Chapter 117: Autumn (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 117: Autumn (6)
The moment I stepped inside, I saw Ji Hyori hauling her luggage out of the room.
"You're home early?"
"Wait, where are you going?"
Ji Nuri stared at the suitcase on the floor, a look of confusion crossing her face.
"It’s time for me to head back now."
"Oh!"
Ji Nuri’s voice rose in excitement.
Finally, she’s leaving.
It had been a grueling few days. She couldn't believe how many errands her sister had forced her to run. Ji Nuri cheered inwardly, recalling the mountain of chores she’d been saddled with.
"When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow."
"Mhm."
That was an even better answer. Ji Nuri started toward her room with a skip in her step, but then she paused. For some reason, she felt like she should tell her sister what had happened. Part of her thought she might be able to get a bit of advice.
"Hey, you know..."
"?"
Ji Nuri added briefly, "What you said... it turned out you were right."
"About what?"
Hyori’s movements slowed as she packed.
"…Really?"
Hyori’s eyes went wide.
Why is she so surprised?
Ji Nuri gave her a slightly pouting look.
"…You’re the one who told me in the first place."
Why is she acting shocked when she’s the one who called it?
"No, I mean, it was just a hunch… I didn't think it would actually be true."
"…Well."
I guess that’s fair.
Even Nuri hadn't been able to believe it until she confirmed it for herself.
"But wow, that guy must really be something, huh?" Ji Hyori let out a disbelieving laugh.
She seemed to find the situation incredibly entertaining since it wasn't her problem, even though Nuri was feeling completely overwhelmed.
"Hmm…"
Reading Nuri’s expression, Hyori asked in a more composed tone, "So, what are you planning to do?"
She seemed to have at least some intention of helping, acting like the older sister she was.
"…What do you mean, 'what am I going to do'?"
To be honest, she didn't know. It was a problem she was still wrestling with.
"Your friends are really pretty. If they confess first, it’ll be too late, you know?"
That again.
"No, I told you, it’s not like I like him."
"Then why are you worrying about it?"
Ji Nuri flinched at the question.
"…Because it’s the opposite."
"The opposite?" Ji Hyori repeated the words, muttering them to herself.
Then, the realization finally dawned on her.
"…Seriously?" She looked like she couldn't believe her ears. "He likes you?"
Ji Nuri’s shoulders gave a little jerk. Hearing those words come out of someone else’s mouth felt different. It was a strange sensation; goosebumps broke out on the back of her neck.
"…Yeah."
Because of that feeling, Nuri answered after a short pause. She gave a slow nod.
"…Hmm?"
Ji Hyori tilted her head slightly. Her gaze drifted toward the ceiling as if she were trying to recall what Lee Seung-ho looked like. She still seemed skeptical.
"Ummm…"
Hyori locked eyes with her, her gaze filled with doubt. Slowly, her eyes traveled downward. Her gaze dropped from Nuri’s face toward the floor. As it descended, her eyes stopped right around Nuri’s chest.
"Tsk."
She clicked her tongue briefly and then nodded to herself.
"I guess it’s not impossible."
She had reached a conclusion all on her own.
"W-what? What is it?"
The way she was looking at her felt unpleasant. Ji Nuri frowned and crossed her arms over her chest.
"So, what are you going to do?"
The question remained the same, though the nuance had shifted slightly.
"If he confesses, are you going to accept?"
"…."
The answer didn't come easily. The faces of Lee Sol and Shin A-young naturally came to mind. Furthermore, she was so satisfied with the time she spent in the Counseling Club right now.
To be honest, at this point... she just wished time would keep flowing like this, without anything changing.
*
I sat in the living room, checking the social media account I’d set up for Lee Sol.
The response was quite good. Even though it hadn't been long since I opened it, the follower count had already surpassed 1,000. It seemed the photo of the OTT room we took last time had caught people's attention in many ways.
As expected, looks are what grab people's interest first.
[When are we taking the next one?]
A text arrived from Lee Sol. Since I was already checking, I sent a reply immediately.
[Did you check the challenge video I sent you last time?]
[Yeah. I’ve already practiced it.]
That was faster than I expected. In that case, there was no reason to delay.
[Let’s film it within this week if you have time.]
[(Hamster emoticon sticking out a thumb)]
I put my phone down. By the way...
"…Why is she taking so long?"
It was time to go work out, but there was no sign of Lee Seung-ah coming out of her room. She’d been silent ever since she went in to change. Unable to wait any longer, I stood up and pounded on her door.
"Hey, are you still not ready?"
"Not yet."
Only a faint voice drifted from the other side.
— "If I keep stalling like this, I can waste at least twenty minutes."
I heard the Mini-Me’s murmur from behind the door.
