Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Watching from the Sidelines
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#147 Kim Seung-hyun That good, huh. Always smiling whenever they're together. Watching those two stare at each other like they're dying of love, that's the thought that hits me. I first met Lee Jun-woo and Han Seo-ah back in our first year of middle school. I'd come from another area, didn't know anyone, so I was all nervous and hesitant. That's when Lee Jun-woo sat down next to me. Maybe it was because I was like a traveler stumbling into an oasis in the desert, parched for friends. It didn't take long for us to hit it off. Truth be told, these days I call him all sorts of names like bastard or jerk, but back then, Lee Jun-woo was popular with everyone, guys and girls alike. If I evaluate him objectively as a friend, he's not that handsome... but he had this friendly personality that put everyone at ease, a likable face from back then to now, tall stature, broad shoulders—his overall proportions were just killer. While other guys were goofing around like monkeys with the girls, Lee Jun-woo treated them especially well, probably because he'd had a long-time platonic friend of the opposite sex. That made him even more popular, I think. Of course, I'd never admit it to his face, even if it killed me. I don't want to see that smug look on his face. Anyway, because of that, there were a lot of us transfers who didn't know him at first, so plenty of girls showed interest in him back then. I remember him getting quite a few confessions. The kids from the same elementary school as Lee Jun-woo would tell those girls to give up on him. I desperately tried to stop them from the sidelines, but kids that age don't listen. Rejection after rejection after rejection. Always smiling apologetically as he turned them down. He was easy to get friendly with, but he never let anyone cross a certain line. Around the time the "Lee Jun-woo is gay" rumors started circulating... Eventually, when they found out he had this childhood friend from another class who was always glued to his side—Han Seo-ah—the girls who went to check her out themselves finally folded their childish crushes with tears in their eyes. ...I'd probably despair too. If the rival for the girl I like was someone like Han Seo-ah. It's been six years since I learned about her, and we've crossed paths a few times hanging out with Lee Jun-woo, but... She's still honestly a bit intimidatingly pretty—no, beautiful is the word. She stands out even among other girls. Watching Lee Jun-woo, I'd often wonder how the hell he even got close to a girl like that. I heard from friends in other classes that it wasn't just him—tons of guys confessed to Han Seo-ah too, only to back off with the same routine. Made me think those two childhood friends had a lot to answer for. Time passed, we hit second and third year of middle school, and by then, anyone who confessed to either of them was basically wiped out. Everyone knew by now: even accidentally catching feelings for those childhood friends meant suffering. No one could miss it—the way they only had eyes for each other. Everyone but the two of them. Time kept flowing, we got into the same high school as Lee Jun-woo, and it was the same story. Transfers who didn't know them yet... (and so on) From my spot on the sidelines, honestly... it was entertaining. Lee Jun-woo looking all troubled every time he got a confession, agonizing over whether Han Seo-ah would find out. Of course, Han Seo-ah got plenty of confessions too, but those two trusted each other so much that even if one got confessed to, the other just thought, "Yeah, makes sense," without a hint of worry they'd accept. But around this point, the thought crept in. These two... when are they actually gonna date? Six years. That's just what I've seen. I heard they've known each other for 13 years. Their closeness was at a level where you could call them a couple already; I even wondered if they were secretly dating despite saying otherwise. Lee Jun-woo never let any girl get too close. Han Seo-ah wouldn't even give guys the time of day. The moment they'd approach expecting the same warm expression and tone she used with Lee Jun-woo... her blank face and voice made it brutally clear. I got fed up and told him to just confess already, but he spouted nonsense like "We're childhood friends, that won't happen," and I wanted to smack him and call bullshit. But the sad look on his face when he said it... I couldn't push anymore. Then one day, Lee Jun-woo finally admitted his feelings for Han Seo-ah. I don't know what sparked it, but after six