Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: First Love Never Comes True
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"Iseol, you..."
Dasom burst into Class 2 first thing in the morning and plopped down right in front of Iseol's desk, pointing straight at her.
"Be honest. You like Namjin, don't you?"
"..."
For a split second, it felt like the drifting classroom dust had frozen in midair.
Iseol narrowed her eyes and alternated between staring incredulously at Dasom, whose eyes were sparkling with excitement, and Chaerin, who had come along with her.
"What the hell are you talking about? Still half-asleep?"
Iseol snorted in disbelief and reached to plug her wireless earbuds back in.
But Chaerin swiftly grabbed her wrist and clung on relentlessly.
"Come on~ You can't hide anything from us! We already know everything!"
"Yeah, yeah! And after the afterparty when you were heading home, we saw you two at the back—the vibe was no joke!"
As Chaerin and Dasom pressed her, Iseol's expression visibly chilled.
Ever since the Im Hyunsu mess, she'd been forcing herself into rationality, utterly exhausted by all the gossip linking her to guys.
On top of that, Nam Siwoo was the one person in this noisy crew with whom she could actually feel at ease.
Yet these two were trying to slap a tiresome romantic frame on that comfortable dynamic.
"Cut the bullshit."
"Huh? But... the chemistry was totally there..."
As Iseol's gaze turned icy, Dasom and Chaerin finally backed off, pouting their lips.
Not just Chaerin and Dasom—other friends were subtly pairing Siwoo and Iseol together too.
At the outdoor shelter during lunch.
The seven friends, still buzzing from the sports festival, sat in a circle devouring ice cream.
"Ugh, my thighs. I really pushed too hard at the end."
"What did you do? I did all the overtaking."
With Park Geon and Juwon bickering in the background, Siwoo kept stealing glances at Iseol sitting right next to him.
Whether it was the lingering fluffiness from their walk home or the way her short hair swayed in the breeze, her profile was sticking in his mind more than usual today.
Iseol was resting her chin on her hand, languidly staring down at her phone.
Remembering how she always got thirsty after ice cream, Siwoo quietly stood up.
"I'm heading to the vending machine. Anyone need anything?"
"Yo, I'll come with."
Juwon scarfed down his ice cream and started to follow, but Siwoo waved him off.
It was that shallow, ticklish urge to buy something just for her.
"Nah, I'll go alone. It's not like I'm buying anything fancy—be right back."
"Ooh, cool. Cola for me then!"
"Me too!"
Siwoo crammed the others' orders into his head and naturally turned to Iseol.
As his gaze landed on her, she looked up from her phone.
Her deep, clear black eyes stared right back, making the back of his neck inexplicably heat up.
Iseol nodded casually once.
"Strawberry milk for me."
"Got it! Be right back!"
Siwoo bounded off toward the vending machines with the upbeat stride of a puppy wagging its tail for all to see.
But the moment his back vanished from sight, the shelter's atmosphere shifted in an instant.
Park Geon flashed a knowing grin and nudged Iseol's shoulder.
"Hey~ No hand-holding today? Bet you loved it during the race, huh?"
Park Geon tossed his popsicle wrapper in the trash and teased mercilessly, with Juwon chiming in from the side.
"Yeah, and on the way home after the afterparty, you two had that weird vibe. Be real—are you dating on the sly? Since when?"
Juwon and Park Geon's clueless fussing.
Dasom and Chaerin, who'd already gotten an earful from Iseol that morning, panicked and shot them warning looks, but it did nothing to these oblivious high school boys.
Normally, Iseol would've brushed it off and clammed up.
But flashes of holding Siwoo's hand while running kept popping into her head, twisting her gut and spiking her irritation sharper than morning.
"Ah, crap."
Siwoo stopped dead while rummaging through his empty pockets on the way.
He'd left his wallet—complete with his card—on the shelter bench.
A cheerful hum leaked out as he turned back toward the shelter.
"Hmm~"
Lately, every day felt like starring in a high school rom-drama—straight out of a dream.
Hyunsu, who'd tormented him, was gone, and he'd grown even tighter with his solid friends.
And above all, Iseol was initiating conversations with him more often.
