Choi Gahee's Invitation (3)
“Don’t you like Noona?”
Gahee noona asked in a voice thick with moisture. Her expression brimmed with such earnest, pure emotion that I nearly gave her the answer she wanted. Despite being older than me, that gaze of hers stirred my protective instincts so fiercely I almost caved.
Fine, just say you hate it.
I didn’t have the guts to watch her face crumple at my words, and the guilt of making her cry would plunge me into self-loathing. But I had to stick to the plan here. To escape this yandere.
But I hesitated for a moment. Maybe she couldn’t wait any longer—her eyes started clouding over again.
“Oh my, you really hate it?”
Hairs stood up all over my body. My body wouldn’t obey me. It froze like I was paralyzed, and then my mouth opened on its own, ignoring my will entirely.
“No, I love noona so much.”
“That’s right~ Good boy.”
Gahee noona nodded in satisfaction and gently stroked my head.
What the hell is this?! What did I just say!?
Don’t get the wrong idea. That wasn’t my true feelings at all. My body, my vocal cords and tongue in my mouth—they just moved on their own for survival. Some unconscious instinct submitted to Gahee noona.
And when I came to my senses...
“How is it, Taeyang? Fun?”
“Yeah.”
I was sitting in front of Gahee noona, my neck wrapped in her arms, gripping the joystick from within her embrace.
“……”
“Hehe... Taeyang’s shampoo scent...”
“Wait, hold on!!”
“Hm? Is the position uncomfortable?”
“That’s not the issue! Why are you holding me like this?!”
“You came without refusing, so I thought it was okay.”
“It’s embarrassing, so let go first.”
“Hing.”
Thankfully, her mood seemed fine now, and command mode didn’t activate again. Her clouded eyes remained, though. I finally slipped free from Gahee noona, who released me reluctantly, and set down the joystick.
“The game was fun.”
“Eh? Stopping already?”
“Yeah. Time flies when you’re just gaming.”
“If you’re bored, should I get another game pack?”
Gahee noona frantically rummaged through the game pack storage.
“No, it’s fine. I don’t play games that much anyway.”
I stood to leave and headed for the door, but I felt a hand reaching for my arm.
“What’s up?”
“Wait just a sec, Taeyang...”
“……”
She’s not about to pounce, is she? Her clouded eyes looked like a predator locking onto prey.
“Then how about we find something else fun? Together?”
“I’m good. More importantly, how’s Willy doing, noona?”
Time to change the subject. She can’t resist talking about her pet dog.
“Willy? Yeah, he’s doing great.”
See? She lit up at the mention of Willy.
“Around now, he’s probably napping lazily after dinner.”
“……”
“On days like this, he won’t budge even if I try to take him for a walk~ I’m worried he’ll gain more weight.”
So, is she saying I should take him for a walk if I can?
“Ah, that’s a shame. Well, it’s getting late, so I should head out.”
“Taeyang?”
“Yeah?”
“Your noona who really loves you has one favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Wanna sleep over at noona’s tonight?”
“...What? That’s ridiculous.”
“Noona’s parents are away on a business trip overseas today, so I’ll be lonely~”
So this was her goal all along. I refused immediately, of course. Couldn’t risk command mode kicking in again.
“Even if we’re close like siblings, staying over on a night your parents aren’t home is dangerous.”
“Why’s it dangerous?”
Gahee noona tilted her head with a smile. Truth is, I’m the one in danger. I have no such intentions, but she might.
“If it’s dangerous, then know it’s dangerous!! Do I have to spell it out for you?”
“So cute...”
This won’t do. She’s not listening at all. Her face flushed with excitement, her breathing ragged. The hand on her ample chest fidgeted, like she was holding something back.
I had to clear those yandere eyes first, or who knows what might happen. Leaving her like this and bolting could make it worse.
“Haa~ I’m hungry anyway, so let’s eat dinner and talk.”
“Okay, let’s go!”
Getting out of the room was priority one. Thankfully, Gahee noona smiled brightly and followed my lead.
“Let’s pack up the console first.”
“Ah, I’ll help.”
“No need.”
“Nah, we played together, so we clean together.”
I picked up the console and opened the second drawer of the two-tier cabinet where Gahee noona had gotten the games earlier.
“Ack! Wait, Taeyang! Not that one...”
“Hm? Wasn’t it this one ear—”
I shouldn’t have opened the cabinet before she could stop me. My body nearly froze solid.
What the hell are all these photos?
I swallowed those words inwardly—proud of myself for once. I quickly set down the console and turned away.
“Hey, Taeyang. That’s...!!”
“What’s up, Gahee noona?”
“Th-those photos...”
“What photos? Were there photos?”
“Huh?”
“What about them?”
As I turned back to check the cabinet, she grabbed me.
“Ahaha, no. Nothing there.”
