The reminiscence begins shortly after returning to the accommodation with Tae-hwa.
“Ugh… I’m tired…”
“Whoa… That was a good meal…”
Noah and Tae-hwa returned to their lodging, dragging their weary bodies.
“Haa… So spacious…”
Though not overly luxurious, compared to the usual dormitory they lived in, it might as well be a palace.
They wanted to immediately throw themselves onto the large, soft bed but held back for a moment.
“Aah… So soft…”
“Why aren’t you lying down, Noah?”
Why wouldn’t he lie down? The reason is simple, isn’t it?
“Dad said if you lie down right away, you turn into an ox.”
“An ox?”
“Yes. If you live lazily by eating and lying down repeatedly, you’ll receive the punishment of becoming an ox.”
“Hmm…”
“And then you’d have to work all your life—wouldn’t that be terrible?”
Of course, this was just a joke.
Reality isn’t a fairy tale; people don’t turn into oxen.
However, Tae-hwa grinned at the mention of turning into an ox.
“Noah, what are you doing!? You should lie down quickly!”
“But you’ll turn into an ox!”
“Quickly become one then.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll become a dairy cow.”
“…What does that even mean!?”
QQQ!
Noah screamed.
“Are you going to keep doing that!?”
“Hehe, it’s all~ Noah’s fault. Noah keeps purring so obviously, making me uncontrollably burn.”
“How is it my fault…”
Noah was baffled. Lately, Tae-hwa’s jokes had been confusing, but being accused of purring openly—just who did that?
‘Me and Uncle…?’
Did others see it that way? Just because we took care of each other kindly.
‘It’s normal between me and Uncle.’
Noah recalls moments with Uncle:
Uncle stroking his hair, feeding him, going out together, sometimes holding hands and patting them…
‘Huh?’
And today, under the guise of medical treatment, there was a kiss—
“…Eh?”
Thinking about it now, maybe it could have looked like flirting from someone else’s perspective?
Or, had the point of no return already been crossed when the kiss happened…?
“…Haaa…”
Noah’s cheeks turned red.
The memory of the kiss at the amusement park came flooding back.
It felt like the sensation of lips pressing softly still lingered.
And Tae-hwa couldn’t miss Noah’s change in demeanor.
“Our Noah~ why are you blushing again?”
“Eh!? Ah, it’s nothing!”
“It doesn’t seem like nothing… you were touching your lips…”
Tae-hwa approached Noah with a mischievous grin.
Gack, she hugged him tightly from behind.
“What? Let go!”
“Not happening. Sister needs to know why our Noah is acting like this?”
Noah struggled but couldn’t win before transforming.
Unlike the shorter Noah, Tae-hwa was tall even among women.
Helplessly dragged to the bed, Noah was interrogated.
“Why is our Noah making such a face?”
“I can’t say…!”
“Hmm… Did something happen involving lips?”
“Lips…?”
“Lips touching lips—”
Whoosh.
Noah’s cheeks burned like fire.
Seeing this, Tae-hwa squealed with delight.
“Really!? What happened!?”
“It wasn’t a kiss… it was medical treatment…”
“Regardless, you did kiss, right?”
Noah silently nodded.
Tae-hwa squealed some more and her eyes sparkled.
“So? How did it feel?”
“What…?”
“They say first kisses are sweet, is that true!?”
Sweet… Noah didn’t know about that…
“…I don’t know, but it keeps coming to mind.”
It hadn’t faded from memory.
“…This won’t do.”
“Why again? I’m tired.”
“I demand a more detailed explanation!”
Once again, Noah was caught.
Cornered into recalling and describing his first kiss.
What saved Noah from this crisis was…
‘QQQ, Mr. Noah. Are you asleep?’
‘QQQ?’
“Noah, how was it? Did Uncle put his tongue—”
“Ah, stop! QQQ contacted me, so please move aside!”
“Hmph.”
“Phew… QQQ, can you repeat that?”
Thanks to QQQ’s well-timed telepathic message.
Why telepathy now? Noah wondered if something serious had happened.
She soon realized how ridiculous it was.
‘Mr. Noah, press your ear against Mr. Shin Hyun’s door and listen carefully. You might hear an interesting story.’
‘What?’
‘You must! Must!’
QQQ was up to something strange.
Listening at someone’s door? Isn’t that completely insane?
“…But why am I so curious?”
Yet, it was hard to ignore.
Though QQQ’s actions and tone were odd, they ultimately led to beneficial outcomes. Even if it seemed strange, things usually worked out well.
‘If caught, I’ll be labeled a pervert…’
Calling others perverts while eavesdropping yourself?
“…Let’s check.”
After briefly pondering, Noah stood up.
QQQ must have a reason.
Wearing slippers, Noah went out into the hallway and turned right immediately.
The firmly closed door ahead belonged to Uncle.
So, now I’m supposed to press my ear against this door?
“…I must look really weird.”
Noah chuckled nervously and pressed her ear against the door.
