Chapter 14
Chapter 14. Oppa, How Do I Look?
“Ah.”
Noticing my bewildered stare, Sia abruptly became conscious of the odd way she had been gripping her utensils and set them down in a hurry.
“W-What in the world was I… doing just now? Oppa, listen, that wasn’t—”
Her hands fluttered back and forth in a frantic wave as she tried to convince me that she hadn’t harbored any hidden intentions.
Of course I was well aware it was entirely accidental; beyond that, seeing her cheeks flush crimson with sheer mortification was undeniably endearing.
I figured playfully nudging her a bit more wouldn’t hurt.
“Don’t sweat it. Anyone can get clumsy when their mind is spinning. Though you weren’t genuinely aiming to skewer me, were you?”
“No way, absolutely not!”
If I poked fun at her any further, that playful jest might actually become reality.
Reassuring her that everything was fine, I reached for a thick king crab leg packed with tender meat.
She had the magical prowess to extract it in an instant, yet having her partner handle it with care would carry an entirely distinct charm.
I painstakingly freed the succulent meat from its hard casing, arranged it neatly on a small plate, and passed it across the table to Sia. Her features melted into a delighted, tender grin that showed just how pleased she felt.
The rest of our dinner unfolded in a gentle, cozy harmony.
“Phew, that was wonderful.”
Sia gave her comfortably stuffed tummy a charming little tap.
“Shall we make our way over to the villa and unwind now, Sia?”
“Yes! I’m already bouncing with anticipation. You’re thrilled too, aren’t you, Oppa?”
“Without a doubt. The preview shots from earlier looked fantastic.”
Though the two of us had ventured out on various excursions since becoming a couple, staying overnight at a pool villa was brand new territory for us, which naturally dialed up our excitement.
The destination was only a short distance away, so we took a casual stroll on foot.
“Incredible.”
“We made an amazing choice, Oppa, right?”
“Truly. My Sia definitely has great taste.”
Radiant lamps cut through the evening darkness, casting a glow over the charming miniature courtyards below.
Gazing slightly upward, the secluded swimming pool designated solely for us shimmered softly under the gentle moonlight.
We sorted out the check-in formalities without delay and proceeded straight to our suite.
A breathtaking night vista paired with the gleaming, tranquil pool water immediately greeted our eyes.
Having arrived at a private pool villa, diving right into the water felt like the obvious next step.
Yet, due to how spontaneously this getaway had been arranged, neither of us possessed appropriate swimwear.
I began turning toward the door, intending to head down to the front desk to inquire about rental options, when Sia caught my attention.
“I brought our gear.”
Her hands were completely bare, yet remembering her true identity as a dragon, it seemed plausible she had stashed them away in a dimensional pocket.
“In that case, I only have to pick up something for myself.”
“Nope. I grabbed a pair for you as well, Oppa.”
“…For me too?”
It turned out she had been genuinely enthusiastic about going for a swim.
Just when had she managed to secure an outfit for me? Could she have possibly found the spare time to do that?
A lingering sense of confusion tugged at me, though I decided against overanalyzing it.
“If you were that eager to get into the water, Sia, you could have simply told me straight away. I really wouldn’t have minded in the least.”
“To be honest, I preferred being in a secluded spot with only you, Oppa. A quiet retreat without any strangers around. Just the two of us together.”
A rosy tint crept over her cheeks once again, born of bashfulness.
“A private corner where nobody else could watch us, keeping the moment entirely ours.”
That explained why she had seemed indifferent when I brought up swimming earlier, all while intentionally reserving a private pool villa for our stay.
“Wait, hold on. Oppa, there’s a quick errand I need to run, so just hang tight for a second.”
“Understood. Make sure you don’t take too long, alright?”
“Don’t fret. I’ll be back before you even notice.”
Once she saw Minjun step into the suite, Sia vanished from the premises and invoked Teleport.
The pressing task she had to complete was, in fact, purchasing suitable swimwear.
She hadn’t actually packed any outfits beforehand. Having only recently returned to the mortal realm, when would she have found the window to browse for one?
There was only a single motive behind her little fib to Minjun.
