Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: It Seems My Childhood Friend Has Regressed
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#81
"Delicious."
Sure enough, expensive food tastes expensive for a reason.
The steak had exceeded our expectations, so Han Seo-ah and I kept saying how good it was, polishing it off in no time.
Finally... time to go buy swimsuits...
Before standing up with a determined resolve, I looked at Han Seo-ah to get my cardigan back, and her eyes met mine as if asking what was up.
"What is it, Jun-woo?"
"Aren't you going to give me my cardigan back?"
I smiled and held out my hand to take it back, but she hurriedly pulled away with a rustle.
"...?"
"You're going to take it...?"
No, it's mine.
But seeing her look so upset, like I was stealing her own precious thing, made me feel like some kind of superstar.
"Should I just go like this then...?"
I asked carefully, and she furrowed her brows with a hum, thinking for a moment.
Then, as if she'd come up with a great idea, her face brightened and she spoke.
"Jun-woo, how about you wear my coat?"
What?
"Me?"
"Yeah!"
—That sounds amazing?
Given the size difference between Han Seo-ah and me, it'd definitely be small and tight.
But size wasn't the point.
Her eyes seemed to be testing me, like Don't you like it?, and I wanted to say yes right away.
But a tiny triangle of conscience in my heart started poking at me.
"The coat matches your outfit today better than my cardigan anyway."
She added softly, I dressed up so nicely for it.
I could see the corner of her mouth curl up in satisfaction.
"It's fine. It doesn't matter anymore."
"Huh?"
I stared at her, not understanding why it didn't matter.
"I've already shown it to the person I wanted to see it for."
She grinned like a little devil, asking Right?, and I was speechless.
"...You wear it."
I raised both hands in surrender, admitting defeat, and she let out a happy squeal.
Is it that great?
Over something so small.
Still.
Seeing her reluctant to give up my cardigan, dressed in it, was so adorable that my lips curved up.
I stood up with a smile, and she handed me her coat.
"Here, Jun-woo."
"......"
Should I put it on?
Just close my eyes and go for it?
As I took the coat, a sweet fragrance wafted up from the bottom, tempting me like a wave I couldn't resist.
The little triangle of conscience inside me started spinning like crazy.
—Stop it. You'll wear yourself out...!
"Aren't you going to wear it, Jun-woo?"
"........................I'll just carry it."
After tremendous agonizing, I chose to stay human.
"You don't have to hold back, you know?"
I could almost see a heart-shaped tail wagging behind her, but I gritted my teeth and held firm.
"...Let's get going already. We—"
Need to buy swimsuits.
The words rose naturally to the tip of my tongue, but I caught myself late and stopped.
"We?"
She asked mischievously, grinning as if urging me to continue.
I averted my gaze and cleared my throat.
"Ahem, we need to go pay. We've been here too long, right?"
Stare—
She stared at me intently without a word, as if demanding I be honest.
I swallowed hard without thinking.
Ugh...
"...Let's go buy swimsuits quick."
"Heehee, okay!"
I sighed and said it, and her beaming smile made me chuckle in disbelief.
After swiping Godmother's card smoothly, we left the store, but Han Seo-ah, who should have been beside me, was gone.
Hasn't she come out yet? I turned back and saw her standing frozen at the entrance.
"Did you forget something?"
I approached, wondering what was wrong, and she shook her head side to side, her glossy hair swaying.
"Then?"
As I tilted my head with question marks popping up, her eyes looked straight up into mine.
"Jun-woo, did you forget anything?"
"Forget something?"
Her coat, Godmoney card, phone... I think I have everything important?
I had no idea, so I looked at her, and she waved one hand like giving a hint.
Lightning struck in my mind with a boom!
—No way?
Is it what I'm thinking?
I cautiously reached out and enveloped her small waving hand, and she smiled radiantly, confirming it was right. I couldn't look away.
"...I forgot the most important thing."
I mumbled awkwardly to hide my embarrassment, and her upward gaze was filled with satisfaction and joy anyone could see.
"Don't forget next time, okay?"
She poked my chest with her slender finger, grinning wide and saying You better., making my heart pound.
"Yeah. I won't forget, ever."
I etched her dazzling figure before me deep into my heart and eyes.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ #82
Weren't we in a heartwarming mood just now?
Was that all a fantasy?
Until we arrived at the department store, fiddling with Han Seo-ah's soft, squishy hand happily, I felt like I owned the world.
Walking hand-in-hand with such a beautiful girlfriend-to-be that passersby kept glancing our way—it was thrilling beyond imagination.
She looked so innocently happy, peeking up at me from inside my oversized cardigan that clearly wasn't her size, her hands tucked completely into the sleeves.
It was so lovable I wanted to scoop her up right there in the middle of the street and shout that she was my girlfriend.
—Everything was good until then.
But as soon as we reached the swimsuit store, my mood cooled off like it never happened.
"Seo-ah."
