Chapter 9 - Oppa, I Have One Wish

"Which bitch was it?"

Sia's icy words rang through the restaurant, and the room fell silent.

"Sia, let's step outside and talk."

To clear his own head, buy some time, and let Sia's anger subside, Minjun took her hand and led her outside. Thankfully, she went along without a fuss.

"So which bitch was it, Oppa?"

"The blonde sitting diagonally across from us."

"Oh, her."

An ordinary person might have struggled to remember someone they'd only glimpsed in passing, but Sia had already memorized the face of everyone in the restaurant.

"So what did you do?"

"I told her I obviously couldn't give her my number. She kept coming on to me, so I made it absolutely clear it wasn't happening."

"..."

His answer was textbook perfect, but her expression didn't soften. She understood in her head that other women might be attracted to Minjun. Experiencing it firsthand, though, had come as a shock.

But...

"Sia, are you angry?"

"..."

"Look at me, Sia. Look into my eyes."

Minjun gently cupped her face in both hands and turned it toward him. Her face, which had looked as volatile as a ticking bomb moments earlier, began to redden.

He could tell that, however hard she tried to hide it, she was anxious deep down. They had been apart for a whole year, and the Sia who had returned was no longer an ordinary human like him.

'If I want to ease Sia's fears, this is the only way I can think of right now.'

He didn't know if it was the best solution, but it was at least the next best thing. Minjun caught her off guard by pressing his lips to hers, hard enough to take her breath away.

"...!"

Her eyes widened in surprise at the touch of his lips. But she didn't push him away. Instead, as though she'd been waiting for this moment, she rested her hands lightly on his waist.

"Why would I look at another woman when I have you?"

After their deep kiss, Minjun placed a light kiss on Sia's cheek. The life gradually returned to her eyes.

"I believe you. Of course I do."

This time, she kissed his cheek.

Once things had settled, they went back into the restaurant.

"Feeling a little better now?"

"A little."

Her once-icy expression had softened considerably. She certainly looked calmer than before. But even though Minjun had cheered her up, her anger at that woman hadn't gone away.

"Oppa, could you go to the bathroom for a bit?"

Minjun was about to say he didn't need to when he caught her eye.

She didn't want him to see her do something ugly. She hadn't said as much, but he could read her intentions in her gaze.

"Then... I'll be back."

He got up without protest, letting her know he understood.

As soon as Minjun stepped away, Sia glared at the woman who had tried to get his number. Apparently without a shred of guilt, the woman was happily chatting and eating with her friend. The sight of her revolting face made Sia's anger flare again.

My Minjun. The Oppa I'd waited twenty-five hundred years for. And that little nobody dared to set her sights on him?

And the things she'd said! She'd claimed it was fine, out of her own mouth? She'd tried to get his number knowing full well he had a girlfriend? Even with her friend trying to stop her? And then she'd asked if they couldn't at least be friends? Just 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 just admire how handsome he is and leave it at that. They don't get the scummy idea to ask for his number when they know he has a girlfriend. Right?

A bitch who couldn't even act like a decent human being... needed to be taught a lesson.

"You. Come outside for a minute."

Sia stood before Hwang Yeonju, her expression cold.

But Yeonju snapped back shamelessly even after seeing her face. "Why should I?"

Sia folded her arms and glared at her. Releasing the murderous aura of a dragon that she had kept suppressed, she spoke again, enunciating every syllable and lacing the words with Dragon Fear.

"Come. Outside."

* * *

After stepping outside for a while at Sia's request—which hadn't really been a request—I came back in and stared at the freshly served tteokbokki while I waited for her.

'When is Sia coming back?'

I couldn't say for sure, but she was probably giving that woman an earful over what had happened. 'I'd have done the same in her place.'

I just hoped she'd stop at a reasonable point, calm down, and come back soon. It wasn't that I was worried about the woman. I didn't want our good mood spoiled for nothing.

While I was waiting, the restaurant door opened and the woman who had asked for my number staggered in. Her hair was a mess, her face was deathly pale as if she'd seen a ghost, and her makeup was badly smeared.

'What on earth happened?'

