Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Saturday #3
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Skreeech!
The sharp sound of sneakers scraping against the floor reverberated loudly through the gym.
"Hup."
I barely managed to return the ball veering off to one side, only for it to come flying right back from the opposite direction.
"Hah... hah..."
I hadn't been out of breath like this in ages, but a few rounds of table tennis had pushed me to my limits with that insane play.
She said she'd only played a few times with her dad as a hobby...
Hong Yeonseo was cutting every ball I sent her way, adding spin to send it to the opposite side of my position. There was no way through with my skill level.
"That's game!"
In the end, the match ended in my defeat.
The three points I'd scored early on—when she was going easy on me—were my last.
"Tired? Let's sit and catch our breath for a bit."
I plopped down on a chair in the corner of the table tennis room to steady my breathing.
"Whew. You could've gone pro in table tennis. No match for you."
Leaning back against the chair, I turned my gaze to Hong Yeonseo.
She'd sat right next to me, her cheeks flushed even deeper from the intense game.
A single bead of sweat trickled down following the curve of her heated, reddened cheek.
She wiped it away with her hand, tickled by the droplet, and responded to my words.
"You're one to talk. Your skills improved every single game. I've never seen anyone level up that fast."
"I didn't even score after the first game..."
Hearing that, Hong Yeonseo draped her arm over my shoulder.
"It's been forever for me, right? Making me work for it like that is already impressive~"
"Yeah, sure."
I chuckled at her playful tone.
As the cool gym air began to cool my sweat, Hong Yeonseo stood up from her seat.
"Alright. I won the bet. Wanna do one more for dinner?"
I'm gonna lose again.
Seeing me hesitate, Hong Yeonseo uttered the magic word.
"Chicken?"
......
Ha. Unbelievable.
It was time to awaken my table tennis skills from back in the army, where I'd won the barracks tournament and treated the whole room to PX snacks.
That last game was just warm-up to get the blood flowing and recall old instincts.
She's really poking the sleeping tiger now...
"Bring it."
"Whoa, your eyes just changed. Jin."
Overwhelmed by my aura, Hong Yeonseo headed back to the table.
I rolled the ball she'd handed over for serve on my palm.
This cool, smooth texture.
The killer ball...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Oh yeah~ Dinner's on you today."
"......"
I lost.
Hong Yeonseo was way stronger than I'd thought.
Unlike her, who'd never done serious training, but compared to me with no real athletic background, she had the edge in flexibility.
"Had a blast after so long. Hehe."
Though I'd lost repeatedly, seeing her beaming smile made me realize I'd enjoyed it too.
"Yeah. Haven't moved this much or sweated like this in forever."
"Fun, right?"
"Yeah. Feels refreshing."
Nice.
Hong Yeonseo pumped her fists in delight.
"Then let's shower, change, and head out. We can figure out where while walking."
"Sure!"
Hong Yeonseo untied the band holding her red hair as she headed to the women's showers.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After showering and changing, as I was stuffing my clothes into my bag, my phone lit up and vibrated.
[Yoon Jiu]
The name on the screen puzzled me.
"What's up."
Why's he calling me of all people?
Before picking up, I glanced at the notifications— he'd sent a bunch of texts already.
I grabbed my stuff and headed out of the gym, climbing the stairs to take the call outside.
Hong Yeonseo would probably take longer than me.
Yoon Jiu's call had gone to voicemail by the time I got out.
I called him back.
Ring-
[What're you doing?]
His voice came through before the first ring even finished.
"I'm outside. What's up?"
[Outside where? With who?]
"Downtown. With Hong Yeonseo."
[......What?]
Yoon Jiu fell silent.
His sudden quiet weirded me out, so I asked why he'd called.
"Anyway, why? You sent a ton of texts too. Something urgent?"
[Hey, Ijin.]
"Yeah."
[What're you doing out with Yeonseo alone downtown?]
His voice dropped an octave, heavy.
But dude, he wasn't answering any of my questions.
"Just hanging out. So why the texts and call?"
[Just hanging out alone? Weren't you out with Sea two days ago?]
"How'd you know? Yeah, man... So why the texts and call?"
[Haha... Tell me, you planning to go out with Seong Yurin tomorrow too?]
"What're you even talking about."
But this guy's pissing me off.
Yoon Jiu just spouted cryptic nonsense.
Irritation made the corner of my eye twitch.
No. I'm the adult here. Gotta hold it together.
"How'd you know about that anyway?"
