Chapter 163: Christmas (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 163: Christmas (1)
"Hmm~ Hmm-hmm~"
Ji Nuri hummed a little tune as she breezed through this month’s reports.
I listened to her melody. For something she was just idly whistling, it was surprisingly sweet.
Maybe it was because winter break started next week, but she seemed incredibly excited. With the closing ceremony scheduled for mid-December—just a few days before Christmas—there really wasn't much time left.
‘Ah, right.’
As I sat there dazed, I remembered something I’d forgotten.
‘I should put this away.’
I pulled a glass jar filled with a bright yellow liquid out of my bag.
"Hm?"
Ji Nuri looked over, eyes fixed on the jar. "What’s that?"
"Tangerine syrup."
"Did you buy it at the store?"
"No, Ha Seo-rim gave it to me… want a cup?"
"Yes, please!"
Ji Nuri nodded eagerly. Her mini-me’s eyes were sparkling with anticipation.
Normally, I would have told her to make it herself, but she was working hard on the reports, so I could at least do this much for her.
I took the tangerine syrup over to the kitchenette.
Trickle—
As I was filling the electric kettle, a heavy weight suddenly settled on my shoulder.
"Hey, make me one too."
Shin A-young rested her chin on my shoulder.
Every time she whispered, the weight of her chin pressed into me. Her black hair brushed against my cheek, a soft, ticklish sensation. When I turned my head, her face was right there, inches from mine.
"…Hey."
I called out to her, my voice low.
She had been like this lately, getting bolder with her physical contact. She had always been playful, but that was usually reserved for when we were alone. She hadn't been this daring in front of the others before.
"What is it~?" she asked, tilting her head.
As if she didn't see the problem, the corners of her eyes curved into mischievous crescents.
"……."
I kept my mouth shut. Looking at the Shin A-young mini-me hovering near my shoulder explained everything.
— "…Hehe."
The Shin A-young mini-me was clenching her fists tight. A slight tremor shook her narrowed eyes, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead from the sheer heat of the moment.
Her inner self was the complete opposite of her outward composure. For someone acting so bold, she had surprisingly little resistance to the intimacy herself.
"…Hup."
Just then, Lee Sol’s head popped up out of nowhere, moving like a mole surfacing from the earth. Using her small frame, she quickly wedged herself into the gap between us.
"……."
Shin A-young, naturally pushed back by the intrusion, narrowed her eyes.
Her mini-me pouted.
— "Tch."
— "…This is what happens if I let my guard down for even a second."
Grip—
The two mini-mes grabbed each other's hands and began a literal test of strength. It was a tense confrontation where neither side yielded an inch.
The atmosphere in the room became suffocating.
"…Ahem!"
A conspicuous cough broke the silence. Ji Nuri stopped writing her report and looked over at us. Her eyebrows were drawn together, a hint of embarrassment coloring her cheeks.
"So… you know. Aren't you guys being a bit too close?"
— "…What do you think you're doing in the club room?!"
Ji Nuri’s mini-me was jumping up and down, decrying the situation as indecent.
"Why? Isn't this normal for close friends?" Shin A-young replied nonchalantly, letting out a small chuckle.
"……Huh?"
At that, Ji Nuri’s eyes darted around.
— "Is… is it normal?"
Ji Nuri’s mini-me kept stealing glances at me. I felt my throat go dry.
Why are you acting like this too?
"Here, one for each of you."
I placed a tray with the tangerine tea on the table, desperate to settle the situation.
"Thanks—"
"…Thank you."
"I'll enjoy it~"
The three of them each took a cup, and once they had something to sip on, the atmosphere finally relaxed.
"Come to think of it…."
Tap, tap—
Ji Nuri tapped the report file and stood up from the President's seat. It looked like she was finally finished with her paperwork.
"What do you guys want to do during break?" she asked, bringing up the topic. "Everyone’s free, right?"
"I'm busy," Shin A-young was the first to answer.
Ji Nuri slumped onto the sofa and waved her hand dismissively. "You're just planning to play games at the PC bang anyway."
"……."
Shin A-young’s mouth snapped shut. The way she slightly averted her gaze suggested that Ji Nuri had hit the nail right on the head.
— "I was planning to raise my rank with Seung-ho for the first time in a while."
Is she trying to tank her rank? Maybe for a normal game, but for ranked… that’s a bit much.
Next, Lee Sol spoke up. "…I'm busy too."
"Doing what?"
"Filming."
"And other than that? You don't film every day."
Lee Sol’s fingers fidgeted. "……Napping?"
"Okay. So you both have time," Ji Nuri concluded, nodding with satisfaction. "What about you, Lee Seung-ho?"
"I don't really have anything planned."
I had quit my part-time job, so I was free for now. Aside from occasional filming with Lee Sol and hitting the gym….
Ah, I had agreed to help Ha Seo-rim with her studies once a week. The tangerine syrup was actually a thank-you gift from her; she’d mentioned that tangerines were cheap lately.
"What about those two?"
The "two" Ji Nuri was referring to were the third-year seniors.
"They'll probably be busy going out together," I said.
Since they weren't technically club members anymore, it felt awkward to ask them to hang out unless they invited us first. It felt like we’d be interrupting their private time. This time, even if we did something, it would just be the four of us.
"Then everyone has time, right?"
Everyone nodded silently. It was a wordless affirmation.
"We went to the valley in the summer…. How about a ski resort this time?"
