at the intercom while Lim Dae-han was constantly sucking my lips. He didn’t even move, whether he couldn’t hear or pretended he didn’t hear.

When our lips parted for a moment, I could barely speak.

“Inter, um… Intercom…”

Lim Dae-han kissed my lips one more time and then moved away. I slowly pulled his hand out of the blanket and ran the back of my hand through my moist lips. The disconnected intercom rang once more. Lim Dae-han complained quietly, “What the hell.” then approached the intercom, picked up the phone, and said briefly.

“Yes.”

Lim Dae-han’s answer was yes, yes? Oh, shit… And it ended. He hung up the phone. He messed up his short hair. The other guys’ hair was bleached and everything, but Lim Dae-han’s hair was always the same. It did fit well though. It did fit well though. Because he was a handsome man that looked good with short hair.

Should I dye it? I’m still going to college. I wanted to add some texture to my somewhat boring hair.

Lim Dae-han, who approached me, hesitated for a moment before speaking up.

“My older brother and sister are here.”

“…Huh?”

I’ve never seen his older brother and sister even after a year together with Lim Dae-han. Because they both lived separately. A light wrinkle was formed on Lim Dae-han’s forehead.

“I’ll be back. You stay here.”

After replying with a sullen face, he got up before I could say anything. Then I grabbed his sleeve.

“… Me too, I want to go.”

Lim Dae-han’s older brother and sister were distant from me. I met Lim Dae-han’s parents and Dae-ryong, but I never even said hello to his older brother or sister. And he also never told me anything about his older siblings. His older brothers and sisters arrived all at once. It was a great opportunity. No matter how large the house was, it seemed rude not to say hello.

Innread dot com". Lim Dae-han looked down at me quietly.

“Oh…”

He wrinkled his face as he let out a low voice.

When I arrived at the house below, it was silent. As I went inside and approached the living room, I heard a voice. It was a male voice with a low pitch and a female voice with a moderately high tone.

I followed him as he walked ahead of me. His older brother and sister turned around as I approached the sofa, sensing my presence. His older brother’s eyes widened slowly as he held the glass to his mouth.

“…Hello.”

I bowed my head to Lim Dae-han’s older brother and sister. Lim Dae-han’s older brother widened his eyes and completely fixed his gaze on me. His older sister left a good impression to me. It was a cheerful face that was rarely seen in Lim Dae-han’s house, which generally has a fierce impression. As I was making eye contact with his older sister, I thought of my older brother. My older brother… rarely showed a smile to his family, let alone my friends.

“What? Are you now dragging and harassing children who are much smaller than you?”

His older sister made playful jokes. I gave an awkward smile, raising the corners of my lips. I became nervous and hid behind Lim Dae-han for some reason. Lim Dae-han, who was looking at me, had a hardened expression when I looked at him.

“Ah, don’t do it.”

It was the moment I was thinking about whether he was in a bad mood with his sullen face.

“Don’t tell him he’s small.”

…Are you kidding me.

I quietly raised my eyes in response to Lim Dae-han’s words. His older sister smiled playfully, but Lim Dae-han’s older brother stared at me without saying anything. Unlike my older brother, who was always scolding me when he saw me, there was a sense of pressure. It was awkward, and I didn’t know what to do, so I stayed still.

Lim Dae-han approached the sofa first, and I quickly followed. Lim Dae-han pushed me inside and sat beside me. He resembled Lim Dae-han’s father. Although he looks like his father, he looks more like his older brother. At first impression, I had the impression that he didn’t talk much.

He said while pointing at me.

“Hyung, say hello. You’ll see him often, from now on.”

His older brother’s gaze fell on me. When I first met Lim Dae-han, the image of myself that was afraid of him reappeared in through his older brother. I shrugged my shoulders a little.

“What is your name?”

His voice was not as low as Lim Dae-han’s. He wasn’t talking playfully like the older sister, he was simply asking for my name, but it seemed like I was being investigated. With my shoulders clasped, I carefully opened my mouth.

“…I’m Ki Young-hyun.”

“Okay.”

To the blunt short answer, Lim Dae-han added these words.

“He’s shy, that’s why he likes that.”

“Ah.”

He was a new person I saw in Lim Dae-han’s house. Of course, Dae-ryong was shy at first as well, but he was young, so the feeling was different.

We ate fruit and snacks brought to us by the housekeeper’s aunt. It wasn’t particularly awkward. First and foremost, his older sister asked me questions and talked to me, and if she asked a question that made me feel uneasy, Lim Dae-han stopped her.

