Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: White Day at Eighteen
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White Day at eighteen.
How did I spend that day before regressing?
The old me was pathetic.
Even after getting rejected in the most ego-crushing way, I couldn't let go. I trailed after Seo Jae-kyeom so obviously, pretending nothing was wrong. Then, by some stroke of luck, I got the chance to help him with his academy homework.
"You don't have to do it."
"How could you not do your homework? Just let me do it for you."
I ended up volunteering to do his homework for him like a total pushover...
That was me.
Homework was something he could do or not do—it didn't matter. He didn't need my help in the first place and had no intention of asking for it. Naturally, Seo Jae-kyeom wasn't all that grateful.
You want to do it? Fine, whatever. That was the vibe.
I acted all cool about it, like I was the one stepping in because he was slacking off on his homework, practically snatching it from his hands.
It would've been better to just openly say I still liked him. I had no idea this made me look even more desperate...
But my dark history didn't end there.
"Thanks."
After he tossed out those half-hearted words, the old me put on this haughty act, lifting my chin like I didn't care...
"If you're thankful, give me some candy on White Day."
Aaaah! Aaaah! Aaaah!
So embarrassing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ah, it's really a blessing that no one remembers this dark history now that I've regressed.
If anyone spreads rumors, I'll chase them to the ends of the earth and shut them up.
Anyway.
And so, on March 14th, White Day itself.
I came to school full of anticipation.
I'd heard through the grapevine that Seo Jae-kyeom, who'd been skipping school for the past few days, was finally coming back today.
Coming to school right on White Day, the day he'd promised me candy? It almost felt like he was forcing himself to show up just to keep his word to me.
Apparently, spinning these happy delusions all by yourself is a hallmark of a one-sided crush. The old me really had it all.
True to form as a pushover, I'd even prepared a return gift for Seo Jae-kyeom.
Unlike now, I wasn't working part-time back then and my allowance was tight, but somehow I'd scraped together the money.
Like the fox from The Little Prince, I waited for him to appear. I couldn't even focus during morning self-study—I kept going to my locker, peeking out into the hallway toward the school gate, checking myself in the bathroom mirror...
And two minutes before the gate closed, Seo Jae-kyeom finally strolled in. The first thing he said to me was:
"Da-hye, have you seen Ji-su anywhere?"
In that tone he often used after rejecting me—dropping formalities and calling me by name, forcing friendliness.
Yeah.
Seo Jae-kyeom had completely forgotten about the candy promise he'd made me like it was charity.
And to top it off, the "Key Summary of English Grammar for the CSAT" that I'd lent him turned up in Ji-su's bag.
I'd gotten all excited on my own—no one asked me to—and shoved it at him with a "use this as reference." Worried he couldn't read my handwriting since he tossed things aside, I'd typed it up on the computer, printed it at the library, and even bound it.
"That..."
"Oh."
Seo Jae-kyeom saw Ji-su diligently copying it, not even realizing it was mine, and said casually:
"Ji-su said she needed it too."
Talk about making someone feel pathetic.
Ji-su was the only one flustered once she realized it was mine.
I felt embarrassed for making something like that just for Seo Jae-kyeom instead of sharing it with friends too.
Ji-su and I apologized to each other.
Seo Jae-kyeom never remembered the candy promise in the end, and the return gift I'd prepared stayed with me.
I went home and bawled my eyes out that day.
I looked so pathetic to myself.
And now, White Day after regressing.
Once again, Seo Jae-kyeom timed his return for March 14th.
The difference this time?
"......"
"What?"
"......"
"Don't like it?"
He stared silently at the chocolate box in my hand.
Seo Jae-kyeom, who'd only wounded my heart before regressing, was giving me chocolate this time.
Why?
I hadn't really interacted with him much since regressing. If anything, less than before.
'He did say he'd give me some with his own mouth... but I didn't think he'd actually follow through.'
I figured it was just empty words again this time.
The square box, shaped like a drawer, felt incredibly heavy. It was heavy enough to believe it was filled with jewels instead of chocolate.
