Chapter 52
Chapter 52. Oppa, You Were Really Worried, Weren’t You?
“Noona.”
“Yes?”
“I truly apologize, but going forward, I would prefer that you don’t drop by unannounced like this or reach out unless it’s strictly necessary.”
It was a boundary he knew he would inevitably have to set.
Up until this moment, finding the right occasion had always felt overly awkward, leading him to keep the sentiment tucked away.
Now, however, the decisive moment had undeniably arrived.
Taken aback by Minjun’s abrupt declaration, Yuna stared at him with wide eyes, looking as though she could never have anticipated hearing such words from his mouth.
“What are you trying to say, Minjun?”
“It is undeniably true that we were remarkably close throughout our childhood, behaving just like an elder sister and younger brother. However, that era belongs to the distant past. It might be an entirely different matter if I were currently unattached, but I am in a committed relationship. Given that I have a girlfriend, meeting another woman in private simply isn’t appropriate.”
Sia had picked up on the dynamic far more acutely than Minjun, yet even he had become conscious of the romantic inclinations Yuna appeared to harbor, along with her persistent, subtle attempts to draw closer.
He could no longer afford to leave any room for confusion or false hopes.
“All I wanted was to spend time beside you, Minjun…”
“I am sorry. But I am convinced that drawing this line is the right course of action for everyone.”
Faced with his unyielding and distant reaction, tears began to pool within Yuna’s eyes before she could even register the sensation.
Ever since their childhood days, she had quietly nurtured affectionate romantic feelings toward Minjun.
Although those sentiments had dimmed somewhat under the weight of passing years, they had never truly vanished from her heart.
Minjun was completely unaware of it, but even during the long stretch when their connection was broken, his memory had continuously shaped Yuna’s life in profound ways.
Shortly after her relocation to the United States, she held firmly to the conviction that one day—regardless of how far off it might be—destiny would grant her another opportunity to reunite with Minjun.
Driven by that hope, she had resolved to transform herself into the ideal woman, an exceptional person Minjun would find irresistible whenever that long-awaited day arrived.
She aspired to be striking, remarkably capable, and blessed with an admirable character—an all-around captivating woman devoid of any flaws.
It was no exaggeration to state that this relentless drive was the very force that had molded her into who she was today.
She had been celebrated as a prodigy, establishing an impressive reputation as an A-rank Hunter at an exceptionally tender age.
Following her departure from active duty, she had managed a portfolio of thriving commercial ventures, which included the Chinese eatery.
Even the remark she had previously shared with Minjun in a half-teasing manner—that she had established the Chinese restaurant simply because he adored jjajangmyeon as a boy—had not been a fabrication.
She had established that business clinging to the earnest wish that Minjun might one day savor jjajangmyeon crafted by her own hands.
Yuna’s heart had always been entirely earnest toward Minjun.
‘I had every intention of confessing my feelings the moment I reunited with Minjun, right after achieving perfection.’
Yet because Minjun was already committed to a romantic partner, circumstances had never allowed her the chance to make a formal confession.
If rising to the position of his lover was out of reach, she had wished at the very least to reclaim the intimate noona-and-dongsaeng dynamic they once cherished.
While it was deeply frustrating, she convinced herself that she could make do with that modest boundary, living on while locking her raw emotions deep beneath the surface.
And yet, Minjun’s resolute stance revealed not the slightest crack of hesitation.
“…Why couldn’t it ever be me? Tell me, Minjun.”
Eventually, the unshed tears spilled down Yuna’s cheeks as she began to lay bare the genuine thoughts tucked away inside her soul.
“Is it impossible for us to remain close companions, just like an older sister and her younger brother? I am not begging you to step into a romance with me. I just… cherish you as an individual. I find genuine joy in being around you, and I wanted nothing more than to look after you. I poured so much effort into becoming a dependable noona you could always rely on…”
“…”
A genuine flicker of astonishment crossed Minjun’s face. He had hardly imagined that Yuna would lay bare her rawest vulnerabilities with such complete transparency.
Seeing her weep could easily have chipped away at his determination.
