School Trip (8)
I flinched for a second, but quickly figured out what she meant.
No third party could possibly understand the situation from that alone. And sure enough, GlassMental seemed to know I wouldn't get it, so her reply paused for a bit.
I already knew everything. But unlike Yuli's fears, what had me floored wasn't that situation—it was this anonymous chat right now. How the hell do you explain every little detail to a total stranger?
She's gotten so timid her brain's not working right. I let out a deep sigh and decided to cut the chat short before it dragged on even longer.
I sent a fighting emoji as a finale and turned off my phone.
I need to create some openings for her on purpose. If the conversation flows too much around me, Yuli won't get a chance to join. Yeah, I should stick her with Hayan-unnie. Yuyeong and Gahee-unnie will wanna stay with me anyway. Of course, if she gets too close to Seonwoo again, I'll have Hayan-unnie intervene.
"Why're you so late?"
"Sorry."
As I approached Iri-unnie, I subtly checked on Yuli's state. She was clutching her phone tight, hesitating.
"If you're done looking, let's go."
"Yeah, let's head wherever Yuri-unnie wants to go!"
"...Okay."
Yuli just nodded quietly when Yuyeong approached her—still tense as hell. While Yuyeong stuck with Yuli, I chatted with the unnies to keep our side from overlapping with theirs too much.
"Let's hit the souvenir shop too."
"Yeah, they sell some of the displayed clothes for real!"
"What're you gonna do with those clothes?"
After the Teddy Bear Museum tour wrapped up, I left Iri-unnie and Gahee-unnie distracted by shopping in the gift shop and approached Hayan-unnie.
"Unnie."
"Yeah?"
"Looks like Yuyeong can't handle that side alone."
I subtly pointed toward Yuli. She'd found someone easy to talk to and had been chatting only with Yuyeong since earlier. She was still shy around the other unnies and me.
"Yeah, she's sticking to just Yuyeong."
"Could you look after her a bit, unnie? Iri-unnie and I seem scary to her. And Gahee-unnie's glued to my side for some reason."
Thankfully, Hayan-unnie got it and nodded.
"Sure, I'll help."
We wandered a bit more, finished the Teddy Bear Museum, and regrouped with Choi Seonwoo and Seong Juyeon at the exit. Judging by Juyeon's expression, they'd had a blast. But even her bright smile faltered a little when Yuli edged toward Seonwoo. Well, soon enough Yuyeong and Hayan-unnie were by Yuli's side, so she didn't get too close to him.
"Wanna grab lunch soon?"
"I'm starving~"
"There's a pasta place nearby."
"Ooh, I'm in!"
"Taeyang? Seonwoo?"
We both shrugged it off, and pasta it was—unanimous decision.
The place was packed, so we sat wherever... and of course, we ended up sitting like this.
"Wanna try some, Taeyang?"
Gahee-unnie piled a ton of her pasta onto my plate.
"Unnie, that's like half your portion now, you know?"
"I get full easy."
"Then eat some of mine."
"I'm good. Oh, the pizza here's good too."
She sliced off a big hunk of gorgonzola and held it out to me.
"Struggling with the steak? Want me to cut it for you?"
"No, I'm fine..."
"Okay. Eat up, no pressure. I don't like steak much anyway."
"........."
Then why'd you order it?
Across from Gahee-unnie at the table. Watching her cater entirely to me made me sigh involuntarily. It was so overwhelming I felt like I'd get indigestion.
"Something wrong?"
"Yeah, there is."
"Should've gone for the omurice?"
The second she reached for the menu, I panicked and yelled.
"What the hell! Who's eating all this?!"
I pointed at the plates covering the table—no room to spare.
"Eek! That much?"
"Obviously! Just let me eat in peace. I'll handle mine."
"Ugh... sorry."
No, don't deflate like that—you're making me look like the bad guy. I glanced around. Iri-unnie was grinning from the seat next to me, forking over some food.
