The Brink of Confession
A sweltering summer day before summer vacation even began, in the noisy corner of Class 2's classroom during break time. Baek Isul propped her chin on her hand, staring at her phone screen.
These look neat and cute too... What filled her screen was none other than the men's summer clothes category on an online shopping mall. Remembering her recent promise to go shopping with Nam Siu, Isul imagined him wearing the outfits on display and unwittingly let a small smile creep onto her lips.
Nam Siu would look perfect in that.
She was lost in her pleasant solo fantasy, scrolling down, when—
"Isul!"
The sudden unfamiliar voice jolted her back to her usual expression. Turning her head, she saw two boys from their class approaching her side.
"...?"
Without even responding to the call, Isul just tilted her head slightly, eyeing them.
The two boys, oblivious to the mood, casually pulled out the chair in front of her and sat down.
"What're you looking at that has you grinning like an idiot all alone?"
"Nothing. So why'd you call me?"
Isul replied in a dry tone, and the boys grinned before getting to the point.
"Nothing big, but you free during break? Wanna hang with us?"
One of them shoved his phone screen right in her face—a clean pension photo with a view of the sea.
"We booked a place by the beach, and it's perfect for four. So, you and Ji Yoon with us two?"
Isul frowned at the cocky, expectant voice. Without even glancing at the screen thrust toward her, she spat out curtly,
"...If you booked wrong, cancel it and rebook for two."
With that, she turned back to her own phone without a second thought.
"Come on, don't be like that—"
"Hey, she said no."
As the boys clung persistently, Ji Yoon, who had been focused on her game with wireless earbuds in, looked up from the side.
"No, Ji Yoon, check it out. Doesn't it look awesome?"
"What's awesome about it? We already planned to go to the valley with the crew during break."
"Come on, we're not staying at the valley the whole vacation."
Either unable to take no for an answer or just stubborn, the boys shifted their target to Ji Yoon. Isul watched the tiresome back-and-forth in silence, then let out a short sigh and suddenly held her phone to her ear.
"Hey, Park Geon. Some guys in our class are trying to cancel our valley plans to hang with them instead. What should I do?"
The moment "Park Geon" left Isul's mouth, the boys jumped up in shock.
"Hey! W-We never said cancel! Uh, forget it. We're out."
They bolted clumsily out the back door of the classroom. Only then did Isul slowly lower her pitch-black phone screen— no call active—from her ear.
"Sigh. Lately, more kids have been bugging us like that. Maybe because we started hanging with Nam Siu, they're testing the waters more."
"...Yeah. Annoying as hell."
The two watched the boys' retreating figures far off and sighed in unison. It was true—ever since Hyun-su dropped out and she'd grown closer to Siu, more students had been approaching her and Ji Yoon. Some wanted in on their group, others had crushes on Isul specifically. Already irked by the extra hassle, Isul turned her phone screen back on with annoyance.
Flash—
The men's summer clothes page she'd left open popped up first thing.
"...!"
Worried Ji Yoon might see, Isul reflexively slammed her phone face-down on the desk with a thud!
"..."
"..."
But Ji Yoon had clearly seen it all, propping her elbows on the desk and peering up at Isul with a sly grin.
"Hmm... What's got you so eager to buy men's clothes?"
"W-What? I was just looking at women's clothes and clicked the wrong category."
"Oh yeah? You, who never buys clothes online, suddenly opens a shopping app and accidentally hits the men's section?"
Unable to counter Ji Yoon's retort, Isul cleared her throat awkwardly and avoided her gaze.
"Huh, got it. Total accident... Mind if I ask one thing?"
Ji Yoon breezed past the obvious lie and asked slyly.
"W-What?"
Sensing Ji Yoon had some scheme, Isul stammered uncharacteristically.
"You like Nam Siu, right?"
"...I told you no last time too. That again? I said it's not—"
"Cool. Then I can date Siu?"
"...!"
Isul froze at Ji Yoon's bombshell.
"Out of nowhere...? No, why would you suddenly with Nam Siu..."
"Why not? He's sweet. Looks decent without glasses. Hits the gym hard lately. Smart enough for our school. And you can tell he'd treat his girlfriend great. No reason to hate, right?"
Isul felt a chill sweat trickle down her back at Ji Yoon's soft voice listing Siu's merits point by point. She couldn't argue because those exact points matched her own feelings about him perfectly.
"N-No... Still! He's kinda timid, short, clueless..."
Isul's words jammed. She tried squeezing out flaws, but nothing came. To her, even his timid, clueless side had been endearing for ages.
