Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Blind Date (3)
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Lee Yoo-ra and I headed to a pasta place together.
She said she knew a great spot and took the lead, guiding us down some back alley until a cozy little restaurant popped up that really felt like a hidden gem.
"I had no idea there was a pasta joint around here..."
"It's pretty famous, but you didn't know? Ah, right. I get it—you're such a loner even your department seniors don't know you exist. Sorry for not understanding."
"……"
She apologized, but her tone and expression showed zero remorse.
She seemed to get arrogant the moment she learned we were in the same department and she was my senior.
By the way, while we were at it, we'd exchanged names and years too.
Lee Yoo-ra.
A third-year in the law department like me, but she'd taken two years off for military service, and she'd also taken a leave before returning, so her student ID number was higher than mine.
The inside of the pasta place she led me to had classy lighting and a warm, intimate vibe that left a strong impression.
There were other couples on dates, and groups of girls chattering away excitedly.
For someone who'd seemed so indifferent about blind dates, this was a spot that fit the occasion perfectly.
"Pasta's fine with you, right?"
That was a pretty late question coming from someone who'd dragged me here on her own and was already eyeing the menu.
"You bring me here on your whim and now you ask?"
"I know, I know. I was just saying it to be polite. Even if you said no, I wouldn't care. I'm eating pasta no matter what today."
I shot her a look like she was ridiculous, and she curled up the corners of her mouth like she found it hilarious.
She was clearly plotting ways to mess with me.
I stared at her for a moment before letting out a small sigh.
"Oh-ho? You dare sigh right in front of your senior?"
"...I'll have the cream pasta."
"Nice. Then I'll go with this."
She called over the waiter and placed her order without a second thought.
It didn't seem like she was seriously trying to put me in my place so much as she was just the type who loved teasing like this.
These days, people said seniors didn't boss around juniors as much anymore.
"Jang Han-sol. You good with booze?"
"Why? Wanna drink with me?"
"Pfft. You know you're hot, so you pick up on that right away? What a total perv."
"It's kinda unfair to call me a perv just for asking if you wanna drink. Don't be shy—admit you wanna get a drink with me."
I shot back with a hint of defiance, matching her arrogance, and her face went blank.
She looked caught off guard, like she hadn't expected me to push back so boldly.
But she quickly recovered, laughing as she reached out and ruffled my hair like I was cute.
'Whoa.'
I flinched for a second.
No one had treated me like this since I became good-looking.
'Does this face really not work on her?'
The thought crossed my mind briefly, but I shook it off inwardly.
No way.
At first, she'd been all about eating quick and splitting, but on the way here, she'd stolen glances at my face. And now she was subtly hinting at drinks.
That cocky line about not being into my type and her act of not caring about looks?
She was putting on a show right now.
'Wants to flaunt her senior pride in front of me?'
Makes sense. With that face and body, she'd probably lived her whole life coasting on her looks.
She couldn't let herself look smitten by a hot junior's face—pride wouldn't allow it.
So I didn't rush.
For now, I'd play along like I was taking her teasing, then seize control at the right moment.
"Cut it out."
I swatted her hand away like I meant it, and she shoved it back in her pocket.
"How did I not know about a junior like you? How'd you stay under the radar with that face?"
"I wasn't always like this. Some stuff happened... over break, I worked out and took care of myself, and it turned out like this."
Even with my vague dodge, she nodded like she wasn't too hung up on where the face came from.
She probably wasn't that interested in me. Just saw me as a fun junior to toy with.
"Ah! This is that thing, right? Like winning the lottery but not quite first prize or whatever. Jackpot for you. But... looks aside, what if the inside's a dud?"
"What can I do? I'll just live like this. Don't worry about it."
Anyway, we chatted like that for a bit until the food arrived.
The pasta looked seriously appetizing—no empty hype about it being a famous spot.
Lee Yoo-ra eyed my cream pasta and said,
"Whoa. That cream pasta looks good. Should've gotten that instead of tomato."
"Yeah? Why'd you order that then?"
I snarked back, picking up my fork for a bite, but she stopped me.
"Before you eat, just one bite of that... No, wait—let's swap!"
"Nah. You eat what you ordered, Senior."
"When your senior says swap, you swap. No backtalk. Fine. I'm taking it."
She snatched my plate and plopped her tomato pasta in front of me.
I scowled hard.
"Oh-ho? Jang Han-sol, fix that face. Or you gonna hit me?"
"Ha..."
Why were the girls in our department like this?
One dumps me for another guy, and this one treats me like a pushover from the jump.
'Should I just flip the table?'
This puny thing kept pushing my buttons, and it was getting on my nerves.
Even as I glared seriously, she smirked with a sultry smile.
Any guy facing that smile would feel his heart flutter.
But after what I'd been through, I knew the filth hiding behind a woman's beauty.
So I kept my seriousness intact even staring at that smile.
Realizing it wasn't a joke, her expression turned serious too.
"You look like you're seriously about to throw a punch."
"What, you think I won't?"
Did she assume I couldn't hit a girl?
Wrong. I'd ditched coddling women a month ago.
"…"
"…"
The air turned cold.
Finally, she burst out laughing as she stared at me.
"Pfft. Dude, why you getting all serious by yourself? It was a joke~ Here, take it back. Happy now?"
"……"
"Wow! This pasta's amazing! Eat up. Seriously, it's the best here."
She slid the plates back and dug into hers with exaggerated enthusiasm.
In the awkward tension, I ate my pasta while watching her intently.
For a split second, she looked scared...
Like I'd glimpsed into her true feelings.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Whoa. That glare was kinda scary.'
I'd thought his eyes looked fierce, but that blank stare froze me solid for a moment.
His veins were bulging like he was clenching his fist.
'He said he lived like a loser, so I figured he'd be harmless... but he's not all tame. Almost screwed up.'
Too late to play scared now—that'd hurt her pride, and it'd make her look like no big deal.
So she plastered on a playful smile to hide her thoughts.
"Pfft. Dude, why you getting all serious by yourself? It was a joke~ Here, take it back. Happy now?"
"……"
Was he still glaring? Did he see through me?
Under his predatory gaze—like a beast eyeing wary prey—she ate her pasta.
"Wow! This pasta's amazing! Eat up. Seriously, it's the best here."
Slurp.
Thankfully, I heard him eating across from me, and I sighed inwardly in relief.
At the same time, the situation felt utterly ridiculous.
'Lee Yoo-ra, you've gone soft compared to before. Scared of a guy who banks on his looks.'
She chalked up her fear to her personality mellowing out lately.
That sharp gaze that made people shrink just from a blank stare?
No way she'd been scared of that.
'Hurts my pride. Gotta drag him to drinks and get some dirt on him.'
She resolved to get him drunk, make him slip up, and get proper revenge.
"Oh, right. I asked if you're good with booze, yeah?"
He wiped his mouth with a napkin and flashed a smirk.
'Damn... he really is hot.'
Even that simple smile looked like a work of art. She spaced out for a sec before snapping back.
"Uh...? Yeah... sorta?"
"You won't be able to handle drinking with me, Senior."
"Why? Bad drunk?"
"Never seen anyone sober up after drinking with me."
"Pfft. Bull. That whole 'cool if you hold your liquor' thing? Delusion, kid."
She dismissed it as a guy flexing to impress a girl.
But she overlooked the truth hidden there.
That Jang Han-sol was hiding his own blade, aiming to claim her as his.
And that his feelings ran deeper and darker than mere senior-junior teasing—pure man-woman desire.
Lee Yoo-ra had no clue.