Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Finally Meeting the Main Heroine
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A year had passed since Seol-i's 14th birthday.
The most memorable event from that year was...
"Appa...? Appa~"
Dasom calling out to me.
And it was the second time, right after Mom.
Can't beat Mom, though.
For the record, Dad and I are still arguing about it.
"Haneul, she said Dad, not oppa."
"It's oppa, not Dad. 'A' sound is closer to oppa than 'o' anyway, right?"
"You know one but not two. She hears 'Dad' and 'oppa' so much that they mixed into 'appa.' So it's Dad."
"Doesn't that apply to oppa too?"
No compromising here. Oppa first or Dad first?
Couldn't warmly say "She called both." Pride was on the line.
Meanwhile, Seol-i was looking after Dasom while we argued.
"Dasom~"
"Eonni! Eonni!"
"Yeah! Unnie's here~ Peekaboo~"
"Kyaaaa~"
Besides the oppa-or-Dad word, Dasom's other vocabulary was none other than "eonni."
Seol-i came over so often that Dasom picked it up.
On my end, my growth spurt must've really kicked in, because the height gap with Seol-i widened even more.
I'd always had to look down a bit to meet her eyes, but now the difference was huge.
While she stayed around 151-152cm, I'd surpassed my past life's 172cm.
Only about 2cm more, but still motivating. Meant I could grow taller than before.
Seol-i didn't seem thrilled about it, though.
"Too tall..."
"I'm average."
"Liar, still tall."
True, it was tall. The kind you count from the back faster than the front.
Even so, I wasn't satisfied. Wanted to hit 180 this life.
Dasom started sleeping soundly through the night now, but separate from that, my 9pm bedtime habit stuck.
Woke at 6am—full 9 hours of sleep, a luxury no modern Korean student could dream of.
Worried about less study time? Studied before bed and after waking, so it balanced out.
Anyway, another year like that, and we hit third year.
"Kids, you're third-years now, so act mature. Got it?"
"“Yes~”"
Morning homeroom ended with that familiar teacher advice. I headed to Seol-i in the corner seat.
"Seol-ah, good morning."
"Haneul too, good morning~"
Her beaming smile was as cute as ever.
"Haneul, we're so lucky."
"How so?"
"Same class this year."
"Ah... that?"
Honest take: The author was messing with us.
Think about it. With author powers, could've kept us together from first to sixth grade like elementary.
But middle school? First and second year, stuck me apart while pairing Seol-i with Kim Do-yoon. Only now third year, us together?
Anyone could see it: Designed to pull me from Seol-i, let her fall for Kim Do-yoon.
Luckily, our kind, pure Seol-i didn't play along. Never gave him more than friends.
No second-year confession scene from the novel happened.
Author gave up knowing that? Finally put us back together.
Thankful or late surrender...?
Either way, our year would be fun thanks to it.
Seol-i beamed up at me.
"Haneul, what about high school?"
"High school?"
"Yeah. You could get into a special purpose high school."
...Grateful, but I'd held first place until the second semester finals of second year.
First time Kim Do-yoon snatched it then. Before that, always top.
Grades got me teacher recommendations for special or autonomous privates in second year.
Not bad, but meant separating from Seol-i.
Hated that. Started just to stop her falling for him, avoid her tears. Now? Totally fallen for Hyeon Seol.
Her human charm, pure kind heart—hooked on it all.
"...I'll go to high school with you."
"Really...?"
"Yeah, really."
"Hehe... hehehehe..."
Her honest giggle as she looked up.
"If you're okay with it... how about the school between our neighborhoods?"
"Why?"
"Closer."
Simple reason. Grateful one.
Cutting commute from 50 to 25 minutes? Life upgraded big time.
Seol-i's so thoughtful. Considering that for me.
"I'll think positively."
"...Old soul."
"Suddenly?"
"Talked like an old man. Uncle, uncle."
Uncle...? Depressing word.
But technically true.
Past life 22 years, here 9—total 31. Army vet plus 9? Prime uncle.