Though the thick steel door muffled sounds, focusing helped make them out.
The first voice heard was QQQ’s.
“Does Mr. Shin Hyun like Mr. Noah?”
‘QQQ!?’
What on earth is that kid talking about!? What conversation led to such a question!?
‘I must’ve misheard…’
Unfortunately, Noah’s hope was dashed as QQQ delivered the final blow.
“I’m asking whether there’s love—not mere liking—involved.”
Not simply “Do you like?” but “Do you love?”
Understanding the distinction, Noah silently screamed.
‘Should I just run away…?’
That thought crossed her mind briefly, but her body refused to comply.
Frozen like a stone statue, she couldn’t help but focus on the sound.
Reason clashed with emotion.
‘Get a grip! How will I face Uncle tomorrow!’
‘But you’re curious, aren’t you?’
‘What if he says no? Will he cry and throw a tantrum?’
‘If he says yes, wouldn’t you be happy? You’d definitely be happier.’
Back and forth.
While wavering, Uncle’s voice reached her ears.
“…Still closer to liking.”
Ah—
So that’s how it is.
Her legs went limp.
Struggling to stay upright by gripping the handle, her body felt like it would collapse any second.
What was I expecting?
I’m merely someone he needs to protect, a younger sibling figure, and someone he has to take care of.
Let’s go back.
Though a slight ache crept into her chest, it was unavoidable.
I can’t force him to love or like me.
“…Sigh…”
With a sigh, Noah turned to head back to her room when a voice brushed past her ear.
“The future is unknown.”
Unknown…
‘Could Uncle also…?’
She felt like she was losing her mind.
A sharp pain pierced her chest, growing deeper.
Uncle had entered her heart, stirring it up, creating space, and settling in.
Deep within her heart.
The voice continued.
“What I do know is, Noah is still in high school. There’s a wider world to explore and many more experiences to come.”
“…And if I still like you afterward, I’m ready to respond positively.”
Finally, his last words struck her heart like an arrow shot by a master archer.
“I really like that kid.”
“Ah…Uh…Ah Uh…”
Clang!
Unable to maintain her balance, Noah fell onto the corridor floor.
Her voice wouldn’t come out, and it was difficult to gather her thoughts.
All she could think was to escape quickly.
“Ahhh…Uncle…”
Practically fleeing, Noah dove into the bed.
Confused, Tae-hwa asked,
“Noah, what’s wrong?”
“…”
“Noah?”
Tae-hua’s worried voice went unheard.
Noah was too focused on recalling the man’s words.
The single phrase that seeped in so sweetly yet gripped her heart so strongly.
Uncle’s near confession of love and affection toward her.
“Ahh, Uncle confessed to me…!”
Noah was beside herself.
Something she never imagined. She didn’t expect Uncle to feel this way about her.
…How should I react?
I should’ve planned a response for situations like this!
Should I act normally? Or should I approach him more actively?
Instead of being kissed unexpectedly this time…should I take the initiative and…
No, should I prepare something stronger?
Is there a way to bind him forever, ensuring he only looks at me?
Dark desires churned within her heart.
It was Noah’s greed.
Perhaps because she was experiencing such emotions for the first time, they were especially intense.
‘Uncle really likes me…’
That made her incredibly happy.
To the point where staying still made her ache with longing.
However.
‘I wish he only liked me.’
Anxiety also arose.
What if he comes to dislike me? Or starts liking someone else?
Only when pushed to this point did Noah admit it.
‘I really like Uncle…’
She admitted to herself that she loved him.
In a sense different from what Uncle described—more akin to love than mere liking.
Just around the time Noah realized her feelings.
Knock knock, a knocking sound came.
“Noah, it’s Uncle.”
“!”
Her breath hitched.
‘A…Uncle…’
He had come to her room.
‘What should I do, what should I do, what should I do…!’
Did he suspect something?
Had he realized she overheard their entire conversation?
Boom boom.
Her heart felt like it would burst.
Closing her eyes brought his face to mind, and blocking her ears only echoed the words in her head.
Now aware of her passionate, yet twisted desires, she had no idea how to face him.
“Uncle?”
“Hey Tae-hwa, I came to see Noah…”
“Oh, sure. Noah’s over there.”
“…Yeah, thanks.”
Footsteps approached and stopped.
Right next to the bed. Realizing he was there, Noah forgot how to breathe.
“Noah.”
“…”
“Sleeping?”
Without responding, Noah moved the blanket slightly instead.
Afraid her voice would crack if she spoke.
Satisfied with the response, Shin Hyun got to the point.
“That…if it’s okay, Noah.”
“…Yes.”
“Nearby, there’s a park. Would you like to go together? There’s something I want to say.”
Something he wanted to say.
Upon hearing that, Noah slowly emerged from under the blanket.
Trying to appear calm and composed.
But the girl didn’t realize:
“…Alright. Let’s go together.”
There was no hiding her crimson cheeks.
