168 - I Unknowingly Rejected My Favorite

EP.168 #168. His Secret Preference As I had predicted, my brother's contact list was impeccably clean. Though I was tasked with inspecting it, I never truly suspected him. Because, after all, I trusted him. Yet, my trust was shattered in a most unexpected way. “...What is this?” I couldn't determine exactly what the content was, but the title alone seemed dangerous. Next to the label [I Confined Her] was an adults-only 19+ tag. The thumbnail, which appeared to be an image from the content, showed a woman dressed provocatively rather than scantily, biting a T-shirt with her teeth. “Ah... uh... well...” My brother's pupils quaked as if he wanted to respond, but he quickly snatched my phone away. “Ow! Give it back! What are you doing!” “Weren’t you only going to check my contacts?” “I wasn’t snooping around, you know?” I was speaking the truth. I stumbled upon it by accidentally pressing the back button. Blocking me from taking the phone back, he raised his arm high above, reminiscent of a dad teasing his child. “With a girlfriend who's an idol, you still watch stuff like that?” “I didn’t... it wasn’t me.” “Then who was it?” “Y-Yunjae just recommended it to me. I simply said I'd check it out.” “There’s a ‘continue watching’ button right there.” “Yunjae insisted that I absolutely had to see it.” A peculiar tension filled the space between us. My brother was left speechless, and I was left staring him down. “So, are you going to watch it?” “Come on, I wouldn’t watch that... not when I have you.” “Really? Oppa, I know you’re full of mischief.” “Hey, I’m telling you, I’m decent enough. Maybe you just don’t know how it usually is.” We couldn’t just continue this standoff forever, so I decided to let this one slide for now. “If you promise not to take my phone, come over here and sit.” “Hang on. Let me wash up first.” As my brother headed straight to the bathroom to wash his hands and face, I thought I’d sneak another peek at the phone. As soon as I heard the water running, I unlocked it again. [Nobel World] [I Confined Her] [Han Gyeoul] Although he claimed Yunjae recommended it, it seemed a lie. Considering the purchase mark beside it didn’t look like Yunjae had done the purchasing. As soon as the water stopped, I returned the phone to its place, pretending as if nothing had happened. “Oppa.” “Yes?” “I think I should have a stern word with Yunjae.” I moved onto the bed, sitting on top of him, looking directly into his deep, black eyes. “About?” “About not recommending weird stuff to you.” “Oh... no need for you to do that. I’ll just refuse next time.” “No, oppa, you’re too nice. You’ll just end up agreeing.” I knew better than anyone that behind his stoic exterior, he was actually a rather tender and fragile person. He was the type who wouldn’t leave his room, meticulously crafting a song as a gift for his girlfriend. “Still, don’t bring it up with Yunjae. Otherwise, he’ll whine and invite me to drink.” Tsk. Always covering for him. Feeling it was time to change topics, I steered the conversation in a new direction. “So, oppa.” “Yeah?” “This is unrelated to today, but I'm curious.” My brother swallowed nervously. “Do you... still watch explicit stuff after we started dating...?” It was an awkward and delicate question, but we should be able to talk this much now. Given how openly we’ve shared our thoughts and even been intimate, I hoped he would answer without reservations. “Uh... well... sometimes? Just sometimes?” “...Really?” “But honestly! Hardly ever! No need when you’re always around.” His response was amusing, prompting a giggle from me. “It doesn't sound like you find me all that attractive.” “No, come on. I really like you.” “...Really?” “Of course.” It felt as though he wanted to prove his affection through actions. He lifted me off his lap, laying me flat. “See? It’s because I want to be with you right now.” Despite the odd angle making anyone look less attractive, his flawless white skin was enviable, even to me, a woman. “Anyone can say it.” Provoked by my tease, I was taken aback when his hand slipped under my shirt. “...Oppa?” I felt my ears burn. “I’m not just talk.” His lips descended onto mine. * * * Waking up on a morning filled with the warmth of shared body heat. Rising from his chest, I let out a big yawn with half-closed eyes. “Ha... Mmm...?” There was a strange sensation in my mouth as I tried to close it after yawning. When I opened my eyes wide in surprise, I found oppa mischievously looking at me with his finger in my mouth. “Ah! What are you doing?” “It’s a good morning greeting.” “Ptooey, ptooey.” As I made spitting noises, he playfully pinched my cheek. “Are we having breakfast here?” “Yeah, I’d like to.” “But there’s nothing at home.” “Not even ramen?” “Ramen for breakfast doesn’t sound great, does it?” True, but why ask then? “So, what do you want to do?” “Let’s eat out.” “Okay.” After quickly getting ready, we arrived at a snack shop. He ordered a squid rice bowl, and I opted for pot udon. “Busy today?” “Have to head to classes after this.” “Is everything going well? Nothing too difficult?” “Yes, the teacher is pretty laid-back. It feels more like learning for fun rather than any kind of burden.” His relaxed expression assured me that my worries were unfounded. “And you, Doa? Are you busy today?” “Not much during the day... but I have a broadcast at night. The music video’s coming out the day after tomorrow, so I'll be discussing with the members as well.” “Got it.” “Yeah. While I’m in my meeting, you better not be watching anything weird again, okay?” Caught red-handed, my brother coughed awkwardly and nodded. “Of course not! Let’s both do our best today.” After parting ways in front of my house, I returned and collapsed onto my bed. “Ah... I don’t want to work...” Though I wasn't immediately faced with any tasks, the idea of working was still unappealing. Lying in bed, humming our new song, I fiddled with my phone, browsing through social media. Ah. Maybe I should check it out. The thing my brother was caught with yesterday. Clearly recalling the name, I logged into the site called Nobel World. The title [Where Everyone Shares Web Novels!] greeted me. Searching for [I Confined Her], the result was a cover blurred with mosaic. I tried to click it, but the site prompted me to sign up to verify my age for adult content. Sigh... Am I really signing up for this? Feeling a bit sheepish, I decided to proceed with the verification. Alright. To understand my brother's secret little hobby, I can do this much. I wondered if I had to purchase anything, but the first part was free, so I only intended to read the complimentary section. [Illustration Collection of All Time] Since I often read comics and wasn’t completely out of touch with illustrations, I clicked without much thought but found myself inhaling sharply. Risque. No, calling it risque might be an understatement... This is...? How could someone illustrate like this... Hastily hitting the back button, I opted for the prologue. Already shocked once, my mouth hung open as I read the novel's content. What... is this... [Bark.] [Jinseong pulled on her collar with amusement.] [Breathing became difficult, but Sooyeon had no right to refuse.] [P-Prince...] [Her timid voice barked like a dog’s.] [There was no more self-esteem left to damage, and no courage to resist.] [Sooyeon no longer saw Jinseong as an equal human being.] [He was an overlord over her.] [And she existed solely beneath him, endlessly serving.] [Good girl.] [Her body trembled with his praise, showing how utterly broken she was.] [Being asked to assume the posture of a dog removes one’s human language.] [Sooyeon couldn’t even respond to praise with words.] [P-Prince...] [Blushing red, Jinseong merely chuckled at her distress.] This... is this my brother’s taste...? Nibbling my nails, I couldn’t help feeling extremely perturbed.