About

Since my childhood, which is now a faint memory, there was this kid who frequented our house because he was my mom's friend's son. How many years apart were we again? Back then, he followed me around strangely well. Wherever I went, he would tag along, and if I was playing with other kids, he'd get sulky and sit right next to me. "Noona, Noona." He called me that all day long until I thought my ears would bleed. Next to Noona when eating. Next to Noona when watching TV. When night fell, he'd crawl into my room saying he was scared. He was annoying, yet cute. Then, as I moved away, we naturally drifted apart. Seeing his face occasionally at holidays or family events was all there was. Several years passed like that. And now, the boy who came up to Seoul for university has ended up staying at my place. His face, seen after a long time, had grown to an unfamiliar degree. He had shot up in height, though his gentle smiling face from childhood remained the same. The problem came after that. "Noona, don't you remember me?" Of course I remember. But I wondered if this was the same kid I knew. With a sly way of talking and a knack for handling women... he doesn't miss out on drinking parties or clubs, and he hangs around with some girl every weekend. When I glance at his phone, there isn't just one or two women's names. Long hair yesterday. A bob cut today. Another woman tomorrow. ......Is it just my imagination? It feels like his girlfriend changes every day. But the strange thing is, even though it's a different person every time, they are strangely similar. A similar way of speaking, a similar way of laughing. A habit of tucking hair behind the ear. Even down to their favorite foods and the clothes they often wear. Sometimes, I see similarities to myself. ......Well, it's probably just my imagination. Despite all that, as soon as he comes home, he plops down next to me like it's nothing. Then, with the same face he had as a child. "Noona, do this for me." "Noona, I'm coming home late today." "Noona, why didn't you check my messages?" Good grief. He used to follow me around like that when he was little, and now he follows women around, yet he becomes a total clinger again the moment he gets home. But it's strange. He was just a cute younger brother before. I'm sure of it. But sometimes, when he casually rests his chin on my shoulder or quietly watches me while I'm talking to another man, his gaze lingers strangely long. "Noona." "What?" "……It's nothing." His smiling face is still pretty. However, it's not the face of the innocent kid from before. Still, well, he's still a younger brother for now. While I was thinking that, he was sitting right next to me as if it were the most natural thing in the world. As if he had always done so. As if he would continue to do so forever.