"Kang Da-hye?"
"...Thanks. Looks delicious. I like it."
I finally snapped out of it and thanked him.
Seo Jae-kyeom, who'd been waiting tensely for my reaction in a way that wasn't like him, finally cracked a smile.
He must've been really grateful that I'd let him go first that day.
Grateful enough to do something he wouldn't normally do.
Didn't he worry that this might give me hope and I'd start chasing him again, saying I liked him?
As I just stared at the chocolate, Seo Jae-kyeom cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Knew you'd like it."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. You like this stuff. Truffle Pavé Chocolate and Crunchy Salted Caramel."
"Me?"
"Yeah. You said it was delicious last time."
Oh. So it wasn't that he wasn't worried.
He just wasn't paying attention.
No matter how I reacted to this.
'Here I go overthinking again.'
I smiled and said,
"That's what Ji-su likes."
"...Huh?"
"Truffle Pavé and Crunchy Caramel? That's Ji-su's favorites."
All I'd done was take a bite from hers once. Seo Jae-kyeom looked flustered at my casual addition.
"Oh..."
"Yeah?"
"Uh. Oh."
I hadn't expected him to get this flustered, so I got flustered too.
"Sorry. Uh. Um..."
"No, it's fine. Nothing to be sorry about. Can't I have the stuff Ji-su likes?"
If Ji-su likes it, it'll probably be tasty. I hugged the chocolate box to my chest as I added that.
"Thanks a lot. I'll eat one whenever my energy dips."
"...I thought it was your taste."
"That happens."
Of course he'd mix it up. I nodded affirmatively.
You barely pay any attention to me.
You don't know what I like or dislike, what movie genres I enjoy, which author's new books I grab at the library without fail. What kind of music I listen to. You know nothing.
Of course you don't.
You don't like me.
No surprise there.
"It's the thought that counts, remembering to buy it. I might end up loving it after trying it today. Thanks really."
Even though I meant it sincerely, Seo Jae-kyeom's expression didn't relax.
Students passing by in the hallway glanced at Seo Jae-kyeom, who was uncharacteristically fumbling.
He scratched his neatly styled hair vigorously and said,
"I'll get you something else. Something you actually like."
"It's really fine..."
"I'm not fine with it. What do you like?"
"......"
That's when a brilliant idea flashed in my head.
"Seo Jae-kyeom. Then, could you help me out with something?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I readily accepted his agreement to my request and made plans on the spot.
"See you then."
"Yeah."
Seo Jae-kyeom headed back to the classroom, and I turned toward the teachers' office. After a few steps, I gasped.
Jeong Eun-seong was leaning against the hallway wall, glaring at me.
"Feeling good?"
He strode over and read the label on the chocolate box in my hand.
"Crunchy Salted Caramel? The kind where crumbs fall everywhere if you bite it? He gave you this garbage?"
"It's my favorite."
"Since when?"
"Since the moment you called it garbage."
"Ha!"
Jeong Eun-seong let out a hollow laugh and said to me,
"Kang Da-hye. You're second on my hate list in our class."
"Wow."
He'd been saying this for a while now. Was I supposed to ask who was first?
But before I could, Jeong Eun-seong brushed past me. I snorted at his retreating back.
"Ha!"
Why show up out of nowhere to pick a fight?
"Ridiculous."
I was so baffled I got annoyed.
I stormed to the teachers' office, endured the teachers' teasing while storming (Ooh~ Da-hye? Got chocolate? Who from?), and stormed back to the classroom.
When I got back, someone had left chocolate on my desk.
A mint-green box the size of a cake box.
"What the heck is this!"
Mint chocolate?! I hate mint chocolate!
I scanned the classroom, but the giver wasn't there. I asked Do-yeon, and she pursed her lips inward, saying she didn't know.
Whatever, someone gave it! Not curious!
I don't care who it is if they didn't have the guts to hand it over in person!
I'm pissed right now!
"Jeong Eun-seeeong!"
That guy's so weird!