Chapter 32: Foreshadowing
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 32: Foreshadowing
“I-seo and… Woo-jin?”
We ran right into Seo Ye-rin as she was entering the gym. I raised a hand in a casual greeting, and she smiled and waved back, but for some reason, her expression seemed dark.
“H-hey, are you coming from school? I guess today was your PT day.”
Choi I-seo hurriedly tried to strike up a conversation, and Seo Ye-rin played along.
“Yeah. I didn't leave any gaps in my schedule for free periods.”
“Right, the seniors did say it’s better to rack up credits during freshman year.”
They continued to chatter, but the conversation was hollow. The feeling that they were forcing the dialogue made me restless, especially since my throat was parched with thirst.
“Hey, when are we going to the cafe? I feel like I’m actually going to die.”
If we stayed here any longer, I felt like I’d end up drinking water straight from the showerhead. Everything about this gym was great, but they didn't provide paper cups at the water purifier.
A sign was posted stating that they couldn't provide them due to regulations on disposable items for the sake of the environment.
Choi I-seo whipped her head around and glared at me, biting her lip as if I’d said something I shouldn't have. It was a clear signal to shut up, but Seo Ye-rin broke the tension with an awkward smile.
“Oh, you guys are finished. I’m sorry for holding you up.”
“No, nothing to be sorry about.”
With that, Seo Ye-rin headed toward the locker room.
“Ugh! Sometimes you’re so sharp, but other times you’re just completely clueless!”
Choi I-seo smacked my shoulder and followed Seo Ye-rin into the locker room.
I felt a bit wronged, wondering what I’d done so wrong, but I started heading toward the men's locker room anyway.
“Excuse me.”
Jeong Chan-woo, who had been lifting heavy weights until a moment ago, wiped his sweat and spoke to me again.
Seeing him drenched in sweat, even I could see he had a certain sexiness to him; he was definitely the type to be popular. I could even feel the women in the gym stealing glances at him.
“Yes?”
Judging by how he spoke to me the moment Choi I-seo and Seo Ye-rin disappeared, it seemed he had been watching me the whole time.
“I guess you’re close with Ye-rin, too?”
“Ah, since you’re Yoo Ah-rin’s friend, I guess you know everyone.”
Yoo Ah-rin was Seo Ye-rin’s high school friend, and since Jeong Chan-woo had been friends with Yoo Ah-rin since they were kids, it made sense that he and Seo Ye-rin might be close.
“We’re just in the same major,” I replied nonchalantly.
Jeong Chan-woo’s expression turned subtle. He looked like he wanted to ask more but was hesitating, perhaps worried about being rude.
What is it?
I felt a strange sense of ambiguity.
“Did you just find out that Seo Ye-rin goes to this gym too?”
Since the silence felt awkward, I prodded him further. Jeong Chan-woo shook his head.
“No, not really. I’ve seen her working out a few times, so we’ve greeted each other.”
So, he just didn't expect me to know Seo Ye-rin as well.
Ah, this isn't my style.
If there’s an itch, you should scratch it. Watching Jeong Chan-woo hesitate and walk on eggshells was getting frustrating, so I just asked him directly.
“Is there something you’re curious about?”
“…….”
Perhaps he didn't expect me to be so blunt; his eyes wavered in embarrassment. Once I made it clear I didn't like beating around the bush, he let out a sigh and answered.
“Well, seeing how you’re close with both Ah-rin and Ye-rin… it just reminded me of the old days.”
“I’m not exactly close with Yoo Ah-rin, though.”
More importantly, what "old days"?
“I used to be very close with both of them back then, too. We’re a bit awkward now, though.”
“You didn't seem that way with Yoo Ah-rin.”
Hadn't they seemed quite close at the PC Bang? He’d given her free ramyeon and even paid for her time.
But at my question, Jeong Chan-woo gave a bitter smile.
“That’s just because Ah-rin is kind.”
“Her?”
I had no idea how a girl who clearly had a nasty personality could be considered "kind."
“A-anyway. I hope you treat them well. They’re both good girls.”
As I watched him turn to leave, my frustration got the better of me, and I asked irritably, “You like Yoo Ah-rin, don't you?”
“…….”
Jeong Chan-woo froze in his tracks and slowly turned his head. The look of sheer panic on his face told me I’d hit the bullseye.
However…
“I do… but I shouldn't.”
I frowned deeply at his sudden line that sounded like it came straight out of a melodrama.
Lately, I’d only been dealing with sly and aggressive people like Senior Han-gang or Ahn Hyun-ho, so seeing someone like this was a change of pace, but…
“You’re so damn frustrating.”
Sorry, but I’d actually prefer Han-gang or Ahn Hyun-ho over this.
“Look, we’re the same age, so let’s just speak casually. You clearly care about Yoo Ah-rin and worry about her, so what do you mean you 'shouldn't' like her?”
“Ah, well…”
I knew he was flustered because I was coming on strong, but I really didn't want to hear any more of his vague whining.
“With a face like yours, you could seduce anyone. Do you know why you can't get her? It’s because you’re so passive. Do you think Yoo Ah-rin is just going to stick her tongue in your mouth if you just stand there with your mouth open?”
“W-what?!”
“Just say the word. Do you want help? To be honest, I’ve liked you since you gave me that ramyeon at the PC Bang. Want me to help things go well between you and that sly fox?”
It was meddling, sure, but watching a handsome guy hesitate like that was just too much to bear. Besides, if I stayed on his good side, I might get more perks at the PC Bang.
“Well, um.”
