The Nuna Who Takes Good Care
Hypnosis is like an unbreakable liquor. Of course it is. It lets you rewrite your relationship with someone who has no connection to you whatsoever—someone you might only exchange polite nods with a few times, or who remains a complete stranger. Lee Yoo-na, Han So-jeong, Kim Na-eun, Kwon Na-hyeon, Park Ha-eun. All of them. We were barely acquaintances through work, or total strangers. That was the extent of it. Until now, I had never even thought about anything more. No point stirring up unnecessary trouble.
"What do you want to eat? I'll buy everything."
Being able to reshape someone like that to fit my tastes is exactly like an unbreakable liquor.
"Why? Let's split the bill."
"Hehe~, I can afford that much, you know."
Even if she acted prickly, I could turn her into someone who had a crush on me. That's why I can't quit hypnosis. It feels like being an alpha male.
"Like I said before, let's just have coffee and call it a day."
"……."
Park Ha-eun stared at me with a sharp look. She seemed like she had something to say, but—
"We weren't even acquaintances to begin with. Let's just drink coffee and go."
"Fine. I don't have much time anyway."
Park Ha-eun wore an expression that looked like her pride had been wounded. The look clearly said, Who do you think you are?
"You said your name was Ha-eun, right? Hold still for a second. There's something on your head."
I reached out and pretended to brush dust from her hair. It was literally just pretending—there was nothing there.
"Ah…."
She flinched at my touch but stood quietly and obediently, waiting.
"Thanks~."
Instead of answering, I shoved my hands in my pockets and walked away. She quickly caught up and stuck right by my side.
"You live in Hanasi?"
"Yes."
"Have you found a place yet? I can recommend some good spots."
"No need."
She asked the questions; I gave the answers. To anyone watching, it was obvious she liked me while I couldn't care less.
"What kind of coffee do you want?"
"Huh? I'll buy. You even brushed the dust off for me, so thank you."
"Cut the nonsense and pick something already."
"……."
It was a fact that Park Ha-eun had more money than me. The gap was like comparing a shack in a poor neighborhood to owning an entire building in Gangnam. Still, I paid. Considering what I stood to gain later, I had at least that much conscience.
"Then I'll enjoy it. I'll have… um, a latte, please."
After ordering, she sat down and kept glancing at me. An awkward silence. Since I wasn't speaking, the silence was inevitable. It lasted until the drinks arrived.
"The weather's really nice today, isn't it? It feels like spring already."
Park Ha-eun tried to break the silence.
"Yeah, it does."
I answered deliberately like that, knowing it would probably piss her off.
"……."
One glance at her face told me she was angry. I would be too. Especially someone with high self-esteem.
"Is there something you don't like about me?"
She crossed her arms and glared. Even though she was in love, she still got mad at behavior like this. Of course she would. No matter how much someone matched your ideal type, if they acted like this, anyone would get angry. Fine, I won't even meet you then. That kind of mindset was natural. In a normal situation, anyway.
Two suggestions were in place: I was her ideal type, and everything about me—breathing, moving, speaking—looked pretty and cute to her. In other words, no matter what I did, she would still find it endearing. The way she was acting now was just her trying to look good in front of me while being prickly. I knew that all too well.
"Something I don't like, huh……."
I murmured softly while looking at her. She flinched! When our eyes met, her shoulders trembled slightly. Because it was spring, she wore thin clothes—a white semi-sheer top with a beige blazer draped beside her and jeans. It was the kind of date outfit a woman in her thirties would wear. It gave off a mature charm. The faint scent of women's perfume amplified that maturity.
"Really? About me? You have something you don't like? About me?"
"……."
She was already reacting even though I hadn't said anything yet. Her self-esteem was ridiculously high. Was that strange? A former Miss Korea and the top real estate agent in Hanasi. Either credential alone was impressive. She had both looks and wealth—what could she possibly lack?
"Why? Is it not allowed?"
"Ha~. Of course it's allowed."
Looking exasperated, she swept her hair back, leaned against the chair, and crossed her arms. She was openly showing she was sulking.
"I thought every guy would fall for me."
"I can't say that's not true."
Wow. A direct answer. Full of self-esteem and confidence.
"Well, I guess so. You're pretty and have a great figure."
At my compliment, the corner of her mouth lifted. Crushes were easy to spot like this.
"So in the end, I'm not going to work out for you, am I?"
"……Why do you think that? You won't know unless you try."
"Nah, forget it."
She waved her hand and answered indifferently.
"You never know. If you confessed, I might accept."
