Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: You Won't Know Unless You Say It
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You won't know unless you say it.
Swish—
The fitting room curtain slid open with a cheerful rustle.
"This... the pants feel too baggy. Don't I look totally weird?"
Siwoo scratched the back of his head and shuffled out awkwardly.
True to form for someone who'd spent his life trapped in baggy hoodies, the way he wore clothes was downright pitiful.
His shirt was hanging loose outside his pants, covering his butt, and the narrow neckline had been yanked up high, making it look all wrong.
"Ugh, that fashion torturer. Give it here."
Unable to stand the sight, Juwon clicked his tongue and strode over.
"Who tucks in a shirt like that? You don't even know the basics."
Juwon grabbed the hem of Siwoo's shirt without hesitation and neatly tucked it into his slacks.
Then he pulled slightly at the waistline to create natural folds and rolled up the sleeves to mid-forearm a couple times for a crisp look.
"There, check the mirror. Shoulders back! Don't slouch."
As Juwon's hands adjusted him and Siwoo straightened his posture, the clothes finally settled perfectly on his frame.
"Oh...?"
Chaerin was the first to speak up.
Following her wide-eyed surprise, Dasom crossed her arms and scanned Siwoo from head to toe.
"Whoa, Nam-chin~ You actually look pretty good."
"Right? I had no idea since he's always in those drab hoodies and uniforms, but the fit's on point. He looks like a whole different person."
It wasn't over-the-top fussing, but there was genuine surprise and admiration in their reactions.
Park Geon nodded along with a chuckle.
"See? I told you working out gave him a solid frame."
Of course, it hadn't bulked up noticeably in such a short time.
But daily workouts had corrected his chronic slouch, and that alone transformed his overall silhouette.
Siwoo rubbed his neck sheepishly at his friends' warm praise.
From where she leaned against a corner of the store playing a game on her phone next to Jiyoon—who was just staring at hers—Iseol quietly lifted her head.
And the moment she saw Siwoo, she froze for a second.
'...He looks good.'
This wasn't the usual slouched, insecure shrimp of a Nam Siwoo.
A fairly upright guy who naturally drew the eye was standing there.
Just then, Siwoo—who'd been awkwardly checking himself in the full-length mirror—turned and locked eyes with Iseol.
But.
"...Let's just have Juwon pick the rest. I'll go change."
Siwoo averted his gaze the instant it met hers.
Without looking her way again, he darted back into the fitting room like he was fleeing.
Swish—
The curtain closed mockingly.
"...Hah."
A disbelieving scoff slipped from Iseol's lips.
'Like I picked those clothes just to dress him up. Why's he making such a fuss?'
Normally, she'd have brushed it off without a second thought.
But today, she couldn't suppress the irritation bubbling up inside and irritably swept her bangs back.
After trying on all the outfits his friends recommended, Siwoo emerged from the fitting room utterly drained.
"Hmm... This one's the best. Get this too. And just wear these out."
"Huh? No, my hoodie is fine—"
"Try putting that thing back on, and I'll rip it to shreds."
Juwon sharply blocked Siwoo as he reached for his familiar gray hoodie.
"But it's new clothes... Feels wasteful to wear them already. They might get dirty."
"And it's fine for you to stand next to us in that dingy hoodie? Just wear it. Stuff the hoodie in the shopping bag."
In the end, pushed by Juwon's nagging, Siwoo stood at the register in an oversized short-sleeve tee and light blue denim pants—the first of their kind for him.
Beep— Beep— Beep—
Every time the barcode scanner rang up the clothes his friends had picked, the shopping bags filled up nicely.
Once the cheerful beeps ended, the clerk tapped the monitor to display the total.
Siwoo's eyes nearly bugged out as he glanced at the screen.
'How much is all this...?'
His lips trembled as he mentally counted the zeros after the number.
It was an insane sum he could only afford by emptying his emergency savings from months of scrimping.
