The 'Taeyang and Gahee' Line (2)
“Taeyang, then I'll cheer you on.”
“Huh?”
I blinked in confusion at what Hayan noona said, pausing for a moment.
“...Cheer me on? What're you talking about?”
Hayan noona smiled and pressed a finger to her lips. As her words sank in, all her actions so far—and my own words—clicked together like puzzle pieces.
No way... does Hayan noona think I like Gahee noona? Is that why she deliberately brought just the three of us?
It was too early to jump to conclusions. I couldn't ask outright with Gahee noona right there, so I'd have to wait until we were alone.
We walked along the sidewalk by the road, chatting about our destination.
“So, dessert place first, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Dessert for breakfast?”
I couldn't fathom eating something that sweet on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. Noonas had some serious guts. I needed a proper meal to start the day.
“This place gets crowded, so we have to go early or forget it.”
Hayan noona showed me restaurant reviews as proof—photos of massive lines snaking out from the shop, taken from afar, and glowing reviews. I'd seen those pics before; they were the ones Cho Yuli posted on SNS. No surprise there—with her personality, she wasn't the type to venture downtown and snap them herself.
Still, I wasn't thrilled about lining up for a taste just to eat at a trendy spot...
“They have brunch too, so you can get that, Taeyang.”
Gahee noona pleaded with those how about it? eyes. Fine, Hayan noona was one thing, but if Gahee noona was pulling this too, I couldn't push back hard.
“Got it. Let's hurry before the line gets worse.”
“Okay~ Hehe.”
Gahee noona smiled cutely, delighted. That figure and cute on top? Unfair. I averted my eyes from the beaming blonde beauty beside me.
If only Gahee noona hadn't been staring only at me on that short stretch of road between sidewalks—or rather, if she'd noticed the oncoming car.
And of course, no crosswalk signal in sight.
Beep beep—!!
“Noona! Car!”
I yanked her arm and pulled her back.
Phew~ That scared the hell out of me.
“Sorry!”
“Jeez. Watch where you're going next time. Glad you're okay.”
“Gahee, you really need to be more careful.”
“I got too excited and... Taeyang, thank you so much. You saved my life.”
“It's fine—just stay on the inside.”
I grumbled curtly and naturally shifted to the road-side position.
“This way I can relax. Anyway, where were we?”
Both noonas' gazes locked onto me. What? Did I mess up?
“Wow, Taeyang's being so cool today.”
Hayan noona grinned mischievously.
She doesn't think this counts as escorting or something, does she? I was just being safety-conscious.
Gahee noona laughed awkwardly and said she was fine, but I wasn't convinced.
“Just in case. I'm good, so don't worry.”
She glanced at me but followed my lead. Hayan noona just kept smiling—that knowing smile that'd been bugging me since earlier.
Anyway, keeping an eye on traffic, I listened to the noonas' chatter.
Hayan noona changed the subject first.
“Teddy bear should be out today, right?”
“It's open now, so probably.”
“Some days they sell out completely.”
“Teddy bear?”
At my puzzled question, Hayan noona explained.
“It's a teddy bear-shaped chocolate cake. Super popular because it looks just like the real thing, and it's limited quantity.”
“Chocolate cake for breakfast. Noona, you're impressive in your own way.”
“What's wrong with that? You crave meat first thing in the morning too.”
“Meat goes with a proper meal.”
“Taeyang must love meat. How about barbecue for dinner?”
“For real? I've been craving samgyeopsal lately.”
We arrived at the dessert shop amid that banter. I couldn't wrap my head around skipping breakfast for super-sweet treats, so seeing all these people—different from me—was a surprise. The line was already long, though not as bad as the photos.
Good weather made it bearable, but boring all the same.
“No complaining—I'm buying you clothes today.”
“Yes~ Yes~”
“Taeyang, next time we'll go wherever you want.”
Gahee noona suggested it, but I didn't have anywhere in mind. Honestly, the trip was just a bonus; breaking Seonwoo and Hayan noona's flags was satisfaction enough.
“Nah, it's fine. I'm hanging with whatever you two want today.”
“Really?”
Hayan noona's eyes sparkled as she pressed me, and I winced inwardly. Last time we went out, she'd dragged me clothes shopping for three hours.
“Just... go easy on the shopping.”
“We'll see how it goes.”
Hayan noona smirked slyly.
After a long wait, it was our turn. Inside, the place was packed.
This crowd meant the teddy bear might be sold out already.
As the server showed us to our table, she said,
“Sorry, but unlike other cafes or dessert spots, we have a time limit per table. It's to let more people enjoy, so please understand.”
