Chapter 66: Finals and the Eternal Commute
Our routine of walking side by side with my sister to school every day, parting ways at the crosswalk after the traffic light, had become second nature. There was just one thing I could never get used to.
"Taeyang, let's do our best today too!"
"...Yeah."
"Come on, shoulders back. You look best with a big smile."
"Sis."
"Hm?"
"You said it was nothing. I told you I'm fine."
"Who said our Taeyang has any problems?"
Hayan grinned innocently, playing dumb. If I sighed here, she'd worry I had some hidden troubles. I held back the sigh bubbling up, raised my hand, and parted ways with her.
"We talked it all out, but... does she really believe me?"
Last night, I'd cleared up the misunderstanding with my sister. At her urging, I'd spilled everything about my perfectly normal school life and even showed her all the photos with the guys. At first, her counselor-like tone pissed me off, but I sweet-talked my way through it, and she finally let out a relieved sigh. But then, my sister hit me with something unexpected.
— What if Yuyeong's bullying you?
Her hesitant question caught me off guard. For a split second, I was tempted. Should I just say Lee Yuyeong was harassing me? Then my sister would make sure she never came near me again. It might even drive a wedge between Yuyeong and the other girls.
I shook my head immediately.
"It's true she's been pushy and it's annoying and uncomfortable, but she's not bullying me. We're just friends now."
The fallout would be too much to handle. Thinking about that lone wolf's patterns, she'd probably flip out and retaliate against me for the false accusation. Better to avoid creating weird variables and just keep my distance like this.
Still, my sister was subtly keeping tabs on me. She decided this incident meant she needed to pay even more attention to her little brother.
"She treats me like a damn kid,"
I grumbled under my breath as I entered the classroom.
"Hey, Taeyang."
"Hey, yeah. Morning."
I brushed off Lee Yuyeong's now-familiar greeting and the glares from the girls watching from afar, taking my seat like it was nothing.
"Taeyang, how's the studying going?"
She asked casually. Didn't she usually hold back when other kids were around?
"Eh? It's alright, I guess."
"...Hey, um."
I turned, wondering what she wanted now. Surprisingly, she looked almost normal. Lately, she'd been impossible to pin down, but she seemed to be reverting to her old self.
"Can you tutor me a bit?"
"Huh? Just ask someone who’s good at studying."
"No one around me studies as well as you."
"The class rep would teach you great."
"We cut ties."
"What?"
Why would she ghost such a nice girl...? Ah, whatever. I didn't care about the ecosystem among the girls at school.
"Anyway, I'd prefer if you taught me personally."
"Fine. What don't you get?"
Tutoring her a little wouldn't be a big deal. I glanced at her reference book, but there wasn't a single one on her desk. That's when I realized she had other intentions.
"You gonna teach me for real?"
"I said I would. Hurry up and get your book out."
"Then I'll come over this weekend."
I stared at her in disbelief.
"Yuyeong, we agreed not to do this."
"Huh? It's just tutoring? That's super common between friends."
She tilted her head innocently, as if I was overreacting.
"I don't think we're at the 'visit each other's houses' stage."
"I already got permission from Hayan unnie this morning."
She smirked mischievously.
"What're you talking about?"
"Even if we're distant, I'm still tight with the unnies."
"........."
So no matter how much I bitch, she's coming anyway? Using my sister as an excuse to see Hayan.
I'd have to text Hayan later and complain. Hopefully she'd have a good reason for inviting a girl her precious little brother hates.
"It makes me uncomfortable."
"Don't worry. It's not just me. Gahee unnie's coming too."
"Gahee sis too?"
"Yeah, Hayan unnie said as long as you okay it, I could tag along."
"Yuyeong? That's not called permission."
More importantly, Gahee sis too? I had to meet her eventually to lower her affection, but now wasn't the time. Feedback from the school trip showed group study sessions made it impossible to drop Choi Gahee's affection.
Choi Gahee's affection didn't drop from slip-ups or awkward moments. If anything, she found them cute, stirring her protective instincts and liking me more. Proof? The school trip hadn't lowered it—in fact, I'd seen an even more dangerous side of her.
So I'd devised a separate plan to tank Gahee sis's affection. Showing an uncute side was tricky in the game, but not impossible. To escape her route, deny her chances to help or moments she'd find adorable. That kept affection in check, and openly favoring other heroines would push her away.
Of course, that was game strategy. Pursuing other heroines was insane, and I wasn't doing it. My plan was a realistic alternative: something utterly common sense. Show an unhygienic, unclean side, or a creepy, uncute corner—most girls hate that. But Hayan wouldn't stand for it, so it had to be without her. Meeting in a study group would backfire.
"Taeyang, I just wanna study with the unnies. Can't you let me?"
Lee Yuyeong pleaded.
"Whatever, I won't be home this weekend anyway. If I'm not there, it's fine."
Dodging was best for now.
"And if you need tutoring, I'll do it at school. Got plans this weekend."
"Plans? I asked the guys, and no one had anything."
Chills ran up my arm at her words. How thorough was she? Wait, wasn't I optional anyway?
"Plans with someone else."
"Who?"
"A friend from before we moved here came up for a bit."
"At this time?"
Most middle and high schools were in session, prepping for exams—it was suspicious.
"She's homeschooled, so she can travel freely."
"...Saturday? Sunday?"
"Both days. Staying at a hotel, and she wants me to sleep over."
I made it impossible to reschedule either way. If it was just Yuyeong, I could've snapped no and been done, but with Gahee sis involved, I needed a solid excuse.
She pouted skeptically before looking away. Lingering would've made her look like a clingy pest to onlookers.
Right after morning homeroom, I messaged my sister confirming I wouldn't join the weekend study group. Miraculously, it got canceled. They weren't there for studying—they just wanted to see me.
A week passed, finals season hit starting Friday, and another week flew by. The exams went smoothly. Scores were average—solid, considering distractions kept me from focusing. Next to me, Lee Yuyeong scowled at her test paper. High school entrance loomed, so grades mattered more now. I left her to it and headed home first. Time for some peace. No major events around Seonwoo until summer break. At most, heroines at school chattered with him about styles that suit them—Use a staged sequence to compare how they change in year 3. Not crucial in year 2.
The game version was fun to watch. In year 3, heroines changed styles overnight based on Seonwoo's words. Tell Kim Hayan purple dye would look good? Boom, purple-haired Hayan next day. Switch Cho Yuli's menhera fashion, bob Seong Juyeon's hair. Oh, and that maid cafe clip accidentally shown to Gahee? Next day, Gahee shows up at Seonwoo's in a maid outfit. Terrifying how desperately they vied for his attention. Please don't let that happen in reality!
Otherwise, just minor events: a date with Seong Juyeon or visiting Choi Gahee's to meet Willy.
"I'm home~"
I showered quick and headed to my PC for some long-overdue gaming.
Bzzz—
Phone vibrated. Great news.
I grinned involuntarily. The "The World Is Still a Warm Place!" operation just got way easier. I encouraged GlassMental a bit, smiled contentedly, and set my phone down.
Bzzz—
Another vibration.
"Something else?"
Chats with her never ended short. Wondering what novel she'd sent this time, I picked up. But it was someone else—welcome, but tiring news.
JuyeonNuna's request was this: Soon she'd go on a date with Seonwoo, and she wanted my help. No clue why she was turning me into Cupid, but it wasn't bad news. Tiring, but if it worked... if Choi Seonwoo and Seong Juyeon actually got together from this, it could all be over.