Culture Festival (9)
“Ah, Oppa’s here?”
“Yeah.”
The moment I stepped in, Eunbi came right up to my side.
“I finished all the work while you were gone.”
“What?”
“I handled all the documents I got… here you go.”
Eunbi handed over the stack of papers I was supposed to deal with, then looked up at me like a puppy waiting for praise. Hmm… Being tall has its perks—now even people are looking up at me. Seeing her from this angle, she actually looked kinda cute. No wonder Lee Yuyeong took an interest last time. If Yuyeong saw this, she’d probably lose her mind wanting to pat her head.
“Good job, thanks.”
“That’s it?”
“What, want me to pat your head or something?”
“……”
She ducked her head without a word, ears turning red. Guess she is shy after all. Well, yeah, some random guy-senior getting too chummy and touching her hair would creep anyone out.
“Kidding. I know how to keep work and personal separate.”
Her reasons for being nice to me were obvious. We’re on the same festival committee, I help out sometimes, and I’m probably the only person she’s close to here. She’s just being thoughtful on purpose.
“Sorry for saying something dumb.”
“…Ah.”
“Anyway, work’s done here. Let’s find the next task?”
Glancing around, the other committee members who’d finished their initial papers were already on different jobs. Can’t just slack off now that we’re done, right?
“…Yeah, sure… for now.”
Eunbi, who’d been spacing out for a sec, snapped to and hurried after me with quick steps.
While hunting for the next stack of documents, my eyes met Choi Gahee’s.
“Um… shouldn’t we double-check it one more time?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, better safe than sorry.”
I glanced at Gahee, and she looked kinda sulky. Did I piss her off by ignoring her after our eyes met? Looking closer, her gaze was fixed on the pile of papers. Guess she was trying to approach me under the pretense of splitting the work.
Choi Gahee bit her lip hard. Probably annoyed thinking I’d locked eyes then snubbed her.
“Senior?”
Eunbi lightly shook my shoulder since I’d zoned out staring elsewhere.
“…Eunbi, you’re great at calculations, so I’m sure you did it thoroughly. Let’s just submit as is.”
“Huh? N-no… you’re overestimating me…”
I gave Eunbi a casual pep talk and headed over to Choi Gahee. Can’t ignore her this time.
“Choi Gahee sunbae?”
“Huh?”
As I approached, Gahee—who’d been tense—stared at me, clearly startled that I’d spoken to her.
“Sunbae, any instructions on what to do after finishing the accounting docs? I must’ve missed it.”
“Well… next is preparing the materials to send to the festival operations budget sponsors.”
“So we just handle this, right?”
On my way to submit the papers, I asked the student council exec for clarification. Choi Gahee explained carefully. She seemed totally professional, keeping work and personal separate—no trace of resentment despite how she must feel about me. But the second she finished, she called out like she’d been waiting.
“Hey, Taeyang.”
“What’s up?”
“Um… after we’re done, wanna talk?”
“Sure. But the stares…”
Looking around, everyone was watching us. Her crush-worthy pretty senior asking some dude to meet after school? Of course the glares were all on me.
“Oh, somewhere private, of course.”
No, I got that—but don’t phrase it in a way that invites even more misunderstandings! Hell, even Eunbi’s watching with her hand over her mouth.
———
“That’s it for today, everyone. You’re free to go.”
The festival committee meeting finally wrapped up, and I followed Choi Gahee to a quiet spot at the end of the hallway. First, I’d convince her. Get her out of this messy love-hate limbo and help her move on, forget about me.
She stopped walking and turned to me. I took a deep breath. She seemed to be pondering where to start too.
“Choi Gahee sunbae. About that time… I’m really sorry!”
I bowed deeply in apology.
“Huh?”
Didn’t expect me to apologize right away? Gahee looked flustered, but I immediately listed my screw-ups.
“I didn’t listen to you at all, just said whatever and cut things off one-sidedly without any flexibility. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“……”
“I bet it really hurt your feelings.”
“Well…”
Gahee’s lips curved up a bit, like my words were easing her mood. Actually, her whole expression was softening. Apologizing was the right call.
“Yeah, I was pretty upset.”
For the first time, Choi Gahee admitted her true feelings. So that’s why she looked off earlier—she resented me. But now, seeming fully soothed, she asked in a sweet, coaxing voice.
“So… we’re back to how things were, right?”
Ah… she’d misunderstood. My face stiffened as I didn’t answer right away, and hers darkened again.
“Huh? Taeyang?”
“Choi Gahee sunbae is an amazing person.”
I said it clearly.
“You’re kind, always considerate of others first, pretty, smart. So plenty of great people will come into your life besides me.”
“What are you talking about? Without you, Taeyang…”
“It’s just a misunderstanding. Honestly, it hasn’t even been a year since we met, and you’ve got a long life ahead.”
“Time together doesn’t matter!”
“It does. Once you take time to meet different people, you’ll fill your life with connections so good you won’t even think of me.”
I hoped my sincere words got through. Choi Gahee deserved happiness. Continuing our relationship like this wasn’t right.
“No… that’s not true.”
