Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Can I Come Over to Play?
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After finishing what wasn't an assassination attempt at Yerim's house, but a tearful dinner, I returned home. Unusually, my younger sister came out to greet me.
"Oppa. Why are you coming home so late?"
"I had somewhere to stop by. Why?"
"What do you mean 'stop by.' You were at Yerim's house, obviously."
Gasp.
"...How did you know?"
"If you tell me why you hid it, maybe I'll tell you?"
Damn, she's really annoying.
I wondered why she came out to greet me for once, but of course it was something like this.
Han Sea, your mouth must have been itching like crazy, huh?
"...Did you talk to Yerim?"
"Yeah! It wasn't just talking—we got close~"
Seeing her make a V-sign with her hand and giggle cutely made me want to flick her forehead out of annoyance, but...
In the end, she'd listened well to my request, so I felt relieved.
"Good. How was she?"
"Su~per pretty?"
—Agreed. It's me, Han Woojin, hitting that like button.
"Besides that, what about her personality and stuff?"
"Hmm~"
Han Sea didn't answer right away. Instead, she thoughtfully tapped her finger to her lips.
"Oppa, don't you think you should start exercising or something?"
"...? Suddenly? No, I asked about her personality—what's that about?"
"Exactly..."
Han Sea's eyes scanned me up and down.
"Oppa, don't get hurt, okay?"
"I already feel hurt."
"I think you're tall, and pretty handsome too?"
"Pretty?"
"Not some freeloading brother vibe—you've got a manly look, which is nice."
"You must not know, but someone like me..."
"But the opponent is Yerim."
I wanted to fire back that her own target was Seo Jinhyuk too, but...
Her words weren't wrong, so I held my tongue.
"Oppa, do you know Yerim's grades from last year's exams?"
"No..."
"Ask her next time. Now, compared to that—what are your grades?"
"Why rub salt in the wound..."
Bad girl. What's wrong with being mid-tier?
She calls me oppa, but this is straight-up assault.
"Hey, but I'm good at cooking at least. Have you tried Yerim's cooking?"
"You have to be good at that much."
Fuck.
"No, I'm good at other housework too..."
"You have to be good at that much."
Fuuuck. No comeback.
It was even more frustrating that I couldn't argue back.
"Oppa. If my boyfriend was Yerim's oppa, I could go do laundry in the Han River even in the dead of winter."
"That won't fly. He'd get his ass kicked by me."
"Aww~ Oppa too~"
I'd been listening quietly and finally snapped. Han Sea, who'd been looking at me pitifully and metaphorically beating me down until a second ago, now grinned happily and waved it off.
"Ahem. Anyway, the point is this. Honestly, neither you nor I would lose out anywhere. It's not like you're inferior to Yerim."
Exactly—
"From what I saw today, Yerim's looks go without saying. No issues with her voice, she's great at studying, perfect personality... I couldn't find a single flaw. Ah, there's one thing—though it's kinda rude to say. She doesn't have friends. But even that..."
"Just a matter of time. Right."
She might not have any now, but with Han Sea by her side, once people around her realize Yerim's charm...
I could easily picture her surrounded by friends.
She's the type who could make that happen—and who should.
"Yeah, so let's amp up your charms one by one. You've got good stamina, Oppa."
"Got it. I'll do it."
I grumbled my agreement, and Han Sea trotted over to hug me.
"Hehe, Oppa. You know I didn't say that because I dislike you, right?"
"...I know."
How could I not know?
I figured Han Sea, in her own way, sincerely wanted things to work out between me and Seo Yerim.
"But it still pissed me off hearing it."
"That's 'cause it's facts."
Bad girl. You're done for.
"Kyaaah—! St-stop, hehe, stoop, stooop Oppa!! Hnng, Mom, Oppa's bullying me—!!!!"
I got revenge by mercilessly tickling my sister's soft waist until the end, where she still only said pretty things.
Ah, I'm dying.
After hearing Han Sea out last night, I went straight to my room and searched up workout routines.
Tsk, that's a pretty huge downside?
I ran my hand over my head—nice and thick.
...Should be fine, right?
No way it'd fall out when it's this lush?
I started the workout, pointedly not imagining my future self.
—Who the hell can "anyone" do this?
I'd never heard anyone say I lacked stamina...
Up to 50 was manageable, but past that, my whole body started trembling like I'd been tased.
...Isn't 50 enough for a first try?
