167 — Table Manners

The compliment seemed to finally be the dagger that struck her jealousy's final breath.

That petulant frown on Mia's face twisted, morphed, then dissolved into the sweetest, carnivorous, smile I'd ever had the privilege of witnessing.

All traces of murderous intent had seemingly evaporated, replaced by something akin to contentment. A successful negotiation, if I do say so myself, saving Su Ah from an untimely demise at our dear older sister's hands. Yet, as Mia's hand snaked around my arm, her fingers possessively coiling around my bicep like a vine finding purchase, I wondered if I hadn't just traded one life for my own, now shackled by this beautiful, volatile affection.

Oh, well. I was pretty okay with it. You go ahead, I'll hold them off type of situation. I was good at dealing with psychos like her, right?

For some inexplicable and unthinkable reason, I believed I was.

Still.

A girl ought not to deny her... nature. Mia's nature, in this case, being that of an incestous, borderline psychopathic little flower. She belonged to a special horticultural class of obsession where what had begun as pure love inevitably curdled into a lethal possessiveness.

And it had been given free reign ever since we got tangled in this newfound arrangement.

By now, Mia had her bottom lip held tightly between her pearly whites as she stared at me. "You... you really mean that?"

"I mean every word." I affirmed, and her grip loosened, shifting from a claim of ownership to a gentle hold. I didn't have her sharp nails biting into my skin.

"Prove it." She breathed out, mouth still parted over that last word.

"......"

I blinked.

"Prove it right now." Her fingers tightened again, not painfully. "Prove I'm your number one, Jae-il. Show me."

My gaze darted towards the kitchen, where the faint sounds of Su Ah rummaging through the cupboards created a dangerous, ticking clock.

"Right here?" I kept my voice low, a conspiratorial, incredulous hiss against her ear. "Su Ah Noona is right in there."

"So?" Mia's lips were at my throat now, a series of soft, wet kisses. "She had her turn. Now it's mine." Her other hand slid across my thigh, a clear, unmistakable path of heat that telegraphed its destination with terrifying predictability.

Mia had always been well-versed in the art of seduction, even before she lost her virginity to me. After all, it was that skill of hers that brought us to this point.

I let her do whatever she wanted for a few seconds more, her teeth grazing my collarbone. It was good. Too good.

"Later." I managed to get the word out, catching her wandering hand before it could complete its journey. "When Su Ah is asleep, or busy. Just us. Mom as well. Noona, remember? We need to be smart about this." I laced my fingers through hers, bringing her hand up to my lips for a gentle kiss on her knuckles. A small, placating gesture. "You know I'd do anything with you, anywhere. But we can't just..."

Mia paused, pulling back just enough to fix me with a look that was half-pout, half-consideration. "Fine." She huffed, though her body language had softened considerably. "But you owe me. And I'm cashing in soon."

"Of course." I agreed readily. "No argument, whatsoever, here."

"... Pft, dork." Mia rested her head in the crook of my shoulder, giggling cutely. "Have you eaten anything, Jae-il?"

"Aside from your mouth?"

"Yes, aside from that."

I chuckled. "Nothing at all." I realized my stomach was painfully empty—as were my balls, for that matter.

"Let's eat, then." Mia pushed herself up with one palm and stretched, and I knew what was about to happen. It was so predictable, and yet I could only look in stunned, semi-horrified silence as those oversized things went along an arc of their very own, hitting my nose with a lovely sound.

Thwack!

"......!"

"Mm." Mia shot me a little glance that spoke volumes and was much too innocent. "Sorry, did I bump you?"

"You..."

Mia got to her feet and shot me a mischievous grin before sauntering off to the kitchen.

I got up as well, silently shaking my head and following after her.

...

With domestic bliss temporarily restored, save for my slightly damp boxers and Su Ah studiously avoiding any eye contact that might acknowledge our earlier indiscretion, Mia opened the fridge, bending over to inspect the lower shelves. The view was the perfect embodiment of domestic exhibitionism.

As if on cue, Su Ah had moved toward the stove with determination in those lovely, downcast eyes.