Once I gave her a little opening, she leaned her upper body toward me. Then she casually rested her arms under her chest, positioning it in my line of sight. She had clearly done this more than once or twice. That said, I had no intention of making her my girlfriend. If I did, there would have been no need to stack it up to the second floor like this. Pure one-sided love.
I leaned slightly toward Park Ha-eun and said, "Let's start as friends first."
"……Pfft. Okay."
She wore a triumphant expression at my answer. Of course. How could any guy not fall for me? That kind of look. It was the expression only someone who had always been in the superior position could make.
"Then as a sign of getting along well, let's shake hands first, shall we?"
She naturally extended her hand, prompting physical contact.
"Sure."
No reason not to accept. I took her hand and smiled softly. From then on, she approached me very openly and aggressively.
"When did you move to Hanasi? Oh my, I've been here for several years now."
While talking, she casually brushed my shoulder or positioned her chest to draw my gaze……
……If this had been a blind date instead of hypnosis, she would have emptied not just my wallet but the deed to my house too.
Even while walking after finishing our coffee, she kept sidling closer. Thanks to her tall height, the subtle scent of perfume rising from her made my heart race. Most guys wouldn't be able to resist this. Her flowing hair, the curve of her chest faintly visible through the semi-sheer fabric, and the sensual sway of her hips in those jeans every time she walked. Any man would want to hold her in his arms. How was I supposed to hold back?
"Hehe~, that was fun~. If you're disappointed, want one more drink? How about it? Just casually."
Beneath the crimson sunset settling between the buildings, she tempted me with alluring eyes.
"Uh…."
For a moment, I almost agreed. Shit. I was screwed. My body had reacted.
"No. It's still my first day here."
I barely managed to refuse, feeling like I was biting my tongue. A woman's mature charm in her thirties was stronger than I thought.
"That's a shame~. Heh, then since we're friends, next time we can drop the formal speech, right?"
"……Of course."
Whew. I was going to wreck Yoo-na later. Pound her hard. Anyway, I had to do what needed to be done before leaving.
"Then give me a ride. I'll tell you my home address."
"……Really? Is that okay?"
"What does it matter? We're friends."
"Right?"
She smiled with certainty that I had fallen for her. A white SUV. It was the new model. I had seen the YouTube reviews. This was a bit enviable……
Putting the envy aside, I got in the car and took out my phone.
"Ha-eun, take a look at this."
"What is it? Let me see."
"Just look for three seconds. It'll make you feel better."
"Pfft, okay."
She looked at me like I was cute, then turned her gaze to my screen. Flicker!
"A candle flame?"
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. She had spoken out of curiosity, but that was the end of it. Inside the quiet car with just the two of us—
— What kind of relationship do you have with him?
"……We're kind of seeing each other……."
A short answer, but it contained everything. In her mind, the fact that I had fallen for her was already established. It wasn't a lie. If we had met normally, I probably would have fallen hard. A mischievous smile tugged at my lips.
— You have no charm to him.
"……I……?"
Look at that confidence.
— You are not attractive to him.
"……Why……at all……?"
Pretty strong resistance. But this was already the third floor. With each repetition, even the strongest person’s resistance weakened. I knew that from experience.
— You are ordinary to him.
"……I’m……ordinary……."
— You are just an average woman to him.
"……An average……woman……."
As expected, the more it repeated, the less resistance there was.
— He doesn't feel any charm from you.
"……I don't……feel……charming……."
Regardless of gender, everyone experiences this at least once in life—the moment the person they like doesn't see them romantically.
— You are not attractive to him.
"……Not……attractive……."
— You are an ordinary woman to him.
"……I’m……ordinary……."
With unfocused eyes, she simply repeated my words mindlessly. She was in a perfect hypnotic state. Whoosh!
§
<Park Ha-eun>
Why? Why? Whyyyyy?
"I don't get it."
During the date, it had seemed okay.
"No, thinking about it……."
He hadn't shown any interest at all, had he?
"Ha-eun~, when did you end up like this~."
To think my once-glorious past had faded like this. To Maeng Do-yun, I apparently held no charm whatsoever.
Friends? He wanted to be friends?
"That means he has zero interest."
It was drawing a line. It meant he didn't like me. Right? Right?
"Ugh~."
Since when had Park Ha-eun been treated like this by a man?
"……."
She flopped face-down on her office desk. Dating had always been comfortable for her. She had always picked the best guy among those who liked her. How did it come to this?
"This is annoying."
She swept her hair back and frowned. His face was ordinary, his height was ordinary, and yesterday when he dropped her off, it was a rental house.
"And yet what? Buying land and buildings and whatever?"
