Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Park Chae-yeon
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"Uh... um, I've liked you ever since the first time I saw you! Go out with me!"
A boy from another class, whose face and name she didn't even know, had called her out to the back of the school building. And sure enough, it was a confession.
"Hmmm..."
The girl who had followed the boy out to the back of the building.
Chae-yeon quickly lost interest in this utterly cliché confession from some nobody.
How could a confession be this predictable and boring?
Forced confessions from losing bets in games with her friends actually seemed more sincere by comparison.
And on top of that.
Did this guy seriously think he was a match for her?
Chae-yeon's eyes swiftly scanned the boy from head to toe.
Shorter than average for his age.
Completely ordinary looks, nothing standout.
And above all, popping out of nowhere with a confession when they didn't even know each other? As if she'd joyfully accept that.
No matter how you sliced it, if he had nothing to offer, he should've at least been handsome or funny enough to spark her interest.
"Not interested."
Chae-yeon shook her head.
Lately, boys had been confessing to her and her friends nonstop.
At first, only the confident ones—guys strong in areas beyond their average looks—had mustered the courage, drawn by their beauty.
But after all those good guys got shot down without exception, the ordinary ones started trying their luck, hoping against hope.
She wouldn't even glance their way, let alone date them, unless they transformed into someone she'd regret rejecting.
"Can I go now?"
That should suffice as a response. Chae-yeon resented wasting her precious time on this loser any longer.
Sure, she already squandered it playing around with friends instead of studying, but still.
Why linger awkwardly here when she could be laughing and chatting with the girls she'd befriended right after transferring schools?
"W-wait! Chae-yeon!"
"Sigh... what?"
As she turned to head back to class, he desperately grabbed at her steps.
She let out a deep sigh and halted.
How pathetic.
"Is it... because of Ji-hoon?"
"What...?"
"You're turning down all the handsome guys and even the average ones. Isn't it because of Ji-hoon?"
"What the hell are you talking about all of a sudden?"
What nonsense was this out of nowhere?
Chae-yeon sighed deeply, ready to scold him, but then tilted her head in thought.
Come to think of it. Before meeting Na-young and Ji-hoon, Chae-yeon's head had been filled with fairy-tale fantasies despite her sharp looks.
She'd dreamed of a handsome senior confessing, accepting him, and enjoying sweet uniform dates after school.
But now?
Boys? Handsome ones? Zero interest.
She was too busy hanging out with friends. Oh, and one more thing. Teasing Na-young's boyfriend Ji-hoon—aka Wallet Guy—whose existence baffled her, and mooching off him was a fun pastime.
Looking at it that way... maybe turning down all those confessions really was because of Wallet Guy...?
A reasonable suspicion.
"No, so quit talking nonsense. I just don't feel like getting a boyfriend."
She'd almost said yes, tempted by the thought of Wallet Guy's flustered face.
But Chae-yeon wasn't that much of a delinquent, and she didn't want to cross lines with her friend's boyfriend—who was also a friend of sorts.
Teasing was fine, as long as she knew the boundaries.
Hmm... When she thought about all the freebies, repayments, and stuff she'd gotten from him, it added up to quite a haul.
True to his nickname, Wallet Guy seemed loaded enough that it didn't faze him.
Well, if he ever ran dry, she'd pay back what she'd mooched—at least what she could.
Thanks to him, her money, which used to vanish in under a month, was now piling up untouched.
"Then what's the reason?"
"Sigh... I told you. I just don't want one."
"Liar..."
"Why do you think I'm lying?"
"You always whined about wanting a boyfriend after seeing Ji-hoon and Na-young together. But you reject every decent guy who confesses. Doesn't that mean you like Ji-hoon too?"
"He's Na-young's boyfriend."
"But love is...!"
Not worth hearing more.
Chae-yeon left the babbling boy behind and slipped out of the back area.
"What a waste of my time."
That pointless confession and absurd claim had squandered her precious moments.
She could've used that short—but not insignificant—time to annoy Wallet Guy or buy more snacks with his money from the vending machine.
As she returned to class, Chae-yeon brushed off the annoying glances from boys stealing looks at her.
It irked her that some were ones who'd confessed before.
