Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Confession Attack
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A confession attack, of all things.
It was just like something Senior Ye-eun would think up. And its effect was outstanding.
"What?"
It didn't seem like the kind of thing to say while throwing water balloons, but to them, that clearly wasn't the priority right now.
"I like you."
"Hey, what are you saying here of all places..."
"So where should I say it?"
The timing was so transparently calculated.
You could see her determination to somehow win this bet.
But Senior Park In-seok from the Sandi Department bit his lip hard.
"Let's talk after this is over."
As he said it, Park In-seok fiddled nonstop with the basket holding his five water balloons.
'He won't throw them properly.'
They'd said even one hit would soak you completely.
Honestly, up until now, he probably wouldn't have cared about Senior Ye-eun, but after her confession that she liked him, his mindset had completely changed.
That was exactly what Senior Ye-eun was aiming for.
"Yeah, let's talk after."
She didn't say much else, but you could sense the calculation in her tone.
Whether Park In-seok knew it or not, he bit his lower lip fiercely and picked up a yellow water balloon.
"Then, throw them at me."
Nod.
I wondered how Park In-seok planned to get through this. Senior Ye-eun's confession had already been dropped.
Even if he nailed every water balloon here, it wouldn't be a big deal, but the aftermath might worry him.
Gulp.
"Here I go."
"Yeah, throw it."
Senior Ye-eun stared at Park In-seok with a stiff expression.
Park In-seok, who had been looking back at her...
"Hoo."
...let out a soft sigh and finally threw the water balloon.
Whoosh!
The water balloon flew in a graceful arc and landed...
Splash!
'Pfft!'
On the ground, already damp from several prior throws.
"......"
The Sandi Department students' faces darkened sharply.
Of course, Park In-seok, who had thrown it himself, looked equally crumpled.
"Ah, sorry. My hand slipped."
Yeah, right. Anyone could see he'd aimed straight at the ground, but "slipped"?
If you're gonna lie, at least make it convincing.
Just then, one of the students behind him spoke up.
"Senior, should I throw first? Maybe a short break will help."
What was his name again? Bae Chang-sik?
He seemed to be the next one up.
"No, I said I'd do it. I'll give it my best."
Looks like the senior's tactic had worked, after all.
He could've easily passed it off to someone else, but he insisted on throwing himself.
'It's not that he can't hit her—it's that he won't.'
He planned to waste all five chances himself.
But...
Squeeze.
"Senior, from what I see, you just can't hit her."
Huh?
Bae Chang-sik judged the situation coolly.
He stated flatly that there was no way he'd hit.
Park In-seok narrowed his eyes at that.
"Why? Why do you think that?"
Was he offended? Even faced with the slightly aggressive tone, Bae Chang-sik didn't back down.
"Because you don't want to soak the girl you like."
"What?"
At Bae Chang-sik's words, Senior Ye-eun looked even more shocked.
"You, what are you talking about?"
"Am I wrong?"
"Th-that's..."
Her inability to respond suggested Park In-seok liked Senior Ye-eun too.
Mutual feelings.
"So, let me handle the rest from now on. If we lose this bet, we get nothing."
At the mention of money, Park In-seok's expression shifted.
Combining inns and making this bet were all about the cash.
Her surprise confession attack had momentarily made him forget the stakes, but realizing money was on the line snapped him back.
'No way he's actually handing it over.'
Park In-seok looked conflicted.
Just as I wondered if he'd really pass his turn to Bae Chang-sik...
"Hoo, fine. You do it."
Park In-seok squeezed his eyes shut and handed over the basket of water balloons.
Love was important, sure, but so was money?
"It can't all go to waste because of me."
No—he wanted to protect the efforts of the freshmen who'd stuck with him.
Rustle.
Park In-seok looked at Senior Ye-eun standing at the target and said,
"You're really... unpredictable, just like back then. I never thought you'd confess just to win."
"Why not?"
Park In-seok furrowed his brow at Senior Ye-eun's utterly confident response.
"It cheapens what 'liking' someone means."
"Hmm, you don't have to see it that way."
"Then?"
"Actually, the opposite. It gave me the chance to confess to you."
Using her drive to win for a confession.
"I'd tried to confess so many times before, but I lacked the courage. Well, now my need to win loosened my lips. I'm actually glad."
I recalled Senior Ye-eun's "foolproof strategy" face.
I'd thought she looked subtly excited, and I'd been spot on.
This might have been her golden opportunity to confess to the one she loved.
'Still, Senior's impressive.'
Standing there at the target, she looked different to me now.
I'd seen her only as the playful type before, but she was cool enough to declare her love in front of everyone.
I wasn't the only one feeling that.
"Senior's amazing."
Hyorin, watching it all, had stars in her eyes for her.
"Yeah. I'd be embarrassed."
At my words, Hyorin blinked and asked,
"Embarrassed?"
"You wouldn't?"
"Hmm, more cool than embarrassing."
I smiled faintly at Hyorin's take that Senior Ye-eun was cool.
"No, I know she's cool, but from the Sandi seniors' view, isn't it embarrassing? Park In-seok still looks kinda shy."
