The Thoughts of Four (?)
This is the first time I've seen Unnie Wa-sol nestled so happily in someone else's arms.
Until now, I was usually the one being held — Unnie was always the one doing the holding.
The person holding the unnie I used to cling to.
That person is Unnie's boyfriend.
Maybe it's because I'm watching the unnie I love being loved by someone else right in front of me.
...Honestly, I feel jealous, but my heart also fluttered a little.
So this is the face she makes for the person she's fallen for. It feels quite different from the face she shows me.
And just now, I saw her pout for the first time too. That was cute...
A face she never shows me. Yeah, of course I can't help feeling a little jealous!
"Ah."
When Unnie pulled away from Oppa Gachi and looked at me with a startled expression, it seemed like she'd completely forgotten I was even here for a moment... Tch.
Still jealous.
"Out of nowhere?"
I turned my wheelchair toward Unnie and waited with my arms open. She tilted her head, then gently pulled me into a hug.
Yeah, this is it. Soft despite having no flesh on her — a cutting board where you can feel the ribs!
If I said that out loud, she'd say a B-cup isn't a cutting board. Hehe.
While nestled against Unnie, I looked over at Oppa Gachi... He was watching us with a gentle smile.
Didn't seem jealous or anything.
Favorite × Favorite = Happiness.
This equation is definitely true. I'm witnessing the proof right in front of me.
My beloved girlfriend and my favorite, Eve. Seeing the two of them hugging, a smile comes naturally.
Is this heaven?
"Gyu-ri always loves clinging to me. Even back when we were trainees, I used to hold her like this all the time."
"You'd be nothing but cute if it weren't for that mouth of yours..."
Why are the letters on the tablet getting all squished while her cheek is being pinched? What a funny kid. Well, she is Eve, after all.
"Ah, looks like our order's ready. I'll go grab it."
"Okay~ Gyu-ri, you should come out too now."
Hehe. Just looking at this scene feels like a panacea that could cure every illness. If I took a photo of this and looked at it every day, I'd never need to go to the hospital again.
Thinking that, I brought over the order and checked the drinks.
I got an americano, Wa-sol got chamomile tea. Eve got apple yuzu tea. Just like Wa-sol, she doesn't drink coffee much either.
Wa-sol rarely drinks coffee unless something special comes up, saying it's bad for the throat. Eve probably chose yuzu tea for the same reason.
Apple yuzu tea... So very Eve.
I'd seen her drinking it often during streams. Never thought I'd see it in real life.
"Our order's here now. Come on, time to let go."
"It's nothing. Don't mention it."
Wa-sol was the one who paid for these in the first place, after all.
"But do you really call him Oppa? Seriously... when did you two get so close?"
Uh-oh, am I getting scolded again? Please no.
"...Well, as long as you're okay with it."
Thank you, Eve... Thanks to you, I won't get scolded again.
"So what was Gyu-ri having trouble with earlier that made Gachi help her?"
"Ah, that... She was looking for the way. Said she didn't know how to get to this café."
In that moment, Wa-sol seemed to piece together everything that had happened. Why Eve hadn't answered her calls, how Eve had guided us to this café — all of it.
"Haa, seriously. Why do you two keep meeting like it's fate..."
"..."
That's Eve for you. Even I couldn't think of anything to say right now, and she just drops a joke like that. Of course, the price is Wa-sol's murderous smile, but as long as she's happy, I guess.
"By the way, why hasn't Gachi said a word to Gyu-ri this whole time?"
"Huh? Ah, well..."
It's true — I still haven't spoken to Eve first even once. I just felt awkward about it.
For a basic introvert, facing your favorite head-on is pretty rough...
"Huu, th-then... Eve... nim?"
Smack.
"Ah."
"How can you say that out in public?"
"Ah, right, that too..."
If I can't call her Eve, then what do I call her... Gyu, Gyu-ri?
It's a bit hard. But thinking about it, I can't call her Eve outside...
"Gyu-ri... nim?"
"So it's Gyu-ri-ssi."
"It was Gyu-ri, I see."
"What are you two doing?"
Good question. I don't know either.
Normally on Eve's streams I say whatever comes to mind. But with the real person right in front of me, I don't even know what to ask...
"Then... Gyu-ri-nim... Nice weather today, isn't it?"
Smack.
"First of all, stop with the Gyu-ri-nim. And... honey. Are you on a blind date right now? I'm hurt."
...
..
.
Ah, strangely, my mind cleared up. Maybe from receiving that enormous killing intent. I feel strangely lucid...
"Ahem, then shall I call you Gyu-ri-ssi?"
Hmm... She said that to make me comfortable. Probably means don't even add the -ssi?
Then...
"Gyu-ri, you weren't startled earlier, were you? When I suddenly offered to help."
I'd tried to be as considerate as possible, but I asked just in case. Hearing my words, Eve... no, Gyu-ri looked slightly surprised, then immediately tapped on her tablet.
"...That's a relief."
"She's talking this much... What did you do?"
"Huh? Well... it's a bit embarrassing to say."
