Lee Yuyeong's Feelings
Hello. I'm Lee Yuyeong, a third-year at Pullyip Middle School. I love soccer, so I'm the manager for the school soccer team. I'm usually so lively and full of energy that people tease me for being scatterbrained, but hey, my bright personality means I'm pretty popular too. And my looks? Even I look in the mirror and think, Damn, I'm cute, so yeah, I could totally pass for a beauty.
Anyway, today I thought I'd share my story. My mornings always start at 5 a.m. I get ready for school, make sure to eat breakfast, and by 5:30, I'm good to go. I step out the front door, and the crisp late-March morning air fills my lungs. Grinning, I think, Bring it on, cold! and start jogging lightly.
Yep, I wear my gym clothes because I have soccer team manager duties first thing in the morning. I help out during the players' morning practice. When I get to school, I head straight to the team room.
"Good morning, Yuyeong sunbae!"
"Morning!"
"Everyone, let's do our best today!"
"Yes, ma'am!!!"
Then I go to the manager's office...
"Yuyeong sunbae looks bright and pretty again today, huh?"
"Think she has a boyfriend?"
"You punks! Everyone else is getting ready—what the hell are you doing?"
"Ah! Sorry!!"
Stuff like that really drives home how popular I am. Being this popular is such a hassle. Hehe. Soon, my fellow manager friend and the coach arrive, we exchange greetings, and everyone gathers at the field. We all join in for light warm-up laps—players, managers, and coach alike.
The run feels extra refreshing today. I've just been in such a great mood lately.
"Hehe!"
"...What's up with Yuyeong sunbae..."
"She's on another level from the morning..."
"Lee Yuyeong! What do you think you're doing, lapping everyone by half a lap?!"
I was feeling so good that I'd pulled way ahead on my own. Geez, what am I trying to prove by outrunning the actual athletes?
"Why don't you just join the team and play?"
"Sorry~"
I stick out my tongue apologetically, and they all laugh it off without saying much more.
"Alright, time for measurements. You all know what happens if your scores drop in this month's eval—full hell training course, right?"
"Yes~"
After that, it's the usual: measuring the players' runs. As manager, my job is just to record the times and rank them. Once that's done, while the players keep training, us managers can head out early. I shower in the school locker room, change into my uniform, and then it's normal classroom life like everyone else.
"Yuyeong, you seem extra happy today?"
"Do I?"
"Yeah, you've been smiling non-stop since morning."
Even my manager buddy noticed. Why have I been in such a good mood lately? It's all because of this one boy I'll see in class soon.
"Hey!"
I greet everyone brightly, but there's one guy who reacts differently from the rest.
"Uh... h-hi."
Tanned skin like he spends all day in the sun, natural blonde hair. It's Kim Taeyang, the new transfer student. Despite looking like he'd fit right into some dark genre as the shady type... nope, he's actually super innocent. Taeyang always gets flustered when I talk to him.
"Nice morning, right?"
"Yeah..."
And he avoids eye contact. Hehe, part of me wonders if he hates me, but nah. He's probably just overwhelmed because I'm too cute.
The first day Taeyang transferred in, I had a feeling we'd click, so I wanted to get close. But he kept pushing me away for some reason. When I asked why, feeling all hurt, he said, "You're too pretty, and it makes me nervous to approach you." Can you believe it?! I mean, I think I'm cute too, but that reaction? Obviously, I should be nice and considerate to him. The point is, Taeyang definitely likes me.
He shows all the classic signs I've seen from other boys who had crushes on me. He hesitates to talk first. He chats fine with others but can't keep a conversation going with me. He panics if I get too close. And when he's scribbling something alone at his desk and I approach? Total freak-out. Writing me a love letter or something? Cute, but he's got some bold sides too.
So, am I gonna accept him? Hmm. Truth is, I've never dated anyone. Between manager duties and my hobbies, romance hasn't been on my radar. Bet you didn't see that coming, but I'm actually a huge otaku—I love manga and anime. But I haven't told a soul. It's hard to just come out and say it. Might even be a turn-off for some...
But Taeyang's different. He openly admits to me that he loves anime—even watches every rec I give him and chats about it without any awkwardness. He's cute, we vibe on conversations and tastes... I could totally date him. I'd gladly say yes. If Taeyang musters the courage to confess first. He's so head-over-heels for me, he'll spill his feelings soon enough. Hehe, I can't wait.
Hi, it's Lee Yuyeong again. Yeah, I already introduced myself. It's early April, and the cold snaps haven't fully faded yet. Prep, run, school... ugh, do I have to explain? "Sigh~ School sucks today."
Sorry, I'm just in a bad mood. It's nothing big. Just got cut off by this boy I thought we were flirting with. Happens all the time, right? Totally no big deal. There are plenty of good people out there, we weren't that close anyway, and we'd only hung out a few days. It's fine. He was kinda meh anyway. Looked like the type to steal someone's girlfriend or hit on married women, maybe even drag a little sister or older sis into trouble—or worse, corrupt me.
"Hey! Lee Yuyeong! Stop running! How many laps are you doing solo?!"
"Huh?"
Whoops—snapped out of it to find I'd run ten laps around the field non-stop by myself. I scratched my head and apologized to everyone.
"Sigh~ Yuyeong, sit this one out."
"Huh?"
"Can't trust you with measurements in this state. Go rest."
"Sorry. My bad, guys."
Sigh~ I'm being a total burden. Gotta pull it together. What am I doing, obsessing over some nobody?
I made eye contact with Kim Taeyang heading into class. I ignored him first. Chatting with other friends cleared my head bit by bit. I've got tons of friends in this world. My sunny self draws them right in—they'd back me up no matter what. Even if they knew about my hobby...
"Yuyeong, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, Hyeon. "
Yeah, as long as I don't bring up anime, I've got awesome friends. Online's plenty for otaku talk. This is how I've always done school life. Never lonely or anything.
"Hyeon, let's stick together forever~"
"Uh...? Y-yeah, of course, Yuyeong."
Having such a sweet friend, unlike some people, makes me so happy.
I really do have tons of friends, and I can make more anytime, so no regrets there. I even got close to this older sister I met by chance—we're texting buddies now. Gahee unnie goes to Pulkkot High School; she's this elegant beauty who screams "raised with privilege."
We ran into each other when I helped that Geum Taeyang punk find his pet dog, and she invited me to her mansion to say thanks.
"What?!"
That punk Taeyang... I had no idea he was texting Gahee unnie. No, I totally could've guessed, but I was short-sighted. We swapped numbers at her place that time.
Taeyang approached first? He never does that with me. Suspicious. Definitely has ulterior motives. Before he even knew Gahee unnie, he was scoping out her mansion. He bolted when she came out—guilty as charged. Then when I helped find Willy and she invited him, he jumped at the chance. The guy barely talks to me, but he chatted her up smooth and even swapped numbers—without mentioning it to me.
Yeah. That blonde-tanned delinquent punk's target is Gahee unnie. If this keeps up, she's in danger!
I have zero interest in patching things up with that Kim Taeyang jerk. This is all to save Gahee unnie. I'll crash the study group and drive a wedge between him and her.
"Kim Taeyang..."
I can't forgive him for hurting me and going after Gahee unnie. Time for revenge. Above all, I'll make him give up on her. Dig up his weaknesses so he never approaches her again. Total domination. Can't wait for that day. Hehehe~
"Yuyeong, stop grinning creepily at your figures and run this errand for me?"
"Sure, Mom~"
Errands first, I guess.