Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Thursday #1
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Morning had broken. Or maybe it was lunchtime.
Thanks to the holiday starting, I'd slept in luxuriously for the first time in ages.
Skipping my morning workout, I'd crashed hard.
I stretched, then grabbed a cup of cold water from the purifier to shake off the morning haze.
The chill traced a slow path down my esophagus to my stomach, jolting my eyes wide open.
They say cold water's bad for you and all that, but once you're hooked on the sensation, there's no escaping it.
I set the cup in the sink and flopped back onto the bed, savoring the quiet stillness of the empty house.
...What can I say.
Anyone who's tried it knows lying in bed wide awake beats actually sleeping every time.
I wanted nothing more than to stay horizontal all day, but sadly, I'd made a promise to myself I couldn't break.
The one about tackling all the stuff I'd been putting off during this holiday break.
Still sprawled out, I snatched my phone from the nightstand where it was charging.
The group chat was already buzzing with messages from the guys since early morning.
Man, even on vacation, these folks are hustling.
Though here I was, planning to hustle right alongside them—must be the power of youth.
I long-pressed Lee Sea's profile pic amid the flood of chit-chat.
Opening our one-on-one chat, I tapped out a message.
[What're you up to?]
...Eh, too casual? Deleted.
[What're you doing today?]
......Nah, kinda weird too. Deleted.
[You free today?]
.........Too pushy? Deleted that one too.
Ugh, "sending the first text" was a skill level way above my paygrade.
Then it hit me: it's just a message to a friend—what's with overthinking every word?
After agonizing, I finally nailed the perfect line: "You free today? About that promise from before—wanna grab lunch?" Just as I went to hit send...
[Jina, you up?]
Whoa.
A text from Lee Sea first.
My thumbs froze mid-tap.
I hastily deleted my draft and fired back.
[Yeah]
I regretted it the second it sent.
Way too curt. Sloppy.
Ugh, trying to play it cool backfired...
Turns out, this is my usual vibe.
As I clutched my head in solo despair, her reply popped up.
[What were you gonna say? The number vanished right away lol]
Gah...!
Busted.
Kids these days are way too sharp.
Hands shaking, I retyped my earlier draft and hit send.
[Nothing big, just checking if today works for that promise we made]
Perfect. No notes.
My digital social skills just leveled up again.
Basking in self-praise, her next message landed.
[Sweet! When? You just wake up? Bet you haven't had breakfast or lunch yet. Lunch together? I'll get ready—come out when I call?]
Lee Sea types at warp speed.
How'd she clock that I just rolled out of bed, though?
I replied, then finally hauled myself upright.
Whatever—date with Lee Sea was locked in. Time to prep.
I headed to the bathroom.
...For a split second, it felt exactly like a guy and girl setting up a date. Then I shoved the thought aside.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Heehee. Jina tried texting me first thing."
Lee Sea hugged her robot cat plush tight, still lounging in bed.
It was a birthday gift from Seo Ijin back in the day.
Holiday morning. She'd been chatting in the group with friends when she noticed the lingering "1" vanish.
She shot Ijin a text—and watched her own message's counter disappear instantly. Boom, case closed.
Knowing his habits, leaving their private chat open screamed "something to say." She called him out directly.
And the follow-up confirmed her hunch.
Thick happiness washed over her.
She knew Seong Yurin and Hong Yeonseo had pitched outings—dates—with Ijin too.
Sure, being childhood friends helped a ton. So what?
No matter the reason, she was first. Fact.
Unable to stay still, she crushed the plush like it was Ijin himself, giggling uncontrollably.
Just as the poor cat started morphing into something riskier, she snapped to.
"Hah! Not the time! Gotta wash up and pick an outfit!"
A girl's prep took longer than a guy's—obvious.
Almost noon already. If she dragged more, Ijin's empty stomach would riot.
She quit rolling around, chucked the plush and phone aside, and bolted from her room, floorboards thumping.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Prep done in record time, I sank into the massage chair for some heavy pondering.
'What to eat?'
A riddle on par with the world's top seven wonders—make it eight.
Not that I'd gone with Lee Sea before, but we'd hit Japanese spots too much lately. Scratching tonkatsu and ramen off my list, I kept brainstorming.
What does Lee Sea even like...?
Never saw her picky in all our hangouts.
If she had a fave, I'd know. Ten years of friendship.
That's why I was racking my brain.
Anything seems fine.
But I got no clue what to pick.
This limbo...!
Texted her asking what she wanted. Radio silence.
Probably busy getting ready.
Girls our age take forever dolling up. Fair.
I drummed my phone case, waiting and stewing.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Uwaa... Did I take too long in the shower?"
Fresh fancy conditioner, body lotion—the works. Shower alone ate way more time than planned.
Feeling her mom's hands drying her hair, Lee Sea started makeup.
"Sleeping over at Jina's today? Hehe."
"Mom!"
Mom had cornered her bustling morning self, heard the scoop, and now teased nonstop while helping.
Half-serious, maybe.
"Sea, hurry up. Lunchtime's slipping away."
Lee Sea's gut twisted.
'Gotta rush. What if Jina gets mad?'
Ijin wasn't the type, but still—he might be disappointed inside.
Her frantic hands sped up, but a girl's urge to dazzle her crush demanded more polish.
Full makeup done, she grabbed one of mom's outfit picks and dashed out—over an hour later.
Freaking out about sweat, she half-rushed without rushing, finally pulling out her phone to call Seo Ijin as she stepped outside. That's when he...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Ughhhh..."
Girls really do take forever to get ready.
Prepped in ten minutes flat, now I second-guessed: too half-assed? Should I tweak something?
How long had I waited? Hunger gnawing, the massage chair's hum cut into my ringtone.
"She's here."
Lee Sea's name on the screen. I stood, killing the chair's power.
As I picked up, her breathless voice tumbled out.
[Jina...! Sorry, super late, right? Heading to your place now.]
Even over the phone, her guilt was palpable.
[Nah, I'm home. I'll come to you. We're heading downtown anyway.]
[Okay... I'll wait. Sorry. Should've called sooner.]
[No biggie for this. Hanging up—see you out front.]
Call ended, I double-checked gas and power, then headed out.
...Should've asked about lunch first.
Locking up, I ducked into our chat.
Saw the unread count on my earlier text. Resent the same one.
[What for lunch?]
Finally marked as read.
Her reply pinged moments later.
[Whatever you want!]
............
Out of every option, she picked the worst one.
Her way of being thoughtful, sure—letting me choose.
Still, I clutched my head all the way to her place.