Chapter 150 – Three Peaches (10)

“When did you two become so close?”

The ribs that slipped from White Peach’s chopsticks rolled across the plate before them.

“Exactly! Did one of you seduce the other at some point?”
“Seduce? Who? Which one of us?”
“Heaven seducing the brother?”
“!!!!!!!”

Zodiac excitedly joined the conversation. As the misunderstanding deepened, White Peach’s face turned pale.

“We’re close, but no one seduced the other.”

Who would Heaven even seduce? She has no interest in romance, and she’s an innocent child who truly believes that magical girls exist in this world.

Seducing a man with her body or deliberately using a sultry voice? It might be possible for Zodiac, but Heaven doing such a thing seems unlikely.

“Right?”

White Peach asked Heaven for reassurance.

“…Huh?”

Heaven had her chopsticks in her mouth, her eyes wide open in surprise.

The lower lip, gripping the chopsticks, shimmered enticingly.

“One hundred percent.”

The chopsticks held between her lips for so long. Upon seeing this, Zodiac was taken aback and pointed a finger at Heaven.

“100%?”
“100%!!! Are you two dating?”

Zodiac, who learned modern speech from dramas, pointed at Heaven’s chopsticks, saying there was no room for doubt.

However, by my standards, it was nothing more than grasping at straws.
Dating? Not at all.
In fact, there was a time when our relationship almost fell apart.

Heaven, with a puzzled expression, looked back and forth between me and Zodiac.

“No?”

I denied it briefly.

In the meantime, I cut the second piece of meat and placed it on the plate before us. Zodiac stopped talking, put the meat in her mouth, and chewed it joyfully.

These were strange assumptions.
It seemed the two sisters were questioning the closeness between Heaven and me, but this misunderstanding was fundamentally incorrect.

Why?

“I doubt Cheondo even understands the concept of dating.”
“Ah, true.”

Hwangdo readily agrees.

“My brother, you’re no fun…”

Instead, she criticizes me.

“Regardless.”

Drawing out her words, Hwangdo gazes at Cheondo with her distinctively sinister eyes.
Their gazes collide.
From my angle, Cheondo’s expression is obscured, and I can’t see it clearly.

“So, how did you two become close?”

Baekdo’s question still lingers.
Only then does Cheondo remove the chopsticks from her mouth and cough once.

“…Well, we’re both facing execution. It’s nice to have a friend in that situation.”

An obvious statement.
Baekdo closes her mouth at such a self-evident remark.
Her wide-open eyes appear somewhat wronged.

“…Aren’t you two competitors?”

At those words, Cheondo and I exchange glances.
Competitors vying for the position of Heavenly Demon. That’s how Cheondo sees me.

But it’s been a long time since we’ve honestly discussed our mutual resentment.

Much time had passed since that incident. Now, even the reason behind it had become mere gossip.

“Is there a rule that prevents one from being friendly with rivals?”
“Cheondo might not become the Heavenly Demon.”
“Then I can be with Hwangdo and Baekdo.”

Cheondo nonchalantly brushed off Baekdo’s words of caution.

These were words spoken while envisioning the future.
Of course, the future where I would become the Heavenly Demon did not exist here.

‘I have no intention of becoming the Heavenly Demon. This continues until the end. Baekdo, this rascal.’

Perhaps it was anxiety that led him to finally speak out.
I understand. To Baekdo, Cheondo was both an object of envy and admiration.
No one wants to see someone they respect defeated by an outsider.

It might seem childish, in a way.
However, one can understand it through putting oneself in another’s shoes.

I, too, never wanted to see my master lose to someone else.

‘Although I can’t even imagine Cheondo losing to someone else.’

“……..”

White Peach sat motionless, not even chewing on the meat she usually savored. Cheondo’s eyes widened fiercely, and she too ceased her movements.

“White Peach. Stop. The atmosphere is getting strange.”
“…I’m sorry.”

White Peach bowed her head in apology as Zodiac intervened. This one loved Cheondo far too much for her own good.

“Don’t worry, White Peach. I won’t be defeated.”

Had she seen right through White Peach? Cheondo raised both her arms boldly and grinned.

“Death itself is immensely powerful, but even death said I could handle it, right?”
“Yes.”

She smiled radiantly.

White Peach’s countenance, previously disheartened by Cheondo’s confidence, began to relax.

“Of course. How could I lose to someone like that?”
“Sister, White Peach seems not herself.”

Acknowledged.

“Quiet. You have far too much to say.”
“Ah! Why did you hit me… Hing.”

Worries and a myriad of other emotions must have converged, leading to unease.

I felt sorry for Hwangdo, who gripped her head and held back tears, but thanks to her, the atmosphere lightened considerably.

“What will you do if your hair falls out! Your future prince is waiting for you.”
“What?”

Hwangdo was indignant on behalf of her future husband. Both Cheondo and Baekdo were chuckling.

The meat grill, which had paused for a moment, began to heat up again.

“Still, Heavenly Demon has been really helpful.”
“That person?”
“Yes. He’s helped with my posture, bought me food, and taught me almost everything. He said that when you become a Heavenly Demon, you should do these things as well.”

