Chapter 121. Blooming (3)
‘Who the hell is that girl sticking to Taeyang like that?’
Min Iri didn't like this girl she'd never seen before. It was embarrassing to feel such explosive jealousy toward someone way younger than her, but these emotions were unavoidable.
Taeyang is mine.
We promised to get married.
Right? Without my help for a whole year, could Taeyang really live without any issues? In the end, he'll have to cling to me. If he throws a fit and begs me to transfer schools, I'll have no choice as his big sis to go protect my little brother. Yeah, I've gotta protect him forever, so marriage is only natural. But what the hell is he doing right in front of his future wife? Even if it's work! Even if it's a fake engagement!’
“Hey, Iri sis, what's up? Something bad happen?”
“Huh? Nah. Focus on work. Oh, want me to grab you something to eat, sis?”
‘Ugh, just scram already!’
Kang Eunbi was grinding her teeth behind her tightly clenched lips.
‘That bitch. The one who harassed and threatened our Taeyang oppa over the phone. I overheard it by wiretapping his phone. I recorded the call and listened to it over and over, sharpening my knife!! I got proof that you threatened oppa!! You blackmailed him into that forced marriage promise... Oppa’s so pitiful. I need to rescue him quick.’
“We’re good! Oppa and I already shared food all friendly-like earlier.”
‘We didn’t exactly feed each other, but he’s probably still shy. I gotta give him a little time.’
A subtle battle of glares passed between Iri and Eunbi. I wasn’t dumb enough to miss it.
‘Haa... this is driving me nuts.’
Eunbi definitely has feelings for me. But why’s she extra on guard against Min Iri specifically? She eyed Gahee and Juyeon too, but not this aggressively... Maybe she held back because of the crowd?
“Guess there’s no helping it then.”
Iri scratched the back of her head.
“Where you headed?”
And just like that, she tried to join our group. Casually slipping an arm around my other side.
‘Hmm... Leaving Min Iri and Eunbi together like this could get dangerous.’
Especially anything that stokes jealousy or rivalry worsens yandere tendencies. If these two fought over me, who knows what irreversible accident might happen. Plus... that phone call last time might’ve been the spark— Iri’s yandere vibes felt pretty serious now. If she slipped back to Stage 2, talking would be pointless...
“Eunbi, isn’t it about time for our shift change?”
“Huh?”
I cut in quick before she could check the time.
“Oh, ten minutes left—let’s head back fast.”
“Ah... yeah!”
Thankfully, Eunbi caught on quick.
“Sorry, Iri sis—catch you later!”
“Huh? What time’s your shift end?”
“Ah, we’re busy even after, so don’t worry about us. Just take care of your friends and underclassmen.”
With that, Eunbi and I bolted like we were escaping.
‘Phew~ should be fine. Yeah, work’s unavoidable, so she won’t read into it weird.’
Once we put some distance, Iri would calm down eventually. That was my thinking. She wouldn’t make a scene in front of her underclassmen, right?
“Oppa...”
“Yeah?”
“But our shift’s not over yet, is it?”
“Oh, right.”
“Heehee! You like being alone with me best, huh?”
‘Eunbi’s getting scarier by the minute...’
Eunbi’s feelings for me were growing heavier. At first, I thought it was just gratitude for looking out for her shy self... But I’d seen enough how those little favors pile up into disasters, so I resolved to be careful with her.
“Get it together. We’re not here to play—we’re working. I pulled away from your friend so we don’t screw up the job.”
I snapped a bit sternly, and Eunbi dropped her grin.
“Right, work time. Oh, looks like they need guiding over there.”
I rushed ahead first, calling out to the guests. Eunbi stared blankly at my back... then smirked again.
‘Yes, don’t worry, oppa. I get it even without you saying. You wanted to escape that bitch, right? But you’re hiding it ‘cause if she finds out you’re being blackmailed, it’d be risky. And she had the nerve to touch your body like that... Don’t worry. Eunbi will save you soon. From the stalker... from those girls who keep coming at you even when you show you’re uncomfortable.’
I glared back at Eunbi for lagging, and she snapped to and hurried over.
“Thank you so much.”
“Let us know anytime if you need more help.”
After finishing the guide, we resumed our patrol route. I scanned around—no sign of Min Iri. Good, she and her group must’ve headed inside the school building already.
Weeeeeng—
The whir of mechanical wings sounded.
“Whoa, Mom, what’s that?”
“It’s a drone~”
“Yes! Drone club! Wanna try flying one?”
Some clubs had booths set up along the festival street—mostly outdoor experience ones. The drone club president was drawing crowds with some fancy tricks.
“Hmm? Something’s off...”
“What?”
“Uh, prez. This... looks like a program glitch?”
“What? No way.”
They paused the drone and huddled seriously. Curious, Eunbi and I approached.
“What’s going on?”
I flashed our staff badges and asked.
The drone club VP shook his head.
“Oh, just a tech issue on our end. No need to help.”
