Cold Sweat Down My Spine
Cold sweat trickled down my spine.
The cellphone that Ma Yeonseo bought me was gone.
"If you didn't want to give me your number, you could've just said so...."
"No, that's not it?!"
Because of that, I'd even earned a misunderstanding from Han Yeoryeon.
Where the hell did I lose it?
It had been right in my hand when I left the classroom and sent a message to Ma Yeonseo.
After that, I'd slipped it into my jacket pocket like always... and then it vanished without a trace.
Did I drop it somewhere along the way?
It must've fallen out while I was running earlier.
This is driving me crazy.
Losing my phone was bad enough, but the fact that it was the one she bought me made it even worse.
I let out a heavy sigh in frustration, and Han Yeoryeon, who'd been watching me cautiously from the side, offered a hesitant apology.
"...Sorry.... This is all because of me...."
She seemed genuinely sorry, blaming herself for what happened.
It had occurred while I was helping her out, but honestly, it was entirely my fault—I couldn't pin it on her.
Pushing aside my own regrets, I patted her shoulder comfortingly.
"It's not your fault, so don't worry about it. If I was gonna lose it anyway, I probably would've no matter what."
"...Yeah...."
Still, she looked like she felt guilty.
"Anyway. Help me look for the phone."
"Ah. Of course! I'll help!"
We first tried calling it using Han Yeoryeon's phone.
"The power is turned off. Connecting you to voicemail..."
Unfortunately, it was powered off.
"Maybe the battery died?"
"It was over 50% last I checked, so no."
"Gasp. Then...."
"...Someone must've picked it up and turned it off."
Someone had taken it in the meantime.
Damn it. Talk about the worst luck.
There are good people in this world.
Like those stories where someone loses a precious wallet by accident and finds it again years later?
I prayed something like that would happen to me, but no such luck.
Once someone picks it up, getting it back is next to impossible.
...At least I can be grateful the photos and contacts were backed up to the cloud....
The silver lining was that my photos and contacts were safely stored in an external cloud backup.
Not losing all those accumulated memories was a huge relief.
What do I even tell Yeonseo? I need a new phone now too.... Even the cheapest one's at least a few dozen bucks.
As I kept sighing in frustration, Han Yeoryeon—who'd been fidgeting apologetically beside me—spoke up hesitantly.
"Um, Yuchan. If it's okay... wanna use my old phone for now...?"
"...Your phone?"
"It's pretty good! It's a bit old, but I reset it and took good care of it—it's super clean!"
She was offering me her old one to use temporarily.
"You sure that's okay?"
"Of course! I'm not using it anyway...!"
Han Yeoryeon gazed at me with wide, earnest eyes, desperate to make it up to me somehow.
It must've been weighing on her heavily. But that puppy-like expression melted my heart away.
Yeah, I should take it.
Even if it was used, I was in no position to turn down free.
"Alright... thanks."
"Good choice! Hehe."
"...Is it really that exciting?"
"Ah. No, I mean.... It's not.... Yeah...."
"Just kidding."
"Y-you scared me...!"
She shot me a playful glare when I teased her.
Her expressions shifted so vividly that a warm smile slipped out unbidden.
Enough to make me forget about the lost phone for a moment.
After agreeing to take the phone, I headed straight home and used the house phone to tell Ma Yeonseo it was lost.
Will she even pick up?
I worried she might ignore an unknown number, but thankfully she answered quickly.
"Hello?"
"Why haven't you been answering?"
Her icy voice pierced through the receiver.
"Why's your phone off? Where the hell have you been all this time?"
She sounded extremely pissed after hours of radio silence.
From experience, it was best to get straight to the point in situations like this.
"Um.... Sorry.... I lost my phone...."
"......What?"
We switched spots to a café near the house.
There she is.
I rushed over, but Ma Yeonseo had already ordered drinks and was seated.
I'd hurried as fast as I could, but she was way ahead of me.
Is this the difference between an awakener and a regular guy...?
As I felt the gap anew, I realized the gravity of my crime and quietly moved to sit across from her.
At that moment.
Tap tap.
She was fiddling with her phone, head down, and silently patted the seat beside her.
She wanted me next to her.
"......"
I glanced at her cautiously and quietly sat down beside her.
"You.... lost your phone?"
Instead of a greeting, she asked in a chilling tone.
With nothing to say, I quickly explained the situation.
Of course, I left out any mention of Han Yeoryeon.
"You know that last message I sent you? I put it in my outer pocket right after. But later, it was gone...."
If I said I'd lost it while helping her, I was sure to get an earful.
"...For real?"
"Y-yes, for real! You bought it for me, and I go and lose it like an idiot.... I'm really sorry...."
Better to apologize first and take the hit.
Either way, losing the precious gift from my girlfriend was undeniably my fault.
"......"
She stared at me silently for a long while before letting out a deep sigh and voicing her complaints.
"...Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
"......"
"No contact out of nowhere. Phone's off."
"......"
"It's not about the stupid phone. I thought something happened to you, and I...!"
"...Sorry...."
