Rumors of the Timid Transfer Student
A while back, a transfer student showed up a bit early in the semester. She was a petite girl with a perpetually dazed look on her face, trembling like a leaf as she glanced around nervously, overly sensitive to everyone else's moods. That was my first impression of Kim Sua.
People around me always judged me by my looks, assuming I was some delinquent, and that prejudice pissed me off. So I kept my distance from everyone, putting up walls. But... my seatmate Kim Sua wouldn't even meet my eyes properly, yet she was the one trying to treat me without any reservations.
Anyone—man, woman, young or old—would've tried to befriend such a pretty girl if she showed them kindness. But to me, that pure friendliness just felt uncomfortable.
"You got something bothering you lately?"
"Huh?"
I was lying on a mat in the gym storage room, killing time alone, when that voice called out to me without hesitation. Unconsciously, I rolled my eyes toward the sound.
A boy with delicate, almost girlish features approached me with a soft smile.
"Song A Yeon..."
I called out his name without moving a muscle. Same thought every time—Song A Yeon was a name that didn't quite fit a guy; it sounded too girly.
"Ahaha, so even you have worries, huh?"
He didn't seem to care about his feminine name at all. He leaned against the gym wall with a cheeky grin, teasing as usual.
"I've been hearing a lot about you lately?"
"...Isn't that just par for the course?"
"The badmouthing is normal. This is something else. Word is you're getting really close to the transfer student?"
At the mention of the transfer student, I shot upright without thinking. His lips curled up to his ears at my reaction.
"I got curious and checked her out myself, but it was my first time seeing someone so cute and pretty up close. What can I say... she had this mysterious vibe? Her own unique aura."
Song A Yeon covered his blooming smile with the back of his hand in that graceful way of his. It was overly feminine for a guy.
"Can you please drop the girly moves for once?"
"Ah, sorry. Old ballet habit slipping out..."
"Does that look like a normal habit? Doesn't even seem related."
"Dunno about others, but it stuck with me. Well... I had to quit anyway because of the injury."
Song A Yeon was the son of some big-shot corporate bigwig. He'd always dreamed of being a ballerino as a kid. Got hooked on a ballet performance by chance and seriously pursued it through middle school. That pretty face and graceful, feminine movements were the result of blood, sweat, and tears—he'd explained it to me a million times like a mantra.
Everyone's got their own path in life, so I respected it and kept the conversation going.
"No real worries... just, like you said, my seatmate's making me uncomfortable."
"You're more thoughtful than you look. You look out for the guys too."
"Can't afford weird misunderstandings."
"Just avoid fights that come looking for you, right?"
"I hate getting beat up. If they swing first, sure, I'll hit back. Keeps 'em from coming at me again."
"Such a tough guy~?"
Song A Yeon trailed off in that sultry tone. His every little action seemed flippant, but I couldn't just brush it off.
"Introduce me to her? That Kim Sua transfer student."
"Why? You're popular with girls."
I scowled at his sudden request. He was kind to everyone, considerate with the girls, always leading conversations—good rep, lots of admirers. But despite that, he acted disinterested, showing a double-sided nature. He seemed caring but kept a subtle distance they wouldn't notice.
That was how Song A Yeon handled girls. So him suddenly showing interest in Kim Sua? Had to be some ulterior motive.
"You got a thing for little kids or something?"
"W-what?! Anyone hears that, they'll get the wrong idea!"
"No, but you make girls uncomfortable, don't you?"
"Not wrong, but... it's rare to see you so smitten with someone."
"...What?"
Was this guy finally losing it? When did I say I was smitten with Sua?
Song A Yeon was sharp, great at reading rooms and people. No way he'd say that lightly.
'He must've picked up on something from me...'
"Your reaction says you're the one with the kid fetish? Well... with looks like hers, anyone'd be grateful to snag her."
"You talk like it's not your business. Yeah, she bugs me, but it's not that kind of feeling!"
"Yelling like that just fuels suspicion. Or is there another worry?"
I averted my gaze at his question.
"Well... she is kinda unique compared to other girls..."
"Kuh~ You're kinda cute when you're honest like that. Fix up those eyes, and you'd be popular too."
"Gay bastard..."
I muttered a short curse at him as he slung an arm around my shoulders teasingly. He brushed it off like nothing and kept chattering away.
