Chapter 20: Unveiling Truths

“Ah, that’s because Bora and I call each other by our names. Harang learned that from watching us.”

“Uh, yeah. That’s right.”

As Raxy mumbled, I nodded in agreement.

However, the viewers’ questions didn’t end there.

[But why is your surname Kang?]

[Yeah, isn’t Bora a Raxy?]

[It’s probably just a nickname; Bora’s nickname is also JjangaBora, right? Haha.]

“Of……”

That’s true.

Our surnames are different.

Perhaps Raxy Bora hadn’t thought of it either, as she looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“It’s okay.”

I nodded at her to reassure her.

It meant it was fine to speak the truth.

“……Harang’s surname is Kang. We’re not blood-related, but she’s my sister.”

[You know Raxy Bora’s situation well, so why mention it?]

[If you grew up together, you’re family.]

They were both(Yoon and Raxy) from an orphanage.

That’s why no one knew who was older or younger.

Thanks to that, viewers mistook me for someone who also came from the same orphanage.

As if we were a ‘family’ who had grown up together.

[It’s possible for family members to have different surnames, and you can call your sister by her name too.]

[I also use informal language with my older sister, Kim Seoyeon.]

[Hey, you too? Me too, haha.]

[?]

Phew

I was relieved that the viewers handled the situation with light jokes.

I sighed internally, and it was then that Raxy Bora spoke up.

“Actually, Harang does call me ‘unnie.’”

“Uh, what?”

When did I ever call her ‘unnie’?

I was a bit taken aback, but this was her broadcast.

I was the one who barged into her show and created this situation.

Even though I dreaded saying it, I had no choice but to do it.

I couldn’t ruin her broadcast because of me.

“Y-yeah. I’m sorry for calling you ‘unnie’ by mistake.”

“Huh!”

Bang-!

Suddenly, Raxy Bora slammed her head down on the desk.

“What, what’s wrong?”

I hurriedly ran over to her.

I tried to adjust her back and head, but she showed no signs of getting up.

“Wh-why all of a sudden…?”

[Ah! I almost died too! What was that?]

[You killed her! You killed her!]

[With that reaction, it makes sense to die.]

“Ah, I’m not dead! I’m breathing……………!”

When a person collapses, you should help; is that something a person should say?

Broadcasting was indeed not easy.

There were mischievous people hidden among the viewers.

“What should I do…!”

I reached out my hand toward Raxy Bora’s face to check her condition.

However, her head was buried on the desk, so it didn’t move.

“Raxy! Come to your senses, Raxy!”

I shook Raxy Bora’s head.

As I was wondering why she suddenly fainted and if I should call an ambulance,

“Ta-da!”

Suddenly, Raxy Bora lifted her head.

“Ugh!”

It was so unexpected that I was startled.

Her tail almost shot up to her head.

“You saw that? If you call me ‘Unnie,’ I might die.”

[No way, haha, your sister really surprised me!]

[I’ve never seen someone so innocent in my life, haha.]

[Did you really think I’d fall for that, meow!]

Raxy Bora’s mischievous voice and the viewers’ playful comments made me realize I had fallen for a bad prank.

“O…!”

I clenched my fists and glared at Raxy Bora.

She was making a face as if she was trying to hold back laughter.

“I-I…!”

I was genuinely worried!

My face was burning as blood rushed to my head.

I turned my back on Raxy Bora and ran away.

‘Oh.’

I still had to finish the lemonade.

I turned back to grab the lemonade.

I wasn’t being greedy; I just couldn’t leave behind the kindness Yoon Bora had shown me.

Gulp—

I quickly downed the cup of lemonade.

“Ugh.”

The carbonation stung, so I paused for a moment.

Even then, Raxy Bora was watching me with a smile, which made me feel embarrassed.

That became the motivation to drink the lemonade again.

“Ah.”

After confirming the cup was empty, I dashed toward the stairs.

I heard Raxy Bora calling me from behind, but I didn’t stop.

I was embarrassed that I had been fooled so foolishly.

As I sat on the sofa, my face still burning, I saw Yoon Bora appear in the distance.

“What happened?”

“…Nothing happened.”

Honestly, nothing had happened.

I couldn’t exactly call my embarrassment over running away ‘something that happened.’

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Yoon Bora’s curiosity about this situation was burdensome.

Nothing really happened.

“Did something happen?”

“… I just called Raxy ‘Unnie.'”

“What, what did you say?”

Yoon Bora grabbed my shoulders.

I couldn’t even react because it happened so quickly.

“Why, why are you doing this, Bora?”

“What did you just say, Harang?!”

Yoon Bora shook me back and forth.

My vision blurred, and she appeared as multiple figures.

“Ah, ugh.”

“Harang? You said you called Raxy ‘Unnie’?”