She recited it flawlessly, like a script. She already looked exhausted. Working a place like this must suck.
We settled at the round table she'd led us to, the three of us sitting across from each other.
“Call us when you're ready to order.”
“Sure. Uh, any teddy bears left?”
“Yes, we have some.”
“Kyaa~”
Hayan noona beamed and cheered. Over a chocolate cake? My sis was cute-faced enough that even that reaction was fun to watch.
“By the way, only one per table.”
“We'll share.”
“Not feeling chocolate right now— you two have it.”
I ordered a brunch set for a real meal; the noonas got the teddy bear and two cake slices. Weren't they worried about sugar overload?
While waiting, talk shifted to the recent exams.
“How'd you do on the test, Taeyang?”
“Eh, decent.”
I'd never stressed the family with my grades. They didn't expect straight A's from me anyway—I'd been on the sports team before transferring.
“Must be nice being smart like Gahee.”
“Smart? Nah, I just reviewed thoroughly in my spare time.”
“That's what they call model student material.”
“Yeah, thanks to Gahee noona's tutoring, my math score was great too.”
True story. The advanced problems she taught were tough even with my past-life brain. I barely solved them using her methods.
“You put in the steady effort for those results.”
“Seonwoo was grateful too—said your lessons made it click for him.”
Good, she'd tutored Seonwoo too. Made sense; I couldn't know school happenings firsthand, just the game scenes.
Speaking of which, time for a mid-check on their views of Seonwoo.
“So, what's Seonwoo hyung like?”
“Huh?”
At my out-of-nowhere question, they stared; I played it casual.
“Just... I've met him once, but he's quiet, so I wondered.”
“Hmm~”
Hayan noona nodded knowingly with a smile, then turned to Gahee noona.
“Gahee, what do you think of Seonwoo?”
“Me? Uh...”
I wanted Hayan noona's take first, but from a Choi Gahee route perspective, hers mattered too.
“He's nice, right? Quiet but fun, seems kind.”
“Yeah. As a guy?”
“As a guy?”
Hayan noona slipped it in slyly; Gahee noona looked genuinely puzzled.
No flags raised, no affection built, huh.
“Dunno. Doesn't Juyeon always stick to him? They suit each other.”
“True, they're always together. Seonwoo talks more around her.”
“Yeah, their back-and-forth is fun.”
“Keeps things from getting boring.”
Seong Juyeon and Choi Seonwoo were childhood friends—closest right now. If it went her route...
In the game, Seong Juyeon route ended in confinement. She'd push Seonwoo off a high place in secret, disguising it as an accident. Then nurse the bedridden guy in the hospital.
"Childhood friends should stick together forever, right? I'll nurse you for life. For life~ You don't have to go anywhere, Seonwoo."
She'd cling to the now-immobile Seonwoo, confining him to her room. Poor guy couldn't go out freely.
Damn, Seonwoo had it rough. But no helping it—whatever route, it was grim, so better if it didn't harm others.
“What about you, noona?”
“Huh?”
Now the big one: Hayan noona.
“What do you think of Seonwoo hyung?”
“Why ask? Worried I'll get a boyfriend?”
“Just curious! Who's worried!”
I was super worried. But admitting it would make me sound like a middle-school siscon still whining to noona, so I played it cool.
“Hehe, still got that cute side.”
Hayan noona teased, then pondered.
“Funny kid, nice too. Everyone likes him 'cause he's kind.”
Just 'nice guy' level. Relief.
“Relieved? That I'm not into Seonwoo?”
“Why would that relieve me? You're my sis.”
“Oh? So you wouldn't mind if I dated him?”
“What?”
“Pfft... kidding. Hehe.”
Damn, fell for it. More like, don't scare me like that! I'd started the topic, but still—heart attack!
My face burned tomato-red from her teasing. Wanted to snap back, but even I knew I'd overreacted.
“Hayan, quit teasing your brother.”
Gahee noona intervened, and Hayan noona backed off.
“Oops, not in front of Gahee. Sorry, Taeyang.”
“Cover my brunch.”
“Ah, Taeyang, let me—”
“Gahee noona's good—you fed me last time, and sis is paying.”
Right? I glanced at Hayan noona.
“Fine. My bad anyway.”
Nice, owning up quick. If only she wasn't misunderstanding.
Hayan noona switched topics to cover.
“Since we're on this, wanna share ideal types?”
“Ideal types?”
“Yeah. Gahee, what's yours?”
“Me first? Um...”