The Unwanted Teammate
Yoo Ra noona let go of my hand just as we reached the meeting spot she’d promised to Kang Seok-ho. The whole setup was that I’d tagged along and was being a nuisance, so holding hands would’ve ruined the act.
“I’m here,” she greeted them with a visibly annoyed expression. She’d already slipped into full acting mode.
“Yoo Ra, why are you so la—huh?! Yoo Ra brought a guy?”
“C’mon, that’s not possi—wait, seriously? Hold on, who’s that…”
The three girls already sitting on the picnic blanket all turned to stare at us in surprise. One of them was Park Soo-hyun—the same girl who’d called me “that guy from the CC rumor” at the semester-opening drinking party and gotten thoroughly scolded for it.
“Yoo Ra, since when do you have a boyfriend?”
The one who asked had the most striking presence of the three. She wore a dress that bared her shoulders and deep cleavage, and her soft, pretty eyes left a lasting impression. Just looking at her felt strangely seductive. Maybe it was the revealing outfit, but every passing guy couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Most of all—‘Her chest is insane…’
She was stacked. Really stacked. Easily on par with Yoo Ra noona. Those huge breasts looked like they’d be impossible to cup with one hand, and they strained prominently against the thin fabric of her dress.
‘Fits right in with Yoo Ra noona’s friends. Who is she?’
While I was thinking that, Yoo Ra noona shot me a disgusted look and said, “Yoon Seo-yeon, don’t say gross stuff. Boyfriend? Please. This is just a junior from our department. Hey, greet them. These are your seniors.”
“Hello. I’m Jang Hansol, second year.”
“Ah~ I know who you are now. Someone from the opening party told me there’s this ridiculously handsome guy in second year. That’s definitely you.”
“Haha, I think I heard about you too. Nice to meet you, Hansol.”
“Ha, Hansol really is handsome… haha…”
“Soo-hyun, why are you suddenly sweating?”
“…Huh? Ah, it’s nothing…”
The moment Park Soo-hyun saw me, memories of that day clearly resurfaced. She’d blurted out “that guy from the CC rumor?” and I’d put the fear of God into her. Still, these days fewer people recognized me as “Lee Ye-rin’s ex,” which was a relief. Since the opening party, more people had started remembering my face and name. The name “Jang Hansol” carried more weight now than “Lee Ye-rin’s boyfriend.” Maybe Park Soo-hyun had actually warned everyone to watch what they said, like I told her to.
“I’m Song Ji-ah.”
“I’m Park Soo-hyun. You remember me, right, Hansol? We said hi briefly at the drinking party.”
“Of course. I’m sorry about back then, Soo-hyun sunbae. Looking back, I was pretty rude.”
“No, no, it’s fine. I started it, so no need to apologize. Come sit with us.”
I apologized to Soo-hyun sunbae and cleared the air. Even I thought I’d been pretty disrespectful for a first meeting. If I’d known we’d run into each other again, I would’ve been nicer.
“What’s your name, sunbae?”
Once I’d climbed onto the blanket, I asked the beautiful senior in the dress who still hadn’t introduced herself. She’d been leisurely sipping her drink while admiring the view. At my question, she gave me a bright smile.
“I’m Yoon Seo-yeon. Come on over, Hansol. We’ve got plenty of makgeolli. You like makgeolli?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Great. Here, take a cup. I’ll pour you one~”
“Thank you, Seo-yeon sunbae.”
I’d been worried someone dressed this provocatively for a park might be weird, but she seemed like a perfectly normal, kind senior.
‘But why is Seo-yeon sunbae the only one dressed like that?’
This park was right next to a busy area and famous as a hunting ground for young men and women. Plenty of people came dressed to impress, just like Seo-yeon sunbae. If Yoo Ra noona hadn’t dragged me along, it would’ve just been four girls. I’d wondered if she’d brought me to crash some kind of group date, but that didn’t seem right either. Everyone except Seo-yeon sunbae was wearing comfortable clothes for drinking. Only she had gone all out. It would’ve been strange for her to be the only one dressed up and wandering around looking for guys.
‘She’s not being bullied or something, is she?’
Girl bullying is notoriously vicious. I was starting to get suspicious when Yoo Ra noona, apparently thinking the same thing, frowned at Seo-yeon sunbae.
“Hey, Yoon Seo-yeon. Kang Seok-ho isn’t even here. Why’d you come dressed like that? You know he’ll throw a fit if he finds out. Are you trying to pick another fight with him?”
Kang Seok-ho… I’d heard the name before.
—No way! Seok-ho and the others were only drinking a little because they were matching our pace. You should come over to our side.
I’d overheard Soo-hyun sunbae say something like that earlier.
When I asked Ha-jun, he said the third-year student council guy was Kang Seok-ho.
The moment the topic of Kang Seok-ho came up, the gentle smile that had been on Yoon Seo-yeon sunbae’s face clouded over.
