The 'Kim Taeyang and Choi Gahee' Line (3)
The conversation shifted to each other's ideal types.
"Gahee, what's your ideal guy like?"
"Huh, me first? Well, I..."
Gahee noona hesitated for a moment, then smiled shyly, looking a bit embarrassed.
"If I had to say... probably the cute type. Someone who makes you want to take care of them and stirs up that protective instinct."
After saying it, she bashfully covered her face with her hands. She seemed so innocently pure.
"Ugh... now that I've actually said it out loud, it's embarrassing."
Seeing Gahee noona like this in real life, I couldn't fathom how someone so kind and shy could turn yandere. No matter how I looked at her, she just seemed sweet and introverted.
"No need to be embarrassed."
"But I've never talked about stuff like this in my life."
"Anyway, that's your type, huh? What about you, Taeyang?"
"Why are you asking me?"
Hayan noona nodded with a smile. It fit Choi Gahee's character perfectly. As a heroine in Love Chain who loved being the one to pamper others, she was the type to devote herself to a guy she wanted to take care of. Showing clumsy sides during her route boosted affection points.
"Ours are total opposites, huh."
"Really? So what's your ideal type, Hayan?"
"A guy should act like a guy, right? Someone reliable who can take good care of his family would be great."
It was such a Hayan noona answer. As a heroine who cherished her family and checked on her little brother every day, she liked a man she could occasionally lean on. In Love Chain, showing manly qualities during her route ramped up affection fast.
"Bonus points if he has abs or something."
"Noona, you were into that?"
That wasn't even in the character bible. I'd never known if noona had a thing for muscle guys.
"Not overly bulky muscles—just enough toned ones that show he takes care of himself."
"Oh, that's what you meant?"
"Yeah. You've been slacking on workouts lately, Taeyang. Why not build some muscle?"
"Pass. You don't exercise either, noona."
She was just describing the kind of fit body women generally like. More precisely, women dig guys who manage themselves well.
"I prefer a bit of pudge over muscles, actually. It's soft and cute. Makes me want to keep buying them tasty stuff."
Then there were types like Gahee noona. Women who wanted a lovable teddy bear type. But hearing her talk about buying food made me flash back to her yandere self in the game force-feeding Seonwoo. I'd thought it was like that fairy tale witch fattening up kids to eat them.
"Hmm..."
Hayan noona had been peeking at me for a while.
"Should I fatten him up..."
"Huh? What'd you say, Hayan?"
"Nothing."
I let Hayan noona's misunderstanding slide, and Gahee noona asked me.
"What about you, Taeyang? What kind of girl do you like?"
Now it was my turn? Hayan noona looked on with keen interest at Gahee noona's question.
"What's Taeyang's type, I wonder? Noona has no clue~"
What a blatant lie—she acted like she knew everything. Without hesitation, I gave my honest ideal type.
"A girl who isn't too clingy."
"Huh?"
"Too much obsession is a hassle."
The moment I thought of my past life, my values solidified: looks didn't matter as long as she wasn't obsessive or crazy. Yanderes were a hard no.
The mood went quiet for a second after my answer.
"Ah, yeah, someone too clingy would be exhausting."
Gahee noona broke the silence first. She'd probably expected some lighthearted chat. I should've gone with something brighter.
"I meant style or looks-wise?"
Hayan noona pressed.
Hmm... me...
"Hmm... Never really thought about it, so I dunno."
"That's okay, you might not know yet."
Gahee noona patted me reassuringly.
"Not being honest~"
Hayan noona kept smiling and stroked my head.
"You're messing up my hair."
"Okay, okay~"
She was the one who'd been fiddling with it since morning.
"Your orders are ready."
"Whoa."
The server set the dishes on the table. A popular spot for a reason—the desserts were all beautifully plated. Even my brunch looked too pretty to eat.
"The teddy bear turned out great too."
The teddy bear Hayan noona had been waiting for was adorable, indistinguishable from a real one. Thick chocolate cream mimicked fur, with chocolate chips and syrup for eyes, nose, and mouth. The cocoa scent wafted from afar.
"It's too cute to cut. How do we even slice this?"
"Let's take pics first."
They snapped away excitedly while I waited for them to get their perfect shots.
"Gotta post it right now."
As Gahee noona fiddled with her phone, she suddenly asked me.
"Do you do SNS or anything, Taeyang?"
"Not really interested, so no."
The only SNS I had was thanks to Cho Yuli—if not for her, I wouldn't bother. I just lurked on her posts.
