Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: It Seems My Childhood Friend Has Regressed
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#106
*Blink...*
The salty sea scent permeating the train eventually tickled my nose, and my eyes naturally fluttered open.
"Mm..."
The dazzling sea and clear blue sky were already visible outside the window.
But Jun-woo showed no sign of waking, even as I stirred slightly.
Oh right, almost forgot.
Carefully slipping my hand into my pocket so as not to wake him, I pulled out my phone.
*Snap-*
💬 [Marriage Waiting Room] - 5 Members — Han Seo-ah Junu sleeping while leaning on me—isn't he just too cute? ㅠ 🐰💕 — Mom Oh my, you two have been so cute since earlier~ ⭐ Top Comment — Jun-woo's Mom Seo-ah's mom, don't we need to get Seo-ah some glasses? — Dad Seo-ah, did Dad see the chat name wrong? A faint smile crept across my face as I gazed at the lively group chat uniting both families.
Then I felt Jun-woo's presence beside me.
His face still hazy with sleep, blinking drowsily.
"Sleep well?"
Unable to resist his cuteness, I spoke up. He shook off his fatigue and looked at me.
"When did you wake up?"
"Just now."
"Yeah...? You should've woken me. Must've been bored."
—Not bored at all.
His sleeping face was one of my treasures—for now, at least.
Just watching him made time fly by unnoticed.
And I'd snapped a ton of photos too.
"Then can I wake you next time?"
Me, Han Seo-ah. The woman who never misses a chance.
"Yeah, wake me."
"Hee, got it."
Today, too, I hid one little secret as I nuzzled my head against his sturdy shoulder.
#107
The moment we stepped off the train, it hit me—we were at the seaside.
"Salty?"
"Salty."
We inhaled deeply, marveling at the salt in the air, locked eyes, and burst into foolish laughter at how silly we looked.
"I'll call a taxi right now."
The weather was so nice I considered walking.
But the distance from the station to our destination was quite far, so after huddling together, we settled on taking a cab.
The salmon sashimi place wasn't far from the inn, so I set it as our destination first. The taxi arrived almost immediately—not too far off, apparently.
I thought about riding shotgun, but Seo-ah tugged my hand and shook her head no, so I pivoted straight to the back seat like nothing happened.
"Kids on a trip? You a couple?"
As always, the taxi driver's question barrage kicked off the second we climbed in.
And the first one was sharp enough to make my back sweat.
—Ugh, taxi drivers.
As I pondered how to respond, Seo-ah's voice came from beside me.
"We're a couple-to-be."
She shot me a look full of certainty, like right?,
"...Yeah."
I had no choice but to blush and nod.
#108
After disembarking from that rather steamy taxi in every sense.
We entered the salmon sashimi spot I'd scoped out ahead of time and took our seats. Seo-ah's eyes sparkled like crazy.
"Junu, just the vibe screams delicious. What do we do?"
Thrilled at the thought of her beloved salmon sashimi, she huffed adorable puffs from her cute nose—too precious. A warm smile spread across my face.
We waited with bated breath, and when the soft, ultra-fresh sashimi arrived in eye-popping portions, we both gawked with mouths agape.
"Slurp..."
"Seo-ah, you're drooling."
"Ah!"
We each delicately took a bite,
—Whoa, insane.
The taste had us wordlessly thumbs-upping in sync.
"So good, right?"
"Junu, this is my first time eating salmon sashimi this amazing!"
Her beaming smile as she cupped her cheek—too cute.
It even made me do something I wouldn't normally.
"Seo-ah."
"Hm?"
She was still munching the piece she'd just popped in.
"Ahh~"
I picked up a slice, dipped it in soy sauce, and held it out to her.
I swear I heard a gulp.
"Junu."
"...Hm?"
"Hee, 100 points!"
Been a while since that score.
Seeing her grin like a baby bird waiting for food, mouth open in a tiny ahh, reminded me of the chicken breast days.
—Pretty girls are pretty even inside their mouths.
Of course, no basis for comparison, and no plans to peek at any others.
