Chapter 9
Chapter 9. Oppa, I Have One Wish
“Who was that shameless woman?”
The frigid sharpness in Sia’s tone echoed throughout the dining area, instantly plunging the entire room into absolute quiet.
“Come on, Sia, let’s step outside for a second to clear our heads.”
Hoping to give both of them a breather and let her burning irritation dissipate, Minjun took her fingers in his and guided her toward the exit. Much to his relief, she walked alongside him without any struggle.
“Tell me, oppa, which one was she?”
“The blonde sitting at the table across from ours.”
“Understood. That one.”
For anyone else, recalling an unfamiliar face seen only briefly would have been tricky, yet Sia had already committed every single diner in the venue to memory.
“And how did you handle it?”
“I turned her down immediately, of course. She persisted, so I drew a firm line and told her there was zero chance.”
“…”
Minjun had given the ideal response, yet the taut sternness in Sia’s features refused to fade.
In her thoughts, she accepted that other women would inevitably find Minjun appealing, yet encountering that reality up close had delivered a severe sting nonetheless.
“Are you still upset, Sia?”
“…”
“Please, look at me. Meet my gaze.”
Minjun framed her cheeks gently with his palms, compelling her to look directly into his eyes.
The expression that only moments prior resembled an armed explosive waiting to ignite began flushing with a soft crimson hue.
Minjun recognized that despite her efforts to mask it, Sia carried immense inner turmoil. They had spent a full twelve months apart, and the partner who returned was no longer a mere mortal like himself.
‘If there is any way to soothe her inner unrest right now, this must be it.’
Even if it wasn’t a flawless remedy, it would certainly serve as an effective substitute.
Without giving her any warning, Minjun leaned in and claimed her mouth with a deep, breath-stealing kiss.
“…!”
Her eyes widened in sudden shock as their lips joined, yet she made no move to pull away. Rather, as if she had been yearning for this exact embrace, she softly wrapped her arms around Minjun’s waist.
“Why on earth would I ever spare a glance for someone else?”
‘Not when I have you by my side.’
Parting from the lingering embrace, Minjun pressed a gentle peck against Sia’s cheek. Gradually, the warmth and vibrancy returned to her eyes.
“I believe your words. Truly, I do.”
Leaning in, Sia mirrored the gesture and kissed Minjun’s cheek as well.
With the emotional storm pacified, the pair stepped back into the restaurant.
“Has your mood improved a bit?”
“Somewhat.”
Her demeanor had softened considerably compared to earlier. Even so, all of Minjun’s gentle reassurances could not entirely wipe away her lingering resentment toward the offender.
“Oppa, could you head to the washroom for just a moment?”
Minjun opened his mouth to reply that he didn’t need to step away, but the look in Sia’s eyes halted him.
No words were needed. She was silently conveying: I don’t want you to see me do something unpleasant.
The unspoken message was crystal clear in her steady gaze.
“Alright… I will step away for a bit.”
He pushed his chair back and got up, indicating his compliance.
The second he stepped away from their spot, Sia shifted her attention entirely toward the woman who had dared to solicit his contact information.
Utterly devoid of any remorse, the stranger was merrily chatting and dining alongside her acquaintance.
Watching that detestable expression only caused Sia’s rage to flare up all over again.
Her Minjun oppa, the very person she had spent two and a half millennia waiting to reunite with.
How dared an insignificant creature like that harbor designs on him, blind to her own station?
Furthermore, the manner in which she had pursued him was entirely outrageous. She was fully aware that he had a partner, yet she chose to push forward regardless. Even her dining companion had tried to hold her back. To then brazenly suggest that remaining casual acquaintances would be harmless?
Looking around the premises, plenty of women would naturally find oppa striking. Yet none among them voiced such thoughts aloud. Recognizing he was already accompanied, they appreciated his looks in silence and left it at that. They did not indulge in such vile schemes, shamelessly demanding a man’s number when he was clearly committed.
A person incapable of observing basic human decency was sorely in need of a lesson.
“You. Come outside with me.”
Exuding a chilling presence, Sia stopped directly in front of Hwang Yeonju.
“And why on earth would I do that?”
Even when confronted by Sia, the woman displayed nothing but brazen defiance.
Sia crossed her arms, peering down with utter disdain. Then, releasing the restrained murderous aura of an ancient serpent that she had kept locked away, she enunciated each term with deliberate malice, infusing the dread of Dragon Fear into her voice.
“Come. Outside.”
Having stepped away for a short while at Sia’s thinly veiled command, I returned to find the steaming tteokbokki already at the table, and I sat there watching it while awaiting her return.
‘How long will Sia be out there?’
I couldn’t say for sure what she was doing, though she was almost certainly giving that stranger an earful regarding the earlier incident.
‘Truthfully, I’d probably react the exact same way if our situations were reversed.’
I merely hoped she would rein it in before going too far, compose herself, and return quickly. It wasn’t out of sympathy for the rude stranger. I simply hated the idea of this petty annoyance souring an otherwise delightful date.
While I sat waiting, the front entrance swung open, and the person who had tried to get my digits came stumbling back inside.
Her hair was a ruined mess, her complexion drained to a ghostly, sickly pallor, and her cosmetics were completely smeared across her face.
‘Just what on earth did Sia do to her?’
A single look was plenty to see she had been thoroughly shaken to her core.
Trembling violently in her steps, she barely managed to stagger over to her chair. Hurriedly sweeping up her personal items with clumsy hands, she turned instantly to flee the premises.
Her friend called out after her in confusion, yet the panicked woman seemed deaf to all surrounding noise. Her entire focus was consumed by the urge to escape the room.
