Is It Spring After All? -3

‘What should I do now…’

My mind became complicated.

I search for excuses while walking around the park, but there’s no way there could be any.

After saying something so close to a confession, what kind of excuse could I make?

And she heard it all.

Even if I said I was lying now, she wouldn’t believe me.

‘If this continues…’

If this continues, won’t I become trash who expressed feelings for a high school student?

As I sigh deeply from these endless worries, a voice asks, “Are you okay?”

The owner of the voice was, of course, Noah.

She’s still looking at me with her flushed face.

My conscience hurt.

Because I could feel how much Noah likes me, having become like that after hearing my words.

I decided to ask Noah directly.

“Um, Noah.”

“Yes.”

“Did you hear what I said?”

“…Yes.”

I carefully chose my words.

“…Noah, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you would hear. I didn’t intend to put you in an awkward position.”

“What? No! It’s fine! I’m just… a little surprised, that’s all.”

Noah waved her hands saying so.

With an expression that said she was really okay. But her eyes still showed intensity.

Wondering what to do about that, I sat with her on a bench.

It seemed quite suitable for a quiet conversation.

“Noah, could you forget what I said earlier?”

“Forget… it?”

“Yes, I think I made a mistake. I’m sorry.”

Noah closed her mouth. The look in her eyes directed at me… I couldn’t read it.

She seemed sad, or perhaps still full of desire.

It might sound irresponsible, but.

“I’m sorry.”

I just couldn’t face Noah.

As I turned my head away, a small hand landed on mine. A touch with warm temperature.

“Mister.”

“…”

“Oppa…?”

“…What.”

“Do you remember what you told me before?”

“What?”

Noah held my hand and said.

“That there are people who stick deep like thorns and can’t be forgotten. That there are people who come in so deep because you liked them so much that they can’t be pulled out easily.”

“…”

“You’re probably that kind of person to me. Whenever I hear you say ‘forget it, it was a mistake,’ it hurts.”

“…”

“I guess it’s the same for me.”

“…Noah?”

“I can’t forget my first love either.”

Noah slowly turned my face. Then, along with her sweet scent, her voice emerged.

“I like you, oppa.”

+++++

There was a girl.

A pitiful girl. Her mother died giving birth to her, and her father was bedridden.

Hated by friends, and eventually turning her back on the world, a pitiful girl.

But the girl had one big secret. The girl was a magical girl. A magical girl who flies through the sky, gloriously delivering dreams and hope!

That’s why the girl smiled. Because she had to shine, because she was a magical girl.

After hearing the whispers of the stars, the girl became ‘Iris.’

Many people praised her. Cheers and shouts, acclamations and applause. But the girl was still suffering.

Because what they saw was not the pitiful girl ‘Na Noah,’ but the magical girl ‘Iris.’

But the more that happened, the brighter she smiled. She had to. If there was no value in existing as Na Noah, she had to exist in the world at least as Iris.

No matter what happens, I will smile towards the world. Noah had lived thinking this.

Until she met a very strange man.

She met him on a day when she was extremely tired. Monster subjugation of a windmill monster after dragging her body tired from a hard part-time job.

He left an impression from the beginning. Calmly watching the monster’s attack, acting nonchalantly. Deep eyes that seemed to perceive something.

But that was it. Thinking there was no special reason to pay attention to him, Noah forgot about the man.

…No, she almost forgot.

She met him again at a convenience store late at night.

He was staring at her with tired eyes. Feeling uncomfortable, she got angry for the first time in a long while.

Yet when he didn’t back down, she soon realized.

That the man was looking at the girl Na Noah, not the magical girl Iris.

It was a peculiar feeling.

Not being praised as Iris, but being comforted as Na Noah.

From that, Noah felt a strange warmth. Originally, this was the emotion Noah should have always enjoyed.

The man’s embrace was always warm. Though he sometimes played mischievous pranks, even those had the power to make her smile.

Especially when he patted her head, it felt particularly good. Thinking about it, it was a rather maniacal action, but Noah liked it.

It had been a really long time since she was cared for like that.

That wasn’t all. The man willingly became a shelter for Noah. A place to escape when troubled, to escape when tired, to escape when sad.

A shelter that would accept her whenever she ran away.

And so, a year passed.

During that year, the man slowly seeped into Noah, like clothes getting wet in drizzling rain.

Coincidence upon coincidence, and another coincidence.

But what came after was no coincidence.

The man approaching her, her opening her heart to him. It was too precious to dismiss these as mere products of coincidence.

So Noah thought.

Even if the meeting started as a coincidence, if it continues, it eventually becomes destiny.

That if coincidences continue, they eventually become fate.

Eventually, he entered deep into her heart.

Taking up a corner of her heart.

She came to like the man.

Recalling her feelings, Noah had to admit.

That it was ‘love.’

“…Mister.”

Noah called him and began to speak. They were sitting on a bench. A bench under a streetlight with no one around.

The man responded to Noah’s words.

“Noah, what’s wrong?”

Noah’s heart pounded as she heard his voice. She couldn’t think of what to say.

After hesitating for a long time, the girl tightly held his hand and said.

“I like you, oppa.”

“…”

“I like you very, very much!”

“…”

“What about you… do you like me?”

She had never resented her own cursed vocabulary skills as much as now.

Wasn’t there a better word? Wasn’t there a more romantic phrase?

Even if she thought so, words that had already come out couldn’t be taken back.

Noah waited for the words that would come from the man.

The man thought for a long time and then patted Noah’s head. Noah instinctively knew from that action.