"Hey! Iri, don't steal Taeyang's food!"
"Eat it. We can't finish this between two anyway."
"Then gratefully accept."
Oblivious to the crisis, Iri-unnie popped the steak in her mouth like it was delicious.
"Still, I was gonna pay..."
Quick backstory: Mom called while I was out, so I arrived late. The only seat left was across from Gahee-unnie. She eagerly pulled out the chair, said everyone else had ordered except me. So I just got a pasta... but then the food kept coming: two pasta plates, T-bone steak, ricotta salad, gorgonzola pizza, pork belly pilaf, French toast, two special Irish grapefruit ades, French fries, oven wings, cheese balls... and more.
"You sure we can finish all this?"
"Can't eat too little."
"But we'll have leftovers for sure."
"Eh... it's fine. We can share with the others."
"What about the bill, unnie?"
Dumb question. This girl's family buys private islands later on. This must be pocket change. And no one was around to stop her—the group split into two tables since there were so many of us. All that was next to me was the athletic girl thrilled at the mountain of food... and across from me, the loner girl trembling in fear.
"She's still scary... bought her lunch and she yells..."
Her tiny mutter made me feel wronged, but I ignored it for now and checked on Gahee-unnie.
"Uh... it's good, eat up."
She looked genuinely sorry. Damn, how am I supposed to say no now?
"Whatever, we'll manage. If I'm stuffed, dump it on Iri-unnie."
"Yeah, trust me. I didn't order knowing this'd happen."
"......Iri-unnie's something else."
Not just failing to stop her—she's exploiting it. Some friend.
"Anyway, thanks for the food."
"Yeah!"
As I started eating without protest, Gahee-unnie lit up like nothing happened. Hmm... it is tasty. No wonder it's popular. The tomato tang is mild and sweet, noodles soft but with bite. Fries are crisp, not soggy. Steak next?
"Ha... the way you chew is so cute."
My hand froze mid-reach. Did I just hear something weird?
"Huh? What's up?"
"Nah. You eating, unnie?"
Please tell me I misheard. Gahee-unnie hadn't touched her fork or knife at all. Just propping her chin with both hands, smiling at me. Her cute exterior hid a terrifying reality.
"I'll eat, don't worry."
"Okay."
I sipped my grapefruit ade to calm down.
"The slurping... haa~"
"......"
I nearly choked but pulled away from the straw.
"Ooh, good, right? Yuli?"
"Uh? Y-yeah..."
"Why the formal speech?"
Iri-unnie and Yuli hadn't noticed? I glanced over—Iri was busy with her plate, Yuli fumbling through conversation in panic. No one paying attention here. Gahee-unnie tilted her head as I stopped. I eyed her carefully—her gaze was clouding over.
"What's wrong, Taeyang?"
Yandere Stage 1 activated.
"You're not eating, so it's bugging me."
"Guess I should. Hehe."
Gahee-unnie smiled and poked at her pasta with a fork. But she had no intention of eating—kept glancing between me and my plate. What the hell am I supposed to do?! Just sitting here eating obediently boosts her affection? This is ridiculous!!! I was about to give up on lunch entirely when—
"Such a messy eater~"
"Huh?"
Gahee-unnie grabbed a napkin in her sweet voice and reached her pale hand toward my mouth.
"I'm good! I'll wipe it."
I rejected the touch and snatched a napkin to wipe frantically, but—
"Oh? Rejecting me?"
"........."
Chills shot down my spine, goosebumps exploding everywhere. I knew it was dangerous, but my body locked up like it was paralyzed. Wouldn't obey me at all. It was like...
"Taeyang~ You gotta listen to unnie, right?"
I was prey helplessly caught by a predator. The instant our eyes met, instinct screamed I couldn't defy her.
"........."
My lips stayed still.
"Good boy~"
They got wiped clean by Gahee-unnie's napkin without resistance.
"Messy eater~ Hehe."
By the time I snapped out of it, she'd been petting my head for a solid minute.