24. In the Unchanging Daily Life (2)

No, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠knew it.

Objectively speaking, just how pretty Baek-seol was.

Slightly upturned eyes that gave off a cold impression, but deep, sparkling black pupils that turned even that into her own charm.

Beside her sharp jawline, her precisely cut bob hair swayed gently.

She had snow-white skin as if white snow covered her entire body, but thanks to her sleek, toned figure from exercise, she exuded a sexy, healthy vibe rather than a sickly image.

Whenever So-jeong watched Baek-seol walking proudly with her slender legs, she always thought that she could even work as a model.

But that was only So-jeong's objective opinion of Baek-seol's beauty.

Sitting at the elegant table in the sunlit Western restaurant where the warm noon sun gently streamed in, So-jeong's heart felt quite different from such objectivity as she looked at Baek-seol resting her chin on one hand and gazing at her intently.

Baek-seol's lips, drawing a soft arc as she listened carefully to her story.

Her eyes, slightly curved as if trying to follow those lips, were melted with a soft warmth instead of their usual sharpness.

So-jeong suddenly wondered if Baek-seol had ever shown such a warm expression, that seemingly affectionate expression, to anyone other than herself.

No. Baek-seol would never make that expression for anyone else.

Because that was Baek-seol's relaxed expression that she unconsciously revealed.

And that expression made Baek-seol's sculpturally beautiful face even more vibrant and lovely.

Since when had it been? That Baek-seol had been looking at her, only her, with such a soft expression.

There was no way to know exactly when. Just like not knowing when the spring flowers blooming brightly by the roadside had begun to blossom there.

So-jeong had merely realized this fact as if discovering it suddenly in this sunlit restaurant. She had simply come to realize it.

And along with that realization, So-jeong saw another expression of Baek-seol's momentarily overlap over the one before her.

The morning of the academic conference, unforgettable no matter how hard she tried.

That expression when she gulped down her essence with a peaceful yet satisfied face.

'Baek-seol, why are you so good to me?'

As the question surfaced again, Baek-seol had already given her answer.

'Because you're my best friend.'

So-jeong believed that answer.

Because Baek-seol was a friend more precious to her than herself, and she knew Baek-seol felt the same way about her.

But was that all?

An inner voice asked So-jeong.

Friend. Best friend.

It's a sufficiently pleasant word, but there are things in the world that cannot be explained by that alone.

For instance,

Baek-seol's current gaze, where she finds So-jeong chattering about a book she likes so adorable that she wants to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠remember every expression and every word forever.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Her heart leaped lightly like a child hopping across stepping stones.

It was quite different from the deep, heavy throbbing of lust she had felt until now, leaving So-jeong no choice but to be flustered.

"......Hey, Baek-seol?"

Unable to continue speaking as if nothing was wrong, So-jeong called Baek-seol's name for no reason.

"Hmm? What?"

"Did I say something strange? You were smiling......"

"Ah, was I?"

As if unaware of what expression she had been making, Baek-seol lightly touched the corner of her mouth.

"No, just......"

Then, seemingly lost in thought, she glanced briefly at the blue spring sky outside the window before looking back at So-jeong with a slight smile.

"The weather is nice today."

Thump thump thump.

The child hopped more joyfully.

As her heart powerfully pulsed throughout her entire body, the voice in her mind rose like waves in a regular rhythm.

Perhaps.

Maybe.

Baek-seol......?

"......"

"Here is the rosé penne pasta you ordered. Where should I......"

"Ah, yes! Here, please put it here."

So-jeong thought it was fortunate that their food arrived just then.

Because behind the appetizing steam rising warmly, she could hide her flustered face.

***

Clink. Clink.

Only the sound of utensils and plates clinking echoed quietly between So-jeong and Baek-seol.

Since neither of them talked much while eating,

someone might find eating in silence awkward and uncomfortable, but the two didn't pay much attention to it. Rather, they even felt a different kind of comfort compared to when they were conversing.

Being accustomed to silence also meant they were familiar enough with each other not to have to force conversation.

"......"

Thanks to that, So-jeong had the opportunity to sneak glances at Baek-seol while twirling the light pink pasta on her fork.

Baek-seol was calmly lowering her eyes and elegantly placing gambas al ajillo shrimp on baguette with a posture that even felt graceful.