His older brother was either watching television, listening to our stories, or playing on the phone. There was little conversation. Nonetheless, thanks to Lim Dae-han and his older sister, we had a rather end-of-the-year atmosphere, and then we had dinner.

Because neither Lim Dae-han’s parents nor Dae-ryong were present, the four of us ate together. Food was plentiful because it was the end of the year. I was eating a lot of ribs that had been cooked on the grill. I struggled to get the meat off the bones.

His older brother didn’t eat meat; instead, he ate side dishes. Lim Dae-han ate well, as he always does. His older sister, who had been eating well, abruptly put down her spoon. “Ah, Seriously.”

Suddenly? In this situation?

She abruptly raised her voice, but her tone was similar to Lim Dae-han’s. It was clearly a family thing. Because I noticed similarities in seemingly insignificant things. Apart from that, I fixed my gaze on his older sister, who abruptly spoke with a frown. His older sister’s sharp gaze did not reach either me or Lim Dae-han. It reached his older brother.

“Take it easy.”

Why were they suddenly fighting like this? Lim Dae-older han’s brother didn’t appear to be trying to save face, but his older sister appeared to be uncomfortable with something. When his older sister’s voice toned down, his older brother made eye contact with her and responded.

“It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it? Aren’t you making a fuss about Lim Dae-han’s friend coming over?”

No… Why, all of a sudden…

The temperature dropped in an instant. I’d be concerned if his older brother was like that or if Lim Dae-han did that and it wouldn’t be this embarrassing, but I was embarrassed when his older sister, who had been speaking well so far, lowered her voice.

In the end, I had nowhere to look, so I placed the ribs I had been chewing on the rice and looked at Lim Dae-han. Lim Dae-han made eye contact with me and said to the two of them.

“Stop it. You scared him.”

Nonetheless, his older sister soothed her mouth with water to ensure her anger subsided. I gave them both a quick glance before lowering my gaze again. The silence lasted quite some time. His older brother was the first to break the silence.

“I’m sorry. It was the first time I saw his friend come into the house to play.”

“…”

“I don’t know what to do.”

“…Oh no. I’m sorry for coming all of a sudden, I…”

Peek. I looked into his older brother’s eyes and replied in a voice that sounded like I was about to disappear. His older brother and sister had probably come to visit their family, but I felt like an uninvited guest. Another brief pause followed, but Lim Dae-han broke the awkward silence and spoke.

“Then give him some pocket money. The atmosphere is not good because of you.”

Suddenly? Lim Dae-han turned away when I looked at him. “Oh,” his older brother said. He then rose from his seat. He then went into the living room and got his wallet. He was about to hand me 50,000 won bills but I refused, and he placed them on the table. Then he smiled cautiously, but strangely, I could see Dae-ryong in his figure.

“Just take it.”

Lim Dae-han also urged me to do so. “…Thank you,” I replied, taking the money. “I’m glad Dae-han’s friend here,” his older brother said, looking at me. We’re not exactly friends… I felt a little bad, but I didn’t say anything because, in his older brother’s and sister’s eyes, I was just close friends who came over to play.

After that, the atmosphere lightened considerably. Perhaps his older sister said it on purpose. His older brother, who spoke once, asked me many questions, including where I lived, how my older brother was, if we went to the same school, and how we became close. I was too preoccupied to respond, and every time Lim Dae-han looked at his older brother then turned his head towards me.

While we were talking about school, his older brother chuckled at my light reply.

“Hahaha, did he act cute towards the aunts who give out meals every time he eats?”

His bright smile was very similar to Lim Dae-han. I also wondered if Lim Dae-han would be like that when he was older. His hair was slightly longer than that of the current Lim Dae-han, and he appeared to be an adult. He still had a childish side, no matter how mature he appeared, but his older brother was more mature than that.

I was staring at his older brother, who had a face that reminded me of Lim Dae-han without realizing it. I felt Lim Dae-han’s gaze, who was obliquely touching me from the side, and I met his eyes belatedly. It had to have been a stupid expression. Unsurprisingly, Lim Dae-han wrinkled his brow. Then he looked at my rice bowl.

“You’re done eating. Let’s go up.”

Lim Dae-han said that and got up. I also got up suddenly.

“Oh, I’ll also go up. Thank you for the meal.”

I expressed my gratitude and followed him. The back view of Lim Dae-han going upstairs was a little different than usual, but I was just thinking about how difficult it must have been for him to be the middle ground between his older brother and sister, as well as me.

***