We Kissed, But Forgot to Confess Again
Sunday morning. I'd tossed and turned all night, finally dragging myself awake and lying there in a daze on the bed.
Yesterday, desire had completely taken over my brain—we'd done everything on that front—but I'd stupidly forgotten to confess. Cursing myself like an idiot, I'd had a long call with Harang noona right before bed. Even though we'd kissed, we weren't face-to-face, so the conversation felt surprisingly normal. But her scent and the feel of that kiss lingered in my head the whole time. It stuck with me even after hanging up, until I finally rolled around enough to pass out just before dawn.
Thanks to that, even after waking up, I couldn't move for a while. It wasn't until lunchtime that I stumbled out to the living room, figuring noona would yell at me if I didn't.
If anyone asked why I skipped breakfast, it was because my stomach's sensitive—anything in the morning, especially milk, and I'd be suffering for a couple hours. Lactose intolerance or whatever. Weirdly, it was fine any other time. Still, eating something light would probably be good, but noona never pushed it. She'd even chew me out if I tried scavenging something because my stomach was empty.
Anyway, the kitchen was already set up with food. I sat down with a "thanks for the meal~" and picked up my spoon.
"……."
"……Don't look at me like that. I know I'm an idiot."
"Good that you do."
And so, enduring noona's scornful gaze through lunch, I forced down every bite. Come on, forgetting to confess can happen, right? Okay, no—who the hell forgets something like that? Not confessing was bad enough, but we hadn't even exchanged "I like you"s. Noona had been blushing like crazy, so maybe she wasn't in the headspace, but I had no excuse. The mood had been perfect—like we were definitely dating—with all the skinship, but it felt ambiguous and nagging. Maybe I was obsessing because I'd never dated before. I wanted that verbal confirmation, those couple milestones.
…Is this what they call the virgin curse?
Back in my room, ignoring noona's icy stare, I'd made up my mind: I had to see Harang noona again today. I was about to shower and get ready when I opened the group chat just in case.
Showing up unannounced might be a cute surprise instead of texting first. I wanted their take on it. Then came Seoin's firm reply.
Ugh, shouldn't have spilled last night before bed. They'll tease me forever. Damn it.
Seobin was right. I had no idea what noona might be doing when I showed up—crashing in would just freak her out. Realizing that, the obvious advice hit home. I meekly pulled up her contact and hit call.
*Ring ring ring, beep!*
"Hello."
Her voice hit my ear soon after the ring. That slender, melodic tone I could never get tired of.
"Ah, noona! Sleep well?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Me too."
"Eaten?"
"Yeah. You make sure lunch is perfect anyway. Skip it and you know I'd get hit, right?"
"Don't skip meals. Eat properly."
"Got it. Worry about yourself more—you're handling everything alone. Food, cleanup."
Chit-chat flowed naturally. Not a bad thing—her affection came through even in this. After some small talk, when the lull hit, I got to the point.
"Hey, noona. Mind if I swing by again today?"
"Sure. Fine by me. Come whenever."
"For real? Should I head out now?"
"…In two hours?"
"…Two hours?"
Not twenty minutes—two hours?
"It takes almost an hour to get there… Leave in one?"
"No. Two hours from now."
"Uh…… Got it. I'll text before heading out then."
"Okay. Hanging up."
*Click.* She hung up right away. Probably starting to get ready. Seeing she wanted three hours' buffer, I was glad I hadn't just shown up. But three hours? Noona must've been up by 9 at latest—shower, eat, then coffee on the balcony in the sun—
Crazy fantasy, sure, but when she stayed over, she was always up early, showered, makeup done by the time I stirred. Coffee might be a stretch.
Whatever. She said two hours, so I'd wait. After the call, I headed to the living room to shower and told Yeoreum noona I was heading out. Picked up some info too.
"Three hours? Yeah, shower, makeup, hair, clothes… Nah. Women just take time—shut up and shower."
"It's like what time? Shower now? Not like Harang noona or anything."
"…Ask her yourself!"
"Why snap…"
"Whatever. Next week, weekday—shopping. Heads up."
"Shopping? I haven't even worn the stuff from before…"
"Summer clothes early."
"Ah~ Okay."
Heading to the bathroom after her shopping heads-up. Like food, she handled my clothes seasonally too. Sure, with snark, but overlooking that for the effort was easy. Wonder if other siblings do this. Seobin and Seoin shop together sometimes… Nah, they hang but shop separate? With Sena, maybe.
*Splashhh!*
Anyway, intense shower time. Who knows what might happen—brush teeth, gargle, essentials…!
---
Here I was, third time at noona's place. I'd texted before leaving, so she'd know I was almost there. Knew the lobby code, breezed through, elevator up—now staring at her door keypad. Knew that too—she'd shown me it was my birthday. Looking back, was that a signal? I'd started wondering around then anyway.
Thought about punching it in casually, but went for the intercom instead. Even if "come anytime," texting first extended that courtesy. What if she was just stepping out of the bathroom?
*Ding-dong! Ding-dong!*
*Click.*
"…Come in."
"Noona, hi~"
Unlike the phone chat, tension and shyness mixed in her voice again—and mine creaked too. I grinned wide, waved big, played it cool stepping in. Huge difference face-to-face vs. not. We'd held hands, dated, hugged, kissed yesterday. But today? Fresh nerves. Plus her outfit seemed…
"Noona heading out? Ah, date?"
"No. Just… house clothes."
"……."
My eyes scanned her again. No way that was housewear. Ivory blouse different from yesterday, tight black slacks. Add her usual coat? Perfect date look. Pretty, sure, but uncomfortable for lounging? Bewildered, but I didn't show it. She'd put in effort, her way.
Third visit, but felt like home—hit the bathroom first, washed up. Then faced that bed from our intense kiss yesterday. Sit here or floor? Brief debate.
*Tap, tap.*
"Sit. Drink?"
"Ah, thanks."
She patted the bed's edge, so I plopped down. Felt awkward, fiddled with the blanket waiting. She brought cola. She doesn't drink it—bought for me. That casual gesture warmed me deeply. Sipped, moistened throat, set it on the nearby table. Turned to her calmly for talk.
"……."
"……."
"Noona."
"What."
"…Why sit so far?"
"……Not really."
There she was, prim at the bed's far end, stubbornly avoiding my gaze.