Suddenly, her mind flashed a panorama: Ji Yoon and Siu dating. Eating side by side, heads together over one phone chatting games happily. After school, hand in hand to the PC bang, glued together playing co-op. Time passes, Siu invites her home, his parents (met before) welcome her warmly. Evening comes, door closes, alone in his room...
"Nooo!!"
Snapping from the runaway imagination swamp, Isul slammed the desk and screamed.
"......?"
The class chatter halted; eyes turned to them. Ji Yoon, closest and witnessing Isul's rare outburst, started shaking with suppressed laughter.
"Pfft...! Heh heh, heh... Why not?"
Laughter bursting, tears in eyes, Ji Yoon asked. Isul, shocked at herself, face burning, yelled defiantly.
"J-Just no! You'd be wasting yourself on Nam Siu! Yeah, you're too good for him!"
"Hmm~ Really?"
Ji Yoon reined in her laughs and grinned at Isul.
"Normal Baek Isul would've said 'do whatever' or logically listed his flaws all day."
"..."
"So why the irrational tantrum now?"
Isul slumped her head on the desk at the bullseye.
"...Dunno. Just no means no."
Ji Yoon chuckled again at the stubborn, cute mumble into her arms.
"Pfft, kidding~ So, still denying it to the end?"
"..."
Unlike before, Isul's sealed lips wouldn't budge. Denying felt pointless now.
"Warning you, other girls aren't this gentlemanly? Someone might snag Siu anytime~ Imagine coming back from break, cute girl by his side?"
Bristling to retort, Isul had to admit it herself. Somewhere along the way, Nam Siu had become more than a friend she looked after.
"...So, what do I do?"
Surrendering with a glance up, head still down. Ji Yoon gazed intrigued, then curved her eyes confidently.
"Trust me."
A few days later, Ji Yoon's bold claim shone perfectly on departure day—from train seat bookings.
"One alone would suck. Get seats facing each other for three, pairs of two."
Ji Yoon's clever plan barely out when Isul smoothly cut in.
"Then I'll sit with Nam Siu."
Thus, on the train, Isul shared earbuds with Siu, shoulders touching. At the valley, she hovered near him comfortably. Admitting her feelings brought strange liberation.
But her last, biggest worry remained: no courage for the final nail.
Isul, who'd never said "I like you" or "I love you" even to her parents, found confessing first terrifying.
Sigh... What now... Trip'll end without me saying a word...
All BBQ, she piled meat on Siu's plate while inwardly burning.
Then, the mysterious liquid from Park Geon's grandfather in her hand. Downing the fruit wine casually, soon heat rose through her throat, rational brakes loosening.
Unknown courage bubbled on her flushed cheeks—something she'd never voice sober.
Yeah. Screw it... He likes me too, no way he'd reject.
On the platform, locking eyes with Siu, Isul resolved: tonight or never.
Undoing that resolve, as they walked to the mart, Isul's lips sealed like a locked padlock.
Her heartbeat, never noticed before, thundered in her ears.
Insane. Why so loud? Does he hear? Has Nam Siu felt this beside me all along?
Thoughts churning, the mart loomed sooner than felt. While she timed her opener, Siu picked ice creams and checked out effortlessly.
Argh, seriously...!
Trailing clumsily behind the innocent Siu swinging the black bag, Isul impulsively called without sorting her tangled mind.
"Nam Siu."
Siu turned, startled—face red even without streetlights.
"...What's your ideal type?"
N-Not that...!
Her rehearsed cool lines vanished; a random question spilled. Too late. Stepping closer, she pressed for an answer.
And Siu's reply.
Engraving it, Isul blushed.
So blatant. That's basically a confession.
This wasn't her simulated timing. She was to lead naturally, confess coolly here. Siu's words threw her off completely.
"...What."
Head down, her voice trembled more than thought.
"It's me, right."
Wind stilled, crickets faded into distant hush. In the silence, Siu's flustered fumbling came.
Bag rustling, eyes darting lost. Watching his silly pure reaction, Isul sighed softly.
So obvious... Why won't you just say it?
Unable to control her pounding heart, her lips moved on their own.
"But why haven't you confessed?"
Ah.
Realizing too late. She'd come to confess bravely first, but chickened out, shoving the finisher to him.
Too late again. Face aflame, averting eyes, she mumbled,
"...I can't say cheesy stuff like 'I like you' or l-love... whatever."
So please.
"..."
"You say it first."
Get my feelings already.
"Hey!!! Wake up!!! Sun's high, you lazy asses!!!"
Park Geon's booming voice scattered the peaceful mountain birds across the countryside yard. Blinding summer morning sun poured mercilessly through the master room window onto the sprawled kids.