"…."
I knew it. I let out a deep sigh upon hearing that.
"Hey, don't try to stall. Even if we go late today, I’m going to make sure you finish your full routine."
I didn't have work today anyway, so I had plenty of time.
Creeeeak—
A moment later, the door slid open slightly.
"I wasn't doing that, okay? Who said I was stalling?" Lee Seung-ah gave me a brazen, disgruntled look.
— "He’s annoyingly quick on the uptake."
The things she says about her own brother.
*
"…."
Shin A-young stood in front of the gym, looking down at her phone. She was flicking through a romance webtoon. However, she wasn't actually reading it. Even though it was something she usually enjoyed, she was just mindlessly scrolling. Her mind was occupied with other worries.
Sol is hard enough to deal with, but now Nuri too…
Ji Nuri liked Lee Seung-ho. She was almost certain of it. If not that, then what else could it be? Who in the world would cling to someone like that if they didn't like them?
Actually, it was the same even if she did like him.
…Isn't she embarrassed?
She was acting like a pubescent child who didn't even realize what her own body was like, clinging to a guy.
Nuri does have a pure side to her, but still…
There was no way she was actually that clueless. She must be doing it on purpose. It was clear that Ji Nuri had made up her mind. Her intention to openly seduce Lee Seung-ho was obvious.
"…."
Shin A-young turned off her screen. Her grip on her phone tightened. She couldn't afford to be pushed aside like this.
But still…
Seeing Seung-ho’s expression when Ji Nuri approached him made her even more certain. This was the way to get his attention. Being proactive was the key to capturing him.
"…."
Shin A-young checked her reflection in the black screen of her phone once more. This was an area she was confident in.
"Unnie~"
Just then, she heard a weary voice. Looking up from her phone, she saw two people walking toward her in the distance.
"Seung-ah. You actually showed up today?"
Hadn't she tried to sneak away a few days ago? Lee Seung-ho had been so annoyed by that that he’d pushed her even harder the next day.
"…Yeah."
Lee Seung-ah’s lips pouted slightly. She looked like she’d been dragged there against her will. At some point, A-young had started speaking informally with her. It felt like a sign that they’d become close, which she actually liked.
"Do you really hate exercising that much?"
Shin A-young chuckled softly at her expression. Perhaps because she looked so much like Seung-ho, even her behavior seemed cute. Shin A-young walked forward with a slightly lighthearted step.
…
How many minutes had passed since they started working out?
"Haa… haaa…"
"Take a break for a second."
"Haa…"
Lee Seung-ah nodded frantically, seemingly without the energy to even speak. Whether she lacked the knack for it or just didn't have the stamina, she looked exhausted every time she worked out.
"…Wait a second?"
Seeing this, Shin A-young headed toward the restroom.
"Whew—"
In front of the restroom mirror, Shin A-young washed her hands thoroughly and steeled her resolve. If she was going to do it, now was the time, while Seung-ah was preoccupied. After all, she was too embarrassed to show such blatant flirting in front of his younger sister.
"…Okay."
Let’s give it a try.
When Shin A-young returned, Lee Seung-ho was working out by himself. She slowly walked up behind him.
"I’ll check your form."
"Oh, okay."
Since it was something they did regularly, Lee Seung-ho moved the equipment naturally. However, Shin A-young moved differently than usual.
She moved closer.
While she usually stood back and gave verbal instructions, this time she reached out her hands.
"You need to pull your arms back a bit more."
Shin A-young gently grasped his arms. She pressed her upper body close to him.
Twitch—
His shoulders flinched. She saw it vividly. His movements became awkward, as if he couldn't concentrate. Shin A-young let the corners of her mouth curl up slightly at his reaction.
"What are you doing? You need to focus."
She corrected his posture while playfully scolding him.
"Pull a bit more. Just a bit more."
"…."
A strange sensation swirled in her chest. She felt a surge of satisfaction from having elicited a change in Lee Seung-ho.
"Phew…"
Soon, his breathing steadied. He seemed to be trying to focus on the exercise instead of letting his attention drift to what was behind him.
Huff, huff—
The veins in his arms began to bulge. With every movement, she could vividly feel the play of his muscles through her hands.
…Oh.
What is this? This feels strange.
Shin A-young’s eyes drifted toward the empty ceiling. She had started this to make him feel embarrassed, but she found herself becoming the flustered one instead.
"Phew…"
When the set was over, Lee Seung-ho stood up awkwardly. Then, he pointed to the seat he had just been sitting in.
"Alright, your turn. Sit down."
"Huh?"
Shin A-young looked up. She stared at him with a puzzled expression.
"I’ll check your form too, so sit."
*
(!Signboard!)
(Illustration below!)
Workout Shin A-young