Chapter 200
Are we the ones who should be embarrassed? Truth be told, ever since I started dressing up while prepping for job applications after graduating college without a single break, I'd never felt any lack in my looks. If I desperately wanted a relationship, I figured I could have one no problem. But there were all sorts of obstacles, starting with my core personality, and one factor that quietly played a big role was the sheer existence of all those romcom stories.
Just consuming the romcom genre satisfied so much of my craving for that sweet, happy feeling. It wasn't like my romance cells got activated and made me want to date someone myself—it was more like, if I could get through another day basking in this sweetness, that was enough. Sweetness everywhere I looked, heartwarming tales of perfect couples everywhere—how could I not feel satisfied? But real-life romance is a bit different. I'd heard plenty from those around me about all the practical problems and the bittersweet endings that happen all too often. And above all, the most crucial thing for me—a total dealbreaker—was that I had no childhood friend.
I couldn't make my favorite childhood-friend romcom come true in reality. Hell, you can't just make a childhood friend even if you desperately want one... Anyway, that's how it was. Instead of putting in effort to date, I'd spent all that time devouring romcom creations. And yet, here was a couple in real life outdoing even the fictional romcoms.
"...Ugh."
One half of that couple was currently hyper-focused on snagging an arctic fox plush from the claw machine. Maybe because they started off as a mage and an assassin who didn't get along, but seeing them refuse to yield to each other on the surface while utterly failing to hide how much they liked one another was heartwarming just to watch. So when I found out about Seol-ah and Sion's relationship, I'd borrowed the power of the stars for the first time in ages to pick out a gift.
Once you end up with more money than time, the only thing you can really do is support the creators who make the media you love to consume. And these two—a total knockout beauty and a guy who could give idols a run for their money—filming a real-life romcom? ...They filled my sweet-tooth quota, so I had to give back.
With the mindset that I'd snag any expensive gift I could if possible, I'd urgently consulted the stars, but surprisingly, the perfect answer was right under my nose. A yes/no pillow I'd bought on a solo trip to Japan ages ago. Since I loved even the 19+ romcoms with their big emphasis on physical intimacy in relationships, I figured it'd make a great gift. Tough to give to casual acquaintances, sure, but these two were so close.
Hearing that both Sion and Seol-ah were in their first relationships ever had me thinking it might really help if Seol-ah was the shy type who struggled to voice her desire for intimacy. Seol-ah was definitely the type to blush outright about that stuff, right? ...But listening to her dilemma drag on, it felt like they'd already blown past that level ages ago.
Knowing Seol-ah, she was probably beating around the bush, but basically, it boiled down to "it's too good, and that's the problem." In most relationships where both sides are plenty satisfied, it's not weird for the woman's libido to run stronger anyway. I spoke up toward Seol-ah, who was carefully maneuvering the joystick.
"...How's the pillow working out?"
"Kehk...!"
Her grip suddenly tightened on the joystick, and the arctic fox plush dangling from the claw plopped powerlessly back among the others. Seol-ah whipped around, her eyes wide in fluster.
"...Sorry."
"...Nah, this thing always drops halfway no matter what... How do people who're good at claw machines even do it...?"
Thinking I'd help her out later, I watched as Seol-ah's cheeks flushed a bit before she quietly answered.
"...That pillow... Th-thanks."
"......"
I'd expected her to dodge the question, but nope. I'd sent the pillow as a gift just last night—past 11 p.m., even. And now it was barely after lunch. So that meant the second they got home...? No other interpretation came to mind for her answer.
As I sat there speechless, Seol-ah suddenly clapped a hand over her mouth, then charged at me. She grabbed both my hands tight and blurted out,
"No, it's not what unnie thinks...! I just love hugging stuff to sleep, and that pillow's so super fluffy, that's all I meant...!"
"...Weird. Don't you already have someone to hug while you sleep?"
"Unnie!!..."
Seol-ah really couldn't lie for shit. Her voice pitching up when flustered was pretty cute, though. Wait, hold up... If she wasn't even struggling to say she "wanted it," then why did the stars flag that pillow as the ultimate gift? Was there some other role it could play beyond being a trigger for newbie couples who sucked at setting the mood...?
But prying too deep into someone else's bedroom life felt off, and honestly, as someone with zero experience, I couldn't imagine what. As long as they were all lovey-dovey, that was fine. Watching Seol-ah pout with her face beet red was healing enough anyway.
"Hang on, lemme try once."
Not sure if I should be proud of this, but I was straight-up good at claw machines. She'd love it if I nabbed the arctic fox for her. And she'd probably pass it to Sion, so it could double as my apology gift...