"Tasty?"
"Yeah!"
Watching her happily chew away filled me with such satisfaction, my own stomach felt full just from the sight.
I reached for my chopsticks to try some myself,
"Junu."
"Hm?"
"Ahh~"
She held out a piece to me like she'd been waiting.
—I wonder what my mouth looks like to her.
The thought crossed my mind.
But pointless musing. I just looked at her and opened wide with an "ahh."
The soft sashimi slipped right in.
"Tasty, right?"
"Super tasty."
We smiled at each other and finished the meal.
#109
After that utterly satisfying feast.
"I'll handle the bill here."
I pulled out my wallet, and Seo-ah's eyes went wide like I'd spouted nonsense.
"We agreed I'd cover everything but the inn, Junu."
She blocked my hand like put that away now.
"Dad gave me allowance specifically for the first meal."
Not exactly for the "first meal," but still.
Watching her enjoy it so much made me want to pay.
—Father, you foresaw this moment...
"...Dad did?"
"Yeah, Dad."
She wanted to argue but got tripped up by the "Dad" card, furrowing one brow with a grumpy "ugh." I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Next one's on you then. I'm heading to the bathroom—mind paying with the card in here?"
"Ugh... fine. But everything after this is on me, got it, Junu?"
I smiled, said sure, and went to handle business.
—Wallet?
Something nagging...
Wallet...? Wal...let...? Wa...llet?
—Wallet's innermost pocket.
Fuck. Hold on.
"Han Seo-ah!!!! Wait up!!!!!!!!!!"
I bolted from the bathroom and dashed to the counter.
".............."
Oh. I'm dead.
The instant I saw her staring into my wallet's depths, face flushing crimson like it might explode, eyes trembling wildly.
I seriously debated leaping out the nearest window.
#110
Weren't we in a great mood?
This is a joke, right?
No way some moron planning to confess catches his girl spotting condoms in his wallet.
................................Dead.
Images of Kim Seung-hyun, Park Jae-hwan, and Dad—who'd slipped them to me—flashed in my head. Hated them all.
—Don't blame us, you psycho.
I swear I heard those two idiots protesting, but I brushed it off.
My HP was already zero...
How long had we been walking since leaving the sashimi place? Not a word, no eye contact.
The guilty party stayed mum, just walking, until Seo-ah finally spoke.
"...Junu."
"Y-yeah."
I replied lightning-fast, like thanks for talking to me. She gave me a puzzled look.
"Uh... there were two in there. You got more?"
"No no, just those two. That's all."
I gestured wildly like an innocent defendant pleading my case, but her eyes stayed puzzled.
"Two... isn't that not enough?"
"...Huh?"
What kinda talk is that, Seo-ah...
Surely she wasn't hung up on the count instead of the fact I had them...?
Too confused for my common sense to keep up, I froze. She stepped closer.
"...Shouldn't you buy more?"
She peered up worriedly, whispering just for me so no one else might hear.
Thump.
"Ow, what..."
"..."
"..."
"......"
"Gonna need to buy more, huh..."
She mumbled something about me being a tiger, and I couldn't lift my head.
Well, one head went up.
No seriously, with her standing right there, why does it keep...
As I cursed my innocent little bro, I could've sworn I heard a hallucination: it's 'cause she looks like you.
"S-Seo-ah."
"Hm?"
She'd already whipped out her phone and was searching something. I glimpsed "0.01mm" over her shoulder but pretended not to notice.
"Usually... two's plenty, right...?"
I didn't know the details, but it seemed standard. I ventured cautiously.
"For real?"
Her shocked expression seemed to say,
—With me as the partner?
"On second thought... maybe not?"
I nodded and backpedaled immediately.
Hm. Usually two's the norm, but neither of us is exactly "usual" in any way.
"Right?"
She grinned up at me, looking like a succubus thrilled at the prospect of wringing me dry.
Suddenly, Dad's words from the night before the trip echoed in my mind.
—Whether you do it or not... that's not a decision you get to make, Junu.
Father... I get it now...