Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Birthday Gift - 2
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*
From today onward, Yoon Do-hyun and I have become one.
Any attacks on Yoon Do-hyun will be considered attacks on me.
Yoon Do-hyun, my light.
Yoon Do-hyun, my peace.
Yoon Do-hyun, me.
Even dog shit has its uses. Yoon Do-hyun had brilliantly proven the old saying that proverbs hold no falsehoods, so for now, I had no choice but to suck up to him.
"Hey, but isn't that gift for Yerim really just a present for that bastard Han Woojin?"
"Nah, no way. You don't get it. No matter the reason, it's a gift chosen while thinking only of her, right? If it doesn't suit her once she gets it, it's the giver's fault. But if it does suit her perfectly, it's proof that you know her inside and out. It's the completion of a world where both giver and receiver are satisfied."
"Oh. That kinda makes sense...?"
That was it. That's exactly it, Yoon Do-hyun.
Seeing him effortlessly dismantle Seo Jinhyuk's sharp tackle and even persuade him on top of that made me feel so secure.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Of course, while I'd decided on the type of gift to buy, I still hadn't settled on the specifics.
I needed to investigate what would suit Yerim best.
"Hello~"
"Hey."
Lunchtime.
Now, entering the first-year classroom felt natural. The room was mostly empty since the other kids had already headed to the cafeteria, but a few who hadn't left yet greeted me.
I returned their greetings and headed inside, where Yerim was waiting for me as always.
The day after school started last week, during lunch. The first time I'd come here to keep my promise, the classroom had been packed with kids inviting her to eat together, to the point where she was practically invisible, like some kind of barrier had been cast.
But now, a week later. They'd realized it was futile, or maybe they'd made a pact or something.
No one was asking Yerim to eat lunch with them anymore.
At this point, even I had a pretty good idea.
What her declaration of war on the first day had meant, and why she'd told me to come find her.
"Shall we go, Yerim?"
"Yeah, let's go..."
I walked down the hallway with Yerim, who stood up as if she'd been waiting just for me.
Walking side by side, I snuck a glance at her without her noticing.
Hmm...
Her height... around 160 cm, maybe? Han Sea had said she was in the high 150s, and Yerim was definitely taller.
As for her figure... being a first-year, she'd bought a slightly larger uniform size, so it wasn't fair to compare her to the others just yet, but it didn't stand out much anyway.
But.
I knew.
The uniform was just hiding Yerim's power. She's the kind that naturally makes you go, "Whoa, what a figure."
"...Oppa, why'd you suddenly go quiet?"
Ah, was I staring too obviously?
Yerim glanced up at me and asked.
"Oh, no. Just thinking about what to eat for lunch today~"
"Hmmm..."
Yerim shot me a suspicious look that screamed she didn't buy it, but I cleared my throat and turned away, pretending not to notice.
Before I knew it, we'd arrived at the cafeteria.
Even after getting our lunches and sitting across from each other, my analysis continued.
Her small, slender face that my one hand could easily cover.
Her delicate eyebrows peeking through her soft bangs.
"Oppa...?"
My favorite eyes were big and clear. Long lashes too. The kind you wanted to touch just once.
Her nose was small but perfectly upturned, making it stand out nicely. Especially from the side.
Her lips—
"Oppa!"
"Huh, what?"
I'd only meant to take a quick look.
But when I came to, I'd been devouring every inch of her face with my eyes.
...I'm screwed.
I'd tried to be discreet, but her face didn't allow for that.
"Is there something on my face...?"
She'd felt my blatant stare, and her cheeks were flushing red.
"Sorry. Nothing's on it. Just lost in thought."
"You've been staring without saying a word since earlier..."
...Was it that obvious? I had no defense if she called me a pervert.
"Sorry for bothering you while you eat."
They say not to even touch a dog while it's eating, and if it were me with Yerim staring like that... wait, that doesn't sound bad at all...?
Anyway, to show my remorse, I turned my head away. Suddenly, soft pokes on both my cheeks turned my head right back.
"Huh."
"When did I say not to look...?"
She whispered it so only I could hear, like she was demanding an explanation.
Yerim, her face fully flushed, reached out with both hands to fix my gaze on her.
As if—
"But if you're gonna look somewhere else, look only at me..."
...Never mind.