"Unnie, you do a lot of claw machines?"
"Eh... Who knows?"
I gave a vague reply, then shifted the claw toward the arctic fox Seol-ah had dropped. Most machines deliberately weaken the grip, so the trick was timing the drop to maximize the bounce-back momentum.
"...Whoa, unnie, you're a pro."
"...Here, your gift."
I handed the arctic fox plush to Seol-ah without hesitation, and she started gazing at me with eyes full of respect.
...Getting respect for claw machines felt weirdly nice.
"You giving this to Sion?"
I'd assumed as much when I asked, but Seol-ah totally threw me by shaking her head.
"...Nah, unnie specially won this for me, right? Gonna add it to my unnie gift collection."
"......"
In that moment, I totally got why Sion was head over heels for Seol-ah. Sure, her stunning cuteness was huge, but her heart was just so pure. Beyond kind—straight-up righteous. How could anyone not fall for her? She's wife material, right?
"...I'll win another one for Baek Sion."
I smiled faintly at Seol-ah firing up with determination, then started passing on various tips.
~~~
Yoo Seol-ah and Yuna unnie approached from afar, both grinning. Seol-ah really did have that big-sis vibe—standing with other unnies, she still looked like proper sisters. Whatever story they were sharing had them laughing nonstop. The way Seol-ah suddenly schooled her expression upon spotting me was adorable as hell.
"What'd you do?"
"...Played some claw machines."
No sign of the plush—probably stuffed in her bag.
"Gonna go check where Lee Seo-yeon's at real quick."
"Sure."
Seemed like they'd had their fun at the game center and were prepping to head out. Once it was just me and Yuna unnie, she gave me this kinda pitying look before cautiously broaching the topic.
"...Sorry for stealing your alone time."
"Nah. We're together all the time at home anyway, and our schedules overlap almost completely."
If anything, seeing Seol-ah with other people felt refreshingly new, and I liked it. But Yuna unnie's expression shifted again as she looked at me. Like she was urging me to hang in there or something.
"...And sorry about the other thing too..."
"......?"
Other thing? What other thing? She looked genuinely apologetic, but I had zero clue what for.
"I'm back~"
The other three returned with varied expressions. Lee Seo-yeon looked a tad sulky—probably lost every game to Do-yoon hyung. Still, compared to how awkward they'd been at first, they seemed way closer now, which was nice to see.
"They sell everything in the basement. Even cosplay wigs."
"Oh yeah, they really do."
Seol-ah sounded like she'd scoped it out thoroughly, and Yuna unnie nodded along. Made sense for a shiny new shopping mall less than a year old—everything targeted the young crowd's vibe. Following Yuna unnie's lead, we headed downstairs and promptly stopped at one corner. Toy guns that shot styrofoam bullets and all sorts of playthings lined the shelves.
First to dash in were me and Seol-ah. Lee Seo-yeon wore this mix of sigh and exasperation, but hey, toys are the most fun once you're an adult.
"Bring it."
Seol-ah dove into the sample area without hesitation, grabbing a wand that screamed magical girl and declaring battle. I snagged a dagger in response—a classic toy with a spring-loaded blade that retracted inside.
Seol-ah started swinging her wand like a club, but even with the reach difference, I could parry plenty using the weight balance, short dagger or not.
"Whoa, look—sis and bro are fighting over there..."
"...Aren't you staring too hard?"
Mid-relishing the familiar feel, the voices of a kid and their parents nearby made us both freeze. Like we'd rehearsed it, we silently dropped our toys. And the other three, who'd totally been watching us seconds ago, were now pretending not to be with us, averting their eyes from afar.
Face flaming, Seol-ah bolted toward them—clearly refusing to suffer the shame alone.
"...Hey, Lee Seo-yeon, are we the ones who should be embarrassed?"
"...Sorry, who are y...?"
Poor Lee Seo-yeon got singled out as rep, but with her aspiring voice actress skills, her perfect acting made Seol-ah's face turn an even deeper red than before.
"...Wh-what about you, unnie? You're not embarrassed, right?"
"...Kinda am... No, actually, pretty embarrassed...?"
The moment even trusty Yuna unnie betrayed her, Seol-ah looked on the verge of tears. The magical girl wand actually suited her pretty well, though. I wheeled over a cart from nearby and tossed in another identical wand.
"Not you toooo...!"
Her reaction was too fun. Sure, I felt a little embarrassed myself, but seeing Seol-ah suffer way worse somehow calmed me right down.