As Siwoo grimaced, alternating between his wallet and the monitor while fumbling for his card—
Juwon, standing casually with legs crossed, smoothly pulled his own card from his wallet and handed it over.
"We'll pay in full with this."
"Whoa, no, dude! That's a huge amount..."
"I said we should come. If you're that guilty, run errands to the school store for me this month."
"But still..."
While Siwoo fidgeted, Juwon signed coolly without a care.
He was always loose with money, but this was beyond normal for a high schooler.
Unable to stop him even after the transaction cleared, Siwoo repeated endless thanks like a parrot.
A moment later.
Siwoo stepped out of the store, heavy shopping bags stuffed with clothes in hand.
"Oh, now you look decent. No embarrassment walking with you."
"Bet you'll score some numbers on the school trip like this."
Leaving Dasom and Chaerin's cheerful admiration behind, the group of seven settled into a large franchise cafe nearby after their shopping spree.
"Haa... Another Gyeongju trip? We went there in middle school."
"Eh, Gyeongju's safe enough. We didn't get to enjoy it last time. Should be fun this round."
Huddled on wide window-side sofas, the kids sipped their drinks and chattered excitedly about the school trip.
"Anyone know the itinerary? Hey, Go Dasom, Yoo Chaerin—you two are class rep and vice rep. Heard anything?"
"No idea~ Probably just looping Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto or something."
Chaerin, worn out from the day's wandering, leaned deep into the sofa and drawled lazily.
"If it sounds boring, sign up for the talent show."
Siwoo, who'd normally just laugh it off with a quip, bantered naturally with his friends now that the new clothes had boosted his confidence a bit.
Dasom and Chaerin burst into laughter, chiming in.
In the lively atmosphere, Iseol felt out of place at the end of the table, propping her chin and fiddling with her straw.
Everyone was laughing and talking, but she felt subtly sidelined.
Of course, she usually kept to herself with her phone rather than joining in, so her friends just left her be as usual.
But today, one thing cluttered her mind.
'It's all because of him.'
The Nam Siwoo who'd normally worm his way next to her at gatherings, chattering nonstop.
But today, he'd sat as far from her as possible—diagonally across.
He answered Dasom's questions brightly, scarfed down the cake Jiyoon offered without hesitation, but never glanced Iseol's way.
'...Not like he's singling anyone out.'
Unable to hold back her rising irritation, Iseol set her phone down on the table with a sharp thunk.
She looked at Siwoo and spoke up.
"Ahem, Nam Siwoo."
The kids' laughter died as their eyes turned to Iseol at her sudden voice.
Siwoo turned to look at her too.
But his eyes lacked the usual warm, soft gaze he saved for her—just an awkward smile as he met hers fleetingly.
"Uh, yeah?"
"You're not wearing those pants on the school trip, right? We'll be walking a ton; they'll be uncomfortable."
It was Iseol's bold attempt at conversation, using clothes as an excuse.
Expecting Siwoo to freak out flustered, she shyly averted her eyes and sipped her drink.
"...Maybe? Guess I'll wear something else."
A politely neutral, safe reply.
The same tone he used with everyone else.
Iseol didn't like how it drew a line.
It was perfectly normal friend talk, but she froze, chewing on her straw.
"They just look good on you. You think it'll really be that uncomfortable?"
"No, I mean—"
As Iseol opened her mouth, Park Geon cut in, steering the conversation elsewhere.
Juwon jumped on his words too, skipping over her awkward follow-up and shifting topics entirely.
She felt completely adrift.
Iseol irritably swirled her remaining drink.
The clinking ice was the only echo of her prickly mood.
As the sun set and evening approached, the group got up to leave.
"Man, I'm beat. Heading out!"
"See you at school!"
They split off one by one at subway stations and bus stops.
In the end, as always, only Siwoo and Iseol were left walking side by side down the same alley.
