Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Summer Vacation Ends
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"I told you before. When you grow up, open a shopping mall. Then you might even be more successful than me."
"Anyone can open a shopping mall."
"That's why you have to do it—because not just anyone can."
Jeong Eun-seong, standing by with a convenience store bag in hand, thought to himself.
I could never be a big shot.
When a close friend is consoling another friend, he should chime in from the sidelines. Instead, here he was, thinking nonsense like, No way, Kang Da-hye's definitely going to be the most successful.
"Should I give you this as a bribe in advance? Choco bar tail?"
Kang Da-hye shook the wet ice cream stick, then stuck it in Eun-seong's mouth. He didn't really like the end bits of ice cream, but today he ate it without complaint.
The rich chocolate flavor melted in his mouth.
Bang Min-ji was receiving that kind of consolation from Kang Da-hye right now. Eun-seong had gotten it before too.
That consolation was perfectly fair to everyone.
To Woo Do-young. To Kim Na-eun. Probably even to some ugly Jae Eun-seong didn't know about somewhere.
That's why don't follow her around so dazedly.
What's his deal anyway...? Doesn't even seem like he studies hard. Tutoring? Why?
Whatever. Soon you'll be shorter than me anyway. Hurry up and start school already. I wanna see you again.
Even as Eun-seong burned with jealousy, Kang Da-hye kept diligently consoling her friend.
"Still, you know you have to study hard in high school, right? Because what we're learning in school right now is... "
...No. The consolation was over. Now she was pushing studies. Snapping to attention, Eun-seong quickly chimed in.
"Not knowledge, but common sense."
Isn't it weird?
I like how you console your friends, but at the same time, it makes me anxious knowing that consolation is fair to everyone.
I don't even know why I'm like this.
Just...
I wish I were the exception for you.
I don't want consolation from you.
No, that's not it.
I don't want to receive from you.
I want to give to you. To you.
Anything.
Un peu de soleil dans l'eau froide.
That book title I can't even read—is it "A Bit of Sunshine in Cold Water"?
If you're submerged in water so cold it shocks you awake and look up at the sky, how would the sunlight look filtering through the surface?
Would it sparkle brilliantly?
Deep blue? Or golden from the light?
The whole view shimmering?
It'd probably look just like you.
When you leaf through the book I gave you. When I see your cheeks flush as you lower your eyes. You have no idea I wanted to dig up all of Paris and hand it to you right then.
For real.
Someday I might just plunder the whole place, so watch out.
Sorry, but everyone, please leave Korea.
If I haul back everything from Paris, the ground might sink under the weight.
Politely requesting your exit.
On the way back after parting with Bang Min-ji, he asked Kang Da-hye.
"Kang Da-hye."
"Yeah?"
"Any things in Paris you wanna bring back?"
"Besides Jikji Simche Yojeol?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm... Mona Lisa."
"Nooo... Something I could actually bring."
"You don't even know the limits of your abilities yet."
She laughs as she says it.
Her tone, so convinced he'll succeed—Eun-seong felt his throat burn.
She believes in me.
Even if it's just polite chit-chat.
When you say stuff like that, I wanna live up to your expectations.
Debut this time? Fine. Wait a few more years? Fine too. Skip it if I don't wanna team up with those thugs? Also fine. But now... I wanna grab that chance.
I wanna show you only my coolest side.
If next year you get into Korea University and I still haven't even debuted...
Growing anxious, Eun-seong rubbed the back of his neck.
"This author's got a novel where the mother-in-law and son-in-law fall in love. Daughter's alive, obviously. All three living in the same house."
Kang Da-hye, oblivious to people's hearts, prattles on about the author who wrote that sunshine book.
"The twist is the son-in-law's dad—the other in-law—falls for the mother-in-law too. The clueless in-law has no idea his son and the MIL are dating, but he decides to confess to her publicly at his son's birthday party... Argh! Public confession again. Insane."
"......"