“Hmmm... Suspicious?”
I smirked teasingly, but a chill ran down my spine. For now, act like I saw nothing and play it cool. Even though the cabinet was stuffed with close-up photos of just me—teddy bear costume shots, cheerleading practice pics, school trip snaps—enough to make my tongue hang out. Gotta pretend I didn’t see.
If she knew I saw, she might go berserk.
“Haha, it’s nothing. Taeyang, any menu you wanna eat?”
Gahee noona, sweating bullets, laughed it off and swiftly changed the subject.
“Should we get something outside?”
“I’ll make it!”
“No need to push yourself. There’s a good spot nearby.”
“I said I’ll make it.”
A hint of coercion laced her voice.
“……Then don’t we need to shop?”
“I bought everything already.”
“What do you mean everything?”
“Tell me. Anything’s possible.”
She might command me to sleep over next! Gotta sweet-talk her over dinner.
“Ramen’s fine.”
“We need balanced nutrition.”
“I’m good. I really want ramen!”
Even insisting firmly, she finally relented with an “Okay” and headed to the kitchen. Should I just bolt now? As that thought crossed my mind, she turned back.
“I don’t know what you like, so come with me.”
Then she grabbed my hand and pulled me along.
“Tasty, Taeyang?”
“Yeah.”
“I wonder if the broth steeped well.”
The pot brimmed with pricey seafood and fish. It looked more like seafood stew than ramen, so I hesitated to dig in. Gahee noona piled my plate high instead.
Can I even finish all this?
“Ah, the lobster’s done. Wait a sec, Taeyang.”
“Wait, why’d you even boil lobster?”
“Prepared it for you~”
I specifically said I wanted ramen—why a full seafood course?
“Not tasty?”
She looked worried as I poked at it halfheartedly. Pitiful expression, but no falling for it anymore. That’s Gahee noona—sweet until things go off-script, then coercive.
“Guess seafood’s not my thing.”
“Really? I’ll toss it right now.”
“No, wait!! It’d be a waste to throw it all out.”
“But you won’t eat it? Food you can’t eat has no value.”
She said it dead serious.
“……I’ll eat. It’s actually tasty, but it looked too fancy, so I hesitated.”
“Really? Noona’s got money, so eat up without worry.”
Her face finally relaxed. My conscience stung, so I had to eat.
“Can’t finish alone, so eat with me, Gahee noona.”
“Got it~”
Eating gave me time to sort my thoughts. Why did Gahee noona’s condition seem worse than when we first met today? I racked my brain.
I knew my actions hadn’t caused disgust... but I hadn’t done anything to boost affection much either. Hmm... Yandere logic is beyond me. In the game, heroines in yandere mode were easier to raise affection with, and higher stages gave bigger plus points. Still, couldn’t shake the feeling her yandere side was intensifying scarily. At this rate, she’d hit Stage 2 soon...
Time to change tactics. No point showing an uncute, mature side realistically—yanderes are already irrational. Game strategy it is. Show a responsible, adult side to cap affection growth, get close to a girl with no yandere potential, and gradually distance from her. Starting today, put space between me and Gahee noona. End this quick as possible.
“Noona. I’ll head out after dinner.”
“What? For real?”
“Your... parents aren’t home, so sleeping over feels like deceiving them. Doesn’t sit right.”
“If that’s the worry, I’ll get permission now.”
“No. Got stuff at home too.”
“Hayan said you have no plans today?”
Hayan noona leaked my schedule, huh. Not really mad at her, but annoying.
“Homework. Not a ton for tomorrow.”
“Bring it here. I’ll teach you!”
“I’m good. Not that hard.”
“Ah....”
Gahee noona looked super disappointed.
“.....You slept over at Iri’s house, though.”
I caught her whispering bitterly. Jealousy and envy—she was being stubborn over that. Couldn’t let her flip again, so dangle a carrot.
“Gahee noona. We’re not just meeting once, right?”
“Huh?”
“You’re not gonna see me only today and never again?”
“Of course not!!”
She denied it with a start. I forced a chuckle at her overreaction and kept going.
“We can hang out next time. It’s not just today.”
“So you’ll come play again?”
She asked cautiously. I grinned wide.
“Next time, if I have time and wanna hang, I’ll let you know.”
“Yes!! Come anytime, Taeyang!!”
Not my call alone, obviously, but she accepted happily. I smirked inwardly. Now I can dodge visits to her place somehow.
After a frontal defeat, I scarfed dinner, said goodbyes, and bolted like a fugitive.
For now, stick near Juyeon noona or Iri noona when meeting the noonas. Hayan noona’ll help with Gahee, so stay cautious together.
“My legs aren’t shaking, are they?”
I glanced back on the run—street empty. Nearly collapsed in relief. This was straight out of a horror flick.