Cosplay...?
Cosplay...? The thought flashing through my mind got me excited before I knew it, and I answered, but then I tried to calm myself down. If I seemed too eager, I'd look like a total perv. Of course, it was already too late. Noona was squinting at me like she knew exactly what was up, and cold sweat started trickling down my back. She wouldn't lose interest over something like this... but my instincts had been triggered, and I couldn't help it.
Noona didn't seem interested in using my answer as ammo to tease me further. Instead, she threw out another question.
"Which one's your favorite?"
"...The usual you? Noona looks pretty no matter what she wears..."
"Not that."
"Uh..."
Did I have to say it honestly? Truth be told, I'd never cared about this stuff before, but once she brought it up, my imagination went into overdrive. Not just the nurse outfit or school uniform she mentioned—china dress, bunny girl, stewardess, maid, and more... Once I really started thinking about it, there were so many things I wanted to see.
She didn't look like she'd back off until I gave a proper answer, so after agonizing over it...
"Noona."
"Yeah."
"It's not that I'm dodging the question for real..."
"Just say it."
"You'd look so good in anything that I can't pick just one."
I went straight for the honest approach. Before she mentioned it, I wasn't fixated on anything specific—I just wanted to see her in all of it.
"......"
And Noona went quiet for a moment, her head resting on my shoulder. I gently stroked her hair. She looked calm, but inside, I was buzzing with anticipation. She must have asked because she wanted to show me something, right? It couldn't just be casual chit-chat about clothes out of boredom. If this went nowhere, I'd bury my face in my pillow and cry at home later. No, I couldn't be that passive. If the topic died here, I'd get on my knees in front of her and beg. Please, wear something. Or maybe it'd be more effective to just grab something myself and say, "Noona, try this on."
With my head swirling in all these thoughts, I waited with bated breath for her next words. A moment later, I felt her breath against my ear.
"The week after next..."
She started speaking softly.
"When you come over to the house... I'll show you."
It didn't fully satisfy my curiosity, but still.
"...What kind?"
"Secret."
"......"
Whoa. Building up the suspense like this and then "secret"? Was this push-pull? Our Harang Noona was a pro at it.
"You'll see when you get there."
"Phew... Week after next, right? I'm definitely coming. Saturday. I can't wait till Sunday."
"Okay."
She seemed pleased with my fidgeting, a hint of satisfaction in her calm reply. The week after next... Someone please invent a time machine already.
With that cosplay tease making me count down the days two weeks in advance, we moved on to preparing dinner. I say "we," but Harang Noona did most of it. She wasn't quite at Yeoreum Noona's level, but she knew her way around the kitchen pretty well. Back in middle and high school, the two of them used to whip up snacks for me all the time. I stuck around, memorizing where the utensils were and grabbing stuff when needed. Sure, in her tiny space, it'd be more efficient solo, but romance starts with inefficiency, right?
Of course, I wasn't just helping. Whenever her hands were free, I'd sneak up and hug her from behind. I'd agonized earlier over whether to do it, if it was okay... but the temptation of her domestic figure won out, and I went for it eyes closed.
"...Not when I'm holding a knife."
"Got it. I'll be careful."
Instant permission granted. So there I was, staring intently at her cooking, waiting for those free-hand moments. Right now, as she tasted the stew and covered the pot again.
-Squeeze
I wrapped my arms around her slim waist, pulling her close—not too tight. Her shampoo scent tickled my nose. I felt my lower half pressing against her, firmer now, but I tried not to dwell on it. Overthinking would make hugs impossible going forward. Noona would understand—a guy's unavoidable physiology.
"How's it taste? Almost done?"
"Pretty much. Want some eggs too?"
"Nah, this is already a feast. Great job cooking~"
-Smack
I praised her with a kiss near her ear. Lip kisses were great, but these little ones on other spots were amazing too. Especially with cooking Harang Noona and me back-hugging while "helping." Total live-in-couple vibes—it had my heart racing even more.
I was grinning like an idiot, hugging her, when she untangled my arms—nothing left to touch, apparently—and turned around. Tilting her head up, she kissed my lips.
-Smack
"All done. Let's eat."