Rustle.
At that, Hyorin turned to look at Park In-seok, her face turning quite serious.
"Embarrassed..."
Why take it so gravely?
Trying to lighten the suddenly heavy mood, I joked with a grin,
"Come on, don't take it so seriously. Planning to confess to someone?"
"Yeah."
Wait, was she actually?
Just then, Jungeun Park next to me grimaced and said,
"Are you an idiot?"
...Huh?
Rustle.
Bae Chang-sik set the basket of nine water balloons on the ground and said,
"If I happen to hit you by any chance, don't take it personally—it's not intentional."
He was trying to be polite, but it fell on deaf ears.
"Then just miss."
"Sorry, can't do that. I'm set on winning today."
Tone-deaf or bold? Either way, impressive.
"Here we go."
With that, Bae Chang-sik grabbed a water balloon and hurled it at Senior Ye-eun.
Splash!
"Tch."
The first one narrowly missed.
It grazed past her face—close, but no points. The real issue was elsewhere.
'Even misses are getting her wet, though.'
Water splashed everywhere on impact. Even without a direct hit, part of her face got soaked.
At this rate, after ten, she'd be drenched head to toe.
As I thought that, Bae Chang-sik grabbed the second one.
"Hup!"
Whish! Splash!
"Ack!"
'Ugh.'
It hit her face dead-on. The balloon burst, dumping its contents right on Senior Ye-eun's face.
"One point."
Third try finally scored.
If Park In-seok hadn't backed out, the lead would've been bigger.
Regrettable, but this would have to do.
"Continuing."
After repeated attempts...
Splash!
Bae Chang-sik even got to throw the last one.
"The final balloon missed, for a total of five points. Switching targets—next team up."
Senior Ye-eun, hit five times, was already soaked through.
We hurried to hand her our towels, but...
Pat pat pat!
Someone beat us to it.
"Ye, Ye-eun!"
Park In-seok.
He draped a towel over her shivering, drowned-rat head and said,
"Wipe off with this first, and put on these clothes. I've been carrying extras since evenings are getting chilly—didn't expect to use them like this."
Senior Ye-eun took the clothes with a smirk and replied,
"You're still the same."
"What?"
"Nothing. I'll wear them well. And..."
I couldn't hear the rest of what Senior Ye-eun said.
Boom! Boom boom!
Because brilliant fireworks were blooming like flowers behind her.
Boom-! Boom boom!
"If you'd come tomorrow, you could've seen the real show."
Chang-sik smacked his lips wistfully, eyeing the firecrackers the students were playing with on the field.
"Daeun wike dat too."
Daeun looked purely delighted by the small, flashy bursts.
"But unca wuv mommy wots?"
"Yeah."
Maybe because of all the stories she'd heard so far.
Bae Chang-sik tensed for a second but soon chuckled and continued.
"She loved it a ton back then. But now? Just old feelings."
Gazing at the fireworks from the students' sparklers, he added,
"Daeun's dadless, so maybe that's why I envied them. Caring for each other, helping, being helped. Loving. Yeah, that. Even I get super lonely, looks notwithstanding."
"Unca sowwy?"
At Daeun's question, Chang-sik smiled warmly and shook his head.
"Till a few days ago, yeah. Whatever I did, felt empty inside. But after meeting Daeun's dad... hmm, like it's filling up now."
As he spoke, he kept chuckling oddly to himself, like he found it weird.
But Daeun, listening, reacted differently.
"Daeun same as unca."
"Same, huh?"
"Daeun too. Befowe daddy, heart feew empty."
"Empty—ah, hollow."
"Yep, howwow. But see daddy face, supew good now."
Then Daeun grew serious and told Chang-sik,
"Daddy maybe magic!"
"What, a wizard? Haha!"
"Shh! Secwet! Daddy know, poof, wun away!"
Chang-sik wiped tears of laughter from his eyes as Daeun startled.
"Keep it secret, then."
Nod! Nod!
"Got it. Uncle keep secret. But my story from earlier? Secret too."
"Otay! Daeun good secwets!"
At that, Bae Chang-sik propped his chin on one hand and said,
"Hmm, feels even more filled thanks to you, Daeun."
Step.
Just then, Kanghyeok Lee and Jungeun Park approached from afar, back from buying snacks.
"Daeun!"
"Uncle!"
Grinning, they handed over their purchases one by one.
"Daeun likes chocolate, right?"
"Yeah, Uncle! Daeun wuv chocowate!"
Then, handing a canned coffee to Bae Chang-sik, Kanghyeok Lee asked smiling Daeun,
"But what were you two chatting about? Looked fun from over there."
Daeun glanced at Jungeun Park, who was cracking open his can and sipping.
Then she grinned mischievously and replied,
"Had fun talk wif Changsik Uncle. Wite, Uncle!"
"Pffft!"
Bae Chang-sik spewed his coffee at Daeun's sudden words.
He hurriedly turned to her and asked again.
"D-Daeun, what'd you just say?"
"Said fun talk, siwwy. Changsik Uncle dummy!"
In an instant, Bae Chang-sik's eyelids flushed red.