Chapter 71
Chapter 71
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: #206 "Having 3 Kids in My 20s"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After Seo-ah's shocking statement, Sae-rom and A-ri looked like they wanted to dig deeper into the topic.
"Don't ask. I don't know either. What even is that?"
Seeing my face still stuck in shock, they switched to other topics and passed the time.
Ha Si-woo and Yang Jun-hyuk joined us at the café after their lectures, but unlike the morning, the atmosphere was awkward. Somehow, we made it through Monday's final class, and now Seo-ah and I were heading home.
Since it was the first day, none of the lectures had dived deep into the material, so there was nothing tough about it. But the fatigue from the new environment was real.
I just wanted to get home and rest.
I'd been looking forward to tumbling around with Seo-ah at home to unwind, but that joy vanished the instant my phone buzzed in my pocket.
"...Seo-ah, check this out."
"Huh? What is it?"
"..."
"...Oh."
Even Seo-ah, who had been humming happily with her arm linked in mine, let out a troubled sound the moment I showed her the screen.
[Ha Si-woo] -Hey, Jun-woo. Did something happen at your café earlier? -Nah, why? -Tch... Really? It felt off during the last lecture earlier, and even now... -No idea what you're talking about. What's up now? -Sae-rom... Nah, forget it. Anyway, keep this between us. Sorry, Si-woo...!
I'd already shown it to Seo-ah, but she's fine, right? I trust her.
He's gotta know I'd show Seo-ah if he sent it to me—so I'd go with that. It wasn't really a lie by my standards. Though Si-woo might want to kill me if he found out.
"What do we do...? Wait, more importantly, why'd you pretend not to know and lie, Jun-woo...?"
"What was I supposed to do? Tell him straight up: 'Si-woo, A-ri—who hangs out with Sae-rom—said she can't cheer for you hitting on CC on top of that, and even brought up your military service. Sae-rom seems shaken, so brace yourself just in case. Adios. Oh, and Seo-ah and I were rooting for you two. You're welcome'? Yeah, no."
"I thought you were more rapscallion than that, Jun-woo..."
When I breathlessly summed up what happened at the café, Seo-ah had no real comeback and just let out a groan.
"But was it that obvious? Or is Ha Si-woo just sharp...?"
"Hmm... Maybe he noticed quicker because he likes her?"
"Because he likes her?"
I turned to meet her eyes at the confident tone in Seo-ah's voice.
She smiled brightly, as if she'd missed me, and carefully spoke up.
"Jun-woo, remember that time?"
"When?"
"Hee, about a year ago, around this time... On the way to school in the morning, you asked if I was sick and even texted my mom. Remember?"
Oh. Yeah, I do.
I could never forget that day she mentioned. It was still crystal clear in my mind—a certain day in April.
The sunlight had been unusually warm. Every time I looked at Seo-ah, my face and ears would flush red.
Seo-ah, who was usually playful and mischievous, had been unusually sweet and gentle with me that day.
...How could I forget the day my heart raced nonstop, even though I'd thought I'd hidden my feelings so well?
From that day on, the way Seo-ah treated me changed, and it made me want more than just a childhood friend relationship—leading us to where we are now.
I could never forget.
"...Yeah, I remember. How could I not?"
"Why'd you ask if I was sick that day, Jun-woo?"
"...You were different from usual."
"Hee, how so?"
How could I put into words that your welcoming smile was even more beautiful than usual?
Your vibe, expression, tone, gaze, smile...
All of it toward me was filled with so much more affection than normal—that's when I realized. And in that moment, I understood what Seo-ah was getting at.
Why Ha Si-woo had noticed Seo Sae-rom's change too.
"...You were pretty."
"Huh?"
Seo-ah looked up at my sudden confession.
"You're always pretty, but that day... you were even more so. Way more. That's why I thought you were different."
She was dazzling, I added softly, and Seo-ah hugged my arm tighter, like she wanted to bury my body into hers.
"Jun-woo, I was gonna keep this secret, but... that day, I knew I was different, just like you said."
