She Has Someone She Likes

The house was utterly silent, not a soul stirring anywhere.

I collapsed onto the bed and buried my face in the blanket, replaying my conversation with Ma Yeonseo.

"Really? I do, though."

Ma Yeonseo had someone she liked.

That haughty, rude girl actually had someone she liked!

No way.

For some reason, the revelation hit me like a thunderbolt.

I even wondered if she was just messing with me to get a rise out of me.

...Nah, that can't be it.

Ma Yeonseo had a playful side, sure, but she wouldn't tease over something like this.

At least, not the one I knew.

Which means... it's real.

It wasn't an impossible story by any means.

Even the most infamous villains in history harbored some tiny, pure affection in their hearts.

Ma Yeonseo might look down ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on most people, but it wasn't weird for her to like someone.

The problem was...

Who that someone was.

Definitely not me, that's for sure.

The fact that Kang Yuchan wasn't on Ma Yeonseo's boyfriend shortlist was practically established fact.

I could say that with confidence as one of her few friends.

We'd known each other for four years now. Even subtracting that first awkward year, that left three solid years together.

All that time we'd spent was ironclad proof.

If she really liked me, there would've been some sign—at least once.

But there hadn't been a single hint. Not even from me, who prided myself on having a sharp eye for that stuff.

So yeah, the odds of me being the object of her unrequited love were basically zero.

Some guy from our class, then?

The most plausible suspects were the boys in her class.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

A bunch of them had shot up in growth spurt as we entered second year.

Heck, even my old uniform that used to hang loose on me now fit like a glove.

And with guys starting to care about their looks more around this age, it was a pretty solid guess.

Or maybe a total outsider.

I couldn't rule out someone completely unexpected.

Like a childhood friend—'mom's friend's son' or 'dad's friend's kid' type.

I didn't know the details, but her family was loaded.

They had the cash to let her spend entire vacations in the US, and even rented a luxury apartment so she could commute to school easily.

Her circle probably wasn't full of average folks.

It was totally believable that some rich kid was pining for her in secret.

Sigh. Who could it be...?

I was deep in thought, mulling over Ma Yeonseo's potential boyfriend candidates, when—

...Wait a sec.

A sudden realization flashed through my mind.

Why the hell am I even worrying about this? Don't tell me...

My face flushed hot all of a sudden.

"Ugh."

No one was around to see, but I shook my head vigorously anyway, denying it fiercely—only to suddenly picture Ma Yeonseo's face.

Her image lately, even prettier than before.

Her long black hair parted to show her forehead, framing an elegantly cold face.

A figure so ridiculously perfect, even TV idols would be jealous.

They say the one you love looks even more beautiful.

Recently, she'd been startlingly gorgeous at times.

Gulp. My heart plummeted, then started pounding like crazy.

I'm losing it, Kang Yuchan.

I desperately tamped down the racing in my chest and shoved my face back into the blanket.

To see my one and only best friend that way—as a girl.

Pathetic didn't even begin to cover it.

...But what if...?

Relationships evolving from friendship to romance weren't unheard of.

Hell, stories where two people secretly liked each other but never connected showed up in novels all the time.

But that wasn't us.

I didn't want it to be.

I liked things just the way they were.

Not too close, not too distant.

To be blunt, I wasn't even sure if I actually liked her that way.

So no point overthinking it.

Ma Yeonseo stays Ma Yeonseo. Kang Yuchan stays Kang Yuchan.

Focus on the now.

Yeah. That's right.

I steeled my resolve.

"What're you staring at?"

"Huh? Oh, uh, nothing... You just look different today."

"...How'd you notice? I changed my makeup."

"What."

My ironclad resolve didn't even last a day.

Damn it. Why does she look so pretty?

Maybe because I'd started overthinking it, but Ma Yeonseo—who looked the same as always—suddenly seemed stunning.

Thump-thump. My heart was beating so loud it echoed in my ears.

Arrrgh!

Had I ever trembled like this before?

It felt worse than right before getting scolded by Mom after messing up as a kid.

This won't do!

Realizing how serious this was, I decided on a drastic measure.

There's an old saying: 'You forget one love with another.'

If the problem was Ma Yeonseo seeming too attractive...

Wouldn't liking someone else fix that?

So...

I launched Operation: Get a Girlfriend.

"Mom."

"Yeah?"

"Where's the eyebrow trimmer?"

"What's it for all of a sudden?"

"Wanna try it out later."

Clang. Mom dropped her chopsticks and stared at me like she couldn't believe it.

Then she pointed accusingly and said in all seriousness,

"You're... not my son, are you? My Yuchan wouldn't know what an eyebrow trimmer even is! Spill it—who are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you?!"

Was it really that shocking?

