Chapter 64: Sports Day (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 64: Sports Day (7)
“Are you interested in Seung-ho?”
With that single sentence, Ji Nuri’s expression went completely blank.
“...Huh?”
It was a bewildering, utterly unexpected question.
“...”
Lee Sol waited quietly for Ji Nuri to answer. She didn’t budge an inch.
“Uh...”
What was she even supposed to say?
The Lee Sol that Ji Nuri knew was usually a certain way. She would let out idle giggles or doze off after lunch due to a food coma. She didn't have a serious bone in her body and was always lounging around listlessly. Honestly, Nuri never imagined Sol would be the type to ask a question like this.
“...”
But right now, Lee Sol was strangely serious. The way she looked at this moment felt somewhat foreign.
“...Wh-what did you say?” Nuri was so flustered that her response came out dazed.
“...”
Lee Sol’s long eyelashes blinked slowly. She took a breath and spoke again.
“...I asked if you’re interested. In Seung-ho.”
Nuri definitely hadn't misheard her. At that question, Ji Nuri’s thoughts became as tangled as a knotted ball of yarn.
“I mean, when you say 'interested'...”
What did she mean by interest? Ji Nuri pondered the definition of the word Sol was using. No. Surely not. But she decided to ask, just to be sure.
“...Romantically?”
No matter how much she thought about it, that was the only possibility that came to mind. What else could asking if someone was "interested" mean?
“...”
Lee Sol gave a quiet nod.
“A-hem.”
So it was true. It really was a conversation about romance.
Ji Nuri grew restless at the unexpected topic. Setting aside why Sol had suddenly brought this up...
“...Wh-why would you think that?!” Ji Nuri tapped the ground with the toe of her shoe. She couldn't keep her body still.
“...”
Lee Sol remained silent as if deep in thought, then answered while subtly averting her gaze.
“...Just because it looks that way.”
“It does...?”
It was a gut feeling, apparently. When someone answered like that, it was hard to know how to respond.
“Then, which part exactly?” Ji Nuri asked as she headed up the stairs. She was looking for a place without people; it felt awkward to have this kind of conversation in front of the water dispenser.
“The two of you talk so well together,” Lee Sol answered, following close behind her.
“That’s just because we’re friends.”
“You’re physically close, too.”
“Uh... were we?”
At Lee Sol’s words, Ji Nuri reflected on her own behavior. She tried to recall if that was actually the case.
“Your expression is different when you talk to Lee Seung-ho compared to when you talk to us.”
“? Isn’t it the same?” Ji Nuri shifted only her eyes to look at Lee Sol.
“It’s different.” Lee Sol gave her a look that seemed to ask what on earth she was talking about. “You look so excited.” She pointed to the corner of her own mouth with a finger.
...Ah. So that was it.
‘I’m in trouble...’
Ji Nuri broke into a cold sweat. She felt herself shriveling up like a piece of dried seaweed. This was a blunder. She admitted it to herself.
‘I couldn't control myself...’
She had simply enjoyed the otaku talk with Lee Seung-ho too much. It couldn't be helped, really. It had been a while, and since there was no one else at school to talk to about such things, she had gotten carried away without realizing it.
‘Compared to how I usually am, it must have been really obvious...’
Ji Nuri knew herself well enough to know she didn't usually go around smiling like that. To others, she only gave polite, easygoing smiles. Thinking about it that way, her behavior today must have looked different from the usual.
Interested in Lee Seung-ho... She realized that to those around them, it could certainly look that way.
“......”
But it wasn't true. The observation wasn't entirely wrong, but the direction was off. It was the complete opposite. For now, she needed to make an excuse. It was for her own sake, but it was also for Lee Seung-ho’s.
“Oh, come on—” Ji Nuri scratched the back of her neck awkwardly. “I don't have any feelings for him like that.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, he’s just a friend. A friend.”
His thoughts might be different, but at least on her end, that was the truth.
*
“He’s just a friend. A friend.”
Ji Nuri waved her hands back and forth. On the surface, she really seemed to mean it. She looked as if she truly had no romantic feelings whatsoever.
“......”
Watching her, Lee Sol forced herself to calm down.
‘Even so...’
She couldn't completely let her guard down. Even after hearing Nuri’s answer, Lee Sol didn't take it at face value. She couldn't feel fully relieved because she already had experience in this area. She knew that feelings could change at any time.
‘I mean, it’s true.’
Wasn't she the perfect example? Just a few months ago, she hadn't had the slightest interest in Lee Seung-ho. She hadn't even known who he was. But look at her now.
“...Ahem.”
