Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Self-Satisfaction
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Sia found a trendy aesthetic cafe.
Slightly tilted chairs and odd lighting dangled everywhere, making it a bit overwhelming, but hey, it was an aesthetic cafe, so I let it pass.
Well, the natural light was great, and the vibe was right up my alley.
The only downside was the tables—they were way too low. To sip my coffee, I had to hunch over, which got pretty uncomfortable.
Sia grabbed her smartphone and snapped photos of the coffee and chocolate cake on the low table.
Click—
After a few shots, she looked right at me, still clutching the phone.
"Can I take your picture?"
You've been snapping away silently this whole time—why ask now?
Sia pointed straight at me with her finger.
"Let's take one together."
"Huh?"
"Just one for Outstagram... okay?"
"...You can take it, but don't post it."
"But I wanna post it..."
Sia trailed off, and once again, my willpower caved.
"Ugh... Fine, post it if you want..."
Sia scooted right up next to me in excitement, stretched out her hand to get the angle just right.
I did my best to meet her expectations, lifting the corners of my mouth into a smile.
Click—
A few shutter sounds echoed.
"What's your ID?"
"I said no..."
"Right. Then no tag, just post it."
"Can you at least blur my face?"
"Hmm... Nah, I'll post it as is. No tag means no one will know who you are."
Truth be told, I hadn't expected her to blur it anyway.
Sia was wiggling happily as she tapped away at her smartphone.
I ignored her glee as best I could and forked up some cake to eat.
The chocolate's sweetness was just right—not overly sugary.
The cake layer melted away the instant it touched the tip of my tongue.
'Delicious...'
Were cafe cakes always this good?
Sia glanced at me, then forked cake from a spot totally different from mine.
She popped it in her mouth and lit up with bliss.
"Mmm...! So good. Isn't it?"
"...Yeah. Delicious..."
"Told you coming here was the right call? Right?"
Honestly, I'd just wanted to head home quick and crash.
But with cake actually in my mouth now, it wasn't half bad.
Not just saying it to be polite—I really thought coming was a good idea.
"...Yeah."
What do you even talk about at a cafe?
Suddenly, the convo starters Siwoo had mentioned popped into my head.
"You said you're starting university soon, right?"
"Yeah. How'd you know?"
"Siwoo spilled everything. What do you think uni will be like...?"
"University... university... Honestly, kinda..."
She took a sip of coffee, then fiddled with her cup for no reason as she started talking.
"Excited, but it's intimidating, y'know? Don't know a soul... And solo living's a total first for me..."
Seeing her suddenly deflate, messing with her coffee cup, I wanted to cheer her up and spoke.
"...I felt the same."
Sia perked her head up a little at my words.
I wanted to drop some smooth comforting line, but way with words isn't my strong suit.
I scratched my head, racking my brain for cool phrases, but nah, too much.
"Uh... I mean, yeah. Uh, but it somehow works out..."
I trailed off awkwardly without wrapping it up and took a sip from my coffee cup to cover.
Bitter.
"...Classic Eun-hae oppa."
Sia teasingly wagged her pinky— the one not touching the cup—like some fancy etiquette thing.
Sia clasped her hands together, pleading.
"So, after uni starts and I've got no friends, you'll hang out with me, right?"
"You seem like the type who'd make friends no problem..."
I mean it. Can't picture Sia wandering uni solo.
She radiates "people-person" energy—how's she even worried about no friends?
Doesn't compute for me.
Fishing for compliments?
But Sia looped back to the same plea.
"If no friends, you'll hang out... right?"
"...Where do you live?"
I'd been game for once, but hearing the spot changed my mind.
"...Far. I'll think on it."
"Harsh. What if I come to you?"
"...Wouldn't stop you, probably."
My half-answer gave her an opening, and she pounced.
"Then I can really drop by when bored?"
"Yeah..."
I caved completely. Where'd I pick the wrong option?
Sia suddenly checked her phone—maybe an alarm.
"Oh, oppa, check this out too."
The screen showed our photo, with likes and comments below.
haha
What, why didn't you go with me lol
Who's the one next to you?
Whoa, Sia got even prettier...
The one next to you is adorable—know her from somewhere?
"Everyone's calling it cute?"
I stayed quiet.
Mid-convo, Sia suddenly clapped her hands together.
"Oh yeah...!"
