Blonde Tanned Delinquent (7): What's the Next Flag?

I flipped through the Love Chain notes, but I just couldn't get a read on it. The upcoming main events were at least two months away. The school festival and autumn leaf viewing trip were in November, and even the study group during midterms in October was still a month out. In game terms, that meant no flags were popping up anytime soon.

So was Seonwoo cooking up his own mess? I had no clue about variables outside the game script.

I was mulling it over when my phone buzzed.

It was Seonwoo.

"Why the sudden summon and all this drama?"

I hadn't expected him to straight-up ask to meet me like this. Was he planning a fight in the park? I needed to hear what was on his mind first.

Was he seriously suggesting we sort this out with a chat instead of revenge? Sure, it beat dealing with whatever schemes he cooked up behind the scenes. His next move would just tire me out anyway.

In a way, I got where he was coming from. Every time he tried to meet Juyeon or Yuli, I'd show up and cockblock him. No wonder he was scared to make a move.

I shot back a rough "got it" and confirmed the exact spot and time.

"Let's just end this today." I was getting worn out too. With other stuff wrapped up on my phone, I let out a deep sigh.

"He better not just spew bullshit when we meet."

I glanced out the window—dark clouds hung in the sky. Rain looked imminent, but the forecast hadn't mentioned any. I'd come without an umbrella; fingers crossed it held off.

A bit after all the students had gone home. Seonwoo was already waiting at the spot.

"You made it?"

"…………"

I scanned ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the surroundings first.

"Paranoid much? No one's with me, so relax."

"Whatever."

I didn't buy that he'd bring thugs via his connections. His "network" was just the heroines anyway, the guy was girl-obsessed.

"So, what do you wanna say?"

"Yesterday was fun." Seonwoo smirked, shrugging and shaking his head.

How long did I have to put up with this poser act?

"Never thought you'd go full method actor in a doll mask just to score. Gotta admit, I'm impressed. Prepped you for a criminal record no problem."

"No idea what you're talking about."

"Cut the crap."

Seonwoo scowled again. He didn't even suspect the bear was me. Whatever, didn't matter. He'd just tossed out the question I figured was coming.

"Why the hell are you doing this to me? What's your damn problem?"

"You really ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠don't know?"

Seonwoo paused like he was thinking, then sighed heavily.

"Sigh~ Fine, if you're pissed I hit on Gahee or Yuyeong, sorry. Won't touch your girls."

"...Way off base." I shook my head. That was only part of it.

"...Scared I'll go after your sister, then?"

Seonwoo spat on the ground.

"Fine, Hayan’s off-limits. Happy?"

"Nah, not enough."

"Fuck—then what? You really going full blonde tanned delinquent or some shit?"

He hadn't clocked the real issue. Time to spell it out.

"You fucked over the noonas, not me. Especially Juyeon noona."

"What? Why bring her up outta nowhere?"

Seonwoo eyed me weirdly. Clearly hadn't crossed his mind. How trash did he think I was, assuming I was after his girls for real? Though declaring I'd steal them made me a psycho too.

Whatever, time to lay out the problems straight—maybe it'd snap him out of it.

"You knew how Juyeon noona felt, ignored her when another girl seemed easier, then grabbed her when she might slip away."

Thinking about it, I couldn't help but laugh.

"You want a harem, right, Seonwoo hyung? But what kinda real-life harem is this? You're not even an otaku."

This was worse than Yuyeong's mixed signals. I burst out laughing. His face flushed purple with rage.

"So? Because of Juyeon?"

"Would've been the same no matter which noona. Gahee noona, Hayan noona—anyone. You'd hurt them. I just wanted to cut all your ties."

It wasn't about who you fish with; fishing itself was the problem. Any normal person would've seen that, but Seonwoo twisted it.

If he didn't wanna lose them, confess and date properly. Paint me as the villain. Hell, I hadn't actually stolen any girls. Things hadn't changed at all. But his brain didn't reach that far.

"You're saying all this bullshit was for those bitches?"

"Yeah. Can't leave the noonas next to trash like you."

Finally, Seonwoo grabbed my collar. Patience gone.

"Fuck you, what makes you any different?!"

His hand trembled with fury. Wasn't scary—I met his eyes dead-on. Big talker turned out a coward. No surprise; reaching out for a "talk" instead of revenge killed any expectations.

"You're the same fucker! No—worse! You fish harder than me!! I saw you eyeing Gahee and Yuyeong!!"

"Yeah, same. You and me both."

The madder he got, the calmer I felt. Facing the guilt inside without fear felt liberating.

"That's why I'm dragging you down with me."

Time to burn it all. Gahee noona, Yuyeong, Iri noona... no one would like me anymore. After dealing with this punk for good.

"Ha? Dragging down? Bullshit."

"It's already over. Look."

Seonwoo glanced aside.

"What... Juyeon..."

Seong Juyeon stood there, shocked, having overheard everything. I'd called her. Right after his text, I messaged her.

Time, place, even where to hide and eavesdrop. She said peeking at secrets was wrong, so I begged: super important for noona to hear, won't say it if she's there, please hide. She'd caught the whole convo.

"You... when did you get here?"

Her voice shook.

"What was all that?"

"You heard?"

"Forget that—Seonwoo, let go first and talk."

"......Hahaha, you're Taeyang's now too? How long since we broke up?"

"What? That's not the point! Anyone can see you're the one after Tae—"

"Shut up, you slut!!"

"……..."

What the hell? He just dug his own grave.

Juyeon's umbrella clattered to the ground. Rain had started unnoticed; it mixed with tears streaming down her cheek. Hard to believe those words from the "nice" Seonwoo.

"You bitches all just suck off Gold Taeyang!! Makes me fucking sick!"

Seonwoo shoved me off irritably, knocking me down.

"Wait, Seonwoo!"

Juyeon hesitated between him storming off and me on the ground.

"Get up first."

"Th-thanks."

She helped me up. My back throbbed from the hard fall. Dusting off my dirty clothes, I heard Seonwoo's parting shot from the park entrance.

"Have fun with the sluts, asshole."

My brain froze. Everything—weather, surroundings—didn't matter. Only that he'd insulted the noonas looped in my head.

"Hey, stop right there!!"

After that? No memory. Just had to catch that fucker crossing the road.

"Stop, you fucking bastard!!!"

I grabbed Seonwoo, punched first, then realized later we'd fought in the rain. Didn't see or hear anyone stopping us yelling. But an accident happened for sure.

He shoved me hard backward—right into the road. As I tried to stand, a car horn blared in my ear.

A truck barreled straight at me.

Thud—

"...Iri noona?"