School Trip (7): Teddy Bear Teasing Terrors
Our next destination was the Teddy Bear Museum. And the moment someone mentioned it, all the girls' eyes turned to me.
Min Iri explained it indirectly. "Ahaha, well, Taeyang does have a deep connection with teddy bears, doesn't he?"
Iri was the first to speak up. "What happened?"
Lee Yuyeong, who had no clue, asked. Iri paused with an "Hmm..." glancing at me with a grin.
This is payback for me stealing her pudding, isn't it?
But when she wouldn't spill, Yuyeong turned to Hayan. I'd clearly warned her not to show anyone else, right? I shook my head firmly, and Hayan pretended to cry before clamming up.
"Huh? What happened?"
Choi Gahee was uncharacteristically quiet. Maybe she was conscious of Yuyeong and just smiled without saying anything. Or perhaps she was actually listening to my warning about not showing it to others.
"This is something Taeyang should decide anyway."
Iri dodged answering to the end too. Thanks, but no more pudding-stealing from now on.
Seong Juyeon seemed totally uninterested, already chatting with Seonwoo about where to go next.
In the end, Yuyeong clung to me, begging me to tell her. "It's just them teasing me about playing with a teddy bear doll when I was little."
"Hmmm... is that really all?"
Whatever, I didn't care if Yuyeong believed me or not. We wrapped up the lame story and headed to our destination.
But even while walking, I couldn't relax. I had to stay aware of that weird gaze coming from one side.
Why has Cho Yuli been staring at me since earlier? Juyeon had assured me she'd handled things with Yuli without raising suspicion. Hayan had revealed I was her little brother when Yuli saw my number, but played it off as a mis-save, and Yuli bought it. She probably hadn't figured it out yet.
Hmm... anyway, Yuli only gave me fleeting glances and stuck close to Seonwoo as usual. When I looked back, she quickly dropped her eyes.
She still seems intimidated by me, huh.
This wouldn't do. On the way, I muttered just loud enough for Yuyeong to hear. "That girl's still acting like that."
"Huh?"
Yuyeong glanced back, then peeled off from my side and went to Yuli. Good job, Yuyeong.
Meanwhile, I approached Hayan. "Sis, where are you planning to go?"
She was checking the guide site on her phone, so I wedged myself between her and Seonwoo. "Hmm... I kinda wanna check this out."
What Hayan pointed to was blatantly obvious: 'Doll Costume Exhibition'.
I shot her a glare, lifting my eyes from her phone. She grinned mischievously. "Hehe, wouldn't it be cute?"
"You're not buying anything weird again, right?"
"Weird? What do you mean?"
"Oh, Taeyang! I think this one's perfect for you!"
Iri, butting in mid-conversation, pointed out her pick: a teddy bear outfit with suspenders and a gentleman hat. "And?"
"I just like it."
Yuyeong peeked but didn't get it. Then a weird breeze ruffled my hair from above—turns out it was Gahee's heavy breathing.
"Huh? Ahaha. What's up?"
When I looked up, she laughed it off awkwardly. Everyone's seriously teasing me like this. What was so cute about me in that crap anyway?
Just endure for a year. Once I hit my growth spurt, no more baby treatment. Then Gahee might go, 'Not cute anymore?' and find someone else. Though probably not Seonwoo.
"Ah, Yuli unnie! Where do you wanna go?"
"Uh? Well..."
Yuli, dragged over by Yuyeong, hesitated. I casually stepped aside, pretending no interest.
"I... kinda wanna see this one."
Yuli pointed to a photo of a Teddy Bear exhibit in goth style with flashy makeup. "If you don't like it, we don't have to go."
"Of course we'll go! Taeyang, that's fine, right?"
"Why ask me?"
Separating Yuyeong and Yuli was half the battle won. This time, I'd stick with Hayan no matter what.
"More importantly, sis, you're really going there?"
"Haha, don't worry—just go with Yuyeong."
"Nah, I'm too anxious. I'll stick with you."
"What?"
"You might splurge on useless souvenirs again."
I stated it flatly, and Hayan glanced at Yuyeong and Gahee. So she was trying to pair me with them, huh.
"No way. We have to go together."
Fat chance. I grabbed Hayan's hand tight, smiling like I hadn't noticed a thing. "Ah~ wasn't that last one a total rip-off for how much they milked it?"
"What?"
