Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Troublesome Girl
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[Seo Jinhyuk]
— ? What the hell is this all of a sudden?
— I came to your house, and Seo Yerim gave me this look like "Why'd you come alone?" and said, "Oppa's not home?" Why didn't you tell her? I wanted to die from embarrassment, for real. Is this payback for yesterday?
— ......Yerim. Yerim said that?
— Yeah!!!!! No, you told me to head over first, so I figured you'd said something and rang the bell all confident-like, but what the hell. No wonder the guy heading to academy told me to go alone—it felt off from the start. I'm dead tomorrow, Seo Jinhyuk. You better watch your back.
— ...She's my sister, but she's scary. Scary.
— What bullshit. What's scary about Seo Yerim? Even though I showed up out of nowhere, she's bringing me something to drink right now. I'm stuffed, stuffed. You'd never say that if you'd seen my little sister, tch tch.
— You're totally right.... Sorry on multiple levels.... Can't reply—class is starting up again. Catch you later or tomorrow. ...Good luck.
Good luck—what kind of send-off is that?
Seo Jinhyuk, who kept spouting nonsense I couldn't make heads or tails of, went radio silent after that. Academy class must've kicked off.
Tomorrow I'm dead, Seo Jinhyuk.
I steeled myself inwardly like that when Seo Yerim soon returned with a tray of drinks and snacks.
Her outfit yesterday had been a white dress. Today's vibe? Pink. A pink-and-white hoodie paired with knee-length shorts.
...This works too.
To have a sister this pretty and sweet, yet call her scary? Seo Jinhyuk really is full of it.
"Thanks. Digging in."
I grabbed a snack, munched as I spoke, and Seo Yerim gave a slight nod.
Crunch. Crunch. Gulp.
Hmm. What now?
Being together felt nice, but I was drawing a total blank on what to talk about or do.
What did Han Sea and I even do alone at home...?
Oh. We just scrolled our phones. Sibling chit-chat? Total luxury.
Useless memory. I groaned internally, blankly munching snacks, when my gaze naturally drifted forward.
...Her mouth's so tiny.
I'd wolf down a snack in one or two bites, but she was nibbling hers bit by bit—pure squirrel vibes.
She turns snack-munching into a picture...?
First time realizing it. Pretty girls make just staring enjoyable.
"Um...."
"Ah, sorry."
"...? What?"
...Did I stare too hard? Telling me to knock it off?
Honestly, even I'd call it blatant.
But luckily.
Turned out it was all in my head—Seo Yerim just tilted her head, looking genuinely puzzled at my apology.
...Times like this, gotta play it confident. Right.
"Nah. Got lost in thought for a sec. What'd you need?"
"...Lost in thought?"
Ah.
Her eyes turned gray in an instant, like they were silently chewing me out.
'Me right here, and you're zoning out? You?'
What. Felt way too real.
Her unsaid words echoed in my ears on loop—cold sweat incoming.
"No no, not that kind. You eating those snacks? Super, uh... cute."
Hell if I knew what "that" even meant, but I rushed to explain.
"......Cute?"
"Yeah."
"I-it's just how I always eat them...."
"Then you must just be cute all the time...."
I wanna die.
No exaggeration—pure honesty. And that's exactly why I wanted to die more.
...She won't take it the wrong way, right?
Imagine: Just noshing snacks, and some guy you met yesterday's leering like "Uhuhu, kawaii Yerim-chan~ C'mere!" Dogshit—no, I'd be pissed if that were me.
She won't stop eating snacks 'cause of me, will she?
Right as cold sweat started soaking my uniform.
Her eyes flushed pink.
Eh, definitely gray a second ago? While I watched, she picked up another snack.
Om nom nom.
Slower than before. Seemed my words landed fine—relief.
Embarrassed? Sure. Offended? Nope. Good enough.
I let out a relieved sigh, waited for her to finish her snack, then spoke up.
"Ahem. So, what were you gonna say earlier?"
"Huh? Oh...."
She must've blanked too from my surprise "cute" bomb—classic "oh shit" face.
"...You coming next time too?"
She aimed for casual, but her face screamed nerves. Sorry.
Worried about me showing up? Or... me not?
Former'd sting a bit, but I chose optimism.
"Call me, and of course."
"...Even if I call?"
"Duh."
I'd sprint—no, fly.
