Twisted Obsession (2) -1-
It's been a while since I felt this pleasantly full and relaxed. Thanks to Ji-ah noona, the tension has eased up a lot, and with the delicious food and everything, my mood's way better. It's still early afternoon anyway, so it'd be nice to hang out a bit more....
I glance at her subtly, worried I might be imposing, but Ji-ah noona tilts her head at me.
"Something you wanna say?"
My hesitation doesn't last long.
"Um, noona, if you're free, wanna hang out a little longer? Maybe grab dinner too? I'll treat you."
"Huh? You sure that's okay? You don't mind being alone with me at home?"
Mind? If anything, she's taking such good care of me it's super comfortable. If she were the stereotypical 'ideal big sister' that only children dream of, maybe, but no.
"Not at all. You're not just doing this out of obligation when you're tired, right?"
"As if."
Ji-ah noona chuckles softly. Yeah, she seems genuinely fine with it.
"Ah! I'll do the dishes. You rest."
"It's fine.... Um, if it bothers you that much, wanna do them together?"
Back when Mom was alive, she'd feel bad whenever I helped with chores, even though I did it because we were just the two of us, and she was busy with work outside. So we compromised by doing them together. She'd love it when I'd hover nearby and pitch in little by little rather than hate it.
Ji-ah noona seems to feel guilty if I do anything for her, so I suggested it based on that memory. Is that such a surprising idea?
"Noona?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah! Sure, let's... do that?"
Seeing her flustered like that makes me chuckle too.
I mix dish soap into water for suds, rinse the plates first to scrape off the food, then pass them to her. She scrubs them in the soapy water beside me. Meanwhile, I tidy up the dishes on the drying rack to make space for the clean ones.
"Oh, right, noona."
"Yeah?"
"Thanks so much for today. I feel like I really got to rest easy because of you."
"Really? Glad I could help. But seriously, what's going on? If you're not feeling well, how about going to the hospital now?"
Lately, my nerves have been on edge, and with the poor sleep, insomnia's been creeping up. But it's not bad enough for the hospital. More than that, those creepy stares I've been feeling and the incident this morning are bugging me.
Come to think of it, I came here to talk to her about it too. I forgot in the relaxation.
She finishes scrubbing with the soapy water and starts rinsing. I wipe the clean dishes dry with a towel beside her and stack them on the rack.
"It's not that I'm sick.... Just some stuff that's been bothering me lately."
"Bothering you?"
"Yeah. Actually, these days—"
Ji-ah noona listens intently at first, her expression growing serious as I go on, until it turns icy cold.
"Did you report it to the police?"
"No direct harm yet.... I wasn't sure it'd do any good. And the box this morning seems like the first time."
I shrink a little, feeling like a scolded kid.
Deep wrinkles form between her brows.
"Hah! What kind of psycho bitch.... Jae-hyun, that's stalking. Report it to the police first thing."
Yeah, that's the proper response.
"No idea who the stalker might be?"
Kang So-ra, the new neighbor who moved in recently, pops into my head. She's always lurking around me if I notice, catching my eye subtly. Thinking back, those unpleasant stares started around her move-in date.
Still, it's too hasty to finger her as a suspect.
I hesitate, and Ji-ah noona narrows her eyes in thought before suddenly naming her.
"Maybe that woman who shows up at the cafe a lot lately? The one who moved next door or something. Kinda gloomy-looking with long straight hair."
"Huh? How do you know Kang So-ra?"
"And how do you know her name?"
Her eyes narrow suspiciously, like she's not thrilled.
"Ran into her in front of the elevator on moving day. We greeted each other."
"...I see. Anyway, she seems suspicious to me. She glares at me super menacingly at the cafe sometimes."
"Her?"
In my mind, Kang So-ra's the type who gets misunderstood—narrow-eyed black-haired villainess or muscle-bound tough girl vibes from her looks alone. A bit gloomy like noona said, but she's a busty beauty with a decadent allure. Her laugh is this sophisticated "fufu," making her seem like a sensual onee-san character at first glance.
But lately, no onee-san energy. Just someone awkward with distance, quiet and introverted. She hovers around me, sure, but no real actions beyond greetings and small talk.
"What? Doesn't seem right?"
"Honestly, no clue. She doesn't match her looks—feels more like a total loner nerd...."
Of course, something off and uncomfortable keeps me from wanting to get close. Sorry, So-ra, but people just click or clash without reason sometimes.
"Anyway, be careful. She doesn't seem normal. Even when we left the cafe with you earlier, she was glaring like she wanted to devour me. You didn't notice?"
"What? For real?"
Ji-ah noona's cool beauty, sleek and aloof. I thought that at first too. But once we got closer, I saw her clumsy, super cute side.
Anyway! For someone to glare that hard at her?
Her looks alone would intimidate most into caution. But weighing her against Ji-ah noona? Noona wins hands down.
"Mm. I'll be careful."
Yeah, well. I've never felt like getting chummy with So-ra from the start anyway.
No point arguing without evidence when noona's dead serious.
"Still worrying, though. It ended with just a box this time, but what if she breaks in?"
Oh god. I hadn't even thought of that.
In this reverse world, women are generally stronger physically, but I'm bigger than average guys, closer to my past life's male physique—innate advantage or reincarnation perk, who knows. I could probably handle most women in a tussle....
But saying that now? It'd fall on deaf ears. She'd probably snap that I'm being reckless.
Bluntly, bare hands is one thing, but if she grabs a tool or kitchen knife? Big trouble.
"Didn't think of that. What do we do?"
"How about crashing somewhere else for a bit? Or someone to stay with.... Ah, another guy wouldn't help. And staying with a girl would be awkward."
She's pondering it like it's her own problem, dead serious.
For a split second, 'Wanna stay with you, noona?' almost slips out half-joking, half-serious.
Yoon Jae-hyun, you idiot. Get a grip. Even if we're close, that's a huge imposition. And this is the reverse world—could be misread as me playing the field or something. Gotta be careful!
I scold myself and smile awkwardly.
"Like you said, I'll report it and keep watch. I'll be extra careful too."
Stick to not being alone as much as possible.
Ji-ah noona doesn't push further, figuring no immediate fix.
"Okay. Call me anytime, even the middle of the night."
Whoa, girl crush moment—heart skipped.
Serious Ji-ah noona feels even more like a mature older woman.
"Got it. Thanks for worrying, noona."
"...If you're okay with it, mind if I drop by your place more often?"
Even for a close, favorite dongsaeng, is this too much? But her face, dripping pure worry without ulterior motives, leaves no room for my mono delusions.
"I'd feel too bad."
"You need more street smarts, Jae-hyun. Know how dangerous it is when a woman fixates on a guy? And don't feel bad about this. It's you."
That could be misinterpreted, noona.
But before her noble knight-like poise, I can't say a word.
"If you feel bad, treat me to something tasty. Or clear your weekend to hang out?"
She winks playfully, then blushes faintly, thinking it's too much—classic Ji-ah noona, making me smile.
"Both. Date and dinner."
"Really?!"
Her face lights up like a kid with an unexpected gift.
I nod with a grin.
"Hanging with you is fun for me too—no need to call it payback."
"...Not a bother? I'm not great at talking, and escorting a guy is kinda new."
"Dunno. At the book cafe last time, it felt natural even in silence—no awkwardness. And your clumsiness is cute and fun. You okay with it? I'm not used to hanging with girls either."
Especially with the stalker unresolved.
She smiles seeing me scratch my cheek sheepishly.
That's why I like you.
Lately, I'm thinking, Wait, is this a green light?
From my 100% mono perspective, past and present—gotta wonder, noona!!