I'd thought her skin was snow-white like fresh snow, but now I saw it wasn't.
From her neck to her slightly exposed earlobes, everything had turned bright red. The only exception was her sparkling pink eyes.
"That okay?"
My lips curled up slyly.
Normally, I'd have stopped looking at that point.
But where had the courage gone that had just grabbed my face?
She'd said it herself, yet now she was shyly shoveling food into her mouth, her eyes darting around busily.
I didn't have the confidence to look away. Not even a little.
"......"
Even as she blushed furiously, she nodded at my words. It was so quintessentially Yerim.
I leisurely savored the sight of her through lunch.
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After a blissful lunch.
Based on the information I’d diligently stolen—er, gathered—during that time, my conclusion was—
...No, is there anything that wouldn't suit her?
It wasn't just because I liked her. Yerim would look pretty no matter what she wore.
This was tougher than expected. I hadn't anticipated it'd be hard to choose because everything would suit her.
Seo Yerim, you woman. You're tricky. So tricky.
I agonized over accessories like earrings or bracelets too, but since she didn't usually wear them, it felt off to gift those.
Sure, she'd be happy to wear something from me and show it off, but not because I gave it—it'd be something she'd actually use daily.
...And bonus points if she thought of me while wearing or using it.
Even I thought it was pretty lewd.
But whatever. What can you do?
I'm that kind of guy—I powered through with that mindset.
Narrowing down the options like that, only one thing came to mind.
"...This is it."
It was the only choice.
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Finally, Yerim's birthday arrived.
They were holding the party at her house, so Han Sea and I left together.
"It's been a while since we'll see Auntie and Uncle, huh?"
"It's Yerim's birthday, and it's Saturday."
Yerim's parents were so busy with work that they were like legendary Pokémon to us siblings—we rarely got to see them outside of days like this.
"Bet you're nervous, Oppa?"
"...That obvious?"
"Yup, super obvious."
Yerim's auntie had welcomed me warmly from the first meeting, saying she'd heard so much about me from Yerim. But Uncle didn't hide his displeasure the moment he saw me.
How to put it... he kept staring like, "Just give me one reason."
Luckily, I seemed to pass for now, but knowing he was there still made me tense up involuntarily.
"Can't blame you~ From Uncle's perspective, you're the thief who stole his daughter."
"...You're his daughter too, you know?"
"I'm cute, so he'll forgive me~"
"Urk, what the...?"
Is she insane?
Han Sea winked and spouted nonsense, nearly making me gag.
"...Save that crap for Seo Jinhyuk."
"I've done it plenty already~?"
"He puts up with your bullshit... Argh!"
As I lamented sincerely for my friend, Han Sea pinched my side.
"Don't you dare say that stuff there, Oppa. Anyway, what'd you get Yerim?"
"...You don't need to know."
"Aww, why~! I'll keep it secret, just tell me. I'm really curious."
"Nope, not telling~"
"What if Yerim doesn't like it from you? Let me pre-evaluate it, okay? What do ya say?"
"......No."
"You totally wavered there but now you're being stubborn~!"
...Guilty. It was a tempting offer, honestly.
But I wanted to show it to Yerim first, so I held back.
Ignoring Han Sea's whining as we walked a bit further, we soon arrived at Yerim's house.
♪♬♪♬
Pressing the doorbell brought a bright "Coming~" from inside, and the door opened.
"Oh my~ You're here early!"
"Hello."
"Hi~!"
"You both get prettier every time I see you~ Come on in."
I'd thought my mom was youthful for a while, but Yerim's auntie was on another level. The moment I first saw her, I understood exactly where those siblings got their looks from. "Auntie" didn't even suit her.
...Honestly, calling her "sis" wouldn't be weird at all.
With her escorting us inside, my eyes met Uncle's, who was seated at the dining table.
"...You're here."
"We're here~!"
"Yes, hello..."
What's with the temperature difference?
His eyes had been kind when greeting Han Sea, but when they turned to me, it was like some demon had possessed him.
Yerim, Jinhyuk, come out quick...
Were my desperate prayers answered?
The two siblings emerged from their rooms soon after learning we were there.
The birthday party that followed was pretty much the usual.
"Happy birthday~ To our beloved Seo Yerim~"
"...Who yells 'beloved' that loud?"
"......"
It kicked off with everyone singing along to the fancy birthday cake Auntie had bought.
