[No title provided]
"Can you predict the future too...?"
"...So, have you even tried hitting on him yet?"
"Well, I don't think we've ever really done anything like that..."
From an outsider's perspective, anyone would think no guy could resist Lee Seo-yeon if she made a move. But hearing Baek Sia's words, Seo-yeon started fumbling for an excuse. Yoo Seol-ah, watching that, couldn't hold back and jumped right in.
"It's not 'really'—you've never even tried seducing him at all."
"Th-that's..."
The one topic where the ever-confident Lee Seo-yeon always crumbled: her romance with Doyun hyung. We already knew he liked her back. After the game succeeded, he'd mentioned wanting to be on more equal footing first, but that was probably only half-serious. Just looking at the samples he'd shown today made it obvious how much time he poured into game development.
But everyone knows a game's success or failure isn't just about the creators' effort.
Liking someone but holding back because of family background differences, or because there's a slim chance the game won't be a massive hit? That's not the Doyun hyung I knew. Back in Astasia, he'd been the first to make bold calls when he deemed them necessary.
"Oppa looks super busy with his work anyway."
Seol-ah's point seemed to be that since Doyun hyung was so swamped, Seo-yeon should take the initiative. I agreed. He might seem obsessed with game dev, but knowing him, he'd juggle top grades too. He knew she liked him, so he was probably using her hesitation to boost his own value first. I'd seen glimpses of his scarily calculated side in Astasia now and then.
But despite that, he was more humane than anyone. If Seo-yeon confessed outright, the odds of him turning her down? Zero percent. He'd probably cut sleep to balance his routine and dating her.
"...But he really seems so busy, I feel kinda bad... What if personal messages bug him when he's swamped...?"
Her outward poise hid a soft heart—she probably obsessed over "stealing his time." I got it to some extent, but Seol-ah wasn't having it.
"You want him to make time for you even when he's busy, right?"
"......"
That's the whole point of dating. Even in the busiest time of high school—senior year—kids still dated. At top schools with no-dating rules, they just snuck around.
Seo-yeon mumbled, clearly hit where it hurt. Seol-ah sighed lightly and turned to Sia.
"Sia-ya, what do you think?"
"...Seo-yeon unnie, you've never dated before, huh?"
"Ugh..."
...My little sister was brutally direct. Maybe because she'd been tricked big-time earlier, she was treating Seo-yeon—heiress to a massive corp—like an old friend now. Not that Seo-yeon flaunted her wealth. She was low-key unless you knew.
"I've never dated either, but... if you like someone, shouldn't you go all-in?"
"Exactly what I was saying."
"Or maybe you like him, but not enough to bet everything on it...?"
Sia could say that since she didn't know our history, but Seo-yeon blushed faintly and replied clearly.
"...It's gotta be oppa. No one else."
"Then no need to overthink it."
Sia wrapped it up simply. True to form for my sister—who skipped dating out of sheer laziness—her thinking was refreshingly straightforward.
"Not confessing right away, but you two need to hang out more first."
"Pull out your phone, quick."
Nothing's more thrilling than meddling in someone else's love life. The two flanking Seo-yeon geared up for real-time coaching. Overwhelmed, she finally dug out her phone from her bag.
In the messenger app, Doyun hyung's name sat pinned at the top of favorites. The rest were me and Seol-ah.
"You gotta do these things the second the idea hits."
"...Oh, today? Today feels kinda..."
"No hesitating. You're not even awkward around each other, right?"
"True, but... so, should I just ask him to hang?"
"Something light like grabbing a drink..."
I'd been listening quietly, but had to chime in at Sia's too-casual suggestion.
"Baek Sia, you've never even had a drink."
"I saw it in dramas. And unnie's prettier than any drama actress, so it'll work."
Smooth talker. If she'd been born a guy, she'd have swept every girl off their feet.
...She probably could now, too.
"Just ask if he can make time first."
"...Okay."
Gathering serious courage, Seo-yeon started tapping away. Less than a minute later, she spoke up.
"He says he can do evening."
We all froze simultaneously. An instant reply like that? Only possible with real interest. No way he'd find it annoying, like she worried.
She was clueless when it came to her own love life...
Sia, grasping the vibe without panicking, played it cool.
"Does that oppa seem into you, unnie?"
"...Our vibe's good, at least..."
Facing her directly, I caught a flash of frustration on Sia's face. But with her wide social circle, she mastered poker faces.
"Then start slow from today. Lower the hurdles first—that's key."
"Right, right."
They nodded in sync. Sia kept going.
"Once you're used to meeting up, hit nice spots for drinks, trips... you know."
"Yeah, one step at a time, and it'll happen fast."
But I'd been holding back on Seol-ah's lines. Sia had zero experience but Casanova potential if she tried. Gotta admit my sister's talents. Seol-ah? Her scam-level cuteness was real, but acting like a dating pro made me wanna flick her forehead.
I muttered just loud enough.
"Anyone'd think you're a romance master."
"Ugh, why pick on me!?"
I hadn't named names, but Seol-ah bristled instantly. By raw count, she'd done it once, Sia zero—so Sia should've snapped. Her staying chill meant she knew it too.
"Nah, 'one step at a time'? Can't let that slide."
Now Sia and Seo-yeon looked confused; Seol-ah clammed up, face reddening as she got it.
Inducing me to pounce that first night back, then flipping it when it flopped? And calling that "one step"?
Unforgivable.
"...Wh-why bring up ancient history outta nowhere?"
"You were all hyped giving advice. And 'ancient'? It's been, what, two months?"
"It's not advice—I'm helping as a friend who wants you to succeed!"
"I get the intent. But acting like you know it all..."
Some deep-seated irritation bubbled up. Our special couple dynamic? Sia caught the vibe and eyed Seo-yeon.
"...See? These two are dating. Don't overcomplicate it."
"...Kinda feels that way?"
We'd accidentally become the perfect low-bar example for Seo-yeon. Good that it boosted her confidence, but Seol-ah was still fuming.
"Seo-yeon unnie's got that mature vibe, so taking it slow suits her."
Seol-ah grumbled softly at Sia's jab.
"...Ugh, I am mature—it's someone's fault I'm not..."
"No mature person's blaming others."
"You never lose an argument... total elementary kid?"
"Plenty of middle schoolers are over 160cm these days."
"Ugh!..."
Seol-ah hated losing too, but the sneak attack shut her up. She bit her lip, yanked out her phone, and started typing furiously like she'd decided something.
Moments later, my phone alarm blared.
...Only Seol-ah or club alerts set that off.
Dread hit as I checked. I nearly choked, slapping a hand over the screen.
...When the hell did she even take this?
I shot Seol-ah a natural glance, but she pouted triumphantly, sticking out her tongue with a taunting glint.
"Who's the kid now?"
"...Not you."
Had to retract. She smirked, satisfied, but I forced my temper down. One slip, and other fires might ignite.
The pic? Her tugging the neckline of her current tee to flash cleavage, other hand half-covering her face for extra allure.
...Attic vibes from earlier. How'd she predict this spat?
Didn't make sense... But with others around, and knowing her rampages were unstoppable, I was just glad it wasn't more intense.