But since Siwoo had been avoiding her lately, it had been ages since they'd walked alone together.
The dim twilight path.
A suffocating silence hung between them—no trace of the cafe's lively buzz.
Normally, Siwoo would chatter first, rambling unprompted or sidling up close while gauging her mood.
Today, he stared fixedly at the ground, quickening his pace.
He even walked a half-step ahead of her at one point.
'Seriously... He's doing this all the way.'
"Hey, Nam Siwoo."
Iseol finally stopped dead and called him.
Siwoo's shoulders stiffened before he slowly turned.
"Huh? What's, what's up?"
"...Why are you avoiding me?"
It was a straight fastball, no sugarcoating.
Siwoo's pupils quivered like they were in an earthquake.
"N-No. Why would I..."
"Since after the sports festival—no eye contact, one-word answers even when I talk to you."
Iseol stepped closer, pressing him.
She tried to sound casual, but hurt seeped through at the end.
As she bit her lip and glared, Siwoo's wandering gaze dropped to the ground.
Embarrassment gave way to deep bitterness on his face.
"...Yeah, I have been."
"...Why?"
"I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."
Siwoo gripped the shopping bag handle tight.
His knuckles whitened and trembled.
"...I overheard. You saying it bothers you to be linked with me."
Iseol's heart plummeted with a thud.
"Ah..."
She instantly recalled what she'd said that day.
'Ugh, cut it out already. You're crossing the line? You've been like this since that Im Hyunsu thing.'
'I'm just trying to be friends, so stop dragging me into it and making him misunderstand.'
Tired of the kids teasing, sick of the gossip.
Her flippant, defensive barbs had pierced Siwoo's ears, and the thought made her vision blur.
Now she understood why he'd avoided her and drawn that line.
"I felt like I was overstepping and being a nuisance... So I backed off. Sorry if I creeped you out."
Siwoo gave a self-deprecating smile, like he was forcing it down, and bowed his head.
Afraid tears would spill if he looked at her longer, he turned to walk away—
Grab!
Iseol urgently shot out her hand and clutched his new shirt sleeve.
Siwoo slowly turned back.
"...It wasn't that."
"...Huh?"
"I didn't mean it when I said you creeped me out or made me uncomfortable."
Her pale hand tightened on the sleeve.
Iseol's ears and neck flushed red as she hung her head.
Gone was her usual cool indifference—her face brimmed with anxiety and deep remorse.
"The kids kept teasing, so I got annoyed... I spouted nonsense without thinking. It wasn't real."
"..."
At her clumsy but sincere apology, Siwoo finally met her eyes.
"So don't just assume the worst and avoid me again."
"...Iseol."
Hearing her true feelings for the first time, Siwoo unwittingly called her name—the one he'd held back for days.
Iseol snapped her head up, staring straight at him with dark eyes faintly misty.
"You suddenly won't look at me, treating me like everyone else and drawing lines—it pisses me off way more."
Her last words were almost a whine.
For the first time, hearing Iseol's awkward but heartfelt apology melted the massive boulder that had crushed Siwoo's chest for days like spring snow.
The pain from her words, the countless vows to give up—they bubbled away into nothing.
And a forgotten truth resurfaced: the honest wish he'd buried while growing close to her.
'Yeah, so what if we can't be special? We can smile face-to-face like this.'
Even if these feelings stayed unrequited forever.
If he could later pull out memories of her and smile, that was enough.
"...Got it. No more misunderstandings. I won't avoid you anymore."
At Siwoo's earnest reply, Iseol finally let the sleeve slip from her fingers.
Her shyness maxed out; without another word, she whipped around and hurried home like she was escaping.
Siwoo's lips curved into his old, foolish, fluffy smile as he watched her—slowly, brilliantly.
"...Iseol! Wait up, let's go together!"
The sharp, chilly air of misunderstanding that had filled the alley scattered softly, like on a sweet early-summer night breeze.