Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Why Did You Call Me Today? - 2
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"So. Why did you call me out today?"
In response to my question, Han Woojin's girlfriend let go of the straw she had in her mouth and gave an awkward smile.
"Um, sorry. I wasn't really sure what to say once we actually met, so I was agonizing over it... Oh, my name's Seo Yerim."
Seo Yerim. Pretty name too...?
Honestly, with a face like that, wouldn't something like Seobongsoon balance it out better?
The thought slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.
"You know my name, right?"
"Yeah, you're Senior Lee Yuri, right?"
"That's me."
I took a sip of my Americano, and for some reason, I noticed Seo Yerim hesitantly opening and closing her mouth a little.
"...What?"
"Um... would it be okay if I called you unnie?"
"Huh?"
"Ahaha, I don't really have any close older sisters around..."
Seo Yerim scratched her cheek, looking embarrassed.
......Do I like girls?
I'd thought she had a cool personality at first glance, but hearing her talk made her seem kind of cute.
I'd never really thought about stuff like that before. But looking at Seo Yerim right in front of me now, that old saying popped into my head: 'If it tastes good, who cares?'
...Get a grip, Lee Yuri.
I felt like I'd been enchanted or something.
"...Call me whatever feels comfortable. So, did Han Woojin say something about me?"
"Yeah, he mentioned you before."
Before... probably talking about two years ago.
It had been raining that day too, just like today.
The day I got hit with his first rejection.
Listening to the rain pattering against the café window, that day felt even more vivid in my memory.
"...What a jerk, that Han Woojin."
"That's just how my oppa is."
"Yeah, figures."
Me and Seo Yerim too.
For the first time, our hearts seemed to connect, and we both smiled at the same exact moment.
There's no way Han Woojin would hide anything from his girlfriend.
If he were the type to hide stuff like that, he wouldn't have turned down even just staying friends back then.
It was exactly as I'd expected, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"...He was cold about it. Said we couldn't even be friends."
"...Probably because of me."
"Yeah, probably."
No need to sugarcoat a fact she already knew, so I said it straight.
"Oh, don't get the wrong idea? I really just wanted to be close as friends, nothing like liking him or anything. How do I put it... He was just a rare type, different from the guys around me, so I was curious."
Seo Yerim nodded her little head up and down, like she totally got it.
"So when he cut me off at first, I was pissed and hurt, like, what kind of guy is like this? A girl as pretty as me offers to be friends, and he rejects that? But now I see he had his reasons."
"Unnie's pretty too..."
"'Too'?"
"......I'm not blind."
I was about to tease her more, saying she'd be annoying if she pretended not to know.
But the way she blushed yet still said what she needed to endeared her to me.
"Hmmm, anyway. I don't really think about it anymore. Time heals all wounds."
It had been a bit tough at first, just exchanging light greetings in class or the hallways or pretending not to see each other.
But that was in the past.
Time is medicine, after all.
Seo Yerim listened quietly, smiling softly as she cupped her latte, steam still rising warmly from it.
"Even if you did like him, he wouldn't have minded..."
".........Why?"
"I didn't have the right to say anything back then either..."
More than that, she continued.
"But mostly, because he's not the type who could do that."
...Girlfriend bragging, no joke.
Her tone was so matter-of-fact it left me speechless.
I wanted to say, that's just because it's you—he doesn't seem that way to everyone else.
But for some reason, it felt like something was stuck in my throat, and the words wouldn't come out.
Why?
I could just bluntly tell her she's got rose-tinted glasses on, that he only seems that way to her.
So why couldn't I say it, even as it frustrated me?
Maybe.
......Just maybe.
Deep down, I already knew.
Back then, I definitely didn't like him.
It just hadn't happened yet.
If we'd started hanging out, my feelings might have changed.
Probably, with high odds.
Otherwise, there's no way getting shut down by a guy I'd only known for a few days would have hurt that much.
Forcing myself to face the feelings I'd been avoiding made my chest ache sharply.
Just like back then.
Why do these couples only come to me on drizzly spring days like this?
I swallowed the words I'd been about to say and forced a smile.
"...So. Did you call me out just to brag?"
Seo Yerim frantically shook her head.
"No! I just... really wanted to talk to you. ...And if possible, get close."
"...With me? Why?"
Seo Yerim chuckled softly.
"Hmm... Because oppa regretted it?"
"...He did?"
I reflexively asked back, stunned by the news.
"Yeah. If you were a weird person, he wouldn't have talked about regretting it... So I thought you must be a good person. That's why I wanted to meet you."
