Seong Juyeon's Date (3)
“Haa~ seriously!”
Time for a plan change. First, I had to soothe Seong Juyeon and get her to make up with Seonwoo. I'd have to explain the Ha Eunju thing myself. It was obvious that girl was doing it on purpose.
I called ahead to say I was coming soon and headed to where Seong Juyeon was. Just like in the game, she was crouched on the emergency stairwell. Sitting there in her dress skirt—what if someone looked up it? I sighed deeply and went down to her.
“Noona.”
“Huh? Oh… Taeyang…”
“…Noona, are you crying?”
The moment Seong Juyeon saw me, her eyes welled up with tears. She hung her head and started sobbing. In the game, when Seonwoo chased after her, she'd just grumble tsundere-style with slightly damp eyes… Was I too late? No. This had to be because Seonwoo didn't come and I did instead. That clueless bastard Seonwoo, seriously!
For now, I took off my short-sleeved jacket and draped it over Juyeon noona's skirt.
“Huh?”
“You can't sit like that in a skirt.”
She lifted her head at my action, her face a mess of tear tracks and smudged makeup. Still, she was so cute it wasn't a total disaster. Muttering that thought, I dashed to the convenience store for some drinks.
“Here. Drink this.”
She'd said she was thirsty earlier, but probably hadn't had anything proper. I handed her a light ion drink and cracked open my own can, sitting beside her.
“……Thanks.”
“No biggie. Once you're calmed down, talk it out properly with Seonwoo hyung later. It's all just a misunderstanding.”
Seong Juyeon spoke in a thin, trembling voice.
“Seonwoo… he still doesn't see me as a girl, does he?”
“That again?”
“But… he's like that even with a kid younger than me, and totally ignores me.”
“He's just a player like that. I know the guy.”
“Huh?”
“He was doing it on purpose to provoke me and you. Seonwoo hyung just didn't pick up on it.”
But even with that, Seong Juyeon still looked uncertain.
“But I'm starting to get tired of it… Seonwoo's so handsome, after all… I bet it'll keep happening.”
'Don't worry. In about two years, you'll have him locked in a hospital room so it won't.'
I swallowed the ridiculous thought and said to her,
“Noona.”
“Yeah?”
“It's not over yet.”
“But…”
“The date's not over. I told you.”
Frustrated, I stood up and yelled,
“The date isn't over, and he hasn't confessed yet! Nothing's ended, so don't just give up on your own like that!”
“……Yeah, you're right.”
Fortunately, Seong Juyeon seemed to perk up.
“Pfft… But Taeyang, you've been way too desperate since earlier, haven't you?”
“What? Geez, complaining when someone's helping?”
Caught off guard, I turned my head and grumbled. Watching me, she said softly,
“Taeyang, thanks. And sorry for before.”
“Huh? For what all of a sudden.”
Seong Juyeon shook her head.
“Honestly, I blackmailed you, so you had every right to be upset. There must be some reason with Yuli too.”
So she had been hung up on that. I figured.
“I won't tell anyone else. You don't have to go out of your way to help.”
“I'm not helping just because of that.”
“Huh?”
It was part of it, but there were other pressing reasons I couldn't back out now. No point explaining in detail—she'd just think I was crazy—so I brushed it off vaguely.
“I just want you and Seonwoo hyung to really work out.”
“Because of the other noonas?”
I shook my head firmly.
“Childhood friends getting together is just nice to see. I'd at least root for a childhood sweetheart couple.”
Even saying it honestly, I wondered if it fit. Seonwoo really needed to screw up big time. It kinda sucked for Juyeon like this.
“Pfft! What kinda logic is that? Well, I agree a little.”
She laughed hard once, then brushed off her clothes and stood, looking refreshed. Handing back my jacket, she said,
“But honestly, the date was already over earlier.”
“What're you talking about? You gotta talk to Seonwoo hyung again.”
“You already forgot the schedule I told you?”
Checking my watch, evening was approaching. Seonwoo had said he had to head home after this.
“I'll just call Seonwoo and say we'll talk next time.”
And so she called him, chatting cheerfully about meeting later since it was late. Even when Seonwoo asked worriedly, she laughed it off like nothing was wrong.
The date ending just like that? So anticlimactically? Why did I even come?! What the hell did I do today?! The confession?! The flags?!?!
In this total collapse, I wanted to scream.
“Taeyang, you hungry?”