I gave her an incredulous look, then swallowed my embarrassment and asked for help straight-up.

"I just figured it's time I started taking care of myself a bit."

"What's with the sudden wind change... Oh."

Mom's face turned sly, like she'd figured something out.

"You've finally got the urge to do it with her, huh?"

"No."

Whatever she was imagining, I drew a hard line right away.

"Anyway, if you're not gonna help, just say so."

"Who said I'm not helping? I was just curious. ...So, how's it been with Yeonseo lately—"

"Mom!"

"Aigoo, fine, kiddo!"

And so, Project Romance kicked off.

"Your eyebrows... look trimmed?"

"What, you noticed right away?"

"I see you every day. ...But what's up all of a sudden?"

I casually dodged Ma Yeonseo's steady gaze and answered.

"Just felt like it."

I didn't have the guts to say it was because of her.

With Mom's help, I started basic grooming, and thanks to Ma Yeonseo, the makeover went super smoothly.

Starting with hairstyles.

And fashion in general.

Around then, I also started working out, really committing to self-improvement.

"Ma Yeonseo! Over here!"

With autumn in full swing, the whole school headed out for a field trip to the amusement park.

I'd planned to hang with my classmates, but decided to stick with Ma Yeonseo to show off my glow-up.

...Okay, truth be told, I just wanted to hang with her more.

"Ta-da! What do you think? Looking good, right?"

But...

"......"

For some reason, Ma Yeonseo froze solid upon seeing me.

Not a fan?

I'd put in real effort—new hair, cute outfit and all.

Her wide eyes scanning me up and down over and over felt... off.

"Why no answer? That bad?"

"...No. It... suits you."

"Right?! The girls in my class were all 'You're so handsome!' today."

"...Really?"

"Well, sorta... a bit different, but... point is, it was praise!"

"Hmmm... I see."

She gave me another weird look.

This girl doesn't trust me.

Still, I got a decent review from Ma Yeonseo in the end.

Not a bad start.

"Let's go!"

After checking in with our respective classes, we headed into the park side by side.

"Whoa, it's been forever since I came here. First time since sixth grade."

"Yeah."

This wasn't our first time at an amusement park together.

It was famous for graduation photos, so we'd come back in elementary school.

Back then, we only had each other to lean on.

This time, we'd chosen each other—pretty meaningful.

...Or maybe just me thinking that.

"What first? Viking? Ferris wheel? Roller coaster's good too."

"...I hate those."

"Oh right, you're scared of heights?"

"Not scared. I just hate feeling like I'm gonna break."

I teased her with a grin, and she narrowed her eyes, shooting me a glare.

Cute.

I quietly went along with her picks.

"Alright, then since we're all dressed up, let's take a ton of pics!"

"...Fine."

We hit the merry-go-round first, then lighter rides.

"Mirror house here too. Wanna snap some?"

"Sure."

Posing together in front of the random mirrors.

"(Hey, let's do it like that couple!)"

"...Do you have to whisper in my ear?"

"(Embarrassing if they hear.)"

"Embarrassing?"

"(Why laugh? Want a scolding?)"

"Quit it, dummy. Tickles."

Shelves of selfies with the flashy decor as backdrop.

Definitely got our money's worth on tickets.

"It's 4 already. Gotta head back soon."

"Already? We played too hard. Time flies."

We were en route to the entrance to meet our classes when—

"Oh, right!"

"What?"

"Sorry, mind if we stop there real quick?"

I got Ma Yeonseo's okay and beelined for the biggest gift shop.

Almost forgot.

Would've spaced on the gift entirely.

"Hmm, this plush looks cute. What do you think?"

"...Who's it for?"

I held up the little doll, and Ma Yeonseo's voice pitched up a notch as she asked indirectly.

I inspected it casually and answered without thinking.

"Club junior."

A gift for Kim Chabin.

"...Who?"

"That girl you saw last time. She begged me to get her something."

"The girl from before..."

"Yeah? Kim Chabin. Short, big eyes."

Recently, we'd run into Kim Chabin while walking home together.

Ma Yeonseo had been outright frosty, which ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠embarrassed me to no end.

"Oh... her."

Ma Yeonseo remembered late, her face turning icy.

She must've really disliked her.

"You're showing it way too much."

"...So she asked you to buy her a gift?"

"Yeah. Thought she was joking, but she called yesterday and begged."

"......"

Ma Yeonseo stared right through me, her face suddenly grave.

She looked almost shocked.

Is it that big a deal?

Not getting it, I scratched my head and added an excuse.

"Uh, just so you don't misunderstand—she said she'd repay me if I got it. Not a total pushover like me, right?"

Then.

"......What?"

Every trace of expression vanished from Ma Yeonseo's face.

Uh oh. Wrong move?

Felt like I'd made it worse.