These Dangerous Girls Placed Me Into Jeopardy

He didn’t come home...

Why hasn’t he come back yet...?

I remember night study ends at 9:00, right?

Walking home from school takes at most thirty minutes. If he walks fast, he’d be home in twenty. And knowing my brother’s routine, he should’ve grabbed a hot canned coffee from the vending machine near the park and sipped it slowly on his way home. Even with that, it’d take forty minutes, tops.

Maybe a teacher kept him after class. But the school building gets locked by 10 p.m. at the latest — the staff on duty all leave by then too.

And now it’s already 11, and he still isn’t back.

I want to call him. I want to run out and find him. I want to throw myself into his arms right now...

But I have to hold it in. I have to.

What if he just took a detour or went to a net café to pull an all-nighter? If I call him, he’ll know I was worried about him.

I absolutely cannot let him find out I love him.

I’ve been hiding this for years. I can’t let something this small expose everything. I have to think long-term. If he ever found out, Cora would definitely tell him everything I’ve done.

We made a deal: During the day, he’s hers. At night, he’s mine.

If Cora spills everything I’ve done... if that happens, my serious, upright brother would definitely cut ties with me.

I can’t let that happen. I won’t let that happen.

But still... not being home at this hour is just too strange...

Just then, Cora’s bedroom door opened a crack. She poked her head out and looked at me standing in the hallway.

“Big brother’s still not back?”

“Mm.”

“Ugh... which slut lured him off this time...”

Cora bit her thumbnail and furrowed her brows, her eyes flashing dangerously.

Only in front of me does Cora drop the act and show her real face. Maybe Mom knows what she’s really like, but Dad, big brother, and everyone else has no idea.

And honestly... I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

Cora only acts sweet and obedient so our brother will like her. And it’s true — he does like kind, gentle little sisters.

But I can’t pull that off. I’m the type with a flat expression and a cold personality... If I could be even a little more like Cora, maybe he wouldn’t treat me so stiffly...

Though I guess we’re alike in that way. That part of me... kind of makes me happy.

“Ugh... fine, I’m counting on you, Serena. ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) Please wait up for him!”

“Mm. You go ahead and sleep. I’ll wait here.”

The door closed. Though I’m sure Cora won’t actually sleep. She’s just pretending so she can keep up the obedient act in front of him.

Time passed slowly... Around 1:30 a.m., I heard the front door open.

He’s back.

He’s finally home... Calm down. Stay calm, Serena An. Don’t let him realize you were waiting for him.

In the dark, I could make out his silhouette. I called out to him:

“Who’s there?”

“Ah, it’s me... You’re still up, Serena?”

He looked like he was heading straight to bed. He probably didn’t expect me to be waiting here. He turned toward the second floor and flipped the hallway light on. I was standing right there.

“Whoa!”

He jumped, stepping back. I took a step forward and asked:

“Why are you home so late?”

“Uhh...” 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

His eyes darted upward... Was he hiding something?

“What are you looking at?”

“N-No, nothing... Thought I saw a bug or something... Uh, why are you still up this late?”

Such a lie. Why is he this nervous? Don’t tell me — is Cora right? Was he seduced by some skank?

I felt my mood souring. My tone turned even colder.

“I just got up to get a drink. Don’t change the subject. Why are you home so late?”

“I, uh... fell asleep at the park...”

This time it seemed genuine. When he lies, he always rubs his nose. But this time, he touched the side of his head — which means he really was at the park.

My mood lightened. I kind of wanted to throw myself into his arms.

But I had to wait until he was asleep.

He’s a heavy sleeper. As long as I move quietly, he won’t wake up.

But it’s already after 1 a.m.... What if he just stays up? Then I wouldn’t be able to...

No. I want to hold him.

I have to make sure he falls asleep.

I tried to sound casual as I walked down the stairs:

“I’m going to boil some water. Want anything to drink?”

“Oh, then... maybe make me a cup of coffee? I forgot to grab one earlier... Huh?”

He forgot to buy coffee? Then he wasn’t just asleep in the park. Something must’ve happened...

But even if I asked, he’d never tell me.

My mood sank again.

“Wait! You don’t have to! I’ll do it myself!”

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m just doing it on the way.”

I went downstairs, distracted, and grabbed a cup. If I wanted to make sure he fell asleep... I’d have to use Dad’s sleeping pills.

I crushed one into the coffee and brought it back up to his room, placing it on the desk.

“I put it on the desk.”

“Oh, uh... thanks...”

I never usually do things for him. This time, making him coffee — he’d definitely be touched and drink it right away. That’s just how kind my brother is.

Now all I had to do was wait thirty minutes for the pills to kick in.

Half an hour later, I quietly slipped into his room.

The drug had taken effect. He was fast asleep.

I walked over to his bed and looked at his sleeping face.

“Big brother...”

I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I called out.

“Big brother... big brother...”

Right now... he’s mine. All mine. My brother...

I climbed onto the bed and hugged his left arm. I’ve done this countless times. Every single day of the year — I’ve never missed one.

“Big brother... big brother... big brother... big brother...”

His scent filled my nose. I just wanted to hold him like this forever...

To leave a mark on his face...

“Big brother... mm...”

His breathing got heavier. That’s when I realized — my left hand was pressing down on his chest.

Even if he drank the sleeping drug, if I move too roughly, he might still wake up.

So I just lay there, holding him, until 5 a.m. It was about time to leave.

Beautiful moments are always fleeting.

As I climbed out of his bed, I couldn’t resist planting one last kiss on his forehead.

Serena loves you, big brother...

Really, really loves you...