Mixed-Blood in a Gender Role Reversed World - Chapter 64

 Chapter 64 :

*Tap-tap-tick-*  

Shin Hayul, with a flushed glow on her soft cheeks, tapped away at the keyboard.  

Unlike the clean desk, empty beer cans were scattered messily across the floor.  

It was clear evidence that Shin Hayul, who was already weak to alcohol, was quite drunk.  

“Ugh…”  

Shin Hayul, who had been typing, clutched her throbbing head and squinted.  

Thinking of getting some cold water, she tried to stand, but her movement was halted.  

*Snore, snore.*  

It was because of Maru, who was sound asleep, using Shin Hayul’s thigh, exposed under dolphin shorts, as a pillow.  

(…Why are you sleeping here?)

(Did I put you up here?)

(Did Maru ask to be lifted?)

Despite the flood of questions, Shin Hayul’s fingers gently brushed Maru’s soot-black nose bridge.  

Watching Maru’s nose twitch even in sleep brought a smile to her face, along with a fleeting memory.  

(Noona, did you know? Petting a dog releases oxytocin.) 

There was only one guy who called her “Noona.”  

When she asked Sehwa what oxytocin was, he said it was the happiness hormone.  

“…Seriously, who gives medicine and then causes pain…”  

Just looking at Maru made her heart swell with warmth.  

Even watching from afar, she was fine.  

So why did she have to witness that scene?  

Borrowing the courage of her drunkenness, she let out a quiet sob, but nothing seemed to improve.  

*Tap-tap-*  

With a face that looked like it might burst into tears, Shin Hayul resumed typing.  

Title: Is there anyone who’ll listen to my story…?  

Post: It’s not my real brother, but I have a younger brother I truly cherish. He calls me “Noona,” laughs a lot, and is close enough to casually visit my place where I live alone. He’s super pretty, kind, and considerate, so I wanted to treasure him. But recently, I saw him going into his place with two girls… He’s still a high schooler, so I want to gently give him some advice about this, but is there a good way to do it?  

*Tap.*  

Her fingers stopped with a final crisp sound.  

All that was left was to post it.  

“Sigh…”  

(…Should I not post it? Is it okay to post something like this?)

Hesitation crept into the hand holding the mouse.  

Feeling her heart race with drunkenness, Shin Hayul placed a hand on her chest.  

But instead of her heartbeat, all she felt was her barely-there chest.  

With her hand hovering over the rounded shape, an inexplicable wave of emotion hit her.  

“…I’ll just post it for a bit. Then delete it.”  

A few minutes after posting, comments started trickling in.  

In truth, the post was more about venting than solving a problem.  

(So much attention?)

Curious about the comments, Shin Hayul clicked the mouse with a pure expression.  

Comment 1: A high school guy teasing and then doing that right in front of you… Damn, that’s hot.  

└ I’m imagining this poster calling her “brother” and hearing weird noises, and it’s even hotter lol.  

“…!?”  

Biting her lip, Shin Hayul deleted the first comment.  

Comment 2: “Close enough to casually visit.” = He doesn’t see you as a woman. “Wanted to treasure him.” “Minor.” = Planning to raise him and eat him up when he’s an adult. But if I were you, I’d be sad thinking about a guy who called me Noona and smiled like that doing that… No, wait, that’s hot as hell lol, so pathetic.  

└ At the stage of opening up to each other, you’re filming a pure love story, then two girls barge in. The brother, overwhelmed by a new sensation, never comes back… One day, while silently watching and crying, a video gets delivered to your house…  

“Ah… No way.”  

Shin Hayul lowered her head. Her clenched fists trembled with anger.  

“What do you know to talk like that…”  

Was it a mistake to post on this site in the first place?  

She just thought it was nice that replies came quickly…  

She didn’t care if she was mocked, but she had turned Ryu Sehwa into a plaything for strangers.  

Overwhelmed with guilt, Shin Hayul’s expression became like Maru’s before a bath.  

With drooping eyes, she moved to delete the post when another comment appeared.  

Comment: So, what are you trying to say? You know “giving advice because you’re worried” is nonsense, right? Judging by the fluff in your post, you’ve got feelings for him… If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have written this. Drunk, huh?  

└ …Yeah.  

└ Knew it. Your post screams it. You can’t openly like him because he’s a minor, but seeing him with other girls drives you crazy. People call you a pushover a lot, don’t they? Maybe not a pushover, but too nice or frustrating.  

└ …Maybe a little. Like, once a year?  

