Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: My Childhood Friend Seems to Have Regressed
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#133
What... what am I supposed to expect here?
No matter how much I asked, Seo-ah just smiled like a succubus, leaving my questions unanswered as we finally arrived home.
"Jun-woo, mind if I wash up here?"
It's not even "Can I go?" anymore—now it's "I'm going."
Back when we were just childhood friends, she'd ask for permission, but now it was more like a heads-up.
That eager shift made my heart tickle, and the corners of my mouth tugged upward.
"You gotta come quick?"
"Hee-hee, yeah! I'll be fast."
The score she always gave me—had to be at least 90 this time, right?
I thought that while watching her delighted expression.
Unfortunately, I could never score Seo-ah myself.
She's always an A+ student—what's the point?
#134
Scratch that.
A+ student my ass.
Han Seo-ah: 0 points. Zero.
True to her word about hurrying, by the time I sat down at my computer to browse the internet, she was already in my room, perched on my bed and staring at me.
Everything was fine up to that point.
Then suddenly, she clapped her hands with a smack! while looking my way.
"Oh right! Jun-woo, come here for a sec?"
Her sudden request, like she'd just remembered something, had me starting to get up from my chair—
—Bed, computer, Seo-ah...?
Ah.
I felt like clapping my hands too.
With my memories restored, I was like a condemned prisoner on the scaffold, facing the greatest crisis of my life.
My body screamed "Master, we're screwed, aren't we?" Sweat beaded on my forehead, on the verge of dripping, and my back was already a waterpark of cold sweat.
"Jun-woo... you know, right?"
"...Know what?"
"Hng..."
With a nasal hum laced with displeasure, she narrowed her eyes at me, as if to say, Really?
"We had a promise."
[Han Seo-ah, you're not even my girlfriend, so why...!]
[If I'm your girlfriend, then it's fine, right, Jun-woo?]
[If my future girlfriend says no or whatever, then what can you do...!]
—This is for real?
Me... I said something like that...?
No way in hell...
Lee Jun-woo, you crazy bastard—why'd you say something so stupid...!
I squeezed my eyes shut against the horrific past resurfacing in my mind, no matter how much I tried to block it out.
"Jun-woo."
".........Yeah."
"Who's your girlfriend right now?"
"......Han Seo-ah."
"Heh—right?"
If I had to compare my girlfriend right now... maybe Medusa.
Those sparkling eyes that were always so lovely now petrified me in place.
"You gonna break our promise?"
Her voice sounded hurt, her eyes drooping at the corners.
Whether it was acting or real, I didn't want to see Seo-ah like that.
So I stood from the computer chair and moved to sit beside her on the bed.
"...You hate it that much?"
We were still so immature in so many ways, but this much had become familiar.
We naturally pulled each other into an embrace.
I don't know who reached out first.
It was just a matter of who beat the other to it anyway.
A fresh strawberry scent tickled my nose from Seo-ah in my arms, proving she'd just showered.
"Mmm... Honestly, it's not like I hate it that much or anything. I know guys have times when it's hard to hold back..."
But—her small mutter reached my ear.
"If I imagine you getting excited over some other girl's body... it'd hurt."
"...It'd hurt?"
"Yeah... It hurts. Am I too clingy?"
She looked up at me from my chest with an awkward smile.
Some phrase I'd seen somewhere popped into my head.
Girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice, right?
Every day, it felt like I was discovering the ingredients that made up my girlfriend.
Worried I'd find her possessiveness—her obsession, or ownership, whatever you call it—annoying.
I didn't care what the emotion was called.
How could I ever find that adorable desire to monopolize my affection, to have me all to herself, anything but endearing?
"Clingy? No way. I'll delete it right now, in front of you."
"...For real?"
"You ever seen me break a promise?"
"I almost did just now...?"
"That was..."
She laughed happily, nuzzling her face into my chest like a puppy wagging its tail, shaking her head side to side.
Her playful tease in that cute voice made me relieved.
"And Jun-woo."
"Yeah?"
"What if it was the other way around? Would it be okay if I watched stuff like that?"
Seo-ah... watching some other guy that's not me?
Ah.
"Let's delete it right now."
I got it completely.
Lee Jun-woo, you shitty jerk.
#135
Farewell...
NOVEL-69, PIA-74...
As I sent off the titles that had once kept me company, one by one with my own hands, tears almost came to my eyes.
After barely finishing that short but drawn-out farewell ceremony all by myself, my phone buzzed.
...Kim Seung-hyun? What's up with him?
"Seo-ah, gonna take this call real quick."
"Okay! Should I step out?"
"Nah, no need. It's Kim Seung-hyun."
She started to get up but plopped back on the bed with an "Ah~" expression upon hearing the name, and I answered.
"Yo, what's up?"