Yet Minjun did not take back a single word he had uttered.
If anything, gaining full clarity on her underlying emotions only reaffirmed his conviction that his decision was entirely necessary.
“I am truly sorry, noona.”
“I… my feelings were there first…”
Her affection had taken root long before his current girlfriend had ever crossed his path. She believed she could offer him greater love and provide far more support.
Lacking the strength to push those words into the open, Yuna let her head drop downward.
“…Forget it. I apologize. I understand completely. I will respect your wishes.”
Continuing the conversation would yield nothing of value, and she was well aware that no plea would sway Minjun’s resolved heart.
Accepting her defeat, she forced down her remaining sobs and stepped out of Minjun’s residence.
She embarked on the quiet journey back to her place, wrestling fiercely against the wave of despair that threatened to overwhelm her.
Along the way, vibrant fragments of her shared past with Minjun surged unbidden into her thoughts, sharpening the ache in her chest.
Gradually, that profound sorrow shifted, mutating into an ugly, festering grievance.
‘If only that wench didn’t exist.’
Had Minjun never formed a bond with Sia in the first place, this heartbreaking outcome would never have materialized.
Convinced that Sia’s petty possessiveness was the sole root of the issue, Yuna redirected the full force of her bitterness toward her rival.
What path could she take to dissipate this burning resentment? After dwelling on the matter, Yuna settled on a single solution.
‘I will challenge that wench to a duel.’
Though Yuna had stepped away from active combat, she still possessed the foundational strength of an A-rank Hunter, whereas Sia’s public status was merely recorded as a D-rank Hunter.
Oblivious to the hidden reality, Yuna assumed Sia was nothing more than an ordinary D-rank Hunter. She figured she could take full advantage of their massive difference in prowess to unleash all her pent-up frustration under the guise of an exhibition match.
The moment the scheme took shape in her mind, a venomous smirk crept across her lips.
Worry over Sia gnawed at me so intensely that I found it impossible to concentrate on anything for the rest of the day.
I had zero mental bandwidth to casually look into B-rank gates, and when I reached out to Rokan to inquire about Sia’s status, he told me that he wasn’t at liberty to disclose anything at this stage.
To make matters worse, Sia had never exhibited such vulnerable or troubled behavior during our entire time together, which naturally sent my anxiety through the roof.
I spent the entirety of the day agonizing over ways to lift her spirits.
It would have been a relief to at least understand the root cause of her distress, but lacking even the slightest hint, I resolved to take the most practical actions within my reach.
I headed down to a nearby department store and handpicked an assortment of outfits for Sia. Deciding that clothes alone fell short, I also whipped up a batch of tteokbokki and packed it neatly inside a generous container.
Just as I moved to slide the freshly prepared tteokbokki into the fridge, my gaze caught the containers of homemade dishes that Yuna noona had brought over.
‘Those really trouble me.’
For a passing second, I questioned whether I had pushed her away with unnecessary severity. Yet when it came to preserving tranquility between Sia, Yuna noona, and myself, an alternative path simply didn’t exist.
Even so, what was the appropriate way to handle all the dishes she had left behind?
A good portion had been prepared with me in mind, and while I appreciated the effort, the thought of eating them sparked an uncomfortable knot in my stomach.
On the other hand, tossing them straight into the garbage without tasting them seemed entirely disrespectful.
I chose to shelve the food dilemma for later, as a far more pressing concern commanded my attention.
Once Sia and I spoke again, should I immediately confess what had unfolded today?
Or would it be wiser to wait until she settled into a calmer frame of mind before laying out the entire situation?
Such lingering doubts swallowed up my entire waking day.
Sia finally made contact the subsequent morning.
Around ten o’clock, just as the urge to reach out to Rokan once more began to surface, an incoming video call chimed on my screen.
“Sia!”
A burst of overwhelming relief caused my voice to echo much louder than I had meant it to.
[Oppa, I am so sorry. Yesterday just wasn’t an environment where I could place a call. You were worried sick, weren’t you?]
I intently scrutinized every detail of Sia’s face.
