Financial Therapy

“Let’s stop just watching each other and actually date, Uni_clip.”

...Huh?

Yuna’s sudden confession froze my entire body in place.

Her eyes curved in a gentle arc. The small smile playing at the corners of her lips.

Her face looked full of mischief, but her voice was completely different from her expression.

It was sincere, and maybe even trembling just a little.

No matter how you looked at it, this was genuine.

Ah. If it was going to be like this, I should’ve confessed a little sooner.

This was the exact moment my carefully planned, cool confession strategy came crashing down.

I’d even thought about reserving a fancy restaurant.

But it would feel weird to tell her I’d answer later and then confess myself.

“...Oppa. Why aren’t you saying anything? Don’t tell me you’re rejecting me? Do I still need to wait longer?”

When I stayed frozen without a word, Yuna’s eyes began to waver with anxiety.

No. It wasn’t a rejection. I was just feeling regretful.

I quickly answered so Yuna wouldn’t misunderstand.

“No, it’s not like that...”

“Then…?”

Half expectation, half worry.

Yuna stared at me with eyes that seemed to overflow with emotion no matter how you looked at it.

I felt regretful, but I couldn’t bring myself to say the words of rejection.

“Yeah… let’s date.”

My voice came out trembling, even to my own ears.

Why couldn’t I be cool at times like this? Seriously, me.

I didn’t have to be cool any other time, so why couldn’t I just answer cleanly right now?

More importantly, we were dating now.

I never dreamed I’d actually get a girlfriend.

Honestly, before coming to university, I hadn’t even expected to make friends.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

From the beginning, I’d always been reluctant to let people inside my close boundaries.

Would this be similar?

But maybe it was different.

Even if it was the same girl, if it hadn’t been Uni, I probably wouldn’t have had this chance.

From a disastrous blind date girl to my favorite idol, and now to my girlfriend.

My time with Yuna had changed in so many different ways.

“...Then could you come over here for a second?”

At some point Yuna had placed the ice pack on the table and was standing with her feet neatly together on the floor.

She gestured for me to come closer.

Like I was under a spell, I slowly walked toward Yuna.

One step. Then another.

In an instant, her face was right in front of me.

Should I call it my girlfriend’s face now?

Seeing her up close made the impression feel brand new.

...My girlfriend is seriously so cute.

“I’m here…”

At my words, Yuna’s face flushed red and she squeezed her eyes shut.

Why was she closing her eyes after calling me over?

While I was blankly staring at her like that—

“...Mmph.”

I never imagined a surprise attack like that would happen.

I felt the soft, slightly cool sensation against my lips.

Yuna’s usual low body temperature came through so vividly.

How many seconds had passed?

It clearly wasn’t a long time, but it felt like someone had put the world in slow motion. Everything around us moved incredibly slowly.

And then Yuna slowly pulled her body back.

At the same time, whatever had been one with my lips parted from me.

“Haa…”

A regretful sigh burst from Yuna’s lips.

Startled by her bold move, I could only call her name.

“...Yuna?”

“What? We can do things like this now, can’t we?”

Yuna said that while pouting her lips.

Well… yeah, we can, but.

Don’t people usually not do this the second they start dating?

There’s a process, you know. A process.

“It’s payback. A thank-you for everything you did today.”

Maybe she didn’t like how surprised I looked.

Yuna spoke with a sulky expression.

If that was her way of saying thanks, I felt like I could carry her up the 63 Building on my back.

Still, my face gradually turning red was unavoidable.

And of course, the same thing was happening to Yuna.

We’d touched foreheads before, but this was officially our first kiss.

“R-right. Got it. Then I’ll head out. Make sure you treat your foot properly so it doesn’t get worse!”

“...Okay. Go safely, oppa.”

Before the atmosphere could get any more awkward.

Leaving behind Yuna, who kept her head bowed while shyly waving her hand.

I hurriedly grabbed my stuff and umbrella and dashed out of her house.

Then I started running toward home like a madman.

“...So this is day one, huh?”

My footsteps as I headed home while muttering to myself felt strangely light.

The corners of my mouth kept rising toward the sky no matter how hard I tried to stop them.

