Chapter 119: Autumn (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 119: Autumn (8)
“…….”
Lee Sol clutched her trousers tightly.
“It’s just…”
Her lips parted, then closed again. Her hesitation seemed to stretch on indefinitely.
“You can take your time,” Kim Bo-young spoke gently as she watched her daughter.
Just as Lee Sol needed time to find the words, Bo-young needed time to brace herself for them. It was bound to happen eventually; she understood that these were words she would hear sooner or later.
However, understanding and empathy were two entirely different matters.
“It doesn’t have to be right now. If it’s not urgent, don’t feel pressured. You can tell me later.”
Deep down, she actually hoped Sol would wait.
“…No.” Lee Sol was firm. “I want to… tell you now.”
There was a hint of urgency in her voice, as if it had to be now or never.
“…Then go ahead.”
Kim Bo-young had no choice but to nod. While surprised by the girl's determined tone, a bitter taste lingered in her mouth.
“…….”
Sigh…
A long, heavy breath escaped Lee Sol’s lips.
“…You know Seung-ho.”
“…….”
“I… I like him.”
Lee Sol finally bared her heart. Her skin, usually as pale as a blank sheet of paper, was now flushed a deep crimson.
“I see. So that’s how it is.” Bo-young accepted the confession calmly.
“…Did you already know?” Perhaps finding her mother’s tranquil reaction strange, Lee Sol looked up in surprise.
“I had a feeling that might be the case.” Kim Bo-young nodded lightly.
Of course she did. She had been watching the girl look at him throughout the entire meal. While she hadn't been absolutely certain, her intuition had been close enough.
“Is that all you wanted to say?”
“There’s one more thing….”
“…….”
Kim Bo-young set down the black tea she had been about to sip. It seemed best to hear the rest before drinking.
“U-um….” After a brief hesitation, Sol spoke again. “My friends like Seung-ho, too.”
“…….”
It was a good thing she hadn't drunk the tea. If she had, she would have either spilled it or choked.
“…By friends, you mean…”
“A-young and Nuri… the girls who came over to our house last time.”
“The ones in your club?”
“Yes.”
Bo-young had expected him to be popular, but hearing it directly like this provoked a different reaction entirely.
“Those girls too…?”
Kim Bo-young felt a sense of hollow disbelief. This was one prediction she really didn't need to be right about. She wondered why her uneasy premonitions were always so accurate.
“That’s why I’m asking…. I don’t know what to do.” Lee Sol’s small fingers fidgeted restlessly. “I heard you were in a similar situation, Mom. That Dad was really popular.”
“…….”
Where on earth had she heard that? Bo-young certainly didn't remember telling her. She felt a bit embarrassed sharing stories of her youthful romance with her child, and it hadn't seemed like a necessary conversation.
“Did your father tell you that?”
At the question, Lee Sol shook her head. “…Uncle told me, a long time ago.”
“…….”
That brat.
Kim Bo-young suppressed her rising anger toward her younger brother. To think he’d tell a child such useless stories. She made a mental note to give him a piece of her mind later.
“…….”
Kim Bo-young took a breath and asked, “Do you have any intention of giving up on him?”
Lee Seung-ho was a fine boy, but the fact that he attracted so many girls was a major drawback. Not just one, not even two… but three, including Lee Sol. At this rate, it wouldn't even be surprising if the number grew.
“…….”
Lee Sol didn't answer. Instead, the cold, determined set of her expression served as her response.
“…….”
Even Kim Bo-young was momentarily taken aback by the look in her daughter's eyes. This was the look of someone who had already made up her mind.
“…Alright.”
It didn't seem like Sol would listen to anything she said to the contrary. In that regard, she was the spitting image of her mother.
“…Will you help me?”
“That’s why you told me, isn't it?”
Since it was her daughter’s first love, Bo-young figured it would be better for it to work out; otherwise, the aftertaste would be far too bitter.
“Are you confident you can follow everything I tell you to do?”
“I am.”
She certainly answered quickly. Bo-young wished she were always this prompt with her words.
“In exchange, no complaining or backing out later.”
“Okay.” Lee Sol nodded.
Kim Bo-young pondered what the best first step would be.
“First….” Kim Bo-young scanned Lee Sol from head to toe. “Haven’t you put on a little weight lately?”
“…….”
“We’ll have to start with exercise.”
Lee Sol’s face turned as stiff as stone immediately.
*
After school, in the Band Club room.
“Hellooo—”
A greeting came in, sounding more listless than usual.
“You’re here?”
Ha Seo-rim bowed politely, though she found the tone odd. Ji Nuri was setting her things down.
“The others said they’re stopping by the snack shop, so I think we’ll have to wait a bit.”
“Sure, take your time,” Ha Seo-rim spoke while tuning her bass. “You’re here early today.”
Usually, Nuri stopped by the Counseling Office first, so it took her a while to arrive. Today, she had arrived thirty minutes before their scheduled time.
“I just… thought I’d get some practice in early.”
In reality, Ji Nuri had fled to the band room because she couldn't decide how to face the other girls, but Ha Seo-rim had no way of knowing that.
“Hmm….”