Haa. She sighed again and silently held out her palm.
She was in a very bad mood—time to sweet-talk her.
I caught on quick and immediately linked arms, interlocking our fingers.
Now that the scolding was over, it was time to shower her with affection until she cooled off.
"I really messed up. I won't let it happen again."
"......"
"I should've called you first, but I was out of it...."
"So I wasn't even on your mind?"
"Come on, that's not what I meant...."
I nuzzled into the nape of her neck apologetically.
The scent of my favorite perfume wafted over.
"What do I have to do to make it up to you?"
"......"
"You know I'm bad at reading the room. Just tell me. Please?"
I gently pressed my lips to the nape she'd subtly offered, and she squirmed in her lower half.
Sensing she'd heated up a bit, I turned her body toward me and peppered her lips with soft kisses, pleading sweetly.
"Forgive me just this once. I'll do better from now on."
"...Trying to weasel out with cuteness?"
"It's not that.... I'm just so grateful you were worried."
Mwah. Smack. Muah. As I kept kissing her, her tightly shut lips parted.
I seized the chance, grabbed the back of her head, and plunged my tongue deep, just how she liked it.
She placed her hand on my chest and accepted the intimacy meekly.
Proof her heart was softening.
Feels like I'm glossing over it a bit.
I felt a twinge of guilt for dodging responsibility despite my screw-up, but there weren't other options.
I had nothing to offer but what she loved most in the world.
Kang Yuchan. Me.
"...Feeling better now?"
"......A little."
"Sorry."
"...Don't ever do it again."
After clinging to her like that for a good while and finally earning forgiveness.
As we chatted about this and that, she slurped her drink and brought it up.
"Just get a new phone then. What kind do you want?"
"Huh?"
"I'll get it for you."
As expected, she was planning to buy me another one.
Of course.
Suddenly, I recalled a recent article I'd seen online.
The company that made the phone Ma Yeonseo bought had raised prices on their latest models by 20-30%.
They dealt in awakener gear, so they were already pricey—now even more so.
Even so, accepting another felt like too much on my conscience.
"No, that's okay. It's too expensive...."
"...Don't want it?"
Her face suddenly went blank.
The face she made when throwing a tantrum.
Here we go again.
I'd been coerced into expensive gifts like this many times before.
Honestly, you have to accept gifts in moderation to truly appreciate them. The receiver can't just be thrilled every time.
They all cost at least a hundred grand minimum, and the wallet she got me from the US was nearly a million.
Once I realized that, I couldn't even use them comfortably anymore—just stored them away preciously.
How do you think I felt, unable to properly repay such gifts as they piled up day by day?
I have pride too, you know.
I can't back down this time.
Steeled with resolve, I took a calm deep breath and carefully tried to persuade her.
"Yeonseo. You think I'd refuse because I don't like gifts from you?"
"That's what 'don't want it' means."
"It's because it feels like I'm just taking all the time."
Sincerity gets through eventually.
I held her hand and spoke with utmost seriousness.
"I know it's hard to understand, but I can't just keep receiving."
"...Am I a burden?"
"No. I'm mad at myself for not being able to give back as much."
Ma Yeonseo responded with a serious face of her own.
"You don't have to give back to me. We're getting married anyway—why nitpick?"
"M-marriage...."
"Husband and wife are one body. What's mine is yours, and yours is mine."
I was momentarily speechless, then snapped out of it.
Th-this won't do!
At this rate, I'd be taking forever and die that way.
I needed another approach.
"...Still no."
"...What?"
"My pride won't allow it."
So I threw my own tantrum.
"I don't want to take it for granted. Do you want me to turn into some pathetic guy like that?"
"......"
Ma Yeonseo stared at me silently.
She looked like she might actually want that, but I ignored it.
"Just this once, understand. Anything but the phone. I lost it, so I should deal with it."
She gazed at me wordlessly.
She seemed deep in thought, staring for a long time before sighing in resignation.
"...Do whatever you want."
She'd finally decided to back me up.
Yes!
For the first time since we started dating, I'd bent her stubbornness. I clenched my fist inwardly and thanked her.
"Thanks for trusting me. I'll do better."
Relationships go both ways.
In that sense, we'd become even more equal. I showered her with kisses.
"I love you!"
Rarely, she pushed my face away firmly.
"...Do that at home."
And so we shared plenty of reconciliatory skinship, strengthening our bond.
The next day.
As expected, rumors about Han Yeoryeon had spread like wildfire.
But surprisingly, lots of kids stepped up to comfort her.
"Yeoryeon, you okay?"
"That's too much. How could parents do that?"
"Must be so tough...."
By high school age, they'd matured a bit and pitied her situation.
Of course, none praised me for it.
"Hey, Yuchan!"
"Morning."
After going through that ordeal and learning each other's darker sides, Han Yeoryeon and I had grown much closer.
"Yuchan. Finished eating?"
Proof: Lately, we'd been heading to the library together for lunch every day.
She said I was the only close friend who liked books?
"Almost done."
"Okay? Gotta wait a sec then."
"Huh? No, go ahead."