“…We already fought. I’m in a cold war with him right now… I’m not planning to see his face for a while…”
Yoo Ra noona grabbed her throbbing head at those words.
“Aigoo, you fought again? What was it this time?”
“That bastard Kang Seok-ho… borrowed money from me saying he was going on a trip with his friends, then ghosted me and went off with some other girl.”
Cheating. So Yoon Seo-yeon sunbae was dating this Kang Seok-ho guy. Damn it.
‘I thought I’d found a mature, stylish woman I liked, but she already has a boyfriend.’
While I was thinking that, Yoo Ra noona slammed her paper cup down on the blanket.
“Hey! Just break up already! How many times have I told you? Are there no other men in the world besides Kang Seok-ho? Why the hell won’t you break up with him?”
“Haa… I don’t know either. Why I still can’t break up with him…”
Yoon Seo-yeon looked deeply conflicted too.
“Maybe it’s because he doesn’t know how to get angry or how to cheat… The more I think about it, the more pathetic it feels…”
She looked gloomy, as if unpleasant memories had surfaced. Then she suddenly steeled herself, eyes flashing with renewed determination.
“I’m going to fight fire with fire. I’ve decided I’m going to properly stand up to Kang Seok-ho this time!”
“So that’s why you dressed up and came to the park even though Kang Seok-ho isn’t here?”
“Obviously. I’m going to do exactly what he did—fight back with the same energy.”
“You two are really something. A guy who cheats and a girl who gives him more reasons to get angry while trying to get revenge.”
“Speaking of which… Hansol, I have a favor to ask.”
Just when I thought the conversation was wrapping up, Yoon Seo-yeon sunbae suddenly turned to me.
“A favor?”
“Want to take a sweet photo together? If I send it to Kang Seok-ho, he’ll understand exactly how I feel, don’t you think?”
In other words, she wanted to make him experience the feeling of being cheated on too.
‘This sunbae’s personality is no joke either.’
Yoon Seo-yeon linked her arm with mine without hesitation, pressing her chest against me. Having my arm buried between her breasts felt strangely arousing, but when I noticed Yoo Ra noona staring right at us, I pulled away.
“I’m sorry, Seo-yeon sunbae. I already like someone else, so even if it’s for revenge, I can’t do that.”
“It’s fine. I was only half-joking anyway. More importantly, it’s cool that you draw the line because you like someone. If Kang Seok-ho had even half your sense, things would be different.”
If you’re that disappointed, just break up and come to me. I meet plenty of women, but at least I don’t cheat. Turning Lee Ha-neul and Yoo Ra into sex slaves? We’re not even dating, so it doesn’t count as cheating. We’re just consensually mixing bodies as partners.
“Can you tell me who you like? I’m curious for some reason. Is it someone I know?”
“Yes. She’s right here. I like Yoo Ra noona.”
“R-Really?!”
“Yes. That’s why I followed her today too. Even though she probably finds me annoying.”
“Yoo Ra, is that true?”
For Yoon Seo-yeon, the news of Yoo Ra’s unrequited love apparently outweighed her own boyfriend’s cheating. She asked excitedly.
“……”
Yoo Ra just stared blankly, saying nothing. I elbowed her a few times to snap her out of it.
“Uh… um… ahem… Y-Yeah. He’s really, seriously annoying… I’m dying here…!”
Yoo Ra let out an awkward cough. Her voice was full of forced, clumsy lies.
‘What is this girl doing? I try to back her up and this is what I get.’
She’d completely frozen at my straightforward confession. I could tell from how red her ears were. Before anyone could start questioning us, I casually draped an arm around her shoulders to change the subject.
“Uwah—! What are you suddenly doing?!”
Yoo Ra yelped and immediately put distance between us. I’d expected that reaction.
“See? The moment I make a move, she pushes me away. She won’t accept my feelings at all.”
“Yoo Ra, you’ve got it good. If it were me, I’d accept him right away.”
“Yeah, Yoo Ra. How long are you planning to stay single? You should date at least once.”
“Huh, that’s weird though? Weren’t you two already dating? Back at the bar, you clearly told me…”
Park Soo-hyun immediately raised a question, so I cut her off.
“Back then, no matter what I did, Yoo Ra noona wouldn’t accept my feelings, so I got petty and joked around.”
“A joke? From what I saw, it didn’t feel like that. It seemed deeper…”
“Soo-hyun sunbae.”
I narrowed my eyes and quietly stared her down, just like that day. The moment our gazes met, she flinched.
“Ah… ah! I guess that’s what it was. I-I must’ve misunderstood, haha…”
She immediately agreed with me, like Pavlov’s dog. Trembling, she clamped her mouth shut.
“Why are you suddenly acting like that? What do you mean ‘deeper’?”
“N-No… Ji-ah, don’t talk to me… I want to live…”
“What are you saying? Do you need to take a dump or something?”
