Chapter 9
[9] Oppa, I Have One Wish.
“Which bitch was it?”
Sia’s icy words rang through the restaurant.
For a moment, the entire place fell silent.
“Sia, let’s step outside and talk.”
Hoping some fresh air and a little time would help her cool down, Minjun took Sia by the hand and led her outside.
Fortunately, she followed without protest.
“So, which bitch was it, Oppa?”
“The blonde sitting diagonally across from us.”
“Oh. That bitch.”
An ordinary person might have struggled to remember someone they had only glanced at, but she already remembered the faces of everyone inside the restaurant.
“So what did you do?”
“I told her I couldn’t give her my number, obviously. She kept pushing, so I made it very clear I wasn’t interested.”
“…”
Minjun’s answer was perfect, but her expression showed no sign of softening.
Of course, she understood intellectually that other women might find him attractive. Experiencing it firsthand, however, had come as quite a shock.
But then—
“Sia, are you angry?”
“…”
“Look at me, Sia. Look into my eyes.”
Minjun gently cupped her face in both hands, guiding her gaze toward his.
The face that had looked as volatile as a ticking time bomb only moments earlier gradually began to redden.
Though she was trying not to show it, Minjun could tell that deep down, she felt insecure.
They had been apart for an entire year, and the Sia who had returned was no longer an ordinary human like him.
‘For now, this is the only way I can reassure her.’
He wasn’t sure it was the best solution, but it should at least be the next best thing.
Without warning, Minjun pressed his lips to hers.
Hard enough to take her breath away.
“…!”
Her eyes widened in surprise as their lips met.
But she didn’t push him away.
Instead, as though she had been waiting for this very moment, she gently rested her hands on his waist.
“Why would I ever look at another woman?”
When I have you.
After the deep kiss, Minjun lightly kissed Sia’s cheek.
Gradually, the light began returning to her eyes.
“I trust you. Of course I do.”
This time, she kissed his cheek.
Once things had settled down, the two returned to the restaurant.
“Feeling a little better now?”
“A little.”
Her icy expression had softened considerably. She certainly seemed calmer than before.
But no matter how much Minjun had soothed her, her anger toward that woman hadn’t disappeared.
“Oppa, could you go to the restroom for a moment?”
At Sia’s sudden request, Minjun was about to reply, “But I don’t need to,” when their eyes met.
I don’t want you to see me get ugly.
She didn’t say it aloud, but Minjun understood her intentions perfectly from her gaze.
“Then… I’ll be right back.”
He obediently rose from his seat, as if to say he understood.
Once Minjun had stepped away, Sia glared at the woman who had tried to get his number.
Apparently without the slightest trace of guilt, the woman was happily chatting with her friend over their meal.
Looking at that revolting face, Sia felt her anger surge again.
My Minjun. The man I waited 2,500 years for.
How dare she.
How dare some nobody like her covet him without knowing her place?
And the things she said while asking for his number were ridiculous. Who is she to decide it’s fine? She knew perfectly well he had a girlfriend, and she still asked? Even while her own friend was trying to stop her? What, there’s nothing wrong with just being female friends? Look around. How many women here could see my Oppa’s face and not fall for him? But none of them say anything, do they? Because they know he has a girlfriend. They admire how handsome he is and leave it at that. They don’t have the disgusting idea of asking for his number when they know full well he’s taken. Right?
A bitch who can’t even behave like a decent human being…
Needs to be taught a lesson.
“You. Come outside for a moment.”
Sia stood before Hwang Yeonju, her expression frigid.
But—
“Why should I?”
Even after seeing Sia’s expression, the woman snapped back shamelessly.
Sia folded her arms and glared at Hwang Yeonju.
Releasing the dragon’s killing intent she had been suppressing, she spoke again, slowly and distinctly.
Her words carried Dragon Fear.
“Come. Outside.”
After briefly stepping outside at Sia’s request—or rather, her order—and returning, I sat staring at the freshly served tteokbokki, waiting for her.
“When is Sia coming back?”
I didn’t know for certain, but she was probably giving that woman an earful over what had happened earlier.
‘I would’ve done the same in her position.’
Still, I hoped she would keep it within reason, settle her feelings, and come back soon.
It wasn’t that I was worried about the other woman. It just felt like this was spoiling what should have been a lovely time together.
As I sat waiting for Sia, the restaurant door opened.
The woman who had asked for my number staggered inside.
Her hair was a tangled mess, her face was deathly pale as though she had seen a ghost, and her makeup was badly smeared.