Left with no alternative, her friend quickly settled the bill at the counter and ran out into the street after her.
“…What in the world took place out there?”
I couldn’t begin to fathom what Sia had done, but that woman had undoubtedly received an unforgettable lecture.
I figured it was best not to pry into the specifics. Knowing too much about what happened might somehow bring trouble down on my own head.
Moments later, Sia stepped back through the door.
“Forgive me, oppa. Did I leave you waiting too long?”
“Not at all, it was fine. Are you feeling more at ease now?”
“Yes. Everything is completely fine now.”
Her face was glowing with far more cheer than before, prompting me to put the whole confrontation out of my mind.
“The tteokbokki arrived while you were out. Let’s dig in before the rice cakes lose their texture.”
“Right. You eat as well, oppa, before it loses its heat.”
We spent some time enjoying the meal and making pleasant conversation when my attention shifted to the shopping parcel she had brought along earlier.
“Speaking of which, Sia, what did you pick up in that bag?”
“Oh? You didn’t peek inside, oppa?”
“Of course not. It belongs to you.”
Clearly delighted by my restraint, Sia offered her trademark radiant beam and held the bag toward me.
“This is actually a gift meant for you, oppa. Here.”
Peering into the packaging, I discovered a premium set of wireless earphones resting inside.
By pure coincidence, the pair I had been using was recently malfunctioning, and I had been debating getting a replacement. The sole reason I kept hesitating was that my previous earphones had also been a present from Sia.
“So you didn’t really head off to the restroom earlier. You slipped away to purchase this.”
“Mm-hmm. My initial plan was to catch you completely off guard, but then…”
Her words trailed off, a hint of awkward regret in her voice.
Had that woman not caused such a disturbance, Sia would have pulled off her delightful surprise as planned, allowing us to share an even sweeter memory.
Sensing her lingering disappointment, I chose not to let it sit between us and instead drew her into a warm, firm hug.
“None of that matters now. Thank you so much. I truly appreciate it.”
At my heartfelt gratitude, Sia’s face lit up with radiant contentment.
“Is there something you would like as a present, Sia?”
“No, really. Simply sharing this moment with you right now is already the greatest gift I could ask for.”
She waved her hands in front of her to emphasize the point.
“Come now, just pick one wish.”
“Well…”
She paused with a contemplative expression, but before long, a bright gleam ignited in her eyes.
“It isn’t a physical item, but there is one small favor I’d love to ask.”
“What would that be?”
“I’d love to try a bit of role-playing. Just this once.”
That caught me completely off guard. I had no inkling whether Sia possessed a hidden inclination for such pretend scenarios, but since it was harmless enough, I agreed to indulge her.
“What sort of scenario do you have in mind?”
“The kind where an older noona from the neighborhood hangs out with the younger boy she watched grow up.”
That choice took me by surprise yet again.
“So you want me to address you as noona?”
“Only for a single day. In fact, even just half a day is plenty. It’s something I’ve genuinely longed to experience once. Would that… be alright?”
She looked up at me with pleading, shimmering eyes, like a young girl staring at a coveted toy in a shop display.
How could anyone say no to a face filled with that much yearning?
“Very well. Trying it out once won’t hurt anything.”
“Truly? In that case, can we begin right this second?”
She had been craving this that intensely?
“If it was something you wanted this badly, you ought to have mentioned it earlier. It’s no trouble at all.”
“You’re the best, oppa!”
The second my agreement left my lips, the ambiance around her shifted entirely.
The innocent demeanor of a youthful student vanished without a trace, swapped out for the sophisticated allure of a mature woman whom the title noona suited flawlessly.
“Minjun-ah.”
“Whoa, you surprised me.”
Hearing her speak down to me so informally for the first time sent an unexpected chill of excitement rippling through my skin.
Even so, I had to commit to the part properly.
“Yes, noona.”
Since Sia had affectionately called me oppa every day even prior to our dating, addressing her as noona felt utterly bizarre.
Upon hearing that single honorific, the corners of her eyes curved upward in pure bliss, as though fulfilling a long-cherished fantasy.
“Would you like to come over and have some ramyeon with your noona?”
At that exact moment, Sia looked entirely like a sultry older woman, a predatory noona ready to swallow a younger boy whole.
Sometime before the sun rose, while Sia remained lost in tranquil slumber, I slipped out of bed and made my way up to the rooftop terrace to take in the crisp night breeze.
“Phew.”
Since she had requested to be called noona for merely half a day, I had fully leaned into the act for that duration, treating Sia noona as though I were indeed her younger companion.
Having thrown herself entirely into the scenario, she had treated me like a pampered, much younger lover throughout the entire evening.
‘Has she always possessed this kind of mature charm?’
I thought I possessed an intimate understanding of who she was, yet tonight proved there were still unexplored dimensions to Sia I had never witnessed.
Did I find that side of her unappealing?
‘Quite the opposite, in fact.’
Indulging in such diversions every now and then felt like a wonderful change of pace. I still couldn’t shake the memory of the intoxicating, sultry look she had cast upon me, an absolute contrast to her everyday pure and graceful demeanor.
Basking in the gentle chill of the wind and letting my mind wander, a wave of sleepiness slowly began creeping back in. I figured it was high time to head back inside to the bed where Sia was waiting.
Then, out of nowhere, an agonizing pain seized my chest.
“Ugh…!”
A sharp, violent jolt of electricity tore through my body, unlike anything I had ever suffered in my entire existence.
Comments for chapter "Chapter 9"
MANGA DISCUSSION
Madara Info
Madara stands as a beacon for those desiring to craft a captivating online comic and manga reading platform on WordPress
For custom work request, please send email to wpstylish(at)gmail(dot)com