Ha Seo-rim tilted her head at Ji Nuri’s words. She felt a slight sense of incongruity. Based on what she knew of Ji Nuri so far, it felt off. Nuri was the type to speak confidently; she wasn't someone who usually gave such vague excuses.
“Did something happen?”
Ji Nuri looked much more drained than usual.
“No? Nothing happened.” Ji Nuri shrugged. Her gaze remained lowered as she leisurely continued tuning her guitar.
“…….”
Ha Seo-rim bit her lip. She couldn't tell if it was a lie or not because Nuri’s expression was so nonchalant. So, she added one more thing.
“…If you have something on your mind, feel free to talk to me. I can at least listen.”
“Huh?” Ji Nuri blinked. “…Ah.”
At that reaction, Ha Seo-rim’s eyes darted around. Come to think of it, that wasn't really something you said to a member of the Counseling Club. Nuri was surrounded by people who gave counsel professionally. Seo-rim felt a wave of embarrassment.
“Thanks for the offer, though.” Ji Nuri gave a refreshing smile and nodded.
*
“Let’s wrap up practice here for today….” Ha Seo-rim continued as she tucked her bass into its case. “As you all know, today is the last practice until midterms are over.”
Since this had been announced in advance, no one complained. With the exams so close, it was time to focus seriously on studying.
“…….”
Ha Seo-rim pulled out the English vocab notebook she kept in her pocket. She planned to memorize at least one more word whenever she had a spare moment.
“Are you memorizing English words?” Ji Nuri peeked over. “Oh… you’re a really hard worker.”
“Yes, well….” Ha Seo-rim didn't know how to respond to the genuine admiration, so she just nodded.
“Didn’t you know, Unnie? Seo-rim is on a full scholarship,” Ahn Bo-ram added, already using casual speech with Ji Nuri, having grown close to her at some point.
“Really?”
“Yeah, I think it’s a scholarship she gets through the principal’s recommendation?” Bo-ram looked proud, as if she were talking about her own achievement.
“Hey—” Ha Seo-rim shook Bo-ram’s shoulder, telling her to stop. It was embarrassing. It wasn't something worth bragging about, and besides, it was a misunderstanding. People thought she got it because her grades were amazing, but the reality was different.
The 1st semester finals were a real close call…
She didn't study because she wanted to. She did it because she felt like she wouldn't keep the scholarship if she didn't work herself to the bone. Her diligence was born of necessity.
“What about you, Nuri Unnie?”
“I’m doing alright.” Ji Nuri shrugged at Ahn Bo-ram’s question. “Seung-ho is a good teacher. I’ve picked up a lot just by listening to him… so it’s coming naturally.”
“…….”
So that Senior is good at studying. Ha Seo-rim read through her notebook while listening to their conversation.
“Hmm… should we all get together to study?” Ahn Bo-ram suddenly made a suggestion. “It’s better to do it together anyway. Let’s study at my house today.”
“We’re taking turns?”
“Yeah.” When Jin Hyun-woo agreed, she nodded eagerly. “We’ll go to my place today. Next time, we can go to Hyun-woo’s or Nuri Unnie’s—”
“My house is off-limits.”
The tone was firm. Ji Nuri spoke with a stiffness that was unlike her usual self.
“…….”
“…….”
The air turned awkward in an instant. Ha Seo-rim, as well as the other two, looked slightly startled.
“…H-how about your place, Seo-rim?” Ahn Bo-ram quickly changed the subject to break the tension.
“Ah… well… I’d have to ask. My family isn't really fond of friends coming over….”
She didn't actually know if they liked it or not. She had never brought a friend home in the first place. She just felt uncomfortable about it; her house wasn't exactly spacious.
“Well, nothing we can do then.” Ahn Bo-ram smacked her lips in disappointment. In the end, the topic fizzled out.
“…….”
Flip—
Ha Seo-rim silently turned a page in her notebook. It was for the best. She felt more comfortable studying alone anyway.
*
Early morning.
The house was bustling with people getting ready for school and work. I finished washing up, splashing some lukewarm water over my face. In the meantime, Lee Seung-ah had already changed into her neat school uniform.
“I’m off to sch—” Lee Seung-ah’s voice trailed off abruptly as she headed out the door.
Thud! Clatter—
The front door slammed shut again.
“Oppa!” she suddenly called out to me.
“…What?”
“Come out here, quick!”
“What is it now?” I walked slowly toward the entryway. Did a morning delivery arrive? Sometimes groceries were delivered at dawn, so I figured she wanted me to move them.
“Ugh, seriously! Put some pants on before you come out!”
— “This guy, honestly!”
Lee Seung-ah slapped me hard on the back. Without even knowing why, I was struck and chased back into my room.
“…….”
I put on my pants and came back out. As I opened the front door, dragging my slippers along the floor…
“…Oh.”
My jaw dropped.
“…Sorry. I surprised you by showing up so suddenly, didn't I?”
Lee Sol was standing there in her tidy school uniform.
“Since we’re heading in the same direction anyway… I thought we could walk together….”
Lee Sol looked embarrassed herself, twirling the end of her hair with her index finger.
“…Is that okay?”
Looking into those pleading eyes, I couldn't bring myself to say no. Behind me, Lee Seung-ah’s Mini-Me muttered:
— “Whoa, this is just like an anime.”
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