Lee Sol let out a small cough. Thinking about it made her feel a bit embarrassed. If her past self saw her now, how would she react? She’d probably be horrified and start shaking, saying it made no sense.
“......”
That was the point. These feelings brought about that much of a change.
‘It doesn't seem like Nuri is lying, but...’
Still, it didn't feel like the absolute truth either. Just like Shin A-young, who hadn't noticed her own feelings, there was no rule saying Ji Nuri wouldn't be the same.
‘Should I pry a bit more?’
She felt the need to find out for sure. Lee Sol cautiously spoke up.
“But... what were you talking about with Seung-ho earlier?”
“H-huh?”
“...I was just curious.”
What was so funny? Usually, Ji Nuri didn't react much to any topic. She always seemed largely uninterested. The only thing she showed any interest in was music, and even then, she didn't seem particularly joyful.
But it was different when she talked to him. The expression Ji Nuri wore while talking to Lee Seung-ho wouldn't leave Lee Sol’s mind.
“Uh, well...” Ji Nuri’s eyes darted around. She looked quite flustered. Was she debating how to answer? “Let’s see...?” Her voice trailed off slightly. “What was it again? It probably wasn't much. Yeah, just small talk.”
Ji Nuri tried to vaguely change the subject. She was playing dumb, and it was obvious.
“...”
Lee Sol’s expression slowly sank. Her forehead felt damp.
‘There’s that look again.’
Ji Nuri’s ears were flushed. She had the face of someone who was embarrassed. She was acting like someone hiding a secret she couldn't tell. If it was nothing, why was there a reason to hide it so much?
Lee Sol felt a sense of crisis.
“...”
Lee Sol puffed out her cheeks and fidgeted with her fingers.
‘...This is all Lee Seung-ho’s fault.’
Lee Sol grumbled, thinking of the boy who wasn't even there. People said that men who were too nice weren't great, and she finally understood what that meant.
Above all, there were too many competitors. And the problem was that they were all formidable girls. If they were just average, she could have just overwhelmed them with her looks, but the girls involved with him were no joke. That made things difficult.
‘Ah.’
Lee Sol let out a short sigh.
‘...I should have just asked for help.’
She was starting to regret telling Lee Seung-ah that she would handle it herself.
“......”
A surge of unfairness welled up inside her. The whole situation felt cruel. After all, she was the one who liked him first.
*
“Phew...”
I washed my face and headed out to the field. After playing a few matches, my face was covered in sweat, so rinsing it with water felt much better. I shook the water droplets off with a sports towel.
I returned to the bench, but the others were nowhere to be seen. To be precise, only Shin A-young was sitting there.
“Where are the others?” I plopped down next to her.
“I don't know. I think they went to get water?” Shin A-young shrugged. Naturally, she held out a bag of snacks toward me.
I looked down at it. “I haven't seen this one before. Is it new?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh—”
Well, I couldn't pass that up. I quickly grabbed one.
Munch, munch.
It was salty and crispy, with a nice crunch.
— “...I kind of want to poke his cheek.”
The Mini-Me muttered blankly.
— Cough, cough!
I hurriedly gulped down some water. I almost spat out the snack. Shin A-young... every now and then, she would blurt out an unexpected thought like that.
“Eat slowly. There’s plenty here.”
“...Right.”
“......”
Shin A-young watched me quietly before asking, “How many points?”
She was asking for a review of the snack.
“Hmm... 7 points... no, 7.5.”
“Out of 10?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm...” Shin A-young nodded.
— “The reaction is pretty good, then.”
The Mini-Me let out a triumphant laugh as if she were the one being praised.
— “...She said these were sponsored for advertising, right? They haven't been released yet... I should ask Dad to bring more.”
I thought I hadn't seen them before; it turns out they really were unreleased products.
— “------.”
“?”
When I turned my head at the sudden sound of noise, I saw Ji Nuri and Lee Sol walking toward us from the distance. They were walking side by side, but for some reason, the atmosphere between them was strange.
Lee Sol looked the same as usual... but Ji Nuri was walking all stiffly. She stood out quite a bit.
“...Oh, you’re back?”
Perhaps because of the atmosphere, I greeted them awkwardly without realizing it.
“Yeah.”
Lee Sol took a seat next to me. She crossed her legs, rested her chin on her hand, and glanced over at me.
— “------”
Lee Sol’s Mini-Me was emitting noise. Then, it suddenly whipped its head away.
“...?”
Wondering what was going on, I looked at her closely. The Mini-Me’s profile looked different than usual. Its cheeks were subtly puffed out.
“...”
Wait. Is she... sulking?