Chapter 188
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 188
On the cafe table, cinnamon-scented cookies sat alongside the drinks of those who had arrived first.
"Se-hee, Si-woo, what do you guys want to drink?"
So-ra Noona looked back and forth between Se-hee Noona, who was already seated, and Si-woo.
"I'll have a chocolate latte," Se-hee Noona answered immediately.
"I... I'll have a caramel macchiato."
Si-woo answered So-ra Noona and started to push himself up from his seat, intending to order the drinks.
As he approached the counter, he pulled out the Mom's Card he had brought in his pocket to pay.
"I'm going to settle the whole tab at once later. You just need to place the order!"
A man's voice suddenly called out from behind him.
"Huh?"
Startled, Si-woo turned his head and reflexively replied in formal speech.
"Ah~ I come here pretty often, so they're fine with me paying like that. Don't worry about it, I've got this~"
A man with a voluminous permed hairstyle and a sharp jawline explained to Si-woo in informal speech.
After ordering the drinks, Si-woo felt awkward and stood in front of the counter, waiting until they were ready.
When Si-woo didn't return to the table, So-ra Noona scurried over to his side.
"That guy is Se-hee's partner for today. He's the meal ticket, so you can order whatever else you want~"
So-ra Noona whispered softly into Si-woo's ear.
Through the gap in So-ra Noona's white blouse, which had three buttons undone, her cleavage—encased in a purple bra—was vividly visible to Si-woo as he looked down.
"Oh?"
Si-woo's eyes widened at So-ra Noona's comment about the man being Se-hee's partner.
"That's Kim Jun. He's a second-year at the Advanced Academy and a track athlete. Apparently, his dad runs a business~"
So-ra Noona was filling Si-woo in on the details of Se-hee Noona's partner.
Even just glancing at him while he was seated, he had a sharp appearance that made him seem tall and somewhat unapproachable.
Se-hee Noona's partner was dressed in clean, handsome attire and spoke with a voice full of confidence.
It seemed it had already been arranged for this guy, Jun Hyung, to be Se-hee Noona's partner today.
He and So-ra Noona appeared to be acquaintances from their time at the Intermediate Academy.
Before long, Kim Jun was already chatting and laughing with Se-hee Noona.
He seemed very skilled at talking to women.
Moreover, perhaps because he did track just like Se-hee Noona used to, he seemed to get along well even with the prickly Se-hee.
"The guy next to him is Lee Hyeok-jin! Sae-rom's partner. He's a first-year and Jun's track junior from the same academy."
So-ra Noona continued to feed Si-woo information about the men.
He had a chic face that felt somewhat taciturn, with very little change in expression.
With broad shoulders and a sturdy frame, he projected a strong image.
"And the next one is Park Seong-guk. He's also a first-year like Hyeok-jin, and I think he does boxing."
So-ra Noona leaned in even closer, resting her hand lightly on Si-woo's arm as she introduced the last man who had arrived early.
Park Seong-guk was tall and lean with a short buzz cut.
Though So-ra Noona didn't say it outright, it seemed Park Seong-guk was her partner.
Seong-guk Hyung's humorous tone and voice could be heard loudly from the table.
Si-woo glanced at each of the men, feeling slightly on guard.
The three of them seemed to have known each other for a long time, as they were talking comfortably amongst themselves.
"Shin-bi and Se-mi messaged me saying they'd be a little late. They'll be here soon~"
So-ra Noona finished her explanation by updating Si-woo on the status of Shin-bi Noona and Se-mi Noona.
Soon, the drinks were placed on a tray, and Si-woo carried it back to the table.
So-ra Noona followed him back and took her seat.
* * *
"Here, have this~"
Kim Jun quickly grabbed Se-hee Noona's chocolate latte from the tray Si-woo brought and naturally handed it to her.
Si-woo felt a prick of annoyance at the way Kim Jun snatched the drink he had carried over.
"Oh. Thanks~ I'll enjoy it~"
Se-hee Noona accepted the drink from Kim Jun, responding with a sweet voice and expression she rarely showed.
"So, Si-woo, you're a first-year at the Advanced Academy? I heard you and So-ra have known each other for a long time?"
Kim Jun immediately showed interest in Si-woo and struck up a conversation.
"Ah... yes... we've known each other for a while."
Si-woo answered Kim Jun's question reflexively and looked at So-ra Noona.
"That's right. We're super close~ We used to go out and have fun all the time~ Right, Si-woo?"
So-ra Noona gave Si-woo a flirtatious smile, spinning a made-up story with total ease.
"Y-yeah... that's right. I went out with So-ra a lot back then!"
Si-woo played along with So-ra Noona's fabrication.
As he did, he stole a glance at the cleavage visible through her unbuttoned blouse.
