A Christmas Overflowing with Love (5)
In a café in Seoul, five girls sat clustered around one table, deep in conversation.
With their striking looks that could turn heads anywhere—and not just one or two, but five of them—the other patrons and even the staff couldn't help stealing glances at their table.
"Sorry, everyone. I know it's vacation time, but I called you all out of the blue like this."
"What's going on? It sounded so urgent."
Yuna leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms behind her as she asked. Despite everyone being scattered for the holidays, Sera had urgently summoned them all, leading to this gathering.
Even when they'd asked why over chat, she'd insisted on talking in person, so the other players had no idea what it was about.
Except for one—Seona.
Damn... is this about that Christmas thing? Is she trying to call me out for it? She thinks I was secretly dating even though it's forbidden? I didn't do anything wrong to her, though...
"Can't even say it over chat?"
Hayoung's question made Sera nod firmly.
"Whaaat? You're killing us with suspense. Spill it already."
Eunjae poked Sera playfully as she prodded. Sera hesitated for a moment, then seemed to steel herself, pursing her lips tight.
"Um, unnies... there's something I wanna tell you all!"
The other four waited silently for her to continue. And then came Sera's bombshell declaration.
"I... I like Yuseong oppa! L-like, romantically! S-so, just in case any of you unnies... feel the same, I thought you should know..."
The other four's eyes went wide as saucers in unison.
Not just the three who were clueless about the situation, but even Seona, who had nearly kissed Yuseong that day before getting caught.
In the wake of Sera's explosive confession, all four at the table shared the exact same thought.
Sera? Likes Coach? Like, as a man? But I like him too... Does that make Sera my rival? No way, I can't just shove her aside—she's had such a rough life... B-but I can't back down either! ...What do I do?
Back during the team workshop, when they'd heard Sera's heartbreaking backstory, they'd all comforted her, vowing she'd only know good things from here on out. They'd even teased her sometimes about finding a nice guy, promising their full support.
But they never imagined she'd fall for Kang Yuseong. They liked him too, which meant pushing her aside to be with him—but how could they, given her tragic past? Still, giving up wasn't an option...
Sera's single statement plunged the other four into a dilemma: how to end up with Yuseong without hurting her feelings too much.
But Sera was the one who'd called this meeting and made the public declaration, so she held the initiative.
The other four masked their own emotions as best they could, pretending to be unfazed.
Hayoung was the first to speak.
"Sera... you like Coach? Since when...?"
"Back when we first formed the team, not long after... during that open scrim. I messed up so bad in the game, but he had that one-on-one with me, even went to my aunt to ask about me, just to take care of me... from then on..."
The four let out simultaneous inward groans.
That's basically the same reason as mine...
All four had fallen for Yuseong for reasons not so different from Sera's.
Eunjae, from when he'd sorted out her mess with those old thug friends she'd cut ties with.
Yuna, from the promotion match where she'd tanked the game because of her mistake, yet he'd stayed calm and offered solutions instead of blame.
Hayoung, from when he'd taken her to the aquarium while she was moping after her ex dumped her.
Seona, from when he'd stood tall against her raging father without flinching, protecting her.
Ugh... Sera. Why'd it have to be Coach of all people! I like him too...
Should I just blurt out that I like him too?
But that'd mean declaring war on Sera...
What now? Sweet-talk her into giving up? No, I'd feel too guilty... Wait, then her being so pissed on Christmas... was because she misunderstood me and Yuseong oppa?
Hayoung spoke up again, steadying her voice.
"Uh... okay, but why bring it up all of a sudden? You really called us all here just to talk about this?"
"Yeah. To be honest, I've been kinda upset with you unnies."
"Huh?"
Sera, having thrown it out there, seemed determined to get it all off her chest. She took a deep breath before answering.
"Like that time at Eunjae unnie's shoot when you danced with Coach, or Hayoung unnie doing aegyo and feeding him pork wraps... and... Seona unnie, going on a d-d-date with Coach this Christmas..."
The other three's gazes snapped straight to Seona.
"N-no! It wasn't a date or anything! W-we just went out to eat with my mom!"
But Seona's frantic excuse only fueled the misunderstanding further.
M-meeting the parents?! Wait, no, Coach's folks weren't there, so not quite... but still!
She's already scouting him as son-in-law material?!
Ugh... if a chaebol family picks him as their pick, I'm done for...
Not just a date—she's introduced him to her parents already?! Seona unnie, since when... No way, absolutely not!
Sera ground her teeth at Seona trying to cut in and pressed on.
"Anyway! You unnies don't like Coach, right? It makes my heart drop whenever you pull those pranks. So... could you maybe tone down the stuff that could be misunderstood...?"
The other four thought the same thing in sync.
But I do like him. What now?
"I figured if I said it over chat, you'd think I was joking... so I wanted to say it face-to-face. Anyway, I l-like Coach romantically, so... I'd love it if you unnies cheered me on... You will, right?"
All four went silent. Sera's pupils trembled with anxiety.
"You... you'll cheer for me... right...?"
"Huh? Huh? B-but you two aren't dating yet or anything, right? Coach doesn't know?"
"Yeah... I wanna confess, but I can't muster the courage... B-but I'll do it soon."
"Hey, hey, Shin Sera. Dating's forbidden, remember? What if the company finds out... You planning on sneaking around?"
Hayoung—who was actually sneaking around with him—flinched hard.
"B-but if we don't get caught, isn't it fine...? I-it's only a problem if it goes public..."
"Hey, is that something you say to a kid?"
But even Yuna, who was scolding Hayoung, perked up at her words. So did the others.
Wait, she's right? As long as it doesn't leak outside or get caught? Getting busted for secret dating is only bad if it's with outsiders—dating Yuseong oppa wouldn't count... Sounds good?
"But remember that truth game we played? What if Coach had said he liked one of us back then?"
"I'd make him pick me."
Her bold declaration left them speechless.
"...How?"
"I... don't know, but..."
Sera trailed off. Unfortunately, her final words lit a fire in all their hearts.
Hold up, that's hilarious? If Coach liked me, we'd have fought to steal him away. So if it's the other way around, no one's got a leg to stand on, right? Plus, she's not even dating him yet? Morally, we're in the clear?
And for the three excluding Sera and Seona, the burn intensified.
And Seona too? Even if she denies it, eating with her mom means... Don't I need to watch her more than Sera? That's basically mom-approved...
Seona, lost in her own worries about what to do next, didn't notice the other three's aggro shifting fully to her.
"Anyway... that's why I called you unnies. Sorry. You probably don't care much."
No, we care a ton. Ugh... I don't even know what to do without interference, and now I gotta worry about someone else? Damn... Kang Yuseong, why do you have to be so damn popular!
They all thought it. Thank goodness Sera couldn't read minds.
Phew, heart's still racing. But now that I've told the unnies, no more misunderstandings, right...? Just gotta keep Yuseong oppa in check.
Sera sighed inwardly in relief, but reality was far from it.
Crucially, with the conversation bouncing all over, Sera had overlooked one key fact.
Not a single one of them had given a positive answer to her plea for support.