The Rich Girl (3)
A dialogue window popped up on the computer screen.
On the way to Gahee's house, we exchanged names and basics—like where we lived and what school we went to. That's when I first learned Lee Yuyeong lived nearby too. Just one block over from me, pretty close.
I kept my address vague, of course. Said it was a bit of a ways off. Thinking back to what she'd said in the park earlier, no need to risk her showing up at my door.
"So you're older than me, unnie?"
"Yeah, call me Gahee unnie comfortably."
"Okay, Gahee unnie!"
"Looking forward to it. Gahee noona."
"You can drop the formal speech too."
"Got it! Unnie!"
Lee Yuyeong was thrilled to have a new unnie. And she switched to casual speech right away—impressive stickiness.
I decided to ease into it since things still felt awkward. Chatting about the cookies she'd baked today, we arrived at Choi Gahee's mansion before I knew it.
Never imagined I'd be stepping inside just two hours ago.
The well-manicured garden basked in the spring breeze, lush grass swaying. In the center sat a luxurious rococo-style outdoor round table and chairs. They looked pricey—sitting felt intimidating.
"Nice weather today, so I'll serve us out here."
"Whoa, it's amazing up close!"
"Up close?"
"Ah, I've seen it while walking around sometimes. Wondered who lived in such a place."
"Really? Come visit whenever you have time."
"For real, unnie?"
Lured by cookies, and just like that, Yuyeong and Gahee were fast friends. Yuyeong's the type who bonds quickly, and Gahee's so kind.
The terrace tea and treats setup matched the Love Chain plot beat for beat. Without my interference, there's a fifty-fifty chance Seonwoo would've been here.
No point dwelling on what-ifs now. Time to lock in the goal: Link myself to Gahee to connect her to Seonwoo.
Harsh to say, but among the yandere routes, Gahee's is the most hopeful. She kidnaps him to a deserted island, sure. No idea how they live after, but no collateral damage to side characters.
In reality, cops would swarm, but better than bodies piling up.
Gahee route it is.
"What're you thinking about?"
Yuyeong's voice snapped me out of it.
"Nothing much."
"Really?"
"Hehe, wait a sec. I'll bring the cookies and tea."
"Sure, thanks, unnie!"
"Thank you."
Gahee stepped away, leaving us alone. As I glanced around, Yuyeong spoke up—totally out of left field.
"Taeyang, you into that type of girl?"
"What're you talking about?"
"You were staring at her earlier."
"Wha... staring at what?"
I'd glanced at Gahee's looks and figure, but not staring!
Blushing from puberty pangs, I denied it. "No way."
"You stopped by here before finding Willy too. Bolted when Gahee unnie came out."
"Bolt? I didn't bolt."
She kept hitting the nail on the head. Just how much had she seen?
"Huh. Thought you had a crush on Gahee unnie. Figured that's why you tagged along like a cockroach when she invited us."
"No way! And when did I ever cockroach?!"
Protesting my innocence, she just smiled.
"Good thing if not."
"Good how?"
"Who knows?"
She looked pleased, like her earlier sulk never happened.
"Just in case, but if you're crushing on a girl, tone down the staring. Could cause misunderstandings."
"Got it."
Fair point. Eyes wander to crushes inevitably, but overdo it and it's creepy. No crush on my end, but solid advice—I'd remember it.
"Oh, hey, heard the news?"
"News?"
"Magical Girl Ayane Ayase sequel..."
Anime talk again. Naturally, our chat shifted to otaku fodder. I saw it as average fare, but it stuck with her apparently. She'd blow up if I said that aloud.
I nodded along moderately until Gahee returned.
"What were you talking about?"
"Uh, that is... nothing! Just world news and stuff."
"Huh?"
Yuyeong panicked visibly—making it more suspicious. She still hid her hobbies from most people except me.
"Soccer talk. She likes soccer."
"Oh? Do you play too?"
"Nah, I was the soccer club manager in middle school."
"Jealous of athletic types. Managers need stamina too, right?"
"Haha, nah. Players do the hard work."
"What about you, Taeyang? Soccer club?"
I shook my head at Gahee's question.
"No. Not into playing."
"You look like you'd be good."
Gahee meant it innocently, but it lit a fire under Yuyeong.