"Already sat down~."
"You could've just gone...."
"Hehe. Eat slow, it's fine."
"...How am I supposed to eat slow with you staring like that."
"Want me to feed you?"
"No thanks."
Our time together kept increasing, and I started feeling the pressure.
Sigh. Is this okay?
Most guys might be fine, but our girlfriend absolutely wouldn't tolerate a "girl friend."
For now, hiding Han Yeoryeon's identity kept it fine, but I couldn't hide forever.
Regrettably, keeping some distance was the right call.
But she's my only high school friend....
Still, I didn't want to push away the friend who'd finally approached me.
Being close to her had enriched my otherwise dull high school life.
To the point where early semester loneliness felt heartbreaking now.
Above all, we shared so many common interests that time with her was fun.
"Whoa! You're into rock too?!"
"Rock freak? Isn't that a bit harsh?"
"I love rock! Especially alternative!"
"...For real?"
"Yeah! I even learned guitar."
From rare music tastes.
To minor food preferences.
"Lunch was pretty good today. Everyone's rushing to the canteen."
"Right? Not just me then?"
"No idea why everyone hates mackerel fillets."
"Exactly! I ate extra because of it.... Hope I don't gain weight...."
"Mackerel's healthy, so you're good."
"Really?"
Even on divisive topics, we usually agreed.
Exaggerating, we were drawn to each other inevitably.
But distancing from her meant back to boring early days.
Frankly, I lacked confidence to return to that.
...We'll be in different classes next year anyway....
As science-track her and liberal arts me would naturally split in sophomore year.
Like it or not, we'd drift apart next year.
Just till this year ends.
I resolved to hide her identity for just one year as school life continued.
Mid-semester, heading into hot summer.
"Yesterday my uncle brought chicken home at night?"
"Ooh, chicken."
"He got my favorite kind! But it was too late...."
We were chatting casually on the way back from the canteen, as usual.
Suddenly, the phone in my pocket buzzed.
"Ah, hold on."
It was Ma Yeonseo calling.
"...Girlfriend?"
"Yeah."
She'd known about my girlfriend for a while.
My messenger profile pic was a couple selfie—impossible not to notice.
"Sorry, gotta take this."
"...Okay."
I answered casually without stepping away.
"Hey, hell—"
"Why haven't you checked my texts?"
Her extremely cold voice hit me through the speaker.
"Ah..., sorry. Was at the canteen."
"...Then why didn't you check your phone? Who was with you?"
Ma Yeonseo's sharp intuition made me glance at Han Yeoryeon reflexively.
"?"
Clueless, she tilted her head with a question mark expression.
My conscience pricked sharply.
"...Went alone. Yeah. Uh-huh. Got it. Yeah. Okay. I'll check texts. Yeah. Love you."
After getting grilled thoroughly, I finally hung up.
"Haa...."
I sighed heavily without thinking, and Han Yeoryeon, who'd waited patiently, spoke carefully.
"Your girlfriend's pretty clingy, huh...?"
I shrugged in response.
"Tough.... That's the girl from your profile pic, right?"
"Yeah."
"She was super pretty. Like a model?"
"Sports high school. Awakened in middle school third year."
"Whoa, an awakener? What's her rank?"
"C-rank still, I think?"
"C-rank in under a year? Impressive...!"
Somehow, we naturally shifted to talking about Ma Yeonseo.
Han Yeoryeon was a great listener, so the worries I'd been holding back spilled out easily.
"Everything's great, but... um, how do I put it.... She likes me too much?"
"Kinda obsessive?"
"More than a little. Pretty intense."
"Gasp. Like how?"
"Fine when we're together, but freaks out when apart."
"Afraid someone'll steal you?"
"That's what she says. But I'm not that great, right?"
I sought agreement casually and glanced at her.
But she didn't give the satisfying response.
"Hmm.... I kinda get where your girlfriend's coming from."
"What?"
She even took Ma Yeonseo's side.
"Hey. Don't you start too, or where does that leave me."
"But you can't call a no a yes! You don't think you're that hot shit, do you?"
She stared at me with genuine disbelief.
Hearing this from someone other than Ma Yeonseo felt awkwardly embarrassing.
"Sigh. Listen up!"
She plopped down on a bench and launched into a lecture.
True, women understand women best.
She sounded like a dating expert.
"Wouldn't a girl worry, or not?"
"She would...?"
"Right! So what do you do? Be careful around girls, or not?"
"Should be careful, yeah."
"Exactly?"
"You're a girl too."
"Ah."
She realized too late and backpedaled on her own logic.
"Y-yeah, exceptions exist!"
"You said all girls are enemies earlier."
"Am I a girl?!"
"Boy then?"
"You.... Doing this on purpose? Don't wanna hang with me anymore?"
"If I didn't, I wouldn't have told her I was alone."
"...!!"
She took the hit and couldn't retort.
Her ears just turned bright red as she clamped her mouth shut.
She's got some cute sides.
And so, as we grew into best friends, we leaned on each other through peaceful days.
With no clue what lay ahead.