Chapter 15
Chapter 15
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Video Call
-----------------------------------------------------------------
*
"...Really?"
"I told you, it's true...."
A sudden call from Yerim right before I drifted off to sleep.
For some reason, it felt wrong to take it lying down, so I bolted upright in bed to answer.
Truth be told, I wasn't entirely blameless. No, actually, I felt pretty damn wronged.
The Saturday meetup was supposed to be just us elementary school guys, and while the girls usually joined in, this time it was strictly a sausage fest—that was reason one.
Reason two...
Why the hell am I the one explaining myself?
It was like ordering meat at a restaurant without a second thought, only to get yelled at for who the hell said you could order meat...
But saying that outright would be like declaring, "Yerim, let's throw down."
So, following the five W's and one H—who, what, when, where, why, how—I had no choice but to lay it all out to convince her.
...I realized once again that Yerim could be a bit of a hassle.
Thankfully, my sincerity got through, and her voice softened from when she'd first called, though still laced with suspicion.
"Huaam...."
Muscles relaxing from the tension release, maybe.
A yawn slipped out before I knew it.
"...Sleepy, Oppa?"
"...A little?"
I'd been on the verge of sleep just moments ago, after all.
I couldn't exactly say your scent on the bed was making drowsiness hit hard.
"Can't we talk just a bit longer...?"
Sleeping. How does that even work?
Even Yerim sounded sleepier than usual, her voice all soft and languid.
Whispering into my ear like a plea, laced with aegyo in case I'd refuse—no way I could hit her with a flat "No."
"...Sure. I could do all night."
"You said you're sleepy...."
"Just saying."
"Tch, liar... You're not gonna promise me the stars later, are you...?"
"Want me to pluck 'em for you?"
"Pfft, what even is that...."
Even that silly joke had us both chuckling softly.
And just like that, in the calm atmosphere, we traded stories back and forth.
How was your day?
What'd you do after getting home?
Little by little, one by one, we shared bits of our daily lives.
Slowly opening up to each other.
In the middle of it all, eyelids growing heavy as strength ebbed away, I slipped.
"...I miss you."
The sudden raw truth startled me, but words once out couldn't be taken back.
"Mm? What...?"
"...Your eyes."
"My eyes...?"
"...Yeah. When you talk and I watch, it's like... Hmm..."
How to put it so my feelings came across right? It hit me right away.
"Ah, that's it. They're fun. Just looking at them."
"...Fun?"
"Yeah."
"I'm not a monkey at the zoo...."
"Hold on. That's not what I—"
"Pft, I know.... Just teasing."
"Don't joke like that...."
Not kidding, I nearly jumped out of bed again, spooked for real.
She must've felt my shock, 'cause her giggle rang out, all cute and bubbly.
"Don't laugh...."
Click.
Huh?
The call cut off abruptly.
No way, just 'cause I said don't laugh? Timing's off.
Yerim's phone die? Why cut right when I spoke, leaving it all awkward?
Sip.
Call back? Or just text goodnight?
Staring at my phone in dilemma, it buzzed—jiing.
[Seo Yerim]
Ah. That's why she hung up.
Daytime too, but Yerim's sneaky with surprises.
Got it. Memo'd in my head so I don't forget.
"...Hello?"
"Can you see me okay, Oppa...?"
"Whoa...."
"Oppa...?"
"Y-yeah. You look... way too good."
So good my eyes hurt. Too good—that was the problem.
"Really...? Good thing... First video call ever...."
On the screen, Yerim smiled in relief.
"So, what do you think...?"
"...Of what?"
"You said you missed me...."
You, jumping straight to an unfamiliar video call after my confession.
You, waiting shyly like a cat craving praise.
How could I not miss you?
"Beautiful. Insanely."
"...Not 'fun'?"
"That's a given."
"...A given?"
"Yeah, obviously."
"Hee, okay then...."
Her beaming smile of satisfaction.
I drank in the sight of her on the screen, like a cherry blossom in full bloom.
Nothing to forget, but just in case, I etched every detail deep.
Bathed in the soft moonlight filtering through the room,
we gazed at each other until the phone battery died, then quietly fell asleep.
**
"Huaam...."
...I'm dead.
Stayed up late talking with Yerim and crashed—sleepy as hell.
—But it felt good, right?
Admit it. Honestly, good enough to do every night.
Just sleepy AF, that's all.
