Gift, Promise, and the Brick-Wielding Confession

Ultimately, I bought the gift for Kim Chabin.

Anyway, I'd already promised it, so showing up empty-handed now would be awkward.

"Oppa! Did I keep you waiting?"

The moment first period ended, I headed straight to find Kim Chabin.

The first-year classrooms were all gathered on the first floor, and since I was an unfamiliar face, I drew every kind of stare while waiting, which was a bit overwhelming.

"Yeah. Forever."

"Heehee. Sorry! But why'd you call me?"

"Got something for you."

I casually lifted the small shopping bag I'd been hiding behind my back, and her puzzled face burst into a full bloom of smiles.

"No way?!"

"A gift for you."

"You really bought it?"

"You're my one and only junior—how could I not take care of you?"

"Whoa...! Oppa, you're the best!"

Kim Chabin snatched the shopping bag and started hopping up and down, expressing her joy with her whole body.

That drew curious stares from the surrounding students, of course.

But good is good. I just soaked it all in.

"She's seriously so cute...! Thank you, oppa!"

"Glad you like it. Worth the trip."

She seemed deeply touched, hugging the doll tight and putting on a super serious face as she spoke.

"Oppa. This weekend... let's watch a movie together!"

"A movie?"

"Yeah! I have tickets. You gave me the doll, so I'll treat you! What do you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠say?"

Her face was brimming with anticipation as she waited for my answer.

Apparently, this was the payback she'd mentioned before.

I accepted her kind offer lightheartedly.

"Hmm... sure, why not?"

"For real? Your schedule's totally free, right?!"

Having secured the promise, she flashed a huge grin and double-checked several times.

How badly did she want to go that she's this excited?

"Even if something comes up, I'll make time."

"Yesss! Oppa, no backing out, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah."

Kim Chabin kept giggling, clutching the doll like a treasure.

She looked just like a kid who'd fallen head over heels in love with something.

"Alright, I'll text you."

"Yep!"

And so we parted ways, planning to touch base later...

'The bell's about to ring.'

I hurried up the stairs, heading back to the second-year classroom.

'...Huh? Wait a sec...'

Suddenly, a fact flashed through my mind.

This would be my first date ever.

'...Wait, what?'

I started getting nervous all of a sudden.

"Help me! Yeonseo-mong...!"

The very next break, I rushed to Ma Yeonseo for urgent advice.

"I'm in deep shit!"

"What's wrong?"

"I made plans for the weekend? But I..."

"Plans? With who?"

"That junior I told you about before!"

Ma Yeonseo's face instantly hardened.

It was the kind of bombshell even she'd be shocked by.

"Here's what happened...!"

I quickly explained the whole story.

I'd given Kim Chabin the doll, and she'd suggested a movie in return.

I'd accepted without thinking, but then realized what it meant.

"Help me out here!"

But...

"......"

For some reason, she didn't respond.

She just stared at me blankly, like she was lost in deep thought.

"Yeonseo?"

"...Huh?"

"What do you think?"

"......Well......"

Ma Yeonseo looked totally spaced out, her unfocused eyes fixed on me.

'What's up with her?'

Unable to read her mind, I fidgeted, waiting desperately for advice...

'Wait. Hold on.'

A thought struck me.

Maybe Ma Yeonseo was just as clueless about romance as I was.

'Is she a total nerd too...?'

Just as I was quietly downgrading my trust in her a notch...

Of all times, the bell signaling the start of class rang out.

"Damn... forget it. I'll come back at lunch! Think about it, okay?"

"......"

Ma Yeonseo was still out of it.

I had no choice but to leave, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠promising to follow up later.

'No way she likes me? Nah, that can't be... But why the movie? On the weekend? On purpose? Or am I overthinking...'

Of course, I couldn't focus in class at all. I spent the whole time racking my brain.

Eventually, grasping at straws, I went to find Ma Yeonseo again.

"Ma Yeonseo!"

But...

"?"

She wasn't in the classroom, for some reason.

"Oh. She went home early earlier."

"Huh? Home early?"

Instead, I heard she'd felt unwell and left early.

'She was fine a bit ago... Must be pretty sick.'

I trudged back to class and sent her a message.

Thankfully, she had enough strength to check her phone—"read" popped up right away.

But that was it.

Even after waiting ages, no reply came.

She'd read it and ghosted.

'How sick is she that she can't even type?'

Worried out of my mind—date troubles forgotten—I called her during lunch.

But she didn't pick up.

Click. As the phone vibration cut off, heavy silence settled back over the dark house.

"......"

Ma Yeonseo sat on the bed, knees hugged to her chest, staring silently at the missed call notification.

Her gaze on the now-dark screen was endlessly shadowed.

A storm of emotions churned in her hazy eyes.

Anger. Regret. Worry. Sadness.

All because of Kang Yuchan.

All of it.

"......"

Squeeze. Ma Yeonseo clenched her fist without thinking, her hand trembling faintly.

She never imagined buying a doll for some other girl would blow up like this.