Inside the parted white fabric, the valley between So-ra Noona's round, pale breasts looked incredibly provocative.
Feeling a sudden pang of guilt, Si-woo glanced toward Se-hee Noona.
Avoiding Si-woo's gaze, Se-hee Noona took a sip of her chocolate latte through the straw, swallowed, and adjusted her posture.
Just as she had at the snack shop in front of the academy before, Se-hee Noona was staring off into the distance, avoiding Si-woo's eyes.
"Actually, I wanted to be partners with Si-woo this time, but he said he liked Shin-bi. Even when I asked him to switch to me, he insisted on Shin-bi until the very end, can you believe it?!"
So-ra Noona spoke with a tone of regret, seemingly indifferent to whether her current partner, Seong-guk Hyung, or the other guys were listening.
"You must really like Shin-bi then! So-ra isn't exactly lacking anywhere, you know~ Is she the girl you showed me a photo of before? The one who did track with Se-hee at the Intermediate Academy?"
Kim Jun responded to So-ra Noona's words with interest, looking at Si-woo as he spoke.
It seemed the Noonas and Hyungs had already checked out each other's faces through photos before coming to the meeting.
"Ah... yes... well... I just thought Shin-bi would be the most comfortable to be around."
Si-woo said, flustered by the question he wasn't prepared to answer.
"By the way, it seems like the three of you have known each other for a long time? You seem very close."
Si-woo said, looking at the three men sitting in a row as if to change the subject.
"Ah~ Us? Well, Hyeok-jin here is my junior in the track club at the academy, and Seong-guk is a younger brother I've been close with since we were kids. And I've known So-ra, Sae-rom, and Se-mi for quite a while too, right!?"
Kim Jun answered Si-woo's question with a relaxed smile, then looked around at the Noonas sitting opposite him as if seeking confirmation.
As expected, the three men who arrived first were close friends.
And it seemed they had known the other Noonas, excluding Shin-bi Noona and Se-hee Noona, for a long time.
After figuring out everyone's relationships, the small talk continued as they waited for Shin-bi Noona, Se-mi Noona, and Cheol-jin.
* * *
"But where are Shin-bi and Se-mi? They're really late."
Se-hee Noona asked, looking toward So-ra Noona with the straw of her chocolate latte clenched between her teeth.
"They said they met up just down the street and are coming together~ We did get here a bit early, so they'll probably be here right on time~"
So-ra Noona answered while quickly scrolling through her smartphone screen.
"Then I'm going to head to the restroom for a bit~"
Se-hee Noona took a long sip of her iced chocolate latte and stood up.
Si-woo stared blankly at Se-hee Noona's backside as she walked toward the restroom, as if entranced.
The pink dress was tight against Se-hee Noona's body.
The beautiful contours of her figure were clearly visible.
Leading down from her slender waist, Se-hee Noona's firm buttocks were wrapped in the pink fabric, making their presence known.
Those were the same buttocks he had possessed all to himself until just two days ago.
Feeling a bittersweet excitement, Si-woo's cock began to stiffen slightly.
Si-woo couldn't take his eyes off Se-hee Noona until she disappeared into the restroom.
Then, Si-woo turned his gaze back toward the table.
He felt So-ra Noona's eyes on him from right across the table.
So-ra Noona was looking at Si-woo with a faint smile.
Startled and embarrassed, Si-woo looked away.
Feeling awkward, he kept his head down and began typing a message to Cheol-jin as if to nag him.
[Where are you? Why are you so late?! Try to be on time for once!]
Si-woo sent the text to Cheol-jin, pretending to be annoyed.
[I'll be there soon~ Are Se-hee, So-ra, and Sae-rom doing okay there?]
Cheol-jin replied, casually using the Noonas' names as if to provoke Si-woo.
[You son of a bitch! Just get here already!! It's awkward as hell because I don't know any of these Hyungs!]
Feeling absurd, Si-woo sent back a text laced with profanity.
[Alright, alright~ This Hyung-nim will be there soon~ So stop whining and wait! LOL]
Cheol-jin's cheeky message made it seem like he was soothing a younger brother.
After exchanging texts with Cheol-jin, Si-woo felt some of his tension melt away.
* * *
"I'm going to use the restroom too."
Si-woo stood up and headed toward the restroom.
He happened to run into Se-hee Noona as she was coming out of the ladies' room.
Even though their eyes met, Se-hee Noona seemed ready to pass by Si-woo without any particular reaction.
Si-woo was also trying to pass her as carefully as possible to avoid getting caught being siblings, just as they had discussed before the meeting.
Tap!
At that moment, Se-hee Noona's fingertip brushed against Si-woo's forehead.
After tapping his forehead with her fingertip, Se-hee Noona brushed past him as if nothing had happened.