"Yerim's super popular in her class~"
"Oh my~ Our Yerim?"
"...She's our daughter, of course."
We shared stories from school or daily life, mostly ones that made Yerim or Seo Jinhyuk blush.
"Auntie, try some of this!"
"Sea-ya's all grown up~ Thanks, I'll have some."
"...U-Uncle. This too..."
"...Thanks."
I inwardly grumbled that Han Sea needed to handle Uncle..., but anyway.
We all laughed and spent time together until, one by one, we started pulling out presents like we'd all been waiting for it.
No, if Auntie and Uncle go first and suddenly whip out a tablet...
Starting with gasp-worthy gifts, Seo Jinhyuk gave a tumbler, Han Sea a cute phone keychain, and finally, it was my turn.
Everyone stared at me expectantly, making me swallow hard without thinking.
Among them, the pink eyes sparkling with unprecedented brightness—like they had a glow function—were the most intimidating, even if she was trying to play it cool for my sake.
"Uh, mine for Yerim is kinda separate..."
It felt awkward giving it in front of everyone, so I said carefully. Auntie went "Oh my~", Uncle cleared his throat "Ahem-", and the other two sighed in their own ways.
"...Then I'll go to your room and get it."
"Huh, right now?"
"...Yes. Right now."
The moment I finished, Yerim shot up from her seat.
...That curious, huh? What if she hates it?
Her reaction made me a little worried.
But the water was spilled. I followed her confidently into her room.
Click.
With the door closed, the previously lively space fell eerily quiet, leaving just the two of us.
"...Yerim."
"Yes?"
"Uh, don't expect too much?"
"...Okay, I won't."
She said that, but her eyes were shining too bright—I couldn't bring myself to douse her with cold water.
"Hmm, I thought really hard about what to get you. This seemed like it'd suit you best..."
I'd agonized until the night before about what to say when handing it over.
But now that the moment was here, my mind went blank.
I blurted out the first thing that came to mind and handed her the gift.
"...Happy birthday. And from now on too, take care of me."
I'd wanted to say something cool with a smile.
But I was so nervous, I had no idea what expression I was making or what I'd even said.
I just hoped my sincerity got through.
"Thank you..."
She took it like it was the most precious thing ever.
Seeing her beam happily and hug the gift I'd given her to her chest made me—a little, no, a lot—happy and embarrassed. I scratched my jaw without thinking.
"Can I unwrap it now...?"
"...Yeah, go ahead."
My heart pounded with every crinkle as the wrapping came off bit by bit.
Once she'd fully unwrapped it and saw what was inside, Yerim's face lit up with surprise at first, then a bright smile.
"...Pfft. What is this...?"
"...Lame?"
"Nuh-uh, I just didn't expect this from you..."
"...Thought it'd suit you."
"You imagined me wearing this, didn't you...?"
What was there to say?
...Yeah, a ton.
And not just this—plenty more. Beyond imagination.
But too embarrassed to speak, I stayed silent.
She giggled like she could read it all from my face.
"Oppa, could you turn around for a sec...?"
"Huh, why?"
"Just for a bit..."
She urged me insistently, so I turned around reluctantly. Suddenly, I heard a soft rustle from behind.
".........Yerim?"
"Ah, no turning around... okay?"
Swish—
Thud.
...What the hell is happening right now?
Sounds stimulating my imagination came clearly from behind me—the soft brush of fabric against skin and something hitting the floor.
YerimareyouchangingrightnowdoyouneedhelpitsokayifitshardtellmeillhelpbutifIhelpyouneedmetolookforasecjustonesecondmaybelookback
"Not yet, Oppa..."
"...Of course."
...Did she hear that?
Did Yerim know? That shy voice of hers only made me want to turn around more—to drive me crazy.
Silently singing the national anthem in my head, I barely kept my head from whipping around 180 degrees.
How much time passed? It felt like an hour.
My palms were so sweaty I wiped them on my pants when the sounds finally stopped.
"...You can look now, Oppa."
I turned cautiously, and there she was.
"How's it look...? I tried it like you do for bed..."
She'd crept right up in front of me, looking up bashfully.
"Is it like you imagined, Oppa...?"
"...No, way better. No comparison, for real."
That day, I realized something.
My imagination could never capture Yerim's true appearance.