"Why'd you take so damn long, you punk."
"This jerk picks up and—...whatever, chill."
The pretty words hit me right as I picked up, and a pretty word nearly slipped out in response, but I held it back with Seo-ah there.
Seeing her smile proudly from the corner of my eye—
—This is me.
Yeah, this is it.
"...? What the hell's with you?"
"Never mind, dude. So why'd you call?"
I guess my uncharacteristic restraint from cursing weirded him out—he sounded puzzled—but I didn't voice how annoyingly perceptive he was in stuff like this.
Our chat was bound to be full of curses I'd have to swallow anyway.
"What do you mean why? Exams are over. Get in the game unless you wanna get wrecked."
"Anyone'd think you studied hard for exams. And... now?"
The guy who ignored exams entirely wanting to game now was funny enough, but I glanced at Seo-ah.
"What's up? Whatcha doing?"
"Not that, but right now's kinda..."
She caught my awkward glance and seemed to get the situation, flashing a slim OK sign with her fingers to say it was fine.
"...Yo, hang up for now."
"The hell you mean 'for now'? You coming in or not?"
"Just wait, damn it."
"You little sh—"
I could've sworn I heard a curse at the end, but I ignored it and hung up.
"Seo-ah, the guys wanna game. That cool?"
Girlfriend over, and I'm gaming solo?
Even Kang Hyung-wook might mistake me for a dog and take me away guilt-free.
As I asked with that in mind, she smiled like it was genuinely fine.
"Mmm, I'm really okay with it? Actually, I've always wanted to watch you game up close. But—"
"But?"
"Can I look at your phone while you're playing?"
My phone?
These days everyone watches porn on their phones instead of computers, but I preferred big screens over tiny ones anyway, and I hadn't looked up or watched anything sketchy, so nothing to hide.
"Here. Password's my birthday."
"Hee—thanks."
That exciting?
Handing it over, she flopped onto the bed all giddy, tapping away at something—it was adorable.
"Alright... gonna put on my headset real quick?"
"Yup~"
Last glance at her kicking the bed alternately with her legs, then I hopped into voice chat for the game.
"I'm here, you son of a—...uh, friends."
"Damn, you got here fast."
"What's up with Lee Jun-woo acting weird earlier?"
The enthusiastic greeting upon arrival reminded me of that saying about ugly guys being fun just to look at.
"Whatever, let's queue up. Can't play long."
"Acting all busy, huh."
"Facts."
Felt like I walked into a room where you can't escape if you curse.
"Anyway, queue."
"Jun-woo, can I tweak a few phone settings~?"
Sudden voice from Seo-ah made me yank off my headset quick.
"Huh? What'd you say?"
"Can I tweak a few phone settings~?"
"Oh, yeah, go for it. Do whatever."
It's yours anyway.
No clue what she was changing, but no reason to stop my girlfriend, so OK'd it and slipped the headset back on—
"..."
"..."
"What? Why so quiet?"
The nonstop gorilla grunts had gone silent—thought voice chat died, about to check when—
"You little bastard, no wonder you held back on cursing. Makes sense now."
"Wait, Han Seo-ah talks like that...? First time hearing it... Who the hell have I been talking to this whole time...?"
One finally got it and unloaded curses freely; the other was in shock.
"...Did I not mention Seo-ah was here? And no reason to be nice to you, dumbass."
"You fucker..."
"Piece of shit..."
Took a solid barrage of curses, but zero damage.
Nah, honestly felt good.
This... the vibe of having a girlfriend...
Single guys' curses just bouncing off—feels the best.
Game started over their cursing BGM.
"Yo, enemy jungler's coming."
"Where's our jungler? On a date? Why's theirs always here, fuck."
"You die every time you go!"
"You don't come, so I die, asshole!"
Focused on game when suddenly, from behind my head, a squishy—no, pillowy sensation hit that made my brain cells glitch.
"Airbag?"
"What airbag mid-game? Car crash on gank?"
"Lee Jun-woo's face did crash though."
Ignoring the gorillas' curses in my ears, I pulled off the headset and looked up to find the source of that shocking softness—
"Honey, fighting♡"
Seo-ah smiling down at me, whispering just for me.
I couldn't help it.
"...Wasn't fighting for that spot."
"...Couldn't help it."
I beckoned her closer; she leaned in curiously.
Mwah—
Lips to her soft left cheek, then rushing shame made me reach for the headset—but a tap on my shoulder.
Looking up slow, there was my girlfriend pointing to her right cheek with the finger that tapped me.
Mwah—
Savoring that soft cheek once more with my lips, she smiled satisfied, looking at me—and I smiled too.
Relishing the sensation behind my head, I slipped the headset back on; nearly blew my eardrums from the gorillas, but I didn't care.