At Cheondo’s words, Baekdo’s eyes widened as she looked at me.

“Really?”
“Would Cheondo lie?”

These days, I sometimes oversee Cheondo’s training.

After Cheondo began working, he taught her the business aspects that the old man couldn’t. Cheondo absorbed it all like a sponge.

“I see.”

Baekdo finally offered me a steady gaze.

Even though our eyes met, she still subtly averted her gaze. I considered this a significant improvement.

“…Here.”

Baekdo slyly placed her portion of meat onto my plate.

“Eat this.”

Could I interpret this as a gesture of reconciliation? It felt like watching a white cat extending its paw-shaped jelly to its sulking owner.

“You haven’t eaten anything since earlier.”
“Oh, then have mine too, older brother.”

Hwangdo picked up where Baekdo left off, and Cheondo discreetly added her share as well. Before I knew it, my plate, which previously contained only vegetables, was now heaped with meat.

“Never mind that, you all should focus on your own meals.”

Though it was a heartwarming scene, the carefully distributed meat had once again gathered on a single plate. It wasn’t a wasted effort; I felt content.

I began portioning out the items on the grill one by one.

White Peach received more of the marinated neck cut.
Heaven preferred the relatively fattier parts.
Zodiac often ate wrap vegetables, so I served fewer of mine.

It was easier for the youngsters to enjoy their meal when the meat was divided according to their tastes, even if the pieces were small.

Juices flowed along the cross-section of the cut.

“Death sentence.”
“Huh?”
“This is incredibly delicious. I never even dreamed of something like this…”

They ate heartily.

“That’s right. You have no idea how fortunate we are since you arrived. We’ve been able to venture outside and meet Heaven, right, White Peach?”
“Uh, yes.”

White Peach reluctantly agreed with Zodiac’s bright smile.

“I wish we could live with you in Do-won forever!”

With a piece of meat in her mouth, Zodiac spoke with contentment.

“My, our daughters eat so well. As a treat, I got a peach recently.”
“Thank you!”
“Auntie is the best! Hurry up and try it.”

Perhaps because we ordered a substantial amount of meat, the restaurant owner kindly brought us peaches as a gesture of goodwill. Three beautifully peeled peaches, each of a different variety, offering an array of flavors to choose from.

“They’re delicious. What kind of peach do you prefer?” Heaven asked me after she had speared a peach with a toothpick, placed it in her mouth, and released a contented hum.

At that moment, Zodiac clapped her hands. “Oh, that’s right! Do you know what the most taboo topic of conversation is in Dowon?” she asked.

“What is it?” I responded, curious.

“It’s discussing one’s preference for peaches. People fight over whether they like them hard or soft,” she explained.

Peaches are abundant in Dowon, and as a result, they can be found everywhere. In fact, we ate them quite frequently, snacking on them almost exclusively. They were as plentiful as the tangerines on Jeju Island, and sometimes we ate them as if to simply clear them out of the way. Consequently, opinions about the peaches were incredibly divided, with strong likes and dislikes depending on one’s preference.

When you mention gukbap in Busan, it’s like being taken on a tour of the best eateries.
Their thoughts are clear.
If you bring up peaches here, they recommend various places, claiming there are even more delicious peaches to be found.

“I prefer soft ones, but White Peach insists that the best peaches are hard, so I always end up with hard peaches.”
“Well, Zodiac, that’s where you’re strange.”
“Look at this! How childish.”

It is childish.
I’ve fought quite a bit with White Peach over this.

It’s all well and good, but somehow it always turns into an argument.

“Hard ones taste great. They’re sweet with each bite.”
“Oh, do you also enjoy hard ones?”

Upon hearing my words, White Peach’s eyes widened.

“Really?”
“Of course~”

Our peach preferences align.
Could there be someone who suddenly becomes more amiable just because of that?

There is.
White Peach is like that.
I had to endure unreasonable training simply because our tastes didn’t match.

“Then try this one.”

As I placed a firm peach in my mouth, Baekdo once again skewered a peach with a toothpick and offered it to me.

“Eat two. Three times, no, four times.”
“Hehe, you look like a squirrel.”

The peaches filled my mouth to the brim.

Cheondo seemed indifferent to the taste of peaches as she continued to finish the remaining meat. Hwangdo appeared to enjoy the soft peaches, savoring them wholeheartedly. And Baekdo…

“Is it good?”

The eyes of Baekdo, who had harbored resentment towards me until now, sparkled.

I finished chewing the firm peach. As I swallowed, the corners of Baekdo’s lips quivered. Delicious—was she waiting for me to say that? After deep contemplation, I spoke earnestly.

“…But I prefer water peaches.”

Baekdo’s expression immediately hardened, her youthful face betraying her disappointment.

“Idiotic fool, sea cucumber, sea squirt, anemone, water bug!”

On their way to part ways, as Si-heon bid farewell to the sisters in front of his house, White Peach, who was clinging to Heaven’s side, yelled at the top of her lungs.