years of watching, it felt like a relief, so I watched with popcorn-munching glee. Was it the bonds they'd built up, or feelings finally exploding? From the moment he admitted it, it didn't take long for them to start dating. Honestly, the day they went on that trip and changed their profile pics to one of them sitting on the bed, arms linked, smiling sweetly at each other... — Damn, I'm jealous as hell. They suited the term "golden couple" perfectly. Not just because they were a couple, but the happiness radiating from that photo hit you even through the screen. I was jealous, and curious too. What does it feel like to love someone like that? The two of them were like a flower that took forever to bloom finally opening in May— at first shy and awkward, they didn't show much in class. But a month, two months passed. As time went on, you'd see Han Seo-ah sitting on Lee Jun-woo's lap in class, or them strolling the halls arm in arm, asking permission for everything—it was impossible not to know they were dating. One day, on the way to the school store, I asked. "Hey, what's it like having a girlfriend as pretty as Han Seo-ah?" Lee Jun-woo chuckled like my question was ridiculous. "It's not about being pretty." Was he thinking of Han Seo-ah? His eyes, gazing at me but lost in memory, held such deep affection even I could see it. That answer hit me like a punch to the head. Why? I don't know, but it struck a chord deep inside. "Hey, Jae-hwan." "What." I don't have a 13-year childhood friend like his, so maybe I should start building something from now. "Wanna try going to a mixer or something?" "What?" Park Jae-hwan stared at me like I'd spouted nonsense out of nowhere, but I was dead serious. "A mixer all of a sudden?" "Just... I wanna try dating too." "You've caught the Jun-woo bug, you bastard." We laughed it off, but as we started planning, I thought to myself. Someday, I want to have a real relationship with someone I truly love, just like those two. #148 Kim Ye-rin (Seo-ah's Mom) "I'm heading out~" 9 PM. Watching my adorable daughter head next door to Jun-woo's house without fail brought a smile to my face. "Seo-ah..." Of course, my husband was trembling beside me like he was about to shed bloody tears. Seo-ah started sleeping over at Jun-woo's around early May? The 8th or so, I think. After dropping the bombshell that shook my husband into foaming at the mouth—suddenly bringing Jun-woo home and declaring she'd sleep with him in her room. Was it a change of heart, or did she just like sleeping with Jun-woo that much? Now it's November already. I thought it'd fizzle out after a few times, but she kept alternating between sleeping at Jun-woo's and having him over here. ...Six months. Aren't they basically living together at this point? I heard they'd started dating after that trip, and I trust Jun-woo, so I wasn't too worried, but I did fret about imposing on their family. So I talked to Jun-woo's dad, Jeong-woo, and Ha-eun, and they burst out laughing, saying their gloomy house with just a son felt like it had a pretty daughter-in-law every time she came over—please don't stop her. After that, we left them be. One time, worried they might be uncomfortable, I asked my daughter if we should get them a bigger bed. "...Mom." "Yeah?" "...It's good because it's cramped." She left those shy words behind and dashed off to Jun-woo's. Watching her, I felt it. That's my girl, yeah. My daughter. Remembering her bold yet cute antics, I chuckled to myself when my husband approached, looking puzzled. "Something happen?" He'd cried at first seeing Seo-ah head over to sleep there, but now he's either used to it or given up—approaching with dead eyes. "Honey." "Yeah?" "Should we let Seo-ah get her own place after graduation?" *Crack.* My husband froze mid-step. "..........You're joking, right?" "Why~ They're so inseparable, and if this keeps up every day, wouldn't it be better to let them live together near college~?" And for independence, so they won't mind us watching... yeah. As if my daughter could handle that. "...CSAT's still a ways off. We can decide after, see where she gets into..." "So if they go to the same college or same area, we can allow it~?" "..........Ye-rin. Let's decide after the CSAT." Poor guy, squeezing his eyes shut like he'd foreseen a grim future. But hearing from Ha-eun next door that Jun-woo's studying like crazy lately made me think it wouldn't be long. "Se-jun." "Huh?" Watching my lovely daughter's romance... Calling him by name was basically a signal between us. "Now? Or... tonight?" He pulled me into his arms like he couldn't resist, heading to the bedroom. We didn't emerge that night.