Trip (16)
“Hey! Isn't that Juyeon and Seonwoo?”
“Huh? You're... Hwapyong?”
“Yeah! Hey, long time no see. Seonwoo hasn't changed a bit either.”
“Ah... haha, good to see you. It's been a while.”
The major conflict in Seong Juyeon's flag had appeared. It wasn't something I'd expected, but they'd run into each other after all.
We just watched as the three of them chatted amiably, and then Juyeon noona introduced us.
“Oh, these are my school friends who came on the trip with me... Say hi. This is someone I used to hang out with a lot as a kid. The one in that photo.”
“Hello.”
“Hi, nice to meet you.”
After the awkward greetings, the guy called Hwapyong started to head off first.
“Where you headed?”
“Just taking a walk. I still come here for strolls like old times.”
Hwapyong glanced around at us, then waved.
“W-well, have fun then. Let's catch up later.”
“Huh? You're leaving?”
“You guys have friends with you.”
He was tactfully bowing out so we wouldn't feel awkward around his friends, huh.
“Juyeon noona, don't worry about it—we're fine. Catch up with him.”
I spoke up first, and everyone nodded in agreement when I looked around. We'd come all this way on a trip, so if she'd bumped into an old friend after ages, she should chat more. We'd make ourselves scarce. Seonwoo did glance our way, though.
“Th-thank you.”
Still, Hwapyong seemed to lack confidence in front of Juyeon noona. In the game, he liked Seong Juyeon too but never showed this insecure side. Back then, it seemed like he mustered courage seeing how hurt she was by Seonwoo. Who knew how it'd play out now.
“Taeyang, let's take a photo.”
“Sure, I'll snap it for you.”
I'd said that clearly, but when I came to, I was already Hayan noona's photo prop.
“My turn next.”
“I'll reserve after that. Taeyang.”
“......No, when we come to a place like this, take pics with the scenery in focus.”
Gahee noona and Yuyeong were waiting their turn as if it was the most natural thing, ready to pose with me. Iri noona, though, was keeping her distance again, looking off elsewhere.
“Noona, you not taking any?”
After posing with Hayan noona, I excused myself from the others and approached Iri noona, who was standing apart. I couldn't stand seeing her not mingling with everyone.
“Huh? Me... I'm good.”
“Come on, take some with the group. I'll take 'em for you.”
“......Um...”
“Yeah, Iri—don't hang back, let's all get in the shot~”
Hayan noona joined in warmly too. Gahee noona and Yuyeong were their usual selves. It was just Iri noona who felt especially detached compared to before.
She was probably overthinking me so much she couldn't enjoy the trip. Like with Gahee noona, it wasn't about whether she liked me or not—I just wanted her to make some fun memories first.
“Alright, say cheese.”
I snapped pics of the group, and as Hayan noona came over to check them, she suddenly snatched my phone.
“Wh-what?”
“You get in one too, Taeyang!”
“Jeez, just say it like that.”
Yuyeong and Gahee noona were urging me on too, so I headed over. On the way, I checked on Juyeon noona. She, Hwapyong, and Seonwoo—who'd been chatting far off—seemed to be talking photos now too.
I caught Seonwoo glancing our way right before raising his camera for a selfie. Why was he eyeing us instead of his old friend?
I stood next to Iri noona, and she looked a bit flustered at first but soon posed like it was nothing. Her expression in the pic looked stiff when I checked later, but this would have to do.
After photos, we wandered the area more. I sort of inserted myself to chat, but Iri noona still kept some distance.
“Whoa, I've never seen bamboo up close before.”
“Bamboo?”
Turning at Yuyeong's words, there it was—a real bamboo grove, towering and stretching endlessly. Majestic.
“Taeyang should grow tall and straight like these bamboos.”
“Hayan noona, why bring up my height out of nowhere?”
“I wish you'd stay just like this forever.”
“...Gahee noona.”
I shot Gahee noona a cold look but just shook my head. Whatever—I'd shoot up huge next year anyway. I'd already grown a few centimeters since just a month ago.
Wait... what if I ended up as tall as Seonwoo in the game? Would Gahee noona's feelings cool off since I wouldn't be cute anymore—just creepy? Her affection points were definitely tied to cuteness. Maybe it'd sort itself out over time.
“Come to think of it, Taeyang seems taller.”
Yuyeong sidled up, stood on tiptoe, and compared our heights with her hand.
“Yuyeong?”
“Hmm~ Well, even tall, you'd still be you, Taeyang.”
What kinda logic was that?
“Right. I don't think Taeyang will change much.”
Even Hayan noona chimed in with the same nonsense. Change? In a year, I'd be...
“Yeah, you'd probably still be cute even tall.”
Gahee noona shattered my last hope. The faint optimism that the yanderes might drift away from my changed self in a year.
“Ah, shut up. I can still grow more! I'll get huge so you can't call me cute so casually anymore!”
I snapped back irritably.
“Eek... shouldn't like it when he gets mad...”
Damn, I'd just handed Gahee noona more fodder.
I sighed deeply and scanned around to change the subject. Then I spotted a guy and girl off in the distance.
“Hot, right?”
“Uh?... Yeah.”
“Should've brought bug spray if I knew.”
