Isn't Harang Noona More Important Than Friends?
High school sophomore year, spring. Lunchtime. I was chatting with my friend, someone I'd known decently since middle school and gotten even closer with in high school. The guy had a ridiculously handsome face. His name was Min Seobin. Sure, he was good-looking, but with his hipster loner vibes, he didn't have many friends besides me. Not that I was in any position to talk.
Anyway, after scarfing down lunch, we huddled up to kill time on our phones when Seobin brought up Harang Noona.
"Dude, doesn't it kinda kill the fantasy by now, her coming over to your place all the time like that? You said she treats you like her actual little brother."
"What fantasy?"
"Last year, your parents got posted overseas, right? And she's been crashing at your place a ton since then."
"Yeah."
"So you've seen her bare face by now, and her clothes tossed all over the place a few times... house a total mess and shit."
"You think Harang Noona's like my sister? She's a fucking angel."
"What the hell... Fine, whatever on the rest, but you seriously never saw her without makeup? It'd be different, at least a bit."
"Bare face? Harang Noona's bare face is obviously stunning... Uh, hold up."
Harang Noona's bare face. I'd seen her at least once a week for the past seven years or so... Bare face... Hmm.
"What're you pondering so hard?"
"Now that I think about it, I don't think I have?"
"No way. That doesn't add up."
"I see my sister's bare face all the time, so I know what that's like... But yeah, come to think of it, never once. She always dresses perfectly and keeps everything spotless."
"Bullshit."
"You've seen her a few times too. She's always on that level."
"......"
"This fucker seriously won't believe me."
"Shut up for a sec."
I told him the truth while picturing Harang Noona, but he wouldn't buy it. Seobin furrowed his brow in thought for a moment, then lowered his voice cautiously.
"Hey... what if..."
"What if what? If you're about to spew nonsense, think three more times first."
"I've been wondering for a while now..."
He trailed off, then dropped the most random bomb.
"Doesn't that noona like you or something? Why else would she still act like that...?"
"......"
"No, for real, it could happen. I got a little sister and a girlfriend, so I know—doesn't make sense otherwise for her to stay that put-together around you..."
"Min Seob... Min Seobin..."
"Yeah?"
I gave my friend, who was spouting utter nonsense, some serious advice from the heart. Deep from the soul.
"Cut back on the anime. Even anime doesn't pull that trope much anymore."
"......You crazy otaku fuck, who the hell are you talking to...!"
"And I said think three times before bullshitting. Looks like it bypassed your brain entirely."
"No, you psycho!"
I ignored Seobin, who lost his shit at my heartfelt advice, and rummaged through my drawer to prep for next period. Gotta say something sensible for him to listen. If I'd had his level of looks, maybe I'd take that seriously, but sadly, I wasn't there. Looks aren't everything, but there's levels to it. I love manga, but I don't believe that fantasy exists in reality. Thanks to the care from my sister and Harang Noona growing up, I knew how to groom myself decently and figured I was pretty okay baseline. Honestly, aside from Seobin, I was probably the best-looking in our class. But him and Harang Noona were on another level. Whatever. Total bullshit in the end.
I shook off Seobin, who was still whining and pissed even after classes ended, and headed home. He griped endlessly about not hanging out today, but we'd planned for the weekend—weekdays were too much. I wanted some alone time. Though even weekends weren't just us two; we'd promised last week to meet up with his girlfriend and little sister, all four of us. Annoying to think about leaving the house on a chill weekend, but it always ended up fun once we were out. Plus, I got along decently with his girlfriend and sister. Anyway, classes done, time to crash and browse webtoons—I bolted home. But someone had beaten me there.
"You're early."
"What? Langi Noona, why're you here this early? Isn't today a lecture day?"
"Schedule changed."
"Right, you noonas are sophomores now too."
Harang Noona, casually chatting in our living room like it was nothing. No heads-up she'd come, and even my sister wasn't home, but it wasn't a big deal. She visited tons even when my parents were around; now that they were gone, it was even more frequent. My parents weren't dead or anything—Dad got posted abroad, so they both went to the States. Sis and I could've gone too, but neither of us wanted to live in America, so we stayed. After a quick greeting, I dropped my bag in my room and came back out. Harang Noona was waiting with a cup of drink in hand.
"Here."
"Thanks. Water?"
"Pocari."
"Thanks for the meal~"
-Gulp
Thirsty as hell, I chugged the drink she'd handed over, glancing at her. Her hair had grown out overall since her bob in middle and high school, parted to the sides with waves in front. Delicate yet sharp features, face hard to read. Height nearing 170cm, just 5cm taller than me. Below that, model-slim limbs. She was pretty even as a kid, but now it was next-level. Honestly, drop-dead gorgeous. Total college goddess vibe. I could act casual 'cause I saw her face constantly; otherwise, I'd be a stuttering mess from the beauty.
