Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Drunk Girl - 1
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"Ah~ Now I can finally breathe."
"Ugh, why do they have so many questions for us?"
"How could we not be curious? You look the part, and then your girlfriend's girlfriend shows up too."
"Yoon Dohyun, that bastard's got a real talent for sweet-talking."
The kids swarmed us every break, and we couldn't take it anymore, so Seo Jinhyuk and Yoon Dohyun dragged me to the vending area to escape.
They surrounded us like baby birds begging their mom for food, firing off questions left and right. No malice, so what could we even say?
The second break hit, we bolted. How's that a break?
Yerim's class was the same—got a whiny message from her.
Imagining her diligently answering each one despite the hassle made me chuckle.
Told her to let me know if anyone bugs her too much.
"What if she actually calls?"
"What do you mean?"
I'll shut it down.
I crushed the empty soda can, and Seo Jinhyuk looked horrified.
Yoon Dohyun piped up curiously from the side.
"But don't you guys go see your girlfriends? I figured you'd rush to them every break."
"It's the first day back. They need time to settle in."
"So, honestly?"
"Fuck yeah, I wanna go see her, asshole."
I said with a grin, and Yoon Dohyun laughed like he knew it.
"Speaking of, Seo Jinhyuk, why didn't you guys come back to Korea for over three years? Not even once during breaks?"
"...It's all that bastard Han Woojin's fault."
"...Hey, that's not on me."
"Your conscience must be shredded."
Seo Jinhyuk glared like he wanted me to shut up, so I slyly looked away.
"...? Why's it Woojin's fault? Did that gym rat block the planes or something?"
"That jerk said it'd just make the wait harder if we met up midway, so don't come. Ha, shoulda told him to fuck off back then..."
"...You agreed too."
"I didn't know, asshole!"
"Me neither, asshole!"
—We didn't know!
Didn't know three years would drag on like that!!!!!
The past.
At 15, I thought three years was doable.
Huh, that's only a fifth of my life? Should be manageable, right?
Like I told Seo Jinhyuk, better to tough it out till the end than tease with midway visits and watch her fly back to the US each time.
Let's grind it out— that's what I thought.
If I could go back, I'd tell 15-year-old me: Don't bullshit. Beg Yerim to visit every break—no, once a year even.
Honestly, after two years, I wanted to cave and ask her to come, but pride and stubbornness held me back.
"Anyway, Han Woojin back then—total middle school syndrome, pride owning his whole body. Argh..."
"...Call me a romantic while you're at it."
"One more 'romantic' and I'll kill ya. You don't know how Sea roasted me over that."
Oof, that's grim.
Didn't even need to see it—could picture Han Sea nagging endlessly. Felt bad this time.
"I thought something was up since you never visited once. Didn't imagine that reason. Han Woojin, moron."
"Han Woojin, moron."
"...What, echoing in the city square? I said sorry before, dude."
"Moron Han Woojin. What'd Yerim say?"
"Unlike someone, she's got a kind heart—didn't complain."
"That 'someone' your sister?"
"Talking about your girlfriend."
I played it bold, and Seo Jinhyuk eyed me like I was insane.
Hey, not wrong.
And truth was, Yerim never griped about it.
She always respected my views, but stubborn as hell when she disagreed. Probably thought I had a point.
...Though like now with Jinhyuk, she might've resented me later.
Never showed it to my face, though.
We bickered a bit longer.
Couldn't camp the vending area forever, so we slipped back to class right before the bell. Dodged the swarm, luckily.
**
"Hey, Yoon Dohyun. Wanna grab lunch with us?"
"Am I crazy? Squeezed between two couples? I'd choke on my food."
"You're exaggerating."
"Not exaggeration—fact."
First day back, so we planned group lunch. Invited him anyway.
He scoffed like it was nonsense and headed where other kids were.
Seo Jinhyuk, next to me, nudged my arm.
"...Hey, Han Woojin."
"What."
"...Lunchtime, why aren't the kids leaving?"
He was right.
Lunch bell rang a while ago, but tons still lingered in class.
No—even more from other classes. Outnumbered our class size.
"...Guessing they're curious about Yerim in person?"
"For real? Damn..."
Couldn't deny it—the side-eyes toward us gave it away.
