Chapter 3 Tension In Bed

• I don’t know how long I was asleep, but the real world slowly crept back into my consciousness. My eyes were still heavy, my eyelids resisting opening, but I didn’t want to let go of the embrace of this plush mattress. This nap felt like the best of my life, far from the hard wooden bed in the village that creaked with every move.
• I pulled the bolster closer, rolling to my side with a long sigh, my body sinking deeper into the mattress that seemed to swallow all my worries. But when my eyelids finally parted, my heart seemed to stop. Elin was there, lying on her side next to me, her face just inches from mine. She wore a small smile, her large brown eyes gazing at me softly, as if I were something she was studying carefully.
• “You awake, Riko?” she asked, her voice gentle and warm, though there was a playful tone I couldn’t quite decipher.
• I jolted. Since when was she here? My mind spun chaotically, trying to piece together fragments that didn’t make sense. I remembered closing the door to my room—or had I forgotten? But a thought crossed my mind: this is her house; of course,, she could get in.
• “Y-yeah,” I stammered, my voice sounding foreign to my own ears. “But… why are you here?” I looked at her, searching for answers in her face, which remained calm—too calm for a situation like this.
• Elin laughed softly, her voice gentle, completely unfazed by my obvious nervousness. “What’s the big deal? It’s my house, I can go wherever I want. Besides, you’re my little brother now. What’s wrong with me coming into my own brother’s room?” she said, her eyebrow raising slightly, her smile widening as if daring me to argue. Her slightly messy hair fell over her shoulder, a few strands brushing the white sheets, making her look more relaxed.
• I opened my mouth to protest, but no words came out. She was right—logically, I had no grounds to complain. This was her house, and she’d chosen me as her “adopted brother.” But her presence on this bed, so close I could smell the faint perfume on her body, made it impossible to think clearly. My heart pounded.
• “From now on, don’t call me Elin anymore. Just call me Sis,” she continued, still gazing at me, her smile lingering, but there was something in her eyes—a glint I couldn’t interpret.
• I nodded stiffly, then slowly sat up, leaning against the dark, carved wooden headboard, trying to calm my racing heart. The sheets were crumpled beneath me, and I realized how small I felt on this huge bed, in this huge house, in front of Elin, who somehow always left me speechless. Elin sat up too, her movements light, her long black hair swaying softly, a few strands still clinging to her smooth shoulder. Her thin housedress clung to her body, revealing subtle curves that made me quickly look away, my face heating up again.
• “You haven’t eaten, have you?” she asked suddenly, her voice cheerful again as if the earlier moment had never happened.
• I paused, only now noticing my stomach growling. Strange—I hadn’t felt hungry before, maybe because I was too exhausted, too mesmerized by the luxury around me, or too busy processing Elin’s presence. But now that she mentioned it, hunger hit like a spark, gnawing at my stomach fiercely. “Yeah, Sis. I haven’t eaten,” I answered honestly, my voice a bit steadier now, though I still stole glances at her, trying to figure out what lay behind her smile.
• Elin got up from the bed, her steps light as she walked to the table by the large window showcasing the view of the housing complex outside. There were already several plastic food containers there, maybe ordered online while I was fast asleep or even earlier as if she’d planned everything. “Come on, let’s eat together,” she said, opening one of the containers, the aroma of crispy fried chicken and warm rice instantly filling the room, mingling with the sharp scent of spicy sambal that stung my nose. My stomach growled louder, and I couldn’t help but smile faintly—at least the food felt real, something I could hold onto in this increasingly confusing situation.
• I nodded, then walked to the bathroom in the corner of the room, its frosted glass door with a silver handle cold to the touch. I splashed my face with cold water from the modern faucet, the clear stream washing over my skin, still sticky with travel sweat. I washed my hands at the glossy marble sink, the large mirror in front reflecting my tired, confused face—my brown eyes slightly red, my hair disheveled. This bathroom was too luxurious for me, its white tiles clean as snow, the shower with a large head hanging on the wall. I was starting to get used to these little surprises, but each time I saw them, I felt like a village boy lost in a palace.
