Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Surprise at Home
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Me.
What.
Did I... do something wrong...?
Ah, a dream. Could it be a dream?
As I picked up the phone I'd dropped in disbelief at this unreal reality and looked at the screen again,
- ...No can do.
The same screen as before filled my vision.
.........Why the hell?
Did my face give it away too much while eating that pasta Yerim made last night for dinner?
No, but come on, how could I help it when the pasta was so salty?
Even after finishing it all, the so-called pasta flavor lingered in my mouth.
At least since Yerim had made it, I forced myself to eat every bite. If Han Sea had served it, I'd have known it was an assassination attempt and headed straight for the sink. That's how it tasted.
I tried not to show it, but did it show too much...?
Ah, no way?
Is this Yerim's idea of a prank? Looking at the screen again thinking it was a joke, it actually seemed kinda cute.
Seo Yerim, if you were teasing me, congrats, you got me.
It was funny, so I'll let it slide just this once. For real.
I'm the one letting it slide. For real.
Or maybe she just has some reason she can't, like going out with Han Sea or something?
[Seo Yerim]
- You're joking, right? You scared me~
- Not a joke...?
- (An emoticon of a black cat tilting its head with a ?)
Ah, I'm done for.
It's blinding just looking at it.
I couldn't bear staring at such a horrific screen, so I turned off the phone display.
The pitch-black screen felt just like my future. Fuck...
Stupid idiot. I should've just straight-up asked why not today.
After hearing a girl say no twice already, I didn't have the guts to ask a third time.
It's not like I was making a third humble plea or anything. Doing that would make it seem like I was desperate to go to Yerim's house... Which I was, fuck...
If I sent another message now, I could already imagine Yerim making a disgusted face, sighing, "Haa... I said no, seriously..." at my clinginess. My heart crumbled just thinking about it.
Guess I'll just head home...
Since when did I ever stop somewhere after school anyway?
Had I really been lost in sweet illusions for just these two short days?
'Hey, Han. Grab my bag.'
It was time to snap out of the sweet illusions and return to cold reality.
As I zombie-like packed up to head home, Seo Jinhyuk approached.
"Heading home now?"
"Yeah..."
"...? Dude, why do you sound so dead?"
"You don't need to know, man..."
Too lazy to explain, as I finished packing and stood up, it hit me.
Who Seo Jinhyuk was.
Ha, fuck. Should I ask him or not...?
This was my last chance.
A moment of curiosity and fragile pride.
The moment Yerim's face flashed in my mind amid the two evenly balanced scales,
The weight tipped to one side in an instant.
"...Hey, Seo Jinhyuk."
"Yeah?"
"Any chance your family's eating out today or has some schedule like that?"
"Eating out? My parents are both busy with work, so we barely see each other except weekends, dude. Why the sudden question?"
"...Or someone coming over?"
"I'm off to academy, so only Yerim's home. What would that be?"
As my sudden questions ended, Seo Jinhyuk looked puzzled, like it was his turn now.
"But why ask all that out of nowhere? Did Yerim tell you not to come or something?"
"......"
Fuck. His casual toss killed me like a frog in winter.
"What? For real? Han Woojin, your face is legendary."
"...Shut up, man."
Damn, what the hell was my face like?
Watching Seo Jinhyuk cracking up like it was the funniest thing, I barely held back the urge to punch him in the philtrum with superhuman patience.
"You need a beating."
Actually, I couldn't hold back.
Seo Jinhyuk kept laughing even as I pummeled him, finally raising both hands in surrender after a bit.
"Ha... I'm dying laughing. Hey, stop. It hurts like hell, you bastard. Ow, all brute strength and no skill... Let your hyung help, so stop hitting."
"Like you can help. You're a corpse without that face."
"This jerk complains even if I offer. Fine, I'll ask Yerim if there's anything going on today."
......Tempting.
The not-bad offer tugged at me for a second.
"Nah. Let's just go home."
"...? Weren't you curious?"
"I am. But-"
I shouldered my bag and stood.
"I don't wanna find out that way. If anyone's asking, it'll be me."
"What're you on about? You asked me to ask."
Fuck.
"...You idiot, is asking you the same as you asking Yerim for me?"
"Nyeh nyeh nyeh~ Saying it with your face all red like a burning sweet potato, so persuasive~"
"You're hopeless. Time for another beating, asshole."
I dropped my bag again, cracking my knuckles as I approached, and Seo Jinhyuk quickly put distance between us.
"Hey, Han Woojin. Just remember this."
"What? That your life's ending today?"
"...Brutal. Anyway, whatever you think it is, it ain't happening."
"...What do you think I'm thinking?"
"How should I know? But whatever it is, that's not it."
What did this guy know?
Still, hearing it from Seo Jinhyuk, who'd known Seo Yerim the longest, oddly put my mind at ease.
Yeah.
Something must've come up today or whatever.
I'd see her tomorrow anyway, right?