Seo Jinhyuk let out a disbelieving chuckle.
We waited at our desks for Yerim and Sea a moment.
Hallway got noisy.
Didn't need to see—Yerim was here.
Sure enough, she and Sea appeared through the front door.
"Whoa..."
Someone gasped in awe.
"Oppa!"
"Oppa..."
"Hey."
We grinned, standing as our beaming little sisters approached.
Whispers followed as we left: "In person's better than pics—not a lie."
Par for the course with Yerim.
Something I'd have to get used to with her.
In one ear, out the other—we headed out.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"You're too popular~~~!"
Han Sea slammed the cafeteria table, exasperated.
"...Yerim?"
"Yeah!! From 'why do your eyes do that?' to makeup brands, is that guy your boyfriend, where'd you transfer from—every question under the sun just to chat her up! Thought it was a press conference!"
"Did you do makeup today, Yerim?"
"No, I didn't...?"
"See?"
Whew. Thought I missed it.
Morning cheek stroke, or... when my lips left a mark on her face...
That soft, moist feel wasn't makeup. She rarely wears it anyway. Had me second-guessing.
Relieved nod—and Sea smacked my arm, displeased.
"Ow, what? Why hit me?"
"Oppa, after your pretty sister's rant, that's all you got? 'Did you do makeup?'"
"No, but..."
Knew this'd happen the second Yerim showed. Obvious as water.
Couldn't say 'expected it' with her glaring daggers.
"...You worked hard."
"Right~?"
Bingo—my pick was spot-on. She smiled approvingly.
Just wanted that, apparently. Soon she chatted with Jinhyuk.
Forgot we were even there. But after so long apart today...
Lots to say to our loves. No need to interrupt.
I focused on Yerim.
"Get along with your classmates yet?"
She nibbled her chopsticks thoughtfully.
"Hmm... Honestly, I don't know who's who yet..."
"Figures. Same in our class. Kids mobbed us over Jinhyuk."
"Because of Jinhyuk oppa...?"
...Siblings are alike.
Jinhyuk couldn't grasp the Yerim crowd, and now she tilted her head like his fans baffled her.
"Kid's got a handsome face."
"...?"
"You don't see it 'cause you're siblings..."
"Oppa’s way handsomer...?"
...Ah.
Damn.
Warn a guy before dropping that.
...Bad for the heart. For real.
Thought it was boyfriend lip service at first.
But her blinking pink eyes held pure sincerity and love, no flecks of doubt.
That adorable sight nearly made my heart leap out.
"...Uh, th-thanks...?"
"For real..."
Objectively, Jinhyuk edges me out on looks alone. But if she says so...
From today, I'm handsomer than Seo Jinhyuk.
"...I am pretty handsome, yeah."
"I date for the face..."
"Pfft!"
Never expected her to top it—burst out laughing.
"Shocking? My girlfriend's a face-hunter."
"Hehe, was gonna keep it secret..."
She beamed too.
We gazed, laughing for a good while.
"Ha... Laughed hard. Oh, for the record, I didn't date for your face?"
"...Pervert."
"Huh? Why's that perverted...?"
"Pervert oppa..."
...What?
Just trying to score points. But her flushed cheeks as she coyly covered her chest had cold sweat beading.
No, when I first saw you, they weren't... Well, not absent, but not that much, I wanted to say.
But saying it felt weirder—couldn't retort.
"Truth is, your face too..."
"You too for this face...?"
".........You just said..."
"Disappointed, oppa..."
"Huh...?"
What?
This inescapable combo?
Was floating on 'handsome' vibes seconds ago?
My delusion?
Snapped to—suddenly the boob-and-face-obsessed playboy.
Flailing for escape, Yerim finally lowered her hand from her chest with a smile.
"Hehe, kidding..."
"Give a guy a break on pranks like that..."
"Nope~"
My earnest plea? She shook her head gleefully.
Can't handle her—chuckled.
From Sea and Jinhyuk's chat nearby: post-school class gathering to bond, school reopening special.
"Yerim, your class got a meetup today?"
"Oh, yeah, I think so. But with oppa I wanna g..."
"Perfect. Go mingle, make friends."
"..................................................Yeah?"
Suddenly, crimson bled smoothly into her pink eyes.