Chapter 25: Emotions Only Others Know
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 25: Emotions Only Others Know
*
“...”
First, I quietly lowered my hand from Ji Nuri’s shoulder.
Then, I took a deliberate step away from her.
So far, so good.
Should I start by clearing the air?
“...”
At that moment, Shin A-young approached with quick, worried steps.
“...Nuri, are you okay? Did you just chase off some guys hitting on you?”
...She realized it immediately.
I didn't even need to explain. Her eyes darted around as she took in the scene, and she seemed to have finished assessing the situation in an instant.
Ji Nuri patted my back, assuring her everything was fine.
“I’m okay. He helped me out.”
“...Ah.”
Lee Sol let out a soft breath as she watched.
— “...Oh, so that’s what it was. I misunderstood for nothing.”
Her Mini-Me let out a huff of air.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, she gave a small stone at her feet a light kick.
“...”
I fell into thought as I watched her. No matter how I looked at it... this was...
“Hey! Lee Seung-ho!”
Shin A-young called my name loudly from a distance.
“What are you doing? Hurry up! We don't have much time before we have to gather.”
When I looked up, everyone was already walking ahead. I blinked slowly.
“...Coming.”
I started walking toward where the three of them were waiting.
*
“Whoa~”
A feast was spread across the tables. Dinner was a buffet.
Shin A-young let out an exclamation of awe as she entered the restaurant. There was so much to eat that she was spoiled for choice before even picking up a plate.
“They say it’s a buffet every night for dinner!”
Shin A-young made a fuss, playfully thumping Lee Seung-ho on the back.
“What are you going to eat first?”
“...I’ll take a look around first.”
Shin A-young followed Lee Seung-ho around the buffet, piling food onto her plate. Even though they were in Japan, the food wasn't drastically different from a high-end Korean buffet. There was meat, noodles, and various Japanese specialties.
“This shrimp looks really good. Want one?”
“...It’s kind of a pain to peel.”
“But it’s tasty.”
Just as Shin A-young was about to pick up a shrimp with her tongs—
“Seung-ho.”
Lee Sol appeared, suddenly poking her head between their shoulders.
“I found some delicious meat over there.”
She showed off her plate proudly. Just as she said, a large, appetizing steak sat on her plate.
“Oh... where was that?”
Lee Seung-ho showed immediate interest.
“Come here, I’ll show you.”
Lee Sol turned around and led the way, walking off with light, quick steps.
“...”
Shin A-young blinked blankly as she watched the two of them leave.
Huh.
What was with this situation?
...This scene repeated itself several times throughout the meal.
“Is that good?”
Lee Sol showed constant interest in whatever Lee Seung-ho was eating.
“Hmm...” He chewed for a moment, thinking. “...It’s not amazing, but it’s decent.”
“You must really like fried food.”
“Well... anything tastes good when it’s fried.”
Shin A-young watched them while chewing on her own food.
“...”
Those two. They’d gotten even closer since starting this school trip. Besides, had Lee Sol ever been this proactive in a conversation? At least as far as Shin A-young knew, she hadn't.
It felt like that tendency had become even more pronounced after what happened earlier.
*
After dinner was over.
“See you tomorrow.”
Lee Seung-ho gave a small wave and headed to his room. Since the boys were on the upper floor, he headed upstairs. The girls, including Shin A-young, headed downstairs.
“Phew... that was delicious...”
Ji Nuri rubbed her stomach as she entered the room, looking satisfied and full.
Now then...
“Let’s decide who showers first.”
“One round of Rock-Paper-Scissors?”
“One round.”
The match was settled quickly.
“Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!”
Three hands thrust forward.
...Ugh.
Shin A-young frowned. “So close...”
The winner was Ji Nuri, who had played paper.
“Then I’ll go first~!” She dashed into the bathroom without a hint of mercy.
“Haaa...”
Lee Sol sat down, leaning against the wall as if she didn't care about the order. She blinked drowsily.
“I’m so tired... I feel like I could fall asleep right now...”
Yawn...
Lee Sol asked with a slight yawn, “...Where did they say we’re going tomorrow?”
“Wait a sec. Let’s see... On Day 2... we’re visiting a few places, but the main one is the aquarium.”
Looking at the guidebook, it seemed to be a fairly famous place. Apparently, it used to be the largest aquarium in Japan, though it had dropped to second place recently.
Ding—
Just then, a phone notification rang. When she opened the screen, Shin A-young brightened.
“Oh, the photos from today are here.”
Lee Seung-ho had sent a whole string of photos from the day via Instagram DM. There were photos in front of the Glico Man sign, of course, and several taken inside Don Quijote.
First, let’s save these...
“Sol, look at this. It came out really well.”
“...Where?”
Lee Sol poked her head over A-young's shoulder. Shin A-young swiped through the gallery.