[Eh, figured it out. You're just like me, huh? Anyway, got it.]
Click.
The call ended abruptly.
Hung up?
......He's just saying whatever today.
His attitude was so off, like he'd eaten something weird.
I opened the texts— similar to the call.
A few "where are you," a few "with Hong Yeonseo?"
Why's he acting like this all of a sudden?
As I frowned, debating calling back, a bolt of realization struck me.
......Wait. No way.
Was Yoon Jiu misunderstanding something?
Made sense— he might've gotten the wrong idea about me and Hong Yeonseo hanging out today.
And he'd brought up the other girls too.
Yoon Jiu was the original protagonist, and the others were heroines.
Sure, things had shifted a bit, but he probably still had feelings for them.
Otherwise, why react like this out of nowhere?
This could be trouble.
I glanced around.
Downtown was packed with students out for the holiday.
He might've heard from one of them— unlike me, he had tons of friends at school.
Having taken the call, maybe I should avoid anything that could fuel more misunderstandings.
"Jin! How could you come out first? I was wondering why you weren't coming."
Hong Yeonseo's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Oh, uh? Sorry. Got a call so I came out, was about to head back in."
"Hmph. Not trying to ditch paying for dinner?"
"As if I'd run over something like that..."
She turned away with a pout.
My bad anyway, so I approached to soothe her.
"Sorry."
Her eyes flicked to mine, meeting my gaze.
I poured on the sincere look, and she grinned, turning back.
"Fine, whatever~ You're not the type anyway. But what was the call?"
"......Uh. Oh, that."
...Crap.
Should've just brushed it off.
But since it involved her, I hesitated on how much to say.
My fumbling piqued her curiosity more.
"What? What is it?"
Can't exactly say "Yoon Jiu seems into you."
I averted my eyes.
"Nothing much. Just work stuff."
"Hmmm..."
She eyed me suspiciously.
A moment later, thinking of Yoon Jiu, I started to suggest we call it a day.
"Hey, Hong Yeonseo...?"
"Yeonseo."
"Huh?"
"No family name. Just the name."
She stepped close, looking up at me from right under my chin.
Her red eyes burned intensely.
I swallowed hard.
"O-okay. Yeonseo...?"
She beamed at her name.
"Yeah. What, Jin?"
"Nothing big, but something came up today. Let's hang out again next time."
"......What?"
Her smile froze solid.
Then a menacing aura seeped out.
"Why? What?"
"No, uh, well. My illustration deadline got moved up..."
"Show me."
"Huh?"
"Phone."
She snatched it from my hand.
"Hey, wait."
"Unlock it."
Cold sweat beaded at her firm tone.
"That's kinda..."
"If you don't, I'll really get mad."
Her serious face stared me down, unblinking.
Tricky situation.
"Jin."
"...Yeah."
"You show everything on your face when you lie."
......Do I?
My hand unconsciously rubbed my chin.
Her eyes narrowed further.
"That reaction confirms it. You lied."
"......"
"Not gonna tell me properly?"
Her glare softened bit by bit.
Then her arms dropped, head bowed, and she held out her hand for the phone.
"Forget it. I'm going."
She shoved it into my hand and turned away. Her small, fragile-looking back faded into the distance.
"........."
She seemed to shrink slowly.
...If I just turned and went home now, no more misunderstandings with Yoon Jiu, right?
......
But why don't I want to let her go like this?
Ignoring reason, following my heart, I lifted my stubborn foot.
One step made the rest easy.
I approached her step by step.
Sensing me, her pace slowed.
"Sorry."
We both stopped. I spoke from behind her.
"No more lies. I'll tell you everything."
My mouth ran ahead on its own.
I grabbed her arm— she trembled faintly.
I gently turned her around.
Biting her lip, she lifted shaky eyes to me.
One touch and she'd cry.
"......For now, let's grab a café nearby and talk."
"......Hmph."
Her words said mad, but she came closer, urging me along.
We walked silently to a nearby café.
I mentally organized what to tell her.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I'm crazy, crazy, crazy.
'Why'd I do that?'
Hong Yeonseo stole a glance at Seo Ijin.
His expression was unreadable.
'Ugh. He suddenly said he was going home, and I got mad and messed up.'
She berated her impulsive nature.
She wasn't usually like this. But with Seo Ijin, it always came out.
Last night... and twice today already.
Still, she wondered why he'd lie and hide it.
He could've just said family stuff or whatever.
If it was something he couldn't say...
Hong Yeonseo's thoughts deepened.