Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: New Semester - 2
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"Haa..."
A sigh of relief escaped me. Thank goodness.
She wasn't the old Yerim anymore, but I still couldn't help worrying about her like she was a kid left alone by the water's edge.
Yerim must have felt the same way. Even through that simple message, her uncontainable joy shone through. She probably sent it with a smile. Who would've thought the day would come when a single line of text could spark such imaginings?
Life really was full of surprises.
"What's with that look? You got middle school syndrome or something?"
"Shut up."
This guy never gave me a moment to bask in sentiment.
Before first period started, after our endless back-and-forth debate with no winner—like some twisted in-law spat—we headed to the school store to cool off.
"Hey, Yerim's in the same class as Han Sea."
"...For real? Ha, that's a relief. Seriously..."
When I shared the fresh news I'd just gotten from Yerim, Seo Jinhyuk muttered "that's a relief" and plopped down right there on the spot.
...This guy's still a brother at heart. I could guess his feelings right now, so I didn't poke at him and just waited for him to get up.
"Whew... Hey, everything's good, really good. But why do I have to hear it from you?"
Shouldn't have waited.
The second he stood up, he started picking a fight like he genuinely couldn't comprehend it. I half-wished I'd just roundhouse kicked him.
"You idiot, that's why you should've kept in touch more."
"...Dude. I sent a message the second I got to class. Look for yourself."
Seo Jinhyuk shoved his phone screen in my face, and sure enough, the little "1" next to the message hadn't disappeared.
"...Oh."
"Still my fault? Say it."
"...You should've gone to their classroom."
"Man, acting like a proper brother is a pain. Damn it..."
I snuck a peek at my own phone while he grumbled and pocketed his, figuring it was pointless anyway. And yep.
The "1" next to the message I'd sent Han Sea was still there.
"...Hey, Han Sea hasn't replied to you either?"
"...? Nah, we're chatting right now. She said she's thrilled to be in the same class as Yerim."
...Han Sea, you're dead.
A bad feeling crept in that I'd be commiserating more and more with the Seo Jinhyuk in front of me from here on out.
No. It won't happen....
"...But why'd you bring up that in-law crap earlier?"
(With someone else's) little sister texts exchanged, we started walking again when Seo Jinhyuk suddenly asked like it'd just occurred to him.
"You pretending not to know?"
"I never said you could have my Yerim, you punk."
"...Can you even decide that?"
A heavy silence fell.
"Hey, and listening to you, it's kinda funny. I never said you could have my pig either, punk."
"...Can you decide that?"
Silence.
Painful silence after our no-winner fight.
We both had plenty we wanted to say, but couldn't counter each other in the quiet tension. Seo Jinhyuk spoke first.
"...And what pig? Sea needs to eat more."
...Look at this guy? Getting all defensive like he'd been insulted, shielding Han Sea. My lips twitched upward despite myself.
"Hey. One question."
"Don't ask, punk."
"What do you think of Han Sea?"
Seo Jinhyuk's face twisted like he was genuinely repulsed at my words.
"You really wanna hear it?"
"I'm curious."
"...Doesn't Sea tell you?"
"Would siblings talk about that?"
True enough... I nodded at him as he seemed to get it, but that ominous thought from earlier resurfaced.
"Honestly speaking..."
"Honestly?"
"Not bad... something like that?"
"You bastard, what's wrong with Han Sea? Wanna die?"
"Whoa! You psycho, what's this?"
This punk dares go after my pig?
Han Sea was someone only I could roast. When vague words came from Seo Jinhyuk's mouth, my pumped-up biceps from gym class tensed.
"Argh, calm down and listen, you maniac. Your eyes are freaking scary—loosen up."
"...Spit it out."
"Remember last year how I got confessed to a ton?"
As if I wouldn't. I'd seen double digits—no, maybe triple—from up close.
"Yeah. Thanks to you rejecting all those, there were even rumors about us being gay."
"......For real?"
"Think I'd make it up?"
I stared in disbelief as he dry-heaved "Urgh, damn—."