"Yeah. Can't wait."
What do I do? I just want to live here.
The urge to live here with Noona surged, but sadly, it was time to go. School tomorrow for me, lectures for her. Thinking about it made our age gap feel huge. Two years till I graduate high school, while Harang Noona's been in college for two. Not inferiority, but I genuinely didn't get why she'd fall for someone three years younger. Did I have some charm even I didn't know about? Whatever—didn't matter now. What counted was...
-Smack... "Mmm..."
Noona regretting our parting, and us locked in a deep kiss at the front door. I pulled her body close for our third deep kiss already.
-Ding!
The elevator arrived, but we ignored it, savoring each other's saliva for minutes. Only when I thought she might ask me to stay over did we finally pull apart.
"Text me when you get home."
"...Yeah."
"Coordinate shopping with Yeoreum Noona. I'm free anytime."
"Got it."
I wanted to add, And don't forget the cosplay—I'm counting on it! But that'd scream pervert, so I swallowed it. One last tight hug, then into the elevator. Waving till she was out of sight, regrets trailing behind. Her voice and scent lingered all the way home. Hard to believe we'd been a couple since today. Maybe the skinship progressed too fast? But if you count the past seven years as a drawn-out almost-relationship, it made sense.
Oh, right. Lost in thought while walking, I realized we were officially a couple now and pulled out my phone. Opened KakaoTalk, found a photo of us, and set it as my profile pic. We didn't have any from yesterday or today—too focused on dates and touches to snap any. But we'd known each other for years, so options existed. Picked one and set it. No reason not to before, since I wasn't her boyfriend. Now I was.
-Bzzzzt!
Phone vibrated right after. A couple casual friends messaged "Who's that?" but most were from Seobin's group chat.
Mostly congrats, yeah.
[Me: lolol I'll tell you tomorrow thx thx]
I replied quick and pocketed the phone. Part of me wanted to brag excitedly about today. But more than that...
I didn't want anything interrupting this time heading home, thinking of Harang Noona.
"Hey."
"Yeah."
Arriving home in a sentimental mood, Yeoreum Noona was waiting—way more pissed off than yesterday. Arms crossed, radiating intimidation like a yakuza boss. No brushing her off. I naturally knelt before her.
She sometimes got mad unreasonably, but mostly fair. So I knelt first. Hadn't done anything wrong lately, but seeing her like this... maybe I had. Waiting obediently like a condemned prisoner, her unexpected scolding hit.
"You told Harang about shopping, right."
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"...? We're going together?"
"No we're not!"
She already knew—Harang must've messaged to sync schedules while I was coming home. But why the anger?
"We've gone together a lot before, so I thought..."
"You would've told her first if it was just us! Ugh... so annoying."
"......"
Her anger was usually reasonable, but this was one of those rare irrational ones. Couldn't figure why Harang being included would piss her off.
"Whatever. Go shopping without me."
"No..."
"It's your one-day anniversary today, right? Just you two. Match couple looks or whatever."
"You already heard that too...? That's not why I said it."
She sounded sulky, like a pouting kid. I planned to stay quiet till her rage cooled, but couldn't leave her like this. Blurted an excuse quick.
"Sure, I'd love couple looks with Harang Noona, but that's not why I called..."
"Then why."
"I wanted all three of us to do similar looks for old times' sake. We did that a lot till a couple years ago."
"...All three?"
"Yeah! I'd do a basic tee and sweats, you two match skirts or joggers or whatever."
"......"
Couple looks were priority, but saying that now felt wrong.
"What do you think? Khaki color or something. Your favorite..."
"Idiot! Harang doesn't suit khaki well! You don't even know that?"
"Sorry..."
"Sigh... Fine, go wash up. I'll sync with Harang."
"Okey-dokey! Anytime works for me—your call!"
Anger down, but still irritated—she ruffled her hair and let me in. I washed hands quick and bolted to my room. Shower after she goes to hers. No clue what ticked her off. At least we're shopping as three now. Eh... minor stuff later. What mattered most: Day 1 dating Harang Noona. And her cosplay the week after next. Man, what would she wear? Driving me crazy.