From such Baek-seol, the warmth from earlier was nowhere to be found, and her usual chicness was emerging again. As if So-jeong's seeing that expression had been an illusion.

But the ripple that had arisen in So-jeong's heart, the thought that had begun to bloom in her mind, didn't easily let go of her.

After taking a big bite of pasta and chewing while organizing her thoughts, So-jeong gently put down her fork and spoon and called Baek-seol.

"Baek-seol."

"Hmm?"

Baek-seol immediately raised her head and looked into her eyes.

"Aren't you interested in dating?"

It was a slightly roundabout question since she couldn't outright ask, 'Are you interested in me romantically?'

"Hmm...... suddenly?"

Baek-seol tilted her head slightly as if surprised.

"No, why? You have a good figure, you're pretty, and you have a good personality. I think there would be tons of people who'd like you."

At So-jeong's words, Baek-seol silently gazed at her intently for a moment as if thinking about the question.

And what came from Baek-seol's mouth was quite different from what So-jeong had expected.

"What about you, So-jeong?"

"Huh? Me?"

"Yeah. Don't you ever think about wanting to date?"

At the sudden counter-question, So-jeong put her finger to her chin and fell into thought.

Dating. Dating.

So-jeong tried to imagine herself walking side by side with someone of blurry form, but it remained just a vague image like something seen through an old TV.

The word "dating" felt too distant to So-jeong. Originally, she was someone who found meeting people itself burdensome.

"Uh, I don't really have any particular......? No, more importantly, what about you, Baek-seol?"

"I......"

Baek-seol, who had trailed off again, suddenly lifted the corner of her mouth slightly and said.

"I think I'd be okay with dating if the other person was you, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠So-jeong."

"Hwit?!"

So-jeong almost dropped the fork in her hand.

"Wh-what what what are you saying?!"

Unlike So-jeong, whose fluster was clearly visible on her face, Baek-seol continued with a slightly amused smile.

"Earlier you said I have a good figure and I'm pretty."

"Th-that may be true, buuut......!"

While it wasn't exactly wrong, it didn't feel entirely right either, and as So-jeong waved her hands frantically, an image suddenly surfaced in her mind.

It was a scene from a dream So-jeong had once had. Herself and Baek-seol becoming completely naked without a single thread, touching each other, kissing, and her thing......

"Euaaa!"

So-jeong shook her head vigorously, scattering the image like clouds.

This was disastrous. Far from probing Baek-seol's feelings toward her, wouldn't she end up revealing her own confused feelings?

"Of-of course I know you're pretty and kind and all that, bu-but as for dating, I'm not sure what to say yet......"

Baek-seol, who had been watching So-jeong ramble incoherently, covered her mouth and laughed. Huhu.

"Got it. It's a joke, a joke."

"So that's why these things should be discussed through more intimate conversation...... huh, a joke?"

"Yeah. Since you brought up dating talk that you don't usually do, I decided to play a little prank. Sorry, did I surprise you too much?"

"Ah, no......"

So-jeong spoke in a voice half relieved, half embarrassed, as if shrinking, and let her shoulders slump.

"Huhu, I don't really have any thoughts about dating either."

"Is that so......?"

"You know too, right? That I don't really like meeting people."

"That's true. Ah, ahaha......"

So-jeong let out a meaningless laugh and then began eating her pasta at a faster pace than before, as if trying to cover up her overreaction.

But the words Baek-seol had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just thrown kept spinning around in her head.

'I think I'd be okay with dating if the other person was you, So-jeong.'

Was that really just a simple joke? Or a prank mixed with truth?

"Huuuu......"

So-jeong, whose mind had become even more jumbled than before asking the question, let out a small whimper that Baek-seol couldn't hear and shoved a bite of pasta into her mouth.

***

'That was close.'

Baek-seol secretly wiped her brow and thought to herself.

She almost crossed the line. She barely managed to avoid her carefully hidden true feelings nearly spilling out.

'You have a good figure, you're pretty, and you have a good personality.'

"......Huhu. Hup. Hmm hmm."

Remembering that casual remark from So-jeong, the muscles around her mouth relaxed goofily again as if laughter might leak out, so Baek-seol massaged her facial muscles with her fingers.

Getting so excited over one compliment that she ends up playing a prank she wouldn't normally do.

'I'm really a serious case, a serious case.'

Baek-seol repeated this to herself and took a big bite of the baguette with shrimp, chewing vigorously.