Trip (14)
Honestly, I didn't care what Seonwoo did here, as long as he kept his hands off Hayan noona. Sure, it bugged me a little that I didn't know the ending to Yuyeong's yandere route, but whatever.
Anyway, the reason I was paying attention to Seonwoo's actions was none other than Juyeon noona, who was staring at him with those clouded eyes. It probably started the moment he spaced out looking at the other heroines. It was a pretty quick yandere awakening, but in the game, Seong Juyeon's affection was prioritized, so it made sense she'd react like that.
Still, I had a bad feeling this time wouldn't play out like the game. Especially if Seonwoo pulled any more weird stunts.
"Taeyang-ah."
"Gahee noona, why aren't you playing more?"
"How's it fun without you there?"
Gahee noona plopped right down next to me.
"Don't you like playing in the water, Taeyang?"
"Nah, not that. Just wanted a break."
"Then I'll rest here with you."
She glanced at me slyly, and when I didn't object, she settled in comfortably beside me, watching the group just like I was.
Seonwoo was splashing around with Hayan noona and Iri noona, goofing off. When the hell did that guy get so buddy-buddy with Iri noona?
"What do you think of Iri, Taeyang?"
"Huh?"
"Isn't Iri super pretty?"
"Yeah, she is."
"R-really?"
Then she looked at me with those desperate eyes. Was Gahee noona fishing for compliments too? I pretended not to notice and turned away—only to feel a sudden chill on the back of my neck from the other side.
"Ack, what the—?"
"Hehe, here."
I whipped around to see Yuyeong messing with me using a cold soda can.
"What were you guys talking about?"
"Nothing. Nada."
I grabbed the drink and cracked it open right away. Yuyeong handed one to Gahee noona too, then sat in the spot next to me like it was no big deal.
"It's cramped. Go sit in the shade."
"I like it here."
"You'll burn your skin."
"Worried about me?"
Just shut up already. I kicked off my slippers and scooted to the middle of the mat. Of course, Gahee noona and Yuyeong followed, flanking me on both sides like it was planned. Sipping my drink, I kept watching Seonwoo and Juyeon noona.
Juyeon noona was playing around, clearly trying to get Seonwoo's attention. But whenever another heroine got close, he'd ditch her and mess with them instead. From afar, it was obvious he had zero interest in Juyeon noona. No hope at all.
Was it that attitude that made her huff off in the game? Maybe I should just tell her straight up that Seonwoo has no feelings for her. But she was already at Yandere Stage 1, and I didn't have the guts. Even if I told her the truth, she'd probably ignore it, and messing with someone in yandere mode was a recipe for disaster.
I let out a sigh.
"Taeyang-ah, you look wiped out?"
Gahee noona started fanning me right away.
"Nah, I'm fine. You don't have to fan me."
"Your face looks pale. Wanna head back to the dorm?"
"Huh? My face is pale?"
Yuyeong jumped in like she'd been waiting. "I got you that sports drink thinking it'd help, but you still look rough."
So that's why she bought it on purpose. "Thanks."
"N-no biggie."
"But it's not that, so don't worry."
I forced a relaxed smile. Yeah, no need for me to stress over those two. Don't go burdening everyone else.
Lunchtime rolled around, and we headed to a beachside restaurant.
"Iri-ya, you don't even notice your swimsuit when you're having fun, huh?"
"Ugh... I seriously thought the strap was gonna snap."
Iri noona was still blushing hard from embarrassment.
"Come on~ No way they'd make a swimsuit that flimsy."
Seonwoo slipped in under the guise of comforting her. "It's fine, so go wild."
"Seonwoo, you aren't thinking something dirty, are you?"
"What? I was just cheering her up!"
Finally satisfied, Juyeon noona got to growl at him one-on-one.
"Guys, it's a restaurant. Keep it down."
"Hoo~ You're the one who said something weird, Juyeon."
"Pfft, anyone could see your eyes looked pervy."
Juyeon noona sniped at him. She'd been piling up grudges since earlier, apparently. Weird thing was, even at Yandere Stage 1, she was still rocking her tsundere vibe. When Gahee noona or Yuyeong hit Stage 1, they lost their cool and clung to me instead.
As I mulled that over, another yandere from my side offered me food.
"Taeyang-ah. Wanna try some of mine?"
"Nah, not hungry."
Gahee noona set down her fork and eyed me worriedly.