"Hm~?"
Han Seo-ah looked thrilled, the opposite of me.
"Can I wait out here?"
I pleaded desperately with a please spare me face.
"Nope, no way!"
She shot it down coldly, like there was zero chance, and I squeezed my eyes shut.
"No... isn't it weird for me to go in there?"
The reason I was like this.
I'd imagined a store with both men's and women's swimsuits.
But the place Han Seo-ah brought me to specialized only in women's swimsuits.
Naturally, all the customers inside were women.
"I'll get reported if I go in there. For real."
I tried everything to avoid going in.
"That's why you have to stick super close to me so you don't get reported, right, Jun-woo?"
Her cheeky grin made me think she was annoying for the first time in ages.
"Ah... I'm going crazy, seriously."
I sighed deeply and scratched my head, feeling a gentle squeeze in the hand she held.
"Jun-woo, how about this?"
"...What?"
She beckoned me closer, like she wanted to whisper in my ear, so I leaned down.
"If you come in with me... I'll show you how I look in the swimsuit you pick."
Her sweet voice in my ear and the even sweeter promise sent chills down my spine.
"Let's go right now."
"Eek, Jun-woo. Aren't you being too honest?"
"No, I just can't let you go alone..."
"Now you say that~?"
We locked eyes and burst out laughing at the same time.
"Shall we go in?"
"Yeah!"
Hard to believe I'd hated the idea moments ago—we strode into the swimsuit store with smiles on our faces.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ #83
Glance.
Glance glance.
Glance glance glance glance glance.
"Jun-woo, which one do you think is better?"
"...Hey."
"This one?"
"Han Seo-ah."
"Yeah?"
"I feel like a monkey at the zoo right now..."
I'm losing it.
Being glanced at for completely different reasons than on the street earlier was driving me mad.
Then she slipped her hand from mine and suddenly grabbed my face with both hands, startling me as I looked at her.
"Where's a monkey this handsome?"
She said it playfully, but her sparkling eyes held pure sincerity.
The warm touch on my cheeks melted away the discomfort I'd felt moments ago.
"...Yeah, true."
"Right~?"
Can't win against her.
"So, Jun-woo."
"Yeah?"
"Which one do you like?"
"......"
Mountain after mountain.
The two swimsuits Han Seo-ah held up in front of me.
Left: a black one-piece bikini style.
Right: an off-shoulder frilly bikini.
After searching for ones with less exposure that still highlighted her charm, these two caught my eye. Watching her hold them against herself, wondering which was better...
I could easily imagine her wearing them, and I felt tension building below.
—Hold it together.
"Jeez, Jun-woo. Why do you keep backing away?"
"...Got my reasons."
—You wouldn't get it.
I couldn't bring myself to speak as she kept tugging at my hand, wondering why.
"Now that you've seen them up close, which one's better?"
"Shouldn't you pick what you like best?"
She stared at me like I'd said something ridiculous.
"What's the point if I like it, dummy."
"Huh?"
"You have to like it."
I'm buying it to show you—the moment she said that, I leaned back a bit more.
"Ah, Jun-woo's backing away again!"
—Your fault.
As she whined and pulled my hand, I could only silently recite the national anthem in my head.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ #84
"So, you like this one?"
"...Yeah."
After a grueling 30 minutes of deliberation.
Countless versions of Lee Jun-woo debated in my head, unanimous decision.
No opposition. I killed off all dissenters.
"Wait right here, Jun-woo."
She positioned me in front of her and headed into the dressing room. Watching her back, my heart raced.
—Is she really going to show me?
Just imagining it made my nose feel like it might bleed.
Pacing excitedly in front of the dressing room, I heard a knock from inside.
"Jun-woo."
"Yeah?"
"Want to come closer for a sec?"
Wondering what was up, I stepped near, and the door suddenly flew open.
"Wah...!"
A cute hand grabbed me and yanked me inside, where—
paradise awaited.
"...How's it look?"
Her cheeks flushed with shyness, eyes darting everywhere avoiding mine.
Fidgeting with the swimsuit strap with her fingertips, she looked up cautiously, asking in a small voice.
Your pure, lovable expression waiting for my answer—I couldn't hold back anymore.
Squeeze—
"Hah?!"
I hugged her suddenly, and even her startled voice excited me more.
"Jun-woo...?"
Her voice mixed tension and anticipation.
"Ha..."
Breathing out, her sweet scent hit me.
The soft, yielding touch all over my body.
Sight, touch, smell, hearing—everything was perfection.
That was Han Seo-ah.
"Driving me crazy... Han Seo-ah."
"...Driving you crazy?"
She whispered back my earnest words.
"Yeah, you are."
I affirmed, and she hugged my waist tightly in return.
So tight I could see certain parts molding against me.
"Just wait a little... just a tiny bit."
I didn't ask when that "little" was.
I just closed my eyes to savor this moment a bit longer.