Chapter 28. They Say the One Who Feeds is at Fault
As we ate the lunch Aunt had made, the time to learn even more details about Unni continued.
In fact, it was a precious opportunity for me to get to know her better, but for Unni, it was an excruciatingly embarrassing ordeal—what you'd call a total cringe-fest.
"So yeah, when she was little, she used to play with me a ton. Her mom was so strict, she'd always come crying to me, begging me to take her side."
"I see. She must've been adorable."
"Aunt... are you sticking around just to say stuff like that...?"
"Why not? It's fun. Right, Chae-ah?"
"Yes! It's hilarious!"
Aunt and I—everyone except Unni—were in full festival mode.
Aunt got to spill all the childhood stories about Unni she wanted, and I got to discover sides of Unni's past I never knew.
"Yui said it back then, remember? That her ideal type was a girl with bright-colored hair that really suited her."
"Bright colors?"
What? That's me, then.
"Unni, am I your type?"
"That was my old ideal type."
"What about now?"
"Nothing specific. I wasn't planning on dating anyway."
I saw that as another classic deflection.
She deflects in so many ways.
That's what makes her so charming.
"Thanks for the meal, Aunt."
"Was it good?"
"Yes! It was delicious."
"Aunt, I'll do the dishes, so head out now."
"Why do you keep chasing me away? I'm bored."
"Go hang out with friends. You have friends, right?"
"My friends are all busy with their kids."
From the way she said that, it seemed Aunt didn't have any kids of her own.
That struck me as pretty odd.
A woman as stunning as her—if she were anyone's wife, you'd expect not just one kid, but a whole bunch.
"No kids?"
"Nope, my husband and I decided to just live as a couple. So he got snipped."
"Snipped...?"
"Vasectomy."
"Whoa!"
"Pfft! Chae-ah's reaction is priceless."
After the meal, we took it easy with some tea and Dubai chewy cookies for dessert, shifting to a new topic.
The next subject was the adult toy store.
"Yui, how's business lately?"
"Good. I've got a capable employee, so sales are booming. Customers have really picked up."
Anyone could tell that "capable employee" meant me.
It wasn't direct praise, but my lips were already curving into a little smile.
"Chae-ah must be doing great at her job."
"Yeah, she's amazing. From day one, she handled everything like a pro. I'm lucky to have her."
-Thump thump thump thump!
Now it was direct praise, and my heart reacted instantly.
Praise like this out in the open? Basically the same as asking me out.
"She handles customers perfectly, keeps the store spotless. She's elite material."
If she kept praising me like this...
Yeah. This was a marriage proposal.
Unni was beating around the bush about tying the knot.
"Unni, I'm down!"
"For what?"
"Marriage with you! Let's get married!"
"What kind of thought process jumps to marriage from this flow?"
"Wasn't that what you meant? You kept praising me."
"Aunt, she's perfect except for this one thing."
"She's just that crazy about you."
She was probably dodging because Aunt was there and it was embarrassing.
If we were alone, we'd go straight from dating to marriage in one shot.
"Nom!"
"You sure it's okay to keep eating like that?"
"Yes, it's yummy."
"Being able to eat that much sugar is impressive. Must be a kid thing."
"Yui, you're still a kid too. You haven't even filled up a carton of eggs yet."
"From your perspective, maybe, but to me, Chae-ah's the young one."
Young.
That meant I was cute.
"Aang, Unnii! Am I that cute?"
"Aunt, did you mix something into the Dubai chewy cookies? She's even weirder than usual."
"No, I made them the same as always."
"Unni, you're the best. I love you so much!"
She had to like me this much, so I hooked my arm through hers and rubbed my cheek against her shoulder like crazy.
"I was even thinking marriage with you."
"Don't sing that. And why burst into that song out of nowhere?"
"Wasn't it?"
"Think so?"
Every time she deflected like that, it sent such a thrill through me.
These were the moments I felt her biggest charm the most, so I hoped she'd keep bouncing me off like this forever.
"Yui, you didn't forget your mom's birthday is this Saturday, right?"
"No, I remember."
"Your mom's birthday?! Then I should... mmph!"
"What do you mean 'you too'?"
My plan was to tag along, act all proper, and score points with Mom.
Looks like that plan was busted.
"I wanted to greet her."
"No need. I'll clear out of the store for a bit then. Watch it alone."
"Got it, Unni! Don't worry, go enjoy yourself."
"Your mom's tastes run toward my sister, but she's so unpredictable."