└ LOL, I called it. Did you think he’d call you Noona and visit your place without knowing anything? You’re torn because it’s ambiguous. Here’s the deal: if you want to know if he’s playing you or not, spark some jealousy. Instead of being clingy, subtly tease him like it’s no big deal. Works like a charm, trust me. Oh, but if you don’t have the goods, forget it.  

└ Goods?  

└ Face or body. Bye.  

“…”  

After the conversation ended, Shin Hayul quietly deleted the post.  

But one word lingered in her mind, undeleted.  

(…Jealousy.)

It wandered aimlessly in her mind, even after she turned off the computer, took a shower, and fell asleep holding Maru.  

---

My daily life remained peacefully unchanged even on Wednesday.  

I went to school, met Mina, and headed to the gym.  

Yeah, everything was going smoothly.  

“Sehwa, am I hitting it right?”  

“You’ve improved a lot. Relax your shoulders a bit more.”  

Beads of sweat glistened on Mina’s forehead as she hit the punching bag.  

She’s working hard… That empty thought was all I could muster.  

“Sehwa, are you feeling okay?”  

“No, I’m fine, Team Leader.”  

Sia, who had approached unnoticed, lightly touched my shoulder.  

“Really? You don’t look so good… You can tell me if something’s up.”  

“I’m okay. Just have some things on my mind.”  

I waved her off and pulled out my phone.  

The message I sent to the tattoo artist still hadn’t been read.  

She used to reply daily, but since this morning, nothing.  

And tomorrow’s the tattoo appointment.  

“…Guess you’re waiting for someone?”  

“Just some business. Like a secondhand deal…”  

I lied smoothly and sank back into thought.  

“…Is there something on my lips?”  

“No, no. Just wondered if you put something on them… They’re really red.”  

Sia, who had been staring at my lips with a slight frown, flusteredly backtracked.  

“I didn’t put anything on.”  

“…Not even your skin?”  

“Touch it if you don’t believe me.”  

Irritated at being treated like a guy here, I tapped my cheek.  

It’s all because of the guys around here slathering on BB cream.  

Out in the city, it’s like seeing pale eggheads floating around.  

At least they haven’t invaded the realm of eye makeup yet.  

“…Alright, I’ll touch it.”  

While I was lost in thought, Sia’s trembling fingers reached for my face.  

But before they could make contact, Mina grabbed her hand.  

Mina’s cold eyes contrasted sharply with her smiling mouth.  

“Unnie, aren’t you going to work out?”  

Sia twisted her lips slightly and pulled her hand away.  

“Came to spar. With Sehwa.”  

“Sorry, I’m not feeling great today. Can we do it another time?”  

In this state, I’d just get pummeled during sparring.  

I couldn’t focus, not with the tattoo artist ghosting me a day before the appointment.  

“For real? Are you sick or something?”  

Mina’s face bloomed with concern.  

“…If you’re sick, you should rest.”  

I apologized again to Sia, who looked away.  

As I left the gym with Mina, parting ways with Sia, she spoke.  

“Where are you going?”  

“Home. You should head back too, Team Leader.”  

“Don’t make me waste a trip. Both of you, come with me.”  

Sia turned sharply, her hair flowing like a coat as she beckoned.  

“…So annoying. Is her car the only thing she’s got to show off?”  

“Mina.”  

“…Yeah.”  

I sighed at Mina’s muttering and placed a hand on her head.  

“I wish you wouldn’t say stuff like that.”  

“Okay… Sorry.”  

“Why are you getting all down? Shoulders up.”  

I ruffled her hair with a small smile, and her sulky face finally softened.  

Mina, who changes so quickly at my words, worries me.  

She wasn’t like this at first.  

What did I do to make her so attached?  

All we’ve done is kiss once and hug a few times.  

Even as we rode in Sia’s car, nearly reaching home, my worries about Mina piled onto my existing concerns.  

What can I do? I just hope she doesn’t go overboard.  

I’ll try to help her not rely on me too much.  

Being paralyzed by love is foolish.  

With that resolve, I turned to Sia, who was driving diligently.  

“Team Leader, could you stop by the convenience store for a sec?”  

“Why?”  

“I feel bad always riding in your car, so I want to buy you a coffee.”  

“…You don’t have to… But if you want to, I’ll take it.”  

Sia’s response stretched as long as the corners of her mouth.  

_______________________________________

 by Reversalmanhwa.web.id  

/ Reversalnovel.web.id