Anyway, dragged my tired ass to the café meetup spot, and familiar faces were there... Huh?
"Yo, Kang Yuri, what're you doing here?"
"Oh, Han Woojin? Early bird today?"
"Anyone'd think I'm always late. Anyway, wasn't this guys-only today?"
"What, you hate me being here?"
"Nah, not hate, but...."
As far as I knew, it was just me, Kim Yohan, and Lee Uram—three dudes.
But Kang Yuri was at the spot.
"Was gonna be just us, but Yuri said she was bored and wanted to come, so we invited her. Why? No big deal, right?"
The two stared like "What's the problem?"—no comeback.
Telling my little sis it'd be guys-only? She'd flip, asking if I'm dating someone.
...Should be fine? I didn't lie. If it doesn't blow up, we're good.
Eh, it'll be fine.
Gave up thinking, ordered drinks, sat down.
Soon as we sat—fresh into middle school, tons to talk about—chat flowed nonstop.
"Yo, so our homeroom teacher..."
Ting-a-ling~♪
Kim Yohan, mid-story all hyped, froze wide-eyed.
"...Teacher what?"
"Whoa, what...?"
"What's with this dude?"
"Yo, sneak a peek behind without staring. She's smoking hot."
Wondered what—pretty girl sighting, huh.
How hot could she be?
Before Yerim, maybe, but now my standards are sky-high...
"......Huh?"
Sh...shit. Why're you two there?
Glanced back—the girl who reset my standards and my little sis.
One glared daggers; the other mouthed silently.
'S'
'U'
Such bullshit... Told both about the meetup here, but never dreamed they'd show.
Total panic.
Worse, they sat at the table right next to ours, like "Look here."
Wanna die.
Friends, oblivious to my despair, ogled and cooed "Pretty"—made me jealous as hell.
Jiiing—
Phone buzzed.
Didn't wanna check, but ignoring spelled bigger trouble—opened with teary eyes.
Squint.
Saw the message, slammed eyes shut. Wave of injustice crashed—no opening them.
I didn't know, swear.
"Fuuuuck...."
"Yo, Woojin. What's up with him?"
"...It's a thing."
"Woojin, you okay?"
My heart hurts.
"Nah. Yuri, no talking to me from now on...."
Ridiculous demand even to me—Kang Yuri blinked in disbelief.
"What? We're sitting together—how no talk?"
"Dunno. Just don't, dude...."
Spouting nonsense in resignation, the other two chimed in.
"This guy's hilarious. Girlfriend or what?"
"No way. How'd he score? I don't even have one."
"You wouldn't."
"Psycho?"
If it were a girlfriend, no sweat.
But no—watching them bicker, wondered what to say, then quiet Yuri piped up curiously.
"Woojin's plenty girlfriend material, no?"
"What?"
"WHAT?"
"Nani?"
"Wh-what? Why so shocked, scary...?"
Three heads whipped her way at the bombshell—Yuri startled.
"Yuri, you good?"
Kim Yohan, that jerk. What's wrong with me?
Wanna deck him for acting like it was absurd.
But honestly, curious about the rest—held back.
Same-age girl decree: "Boyfriend material." How hold that in?
"No, honestly, you're the best-looking of you guys...?"
Her casual "duh" vibe—truth stung.
—Fuck yeah!!!!!!!
This bitch—
"Yo, Han Woojin best-looking?! Bullshit!"
"Yeah, I'm way better—what crap! Eyes okay, Yuri?"
"Whoa, calm down, losers—er, friends. Ugly ain't shameful."
"Agh, that face and tone—wanna kill ya."
"Snap out, dude."
"Whoa, harsh words. Makes ya look uglier—er, weaker, friends."
"Fuckin—"
"Grah?"
Not even our usual ranking—Yuri doing it lit 'em up.
Grinned, poked the bears blushing purple—they hurled curses and fists unfit for polite company.
Hmm, ugly guys got bad tempers and worse swings.
Right now, could've taken it smiling—
Dragggg—
"...Sea, gotta hit the bathroom."
"Sure~ Go for it~"
Ah.
Next table over, yet chair scrape and chat crystal clear why?
Her staring straight at me, stepping slow.
"......Yo, me too, bathroom...."
"Go home, just."
"Don't come back, asshole."
"Fuckers...."
Ignoring my pain, they cursed freely behind.
Trudged to the bathroom like a cow to slaughter.