"Hey, I hate it more, punk."
"Who started that crap? I'm so wronged... I love girls. Watch tons of adult stuff too."
"Didn't need to know that."
"Anyway, the reason. My parents married their first loves. Every time they reminisce, they're so proud. That their eyes didn't deceive them. That they were each other's first."
So—Seo Jinhyuk continued, a bit embarrassed.
"Growing up watching them, I've got this fantasy about first loves, I guess... Dating's whatever, I could try it. But I don't wanna do it lightly. I want someone I treasure enough to give everything to without regret."
I couldn't speak after he finished scratching his head sheepishly.
Out of shock? Because his bashfulness was gross?
No.
Because I understood completely. One hundred percent.
I wanted that kind of love too. To be that kind of person for her.
For Yerim.
"...So my sister doesn't qualify?"
Snapping back late, I teased. Seo Jinhyuk jumped like someone might overhear.
"When'd I say that, punk. Honestly..."
"Honestly, what."
"......"
"One way to piss someone off is to start a sentence and not finish..."
"Looks are my type. Happy?"
"Just looks?"
"...Personality too, punk."
Ha.
This guy who rejected confessions with a stone-cold face, never blinking.
Seeing his face flush beet red talking about my little sister—it was disgusting. No, fascinating.
"...Come to think of it, why'd you bail that time? Last Christmas, when you first met Han Sea alone. I figured you'd hold out."
"...I was gonna bring it up myself anyway. Yerim talked about Sea a lot, and I'd owe you siblings big time. Didn't expect it'd be just the two of us on Christmas."
"Owe us what. You actually went?"
"How could I not..."
Fair. With Yerim asking, and us saying we didn't mind, he couldn't exactly say no from his position.
"At first, I thought maybe your sister just wanted to meet her hot friend's big bro."
"Idiot? Why ask to eat alone then."
"...Wanted to order for three?"
"You mocking me?"
"...Anyway. Glad I went that day. Hanging with Sea's fun now."
"Weird tastes."
"...Weird? You don't get it 'cause she's your sister."
You know I flare up every time you diss Han Sea? I wanted to say.
But figured more would be meddling, so I held back.
"What, some turning point? Or just got close hanging out?"
"Turning point...?"
I'd fallen hard without one—don't need a reason to like someone, right?
But casually asking, expecting none, he pondered seriously. Intriguing.
"At first, since she was your sister and Yerim's friend, I felt pressure. Like, can't mess up."
...What is Han Sea, my future in-laws?
But his feelings weren't incomprehensible, so I listened.
"Guess she noticed me being cautious. No way she wouldn't—I'm not great at hiding, and Sea's sharp."
"Very."
I nodded unwittingly.
"One day, she smiled and told me: don't see her as Han Woojin's sister or Seo Yerim's friend. See her as Han Sea."
A smile formed as he reminisced happily.
"Felt natural after that. Yeah, that's when."
...Han Sea, you sneaky one? Thought she was just good at eating.
Amazed at my sister for toppling a guy with triple-digit rejections.
"Sigh, just date already. Quit playing pure when you watch porn daily."
"...Friend, you've got a talent for dickish words. Anyone'd think you weren't doing it."
He stared at me like I'd said something he shouldn't have heard, face incredulous.
"Hey, perfect timing. Was debating asking, but thought it was your business, so held back. Might as well now. Hasn't it been almost a year for you and Yerim?"
"...11 months."
"Same difference, punk. You two talk on the phone every night? I pretend not to notice, but I hear the whispers passing her room."
"...Not every night."
About five days a week?
"Liar. Fine, whatever. And after school or weekends, you're always together."
"......Not always."
Six days, so not wrong, yeah.
"Why aren't you dating? Eunuch? Actually gay or something?"
Watching this lunatic bounce around spewing nonsense about my Yerim being a smokescreen—
—...I'm screwed.
Just moments ago, I'd been gleefully tormenting Seo Jinhyuk like a punching bag for stories.
Now it was my turn, and my throat tightened.