"Pathetic."
Instead of blurting confessions on a whim, hoping for a slim chance, building rapport first would've been way more effective.
What idiots.
In contrast.
"Another confession?"
She returned to class.
Naturally, Chae-yeon's steps led to the trio of smiling beauties gathered at the eye-catching back-row window seat, where her pretty face made her stand out unrivaled in the class.
Mi-jin chuckled and asked.
"Yeah... annoying."
"Still feels good, right? Proof you're super popular."
Popular... popularity. Like getting confessions meant you were thrilled?
Sure, in moderation. But nonstop ones just got tiresome.
"Didn't a second-year confess to you too?"
"He did."
"You like it?"
"Nah, annoying."
Asking if it felt good while admitting it was annoying—total contradiction.
"Oh yeah, I heard Eun-bi got one too."
"Eek! D-don't say it!"
Chae-yeon hugged the petite Eun-bi from behind.
Not stopping there, her arm slipped between Eun-bi's legs and grabbed her modest chest.
Eun-bi shrieked shrilly and squirmed, but Chae-yeon wasn't letting go easily.
"Hmm... a bit bigger now?"
"Waaah! Stop it! Na-young! Help meee!"
As she kneaded, Eun-bi's chest felt slightly fuller.
Considering most Korean girls topped out at A-cup, she should be thrilled—but Eun-bi desperately begged Na-young for rescue.
But her plea went to the wrong person. Na-young, utterly lovestruck with Wallet Guy, just clung to his arm with a dopey grin.
"Cut it out. She's not into it."
Instead, Wallet Guy stepped in to stop Chae-yeon.
"Oh! Wallet Guy! Do you wanna grope Eun-bi's chest?"
"Eeeeeek?!"
Her teasing tone made Eun-bi freak out even more.
"......"
Maybe she'd crossed a line. A sharp gaze pierced Chae-yeon.
An inexplicable emotion washed over her.
What was this? Fear? It felt eerily like fear.
Fear. Why fear, of all things?
Pondering deeply, she studied Wallet Guy.
He didn't seem scary.
Then why this fear?
Scared of him hating her...? Why fear his dislike? Even she couldn't grasp her own feelings.
"Chae-yeon. It's a bit much for me to grope Eun-bi's chest."
"Oh, right. Sorry~!"
Only then did Chae-yeon release Eun-bi's chest.
"Next, Mi-jin!"
She moved behind Mi-jin and grabbed her chest just like with Eun-bi.
Squish.
A softness incomparable to Eun-bi's transmitted through her hand.
As expected from Mi-jin, who boasted the second-largest chest after Na-young.
But how were they this big? Chae-yeon groped, then suddenly wore a gloomy expression and pulled away.
She placed a hand on her own flat chest—ordinary like the others—and sniffled.
"Why... won't mine grow?"
"It's fine. They'll grow soon. Don't worry."
"Ugh... that doesn't comfort me at all coming from you!"
Chae-yeon shoved away the approaching Mi-jin trying to console her and buried herself in Eun-bi's arms.
"Waaah! Nooo!"
Eun-bi resisted fiercely.
No wonder—Chae-yeon's face was pressed against her flat chest.
"Eun-biii~! Comfort me!"
Rubbing her face against the chest while wailing for comfort, but Eun-bi ignored her friend's pain and shoved her away in horror.
"Enough. You're being loud, and class is about to start. Let go."
Once again, Wallet Guy blocked her antics.
His large hand gripped Chae-yeon's shoulder, pulling her away from Eun-bi without resistance.
"Aww..."
Regretfully, she complied without a fight.
'Big hands... solid body...'
By chance, Chae-yeon's body brushed against Wallet Guy's.
Unlike scrawny boys her age, his frame boasted firm muscles from consistent workouts.
And perhaps because he had a prettier girlfriend than her, he never ogled Chae-yeon's face or body.
Not even her wide hips, short skirt revealing her flawless pale legs—her proudest feature.
That irked her a little.
Any guy would've stared, even if not as much as with Na-young.
But she liked that about him too.
If Na-young weren't around, Chae-yeon might've snatched him up.
No, even now... she wished Wallet Guy—Ji-hoon—had confessed like the other boys...