"Right, unnie? I think Taeyang'd crush it, but he won't even visit once."
She whined pitifully.
"Give it up. No clubs for me."
"Haha, can't force you."
"Your build screams athlete... but if you hate it, oh well."
"So you train separately?"
Makes sense they'd ask. Truth is, before moving here, I'd played soccer at my old school. Loved exercise too—evening walks with jogs.
"Nah. Just light runs on evening strolls."
"Really? Such a workout-ready body—shame."
"Ahaha, embarrassing getting praised."
"Kinda sad. If you were a player and Yuyeong the team manager or coach, I'd sponsor you guys fully."
"For real, unnie?"
Yuyeong's eyes sparkled. Big ambitions?
"We just met today."
I laughed incredulously. Probably a joke—maybe I took it too seriously.
"But I love spoiling people I like~"
I flinched. Right, that was Gahee's yandere code. Lavish on loved ones.
Sounds nice, but later it turns poison—endless cash on money-hungry guys.
"Unnie... but what if you pick the wrong guy?"
Yuyeong, who'd been beaming, suddenly got serious and pointed out the risk.
You've got depth sometimes, Yuyeong.
"Hm..."
Gahee pondered, then smiled brightly.
"But if the man I love is happy, wouldn't spending make me happy too?"
"That's dangerous!"
Right on! Good job, Yuyeong! Wait, isn't this sabotaging the Gahee route? Nah—no rule saying she has to go full yandere to hook up with Seonwoo. Minimal damage ending's ideal.
"Yuyeong, calm down and try a cookie first?"
Caught off-guard by her seriousness, flustered Gahee picked one from the basket and fed it to her.
"Whoa... it's insanely good!!"
"Hehe, right?"
Gahee puffed her chest proudly. Her outrageously massive bust thrust forward.
Gahee noona... ahem... nice... no, it's a bit much.
My gaze followed instinct, face heating—I turned away. Too blatant for a hormonal teen.
"So, Yuyeong, what's your boyfriend like?"
"Boyfriend?"
"Huh?"
What the—? Gahee pointed at me, mistaking me for Yuyeong's guy.
"What kind of boyfriend is Taeyang?"
She wanted cozy couple stories, but we weren't dating.
"Unnie, Taeyang's not my boyfriend."
Yuyeong spoke first.
"We're just friends. Right~ Taeyang~?"
"Yeah, classmates."
Gahee scratched her head apologetically, smiling.
"Haha, sorry, my bad."
We brushed it off and munched cookies amiably.
"For real, these are delicious!"
The taste drew genuine awe.
"Really? Was worried there were too many—take some home if you want?"
"Can I?"
"Yeah, Yuyeong, eat as much as you like."
The warm tea time wrapped up with us swapping contacts. Great—bonded with Gahee. Now, how to leverage it...
Casually dropped, "My sister's at your school too!" Asked if she knew Kim Hayan—she was stunned, same class.
Game fact: Seonwoo, Hayan, and Gahee were classmates. Planned it.
Asked her to get along with noona. Perfect—links Gahee-Hayan, soon Gahee-Seonwoo.
Build friendship as noona's little bro, monitor the trio up close.
"Taeyang, text me if you're bored. I'll reply when I can."
One snag: Swapped numbers with Yuyeong too. She's quirky, but no deep feelings yet. Stalking suspicions linger—stay cautious. She clarified we're not dating in front of Gahee, so boundaries hold. Keep distance for now.
"See ya. Come again."
"Sure!"
Left Gahee's, told Yuyeong I had stuff at home, split. Paranoia made me loop home circuitously.
"Phew~ What a scare today."
Regained composure, found a path forward. Decent gains—not bad.
Too soon to relax. In the living room, noona lounged on the sofa amid shopping bags.
"What's all this? Where'd you go, noona?"
"Yeah, you didn't come, so I was bored. Hit the city with friends."
"Made a bunch of new ones?"
Casually headed to my room.
"Just Iri and that nice guy from before—the 'Seonwoo' one."
My body froze.
"What?"
"Remember the sweet guy I mentioned? Seonwoo."
Something felt off.
"Ran into him on the street by chance, ended up hanging out as a trio. He's fun."