She clearly wasn't all right. Her legs trembling, she finally made it to her seat, fumbled for her things, then left the restaurant. Her companion called after her, but the woman seemed unable to hear a word. All she wanted was to get outside. With no other choice, her companion hurriedly paid the bill and ran after her.

"... What on earth happened?"

I didn't know exactly, but Sia had probably taught her a lesson. I'd leave what happened out there to my imagination. Knowing might get me hurt.

Just then, Sia returned.

"Sorry, Oppa. Was I gone long?"

"No, it's fine. Feeling calmer now?"

"Yeah. I'm really okay now."

She looked brighter than before, so I decided to stop thinking about the woman.

"The tteokbokki just came out. Let's eat before the rice cakes get soggy."

"Okay. You eat too, Oppa. It'll get cold."

As we ate and chatted, I remembered something.

"Oh, Sia. What's in that bag?"

"Huh? You didn't open it, Oppa?"

"No. It's yours."

Apparently pleased by my answer, she gave me her usual bright smile and held out the shopping bag.

"It's a present for you, Oppa. Here."

I opened it to find an expensive pair of wireless earbuds. I'd been meaning to replace mine because they were faulty, but they'd been a gift from Sia too, and I couldn't bring myself to get rid of them.

"So you didn't go to the bathroom earlier. You went to buy these."

"Yeah. I was going to surprise you, but..."

Sia trailed off. If not for that woman, we might have exchanged gifts as planned and spent a more intimate evening together. I could hear the disappointment in her voice, so I simply held her tight.

"That doesn't matter. Thank you. I really mean it."

At my thanks, Sia's eyes crinkled with a pleased smile.

"Isn't there a present you'd like, Sia?"

"No, no." She waved a hand. "Just getting to spend time with you now is a gift, Oppa."

"Still, try to think of one thing."

"Hmm."

She thought for a moment, then her eyes began to gleam.

"It's not a present, but I do have one little wish."

"What is it?"

"I want to try role-playing. Just once."

Role-playing? That was an unexpected answer. I didn't know if Sia had always been into that sort of thing, but it wasn't difficult, so I decided to go along with it.

"What kind of scenario?"

"A close older girl and younger boy who grew up playing together in the same neighborhood."

That surprised me too.

"So I'd call you my older sister?"

"Just for one day—no, even half a day would be fine. I want to try it just once. Is that... not okay?"

She looked up at me with shining, childlike eyes, like a little girl who'd spotted a doll she wanted at the store. How could I say no when she looked so earnest?

"Sure. It wouldn't hurt to try it once."

"Really? Can we start right now?"

She wanted to do it that badly?

"You should've told me sooner. It's not hard."

"Thank you, Oppa!"

The moment I agreed, the look in Sia's eyes changed. Gone was the innocent gaze of a college freshman; in its place was the gaze of a mature woman who suited being called an older sister.

"Minjun."

"You startled me."

It was the first time I'd heard Sia speak to me so casually, and it sent goose bumps down my arms. Still, I had to play along.

"Yes, big sis?"

Sia had always called me Oppa, even before we started dating. Calling her big sis felt incredibly strange. At that one word, her eyes lit up, as though she'd been longing to hear it all along.

"Want to come over to my place for ramen?"

In that moment, Sia really did seem like an older woman—a wolf of a big sis ready to devour her younger man.

* * *

In the early hours of the morning, while Sia slept soundly, I woke up and went up to the rooftop for some fresh air.

"Whew."

She'd said she wanted me to call her big sis for exactly half a day, so I'd done just that, acting like I was the younger one the whole time. Maybe she'd gotten carried away with the role-playing, because she'd treated me like a man much younger than her.

'Was Sia always this grown-up?'

I'd thought I knew so much about her, but that experience showed me I didn't. Had I disliked it...?

'Quite the opposite.'

I thought a change of pace like that could be nice once in a while. I still couldn't forget the alluring look in her eyes, so unlike her usual innocent self.

As I stood lost in thought in the cool breeze, I began to feel sleepy again. I decided to head slowly back inside, where Sia was waiting.

But then—

"Urgh."

A sudden, sharp pain shot through my chest, unlike anything I'd ever felt before.