“…It’s because you lied, isn’t it?”

At Heaven’s glance, Lee Si-heon scratched the back of his neck.

“I was honest.”
“Ugh. No stopping you… What are you going to do? She’s furious.”
“I’ll try talking to her again when she’s calmed down.”

Dislike isn’t always necessarily a bad thing. Knowing this, Heaven smiled wryly and agreed.

Of course, not everyone shared this sentiment.

“I believed you. I really did!”

White Peach, who mourned the loss of her dear friend, and Zodiac, who held onto the hem of White Peach’s clothes. Zodiac’s face seemed content.

“I trusted in our compatibility. I thought we were a match.”
“Is that so?”

There’s no gossip as delightful as the taste of peaches.

No matter the situation, there’s always a chance to grow closer through discussion.
There’s just one person who’s seriously invested in it.

“…Well, I should get going. Heaven, do you want to stay here?”
“Yes, there are many conversations we haven’t finished yet.”
“Alright.”
“Thank you for today. My friend.”

Lee Si-heon waved with his back turned and disappeared from sight.
White Peach bustled into the house. Heaven remained, gazing at the spot where Si-heon vanished.

“Heaven?”

Zodiac took a step closer to Heaven. Until that moment, Heaven had been watching the place where the man had disappeared.
Her eyes held a tender, yet somewhat melancholic expression. At the same time, her face resembled a freshly bloomed flower bud, appearing excited in some way.

Just looking at her made the image stick in one’s mind.
An evocative feeling.

As strange as it may sound, this was a reasonable certainty.

“Heaven.”
“…Huh? What’s up?”
“It seems you really do like him.”

Cheondo tilted her head, a look of innocent confusion on her face.

“Do you like it? Why?”

Her pure expression remained. Over time, Hwangdo’s eyes had been tainted with cunning.

It’s not love, it’s liking. Hwangdo knew the difference between the two well, but Cheondo was completely naive in that regard.

– Thump, thump.

Hwangdo’s precocious heart raced. This was it, without a doubt.

“No, I meant, how much do you like it?”
“How much? Well…”

Hwangdo prided herself on being astute in such matters, knowing how to phrase a question to elicit a convincing response.

It was a problem that neither Baekdo nor Cheondo showed any interest in this aspect. With that in mind, Hwangdo slowly probed the depths of Cheondo’s feelings, making it difficult for her to decipher.

“Do you like me enough to want to marry me?”
“Marriage? Suddenly…?”

Cheondo frowned at the abrupt question. Hwangdo raised her right index finger.

“Well, try to imagine it.”
“Even if you say that… I don’t really know.”
“Ah, come on. Close your eyes and listen to me.”

Taking a deep breath, Zodiac whispered softly into Heaven’s ear.

Everything unfolded according to the desires and innocence of a young girl who loves romantic tales. Heaven closed her eyes with a somewhat puzzled expression.

“Imagine you’re married. Waking up in the morning… in the same bed with your husband. As soon as you wake up, you kiss and ask each other if you slept well.”
“…Kiss?”
“Yes. Since it’s morning, just a light peck on the lips. And then you look at each other and smile. ‘Did you sleep well?’ Like that.”

As if hypnotized, Heaven’s face, with her eyes closed, slowly turned serious. It was evidence that she was becoming immersed.

“Then you would have breakfast together. Your husband eats the food you prepared, and he compliments it for being delicious. No matter who gets married, one of them is Heavenly Demon, and the other is their support. Will you work together?”
“……Yes.”

Slowly, awareness began to dawn.

As Zodiac spoke, Heaven’s mind seemed to unfurl with the very scenes she described.

Working together, sharing meals, and sleeping side by side.

Zodiac’s tale spanned from morning till night, and Heaven listened intently, eyes closed, to the young girl’s narrative until the very end.

“We’d sleep under the same blanket.”

The conclusion of the story. Zodiac had woven her tale with such coherence, she could have been a writer. Of course, there were more chapters to the story in Zodiac’s mind, but Heaven’s imagination halted there.

‘With a death sentence.’

Kissing with eyes open, then closed. Kissing with eyes closed, then open.

“…Ah.”

In an instant, heat rushed to Heaven’s face.

A vibrant red. Her cheeks flushed like ripe peaches, even coloring her ears. Overcome with embarrassment, Heaven cupped her hands over her burning cheeks, bowed her head, and took a seat.

“What do you think? Do you dislike the idea of marrying?”

Heaven shook her head.

“Do you think it’ll be enjoyable?”

Nod.

“That’s what you like.”

Heaven couldn’t rise from her seat for quite some time. Her heart pounded as if it would burst. The thoughts filling her head refused to be untangled.

An infinitely tender emotion of blossoming pink.

A panting breath escaped her lips. That breath turned to mist as it met the cold air, then dissipated in wisps.

Though she’d done nothing wrong, her throat felt constricted. The more she thought about it, the deeper the sensation became.

Heaven exhaled a trembling breath and placed a hand on her chest. Her still-innocent heart was pounding.

Loud enough to be disruptive.