Iri grinned playfully. "Sounds fun—I wanna come too!"
"I wanna see the doll clothes too."
With Gahee joining in, Yuyeong hesitated in conflict. "Um... I'm really fine, so go if you want."
"Uh... unnie, come with us!"
Yuyeong couldn't bear to leave Yuli and dragged her along. Unintentionally, everyone except Seonwoo and Juyeon ended up following me. I'm not the Pied Piper—what's with everyone trailing me?
"Haha, guess we all go together then."
Seonwoo laughed, trying to join, but someone blocked him. "Seonwoo."
"Yeah?"
"Um... I wanna go there..."
With limited time and tons to see at the Teddy Bear Museum, once everyone picked spots, it was awkward for Juyeon to suggest going together. In this situation, she could shamelessly ask Seonwoo without losing face.
Hmm, things are going well over there.
And so we split into two groups: Choi Seonwoo and Seong Juyeon, and the rest. Juyeon glanced back at us and nodded in satisfaction.
I didn't do much. Just used Yuyeong to peel off Yuli, and suddenly everyone piled on when I said I was going.
We arrived at the Teddy Bear Museum and proceeded as planned. After splitting from the two, we headed to the costume corner.
"Ah, Taeyang, can we check out the costumes first, then go here?"
Yuyeong pointed to the spot Yuli wanted. "Do whatever you want."
"It means come with us~"
Yuyeong tried some cringey aegyo. I ignored her and turned—spotting Yuli. She seemed uneasy being away from Seonwoo, scanning around until our eyes met. She panicked alone.
"Ahaha, don't be like that—come with us~ Yuli, over here."
"Eek!..."
Iri grabbed Yuli, who was trying to stay far away. She wants to get close, but it's backfiring. Yuli was still scared of Iri.
Anyone would think she was shaking her down like, 'Act friendly or else!'
"Should we? Plenty of time left after looking around here anyway."
Hayan kindly accommodated, subtly approaching Yuli. "If Taeyang doesn't want to, you can hang with me."
Gahee probed at the perfect moment. No hesitation—I grinned and decided. "Nah... better to stick together."
"R-Really? Hing..."
Might be better for me too—no stray flags. The doll costume exhibit had all sorts beyond teddy outfits. People actually wear this stuff? Guess that's why they make it. Even a bunny suit from some FPS battle royale.
And as expected, the girls' chatter kicked off. "Wouldn't that suit Taeyang?"
Iri pointed to a cat outfit: light gray with a long tail and pointy ears for max cuteness.
"Gasp! Please!! Taeyang!"
"Gahee unnie, you serious?"
"Hehe, just kidding. Sorry."
Gahee got too excited and needed reining in. She was trying to hold back, but sometimes lost it. Too close to the edge. She was walking the line... for now.
"Hmm... think I'd wear it if you fasted for three days?"
"Just starve."
Hayan pondered seriously before spouting nonsense. I wouldn't wear it after seven days of starving!
This made it seem like they were dead set on dressing me up for real. Ah, Gahee was probably serious.
Anyway, I stopped the teasing sisters. "Iri unnie, cut it out."
"Boo~ what's the big deal? The first time's the hardest."
"It's still hard now."
I sighed dramatically. Surprisingly, Yuyeong backed me up against them. "Stop it. Taeyang hates it."
"Figured as much?"
"Taeyang would rock Japanese anime cosplay way better anyway."
"Yuyeong, wanna go separately?"
"Huh? Why?"
Some help she is! I'm the idiot for trusting Yuyeong.
As we bantered over nothing, Yuli still couldn't fit in. She quietly browsed costumes away from us.
Won't work if Yuyeong calls her over. Needed a bigger push. Plus, time to stop everything revolving around me.
"Gonna hit the bathroom."
"Okay, go ahead."
"Call me if you get lost."
I waved vaguely and headed off.
"Gotta muster courage, but it's tough, huh."
I opened SNS.
"Haa~"
SNS turns her into a different person. Or maybe worse? Replying to these walls of text ain't easy. Plus, her explanations were so vague a third party couldn't follow. Most shocking: she didn't even realize the issues.
Still, as her kind internet friend, better set her straight.
Well, now I knew how Yuli saw me. One more thing.
GlassMental: Somehow ended up saving her number...
After the teddy bear incident, I could also learn what Cho Yuli thought about my phone number.