Male pride kicked in. I gritted my teeth, split it into sets, skipped the run, and hit 100 on the rest.
Exhausted like I'd collapsed, I passed out right there without even showering.
Flash.
The blinding morning sun forced my eyes open, and my first thought was...
—Kuaaaak, shiiit...!
Something's wrong here... Something's seriously wrong.
My whole body felt like it was screaming for mercy.
Muscle soreness everywhere—no spot untouched.
This is wrong...
Every single prep for school had me groaning in agony. I barely made it to class, where Seo Jinhyuk greeted me with his usual grin.
"Why the long face? Looks like someone punched you in the nuts."
"Pretty much."
"What?"
He stared seriously like 'Punched in the nuts first thing in the morning...?' I brushed past him and slumped into my seat. Finally felt a bit alive.
"You okay? Take care of yourself. That thing might not be yours much longer."
"I'm dying here—what kinda bullshit is this first thing?"
"Fuck, now that I say it, it pisses me off. Just shatter already—or I'll make sure you never use it again. Come here, you punk."
"No, are you insane?"
The lunatic muttered to himself, got mad at nothing, then suddenly yanked my chair toward him. A sharp jolt shot up from my butt.
"Kuhk...! You're dead meat. For real...!"
"Damn, it really hurts? What's up with you?"
"Did a workout last night—muscle soreness hit hard. Whole body hurts, man..."
"Oh, soreness?"
He poked my arm playfully—zap again.
"Hurzmuh..."
"Han Woojin's reactions are delicious..."
I might be an S— he muttered to himself. Ridiculous.
"So, what brought on the random workout?"
"...None of your business."
"Hmm~?"
How do I even say it? For your sister.
But he eyed me like he already knew, even without me saying.
Staring at his proud, shit-eating grin, I almost blurted out it's not for your sister before holding back.
Sigh... Gotta hold it. Can't even joke about that.
If I'm hiding my feelings, fine—but I don't wanna paint lies over it. Especially not anything involving Yerim.
"Hey, speaking of—why didn't you tell Yerim I was coming over yesterday? Explain. Now."
".........Ah, that."
I was pondering how to deck him when yesterday's events came back.
I brought it up, and he looked genuinely troubled, like he didn't know how to explain.
"...Sorry. Come over again next time."
"When?"
"......Dunno."
Is he nuts?
"Like 'let's grab food sometime' or what?"
"...That kinda promise never happens, but this one's guaranteed to, so it's different."
"You don't even know when. You'll be there, right?"
"..............Probably not?"
"You fucking psycho?"
Does this freak have a fetish for inviting friends to his empty house?
—Come play at my house (sometime, unknown) (I'll be gone)
The absurd proposal was so baffling I cursed him out, but Seo Jinhyuk just closed his eyes and muttered quietly.
"This too shall pass..."
For a moment, I could've sworn there was a teardrop glistening at the corner of his eye.
I left the pitifully deranged Seo Jinhyuk behind as the day began.
Same endless boring classes as always, but one difference.
A new contact had been added to my phone—one that wasn't there yesterday.
...Will she message?
I knew it was unlikely, but...
Still, I kept sneaking glances at my phone hoping for a miracle message from Yerim. None came.
...Han Woojin, you pathetic loser.
No courage to message a younger girl first, but waiting around like this?
But still.
I'd messaged guys before, but never a girl.
Courage just wouldn't come.
As dismissal approached, my heart grew more frantic.
...Do I just head home all lonely like this?
But we've only met twice,
'Uhuhu, can I come over to play today, Yerim-chan?'
Isn't that way too buddy-buddy?
I ran through hundreds of 'uhuhus' in my head until the end-of-day bell rang.
Like the thirsty man digging a well. Right now, I was a traveler lost in the desert.
Heart pounding, I tapped the name.
-Yerim, you free today by any chance?
No no. Reject. Sounds like a date invite.
-Yerim, should I make that cooking I mentioned yesterday?
Reject too. Sounds like baiting with food.
-Yerim, can I come over today?
In the end, the message I sent was utterly charmless. Just the plain intent, straight up.
...Won't look weird, right? Simple is best.
Heart racing, I listened to the homeroom teacher's closing remarks while waiting for a reply. Soon, my phone buzzed.
I checked it immediately, pounding heart and all. There it was:
—Huh?
Thud.
I dropped my phone without thinking.