‘I need to pick them out right this second.’
She was determined to select the attire with her own hands.
While swimwear might appear to be ordinary fabric intended for splashing around, scarcely any other garment could accentuate physical allure and feminine or masculine traits quite as distinctly.
Sia intended to accentuate her own womanly grace through her chosen piece, while equally wishing to see Minjun display his masculine appeal in something she had picked out solely for him.
Spending this intimate, private retreat draped in cheap, generic borrowed suits was completely out of the question.
‘Perhaps the person I used to be would have settled for that.’
However, the present Sia could never abide by it.
It would be fine if she were merely traveling with relatives or casual acquaintances, but in this setting, such crude gear would entirely ruin the romantic atmosphere.
Besides, her grandfather had provided her with an abundance of funds, so she activated Teleport and materialized inside a luxury department store in Seoul.
‘What sort of design will bring out the very best in my Oppa?’
And what daring piece should she put on if she wanted to catch Minjun completely off balance?
The bashful Jung Sia who had timidly confessed her desire for privacy only moments prior was nowhere in sight.
“Hehe. I can hardly wait. I’ll pick them out instantly and dart right back to Oppa.”
Having already scouted a handful of prime candidates on Minjun’s mobile earlier, the entire shopping venture wouldn’t demand much time.
Her eyes bent into playful, crescent arches.
While Sia stepped out on her brief errand, I wandered around our lodgings to explore the premises.
“This really feels like heaven on earth.”
Taking in such a marvelous vista without Sia beside me almost felt like a missed opportunity.
I wondered when she would return, though her assurance suggested it wouldn’t be an extended wait.
Sure enough, after roughly ten minutes of solitary waiting, the chime rang out alongside her cheerful tone through the door.
“Oppa, I’m back!”
I swung the door open without delay.
She was carrying a substantial paper shopping tote.
“What’s… with all of this?”
“Treats! I figured we’d work up an appetite after splashing around, so I gathered some refreshments. Munchies, a couple of canned beers, and our swim clothes are packed in here too.”
“So that was the reason you slipped away. You could have let me accompany you.”
“No need, it’s completely fine.”
Sia began retrieving the purchased goods from inside the bag.
Assorted nibbles, soft drinks, some alcohol, and at last, my swimming trunks came into view.
“Still, Sia, where did you manage to get this pair so quickly?”
I had swept the question aside before, but reconsidering the situation, it felt rather peculiar.
For what reason would she have been carrying a pair of men’s swimming trunks in the first place?
“The truth is, I just popped into a department store and picked it up.”
“You went out just to buy these? We could have simply worn the rental suits available downstairs.”
It struck me as an excessive amount of trouble for something so minor.
“I really didn’t want to settle for borrowed swimwear tonight. That’s why I went and grabbed a set for each of us, Oppa.”
Though the logic didn’t entirely click in my mind, I refrained from probing any further.
If this was what brought her joy, that was all that truly mattered.
“You managed to acquire all of this… in such a short window?”
“Yup.”
Two brand-new swimsuits alongside an assortment of snacks and drinks.
I briefly questioned whether such a feat was physically doable within minutes, until I remembered that geographical boundaries meant nothing to someone capable of casting Teleport.
“Alright, I’ll go slip into mine over in that room.”
Keeping her own outfit completely concealed until the grand reveal, Sia clutched the remaining bag and playfully darted into an adjoining chamber.
She truly possessed a knack for stoking my curiosity.
Resolving to see what kind of ensemble she had picked out in just a moment, I stepped into the other room to change into my trunks.
“So this represents Sia’s personal preference.”
We had browsed through apparel shops and coordinated outfits for each other countless times, yet picking out swimwear for one another was an entirely new experience.
Perhaps that was why the situation felt so wonderfully refreshing.
Wondering what aesthetic she had settled on, I pulled out the fabric with a flutter of anticipation.
‘Wait, is this all?’
Before me lay a straightforward pair of plain dark trunks.
Perhaps customs differed across other countries, but back in Korea, wasn’t it standard practice to pair trunks with a rash guard?
