“What should I do now…”
My head grew complicated.
While wandering around the park, I tried to find an excuse, but there was no way it could exist.
How could I make any excuses after spilling words that were almost a confession?
Moreover, he had heard all of it.
At this point, even if I claimed it was a lie, he wouldn’t believe me.
‘If this keeps going…’
If this continues, I might end up being one of those trashy high school crushes.
Lost in endless thoughts, I let out a deep sigh, and a voice asked, “Are you okay?”
The owner of the voice was, of course, Noah.
He was still looking at me with a face flushed red.
I felt guilty.
Feeling Noah’s state after hearing those words made me realize just how much he liked me.
I decided to ask him directly.
“…Hey, Noah.”
“Yes.”
“Did you hear what the uncle said?”
“Yes.”
I chose my words carefully.
“Noah, I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d hear it. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
“Huh? No! It’s fine! I was just a little surprised, that’s all.”
Noah waved his hands while saying this with a seemingly calm expression, though his eyes still held a burning intensity.
As I pondered over what to do about this situation, we sat on a bench together.
It seemed like a decent place for a quiet conversation.
“Noah, can you forget what I said earlier?”
“Forget…you’re asking me to forget?”
“Yeah, I feel like I made a mistake. I’m sorry.”
Noah closed his mouth. The look in his eyes directed toward me was unreadable.
It seemed like he was sad, or maybe still filled with longing.
Though it may seem irresponsible…
“I’m sorry.”
I couldn’t bring myself to look at Noah.
When I turned my head, a small hand landed on mine, warm and gentle.
“Uncle…”
“…”
“Big Brother…?”
“…”
“Why?”
“Do you remember what you told me before?”
“What?”
Noah grabbed my hand and continued.
“There’s someone who pierces your heart like a thorn and doesn’t leave. Someone you loved so deeply that they settled inside you and won’t come out easily.”
“…”
“Maybe you’re that person for me. Every time I hear you say ‘forget’ or ‘it was a mistake,’ it hurts.”
“…”
“It seems like I am the same for you, isn’t it?”
“…Noah?”
“I can’t forget my first love.”
Noah slowly turned my head. Then, along with his sweet scent, his voice emerged.
“I like you, Big Brother.”
+++++
There once was a girl.
She was a pitiful girl. Her mother passed away giving birth to her, and her father fell ill. She was disliked by her friends and eventually turned her back on the world—a truly pitiful girl.
However, this girl harbored a great secret. She was a magical girl who flew through the sky, spreading dazzling dreams and hopes!
Thus, she smiled. For she had to shine, as a magical girl.
After hearing the whispers of the stars, she became ‘Iris.’
Many people praised her. Cheers, applause, and admiration surrounded her. But the girl remained sorrowful.
Because they saw not the pitiful girl ‘Nanoa’ but the magical girl ‘Iris.’
But the more they did, the brighter she smiled. She had to. If Nanoa had no value as herself, then as Iris, she had to exist in this world.
No matter what happened, she would smile towards the world. That’s how Noah lived.
Until she met a peculiar man.
It happened on a particularly exhausting day. After a grueling part-time job, she went out to exterminate a wind demon.
He left an impression from the start. Calmly watching the demon’s attack, composed and collected, with eyes that seemed to hold some depth.
But that was all. Thinking there was no particular reason to pay attention to him, Noah forgot about the man.
…Or so she thought.
They met again at a late-night convenience store.
He looked at her with tired eyes. Feeling uncomfortable, she rarely lashed out in anger.
But when he didn’t back down, she soon realized something.
This man wasn’t looking at the magical girl Iris but at the girl Nanoa.
It was a strange feeling.
Being praised as Iris but being consoled as Nanoa.
From that moment, Noah felt a peculiar warmth.
It was an emotion she should have always experienced.
The man’s embrace was always warm. Occasionally, he would playfully tease her, but even that brought a smile to her face.
Especially when he gently stroked her hair—it felt especially good. Though it might sound eccentric, Noah enjoyed it.
It had been such a long time since she had felt cared for.
That wasn’t all. The man willingly became a refuge for Noah. When she was distressed, she could run to him; when she was tired, she could escape to him; when she was sad, she could retreat to him.
Whenever she needed to flee, he would accept her.
And so, over a year.
During that year, the man slowly seeped into Noah’s life like a drizzle soaking through clothes.
It was all coincidences—coincidence upon coincidence, and yet another coincidence.
But what followed afterward was no longer a mere coincidence.
The fact that he approached her and that she opened her heart to him couldn’t simply be dismissed as the product of chance—it was too precious.
So Noah thought.
Even if their meeting started as a coincidence, if it continued, it would eventually become fate.
Coincidence that persists eventually turns into destiny.
Eventually, he had entered her heart deeply.
Occupying a corner of her chest.
Noah began to like him.
Reflecting on her feelings, Noah couldn’t help but acknowledge them.
‘Love,’ she thought.
“…Uncle.”
Noah called out to him as they sat on a bench under a solitary streetlamp where no one else was around.
The man responded to her call.
“Noah, why are you acting like this?”
Listening to his voice, Noah’s heart raced. She couldn’t think of what to say.
After hesitating for a while, the girl firmly grabbed his hand and spoke.
“I like you, Big Brother.”
“…”
“I really, really like you!”
“…”
“Do you…like me?”
Never had she regretted her vocabulary skills as much as she did right now.
Wasn’t there a better way to express it? Something more romantic?
But no matter how she thought about it, the words that came out were uncontrollable.