“Right now, it feels empty, you hate me, you’re mad—but time will make it all better. Like it was nothing.”
“Why…”
Gahee snapped in frustration.
“We can just go back to getting along… Taeyang, call me noona like before! Come over sometimes, and if you wanna go to Elmae High School, that’s fine too!”
“I just… don’t think I can see you the same way anymore.”
“Don’t make excuses!!”
Gahee was finally losing it, holding back tears. Her eyes clouded over. If it escalated and she went into command mode, I’d be in trouble. She was too worked up now—my words wouldn’t get through. Pushing more would just amp up her emotions.
“Yeah, I get it. Just think of me as a coward and move on. Don’t let it build up—you’ll only hurt yourself.”
Time to wrap this up.
“Thanks for everything so far. And I’m really sorry!!”
I bowed again and walked off first. Breakups can’t be perfect. But better to end emotional messes quick. Yandere Stage 1 kicking in was a concern… but stage 1 fades if you keep distance long enough. Like getting over an ex you were mildly obsessed with—shake it off, and she’ll recover.
I texted Seong Juyeon to comfort Gahee. She asked what happened, but said I’d explain later, and she replied okay for now. Better if they trash-talk me together to vent.
————
“Ugh~ PE is such a drag~”
“Totally. Feels like they’re stealing our break time.”
The girls grumbled as they left the changing room. Lee Yuyeong was among them.
“But doesn’t running make you feel refreshed?”
“Must be nice for you, Yuyeong. You love exercise.”
“I hate it—makes me gain weight.”
Chatting with the girls as they headed down the stairs, Yuyeong spotted Kim Taeyang heading out the front gate.
Oh, it’s Taeyang.
She was about to excuse herself and go when—
“Taeyang oppa~”
A sweet, childish voice suddenly called out to Taeyang as a petite girl with black bobbed hair ran up and hooked her arm through his without hesitation.
“……Oppa?”
The other girls watching the scene started glancing at Yuyeong.
“Yuyeong?”
“You okay, Yuyeong?”
But Yuyeong tuned them out, focusing solely on the two.
“Jeez, you scared me—what’s that about?”
“Hehe, where you headed?”
“…What if other kids see?”
“Huh? So what if they do?”
“They’ll get the wrong idea.”
Eunbi’s voice trembled.
“Ah… you mean being seen with me is… embarrassing…”
“What? No, this.”
Taeyang still hadn’t shaken off her arm—he just pointed with a finger.
“Ah.”
Finally getting it, Eunbi let go.
“S-sorry! I was just so happy to see you.”
“I-it’s fine, I’m happy too, but…”
“Still… rumors like that would trouble you as a senior.”
“Aren’t you worried?”
Eunbi bowed her head repeatedly, looking mortified.
“Sorry! Really sorry!”
“Nah, it’s cool. I don’t care about rumors.”
“R-really?”
“Yeah. I said it ‘cause I didn’t want you in trouble.”
“Oh, don’t worry about me.”
Eunbi waved it off like it was nothing.
“Truth is… you’re the only one people at school talk about…”
“Hmm…”
“Plus, different floors, different grades… we only meet after school, so I got too excited and slipped up.”
Yuyeong missed a bit of their talk—the girls shook her shoulder.
“Yuyeong. Should we head out first?”
“Yeah, go ahead!”
She brushed off the girls who were debating whether to drag her away, insisting she was fine. Yuyeong kept tailing Taeyang and Eunbi. They were heading to the vending machines. Oblivious to her following, their chat continued.
“Maybe find common interests and approach from there?”
“…I’m seen as such a weirdo.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, they say my eyes are weird, avoid me, say I talk funny…”
“Enough. Drop it.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s move on.”
“Okay!”
They paused at the vending machine; Yuyeong ducked behind a nearby wall.
“Want me to buy it?”
“No.”
“I’ve got tons of money!”
“Not so shameless I’d mooch off a junior.”
“But…”
“Pick something quick.”
“Huh?”
“Payment for walking me here.”
“P-payment… for someone like me…”
“Time’s short.”
Eunbi hesitated, then picked the same as Taeyang.
“Ugh, next time I’ll definitely buy! Promise!”
“Sure.”
“Promise! I’ll buy for sure!”
The distance between Eunbi and Taeyang was getting on Yuyeong’s nerves. Taeyang’s fully relaxed expression while looking at her—infuriating.
…Hah, she’s crossing the line.
Yuyeong muttered inwardly.
I let it slide ‘cause she’s cute, specially allowed her near Taeyang, and now she’s arm-in-arm and acting all spoiled.
Ha Eunju from last semester popped into her head—the one she’d fought. No different.
Thought she was a cute baby squirrel, but she’s a fox?
Her patience hit its limit. She was about to step in and split them up when—
“But are you going to Elmae High School, Taeyang oppa?”
“Huh? Why?”
“I… happened to find out last time…”
“Find out? Well… yeah, I’m thinking of going.”
What?!
Yuyeong suppressed the urge to rush over and hid again.
“Oh, but keep it secret around here, okay? Don’t tell Yuyeong, Eunbi.”
“Got it.”
But it was too late.
“Keep it… secret from me… and go somewhere else?”