Even at Song Ji-ah’s ridiculous question, Park Soo-hyun kept her mouth shut.
‘I don’t want to do this either, Soo-hyun sunbae. The situation is just…’
While I was inwardly apologizing to her, Yoon Seo-yeon sunbae patted my shoulder and said, “Still, don’t give up. Keep trying, Hansol. It might not look like it, but Yoo Ra probably has quite a bit of interest in you.”
“How would you know that, Seo-yeon sunbae?”
“You know we’re going on the MT soon, right? The student council was assigning groups, and apparently Yoo Ra threw a fit saying she wouldn’t be group leader unless she was put in the same group as you.”
“Yoo Ra noona, is that true?”
“Yoon Seo-yeon, why would you tell him that?! Ugh, so embarrassing…”
“So you were doing that behind my back?”
“W-What’s with that reaction…? D-Don’t misunderstand… I just thought it would be fun if we were in the same group, that’s all…”
From her reaction, it seemed like she really had thrown a tantrum. Imagining it was oddly cute, and objectively speaking, it wasn’t a bad move. It’s better to be grouped with people you know.
“So when is the MT?”
“The program and venue are already booked. They’re taking applications next Monday and we leave that same week.”
“If I request to be in the same group as someone specific, will the student council allow it?”
“Normally no. They only made an exception this time because there weren’t enough third-years to lead groups.”
“That’s a shame.”
I would’ve liked to be with Ha-jun, Ha-neul, and Chae-eun too. Meeting new people is fine, but it’s more fun with people you already know.
“Hansol.”
“Yes?”
“Want me to make it happen?”
Whoa. For a second I thought I’d misheard. The way she said it sounded almost suggestive. What she meant, of course, was putting me in the same group.
“Didn’t you just say it’s not allowed?”
“Hehe. Nothing in this world is completely impossible. It just requires the right price.”
Yoon Seo-yeon smiled slyly. She really was a beautiful woman when she smiled.
“What do you want, Seo-yeon sunbae?”
She waved her phone. I immediately understood what she was asking for.
“A photo. Is that possible now?”
If I let her take the photo, she’d put me in the same group as whoever I wanted. It was a tempting offer, but still difficult to accept outright.
“Promise me you won’t send that photo to your boyfriend, and I’ll do it.”
“Then there’s no point.”
“Still, I have no choice. That photo could cause trouble for me too.”
Whether Kang Seok-ho cheated or not, whether Yoon Seo-yeon wanted revenge or not—none of that was my concern. I didn’t even know who Kang Seok-ho was. I had zero desire to suddenly inherit the grudge of a man I’d never met.
‘If Kang Seok-ho had done something to me, maybe… but still, having a beauty like this as a girlfriend is a little enviable. Doesn’t mean I think every woman in the world should be mine, though.’
I thought she’d give up after that, but Yoon Seo-yeon clung to my arm anyway.
“Hehe, I know. Honestly, I never planned to send it to Kang Seok-ho anyway. If I did, we’d just fight again, and I’m not stupid enough to do that.”
“Then what’s the point?”
She threw my own words back at me. Yoon Seo-yeon burst out laughing. As she laughed, her chest pressed even harder against my arm, and I desperately wanted to rip that dress off and suck on them.
“It’s just for my own satisfaction. Like, ‘I can cheat with another guy too, just like you.’ If that’s the reason, you can agree, right?”
“So you just want to take it for your own satisfaction?”
“Yeah.”
“Then that’s fine. You have to put me in the same group as the person I want.”
“Of course!”
—Click
Yoon Seo-yeon smiled mischievously as she looked at the photo of us together. I was nervous she might actually send it to her boyfriend, but I decided to trust her. She didn’t seem like the type to lie.
…And her smiling face was really cute too.
‘Her boyfriend’s cheating must’ve stressed her out a lot.’
We sat on the blanket laughing and chatting for nearly three hours. The frustration of not being able to ravage Yoon Seo-yeon sunbae was relieved that night when I thoroughly fucked Yoo Ra noona instead.
…
Five days passed like that.
I grabbed the bag I’d packed in advance and headed to the meeting spot. My steps felt unusually heavy today.
“Hyung! Over here, over here! Our group is meeting here!”
When I arrived, Lee Ha-jun was waving enthusiastically. Lee Ha-neul, Yoo Chae-eun, and Yoo Ra were already gathered there too. Everyone looked excited to be grouped with people they knew. Yoon Seo-yeon sunbae had kept her promise perfectly. I was excited too.
Or I almost was.
“……”
Standing quietly beside Yoo Ra noona, glancing at me, was a black-haired beauty.
The moment I saw her, all my excitement for the MT withered like a reed in the wind.
Ah… I don’t want to go.
Of all people, Lee Ye-rin was in the same group…
“Why the hell is she in our group…”
Just having Lee Ye-rin in the group was enough to make the whole day feel depressing.