"...How so?"
"Hmm... Sorry, that's a secret. Not because I want to hide it, but... it's hard to believe. Someday, I'll tell you everything honestly."
So please wait for me, she continued.
"Anyway, that day, I definitely changed. Just a little—no, maybe a lot. No one could've noticed. And it carried on to today... Except one person. No one else noticed. No one."
She emphasized "no one," her delicate eyebrows curving like a crescent moon.
"Only you, Jun-woo. You noticed right away. Why do you think that is?"
She smiled, as if prompting me to guess, her eyes on my lips.
The emotion brimming in Seo-ah's urging gaze...
"...Because I love you. I've been watching you all along, so I noticed. I don't know exactly what, but."
"Yeah, that's it. Even if you don't know the reason, the ability to spot even small changes in someone... And—"
Suddenly, she unlinked our arms, spun around, and hugged me tight.
"Thank you for noticing my change that day. For loving me so much. I love you too, Jun-woo. So, so much."
"...I know. How could I not?"
How could I not know?
You're telling me you love me with your whole body, right here in my arms.
I hugged her back tightly, not wanting to lose that lovely warmth.
Not letting even a bit slip away, keeping her all in my embrace.
"No wonder Si-woo noticed. From our perspective, it's impossible not to."
"Yeah, and from what he said—'even now'—it sounds like they're together or messaging right now... Sae-rom's confusion must be showing."
"Hope it works out for them, right?"
"Yeah... But I get both sides..."
I wanted it to work out because Si-woo's my friend.
But part of me just hoped he could feel this emotion I'm feeling now.
Sorry, Si-woo, but I'm too happy right now. Too happy to be hogging it all alone.
"For now, let's play dumb. It's not our place to meddle. We'll just hope they sort it out."
"What if they don't...?"
"...We'll think about that when it happens, Seo-ah."
Maybe imagining a future where their mutual friend gets Thanos-snapped, a gloomy vibe emanated from Seo-ah in my arms.
Her puppy-like expression, tail drooping limply, flashed in my mind, and I swallowed a laugh.
"Your counseling skills have improved a ton, though?"
"Huh?"
At the sudden topic shift, Seo-ah peeked her head out from my chest.
"Back when you advised Kim Seung-hyun on his love life, customer satisfaction was 0%. Today with Seo Sae-rom? I thought it was someone else."
"That's different from back then! And I was totally honest even then!"
She whined like she still felt wronged thinking about it, so I patted her butt to soothe her.
"Yeah, yeah. Kim Seung-hyun brought weird stuff to counsel on. Right?"
"Exactly!"
Whether it was my hand on her butt feeling good or because I agreed with her—
Seo-ah's mood lifted instantly. She pecked my lips lightly, then let go of the hug.
As the warm glow and sweet scent faded, a pang of regret escaped me.
But soon, that soft sensation returned to my arm, and we resumed walking.
Then, as if it just occurred to her, Seo-ah spoke up.
"Jun-woo, what about our club?"
"Anywhere you wanna join is fine with me..."
"Don't say that."
"...Hmm."
That line doesn't work anymore.
She firmly cut me off with a "nope," pressing her index finger to my lips. I pretended to ponder, linking arms again.
Where to join?
I kissed her slender finger with a smack and spoke.
"Safest bet is the student council with Senior Lee Da-hye from OT... But considering hobbies, maybe sports, gaming, or manga—some subculture club? What do you think?"
Her face darkened briefly at "sports," but I pushed on like I hadn't noticed.
Sports are great, right? Why the dislike...? Still low stamina?
As I mulled over intensifying her workout routine and what to do today, Seo-ah shivered—maybe from the cold—and spoke.
"Jun-woo, you didn't just think something weird, did you?"
"Huh? No, not at all?"
"Then why am I suddenly chilly... Anyway, we should check with the others too. Let's look around school tomorrow. Sound good?"
"Sure, works for me."
Once home, after correcting her workout routine...
For the first time since we started living together, Seo-ah kicked me to the floor, and I fell asleep alone...
---------------