Haa... I just wanna spend time alone quietly...
I'm here to buy the new release.
"Hey? Sua's friend... Park Seongjun, right?"
"..."
The moment my eyes met the two who'd come into the shop, my face twisted on its own.
"Oh? Son, your girlfriend's here?"
Dad, sorting stuff by the counter, flashed a friendly smile and greeted Sua warmly.
Hello. And no, not girlfriend. Just seatmate.
"Harsh..."
Dad shot me an openly disappointed look. I wanted to bail, but no choice—I handed the counter to him and approached Sua.
V.O. Headed new release.
The second our eyes met, Sua shoved her whiteboard at me and pointed to the neatly stacked new games.
"Zombie game... You got beef with society too, huh?"
Sua shook her head at my half-joking remark, brushed her hair aside, and gave me a pure, beaming smile.
Lately, she'd been avoiding people with a tense, uncomfortable expression, but now her face had softened, like whatever was bothering her had eased up.
"Ugh..."
She really was pretty. Staring at that defenseless face, I couldn't help thinking it.
I wasn't into little girls like Song A Yeon said, but Sua's looks outshone any other girl—radiant in a way they couldn't touch.
"Isn't that Jakku?"
"The one next to her looks like Yangkku...?"
Customers browsing games from afar suddenly turned toward Sua.
Jakku for Sua, obviously, and Yangkku for her sister—the tall one picking titles without a care for the stares.
I was the one who'd half-jokingly suggested she stream since she wanted a part-time gig.
'Who'd have thought she'd blow up like this.'
Life's unpredictable, huh? Slouched at the shop counter, scrolling video sites, I nearly lost it when a familiar face popped up. That awkward eye contact avoidance, the dopey grin, shoving the whiteboard—that was Kim Sua, no doubt.
'Still hard to believe... Doesn't seem like something she'd choose.'
Made sense—her sister Yangkku, aka Seo Yeon unnie, probably strong-armed her into it. Obvious without seeing.
"Uncle! All these new releases here!"
"Everything?"
"Yep! My little sis loves collecting these. I'll clear 'em once for streams, of course!"
What, handing me your leftovers...?
"Who do you owe for being able to buy games without worry?"
And who do you owe for your rising subs?
Seeing them growl at each other confirmed they were sisters. Reminded me of my own bickering with my bro—watching them felt familiar and cozy.
But... wait.
"Unnie? Not noona?"
"Eek?!"
I double-checked, thinking I'd misheard, and Sua flinched, head dropping.
The bold back-and-forth with Seo Yeon unnie was gone; her face paled.
"Ah, the way she calls me bothering you?"
Seo Yeon unnie wedged between us.
"Everyone else at home's guy siblings besides me and Sua. She's pretty boyish around the house."
"I see. Hmm... Can't picture it at all."
I tried imagining based on her explanation, but Sua's school vibe stuck too strong—no boyish image came to mind.
"How's she at school?"
"Always mopey, won't meet eyes."
"Seems to listen to you."
"Dunno... She says her piece but eyes are always elsewhere."
"That's Sua trying. Even streaming, her gaze wanders to the hills. Tough habit to break."
Seo Yeon unnie's eyes naturally drifted to Sua. She fidgeted, hiding behind unnie, peeking out to gauge our looks.
Yeah, she just looked like a meek girl.
"Got the picture. Won't pry more."
"You're sweeter than you look. No wonder Sua likes you."
Unnie poked my shoulder with a impish grin.
"Anyway, you come by a lot? Wouldn't downloads be easier for your streams?"
"True for our storage, but Sua holes up in her room outside home and school."
Made sense. Totally got it.
"TL;DR, she's a NEET?"
Who's a NEET?!
Sua shot back indignantly. I ignored her glare and headed to the door leading to my private gaming nook.
"You're gonna game here anyway, right? Can't just send you off or Dad'll complain."
"Hahaha! Grab snacks or whatever, make yourselves at home! My boy's not big on bringing friends over!"
Dad winked at me behind their backs.
Not girlfriend, I said... What a pain...
"Ah! Mind if I stream from here?"
"Don't like showing my face. Just game and go."
I shut it down flat, and unnie clicked her tongue regretfully before heading to the nook with Sua.