Back on Earth, around five in the evening.
Since the Neutral Grounds were running smoothly, Maria had taken a quick trip back to Earth to unwind.
Well, mostly because Maldong had insisted it.
Something about her being too highstrung recently...
Although there was a clear reason for that.
"Ugh..." Maria flopped onto her couch and hugged a body pillow. "Stupid Oppa. Making me all confused."
It was a bad situation.
Maria had always been a woman of value, utility, and balancing interests. A pragmatic woman who had to live that way because of being a Western orphaned girl in the misogynistic Korean environment.
She'd seen firsthand what happened if you weren't careful. And she knew that only money could really solve issues.
So she had worked for that. After lucking out in Paradise, becoming a priest, and all of that...
She had lived by the rule of 'money first' and everything second.
Until she met Jihu. That stupid Oppa who was a golddigger's wet dream, but too damned good for his own safety.
"...I should have just fleeced him and cut it." Maria murmured into her pillow.
There was every chance too. Maria definitely could have kept it professional. Or just business.
But after that decisive battle. When he asked her for help in the upcoming war against the Army Commanders...
"...I guess I'm weak to it, huh?" Maria sighed and rolled onto her back.
She should still cut her ties with Jihu.
The guy was married for god's sake. And he already had all those other women around him. Not only that, but he CLEARLY wasn't trying to build a harem or anything. So if she explained her situation, the fact that it wouldn't be good if they got involved...
Maria pulled out her phone, preparing to do just that. To call Jihu, and if he didn't answer, to leave a voicemail explaining it.
But...
"...No." Maria sighed and tossed her phone on the nearby table. "It's too late for that."
She could tell.
Even if Maria 'called it off.' Even if she drew the lines...
"Fuck. Is this what they warn girls about?"
To not fall in love with a bad man...
Maria knew for a fact that even if she tried to forget about Jihu, she couldn't at this point. He had left such an incredible mark on her life... from his heroism to his stupid generosity and his just... everything.
She wanted to.
She knew rationally that it was better to.
But...
Maria sighed.
Instead of the original message, she decided on something else. And instead of calling, she sent a text.
===
[To: Stupid Rich Oppa]
Hey. What are we? No, what am I to you?
===
Maria waited for a response.
But she barely had to wait.
Almost immediately, Jihu replied.
===
[Stupid Rich Oppa]
A pragmatic and practical woman who sees the world in terms of utility. Someone strong and independent enough to live on her own. Someone who has a keen sense for money.
And someone who gets to decide what we are.
===
Maria stared at that last line. "What 'we' are... That's not fair, Oppa."
It was placing the ball back in her court.
It was making her decide. Making her weigh the pros and cons of choosing Jihu despite everything.
But...
Maria let out a helpless smile. "...I guess that's like you, huh?"
Not making the choice for her, even though he could. Not claiming her even though she knew she would fold if he smiled and asked.
Instead, giving a bit of distance. Enough space for her to walk away if she wanted.
Leverage, something she understood. And enough gifts to feel like she made off in the black instead of in the red.
But...
===
[To: Stupid Rich Oppa]
And... if I want us to be real? Maybe... lovers? More?
===
Maria bit her lip, waiting for his response.
Unlike the first time, it didn't come immediately.
Of course it didn't.
That stupid Oppa was considerate and knew that if he just responded right away, it'd seem like he wasn't taking it seriously.
So Maria waited.
And then...
===
[Stupid Rich Oppa]
Tell me how you want to be loved.
===
Maria's breath hitched. She read the message over again and then pursed her lip. "Tell him how I want to be loved...?"
It wasn't a yes.
It wasn't a no.
It was an evaluation. An assessment.
It was similar to what Maria would do in decided whether or not to invest in something.
Realizing that, Maria calmed down. Because this was familiar territory to her.
"How I want to be loved..."
Maria had never thought about it.
How DID she want to be loved?
No, did she even know what being loved means?
All her life, money had been number one. Nothing had value unless it had a price tag to it.
But...
Jihu had showed her. Some things couldn't be priced. And some things that were valuable to others was worth less than salt for the owner. Like how Jihu threw so much money at her in Paradise without hesitation.
But love. How to be loved... No. What does it mean to be loved...?
Maria sat up in her sofa and mulled it over.
Was it sticking to his side every moment?
Hell no. Maria was NOT that type of girl.
Was it being loveydovey? Nope. Hard pass on that too. Maria hated public displays of affection.
Then...
Something that couldn't be bought... though she DID love being spoiled still.
No, it wasn't money. Not anything she could buy for herself. And she didn't really want Jihu to do anything for her in particular.
Sex... well, she WAS curious about it. And although she'd gotten some money doing... things, she hadn't crossed THAT line.
But... No, not yet.
Really, what made her feel loved...
Maria paused. Then she sent a voice note. "Oppa. I feel loved when you spend time with me."
...It had to be that.
Time.
The one thing you couldn't buy back.
The one thing you couldn't put a real price on.
And the one thing that she had never valued until now. Until the moment she thought that Jihu was gone forever when he defeated the Army Commanders. Until she saw him spend that time with other women and barely look at her.
There was a soft chime on Maria's phone. A voice memo sent back to her.
Maria hesitated. Then she pressed it to listen.
*Then tell me when. If you feel loved by me spending time with you, let me weave myself into the open spaces of your life. And let me love you like that.*
Maria was quiet, listening to the voice memo. Then she laughed, her heart light for the first time in a while. "...Stupid, Oppa. No, stupid me..."
It was so simple.
It was so obvious.
And it was something that would have people who know her laughing in her face.
Because it made her sound like a hopeless romantic. And she wasn't. She DEFINITELY wasn't.
But...
The thought of telling her Oppa that she was free and wanted to see him. Of having him dropping everything to see her...
She hesitated. Then she texted him.
*Then come right now. I'm at home. Let me see your face.*
An immediate knock at the door.
Maria flinched and looked over.
Jihu's voice echoed. "I'm here, Maria."
Maria laughed and opened the door. "You crazy Oppa...!" Seeing him standing there in his suit, she immediately pulled him into a hug.
Jihu hugged her back and said, "So... what do you want to do?"
Maria kept hugging him and said, "...Let's just waste time. Chase some cars around our head."
Jihu's eyes lit up and he laughed. He stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. Then he started singing in English. "We'll do it all... everything. On our own."
Maria's eyes lit up and she smacked a fist against his chest. "You bastard! How do you know Snow Patrol, huh? I thought you were Korean!"
Jihu laughed. "I am. But let's just say it's a legacy of a misspent youth. Now... I'm all yours for a few hours."
"Only a few hours, huh? But... fine." Maria pulled Jihu towards the couch and then hugged him. "...Be my pillow for a bit. Let me hold you."
"Of course."
Maria snuggled against Jihu, resting her head against his heart and listening to it.
The steady heartbeat. The sound that she had been so desperate to hear after he defeated the Army Commanders. The sensation she had been praying to return.
"...Stupid Oppa." Maria murmured, already feeling sleepy. "...Giving me headaches since the day we met..."
Jihu let out a soft chuckle and kissed Maria's forehead. "Made up for it though, right? With interest."
"Hmph." Maria eyes slowly closed. "...Stay with me until I fall asleep?"
"Want me to stay until you wake up?"
Maria shook her head. "No. That's too long. Time is money... and I know you're busy. But... let me sleep holding you. Just... a bit more..."
With those words, Maria slowly drifted off to sleep.