-Stare
I caught myself scanning her up and down lost in thought, then realized she was staring right back. I yanked my gaze away. I'd been trying not to ogle since burying those feelings, and lately it hardly happened. But Seobin's words today shook me a bit. Still, no way it was true. Why would this noona, who could switch to modeling tomorrow and crush it, like me?
"Speaking of, where's my sis?"
I forced down my quickening heart and spoke up.
"Homework. She'll eat dinner here before heading back."
"Oh? So you and me for dinner?"
"Yeah. Anything you want?"
"Hmm... Pizza?"
"Sure. I'll get it."
-Smooth, stroke
Dinner plans wrapped in seconds. She took the cup from my hand and stroked my head with her other. I accepted it meekly. Didn't love others touching my hair, but she'd done it forever, so no biggie. Kinda funny now that I was taller. Standing there getting petted, I spotted the tiniest upward twitch at her lips. If it was visible, her mood was sky-high. Fine by me—close-up view of her pretty face, faint scent wafting off her. Bliss. While soaking it up, I glanced down at her outfit.
"......"
Clean white V-neck shirt, black slim pants? Not super done-up, but not home-loungey like my sister's stuff. Of course, she just arrived, not staying days like sis. Still, I'd never seen her in ratty sweats any day. And knowing sis wasn't home yet coming early to eat with me... Nah, fuck that. Seobin's making me overthink. Her and me eating alone wasn't new. Probably just hates the family home—said it was too stiff. Order the pizza.
"Pepperoni? Bulgogi?"
"Whatever you want."
"Then... the crowd-pleaser Hawaiian...?"
"Sure."
"...Kidding~ You hate pineapple. Just cheese then."
"Yeah."
We set the pizza on the living room table and each grabbed a slice. I multitasked phone in one hand, pizza in the other, chowing down. Noona cut hers neatly with fork and knife on a plate. House pizza, really? More cute than anything. She hated greasy hands, and her little mouth munching away looked hamster-like. Midway through devouring ours, she finished a slice clean and called me.
"Gyeol."
"Yeah."
"Weekend plans?"
"Weekend? Hanging with friends. Seobin."
"Oh? Saturday?"
"Yeah."
This Saturday was Harang Noona's move-out day for her officetel. She'd wanted to live alone forever; dream achieved. I'd planned to help, but not much stuff, and women's items/underwear made it awkward, so she told me to skip. Come after it's sorted.
"Guess you'll be home late Saturday then."
"Probably? Multi-room theater—gonna be a long one. Me, Seobin, his sister, his girlfriend. Four of us. Oh, multi-rooms are insane now? Way better than when we went with the noonas before."
"Sounds fun. Then Sunday, you... Hold up."
Thought it was safe small talk, but she cut off mid-sentence. Vibe shifted hard. I looked up—her eyes drilling into me.
"Seobin—that tall guy from before?"
"Y-yeah... You've seen him a few times."
"His sister—little sister?"
"Ooh, how'd you remember? Yeah. Seoin. Hung out a few times before."
"......"
"Kid's a total airhead, hilarious."
Min Seoin. Looked like Seobin, cute and outgoing popular girl. Same age as him. Total idol stan. Bickered with bro but hung out often, so I'd joined a bit. Close? Kinda—had her number, group chat too. Her social energy made it easy despite not meeting tons.
-Tap, tap
But at my answer, Harang Noona tapped the table with her finger, staring blankly. Felt off—like she hated it. Not her face, but that rhythm... Something's up. Did I fuck up? Nah. We were good... Pizza tasty. Tension crept in. Couldn't touch the steaming slice, eyes darting for minutes. Finally, she spoke.
"Kang Gyeol."
"Y-yeah? What?"
"Can you help with the move this Saturday?"
"...Suddenly?"
Super sudden. Last month, she rejected my offer to help.
"You said there wasn't much I could help with."
"Yeah, but the boxes might be heavy."
"Well..."
"If you got plans with friends, no biggie."
"Nah... If you need help, obviously I'm there. Friends can wait."
"Cool. Sorry."
"No, no. Just gonna bullshit with the Min duo anyway—you're way more important."
"Thanks. I'll call Saturday morning."
"Right, early move? Set my alarm."
Somehow, naturally volunteering to help. Hundred percent sincere putting her first. She looked after me like sis, helped with studies, bought stuff like this. Not just food—clothes too. How could I skip her first solo move?
She liked my answer; tension vanished. Casually refilled my empty cup with cola.
"Eat up. Cola too."
"Thanks."
Yeah. This is right. Isn't our Harang Noona more important than Min Seob?