Even someone as oblivious as Kang Yuchan should have had some inkling.

She'd been too complacent.

Prey that looked tasty to her would look the same to anyone else.

And with that girl wagging her tail everywhere, begging to be devoured—how could anyone resist?

'It's my fault.'

Ma Yeonseo had no choice but to admit her own mistake.

When a dog without a leash runs wild, it's entirely the owner's fault.

And repenting for that mistake—fixing things—was the owner's responsibility too.

'It's not too late... I can still fix this.'

To clean up the mess, Ma Yeonseo picked up her phone.

She decided she wouldn't sit idle anymore.

Mom was at a dinner, so I had delivery for once in a while, but my mood was all over the place as I fiddled with my phone.

The promise with Kim Chabin was one thing, but Ma Yeonseo not texting all evening kept nagging at me.

'How sick is she?'

That's when it happened.

Bzzz— bzzz—

My phone screen lit up with an incoming call.

'Whoa.'

Startled, I caught my breath and checked the caller.

The name I'd been waiting for.

"Hey! Why the hell haven't you been picking up? Do you know how worried I—...what?"

I hung up, threw on some clothes in a rush, and bolted out the door.

'Getting chilly now.'

Turning into the dark alley in front of my house, I spotted her standing stiffly under the one working streetlamp.

Ma Yeonseo. She was right there.

Dressed head to toe in black, hood pulled low.

'Caught a cold?'

Worried, I waved frantically as I approached.

"Ma Yeonseo!"

"......"

"Feeling any bett—?"

Right then.

'Huh?'

I froze, spotting something in her hand.

'That's...'

A rough, rectangular lump.

A brick. The red kind used in construction.

'Huh...?'

It was so out of left field I was thrown, but I shook it off and approached anyway.

"You okay? What's with the brick?"

"......"

Ma Yeonseo pressed her lips tight, gazing at me intently.

Maybe it was the darkness, but her usually sharp eyes looked vacant. Unhinged, almost.

'What's wrong with her?'

Clueless, I scratched my head and glanced at the brick again.

Looked scavenged from a worksite—the edge was jagged and menacing.

'Where'd she even... No, that's not the point.'

Her voice on the phone hadn't sounded off.

Just said she had something to say and to come out front now.

Nothing unusual.

'Did something happen after?'

Uneasy, I tried again, cautiously.

"What happened?"

Right then.

"......"

Whoosh. She slowly lifted her head, meeting my eyes.

Her lifeless gaze.

I flinched and looked away on reflex.

For some reason, flashes of her beating the crap out of my bullies crossed my mind.

'...Mad? What did I do?'

Gulp. I swallowed hard, gauging her mood before speaking carefully.

"Y-Yeonseo?"

Finally, her sealed lips parted.

"...Just one question."

"Huh...? For me?"

She stared silently.

Like she was peering into my soul.

'She came all this way for that?'

I played along.

"Sure, what is it?"

And then the bombshell question hit.

"Do you like me?"

"What?"

I must've misheard.

Stunned by the sneak attack, I sputtered like an idiot.

"Wh-what's that out of nowhere? Like you? Me?"

My face burned.

How was I supposed to answer this? No way to stay calm.

"Jeez... Of course I like you! You're my best friend! Who wouldn't?!"

Irritated, I blurted whatever came to mind.

She fired back.

"Then. Do you love me?"

"L-Love...? Why ask that!? What happened?!"

Reeling from the straight ball, I started worrying about her for real.

She didn't look right.

But.

"Answer."

She gave me no room.

"Hey, what's with the love talk all of a sudden..."

"Answer."

Squeeze. Her hand on the brick twitched.

"N-No... It's not that I don't wanna... um..."

Intimidated by her intensity, I stammered without meeting her eyes.

"I mean, it's not that I don't like you... How to put it..."

"...Then. That junior?"

"......Junior?"

What junior was Ma Yeonseo talking about?

"Wait, Kim Chabin?"

Realizing late, I flailed my hands in denial.

"Hey, why would I like her! Chabin's just a close little sis! That doesn't even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠make sense..."

"...Really?"

"Really!"

"......"

Cold silence ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠filled the alley.

'This is killing me.'

As the awkward tension choked me and I scratched my head uselessly...

Swish. Ma Yeonseo, who'd been looking up quietly, stepped closer and dropped a confession.

"I like you."

A real confession. Straight up.

"......Huh?"

Speechless, I stared down at her blankly.

Suddenly, she reached out, grabbed my collar tight.

"!"

Stood on tiptoes and forced her lips on mine.

"Mmff!?"

Soft warmth crushed against my lips.

Panicking in the sudden chaos, I flailed before shoving her away.

"Y-You just...!"

My unexpected first kiss.

Ma Yeonseo smirked smugly, whispering slyly.

"Heart pounding?"

Thump-thump. Thump-thump. My heart raced like it would explode.

"You..."

Staring at her in a daze...

"...You started it."

I pulled her into a hug and kissed her back.

The moment we stumbled into being lovers.