Chapter 60
I could feel Yoo Seol-ah's pure mana unfurling ever so delicately, blanketing the entire area before vanishing in an instant. It was like she was checking for anyone nearby. Satisfied that the coast was clear, she charged straight at me. She hugged me so tightly that her warmth—and a rush of other sensations—sent my head spinning.
"...I missed you."
"......"
But come on, it had only been five days. Wasn't her guard down a bit too much lately? Don't get me wrong—having her cling to me like this and whisper in that sweet voice was amazing for me. Too amazing, actually. My heart was pounding, and with five days of pent-up desire, I could already feel a faint stir in my lower half.
Her soft texture, that unique vanilla scent of hers—it was all burrowing into my brain. And the fact that she'd worn the white oversized hoodie I'd picked out last time? Total cuteness point. It was a little short to show off to others, so she'd swapped my suggested no-pants look for safe jeans, but still.
All these factors piling up had me getting aroused just from the hug. I tamped it down with effort. Doing anything like that at school felt like too big a psychological hurdle.
I regained my composure pretty quickly and glanced downward, but Yoo Seol-ah wouldn't let go of my waist.
"Hey."
"......"
With our height difference, the top of her head usually reached my shoulder. But right now, she had her face buried straight into my chest. No response—what was she doing? Listening closely, her breathing sounded off from usual. It wasn't just regular inhales; it reminded me of those news clips about people huffing drugs through inhalers or something...
"...Yoo Seol-ah...?"
"......Huh? Oh..."
Only after I called her name a little louder did she jolt in surprise. She quickly backpedaled away from me, eyes darting everywhere. Her blank expression from moments ago was gone, replaced by pure panic. She cleared her throat once, then acted like nothing happened.
"...Ahem. How've you been?"
"We've been talking constantly."
Not that I knew her every move, but we could see each other's work progress even with mics off, and we always chatted before bed until one of us dozed off.
She was definitely just throwing out anything to defuse the awkwardness.
"......Yeah, but... still, what if something else happened?!..."
She knew it was a lame excuse—her usual tsundere snippiness came out all forced this time. I didn't want to push her too hard; she'd look kinda pitiful.
"I've been good. Worked my ass off after so long."
"...Me too. Think I've drawn more than ever in my life."
The schedule would've been exhausting alone, but sharing updates with her had been a huge mental boost. She'd played the role of my daily vitamin perfectly.
"But man, you must've really missed me."
"......"
"Thought you were a cat for a sec. Why were you sniffing me like that?"
"...W-When did I...?"
It wasn't just sniffing—she'd been rubbing her face into my chest like one of those cats at Lee Seo-yeon's place last time. No way to deny what I'd just seen and felt.
I gave her a suspicious look, and she went full denial mode.
"Never happened, okay? And anyway, it wasn't like I that desperate to see you?"
"......"
"Five days isn't that long. I just... normally missed you. Yeah."
Considering how she'd clung to me with all her strength and wouldn't let go, I had plenty to say. But watching her force the tsundere act was entertaining enough—I let it slide.
"...Quit staring like that!..."
"Just looking?"
I'd only given her a slight smile, but she started huffing. Talk about the thief feeling guilty.
Truth was, I'd missed her like crazy too, so I dropped the teasing.
"Entrance ceremony ends, then you've got one lecture, right?"
"Yeah. It's Friday, so college English."
Lecture started at 1, so we could grab food after and head in. With the weather warming up, we sat on a bench, basking in the sun and chatting. Time flew even after we'd covered everything—even with her, the conversation never ran dry.
"My friend's coming soon too—is that okay?"
"Friend?"
"Yeah, one from way back in childhood. She wanted to sit together at the ceremony. If it's weird, I can hang separately."
"Nah. Your friend? Should be fine."
Obviously, anyone close to Yoo Seol-ah couldn't be bad. Plus, I was curious. Wanted to see her around a good friend, too.
I'm not big on new people, but it'd happen eventually anyway.
"Cool. Wait a sec."
"Sure."
She called someone—probably the friend.
"Hello? Yeah. Behind the main building. I'll point you."
She just gave directions and hung up quick.
Not family, so no nerves, but I wondered how she'd introduce me.
"So, what're you gonna say about me?"
"...Haven't thought that far."
"......"
Classic Yoo Seol-ah—jump first, think later. But she looked chill, so no need to worry.
Soon, she waved at someone while checking her phone. A woman with black bob hair arrived fast.
I greeted first.
"Hi."
"...Hi. I'm Park Harin."
"Baek Sion."
Her speech had this mature vibe right off the bat. Looks aside, she radiated coolness and warmth at once—fascinating. Unlike Yoo Seol-ah's sharp-yet-cute merchant face, hers was soft with drooping eyes, but her subtle smile screamed "don't mess."
She glanced between us, then...
"...Come here a sec."
"W-Why?"
She dragged Yoo Seol-ah a few steps away. Yoo Seol-ah got pulled along like a ragdoll. No whispers, but low enough I shouldn't hear.
"...You didn't say it was a guy."
"...D-Didn't I...?"
"'Didn't I' my ass... Since when? You always said no boyfriend plans."
"H-He's not my boyfriend?"
"So you like him one-sided? Honey was dripping from your eyes..."
"......Even from that quick glance...?"
"......"
"But seriously, no..."
...With her guard down like that, anyone would've pegged us as a couple. If we'd been acting, I'd have steeled myself better.
Park Harin ignored the last bit and kept going.
"Back in middle-high, you never went out—just drew and fanned. Or did you meet online or something?"
"...Kinda like that..."
She'd told me she went straight home after school like me. And our club was subculture, plus the fantasy world angle fit.
Best question dodged—nice.
"You barely talked to guys back then. Total tame cat..."
"......"
She'd jumped the gun and cleared the table. Even if I wasn't the boyfriend, the "close guy friend" fact was ironclad—Yoo Seol-ah shut up. Park Harin didn't pry more; they came back quick.
"Sorry. First time seeing her with a guy..."
"No worries. First time meeting her friend too."
Even Stevens. Didn't expect someone so opposite Yoo Seol-ah.
Opposites attract, though—easy to bond.
Then Park Harin tilted her head at me, like something clicked.
"Baek Sion, right?"
"Yes."
She hesitated, then...
"...By any chance, did you do kids' Seoul table tennis tournaments or something?"
I glanced at Yoo Seol-ah in mild shock—she looked equally stunned, eyes wide.
Hadn't even mentioned I was a guy—how'd she know?
"Yeah. A few times in middle school."
"...She once brought up a guy outta nowhere—the only time. Stuck with me, and you just... fit."
"Wait, hold on!..."
Yoo Seol-ah's voice spiked in panic.
Wait—didn't table tennis come up at Lee Seo-yeon's once? She'd brushed it off then too...
What was the deal making her freak like this?