**
Saying that to console myself, I trudged home alone.
The moment I arrived, I realized all my worries had been utterly pointless.
".........What?"
"Hello..."
"Ah, Oppa, you're finally here~?"
The sight of Seo Yerim shyly greeting me at our front door froze me in place.
Did I want it so bad I unconsciously went to her house? Looking around, no matter how I checked, this was definitely our house.
Tap tap.
I squeezed my eyes shut and beckoned Han Sea, holding back a torrent of curses.
Han Sea approached with a beaming smile.
"What, Oppa~?"
"Hey, Han Sea. It's you."
I whispered low so Yerim wouldn't hear, and Han Sea grinned mischievously back in a whisper.
"Sea has no idea what you mean~?"
"I wanna instantly execute the annoying Sea...?"
"Aw, Oppa, don't say that~"
"Why didn't you tell me, Han Sea...?"
"Oppa. That's not it."
"What."
"Aren't you grateful?"
"Thank you."
So damn much.
If Yerim wasn't watching from behind, I could've bowed 90 degrees in thanks.
"All the ice cream in the fridge is mine now?"
"Of course. Eat as much as you want."
I desperately swallowed "pig."
"I'll... go buy some snacks real quick since I had Yerim all to myself till you got here?"
Seeing Han Sea wink at me, I felt like puking—no, like tears of gratitude would spill.
She wasn't a pig, she was an angel...!
For the first time in 14 years, instead of pig ears, I swear I saw a halo over Han Sea's head.
I probably would've ended up going to her place anyway if she hadn't brought Yerim here.
But who cares.
'Seeing her is what matters.'
That was it.
"Be right back~"
As Han Sea passed by and left the house, only Yerim and I remained at the entrance.
...Feels fresh.
Our house, so familiar it was sickening.
But with Yerim inside, it felt like a whole new place.
"...Why didn't you tell me?"
"Wanted to... surprise you..."
Yerim spread her hands timidly like ta-da, her voice barely above a crawl.
Even though cherry blossom season was long past, her eyes brimmed with fluttering petals.
Seeing her shyly opening and closing her hands, any lingering resentment melted away.
—Guess that settles it.
Even if she startled me 100, no 1,000 times till my brain short-circuited, I'd probably laugh it off.
"Were you... surprised...?"
Who could say no to eyes sparkling with expectation?
...Not me, anyway.
"Yeah, big time."
"Hee, that much...?"
"Yeah, that much. Thought you hated it."
"...? Hated what...?"
Yerim tilted her head, no clue what I meant.
"Well, y'know. I'd gone to your place two days straight. When you said no today, I figured maybe coming again would be too much. Even I think three days in a row might be annoying~."
All my misunderstanding— I finished with an awkward laugh, but no response came.
What's up? Looking at Yerim, the cherry blossoms that'd been blooming moments ago had wilted, replaced by a purple hue like azaleas.
Half amazed at the new eye color, half panicking if I'd messed up, I didn't know what to do.
Then Yerim slowly approached, stood on tiptoe,
Squish—
Her soft fingers gently pinched my lips top and bottom.
"...Naughty mouth."
"Mm...?"
"Say naughty stuff like that again..."
"Mmm...?"
"...I'll hate you. A lot."
Her eyes looked so hurt as she pressed my lips.
I couldn't even ask why.
"Got it...?"
Even though my lips were trapped, she pleaded desperately.
I nodded without hesitation, and her drooping lips curved up a bit.
"I won't even joke about no next time... So anytime..."
Her voice trailed off too quiet to catch.
But with her purple eyes rippling, holding me,
I nodded again, utterly entranced.
***
After Yerim's stern reward—no, punishment,
To calm down, I told her to wait in the living room and went to my room.
...Nothing to hide, right?
Yerim wanted to come into my room.
—No way, nope.
If it weren't a surprise visit, maybe, but not now when who knows what traps lurk. Even Yerim couldn't be allowed.
...No tissues in the trash, right?
Worried, I bent down to check the trash by my desk,
"Hoo..."
"Whoa!?"
Sudden warm breath tickling my ear sent my heart emergency-ejecting from my body. I barely grabbed it.
"Hee, why so jumpy, Oppa...?"
"Wh-what?"
Even startled, my eyes darted desperately to the trash.
Thanks, Mom...!
"You scared me...! When'd you get here? I told you to stay in the living room. Didn't even notice."
"Didn't notice I came...?"
"No, not a clue. For real."
I couldn't admit my attention was on the trash.
Yerim smugly made a little V-sign with her fingers.
"Hee, I'm actually good at sneaking around... Even Oppa at home gets startled every day..."
"What are you, a cat?"
Why's she so proud of that?
But looking up at me with that beaming smile,
The joy of her successful prank fully transmitted to me.
I got why Seo Jinhyuk always freaked out.
I'd freak too.
...Seo Jinhyuk, you lucky bastard.
Today too, I was jealous—no, envious of him.