My personal habit leaned toward wearing one whenever I swam, so the prospect of strutting around with an uncovered torso felt somewhat awkward.
Yet viewing the choice from another angle, had she intended for me to wear a rash guard, she surely would have purchased one to complete the ensemble.
Since she had purchased solely the shorts, it meant she specifically preferred me to wear just them.
I made up my mind to sport the exact attire Sia had selected for me.
A lingering shyness remained, but with nobody else around to watch, it hardly mattered.
Once I had changed into the swimwear, I stepped out toward the pool to await her arrival.
‘What sort of style did Sia end up picking for herself?’
The image of Sia ingrained in my memory had perpetually leaned conservative.
Throughout ordinary daily life, and even back when we visited a water resort together in the past, she had persistently steered clear of skimpy garments.
That suggested an overwhelming likelihood that she had selected an outfit offering maximum coverage with minimal exposed skin.
Perhaps something resembling the full-body suits worn by competitive athletes.
‘…Then again, if that were her goal, she could have easily settled for a rental here.’
Given that flashy styles were out of character for her, it didn’t make much sense why she would journey all the way to a luxury department store to acquire one.
Unless there was a very specific silhouette she had set her heart on.
Just then, her voice resonated in the air.
“Oppa!”
Evidently, she had concluded changing and was stepping outside at last.
Yet the instant I turned my gaze toward her, my breath caught entirely in my throat.
Where on earth had the modest, reserved Sia I knew vanished to?
Sia was strolling toward me, offering a cheerful wave while dressed in a sleek black two-piece, the exact daring design one would regularly spot at a bustling beach resort.
There were no elaborate frills or intricate ornaments attached. It was nothing beyond a minimalist, form-fitting black bikini.
Yet didn’t the common wisdom dictate that simplicity held the greatest charm?
“How does the water feel? It isn’t uncomfortably cold, right?”
Without uttering a single word regarding her attire, Sia settled down gracefully right beside me.
That casual nonchalance drove my thoughts into utter chaos.
‘How does she manage to look so breathtakingly attractive?’
Had Sia routinely donned such provocative pieces, my reaction wouldn’t have been nearly so overwhelming.
Yet this was an entirely unseen facet of her personality, revealed to me out of nowhere on this specific evening.
My eyes remained locked onto her form, entirely incapable of turning away.
‘How on earth am I expected to keep my composure?’
As my unbroken gaze lingered on her without a sound leaving my lips, Sia showed no sign of fluster. Instead, she seemed thoroughly invigorated by my rapt attention, flashing a captivating, mischievous grin.
Her eyes drifted deliberately across my exposed chest.
‘Did she intentionally leave out the rash guard just to see this…?’
Whether it was mere paranoia or truth, I had the unmistakable sensation of walking straight into her carefully arranged trap.
Her gaze fixed boldly upon my midsection.
“Mmm, I simply can’t hold back any longer.”
Seizing my shoulders with sudden intent, she pushed me flat against the poolside ground as though the hard patio were a soft mattress.
“Wait, what…?”
The night sky stretched wide above us, dotted with distant starlight, and framed beneath that cosmic expanse, Sia gazed down with a look brimming with deep allure.
Her gentle, warm breath brushed softly against my skin, while her palms pressed firmly onto my shoulders.
She couldn’t genuinely be planning to take things further right here, could she?
We hadn’t even dipped a foot into the swimming pool yet…
Noticing the absolute panic written across my expression, Sia finally lost her composure and burst into melodic giggles.
“I’m only teasing, purely teasing! Oppa, do you have any idea how adorable you look when you’re caught off balance?”
“Hey, you…”
Sia chuckled brightly, poking her tongue out in playful mockery.
She had completely succeeded in knocking me off my guard.
“We still need to enjoy our swim, so we shouldn’t drain all our stamina beforehand. I know full well what you’re craving, but endure it just a tiny bit more.”
She offered a smile akin to an experienced woman confidently guiding a younger suitor.
At this rate, she truly embodied an older noona in every conceivable way.
Though the summer season was drawing to its close, the night we shared burned with a heat far more intense than peak midsummer.