"Tell me about it. Why does she always want us dressed up for birthdays?"
While Unni and Aunt chatted about Mom's birthday, I checked my phone for a sec.
I'd gotten a message about freelance work.
"Waaah!"
"What's up all of a sudden?"
"Freelance gig came in—it's GL! Yes! Right up my alley."
"You're thrilled. Oh, Chae-ah's an illustrator."
"No kidding. Didn't know that."
"She's prepping to try webtoons now too."
Looking closer at the gig, they wanted a kissing pose between a black-haired and blonde character.
This job was gonna be a breeze.
Practically drawing Unni and me kissing.
"Unni."
"Yeah?"
"Why don't you ever kiss me? Thinking about it, I've always been the one initiating."
Reflecting on every kiss with Unni so far, she'd never started once.
It was always me first.
That felt kinda unfair.
"Oh my... Yui, that's trash-tier."
"Huh? Hey, why turn me into the bad guy out of nowhere."
"Why? It's true. What kind of girl doesn't even kiss during sex?"
Pecks, kisses, linking arms, holding hands—all the skinship was always on me to start.
Dating could be her tsundere charm, but she could at least initiate that much.
"So just once, okay? Even a peck."
I puckered up as I said it.
"No, that's..."
"C'mon. Do it. Peck."
"Aunt's right here."
"So you'll do it once she leaves?"
"Guess I should head out quick for Chae-ah's sake."
"S-suddenly? You were just saying you didn't wanna go."
"I'm not that oblivious. See you next time, Yui."
Aunt was out the door in a blink.
Less than a minute later, we were alone, and I leaned in with my lips still out.
"Mmm."
"What's with the sudden peck demand? No."
"Wife? Am I your wife, Unni?"
"You're driving me nuts."
"Just once for real, and I won't ask again."
"Don't believe you."
"For real! First and last peck."
Unni wouldn't even look at me.
Based on everything I'd seen, this first-move peck was probably doomed too.
Still, holding out hope, I kept my lips pursed.
"Mmwah..."
Unni's lips fully covered mine.
"Mmph...!"
Honestly, I'd half-given up.
Yui Unni ignores you forever once she starts.
So this kiss caught me so off guard, it made my heart feel like it might burst from excitement.
"Mmwah... There. Happy?"
She pulled away and started scrolling her phone like nothing happened.
Unlike Unni, I was blushing hard, hands cupping my cheeks.
"Y-you actually did it..."
Keep giving me openings like this, how am I supposed to stop?
"Hah, doing all sorts of things."
"Unni..."
"What. Beg again and I'll kick you."
"Do it again..."
-Wham!
"Eek!"
She really kicked me clean off the sofa onto the floor.
"What're you on about."
"Ow ow... Still good. Hehe."
"You... but why are your lips so soft? What lip stuff do you use?"
"Gasp! You noticed that too? Should've asked for a kiss then!"
"Nope. My bad for asking."
I stared up at Unni, who was sitting on the floor glued to her phone.
"Yui Unni."
"Yeah?"
"I like you."
"Yeah. Thanks."
Her reply was cold and emotionless, but for some reason, the second I heard it, I was grinning.
"Anyway, you think you can handle it alone?"
"Yes, of course."
"If it gets too tough, I'll stick around till morning."
"No, Unni. You have to celebrate Mom's birthday properly."
"Fine... whatever."
Mid-conversation, I suddenly remembered something Aunt and Unni had said.
"Unni, does Mom like it when people dress up for her birthday?"
"Yeah, no clue why. Wonder what to wear this time."
"Then I get to see a new side of you!"
"Won't stop by the store, so no."
My excitement crashed in an instant.
I really wanted to see that look, just once.
"You... casually dropping the formal speech, huh?"
"Oh, was I? Didn't notice."
"No biggie. Just do it at the store."
"So I can drop it completely?"
"Seven years is enough time for mountains to change seventy percent."
She wouldn't allow it now, but time would fix it. I believed that.
Someday, she'd stop minding if I spoke casually.
"Anyway, when're you heading out?"
"Hmm, sleep over at Unni's?"
"No."
"Hing, so cold."
"Tired. Let's go home. Need sleep."
Unni lay down on the sofa as she said it.
I rushed to grab a blanket from the bedroom and tucked her in warmly.
"Ah, thanks."
"See you tomorrow, Unni. I'm off."
"Yeah. See ya."
By the time I reached the door, Yui Unni had her eyes closed.
She looked kinda cute like that, so I smiled as I headed out.