"If you're not feeling well, shouldn't you rest, Taeyang-ah?"
"I'm good. Just full."
They already thought I looked off earlier—no need to fuel it.
"Don't be stubborn. If you're sick, go back to the dorm."
Then Iri noona, sitting across from me, chimed in. "It's not that."
"If you're tired, I'll go with you. Rest up properly."
Iri noona said it dead serious, no room for argument.
"Yeah, you looked bad earlier too. Let's just chill, Taeyang-ah~"
Yuyeong brought up the same thing, and suddenly everyone was fussing over me. At this rate, I'd be the one heading back first, not Juyeon noona.
"Or should I go with you, noona?"
Hayan noona offered, adding, 'Family would be more comfortable for you.'
Maybe I should ditch just Hayan noona here and tell the rest to handle themselves?
"...Should I?"
Knowing her personality, she wouldn't leave her sick little brother to go play. I could play the baby card and keep her here.
"Then let me take care of you too."
Yuyeong butted in. I was about to say 'You don't have to come, Yuyeong-ah,' but the other noonas jumped in.
"I'll go too."
"Me too then!"
Iri noona and Gahee noona wanted to tag along out of worry. But that'd mess up Seonwoo and Juyeon noona's flag...
...Or would it actually work out better?
"How about we all head back after lunch? We've played in the water plenty."
Not sure if a few hours was "plenty," but everyone agreed with Seonwoo's suggestion.
"Or Juyeon noona, you and him could hang out longer?"
It slipped out. "I don't wanna make everyone else skip out because of me."
I parroted a line from the game Juyeon noona said. Now that the other heroines—who steal Seonwoo's attention—were out of the picture, there'd be no jealousy-fueled runaway moment.
Leaving them alone might actually...
"Still, it'd feel weird if we kept playing without you guys."
Seonwoo deflected politely. Juyeon noona followed up.
"Then how about we rest a bit at the dorm and hit the Ecological Park after?"
"Huh? Ecological Park?"
"Yeah, the air's clean there. Should be good for you too, Taeyang."
That was the spot loaded with memories for her and Seonwoo—their flag trigger. She'd say she was going back to the dorm, then detour there instead.
"Seonwoo-ya, remember? We used to play at the playground there all the time."
She beamed, reminiscing about confessing to him at that little playground in the park.
"What'd you say to me back then?"
She probed slyly, but Seonwoo just tilted his head like he had no clue.
"What'd I say?"
"You don't remember?"
"Nah. That was when we were kids. I don't remember stuff that wasn't a big deal."
Juyeon noona blanked for a second but played it cool.
"Yeah, it wasn't important anyway."
"Now you've got me curious. What was it?"
"I said it was nothing."
Her face flushed as she naturally dodged teaching him. Seonwoo dropped it quick and started chattering with the other girls again.
Why's he suddenly so chatty with Iri noona, anyway? Juyeon noona pouted alone, her eyes clouding over more and more.
In the end, I wrecked Juyeon noona's flag too. Not on purpose, but still.
Back at the dorm, we split off to rest in our rooms.
"You could rest in noona's room."
"I'm good, noona. Can't just barge into the girls' rooms."
I turned down Hayan noona's offer, and Juyeon noona chuckled.
"Heh. Doubt anyone would complain if you went in, Taeyang."
"So you wanna room with Seonwoo hyung then, Juyeon noona?"
"Wh-what?! ...Could I?"
She started tsun-tsunning, then whispered when she realized Seonwoo and the others weren't watching.
Could she? With two yanderes and one awkward girl around, plus the noonas needing to shower... There were showers at the beach, but we decided to rinse off here since we'd sweat on the walk back.
"Sorry, Juyeon noona. Next time."
I headed to the guys' room with Seonwoo.
"Shower first and crash comfortably."
"Thanks."
"No sweat. If something's up, tell your hyung."
Something up... Yeah, there was something I really wanted to talk about.
"Sure. After you shower, can we chat for a sec?"
Seonwoo met my eyes, then nodded with a smile. Still that fake-cheerful grin he put on.
"Of course."
I overheard him mutter something dumb like "Even better if it's your love advice" as he headed to the shower first.
Once he was done and we were both clean, I lay on the bed sorting my thoughts. He dragged over a chair and sat.
"So, what'd you wanna say?"
I sat up straight, cleared my throat, and got serious with Seonwoo.
"Hyung, how about you just be honest with Juyeon noona already?"