Following a spirited dip in the cool waters, we drifted seamlessly into deep, passionate intimacy as partners.
Later on, we wandered back out to take in the serene ambiance once more, each holding a warm cup of instant noodles brimming with boiling broth.
Without even taking my first mouthful, I was already certain the meal would taste utterly divine.
Placing the containers atop a petite outdoor table beside the water, we waited patiently for the noodles to soften.
“Noodles always taste ten times better after a bout of hard labor.”
“Labor? We weren’t doing any manual labor, Oppa.”
“Working through the night still counts as real work…”
“Goodness, stop that, it’s so embarrassing! What if someone overheard that remark?”
We traded our customary playful banter back and forth, yet neither of us felt the need to voice the reality that weighed on both our hearts.
The precious time granted to us was rapidly running dry.
Once these fleeting hours expired, no matter how desperately our hearts yearned for each other, we would be restricted to a mere three hours together every seven days.
How much time would have to pass before we could indulge in another long, peaceful stretch of uninterrupted bliss like this?
Putting on a serene facade, I broke apart a pair of disposable wooden chopsticks to dig into the food.
“Oppa, let’s capture a quick photo together before we start eating.”
Likely driven by the desire to preserve as many physical mementos of our union before our separation arrived, Sia sought to snap several pictures.
I slid my smartphone toward her, and she happily captured shot after shot.
With the photos secured, she casually glanced at the digital clock on the screen.
I chose not to inquire about the remaining duration.
I possessed a rough estimate in my thoughts regardless, and I knew she had no desire to speak the harsh reality into existence either.
Through mutual, unspoken consent, neither of us uttered a single syllable about the ticking countdown.
Instead, we quietly consumed the warm noodles, using the quiet moments to etch every contour of each other’s expressions deep into our memories.
By the time our meal concluded, we cast a glance at the hour.
Under ten minutes remained before our time together reached its limit.
“Shall we rinse off and curl up under the covers for a brief moment?”
“Tucked deep beneath the duvet with the cool air running full blast.”
“Ah. Nothing on earth could possibly rival that bliss.”
Having cleared away the discarded food packaging, we washed up together and slipped beneath the soft blankets of the bed.
I gave my head a slight shake, desperately warding off the heavy slumber attempting to pull me under.
“Oppa, is fatigue catching up to you?”
“A tiny bit.”
In truth, severe exhaustion was crashing down upon me rather than mere drowsiness, but surrendering to sleep at this critical juncture was unthinkable.
If I were to yield to rest, it would only occur after every single second of our allotted six hours had entirely evaporated.
“Today brought so much happiness, didn’t it, Oppa?”
Sia snuggled tightly against my side, pressing her warmth close.
“I was so profoundly glad that I never want the memory to fade.”
“I won’t let it slip away either.”
“You are a dragon though, so didn’t you mention you couldn’t forget anything even if you attempted to?”
“Hehe, that’s completely right.”
A luminous, radiant smile spread across her features.
“I love you.”
“I love you as well, Sia.”
“I truly love you. I love you, I love you so much, Oppa. I cherish you enough to surrender my life for yours. I love you to pieces. Enough to hand over every single thing I possess…”
As though endeavoring to pour out every declaration of devotion she had been forced to bottle up during our lengthy separation, or perhaps softly depositing every affectionate word in advance for the lonely week ahead when we couldn’t stand face-to-face, Sia persistently breathed gentle confessions of love against me.
“I love you with all my heart too. Truly. So, Sia…”
I reached out and twined my fingers through hers.
“I’m going to pour everything I have into this fight as well. So please, hold out for me just a tiny bit longer.”
I couldn’t predict whether the journey would span several years, multiple decades, or ultimately prove an impossible trial even if I sacrificed the entirety of this mortal existence.
“When that day finally arrives, let’s tie the knot just like you brought up earlier. I swear I’ll give you a genuine proposal when the moment is right.”
Sia wrapped her arms softly around my frame in a tender embrace.
Surrounded by that tender exchange—one that carried an ordinary ring despite being extraordinary in every sense—our designated window of freedom reached its absolute conclusion, and my heavy eyelids drifted shut.
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