"Forget something?"
"I forgot—I was gonna teach you girl stuff...!"
"...Coulda just left it forgotten."
"Any skincare routine?"
"Skincare what...?"
"Like makeup?"
"Nope... Not at all. No plans to."
Sia's eyes went wide, like she was shocked.
"Seriously nothing?"
"Yeah..."
"And it's this good bare? No way."
Then she scooted close and gave my cheek a light pinch.
"No need to verify like that..."
"Sorry, sorry. Truth is, I just wanted to touch."
She stopped pinching, spread her hand, and gently stroked my cheek. Sia's palm was warm.
"Whoa—insanely soft."
"Y-yeah...?"
Never in my life imagined a girl grabbing both my cheeks to feel 'em up.
"Still, basic care's a must. Skip it, and it'll rough up fast?"
Sia rummaged in her little bag, pulled out a small pouch.
"Okay, this is toner, lotion, moisturizer. And—"
Then she launched into a full-on cosmetics lecture.
Terms like dry skin, oily, combo flew out, but I nodded along vaguely.
"Uh-huh... So, buy what?"
"Sigh... I'll make a list and send it. You need so much TLC. Order the second you get home. Got it?"
"Sounds like a pain..."
"No excuses. Gotta do it. Can't waste a cute face like that."
"What's the point of being c-cute..."
"Not for anyone else. Self-satisfaction's plenty. You don't doll up just to show off."
"Self-satisfaction...?"
Sia bobbed her head.
"Isn't it a waste?"
"Yeah... it is..."
Maybe light self-care ain't so bad.
Long as it stays at self-satisfaction level.
...Self-satisfaction, after all.
"Oh, makeup might clash anyway, so foundation, tinted balm, or light tint— that'd do."
Sia went full professor, dropping pro terms with gusto.
"But why go all out for me..."
"'Cause it's you, Eun-hae oppa."
"......"
"It shocked me, for real. And who's around to ask besides me?"
Fair point—no one.
No girls my age in my circle, and even if, not buddy-buddy enough for this.
Asking Mom? Way too cringe.
Grown man like me lacks the guts to beg her for Women's Body 101.
Sia tapped her chin with her index finger.
"Hmm... What else to teach... Oh, hit me with your questions!"
"Got none..."
"Ask away, comfy-like?"
"Seriously none..."
"C'mon, gotta be something you're curious about?"
"......"
What, though. While I mulled, Sia jumped in.
"Ah, right—one month, yeah?"
"Y-yeah..."
"So... you had it?"
Ah, that question. Hesitant to blurt an answer.
"Had what...?"
"Your period. Period."
Not clueless—just stalling—but Sia laid it out blunt.
No dodging now.
"Y-yeah... Had it... last time."
Sia flashed a knowing grin, like she'd cracked a code.
What's with that impish look—straight outta Siwoo's playbook?
"Hmm... yeah, yeah. How was it? Eun-hae oppa's guy-to-girl verdict?"
Hated reliving it, but dredged up memories to reply.
Lower belly cramps were pissy bad, but worse: that leak between the legs.
Warm, gooey surge ignoring my say-so—first time feeling that in life.
Ugh, flashback hit with the texture.
Face scrunched on reflex.
"...Brutal. Super irritating."
"Right?! Mine wrecked me first time, but now it's routine. You'll adjust quick."
Then, sweet as pie, she shared period pro tips.
Topic held steady; chat rolled on.
"Yeah, snapped at nothing outta nowhere..."
"Totally! Bro's clueless—I'm groaning, he goes 'Poop incoming?' Wrong vibe entirely!"
"I-I'll school Siwoo. Did the guy's POV firsthand."
"Nah, fine. Yelled at him forever; he quit. Doesn't poke now."
Quietly soaked up her Siwoo roast-fest.
Lotta buildup, huh.
Still, sibling vibe seemed solid.
Playful gripe energy.
Chatting away, coffee cups drained before I knew it.
Sia stood, gave her butt a quick brush, eyed the shopping bags on the floor.
"Ah—wanted more hangout time, but these bags say no."
Relief. Sounded like breakup time from Sia.
Yeah, lugging this haul alone'd be rough.
"Bummer, but today's wrap. Next time soon?"
"Yeah..."
...Exhausting.
Why am I so whipped?
Sia got me all the way?
I'm the elder here.