Noah waited for the man’s response.
After contemplating for quite a while, the man gently stroked Noah’s head. In that moment, Noah instinctively understood.
“I really like Noah too.”
“…”
“But not yet.”
It was a clear refusal.
“I guessed as much.”
“Noah.”
“Is it because I’m still a kid?”
The man nodded.
His gesture made Noah’s eyes burn fiercely.
“That’s right. You’re still young. Go explore the world, meet different people—”
“I know I’m young!”
“…”
“Even if I explore the whole world, I know no one will treat me the way you do.”
With a heavy sigh, the man replied.
“Noah, what do you want?”
“Proof.”
“Proof?”
“Yes. I’ll grow up and see the world as you say. I’ll decide whether you’re truly the best person for me.”
Noah took a breath and continued.
“So, you need to leave proof too.”
“…”
“When I make my choice, prove that you’ve waited for me.”
It was a kind of proposal.
I’ll wait for you, so you wait for me too.
Noah knew this was forcing the issue. But she couldn’t help it.
What if, despite the passage of time, her feelings didn’t change, and there was someone else by his side?
If that really happened…
Noah felt as if a black snake was wriggling in her heart. It was itchy, painful, ominous.
And she thought.
She liked this man more than she ever imagined—much, much more.
“Hmm…”
The man’s eyes darted around.
He seemed to be searching for a solution.
Noah offered one herself.
Swoosh.
Revealing her palm, she extended her hand.
“How about a kiss on the back of the hand?”
“What?”
“Why not? A kiss on the back of the hand symbolizes a vow, so it seems appropriate.”
“But…”
The man began to hesitate.
“Noah, something else—”
“No. Are you a bad adult? Exploiting kids?”
“I’m not a bad adult, which is why I don’t want to do such things…”
“I don’t care. If you don’t do it, you’re a bad adult.”
“…Sigh. Noah, if you keep this up, you’re really putting me in a tough spot.”
“I don’t care!”
Noah turned her head but kept her hand extended.
There was no sign of backing down.
Reluctantly, the man lifted Noah’s hand and pressed his lips to it.
A soft click sounded, and a warm sensation spread across Noah’s knuckles.
This was the proof.
“Noah…because of this, I’ve become a shameless criminal who kissed a minor’s hand…”
“…”
“Now, you’ll have to let this go, alright?”
“…If…”
“Huh?”
“If later my feelings don’t change and I still like you, where do you plan to kiss me?”
Noah’s eyes misted over. Just imagining it made her heart race. She felt like she might faint from the lack of breath.
“…Let’s go home.”
“Hehe. I’ll be expecting a kiss on the lips by then.”
“…Sigh…”
The man sighed and walked ahead, and Noah followed closely behind.
‘I must wait until then…’
Anyway, her feelings weren’t going to change.
+++++
“Aaaaaargh!!”
“Oh, the line wasn’t bad. It was a bit cheesy, but it was classic.”
“Shut up, you. Right now, I really want to die.”
I screamed inwardly.
I did it.
I ended up doing it.
I kissed a minor.
“Damn…my dignity as a human being…”
Touching a minor—I had no excuse if I got dragged off to jail right now.
“Hehe…”
Meanwhile, the culprit was smiling happily.
Just how long does she plan to keep smiling?
Truly, the heart of a blossoming girl is impossible to understand.
“What’s so good about someone like me…”
“It’s not because you’re an uncle.”
“Then?”
“…Because you’re cool and a good person.”
It was a sly comeback.
For some reason, it felt like fox ears sprouted on Noah’s head at that moment.
I feared the future.
Would Noah manipulate me?
Perhaps…
“Will Noah pounce on me…?”
If Noah couldn’t contain herself anymore and lunged—”Grrr…I can’t take it anymore!”
…Oh, Lord.
Please, spare me from such a future.
I fervently prayed as I returned to my lodging.
+++++
…Tae-hwa was worried.
About her friend’s condition.
“Hehe…hehehe…”
“…”
“…hehe…Big Brother…”
What on earth happened?
What could have possibly happened to make her return like a broken machine after going for a walk?
And calling someone ‘Big Brother’?
What kind of wind blew for her to suddenly use that term?
“…What should I do…”
Tae-hwa began to worry.
She had to work soon.
In her hand was a phone, and a text message had arrived.
From Noah and her homeroom teacher.
[Tae-hwa. Noah hasn’t sent a reply by today’s deadline. Could you check with her and let me know? Sorry to burden you.]
Apparently, Noah hadn’t sent a reply regarding the observation class.
Whether anyone would attend the observation class.
“Um…Noah.”
“Hehe…Yeah?”
“T-There’s the observation class, right? Is there anyone coming?”
“Hehe…Big Brother will come…”
Big Brother…she means the uncle.
“Uh…Okay, got it. Good night.”
“…”
Under the covers, Tae-hwa sent a text.
[There’s a close uncle Noah knows. He’s coming instead.]
Since the teacher probably knows Noah’s family background, this should suffice.
“Phew…”
Still hearing Noah’s giggling, Tae-hwa closed her eyes.
She just wanted to sleep.
However, her mind…
“Hehe…Big Brother…”
Click. Click.
“Big Brother…where his lips touched…hehe…”
Click. Click. Click.
“…Eh? Tae-hwa? What are you doing in my room?”
“Sister, can I sleep here?”
“It’s fine, but why suddenly?”
“Noah seems crazy!”
Although she woke up shortly after.