“Ah, I took this one.”
It was a photo with all four of them in it. Lee Seung-ho was a bit small in the distance, but it was still a clear, well-taken shot.
“What do you think? It looks grea—”
“...”
Shin A-young stopped mid-sentence as she turned to look at Lee Sol. She felt like she knew exactly where Sol’s gaze was fixed on the screen.
“...Sol,” Shin A-young called her name softly.
“Mmm-hmm?” Lee Sol replied drowsily, as if she had no idea why she was being called.
Shin A-young finally voiced the question she had been harboring for a while.
“By any chance...” It was just a guess, but... “...Do you have feelings for Seung-ho?”
...Ah.
The moment the words left her mouth, Shin A-young felt a jolt of surprise at her own boldness. Even so, her eyes remained fixed on the girl beside her.
How would Lee Sol react? Strangely, she couldn't look away.
“Huh...?” Lee Sol turned her head, her lips slowly parting. “...N-No... I don’t.”
That was her answer. But her flustered eyes were darting all over the place. Was she trying to keep a straight face?
Lee Sol knit her brows slightly and asked back, “...W-Why do you think that...?”
“...No reason... It just seemed like he was on your mind. Like during dinner earlier.”
Hadn't she been following Lee Seung-ho around the whole time?
“...Me?”
“Your eyes were following him, too.”
“...Were they?” Lee Sol tilted her head, her eyes narrowing halfway. She looked genuinely confused.
...I wondered if that was the case. Could it be that she hadn't even realized it herself?
“Well... it happens. Usually, you’re the last one to know these things about yourself.”
There are emotions that only others can see first. People often fail to recognize their own feelings, especially if those feelings are complex and deep.
“So, how is it? Do you like him? Or not?”
“I probably... don’t... like him...”
“Huh? Then what?”
“I don’t know...” Lee Sol began to sweat slightly, as if the topic was making her run hot. “But... a little bit...”
Lee Sol spoke slowly. The tips of her ears were tinged with a strange redness that stood out against her pale skin.
“...He is on my mind.”
He was on her mind. She didn't say she liked him, but she left plenty of room for possibility.
Lee Sol let out a small breath. “...For now... yeah, just that much.”
The look on Lee Sol’s face as she said that was different from her usual drowsy self. It felt so incredibly new that...
“...”
Shin A-young sat there for a moment, lost for words.
...And she says this isn't "liking" him.
“...What about you?” Lee Sol suddenly asked back.
“What about me?”
“...What do you think of him?”
“...Me?” What was she talking about all of a sudden?
“Aren't you interested in him too? You’re always hanging around him.”
...Me? Me and Lee Seung-ho? No way.
“...So. What is it?”
Lee Sol’s voice held a subtle seriousness that made it impossible to just laugh it off as a joke. This was an atmosphere that required at least a little bit of thought.
“...”
How did she feel about Lee Seung-ho as a man? To be honest, she had never even thought about it. Of course, he was a good guy and fun to hang out with. He was quick-witted, took good care of others... and he helped her out whenever she was in trouble.
...If so, how did she think of him?
“...”
Shin A-young slowly looked up.
“I...”
*
“I...”
“...”
Lee Sol held her breath, watching Shin A-young’s lips. It was even more tense because the two of them spent so much time together. And although it was brief, A-young had become close with Lee Seung-ho before she had.
What on earth would she say? That she liked him? Or would she say she was interested, just like Sol had?
If she said that, how should Sol react?
“...”
In that moment of tension—
“Eh, we’re just friends. I mean, a guy like Seung-ho is fine, but...” Shin A-young gave her answer with a casual expression. “More like... a guy friend? Or a gaming buddy?”
She nodded, crossing her arms.
“I know what you’re thinking, Sol, but don’t worry.”
...Ah.
“Okay.”
I see. Now I get it.
“Man—but Lee Seung-ho is pretty impressive, isn't he? Managing to charm even you, Sol.”
“...I wasn't charmed.”
“That’s what 'he’s on my mind' means.”
Shin A-young laughed awkwardly and playfully nudged Sol’s shoulder. It was a gesture meant to lighten the mood.
“...”
Lee Sol looked at Shin A-young without a word.
A-young had said that people often don't realize their own feelings. Now, Sol finally understood what that meant.
...Does Shin A-young even realize it herself?
“...”
The moment she talks about Lee Seung-ho, it’s not a smile put on for an act. Her true, natural smile faintly and effortlessly reveals itself.
...Maybe not yet. But at this rate, for sure.
Shin A-young... she is good at studying, good at sports, and good at acting. She’s beautiful, too. She’d probably be good at dating, as well.
But I know I don't have that kind of knack for things. And I don't want to lose to her in this, of all things.
...So.
Sorry. I’m not going to tell you.