Honestly. He had no filter.
"……."
Yet in her mind, the system had made him her ultimate ideal type. His unadorned appearance was just too—
"Cute!"
Damn it. Even the way he drank coffee yesterday had been lovely. When he brushed the dust from her hair, he had been caring and cute too.
Resting her chin on her hand, she made a completely smitten face before snapping back to reality.
"I've lost it, Ha-eun. Get a grip."
He was too ordinary. Being ordinary wasn't bad, but he was way off from all the dating preferences she had built up until now. Then something suddenly occurred to her. Sometimes while watching TV, there were ordinary couples where the guy was plain but the girl was so pretty that people wondered why. Those scenes flashed through her mind like a panorama.
"I guess I can understand it a little."
Not only that, but the things various couples said—"He looks handsome to me," "She looks pretty to me"—suddenly made sense too.
"The problem is that I never thought I'd understand."
Should she text him?
"Damn it, forget it. He doesn't even like me, so what's the point."
Tap tap. Even as she said that, she was already sending a message.
[What are you doing?]
But no reply came.
"……Look at this guy?"
Even though she liked him, curses still came out.
[I was busy]
The reply only came around quitting time. She had been angry until just now, but the moment she saw the reply, her anger melted away like snow.
"Y-yeah. Hmph, if he's busy, replies can be slow. Right?"
Excited, she sent another message.
[Want to meet today?]
Ha-eun, Ha-eun, you've completely lost it~. Texting a guy first~.
[I can see your face for a bit]
[I'll come to you! Where should I go?]
Contrary to her inner thoughts, she replied in less than ten seconds.
"Secretary, I have plans so I'll head out first. You should leave right on time too~."
"Yes, Director! Good work today!"
After greeting her employees, she headed straight to the parking lot. She tossed her blazer onto the passenger seat and started the engine. The destination. Before getting out, she frantically fixed her appearance in the mirror. She reapplied foundation and perfectly touched up her lipstick.
"Good."
When she got out of the car, she saw Maeng Do-yun up ahead.
"Oh my, are you just getting off work now? I must have left a bit earlier."
"Huh? That fast?"
She could see he was surprised. With this much effort, how could he not fall for her?
"Is it okay if I just see your face for a moment?"
"Well, I have a lot of work so I need to leave soon."
Her pathetic pride made her say unnecessary things. Ah, maybe she should have spoken more gently. Or suggested they hang out longer since she had time.
"Since you're here, I'll buy you something."
"No~. I'll buy. You bought me coffee yesterday……."
"It's fine."
The way he answered so indifferently……was so cool. Ah. What was she thinking right now? This guy had zero interest in her. He wasn't even looking at her now. They had agreed to be friends yesterday, so was it okay to speak casually……?
"Let's drink in the car."
It was only enough time to drink a beverage. Even that made her smile. She never thought she would be like this. Looking back, had she ever felt her heart race like this before?
"Ha-eun."
"……Yes?"
"Look at this for three seconds."
What? A candle flame? It was an app she had never seen before. Flicker!
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. The fluttering emotions disappeared, and she simply plunged into a pitch-black abyss.
— Would you like him to like you?
Yes, of course. The feelings that had grown since two weeks ago kept getting bigger every day.
"……Yes……."
She answered sincerely. She wanted to answer clearly, but her mouth felt as heavy as wet cotton.
— There's a way. Would you like to try?
"……Yes……."
A courage rose up that made her feel like she could do anything if she just followed the voice's instructions.
— Become a comfortable nuna to him.
"……Yes……comfortably……."
That much was easy.
— Become a good nuna to him.
"……A good……nuna……."
This was easy too.
— Become a nuna he can rest comfortably with.
"……A nuna……he can rest……comfortably……with……."
— Become a nuna he can ask for favors anytime.
"……Anytime……favors……."
But……didn't this make her more like a big sister than a girlfriend? A slight doubt arose.
— If he feels burdened, he can't become your boyfriend.
The voice only spoke the truth. Even without anyone telling her, she simply felt that way.
"……Don't……feel burdened……don't worry……."
A comfortable nuna. A good nuna. A nuna he could rest with. A nuna he could ask favors from.
— Become a nuna who can embrace him well.
"……Embrace……."
— Become a nuna he can easily ask favors from.
"……Easily……ask……."
The requests felt so natural. Don't worry. That much was too easy for her. As a real estate agent, she had dealt with so many difficult clients. She could handle this much.
How much time had passed? It felt like an eternity.
— Become a nuna who takes good care of him.
"……I'll become……a nuna who takes good care……of him……."
Whoosh!