‘What on earth happened?’
One glance was enough to tell that something was wrong.
She finally sank into her chair on trembling legs, clumsily gathered her belongings, and headed straight back out.
Her friend called after her, but she seemed unable to hear a word, focused only on escaping the restaurant.
Left with no choice, her friend hurriedly paid the bill and chased after her.
“…What on earth happened out there?”
I didn’t know the details, but Sia had probably taught her a lesson.
I decided to leave what that involved to my imagination.
Knowing might be hazardous to my health.
While I was thinking that, Sia returned.
“Sorry, Oppa. Did I keep you waiting?”
“No, it’s fine. Have you calmed down now?”
“Yes. I really am fine now.”
Her expression was much brighter than before, so I decided not to think about that woman anymore.
“The tteokbokki just came out. Let’s eat before it gets soggy.”
“Okay. You should hurry and eat too, Oppa. It’ll get cold.”
We were chatting over the tteokbokki when something occurred to me.
“Oh, right, Sia. What’s in that bag?”
“Huh? You didn’t open it, Oppa?”
“No. It’s yours.”
Apparently pleased with my answer, Sia flashed her signature radiant smile and held out the shopping bag.
“It’s a present for you. Here.”
Inside was an expensive pair of wireless earbuds.
The ones I was using had been acting up, and I had been thinking of replacing them.
But those had also been a gift from Sia, so I hadn’t been able to bring myself to do it.
“So you went to buy these earlier, not to the restroom.”
“Yeah. I was going to surprise you, but…”
Sia trailed off.
If it hadn’t been for that woman, we might have enjoyed an even sweeter moment together as she gave me the gift she had planned.
Sensing her disappointment, I simply pulled her into a tight hug.
“Who cares about that? Thank you so much.”
At my thanks, her eyes curved into a pleased smile.
“Is there anything you’d like, Sia?”
“No, no. Just being here with you is a gift in itself.”
She waved her hands.
“Still, try to think of one thing.”
“Hmm.”
At first, she looked thoughtful. Then her eyes began to gleam.
“It’s not a gift, but I do have one little wish.”
“I want to try role-playing. Just once.”
Role-playing?
That was a somewhat unexpected answer.
I wasn’t sure whether Sia had always enjoyed that sort of thing, but it didn’t sound particularly difficult, so I decided to indulge her.
“What kind of scenario?”
“A younger guy and an older girl who were close and used to play together in the neighborhood as kids.”
That was unexpected too.
“So I’d call you Noona?”
“Just for one day. No, even half a day would be fine. I want to try it just once. Would that… be okay?”
Like a little girl who had spotted a doll she loved at the store, Sia gazed up at me with bright, pleading eyes.
How could I turn her down when she looked so earnest?
“Sure. It wouldn’t hurt to try it once.”
“Really? Then can we start right now?”
Had she wanted to try this that badly?
“You should’ve told me sooner if you wanted to do something like this. It’s hardly difficult.”
“Thank you, Oppa!”
The instant I gave her permission, the look in Sia’s eyes changed.
The innocent college freshman was gone, replaced by a mature woman who suited the title “Noona” perfectly.
“Minjun.”
“Whoa. You startled me.”
Hearing Sia address me so casually for the first time sent goosebumps all over my body.
Still, I had to play along.
“Yes, Noona?”
It felt incredibly strange to call Sia “Noona” when she had always called me “Oppa,” even before we started dating.
At that single word, the corners of her eyes lifted with delight.
As if being called that had been her wish all along.
“Want to come over to my place for some ramyeon?”
At that moment, Sia truly seemed like an older woman.
A wolfish older woman eager to devour a younger man.
***
In the early hours of the morning, while Sia slept soundly, I woke up and stepped out onto the rooftop for some fresh air.
“Whew.”
She had asked me to call her Noona for just half a day, so for exactly that long, I had called her “Sia-noona” and acted as though I were younger.
Perhaps because she had become so immersed in the role, Sia had treated me like a man much younger than herself.
‘Has Sia always been this mature?’
I had thought I knew so much about her, but this experience had shown me otherwise.
As for whether I had disliked it—
‘I liked it even more.’
Something like this every now and then could be nice.
I still couldn’t forget the seductive look in Sia’s eyes, so completely opposite to her usual innocent demeanor.
As I stood in the cool breeze, lost in thought, I gradually began to feel sleepy again.
I decided to head back inside, where Sia was waiting.
But just then—
“Urgh.”
A sudden, sharp pain shot through my chest, unlike anything I had ever felt before.