"Aw, too bad. I was gonna follow you."
Gahee noona sounded disappointed. Wait... should I?
Actually, no rule said I could only do it for Yuli. Hayan noona seemed active too, and tracking their info precisely could help me block flags.
"Maybe I'll make one later? Looks fun since you noonas enjoy it."
Of course, Hayan noona immediately assumed it was because of Gahee noona. Whatever—we agreed to exchange IDs later, but first, time to eat.
"I can't bring myself to cut the teddy bear!"
"Want me to do it?"
I sliced my brunch toast and popped a bite while they fussed over the chocolate teddy cake. Definitely a repeat-worthy spot.
Speaking of SNS, it reminded me of Yuli. She'd never posted before but suddenly wanted sweets bad enough to announce it...
I wanted to use the The World Is Still a Warm Place! strategy, but no good way came to mind. She wouldn't come downtown like last time. I gave up.
"What do you think of manly types, Gahee?"
"Hmm... Never really thought about it."
"Yeah? Having a little brother makes cute types feel less manly to me."
Hayan noona pinched my cheek as she said it. Was this her "my little bro's so cute" flex? Her obviousness just made me sigh.
And it worked—Gahee noona eyed us enviously.
"Must be nice~ I'm an only child, so I've always envied people with siblings."
"Yeah? Must be lonely and boring without someone to tease."
"What do you even think of me, noona?"
She flashed an innocent grin, then shoved toast in my mouth with a cheerful "Eat up~". Conditioned by years of this, I grumbled but ate obediently.
"Yeah, I wanna be a big sis too. I'd be great to a little brother."
Maybe I should've been born Gahee noona's brother instead of teasing Hayan noona? Either way, stopping their yandere turns was the goal. Plus, Gahee noona's brother might end up obese. Best to escape this world altogether.
Oblivious to my thoughts, Gahee noona grinned mischievously.
"Taeyang, wanna be my little brother for a day?"
"Sure, use me however."
"I'm not an object, you know?"
Hayan noona tried handing me off like property. Watching them laugh and bicker, I turned away—then my gaze froze.
"Huh?"
By the kitchen counter where desserts came out, a poster hung on the wall in big letters: We'll deliver your teddy bear home!
We'll Deliver Your Teddy Bear Right to Your Home!
At checkout, fill out the entry form and submit with payment to enter. One entry per person.
Results announced in a few days. Winners: Enter code, name, and address on our homepage.
"We do that at checkout?"
I pointed, and the noonas tilted their heads—they hadn't noticed.
"An event like that?"
"Yeah, think they announced it at opening."
I stepped closer to read. Noonas crowded in too.
"Let's do it!"
Of course, noona's urging dragged me in.
———
We left the dessert shop and headed straight to a gut-busting spot—no time to digest.
"Clothes shopping..."
A sigh escaped already.
"Won't take long, don't worry."
"Yeah, I was gonna wander alone anyway."
"Aww, you came to hang out—can't ditch me."
Hayan noona gripped my hand tight to prevent escape.
"Hayan, don't drag him everywhere."
She did anyway—for nearly two hours. They bought me clothes, and Gahee noona trying on suits, tennis skirts, lace blouses, dresses—everything looked perfect on her, a nice view.
"I'd die before going again."
"It's just noona grabbing underwear—what's the big deal?"
Midway, Hayan noona jokingly tried dragging me into a lingerie shop, freaking me out. Gahee noona's presence probably kept it a prank.
"Haa~"
Finally, a break. I collapsed on a bench with a groan.
"Good job~"
Gahee noona smiled apologetically.
"We've seen all the clothes—chin up."
Hayan noona's words sparked faint hope.
"Just one more stop."
I was the fool for trusting her. She waved it off as a joke when I glared. My face must've been scary.
"Gotta hit the bathroom quick."
"Me too."
Nonstop walking had caught up. I stood with Hayan noona.
"Okay, I'll wait here. Go ahead."
We left Gahee noona on the bench.
"Ahh~ Feels good."
After, I returned. Hayan noona wasn't back yet.
"Huh? Gahee noona?"
A guy stood by her. She looked uncomfortable, fending him off awkwardly.
"I really like you—can I get your number?"
"Sorry, that's..."
"I'm not usually like this, but you really caught my eye."
"What're you doing?"
I approached and spoke. Their eyes snapped to me.
"Your brother?"
Ignoring him, I grabbed Gahee noona's hand.
"Gahee, let's go."
"Huh?"
To shoo away the fly, I led her hand and moved elsewhere.