"A ski resort?"
"Yeah, since it's winter."
As Ji Nuri said, winter meant the slopes, but…
"…Um." Lee Sol awkwardly raised her hand. "I don't know how to ski."
"Ah."
"I haven't skied since I was a kid, either," Shin A-young added. She wasn't really the type to enjoy crowded resorts.
Ji Nuri turned to me. "What about you, Seung-ho?"
"I'm not a pro, but I know how to stay upright."
Since most of them couldn't ski, we’d have to rethink the resort idea. It wasn't exactly a skill you could pick up in a day.
"Let's take our time and think about where to go."
We still had a week left until break, anyway.
* * *
After submitting the report, Ji Nuri walked slowly toward the band club practice room. Today was a scheduled practice day.
"Sigh……."
She walked like a machine on autopilot, her expression dazed.
"Hmmmm…."
She hung her head and then looked up again, letting out a low groan. The events from earlier were playing on a loop in her mind. The image of Shin A-young sticking close to Lee Seung-ho kept flashing before her eyes.
"A-young is one thing, but Sol too…."
Everyone was being so bold. She wondered if all kids these days were like this. Wasn't the progress a bit too fast?
‘Well, I heard that these days, people do everything before they even start dating….’
Ji Nuri’s eyes widened at her own thought.
"No, even so."
She didn't actually know if that was true. She’d assumed it was just a rumor floating around the internet. She wasn't that kind of person; if she were to fall in love, she wanted a pure, classic romance.
"……Hmm."
Well, it wasn't that she was completely uninterested, but…. Still, there were stages to these things. Yes, one step at a time….
"……."
Suddenly, she remembered the time she had unintentionally been carried on Lee Seung-ho’s back. His back had been so broad, and the firm warmth of his body where they touched felt vivid even now.
She swallowed hard, her throat tightening. A heavy breath escaped her.
"Ahem."
Her body shuddered slightly as she barely managed to snap out of it. Ji Nuri shook her head to clear the distracting thoughts.
"…Goodness."
The situation was certainly complicated. Two close friends liking the same guy—could there be a bigger mess? She wanted everyone to get along, but she didn't intend to give up, either.
"……At least I'm glad Seo-rim isn't involved."
If she had to list the people to watch out for around Lee Seung-ho, aside from Lee Sol and Shin A-young, it was Ha Seo-rim. However, since Seo-rim didn't seem interested in him at all, it was a huge relief. It would have been a massive headache if she had fallen for him too.
"…What about me?" a voice suddenly asked.
Flinch—
Ji Nuri jumped, her expression stiffening as she whipped her head around. Ha Seo-rim was standing there, her face as expressionless as ever.
"Oh, it's just you…." Ji Nuri exhaled, her heart rate slowing. "Why are you out here? Were you waiting for me?"
"No. I'm on my way back from the bathroom."
Ha Seo-rim shook her hands dry and matched her pace with Nuri’s. Then, she spoke up again. "…But what do you mean you're glad I'm not involved?"
"Huh?"
"You just said that."
"Oh, that’s…." Ji Nuri scrambled for an answer. "…No, it's nothing. I'm just caught up in a very complicated matter…."
She vaguely changed the subject. It wasn't a lie; it was a troublesome situation she had no idea how to handle.
"You don't need to worry about it. It's really nothing."
"Hmm…."
Ha Seo-rim still looked suspicious, but she didn't push it. "Let's hurry up and go practice."
* * *
……A short while later.
"Hup."
Ji Nuri tucked her guitar into its case and slung it over her shoulder.
"Good work today."
"Good job~"
Ji Nuri smiled brightly. The last practice of the year had just ended. There would be no more official practices until next year. They might meet up occasionally, but the 'official schedule' was over.
Since it was the final session, they hadn't practiced long—less than an hour, mostly just chatting.
"Well then, everyone, have a good break. See you later~"
"You too, Senior."
"Get home safe, Unnie~"
Ji Nuri said her final goodbyes and hurried out. If she moved fast, she might be able to catch the others just as the counseling club finished tidying up. That was why she had ended practice early on purpose.
"Ah."
There they were.
She saw two figures walking ahead: Lee Seung-ho and Lee Sol.
"Hey, guys!" Ji Nuri called out, running to catch up.
Lee Seung-ho, who was walking side-by-side with Lee Sol, turned around. "You're here?"
"Phew…." That was close. She would have missed them if she’d been a minute later.
"…Oh."
Shin A-young was nowhere to be seen. "Where’s A-young?"
"The teachers' office. She said she had to return the club room key."
"I see." Ji Nuri nodded. If they waited by the shoe lockers, she would eventually come down.
Just then, Lee Seung-ho gave her a curious look. "Are you two walking home together since it's the last day?"
"Huh?"
What was he talking about? When Ji Nuri followed his gaze and glanced behind her…
"…Yes."
Ha Seo-rim had followed her out. Ji Nuri flinched. When on earth had she tucked in behind her?
"Hmm…."
Lee Sol scanned the group with a listless expression. She looked at Ji Nuri, then at Ha Seo-rim. After blinking slowly, she spoke.
"Seung-ho."
Lee Sol called his name. Her voice was low, and for some reason, Ji Nuri felt a sudden, inexplicable tension. The atmosphere was different from usual.
Lee Sol’s head slowly turned toward him.
"What are you doing on Christmas?"
She dropped the question like a bombshell.
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