“Oppa likes Noah very much too.”

“…”

“But, not yet.”

It was a clear refusal.

“I thought… so.”

“Noah.”

“Is it because I’m a child?”

The man nodded.

At that sight, Noah’s eyes were burning.

“That’s right. You’re still young. You need to look around the world more, meet various people—”

“Even if I’m still young, I know!”

“…”

“Even if I look around the world. I know that only you would do this much for me.”

Haaa, the man sighed.

“Noah. What do you want?”

“…Proof.”

“Proof?”

“Yes. As you said, I’ll become more of an adult. I’ll become an adult, see various aspects of the world, and decide. Whether you’re really the best person for me.”

Noah took a breath and continued.

“So you should leave proof too.”

“…”

“Until the day I make my choice. Proof that you’ll wait for me.”

It was a kind of proposal.

I’ll wait for you, so you wait for me too.

Noah knew well that this was forcing her will. But she couldn’t help it.

If her feelings remained unchanged over time, but there was another woman by his side.

If that really happened…

Noah felt as if a black snake was wriggling inside her heart. It was itchy, painful… and eerie.

And she realized.

That she liked that man much more, much much more, incredibly more… than she had thought.

“Hmm…”

The man’s eyes rolled back and forth.

He seemed to be looking for a method.

Noah suggested a method for him directly.

Slide.

Noah extended her hand, showing the back of it.

“How about a kiss on the back of my hand?”

“…What?”

“Why, a kiss on the back of the hand also has a meaning of a vow, so I think it would be okay.”

“No, that’s… ha…”

The man began to hesitate.

“Noah, isn’t there something else—”

“No. Are you a bad adult? One who takes advantage of children?”

“It’s because I’m not a bad adult that I don’t want to do this…”

“I don’t know, if you don’t do it, you’re a bad adult.”

“…Haah. Noah, you’re really putting me in a difficult position.”

“I don’t care!”

Noah turned her head abruptly, still extending her hand.

She showed no signs of backing down.

The man reluctantly lifted Noah’s hand and brought his lips to it.

With a smooch sound, a warm sensation spread across the back of Noah’s hand.

This was the proof.

“Noah… with this, I’ve become a shameless criminal who kissed a minor’s hand, you know?”

“…”

“For now, compromise with this, okay?”

“…What if.”

“Hm?”

“What if later, my feelings don’t change and I still say I like you. Where do you plan to kiss then?”

Noah’s eyes became moist. Just imagining it made her heart race. She felt breathless, as if she might collapse at any moment.

“…Let’s go back.”

“Hehe. I’ll be expecting you to kiss me on the lips then.”

“…Haah…”

The man sighed and walked ahead, and Noah followed him with small steps.

‘I must wait until then…’

Since this feeling won’t change anyway.

+++++

‘Argghhh!!’

‘Oh, your lines weren’t bad. They were a bit cringy but classic.’

‘Be quiet, Kkomul-i. I really want to die right now.’

I screamed internally.

I did it.

I ended up doing it.

I kissed a minor.

‘Now it’s over… my dignity as a human being…’

To touch a minor. I would have nothing to say even if I were dragged to jail right now.

“Hehe…”

The person in question seemed happy, continuing to smile.

I wonder how long she plans to keep smiling.

Truly, the heart of a young girl in her prime was incomprehensible.

“Why would you like an old man like me…”

“It’s not because you’re an older man.”

“Then?”

“…It’s because you’re a cool and good person.”

It was a line that felt slick.

For some reason, I saw fox ears sprouting from Noah’s head for a moment.

I was afraid of the future.

Would Noah manipulate me?

Perhaps…

‘I hope Noah won’t pounce on me…?’

If Noah can’t stand it anymore and comes at me saying, ‘Grr… I can’t take it anymore!’

…Oh, God.

Please don’t let such a future come.

I prayed earnestly as I returned to the accommodation.

+++++

…Taehwa was frightened.

By the state of her friend.

“Hehe… ehehehe…”

“…”

“…Hehe… oppa…”

What on earth had happened?

What on earth had happened for her friend, who said she was going for a walk, to return broken like this?

And what’s with “oppa”?

What wind had blown for her to suddenly call him that?

‘…What should I do…’

Taehwa began to worry.

Because she had to work soon.

In her hand was a cell phone, and a message had arrived.

From her and Noah’s homeroom teacher. It was a message from her.

[Taehwa. Noah hasn’t sent the reply that was due today. Could you ask her and let me know? I’m sorry to burden you.]

Apparently, Noah hadn’t sent a reply yet.

About whether there’s someone who will attend the class observation.

“Um… Noah.”

“Hehe… yes?”

“About our class observation… is there anyone coming for you?”

“Hehe… oppa…”

“Huh?”

“Oppa will come…”

Oppa… she means mister.

“Uh… okay. Good night.”

“…Yes~”

From under the blanket, Taehwa sent a message.

[There’s an uncle who’s close to Noah. He’s going to attend.]

Since she must know about Noah’s family situation, this much should suffice.

‘Whew…’

Listening to Noah still giggling, Taehwa closed her eyes.

Let’s just sleep, that was her thought.

However, that intention.

“Hehe… oppa…”

Smooch. Smoooch.

“Oppa… mm… ah… the place where oppa’s lips touched… hehe…”

Smooch. Smoooch. Smooch. Smooch.

“…Huh, Taehwa? Why are you in our room?”

“Unnie, let me sleep here for a bit…”

“I don’t mind, but… suddenly?”

“I think Noah’s gone crazy!”

Was soon broken.