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The younger sister's room was transformed: toys sat neatly on the shelves next to books, school uniform hung in the closet.
A white kitten was stretched out on the windowsill, squinting at the ray of spring sun that penetrated the window.
Myeong, who was standing in the doorway, chuckled to himself, "June-O had time to prepare. For sure, her mother blabbed about my upcoming visit."
On the arm of the young man was a man with a large head, blue-black bangs on his right side. He looked around curiously.
The girl waved a friendly hand in the direction of the low-legged table she had pulled up.
— Well, boys, don't be shy, please come to the table.
Mueong rolled his eyes, and his companion raised his eyebrows and boldly obeyed, slightly pulling his arm.
When all three were at the same table, Mueong tried to explain himself: "You see, Jun-O, we only came to get my things, I think mom already told you that I'll stay at Seonho's for a while..."
Sonho patted his shoulder, "Wait, we're not in a hurry..."
Myeong wanted to object, but the man continued: "And I absolutely don't mind waiting for your mother to come."
June-O smiled sheepishly: "I can imagine how glad she will be that you finally have a good friend, Myeong."
"You know, I'm just as glad as your mom," the guest replied and winked at her brother.
He had to shut up while the girl took out a stack of colorful cards from her backpack.
— How about the game "Truth or action?"
— Oh, but let's not overdo it this time, — said Myeong.
"I knew you'd say that, so don't worry, I put it off.
Pull the card first.
Myeong chose the one that "looked" directly at him.
The truth fell out.
The guy exhaled. The sister knows a lot about him, so she asks about some trifles, for example, whether he brushed his teeth before going to bed. Of course, she didn't know about any school sympathy for Seonho or his existence in general, because she was only a year old, until recently her mother casually mentioned to her when she was going on business. Therefore, Jun-O decided to cancel a shopping trip with a classmate that day.
Myeong put his fingers to his chin in full confidence, and at the same moment his gold ring glittered in the sunlight.
— This is a ring… — June-O pointed to her left hand. — When did you start being interested in jewelry?
Myeong felt caught off guard. Reflexively, he put his hand in the pocket of his jumper. The face of Seonho, who was sitting next to him, remained outwardly impenetrable, only the corners of his mouth worried as if they would not reach up.
— Oh… Well... you see, it's like a gift, very dear to me.
— Did someone give it to you? - young sister opened her thick eyelashes wide. — And who is it?
Myeong blushed even more and squeezed the hidden hand.
Seonho tilted his massive head in his direction and whispered, "Well, shall we open all the cards?"
The guy sighed, he couldn't lie about such things to his own sister, with whom he was so close. But he could not speak directly, in such an unfortunate situation and, as they say, "from the threshold". June-O may interpret incorrectly due to her age and social construct. At her school, they sit at a desk strictly boy-girl and nothing else.
— Seonho gave it to me because… Friendship is of great importance to the two of us.
Seonho added, "Yes, Jun-O, we've been going for this for a long time and to confirm my feelings, I gave him a ring that I've worn myself for many years. And, as you can see, I have the same."
The man showed his left hand.
The girl approached his hand. And she looked at her own: first on the right, then on the left and thought about it.
— Mom once had a gold ring... on her left hand. When Dad was still living with us. Does this mean…
"June, I think you've already asked one question. Now it's your turn," - Seonho interrupted her.
The girl caught herself and took the first card she saw, turned it over and blurted out: "Action. Just don't make me do push-ups.
"Myeong, calming down, replied: "It's okay, I'll ask you what's easier."
And he thanked Seonho with a smile.
So the game went on for a while, everyone was doing something ridiculous and funny, somehow Seonho had to talk to the Fluffy white cat of the family - or rather, meow, and, as Myeong noticed, even this action was easy for him, and the friendly cat jumped on his lap and let him scratch his stomach. Even the animals who met for the first time got along with this charming man.
Everything went like clockwork until the truth came out again.
And the card was not pulled by Mueong again.
And the sister did not ask the question again.
At that time, the guy came up with a very vague answer as to why he and the companion were actually wearing an engagement ring, even though both were legally single. But the girl jumped to another topic, seemingly worse than the previous one.
— Do you and Seonho sleep in the same bed?
After this question, Seonho no longer made a serious face, restrained a laugh. And Myeongui didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
— Why are you so interested in this? "What is it?" - he finally asked.
"Hey, it's not your turn to ask questions yet. - the sister retorted.
— Good… Of course, we sleep in the same room...
- And in the same bed? - June-O's eyes narrowed.
- Yes.
June turned to Seonho in disbelief.
— Your brother and I are very close friends. And I'm not even sorry to share a bed with him.
— Oh-oh-oh…
— You're spending the night with your female friends, you probably have to sleep together. Like a big family.
June-O grinned and began to stir the cards. She seemed satisfied with this answer. But for some reason, she had a smile just like the Mona Lisa.