• After wiping my face, I returned to the room and sat beside Elin at the table, which was too large to be just a regular desk. It might be a study table, but with its wide, dark wood surface and cushioned chair beside it, it felt more like a dining table for two people trying to understand each other.
• We ate in silence, only occasionally interrupted by the sound of plastic spoons touching plates and my still-unsteady breathing. The fried chicken was crispy, the sambal spicy but just right, and the warm rice felt comforting. But the curiosity itching in my chest finally became too much to ignore.
• I swallowed my last bite, then looked at Elin, who was chewing calmly, her hair swaying slightly with each movement of her head. “Elin, uh, Sis,” I said, awkwardly correcting myself, “why are you being so nice to me? We only met today.” I stared at her, trying to read her expression, searching for a crack in that beautiful, ever-smiling face. “If you’re expecting something from me, you shouldn’t get your hopes up. I’m just a village boy from a simple family. There’s nothing special about me,” I continued, my voice trembling slightly, but I wanted to be honest—or at least, to coax honesty from her.
• Elin stopped chewing, her spoon pausing in midair for a moment. She turned to me, her gaze sharp, a strange glint in her eyes that made me swallow hard. “I don’t care if you’re from a simple family or a rich one,” she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. “You’re handsome, Riko. Your physique is great too. I want to feel it.” She bit her lower lip, her eyes briefly dropping to my chest before returning to my face, and my heart raced.
• My initial suspicions roared back, like a loud whisper in my head I couldn’t silence. Was this what she wanted from me all along? The thought froze me, my hand gripping the spoon tighter, unsure how to react. I remembered her smooth, fair calves revealed at the stall, her dress fluttering in the breeze, and now, her presence on my bed earlier—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle I couldn’t fit together.
• But then Elin burst into laughter, her crisp voice shattering the tension that had nearly choked me. “I’m kidding, Riko! I told you, you’re my little brother now. What’s wrong with being nice to my own brother?” she said, nudging my arm lightly, her warm touch startling me.
• I smiled awkwardly, but inside, I wasn’t convinced. Her earlier words—about my looks, my physique—felt more honest, more real, than the joke she threw out afterward. There was something in her tone, in her eyes, that made me think she wasn’t entirely kidding. But I had no proof, nor the strength to challenge the situation. I was just a village boy lost in Elin’s world, and she held all the control.
• “Come on, don’t overthink it. Let’s finish eating,” she continued, focusing back on her food, her spoon moving gracefully as if the earlier conversation was nothing out of the ordinary.
• After eating, Elin quickly cleared the leftovers, her hands deftly packing the empty containers into a plastic bag. She then walked to the glass door in the room, which turned out to lead to a spacious balcony, its cold handle gleaming as she opened it, letting the evening breeze flood in.
• I followed her, my feet stepping onto the polished floor, and my eyes widened at the view outside. The balcony connected every room on the second floor, stretching along with a transparent glass railing that showcased the housing complex below—grand houses, shiny cars, and neatly trimmed trees like a perfect city painting. On the balcony, there was a gray lounge sofa with plush cushions, a small rattan table with a vase of dried flowers, and even a corner with simple gym equipment: dumbbells, a workout bench, and a jump rope hanging neatly on the wall. The sun was dipping west, its rays blocked by tall buildings, making the air here cool and pleasant, carrying the faint scent of flowers from the yard below.
• Elin sat on the sofa, crossing her legs casually, her thin housedress clinging to her body, revealing subtle curves that made me quickly look away again. With a practiced motion, she pulled a pack of cigarettes from her dress pocket, her nimble fingers taking one and lighting it with a small match. Thin smoke curled into the air, swirling like a dance before vanishing in the breeze.
• I couldn’t hold back. “Sis, you smoke?” I asked spontaneously, unable to hide the surprise in my voice.
• She glanced at me, her eyebrow raised with a half-teasing expression. “What’s the problem? Don’t women smoke in your village?” she said, taking a slow drag, the smoke slipping from her lips gracefully, like a scene from an old movie.
• “There are some,” I replied quickly, “but they’re grandmas.” I instantly regretted my words, worried she’d be offended, but Elin just laughed, her crisp voice breaking the evening silence, like tiny bells swaying in the wind.