Answered without a second thought.
"Th-then...."
"Yeah?"
Wonder what she was building up to.
Seo Yerim fidgeted her fingers like it was tough.
Then squeezed her eyes shut and blurted it.
"So stuff like today doesn't happen again, and so I can call you... shouldn't we have a way...?"
"A way...?"
"......"
Nod.
"......"
"......"
Pfft—pffft....
"Wh-why are you laughing...!"
No, but come on.
This? Totally her asking for my number, right?
Felt it yesterday asking her name too. Truth is, Seo Yerim's kinda...
Troublesome. High-maintenance type. Like a needy cat.
But even so? No annoyance, no hate—just laughter.
Why? That cute little fist clenched on her lap, like proof she mustered the guts.
Eyes and cheeks flushed peach-ripe soft. Earlobes peeking through silky hair.
Won't meet my eyes, gaze darting away, but those quivering lashes.
Her cuteness? Made me get how hard she was trying.
So I reached out, smiling.
"Haha, sorry for laughing. Number okay? Then I can warn you I'm coming, and show up when you call."
"...Should I?"
Playing it cool, but that beaming face? Mood obvious.
"Yeah, let's."
"Well then..."
Me asking made it "special," apparently—her prim tone was kinda ridiculous.
Saved my number, and now? Zero pretense.
Staring at her phone, grinning ear to ear. Couldn't help but smile too—details be damned.
[Seo Yerim]
That day, one new contact hit my phone.
After that satisfying number swap.
One crucial fact hit me.
— Seo Yerim... why doesn't she call me "oppa"?
Wondered if I'd heard it and blanked, but...
Nope. From our first meet today, zero "oppa"s. Ever.
Tsk.
That "oppa" yesterday before she left—was it a desperate hallucination?
......Game on.
Can't let this slide.
Don't lock it in early, and later?
'...No need to call you that—we've been fine without it, right?'
Catastrophe.
No way. Gotta lock it down. No lowballing.
Saying it again: Not 'cause I wanna hear "oppa" from Seo Yerim.
"Hey."
"Yes...?"
"Got something to say."
"Hungry...?"
"Kinda... no, not that."
She stared like "Then what?" I cleared my throat and dove in.
"What's after alphabet N?"
"...? O?"
"Rock-paper-scissors next?"
"Rock-paper...? Scissors?"
"Say 'em together?"
"Op...."
She cut off, face flaming red, glaring daggers.
...Sharp kids, man.
Didn't bite. So close.
"...What?"
"...Got backstory."
"......Pervert."
"...You did this to me."
Her muttering "pervert pervert," raking me over—kinda thrilling, no.
"Hey. Why no 'oppa' for me?"
"...."
"Yesterday you said it before heading home."
Pervert label or not, no backing down—evidence dropped. She bit her lip.
"...Wanna hear 'oppa'?"
"No, I am oppa."
Not "wanna hear"—it is. What gives, Yerim?
Her words painting me as "oppa plaintiff"—I vented my injustice. She ducked her head, mumbling.
"......Right."
"Huh?"
Voice so tiny, even up close? Missed it.
Asked again; she whined, pouty.
"O... oppa hasn't called me either...!"
"What?"
That famed gradient rage...?
"Oppa" barely audible; "either" hit loudest yet.
Wait, I never called her by name?
Absurd—about to argue.
Wait.
Realized: I hadn't either.
No way? Racked brain for yesterday—nada.
Eh......?
Did I nag her for "oppa" without ever using her name...? Me...?
Die.
Han Woojin deserves it.
Too ashamed to face her.
"Right?"
Me dodging eyes? Victory confirmed—she let out a smug "hmph."
"...Yeah. Sorry, Yerim-ah."
"Wha—uh, y-yes?"
"No comeback without 'oppa.' My bad."
"N-no, that's not—"
"Knew it—calling you Yerim felt awkward. From now on..."
"Wait, hold up...!"
Blurting to die; she yanked my shirt to pause.
"M-me too..."
"Yeah?"
"Me too... embarrassed.... B-but I'll try...."
Trembling voice.
Met her gaze—huge cherry-blossom eyes.
"J-just wait a bit... O-op... pa...."
Words done, gaze fled, fluster obvious.
That sight?
Involuntarily slapped a hand over my face.
My look now? Steam-from-head obvious. No need to check.
Same as hers.