To avoid new ambiguous questions for him, but not for his sister, Myeong decided to retire to the kitchen, make everyone a sandwich and pour tea.
Seonho pulled out an "Action" card.
— What do you want me to do? I don't mind having another chat with Fluffy.
— No, I want to restore justice," - June replied decisively and took the man to the room where her brother once lived and rolled up the bedspread. — Let Myeingui share a bed with you, as with your best friend.
Sonho wanted to refuse, but the girl insisted:
"Lie down, or don't you want to be like a big family?!
The man settled down on a single mattress, not like on the old spacious bed. And it finally dawned on him that the passions of the game had heated up enough.
June-O was complacently covering her body five times her size, not accepting any help.
When Seonho was swaddled like a baby, June said:
— And now to sleep!
— With pleasure, baby, — Seonho replied and yawned without pretense. He opened his chest and spread his arms wide.
Myeong's voice was heard from the kitchen, calling for a snack.
"You know, June-O, I slept in my bed with your brother. It will be even fairer this way.
June-O took the hint and rushed to the kitchen.
"I'm starting to like this game more and more,— Seonho thought. — Maybe we should integrate her into our friendship? Although, I must admit, the rules will be tougher."
June-O shushed Mueopd so that he wouldn't scream so loudly, because Songho was sleeping on his bed.
— On my bed?! He asked in a daze, almost spilling a cup of hot black tea on the tablecloth.
— Exactly. And you're joining him right now.
Before Myeongui could object, the girl quickly pulled his hand, and with the other grabbed a sandwich from the table.
The guy entered the former room and lost count of the manifestations of gay panic today. Seonho smiled seductively and lifted the edge of the blanket as an invitation.
His husband looked at it not with fear, but with uncertainty: "June-O, are you sure we can both fit? It wasn't very convenient for me alone."
— You won't know until you try. That's what mom says. - June replied.
— Yes, Myeobg, it's okay, you can lie on top of me, I won't let you fall. Songho supported, turning over on his back at the same time.
Myeong carefully lay down with the support of the named husband's hands. The bed creaked like a wounded wild animal.
In the cramped space, feeling the palms burning like tea on the table, pressed tightly to his chest, you will not fall, you will not escape.
The intimate atmosphere was ruined by the exultant face of the sister.
"Shouldn't we take a break, June-O?"
The girl tore off a good half of the sandwich with her teeth.
— Is that how you sleep at night?
-?!
At this time, I heard the jingling of keys and the sound of a door opening in the hallway.
— Mom! It's mom back!
"Praise the Buddha!" - thought Myeong, afraid to imagine what else this little devil would have come up with. Past "Truth-or-Action" games have faded in their awkwardness to the present day.
***
A small suitcase rolled out of the entrance with an effort. He jumped every time he hit a crack in the asphalt.
The couple proceeded to the car, Myeong walking gloomily while Seonho opened the trunk for a suitcase.
— You were in a hurry, you didn't bring enough things. I could have taken even more, I have enough space. — said the man, throwing the load into the air, proving his point,
Myeong gave him the suitcase without objection. And he looked back in fright.
Seonho read the unspoken well and bent down and smoothed his tousled hair, trying to maintain a relaxed atmosphere:
"Don't worry so much, the day was great, really, I didn't think that your sister was such a prankster. And as soon as mom copes...
— She could find out... June-O is all in her, a chatterbox. — muttered Myeong, glancing towards the house, suddenly they had already been noticed.
Seonho shook his head in doubt, "I don't think kids at that age are that spoiled. After all, she will grow up one day and understand everything."
"I don't want this beautiful day to make her worry," the guy said honestly as he got into the front seat.
Seonho joined in, slamming the door loudly and settling in at the steering wheel.
He started the engine and the car started gently. And in those moments, the usually sociable Sonho seemed sullen for the first time.
— Seonho? His husband called out warily.
— Myeong, — the serious tone in which he called the name made the whole being of the guy freeze.
The driver pulled off the main road and, after parking at the store, turned around. His face expressed hope.
— If your family really values your relationship so much, they won't care who you spend time with. I want to be closer to all of you, and to Fluffy, to learn more, as they do about me. I am ready to pull out a card with the "truth" every time for this. I won't hide anything, even how much I love you, Myeong..." he said the last thing with such warmth, as if the sun's rays had already penetrated into the cabin.
"But I won't say a word until you're ready, too." I don't want to be alone anymore.
Myeong relaxed his muscles and already reached for his face, because he could not find words that could express his gratitude.
The couple kissed tightly, pressing their foreheads, and Myeong again put his fingers on the collar of his native's coat.
Songho let go of the steering wheel and plunged his husband into his arms.
After a short time, they parted, and Myeong put his hand on his heart:
— I won't keep you waiting long, I promise.