Like I could eat now. But my stomach growled mercilessly—grrrrowl—
Well, I'd barely eaten lunch worrying about those two.
“C'mon, let's go. I'll treat you.”
“Nah, it's fine.”
“You know I always pay back favors? Did you think I'd ask for help and then ghost?”
The date was already busted anyway—no reason to refuse. Frustrating, but venting wouldn't bring more chances. Cursing Ha Eunju and Choi Seonwoo inwardly, I decided to gratefully accept Juyeon's meal.
Following her through downtown, we arrived at a fancy steakhouse.
“Whoa, this place is pricey.”
“Gotta be generous when treating.”
“Burger's fine for me.”
“C'mon, I'm not gonna make you pay. Follow me.”
True to her word, she went all out—set menus, extra sides, the works. But at checkout, seeing her trembling, holding back tears as she swiped her card, I nearly burst out laughing. To spare her pride, I pretended not to notice.
Even after getting home, texts kept coming.
Thanks for what? The outcome sucked… I hadn't really helped. With a wry smile, I pondered and replied.
A chuckle slipped out. If only she knew my current girl trouble was how to shake off these yandere girls.
As I went to reply casually, Juyeon noona hit me with a zinger.
Whoa, what misunderstanding was this noona having?
“Haa~ why do the misunderstandings keep piling up?”
Anyone'd think I was building a harem. Still, better than when she was blackmailing me over Cho Yuli's number. Now it was just light teasing, no real affection aimed at me—safe enough. Perfect distance.
One solid takeaway: I'd gotten closer to 'Juyeon noona'.
Meanwhile, as Seong Juyeon and Kim Taeyang wandered downtown alone that weekend evening, someone happened to spot them.
“Huh, Taeyang!… and Juyeon?”
She tilted her head, her long blonde hair cascading to one side. Hands clasped over her ample chest as if clutching her heart, Choi Gahee murmured,
“Why are those two together?”
There was no reason for them to be hanging out…
The moment she got to school, Gahee casually pried during chit-chat with friends.
“Oh yeah, Juyeon, where'd you disappear to yesterday?”
“Huh? I was hanging with Seonwoo and…”
“Hanging and…?”
Seong Juyeon paused, then realized why Choi Gahee was asking.
“Taeyang helped me out a bit, so I bought him dinner?”
“You bought Taeyang dinner?”
'I could treat better. To something tastier…'
'Oops, me too. Getting jealous over this?'
Not serious yet, thankfully—Gahee snapped out of it and asked for details. Seong Juyeon spun a vague tale of Taeyang just happening by and helping.
And Choi Seonwoo overheard from the side.
“Glad you got home safe.”
“Yeah, thanks to someone~”
Seong Juyeon grumbled at Seonwoo. He clasped his hands apologetically.
“Taeyang's such a good guy~”
It was a heartwarming story, so everyone brushed it off. Juyeon grinned cutely at secretly relieved Gahee and whispered,
“I don't really go for shorties, so no need to worry.”
“Huh?”
Seong Juyeon smirked like she knew all along. Gahee flushed in panic.
“Huh? What's up? Gahee, your face is red?”
“N-nothing! Don't mind it!”
“Hmmm… that makes it more suspicious…”
Min Iri butted in cluelessly, and Gahee waved her off. Kim Hayan alone seemed to get it, smiling gently.
After the heroines' bubbly chatter ended and the bell rang, sending kids off, Seonwoo sidled up to Juyeon.
“Hey Juyeon, free after school today?”
“Why?”
“New croquette spot nearby. Wanna treat you.”
“Hmph! Think that'll make me forgive you?”
“Just one chance~”
Clingy Seonwoo wasn't that unwelcome to her.
—Childhood friends getting together is just nice to see. I'd at least root for a childhood sweetheart couple.
Taeyang's words lingered, so Seong Juyeon decided to give her childhood friend a pass.
'Sigh~ no helping it. Childhood friends, after all.'
Meanwhile, alone with Hayan, Gahee voiced her lingering unease.
“Hayan. Does Taeyang hate just me?”
“Huh? Hate Taeyang?”
Hayan's eyes widened in surprise, so Gahee said glumly,
“He slept over at Iri's last time, and last week he ate with Juyeon too…”
She felt left out since he never hung with just her. She wanted this week to be their turn. Come to think of it, Kim Taeyang and Choi Gahee had never been alone together.
“If that's it, why not ask Taeyang directly this weekend?”
Understanding, Kim Hayan nodded encouragingly.