"What do you think you're doing?" Mia stopped behind her.

"Minding my own business while preparing us something edible. Is there an issue?" Su Ah replied, keeping her voice maddeningly level as her slender fingers rummaged for a knife.

"I was in the middle of something—"

"So was I, Unnie."

"......"

There were a tense few moments of standstill where they stared at each other, lightning cracking between their eyes. Thankfully, it didn't last long. Maybe my words from earlier were actually working?

"I'm making the stew." Mia announced, her hand clamping down on the handle of the pot with a firmness that suggested letting go would be a personal failure. "You can wash the vegetables, Su Ah."

Su Ah didn't even blink. She just tightened her grip on the ladle she'd picked up. "Your stew is always too salty. I'll make the broth. You can chop the onions. It suits your temperament."

"Excuse me?" Mia turned, eyebrows disappearing into her hairline. "My temperament? Coming from the girl who just dragged our brother into her room by force?"

"And who was it straddling him on the couch like a shameless animal?"

"Okay, pause!" I interjected, stepping between them. "Ladies, please. I am literally vibrating from hunger here. If I starve to death because you two are arguing over who gets to sprinkle the salt, then nobody wins. Actually, the funeral home wins."

They both looked at me, then at each other.

"Fine." Mia huffed, hair flipping over her shoulder. "We do it together, but I'll chop the vegetables."

"Fine." Su Ah replied coolly, rolling her eyes. "I'll add the spices. It takes a refined palate, after all."

Mia silently growled at that.

And just like that, a shaky truce was formed.

I sat at the kitchen island, chin resting in my hands, watching a spectacle that defied all known laws of our household physics.

Mia and Su Ah somehow managed to coexist in the kitchen. They worked with a kind of brittle harmony, Mia chopping vegetables with aggressive, percussive whacks while Su Ah sorted out all the herbs and spices.

They were no masters, no chefs, and neither held back from communicating their feelings in regards to each other's cooking with small mutterings that were just loud enough to carry across the small space,

Yet... they somehow made it work. I was almost scared of saying something, in case it shattered the fragile balance they'd found. So I was content with sitting there, the fruits of their hard labour steadily materializing.

As the smell of soybean paste stew began to fill the air. Since I had nothing to do, I decided to help around by setting up the table. Three bowls. Three sets of chopsticks.

A thought nagged at the back of my mind. I tapped my fingers against the countertop.

I looked up at the ceiling.

"Hey..." I said.

Both sisters stopped what they were doing and looked at me.

"Mom hasn't come down yet."

The silence that followed was immediate. The rhythmic chop-chop-chop of Mia's knife ceased. Su Ah lowered the ladle slowly back into the pot.

"She hasn't." Mia agreed, her voice dropping an octave, losing its playful edge. She glanced at the stairs, her expression tightening.

"She's been in her room for a while." Su Ah added, wiping her hands on a towel, her gaze also drifting upward. "Since before you... helped me... right?"

Mia glanced at Su Ah, nose wrinkling.

"Yeah." I huffed. "And she was acting strange earlier. If she doesn't eat, she's going to get sick, especially if she's stressed."

I didn't mention the part where I suspected we were the reason she was stressed. I didn't have to. The guilt flashed across Mia's face, and even Su Ah looked uncomfortable, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

"I'll go check on her." I said, moving toward the hallway.

"Do you want me to—" Mia started, taking a half-step forward.

"No." I cut her off gently. "Stay here. Finish the food. If we all go up there, we might overwhelm her. I'll just... see if she's hungry."

Mia hesitated, looking like she wanted to argue, but eventually nodded. She knew, just as I did, that Eun Ha was currently suspicious of her. My presence was safer. Ironically.

I walked to the stairs, the wooden steps creaking softly under my weight. The house was so quiet up here.

I reached the door to the master bedroom. It was closed tight. I raised my hand, hesitating for a split second. My heart gave a singular, heavy thud against my ribs. I was dealing with an unusual situation, and I didn't know in what state she was.

Well, only one way to find out.

Knock. Knock.

"Mom?" I called out softly. "Dinner's almost ready."