"Who's the very first person in history to start public confessions? I'll get revenge."
"So what happens? In the end?"
"Dunno. Author died without finishing."
"No... Now I'm curious...!"
"In 100 years, when we hit the afterlife, let's track down the author and ask."
"Guess I need to study French."
"I'm on it. Just trust me."
In truth, Eun-seong couldn't care less about the ending. But he pretended to be curious. Just to hear her ramble excitedly.
Luckily, his stellar acting kept her from suspecting a thing.
"But it gets even more dramatic—the son-in-law's mom is still alive and living in the house too. Not his bio mom, though."
Old novels are way more dramatic! Kang Da-hye stomped her feet in excitement before letting out a huge sigh.
"Why's summer break so short? Can't believe school's starting again in just a few days."
"Yeah."
"Break's too short. Was it always this short? Are high school breaks shorter than college ones?"
To me, it felt eternal. Without you.
"Can't believe we'll be seniors after just one more semester."
To the chattering Kang Da-hye, he suddenly asked.
"Kang Da-hye."
"Yeah?"
"We're friends, right?"
"Huh? Yeah."
"Close friends?"
"Yeah."
The hesitation-free answer filled him with satisfaction.
But.
To you, Han Ji-young's a friend too. Woo Do-young. Kim Na-eun. All close friends. Even Bang Min-ji, who you just met today, probably counts as a friend.
What are you even doing stepping up like that? You her boyfriend or something?
I'm just one of your countless friends.
That's how I see it.
You can have tons of friends, but only one boyfriend. So to become someone's boyfriend, you've gotta treat her better—treasure her more—than all those friends combined.
There has to be a clear reason to carve out time from your friends just for him.
So if you ever get a boyfriend...
I hope it's not some guy who treats you worse than your friend-me does.
Better that than...
"Jeong Eun-seong."
"Huh?"
"If I tutor your little sibling, I'd get the fee from you, right?"
"Yeah. A ton."
"Give me Jikji Simche Yojeol."
"Sure."
"Hey... think it over before you answer..."
"Jikji Simche Yojeol, Mona Lisa, Starry Night Over the Rhône, Las Meninas too."
So keep meeting me even after college.
"Las Meninas are in Madrid, not Paris."
Kang Da-hye giggled, August sunlight pouring down over her head.
The spot right next to Kang Da-hye—hers for the taking right now, by Eun-seong.
No parasol, full blast of intense UV rays, and it didn't bother him one bit.
Someday, when someone enters Kang Da-hye's heart, he'd have to give it up.
Kang Da-hye's boyfriend would definitely be on guard against tall, handsome Eun-seong. For her peace, he'd have to step back a pace or two each time... eventually drifting beyond arm's reach...
"Ah."
Now he got it.
I want to stay in this spot forever.
I want to be the boyfriend.
The position where you can treat her better than all her other friends combined, where it's expected, possible, and nobody bats an eye.
That's why I—who thought next year's debut lineup didn't matter either way—feel this sudden urgency.
I want to be someone you can brag about.
I don't want to embarrass you.
"Jeong Eun-seong. Tutoring your sibling's fine, but first, study yourself. You know the price of Eureka Kimchi Pancake or Pythagoras Fruit Hwachae?"
Kang Da-hye watched him intently, eyes narrowed, then spotted a puddle ahead and hopped over it nimbly.
"Study! Exercise! To become an adult responsible for the world! First, take responsibility for your own body! You need stamina!"
Then she misstepped, splashed into the water, and burst out laughing.
"It's cold!"
Claims her mental age is 29, but acts like 92. Suddenly rejuvenated to 18, overflowing with uncontainable joy—like a 92-year-old.
Watching Kang Da-hye splash water everywhere, Eun-seong felt like bursting into tears.
Noonas, what do I do?
I think I've got a crush.
But dating's absolutely off-limits.
I'm screwed...
Summer vacation ended.
Unrequited love began.