I wanted to answer her question, but my head was spinning, and I couldn’t open my mouth.

I just felt out of it, making a strange sound, ‘Ueek,’ and only then did Yoon Bora let go of me.

“My, my head.”

“Harang?”

I felt dizzy and blood rushed to my head, so I collapsed onto the sofa.

But somehow, the place I laid felt soft.

It was much warmer and cozier than the artificial fluffiness of the sofa.

‘What is this…?’

I saw Jinhyang’s chest and face above me.

I must have ended up lying on her thigh while she was reading.

“… Move.”

“Ugh!”

I was startled and tried to get up, but I was dizzy, so I couldn’t manage it.

I kept getting up and lying down again and again.

Repeating that action multiple times, I bumped my head against Jinhyang’s thigh.

“… What are you doing?”

“Um, I feel dizzy.”

I wanted to get up because I was scared, but my head was spinning.

As I continued to bump my head on Jinhyang’s thigh, she pressed my forehead down.

“Stay still if you’re going to lie down, and get up quickly if you’re going to.”

“Yes?”

Can I lie down?

Looking up at her with a slightly surprised expression, she plopped a book on my face.

‘… So it’s a bookrest.’

That makes sense.

I was lying on Jinhyang’s thigh, serving as her bookrest.

‘Now I can’t move again.’

I wasn’t even sleepy anymore.

As I lay there in a situation where I couldn’t see anything, suddenly,

Poof—

The sofa sank near my feet.

I guessed Yoon Bora must have sat there.

“Harang, did you call Raxy ‘Unnie’?”

“Yeah. Because of the broadcast.”

“Why because of the broadcast?”

“People got suspicious since I didn’t call my sister ‘Unnie.'”

As I said that, I felt something was off.

I was clearly starting to act as Yoon Bora’s little sister.

It felt like it had become a foregone conclusion.

“Bora.”

“Yeah?”

From today, I would shed my little brother role.

I lowered my voice and opened my mouth toward Yoon Bora.

“From now on, call me ‘Oppa’ or ‘Unnie.'”

“I don’t want to.”

“Yeah.”

That was not an option.

Yoon Bora thought while massaging Harang’s legs, which were asleep.

‘She’s been sleeping for over ten hours today.’

I was worried if there was any health issue.

Yoon Bora looked at Jinhyang, wondering if she knew something about Harang.

“Unnie.”

“… What?”

“Isn’t Harang sleeping too much?”

At Yoon Bora’s question, Jinhyang turned the page of her book.

“Kittens sleep for twelve hours a day.”

“Excuse me?”

Kittens?

What does that mean?

As Yoon Bora was puzzled, she noticed the book in Jinhyang’s hand.

How to Properly Raise a Cat.

‘Cats?’

Yoon Bora’s gaze dropped down.

Toward Harang’s sleeping face,

Though it was hidden beneath Jinhyang’s book, Harang was definitely like a cat.

Her sharp teeth that showed when she yawned, the way she curled up while sleeping,

The tail that moved according to her mood, and her sulky yet cute expression.

All of it resembled a cat’s traits.

‘Ah ha.’

Each of those behaviors was similar to a cat’s habits.

As Yoon Bora realized something, she nodded her head.

“Unnie.”

“… What?”

“Can you lend me that book when you’re done?”

In response to Yoon Bora’s question, Jinhyang turned the page again and said,

“… Sure.”

“Hehe.”

As expected, Jinhyang was the best.

I was charmed by her indifferent yet caring nature.

Yoon Bora chuckled.

“But Unnie, shouldn’t we delay Harang’s work hours?”

“When fatigue accumulates, you can delay it sometimes.”

“Why?”

“Because her instincts come out strongly when she’s tired.”

“Ah ha.”

Yoon Bora didn’t doubt Jinhyang’s words.

Jinhyang must know the habits of those with sudden transition syndrome better than anyone.

‘So cool.’

Just then, while I was looking at Jinhyang with admiration,

Yoon Bora saw Jinhyang close her book and turn her head toward her.

With a very slow pace that could be ingrained in her mind.

“Bora.”

“Yes?”

“Aren’t you curious why I brought her?”

Jinhyang lifted the book to reveal Harang’s face.

“…?”

Yoon Bora silently looked back and forth between Jinhyang and Harang.

Didn’t she have any intention of revealing anything related to Harang?

Yoon Bora swallowed nervously.

“Then why not investigate Lee Tae-seong?”

“Lee Tae-seong?”

“Yeah. You want to know what it is, right?”

“That is…”

The reason Jinhyang suddenly brought up a heavy topic.

It must be due to the trust that she would take care of Harang.

Realizing this, Yoon Bora slowly nodded her head.

Her principle was not to betray the trust given to her.