It could have been a trick of my own mind, but having endured such an emotional storm over the preceding days, subtle dark shadows appeared to linger beneath her eyes.
Beyond that faint trace of fatigue, her appearance aligned with her everyday self, though it remained premature to breathe an easy sigh of relief.
“Not at all. I’m just genuinely relieved to see you’re holding up well.”
[I apologize. I’ve done nothing except heap stress onto your shoulders. I must have caught you completely off guard, right?]
“Don’t apologize. Everyone runs into patches like that from time to time, right? There are occasions when happiness peaks, and there are stretches where gloom drags you down until it feels unbearable. Regardless, seeing that you seem alright right now is all that matters to me.”
Instead of prying into the underlying causes, my primary goal was offering words capable of replenishing Sia’s inner strength.
Steering clear of any mention of the prior day’s turmoil, I initiated our talk with lighthearted tales from my own side to elevate the atmosphere.
I expanded on details regarding the rank reassessment that I hadn’t managed to share earlier, transitioning into amusing little mishaps from the previous day when I visited the store to pick out garments for her—breezy anecdotes she could absorb and chuckle at without expending mental energy.
Naturally, I steered clear of bringing up Yuna noona.
The timing still felt far too delicate to introduce that encounter.
Sia listened attentively just as she always had, appreciating the accounts and chiming in with vibrant reactions.
Even so, perhaps influenced by the weight of recent developments, her countenance never quite regained its full, radiant warmth.
It seemed evident that whatever lingering issue had shaken her was still casting a shadow over her thoughts, yet she put on a cheerful front to keep me from worrying.
The desire to ask what had transpired pulled at me, but I recognized that pressuring her to talk first was the wrong move.
Our dialogue continued for over an hour.
[Oppa.]
Perhaps having gathered her resolve at last, Sia directed a layered, introspective gaze toward me that felt entirely distinct from before.
[It seems that whenever a gain is realized, a corresponding loss must always be paid.]
Much like her previous call, Sia initiated the shift in conversation with an ominous, profound observation.
[It feels as though the entire universe has banded together to pull us apart. That realization hit me with full force just two days ago.]
“What occurred?”
Perhaps the memory had flashed vividly across her mind, for Sia paused in silence before offering an ironic, pained smile.
[I am sorry. This is an issue I am simply unable to share with you at present. Perhaps the truth will come to light down the line, but… revealing it now would be premature.]
The two of us were close enough to share virtually every private thought, yet even so, Sia found herself compelled to keep this secret locked away from me.
Whatever the situation was, there had unquestionably been a valid reason she had danced around the subject two days prior.
With zero context to grasp onto, my inner intrigue only deepened.
[Even so, Oppa, there is one certainty I can voice.]
Pausing to steady her breath, Sia pressed forward, her countenance turning completely solemn.
[Neither of us has walked a path deserving of hatred from others. Yet regardless of that, there are forces that will despise us without justification.]
I lacked any knowledge regarding who those antagonists were, but merely entertaining their existence seemed to send a shiver through her, causing Sia to shut her eyes tightly.
[It is entirely possible that someone will attempt every conceivable method to shatter our bond. Therefore…]
Sia found herself incapable of finishing the thought.
I could not pinpoint what terrible fate she was picturing, but her expression suggested she was contemplating the absolute worst outcome imaginable.
“Put your worries to rest. If any force seeks to drive a wedge between us, I will bite down hard and stand firm, no matter what comes. I will keep pushing myself to become strong enough to do precisely that, matching the resilience you demonstrated, Sia.”
I had absolute confidence that I could overcome any challenge.
While I could not identify what terrified her, the most effective antidote against her dread was offering unwavering reassurance.
Sia’s lips parted as though more words lingered on her tongue, but she abruptly hid her visage behind both hands, bowed her head, and began weeping in silence.
“I may not comprehend what took place, but I will never allow the nightmare you dread to come to pass. So please, stop trying to shoulder all of this burden by yourself.”
Regrettably, that pledge stood as the only support I could grant Sia at this moment.
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