It looked like spring was finally beginning in my life too.

. . . .

When I got home, I flailed around on the bed for a while before falling asleep.

By the time I woke up, it was already evening.

I didn’t realize it until I stood in front of the bathroom mirror to wash my face.

The pink mark on the corner of my mouth.

...So this is what lipstick looks like?

The tint people talked about when they asked, “What tint does your sister use?”

I felt strangely emotional knowing it was on my lips.

“Ah… I barely managed to forget after sleeping.”

My face started burning red again.

The scene of our lips touching kept replaying in my head.

That’s why when I got back, I’d been screaming in my room like a lunatic.

“I guess it’s finally starting to feel real.”

Honestly, it still hadn’t felt completely real until now.

Only the kiss kept floating through my mind.

But after sleeping and waking up with a clear head, it finally hit me that I was really dating Yuna.

Just a fan and a streamer.

Two people connected through a platform and the internet.

Somehow, Uni and I had broken through that frame and become so much closer.

-Shaaaa

I turned on the faucet to cool my heated face.

Then I cupped my hands to hold some water so I could wash my face.

“...Do I really have to wash this off?”

It felt like a trace of our first kiss, so I was reluctant to erase it.

It was just a pink lipstick mark, but to me, nothing was more precious.

Like how people say they won’t wash the hand they shook with the president.

“Should I leave it until today’s over?”

With that silly thought, I washed my face while carefully avoiding the tint on the right corner of my mouth.

What the hell am I even doing?

They say love is supposed to be childish, but I never thought I’d become this childish.

“...Still, it’s not bad.”

Instead of a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reality check, a warm feeling rose from my chest and filled me up.

At that moment, my phone vibrated. With my wet face, I pulled it out of my pocket.

It was Uni’s broadcast notice.

It seemed she’d decided to cancel today’s break and try to be brave.

Maybe it was because of what I’d said to her.

If I could help Yuna even in this small way, I was satisfied.

“With this, the Yuna-loss has decreased.”

I chuckled and laughed alone in the bathroom.

[Hello… everyone… this is Uni.]

Her voice was much more downcast and smaller than usual.

Normally, even if she had to force it, her energy would rise a little except during collabs.

I felt bad for her, but there wasn’t much I could do.

Who the hell would do that again, you idiot.

The clueless chats from the Uniz made me want to smack them upside the head.

And the chat reactions were much more positive than I expected.

I’d thought people would spam and the haters ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠would come out swinging.

Honestly, there were a few aggressive comments scattered here and there, but they were at a level I could ignore.

[I’m really sorry about yesterday. I wasn’t feeling well and the game was too hard. I’ll make sure something like this never happens again.]

[Yes. I won’t bring that kind of game ever again. I should’ve listened when people told me not to play it. Sigh.]

[Thank you so much, everyone. You waited for me… you really did…]

Donations poured in and the chat was full of warm reactions.

Yuna must have been moved, because her voice gradually grew wet with emotion.

The Uniz were teasing Yuna as she tried not to cry.

Looking at how they typed, it seemed like they’d done plenty of bad things back in their school days.

[...Huh? No, I’m not crying… I’m just moved, that’s all. Moved. Who would cry over something like this.]

[I really prepared a lot for today’s stream. I’m going to make up for yesterday.]

As soon as she said that, the chat exploded with excitement.

Everyone welcomed a stream extension.

I decided to ride this momentum and started laying the groundwork to create good public opinion for Uni.

Politics is all about the atmosphere.

When public opinion is good, you have to push hard.

When the vibe is this good, you’re supposed to set off fireworks.

I’d loaded up my part-time job money just in case the mood soured…

The loud donation sound that played with big donations rang out, and Yuna’s voice instantly brightened.

I’d never been stingy with money spent on Uni.

I could be stingy with money spent on myself, though.

[Whoaaa! ㅇㅇ-nim with 100,000 won~! Thank you so much! My heart was hurting so bad but this financial therapy really works!]

At her suddenly bright tone, a slight suspicion rose in my mind.

...Yuna. That wasn’t still acting, right?

As expected, the power of financial therapy was always incredible.