Childhood Playground Confession
All the places we'd been going to since childhood—without exception—were spots Na-eun and I had visited together at least once. The first one was the Manga Cafe, the place where I remembered Na-eun sprawled out defenselessly, flipping through comics.
Today, too, Na-eun lay there completely unguarded, belly-up on the floor, reading her manga. I almost thought she didn't care at all about me being there. But that thought didn't last long. Before I knew it, she'd sidled up next to me and was reading the manga I had picked out, instead of her own.
"Na-eun, wanna go back to how it was at first?"
At my question, Na-eun shook her head immediately, as if she'd been waiting for it. It was like the point wasn't reading the manga together, but being with me while reading it.
I didn't mind. If anything, it felt good. It was proof that she liked being with me. So at some point, I stopped actually reading the manga mechanically and started savoring the time pressed up against her.
I couldn't help but enjoy that moment. Dazed by the sweet, fragrant scent wafting from her body, intoxicated by her warm breath, I found myself leaning into her instead.
When I realized what I was doing, I was shocked at myself. I'd been trying not to do things like that with Na-eun. She was still a minor, after all, and my friend's little sister. But soon enough, I decided it didn't matter.
I couldn't ignore the feelings coming from her actions—or my own. The wall between adult and minor had crumbled long ago, and "friend's little sister" was just one facet of Jeong Na-eun. How could that stop my heart? Especially when, as I drew closer, she wrapped her arm lightly around mine like she loved it.
Something enormous and soft from her started pressing against my arm, and that sensation made my mind go even blanker.
Still, with more dating experience and a few more years on her, I tried to play it cool.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
Of course, my heart pounding was unavoidable. "Couldn't help it" fits perfectly. That's how much I loved this moment. Just... loved it. Loved it so much I could laugh.
Anyway, after diligently "reading" manga together at the Manga Cafe, we headed straight to a cafe as soon as we left.
The drinks from the Manga Cafe were just for quenching thirst—real chit-chat needed something else.
"Na-eun, what coffee do you want?"
"Anything's fine for me."
"Yeah? How about grapefruit tea?"
"Sure!"
"One grapefruit tea and one iced Americano, please."
We ordered and found a seat in the corner. Na-eun sipped her steaming grapefruit tea.
Twitch!
Shiver shiver shiver...
Whether it was too hot or the fizzy grapefruit tang startled her, Na-eun's body trembled. Even that was so cute I couldn't hold back a laugh.
Did my laugh bug her? She shot me a little glare and grumbled.
"Why're you laughing?"
Why? "You're cute."
"Huh...?"
"Laughed 'cause you're cute. You."
Na-eun's face started turning red. I'd shown her my feelings subtly through actions before, but saying it outright like this? Probably the first time.
Sure, I'd called her cute a few times, but the mindset was different. Before, it was objective—like commenting on Jeong Na-eun's cuteness as her oppa's friend, Lee Seonwoo. Now? It was Lee Seonwoo, the guy who liked her as a woman, saying it.
She seemed to sense it, hiding her cheek behind her hair more bashfully than usual.
"What're you doing?"
"Dunno. Oppa's an idiot."
How many people in the world could whine like that and still be cute? At least, no one else makes me think they're cute even when sulking at me—except Na-eun.
"Yeah, I'm an idiot, huh."
I chuckled and took a sip of my Americano. She immediately glared again.
"You're not an idiot."
"I'm not?"
"Nope, absolutely not."
"Guess not then, if you say so."
"Right, 'cause I said it, oppa's not an idiot."
It was pure idiot talk. She calls me an idiot, I agree; then she says I'm not, so suddenly I am? Total nonsense.
If I had this chat with friends, we'd be roasting each other. But why? This moment felt so sweet, so good. So good I kept bursting out laughing. And so new. These moments with her felt utterly fresh, even after all the times we'd had them.
This feeling? I'd only experienced it once before—in my first college relationship with Suhyun Kang, back when I thought we were blissfully happy.
Because it was that same happiness, I knew for sure: Suhyun Kang's name no longer existed in my heart. In its place, a new name had taken root bigger than she ever could.
Jeong Na-eun. Just thinking it filled my head and heart with love.
And right then, my mind started racing. What should I do? What choice? When...?
After the cafe with Oppa Seonwoo, around 6 p.m., we got up. We started heading slowly back to my house.
Walking home with oppa is always bittersweet, but today it'll be worse. I'm confessing my feelings on the way—and demanding his answer.
If he accepts? It'll suck because we'd have to break up soon after starting. But if he rejects...?
...I'd be so disappointed I'd bawl my eyes out.
Still, the latter won't happen. No way. We've already confirmed our feelings for each other. I'm sure of it.
With that certainty, I sidled up to Oppa Seonwoo and hugged his muscled arm through his coat.
Feels good. Even through the fabric, his sturdy arm made me happy. I clung to it like a sloth, dangling as we walked.
Oppa didn't seem bothered at all, just walked with me.
Then I spotted a place full of wistful memories.
"Oppa, look over there."
"Playground, huh."
"Yeah, the playground."
The playground—where my brother and Oppa Seonwoo used to take me when I was little. So many happy memories.
Remembering them, I headed straight for the swings and sat down.
"Na-eun?"
"I wanna swing for old times' sake. Wanna join?"
"...Sure."
I sat first, and Oppa Seonwoo took the one next to me.
Creeeak... Creeeak...
Swinging, I asked him, "Oppa, remember what happened here?"
"Yeah, everything."
Oppa started recounting our memories: carrying me down the slide when I got scared after climbing up; giving up his swing to push me; letting himself get caught in tag for me; running over to console me when my brother ditched me and I cried here.
...So many happy memories.
"Oppa."
"Na-eun."
I called him, but he cut in first. He looked at me with a small smile, then walked slowly—so slowly—to me.
He crouched in front of me and took my hand. That rough-yet-warm, solid hand enveloped mine...
"...Na-eun."
Thump!
His low, sweet voice made my heart skip; I just nodded, speechless.
He smiled softly. "I've been thinking a lot."
"About getting close again, sharing old memories, making new ones... and how I see you. How I feel about you."
I could only nod blankly to his words.
"At first, you were just Seung-min's little sis. Super cute little sis I looked after a lot as a kid. That's it."
I knew. I knew, but it hurt. I wasn't that to him—but I wanted to be more.
Did he read my mind? He smirked and continued.
"But... not anymore."
"You were too pretty, too cute, too charming, too kind, too lovable to stay just a cute little sis. So..."
He trailed off, face flushing in a way I'd never seen—super embarrassed—and said the most heart-fluttering words in the world.
"Na-eun, if it's okay with you... will you go out with me?"
When I came to, I was already in his arms, kissing him deeply—pouring in all my love and longing.
After that intense kiss, pulling back from his embrace, I told him clearly.
"Yes, oppa. Let's date."
The words I'd waited so long for. I didn't confess, but this was better. Getting confessed to by the guy I'd loved my whole life? Way more thrilling and joyful than confessing myself.