“Yeah, let’s go, Eunbi.”
“Okay.”
But Eunbi didn’t budge.
‘Well, figures—she’s into this stuff.’
“Need a hand fixing it, Eunbi?”
“Huh? Oh, no. Just... from what I see, the program looks fine.”
A few members glanced her way. Eunbi stood there, scanned the code, and started explaining fluidly. It was all too technical for me to follow. But one by one, the members started nodding along.
“See? Told ya there couldn’t be an issue.”
The VP’s words made even the kid who’d flagged the problem scratch his head and back off.
“Fixed. Let’s go.”
“Yeah!”
Eunbi looked up at me expectantly, like she wanted praise. I considered ignoring her but gave a half-hearted verbal pat on the back. No head pats, though.
‘If I ice her out completely, it’d be just like what Seonwoo did. Gotta draw a line—just enough for her to think, ah, this oppa doesn’t like me back.’
After that, we kept busy guiding guests nonstop.
“Hey?”
“Yes? Oh...”
We even ran into a foreigner. A massively bulked-up blond white guy.
‘Whoa, body like he’s straight out of special forces. What’s he doing at a local school fest? Uh, gotta speak English...’
As I fumbled, Eunbi jumped in from the side.
“What can I do for you?”
She startled a bit at his huge frame but spoke confidently. Then she bantered back and forth in English with the guy. Sometimes slipping into what sounded like another language.
“Oppa, he’s Italian.”
“Oh, really?”
“Do you know Italian, oppa?”
“Nah, no clue.”
I left this one fully to Eunbi.
‘Didn’t know she was fluent in foreign languages on top of STEM.’
“Whew~ we handled that. All thanks to you, Eunbi.”
“Aww, it’s nothing~”
“You’re good at foreign languages too, huh.”
“Just a little. Um... sorry.”
“Huh? For what?”
Eunbi apologized with a genuinely sorry face.
“......You must’ve felt left out, not joining the convo.”
“Nah, not really?”
“For real?”
“Yeah.”
“...Not even jealous?”
“Why would I be?”
Eunbi looked away, then said,
“So you didn’t care at all?”
“Yeah.”
“Then praise me. Heehee.”
“Yeah, you did great.”
Seeing her grin goofily made me smirk too.
“Then... um. A reward?”
“On to the next.”
But I’d decided—no head pats or anything more affectionate.
Luckily, we didn’t run into Min Iri again while patrolling. She’d gotten pulled away by her underclassmen earlier, veering completely off our path. I spotted Gahee and Juyeon from afar, but no direct encounters. We had a lot of ground to cover as guides, plus crowd control.
Before long, it was time for Eunbi and me to switch shifts.
“Head to the auditorium?”
“Yeah, Taeyang oppa.”
The auditorium wasn’t exactly chill either. We were supposed to just sit, field calls, monitor SNS for issues, and alert the festival committee advisor if needed... but it wasn’t easy. Every tiny complaint piled up, and a lost kid’s wails from one corner filled the hall.
I was checking SNS reactions on the computer when my phone pinged.
“Oppa, whatcha looking at?”
“Huh? Nothing. Friend’s just telling me the meetup spot.”
“Hmm... where is it?”
“Haha, sorry. No slacking—I’ll focus.”
“Not that...”
“There’s a crowd piling up at Pulkkot High 3rd floor right now!”
I quickly checked the complaint post.
‘Isn’t that my sister’s class?’
I shook off the thought and relayed to the advisor teacher.
“Send four staff to control the crowd there.”
“Got it!”
Even while scanning SNS, I thought of Yuli.
‘Yeah, she’s probably waiting alone on the rooftop stairs at Pullyip Middle School by now.’
When FridayAngel suggested going alone, Yuli had refused: ‘Alone’s too much! Scary and hate it!’ She’d stressed it was impossible without him.
‘Still, better than before.’
I snuck a reply when Eunbi wasn’t looking.
With the frenzy of work, our complaint shift ended too. The relieved team got about two hours free. Ours wrapped at noon sharp—back at 2 PM for assembly.
‘No time for lunch... whatever, we snacked with Eunbi earlier.’
Leaving the auditorium, I waved bye to Eunbi right away.
“Gonna go meet my friend.”
“Huh? Stay a bit longer... lunch at least?”
“You already bought tons of snacks.”
“Urk... you’re really going, huh.”
“Backing out on a promise? I spent a ton already?”
Eunbi laughed like it was a joke.
“Heehee! Kidding! Go on. I’m actually meeting someone too.”
“Cool.”
“Yeah, a super~ hand~ some guy.”
“Nice. Have fun.”
‘Eunbi has friends too, huh?’
Anyway, I bolted quick. Couldn’t risk getting spotted and held up.
———
“Tch—couldn’t even pretend to be jealous a little.”
‘Whatever... doesn’t matter. Oppa’s in my grasp anyway.’
On the screen Eunbi peeked at, the location tracker was still working perfectly.