“Oh, I have some.”
“Really? Good thing—I've been itchy from bites everywhere.”
While I was chatting with the others, Seonwoo had sidled up to Iri noona, who was hanging back a bit, and struck up a convo. What about Hwapyong and Juyeon noona?
I glanced at Hwapyong and Juyeon noona, who were following us. Juyeon noona was sneaking peeks at Seonwoo and Iri while listening to Hwapyong. I'd given her space to hang with her old friend, and this was what she was doing?
Hwapyong seemed to pick up on it too, alternating glances between Juyeon noona and Seonwoo. Then he whispered something to her. Juyeon noona froze for a second, her face flushing bright red. I could guess what it'd been about—something like “You still haven't confessed to Seonwoo?” or “You two dating or what?”
Juyeon noona looked like she might yell something, then just hung her head. Seonwoo, oblivious, kept smoothly chatting with Iri noona.
Guess I should butt in. Do I have to?...
“...”
I froze for a moment. Sure, Seonwoo was hitting on another girl, so I should steer him back to Juyeon noona. I'd decided to help her out. But Seonwoo had zero interest in her anyway? And knowing Iri noona liked me, interrupting her talking to another guy just screamed... not having my feelings sorted, playing fishpond manager.
I stared at the two. Seonwoo and Iri noona conversing—it bugged me in a weird way. Actually, it wasn't just Iri noona. Truth be told, I hated seeing Seonwoo talk to Hayan noona or any other girls too.
They didn't have to date me. Didn't have to like me—just stay friends, fine. But with Seonwoo... it just rubbed me wrong. Was it because I'd seen his true colors? All his scummy acts flashing back, how he messed with Juyeon noona?
But those were just my suspicions. Tell the noonas, and if Seonwoo played dumb—“I had no idea,” “Wasn't intentional”—I'd have nothing concrete. I'd just look like a clueless jealous punk.
“Taeyang? You okay? Heat got to you?”
“...Noona, got water?”
I chugged the bottle Hayan noona handed me—half gone. I'd buy her another at the next shop.
Emptied my head for now. No need to get worked up this second. Assess objectively.
I looked again. Juyeon noona was talking tensely with Hwapyong. They stood close. Hwapyong hesitated but listened patiently to whatever she said. Juyeon noona sighed heavily.
Meanwhile, Seonwoo walked with Iri noona, chatting happily. Blissful grin on his face. Of course, no need to accept him since he didn't like Juyeon noona. Could even be deliberately stringing her along. Pretty cruel tactic.
If Juyeon noona realized the truth here and moved on, their connection would end. Whether possible now that she'd hit Yandere Stage 1, who knew.
Hwapyong seemed to be taking it seriously, listening intently. Once she grasped the situation, maybe he'd confess? Like in the game, seizing the chance with her wavering heart. At least he seemed genuine.
Now Iri noona. Seonwoo was steering the convo so smoothly she wasn't catching on, oblivious even as he closed the distance.
Should I block it? I started to step forward—
Ring~
“Whoa!”
“Juyeon!”
A bike barreled toward Juyeon noona from behind. Luckily, Hwapyong yanked her back in time, averting a crash. But...
They ended up that close—lips nearly brushing.
“Wha!...
“Ah! Sorry!!”
“N-no, it's fine...”
They sprang apart quick. Juyeon noona just flustered a bit, but Hwapyong's face went beet red.
Poor guy. The girl he liked wasn't even fazed, no heart-fluttering for her.
“What the hell with that biker? Doesn't even swerve for people.”
“Bikes allowed here?”
The rider didn't care, didn't even apologize—just pedaled off. Hwapyong checked Juyeon noona over.
“J-Juyeon, you okay?”
“Yeah, I'm fine. Hwapyong, you're not hurt...”
Smack—
And someone wedged right between them.
“Huh, Seonwoo?”
“Juyeon, you good?”
“Yeah.”
Seonwoo grabbed Juyeon noona's arm, pulling her away from Hwapyong and close to himself. He'd flicked a quick glare at Hwapyong first, then turned to her.
“Not hurt anywhere?”
“Yeah, I said I'm fine... What's with you all of a sudden? Since when do you worry about me?”
“Of course! You think I'd just stand by?”
“...Jeez, acting cool.”
Juyeon noona whipped her head away, lips twitching to hold back a smile.
“Phew~ Glad you're okay.”
“Yeah, Hwapyong helped. Unlike someone who wandered off mid-convo.”
“Thanks a ton, Hwapyong.”
“Uh? Yeah.”
Hwapyong nodded awkwardly at the sudden thanks, then wore a bitter look. Juyeon noona looked happy again next to Seonwoo.
“..................”
What the hell was he playing at? That bastard—no, Seonwoo.
“Taeyang? You look off again.”
“What's wrong, Kim Taeyang? You okay?”
“Wanna head back? I'll take you.”
“Taeyang, more water?”
Damn, my face must've soured again. They overreacted to the slightest frown. When the one who should be hurting wasn't even me.
Time to smooth it out.
“Pfft—!”
“Huh?”
“Hahaha... ah, sorry.”
Overdid it? Laughter bubbled up. They'd think I was nuts and sour the mood, but I couldn't hold it back. At least it cleared my head.