Seeing him hesitate again, I held out my phone.
“Give me your number if you want help. If not, just go.”
After staring blankly at my phone for a moment, Jeong Chan-woo slowly typed in his number and handed it back.
“……Help me. I want things to work out with Ah-rin.”
I grinned and nodded at his honest confession.
* * *
“So I decided to help him, but how well do you know Yoo Ah-rin?”
After showering, I sat in the cafe feeling refreshed, sipping coffee and asking Choi I-seo.
I’d acted all confident in front of Jeong Chan-woo, but honestly, what did I really know about Yoo Ah-rin? At most, I knew she liked movies and enjoyed writing scripts.
I figured I could just invite Jeong Chan-woo along whenever she was writing a script to give them some time together, but I wasn't sure what else I could do.
Slurp.
Choi I-seo didn't answer. In fact, she was glaring at me while sucking on her straw as if she were dissatisfied with something.
“But it is pretty strange. Honestly, with looks like Jeong Chan-woo’s, wouldn't most girls fall for him the moment he confesses?”
Slurp.
“He’s basically carrying the female customer base at that PC Bang by himself. Even at the gym, everyone was looking at him.”
Slurp.
“I guess even handsome people have their own struggles.”
Slurp.
“You’re going to suck the ice through that straw at this rate. What’s wrong?”
I finally couldn't take it anymore and asked as she continued to glare at me with the straw still in her mouth.
“What? Is it because of Seo Ye-rin earlier? Do you think she felt left out seeing the two of us together?”
“…….”
“Hey, Seo Ye-rin probably has ten times as many friends as I do, at the very least.”
Since I only had one or two.
“Do you think a girl like that would feel left out? She probably gets so many texts while working out that she can't even focus.”
“…….”
“Besides, she said she’s close with Jeong Chan-woo, too.”
Though I wasn't sure what their current status was.
“Sigh.”
At my words, Choi I-seo finally let out a sigh and gave up her silence. She looked like she was agonizing over something, but it seemed she decided she couldn't just stay quiet.
“Listen.”
“Yeah.”
I nodded in response. She hadn't said a single word since we left the gym.
“Are you dating Ye-rin?”
The question that came out of her mouth was completely out of left field.
“Huh?”
I felt like I’d been hearing the "are you dating someone" question a lot lately.
First of all…
“No?”
I denied it instantly, but Choi I-seo was quite persistent.
“Don't just say it lightly. Look me in the eye and answer. Are you really not dating her?”
“I told you, no. We’ve gotten closer recently, but we’re not dating or anything.”
“…….”
“Did you forget what happened when I tried a CC in the first semester?”
I’d dated Oh Yun-ji in the first semester and broke up before the second; why would I want to date another girl so soon?
I answered with an incredulous expression, but Choi I-seo just furrowed her brow and let out a deep, complicated sigh.
“Haa! No, clearly… Haaaaaaa!”
What was actually wrong with her? Seeing her act like this made me think it really wasn't something minor.
“Agh! Seriously!”
Thud!
Finally, unable to contain her frustration, Choi I-seo kicked my shin under the table.
“Ow! Why are you taking it out on me?!”
When I cried out in protest, she gave me another kick with a cold, dead look in her eyes.
Thud!
“It’s because of you, so it’s not 'taking it out' on you.”
No, what was with her? What on earth happened in that locker room?
* * *
One hour ago.
After seeing Choi I-seo and Kim Woo-jin and hurriedly entering the gym locker room, Seo Ye-rin was changing her clothes while hiding a strangely complicated heart.
Why was she feeling this way?
It was the same when she saw the two of them at the pork cutlet place last time, but her chest felt tight and she felt strange.
Was it disappointment?
Yes, you could call it disappointment. But it wasn't as if she only hung out with those two. She had just come from hanging out with other friends, so she couldn't exactly complain to them about why they went to the gym without her.
Why am I being like this?
Seo Ye-rin felt a sense of stuffiness as she took off her clothes, just as Choi I-seo followed her in.
“H-haha.”
An awkwardness settled between the two. Especially for women, unless they are very close, they tend to be reluctant to show their bare skin, which only added to the tension.
In the awkward silence, both of them changed their clothes quickly.
“Um, Ye-rin.”
Choi I-seo mustered up some courage, but her timing was poor. It was right when Seo Ye-rin was taking off her pants.
“Ah, sorry…”
“It’s okay, we’re both girls anyway.”
Seo Ye-rin tried to act cool and smiled as she replied, but…
“…….”
For some reason, Choi I-seo’s gaze was fixed on Seo Ye-rin. Specifically, on Seo Ye-rin’s lower body.
“Um, I-seo?”
Seo Ye-rin, slightly flustered by the intense stare, called out tentatively.
Even so, Choi I-seo continued to stare as if possessed, until Seo Ye-rin hurriedly finished changing.
“Ah… I-I’m sorry.”
Only then did Choi I-seo snap out of it.
Seo Ye-rin was smiling awkwardly, but she was clearly a bit uncomfortable, so she quickly headed out.
Left behind, Choi I-seo could only stand there blankly, unable to say a word.
What was that?
Because…
Why?
She had seen Seo Ye-rin’s body before.
How?
And it was on a very unexpected phone screen.
The mole on the thigh.
The beautiful legs without a gram of excess fat.
And even the exact same underwear.
Why was there a photo of Ye-rin on Woo-jin’s phone?
The photo of the woman showing her panties that she had seen on Kim Woo-jin’s phone at the pork cutlet place…
Was Seo Ye-rin.