• “Haha, maybe that grandma smoked when she was young too,” she said, her eyes glinting mischievously. “Do you smoke?”
• “Sometimes,” I answered briefly, not wanting to dwell on it.
• My eyes then caught the gym equipment in the corner of the balcony, the dumbbells with comfortable rubber grips, the workout bench with a leather cushion, and the jump rope hanging like it was waiting to be used. In the village, I exercised with makeshift tools and old cans filled with cement or went for morning runs along the rice field paths. Seeing this equipment, my hands itched to try it. “Sis, can I use the gym equipment there?” I asked, pointing to the corner, hoping to distract myself from the earlier conversation.
• Elin exhaled smoke, the tip of her cigarette glowing red briefly before fading. She smiled, tilting her head slightly. “You’re my little brother, Riko. Use any facility in this house as you like. No need to ask anymore,” she said, her tone casual but with a warmth that made me feel a bit more at ease, if only slightly.
• “Thanks, Sis,” I said, then walked to the gym corner, my feet feeling the cool wooden balcony floor. I picked up a pair of 5-kilogram dumbbells, their weight feeling just right in my hands, far more comfortable than the rough cement cans back home. I started lifting, falling into the familiar routine from my teenage years, up, down, up, down—and slowly my body warmed, my muscles swelling with each rep. Sweat began to bead on my forehead and neck, dripping to the floor.
• Occasionally, I glanced at Elin. She was still on the sofa, her cigarette nearly finished, its ash falling slowly to the floor. Her eyes never left me, their sharp gaze like an eagle watching its prey, but there was something in them—desire, perhaps, or mere curiosity. I couldn’t read it for sure, and it made me increasingly uneasy.
• Sweat made my shirt cling to my body, sticky and hot. Without thinking, I set the dumbbells down and pulled off my shirt, wanting to feel freer, the cool air instantly sweeping over my damp skin. I went to pick up the dumbbells again, but the sound of approaching footsteps startled me. Elin was standing in front of me, faster than I’d expected, her dress fluttering lightly in the evening breeze, revealing a glimpse of her smooth, fair calves that made me quickly look away, my heart racing again.
• I hurriedly grabbed my shirt from the floor, intending to put it back on, but Elin’s hand gently stopped me, her cool fingers on my wrist. “What’s wrong, Sis?” I asked, my voice trembling, my body frozen under her gaze.
• She looked at me, her eyes dropping to my stomach, tracing the lines of muscle formed from years of hard work in the village, before returning to my face. “Your abs are amazing, Riko. I love the muscles,” she said, her voice low, almost a whisper meant just for me. Her fingers lightly brushed my skin at the edge of my stomach, making me freeze. “You’re really perfect,” she continued, her gaze filled with something I couldn’t decipher—perhaps a desire, or something deeper, darker.
• I swallowed hard, trying to regain control, but my heartbeat felt like it wanted to leap out of my chest. “Sis, I’m your little brother, right?” I asked, my voice nearly gone, hoping those words could restore the boundaries blurring between us.
• Elin smiled faintly, her hand pulling away from my stomach, but her gaze didn’t waver. “Yeah, that’s why you shouldn’t take your shirt off in front of me next time. It’s tempting, you know,” she said half-jokingly, but there was a serious undertone, like a warning disguised with laughter. She stepped back, her dress clinging to her body again, revealing subtle curves that forced me to keep my eyes on her face.
• “I’m going back to my room; it’s getting late. I need to shower,” she said, her tone light again as if nothing had happened.
• I nodded stiffly, words stuck in my throat. “Sorry, Sis,” I mumbled, not knowing what else to say.
• “It’s fine,” she replied with a smile, then turned to leave the balcony, her steps light as if she carried no burdens. The glass door to her room closed softly behind her, leaving me alone on the balcony that suddenly felt too vast.
• I let out a long sigh, relieved but confused, the tension from earlier still lingering in the air like a shadow that wouldn’t leave. I picked up the dumbbells again, trying to distract myself, my muscles straining with each movement, but my mind couldn’t escape Elin. Her words, her touch, her gaze, they all felt like a game whose rules I didn’t understand.