Chapter 128
"What kind of photo would satisfy him..."
Normally, she'd flop face-down, pull the covers over her head, and hide—but with the other two sitting right there, Yoo Seol-ah could only cover her beet-red face with her hands. Her cheeks were burning so hot she couldn't even lift her head. But hey, she brought this on herself, so no pity from me.
"Yoo Seol-ah, hand over your phone."
"...Th-that one's really off-limits...?"
"What's off-limits about it? Open the album already."
She snuck those photos behind my back, so naturally, she's the one who has to cave. Yoo Seol-ah frantically glanced around both sides, searching for backup, but the two next to her just watched with gleaming, entertained eyes. In the end, she made a face like the world was ending.
A moment later, she tapped the screen a few times, practically hurled the phone at me, and bolted out of the room. Where was that usual slowpoke Yoo Seol-ah who only moved fast during workouts? She dashed off at near-100-meter sprint speed. Lee Seo-yeon, witnessing it, looked utterly baffled.
"...Where'd she go?"
"No idea."
I was just as baffled. She already knows I saw the pics in her album—why run again? I could track her location in a snap if I wanted, but instead, I leisurely scrolled through the photo gallery on the phone she'd tossed me.
"...Holy."
I couldn't help sucking in a breath at the title of the one album singled out in the gallery.
...What the hell is this.
I knew she wasn't the selfie type, so I figured her own pics would be sparse. But the sole organized album? Titled with a single heart. And the preview thumbnail? That group shot from the MT last time. So yeah, that whole album's gotta be nothing but me.
Sure enough, the hundreds of photos were all of yours truly. Yoo Seol-ah loves emojis in texts, but I've never seen her drop a heart or anything embarrassingly lovey-dovey.
...I mean, I knew it deep down, but damn, she really likes me. And hoarding them in secret like this? Classic Yoo Seol-ah.
Scrolling through, some pics even had special "likes" marked. Shots from the MT, ones from home last time...
...And one of me asleep in bed, eyes closed—snuck while I was out cold.
Then the real kicker: my life's biggest black history. The long-haired me rivaling Yoo Seol-ah's current length. No hesitation—I hit delete. And yeah, I emptied the "recently deleted" folder too, just to be sure.
"Phew."
Honestly, aside from that crossdressing contest nightmare, nothing screamed black history. Childhood pics were just cute. I've always been the type photos get taken of quietly, so most were near-expressionless anyway. Kinda fun seeing these old ones after so long.
"Anything fun?"
"Eh, just old pics. Weird seeing them again. I... deleted that one photo, though."
"Aw, I wanted to see..."
"Absolutely not. That pic shouldn't exist in this world."
I shot down Lee Seo-yeon's pout instantly, then turned to Baek Sia beside me.
"...Everything else is fine, but don't resend that one. If you do, I'm dumping the whole amusement park album—plus everything else—into our family group chat."
"Oppa, that's too much!"
"If it's too much, don't send it. Even if Yoo Seol-ah begs."
"But Unnie's requests are so hard to say no to..."
"...I get it, but no."
I know that switch from her usual cool tone to that wheedling, cutesy voice melts guards—guys and girls alike. But that photo? Non-negotiable.
"Anyway, if she asks you to resend, tell her I said absolutely not."
"...Got it."
Urgent fire's out—no need to dig deeper. Some are probably her solo shots; it'd feel rude prying. Closing the app revealed her wallpaper naturally.
Never mentioned it, but she'd set it to a pic we took together. One of those "liked" ones from the MT—our couple-concept shot. No tripod, so she magicked the phone mid-air. First one together, packed with affection.
...I've never changed from the default wallpaper. Gotta switch to this later.
"...Oppa, you smiling like that kinda pisses me off."
"Wasn't smiling."
"Please, after all these years, you think I'd mistake that?"
Was I grinning without realizing? Her power's unreal, even absent. Yoo Seol-ah's something else.
Job done, I set the phone on the bed. Still no sign of her return. Like last time, maybe attic-bound? Sharpening my senses, yep—soft mana flow from above.
"...No plans to come down?"
"Go fetch her yourself."
Lee Seo-yeon's nudge had me pet Shabu once, then stand. Up the living room stairs to the attic—footsteps announced me, and there she was, already peeking my way. A weird mix of embarrassment and awkwardness on her face, voice a notch meeker than usual.
"...Saw it?"
"Obviously."
"...Eek."
That massive heart folder right up front? Impossible to miss.
She swallowed her shame, then spoke in a steadier tone after a beat.
"...Sorry for secretly collecting the photos."
Even with her prickly side, Yoo Seol-ah's personality shines in moments like this. She doesn't hesitate to apologize. Blushes like crazy but never dodges accountability. This didn't even bug me—hell, I loved peeking at her hidden side—but since she's feeling guilty, time to milk it a bit.
Crank up the acting chops. I hardened my expression, dropped my voice lower.
"You really sorry?"
"...Yeah, sorry."
"Then send me your pics too."
She's selfie-shy, so everyday snaps sound perfect. Stunning in person, photogenic as hell. Artsy major—bets she'll nail the shots. Already hyped.
But eyeing my eager gaze, her face flushed again.
...Why now?
Voice trembling, she asked,
"...H-how many... no, what kind of photos to satisfy you..."
Why the anxious tone? She's no celeb selfie-hater.
I answered, puzzled.
"...Just selfies or whatever. From home's fine."
Natural ones or awkward—both fun.
Then it clicked for her; she nodded furiously.
"Ah, aaah~ That kinda selfie? Yeah, of course I can..."
That awkward stutter? Only when reality defies her wild guess. What else could she have imagined besides selfies?
...Yeah, collecting pics without asking was totally my bad.
So no surprise Baek Sion looked a bit stiff.
"You really sorry?"
That slightly lower tone than usual. His pretty face already pairs with a deeper voice, but when it sinks further? Kinda scary.
And maybe 'cause he never actually gets mad... seeing that face makes my heart race, body heat up a tad.
...Am I a perv or what?
"...Yeah, sorry."
"Then send me your pics too."
After hating that crossdressing shot so much, maybe he wants something equally embarrassing from me.
"...H-how many... no, what kind of photos to satisfy you..."
Just checking, but he stared like I was nuts.
"...Just selfies or whatever. From home's fine."
...Snap out of it, Yoo Seol-ah...!
My face burned; I averted my eyes, nodding.
"Ah, aaah~ That kinda selfie? Yeah, of course I can..."
...No, I'm the weirdo?
Honestly, wanting your pissed-off boyfriend to punish you like that? Guys might not get it, but pretty major fetish for girls, right...?
But his puzzled look forced me to admit I'd gone off the rails.
And wait—Baek Sion was fake-mad again...
Thinking back, he pulled that "angry" act before and pounced... that's why my mind jumped there.
All his fault.
"...Why the face?"
"...Doesn't matter!"
I was the idiot planning skimpy outfit pics. For real.