'Maybe Iseol feels something for me too...?'
He couldn't stop his lips from twitching upward.
According to Juwon, iron-willed Iseol had only ever let her guard down that much for him and Park Geon.
For her to use a nickname when calling him and treat him affectionately (or so it felt to Siwoo)?
Clear green light, no question.
Imagining Iseol's face as she drank the strawberry milk he'd hand her made him hurry to grab his forgotten wallet and dash to the machines.
But just as he rounded the corner of the brick building toward the shelter—
Familiar voices from the other side pierced his ears.
"No, seriously! Siwoo's been working out, his body's looking good now, right? Personality's all soft and sweet—perfect for you."
"Just meet him once. You guys click more than you think."
Juwon and Park Geon.
Siwoo jolted, held his breath, and plastered himself against the wall behind the corner.
'Ugh, Juwon, I told you not to say stuff like that...'
He grumbled inwardly, but his lips were already grinning ear-to-ear, face flushing beet red.
What would Iseol say?
Would she blush and duck her head? Nod faintly maybe?
Siwoo swallowed hard, holding his breath to listen.
'Maybe... she'll say it's not so bad...?'
But Iseol's voice from beyond the wall shattered his clumsy pink fantasies without mercy.
"God, enough already. You're crossing the line. Ever since that Im Hyunsu crap, you've been nonstop trying to pair me off with someone."
Her voice dripped irritation, frozen cold, filling the shelter.
Siwoo's heart plummeted at that chill.
"Whoa, hey, we were just teasing 'cause it looks cute..."
"It's annoying, so quit linking us. Why the hell would I be into Nam Siwoo romantically? He's not my type—not even a speck."
"...!"
Siwoo's feet, hidden behind the corner, rooted to the cement like nails driven in.
The silly smile spreading across his face drained away with all color in an instant.
"I'm just trying to get closer as friends—stop making it weird and uncomfortable. And quit giving him the wrong idea."
"..."
A heavy silence blanketed the once-lively shelter.
But far more brutally shattered was Siwoo's heart, as he huddled silently behind the wall.
The sun blazed brilliantly overhead, yet the shadow beneath the building where he stood felt like midwinter frost.
He felt so pathetic, so idiotic for getting all hyped over that supposed green light moments ago.
Deep down, he'd known they didn't match—but hearing it hit different.
Siwoo bowed his head, clenching his fists tight.
As if trying to crush his wildly inflated heart between his hands.
In the end, he never brought them their drinks.
Not in any state to grab his wallet, and no way he could face Iseol calmly right now.
The preparatory bell rang for afternoon classes. Siwoo, who'd returned first and slumped over his desk, heard Juwon pull out the chair beside him.
"Yo, Namjin. You sick again? Didn't come back to the shelter."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Stomachache—went to the bathroom, and by the time I got back, the bell rang... Sorry. Was gonna grab drinks..."
Siwoo forced a smile as he made excuses.
Juwon eyed his pale face for a moment, then pulled something from his pocket and dropped it on Siwoo's desk with a thunk.
"What, you think a sick guy's gonna do that? And you left this too."
It was Siwoo's card wallet.
"...Thanks. Thought I'd lost it."
"Keep track of your stuff."
Siwoo shoved the wallet into his pocket, pretending to be fine.
Heavy silence filled the space between them after that.
A bit later, Juwon turned his gaze out the window and broached carefully.
"...Hey, Siwoo. Lots of good girls out there, y'know? Want me to hook you up?"
"Outta nowhere?"
"Nah, just... Baek Iseol's kinda... tough to date, right? Even you gotta admit. Her personality, her circle..."
Juwon scratched the back of his head, grumbling like usual.
"Keep obsessing over her, and you'll just get hurt. Try someone else for once."
Siwoo bit his lip hard instead of answering, head hanging low.
Yeah. All just his one-sided delusion.
Mistaking her protecting him from Hyunsu and treating him a bit nicely—probably out of pity—for affection. Humming to himself like a fool over scraps of friendship.
Who knew he'd be spinning the same loser fantasies from internet forums.
"...Maybe later. I'll think about it."
Siwoo clutched his throbbing chest, eyes shut, and replied.