...Han Woojin, that jerk, regretted it like I did?
I'd thought I was the only one feeling wistful from his cold attitude all this time.
I took a sip of coffee to calm my surprised heart at this unexpected truth.
"...So basically, if Han Woojin thought well of me, I can't be bad?"
What is this, some Han Woojin cult?
At this point, it wasn't just trust in her boyfriend—it was full-on faith.
And Seo Yerim in front of me was obviously their saintess.
"That's what I thought before meeting you..."
Seo Yerim grinned mischievously. She almost looked like a little devil.
"Wanting to get close... that's what I thought after meeting you."
These two.
Taking turns playing with my heart like this. What an infuriating couple.
I wanted to tease her back, so I opened my mouth.
"What if we get close and have fun... and then my feelings change? Like... I steal Han Woojin away."
I smirked slyly, but surprisingly, Seo Yerim didn't flinch and answered right away.
"Mmm, that won't happen."
Her response was so refreshingly firm it threw me off a bit.
"...He must've got you hooked bad."
"No, the opposite."
Seo Yerim's eyes had been yellow this whole time, but they suddenly started turning pink.
"I'll make sure it doesn't happen..."
......Now she looks less like a saintess and more like a seductress?
She was beaming proudly, saying something so admirable.
But it somehow felt sexy in a way I couldn't explain, so I couldn't bring myself to ask what her plan was.
"...Can I ask one thing?"
"What...?"
I pointed to one spot with my hand.
"Your eyes just changed color. What's up with that...? I thought you were wearing color contacts."
"Ah."
People with standout looks like Jay-Z or whatever often have their own fashion statements.
At first, I wondered about the yellow eyes, but figured it was just her style.
But seeing the color actually change right in front of me, I barely held back a gasp.
"...Oppa didn't tell you anything?"
"He cut me off before we could talk about stuff like that."
"......It's my constitution. My eyes change color based on my emotions..."
"Heh..."
That's interesting.
That was about the extent of my reaction.
It wasn't weird enough to freak out, especially since I'd already thought someone with her looks could pull off any fashion.
...Wait. So when we were talking about Han Woojin, her eyes turned pink...
Gulp.
I didn't know exactly what emotion that was for, but I had a feeling it wasn't anything wholesome.
......Yeah, definitely a seductress.
What the heck was she thinking?
They were yellow when we were talking about me...
"......Is it weird...?"
As I sat there lost in scary thoughts with my mouth shut, Seo Yerim looked at me with a worried expression.
"Huh? No? It suits you great."
"......It suits me?"
"Yeah. Why? Who said it's weird?"
I asked like I couldn't comprehend who would say that, and her eyes curved into crescents.
"Mmm, no. I figured as much..."
"...Figured what?"
She clamped her mouth shut like it was a secret and didn't tell me.
"Sigh... Okay, I get that you want to be friends. Let's meet up again sometime. But..."
"But?"
"Don't bring Han Woojin."
Someday we might hang out as a trio, but not right now.
I still needed time.
For me, and for him.
"...Okay. Got it. Oh, can I bring a friend?"
"A girl?"
"Yeah, my closest friend."
"...Sure, bring her. We can hang out together next time."
Seo Yerim smiled so brightly it was dazzling, right up until she left the café, satisfied with my answer.
I sent her off first with an excuse about having plans and stayed behind in the café.
[Hello?]
"Hey, long time no talk~ It's Lee Yuri. You got Han Woojin's number by any chance?"
I called a friend from the same class in first year and got Han Woojin's number.
What should I say?
Ask if he's doing well?
Nah, that's boring.
I wanted to pay him back just a little for how flustered I'd been by his sudden words two years ago.
Ring ring—
After the indifferent ringtone went two or three times,
[Hello?]
A calm voice picked up.
...Long time no hear. Back when we talked, he sounded like a robot only saying yeah, uh-huh, sure.
"Hey, Woojin."
A brief silence followed.
[Lee Yuri?]
Han Woojin sounded like he couldn't believe it.
"Woojin."
[...What?]
"Your girlfriend's a total knockout."
[.........What?]
I hung up without waiting for a reply.
I waited a bit in case he called back.
But as expected.
No contact came, which made me think he was probably calling Seo Yerim right now.
......Still such a jerk, really.
I stretched as I left the café, and before I knew it,
the spring rain that had soaked the streets had stopped.
"Mmm~ Nice weather."
For some reason, I felt refreshed.