Calling a real uncle "uncle"—our Seol-i could be cruel sometimes.
"...I'm sulking."
"Aww~ Don't. Sorry."
Her playful smile seemed brighter than before.
Though that brightness being Haneul-exclusive was the issue.
Anyway... I had another interest.
Kim Do-yoon related, naturally.
Novel timeline: Right now, he meets main heroine Son Chae-eun.
And exactly now...
"So, who's Do-yoon's girlfriend?"
First event: Chicken shop.
Kim Do-yoon shows boarding-house roommate Son Chae-eun around, chicken date.
Bump into friends there—normal but fun event.
Didn't expect novel scene in his Class 1, but hilarious right away.
"...Not girlfriend."
Classic denial—I jumped in teasing.
"Where's that pretty older girlfriend of Kim Do-yoon's?"
"Hey, Kang Haneul. Why you too."
"Thought spring finally hit for Kim Do-yoon. How not with that face?"
"Shut up... wanna sleep."
"Think you can? Those guys are here."
Pointed to Lee Jun-hoo and Choi Seong-gil waiting behind.
Kim Do-yoon sighed deeply.
Man, how pretty to make him catch feelings?
Pure curiosity, no ulterior.
Luckily, answers soon.
If memory served, he'd head home with her today.
Her school ends first, he picks up...
Detour to cafe midway?
"...Hey, Seol-ah."
"Hm?"
Didn't join teasing Seol-i...
"How about cafe hangout today?"
Sweet proposal.
"Yeah! Let's!"
She nodded vigorously—almost startling.
"Hey, dating here but no picking fights?"
Blocked Kim Do-yoon's jab easily.
"Not date with Seol-i, treating Princess Seol-i."
"Right, date Seol-i? Gotta get my okay first!"
Lee Ji-yoon hugged Seol-i, glaring. Seol-i flailed in her arms.
Hey, Ji-yoon. Don't hold so tight. Your height chokes her.
After school, headed to cafe by her school's gate.
Beat Kim Do-yoon, no interference.
One issue...
"Haneul, why here specifically?"
Hard convincing Seol-i.
Thought it over, gave plausible answer.
"Same chain, but tastier here. And been ages since just us."
"That... yeah... right... ehehehe..."
She didn't care much—perfect excuse.
Sipping coffee (me), hot chocolate (her), when Kim Do-yoon spotted us, flinched.
Only cafe around, entered anyway.
"Do-yoon, hi~"
"Kim Do-yoon, hey."
"...Why're you here."
"Cafe with customers a problem? Right, Seol-ah."
"Hehe, yeah yeah."
Her innocent grin shut Kim Do-yoon up.
For him, disaster. Didn't tell her his school, yet us at her cafe.
Whatever. Fun for me's enough.
You tormented Seol-i in canon. Deserve it.
Kim Do-yoon sighed, bought iced chocolate and hot chocolate, sat apart.
Seol-i eyed it, guessed aptly.
"Haneul, Do-yoon's girlfriend goes here...!"
"Maybe."
Whispered, but he heard.
He knew: Me maybe malice, but Seol-i pure.
Feel that purity.
Giggling at his boiling frustration, then he stood, exited.
Outside, girls streaming out.
"Oh, Haneul. Look there. Do-yoon's girlfriend must be...!"
Seol-i sparkled, hunting his "girlfriend" (fated).
Scanned them, asked just in case.
"Seol-ah, think Kim Do-yoon's really dating her?"
"Hm? You guys said so?"
......Too pure, problem.
Can't tell teasing from truth.
Cherish our Seol-i, really cherish.
Wiped hot chocolate from her lip, eyed the girls.
Finally spotted in the crowd.
Kim Do-yoon's girl, Son Chae-eun.
......Super pretty. Admit. Perfect match side-by-side. Golden couple.
But... not sure if say this...
Cuteness? Our Seol-i wins by miles.
Makes less sense. How reject confession from this cutie? Kim Do-yoon, go die. Please.