It wasn't really a secret, and it wasn't anything shameful either. But for some reason it felt awkward to say, so when I hemmed and hawed, Gyu-ri spoke for me.
"Ah."
Wa-sol let out a short sound of realization. Then she looked at me. And finally — she smiled softly.
"That's my boyfriend~ You did really well with that."
"Th-the head pat... could you maybe let that slide?"
"You don't like it?"
"It's not that..."
"Gyu-ri's watching..."
"Hehe, I want to show her even more. That Eve's Adami is enjoying my touch right now."
Oh, she can express emotions too? Convenient.
"No. Eve should be petting her Adami~ Gachi is my boyfriend~"
"Huh? Ah, yeah. Of course."
"Ah... that..."
"..."
Hahahahaha. I'm going insane.
One side is linking arms with me, looking at me like go on, say it, while the other is holding her tablet toward me with an expectant look.
Is it strange that this situation — my two favorites fighting over me — doesn't feel happy at all?
No, no matter how I think about it, this hellscape doesn't seem like a good place.
"W-well, I'm an Adami first, so..."
Squeeze.
Wa-sol linked her arm even tighter.
"But! I'm also Wa-sol's boyfriend."
Gyu-ri spamming teary emoticons.
"...Can't I be both?"
"So in the end you're only being an Adami?"
"...Huh?"
Ah, it does come out that way... Not being a Hara means...
"Gachi doesn't seem scared of what happens after he goes home today, does he?"
"Haa, this brat has been at it this whole time! Get over here!"
Surprisingly, Wa-sol wasn't truly angry or disappointed.
Honestly, I'd braced myself for at least one hit.
I wonder why.
By the way, is Wa-sol okay? That voice...
Well, I already knew Gachi was an Adami.
The fact that he put being my boyfriend and being an Adami on the same level is already major progress.
...Of course, I plan to make him a Hara someday.
Ah, that doesn't mean I'm planning to stop pinching Gyu-ri.
"A B-cup is at least average, you know!"
Of course Eve is an E-cup! E-ve!
"Haa, seriously..."
"Pfft."
When I finally got tired and let Gyu-ri go, Gachi let out a laugh. I'd been worried he might feel left out with just us two playing around. What does he find so funny?
"Sorry. Belated as it is — that tablet. You use it in such an entertaining way."
Ah, so that's it. Yeah, it really brings out her character, doesn't it.
Her face is already cute, but the way she quietly types on the tablet is just so... cute...
And the fact that she's using the tablet I bought her makes me feel even better.
Maybe Gachi's rather pleasant comment came across as complicated to Gyu-ri. With a slightly worried expression, she typed her next words on the tablet.
Right. Of course she'd be curious.
Gyu-ri, who streams as Eve by speaking directly, can't even talk in front of Gachi and only communicates through a tablet. Anyone would find it strange and wonder about it.
And yet Gachi says:
"Yeah, I won't ask."
Just like that.
Gyu-ri looked at me as if startled by those words. I stroked her head and told her.
"That's the kind of person he is. That's why I love him."
You really shouldn't get that...
Geez, no matter the reason, she's such a precarious little sister.
"Yeah?"
"Of course. I'll watch your streams every day too. I already have been every day."
"Of course. I always haaaaave!"
My boyfriend is so simple, I swear.
Why would he... say that in front of his girlfriend who's Kiri~~
"Ow, ow. My ear's coming off..."
"I should just rip your ear off so you can never listen to Eve's streams again."
This brat... she's doing this on purpose, isn't she?
"You hand over an ear too!"
"Hey, why are you being gentle with Gyu-ri... Argh!"
Pulling hard on Gachi and lightly on Gyu-ri, I found myself gradually enjoying the time spent with these two troublemakers.
Honestly, I'd been worried about whether I should let them meet.
"Augh... It hurts. Why only me so hard."
"This kind of thing... you don't need to be jealous about, right?"
"That's so."
Gachi looked like he'd gained a little sister.
Gyu-ri looked like she'd gained an older brother.
They seemed like a well-matched pair of siblings.
Seeing that... I think it was a good thing I let them meet after all.
Not that I'd ever actually doubted Gachi even once.
"Still, somehow he has a way of attracting girls and it's a problem."
"What did you say?"
"Just talking to myself."
At the freshman welcome party, and with Gyu-ri too.
Girls just stick to him even when he does nothing.
Haa, as the goalkeeper, I'd better defend well...
"Huh? Ah... you're right."
Maybe because my tension went up. I ended up talking in my streamer tone without realizing.
Well, it's just for a bit, so it should be fine.
I was shocked...
Today, since Hyung Gachi said he couldn't hang out, the three of us had planned to meet.
I was passing by this area with Seo-hyeon and Cheon-u when, through the café window, I saw Hyung Gachi, Sunbae Wa-sol, and someone in a wheelchair together.
So I thought I'd go say hello and approached the window.
"Huu, th-then... Eve... nim?"
In that instant, without anyone needing to say a word, we all ducked under the window.
I thought it couldn't be. But still, just in case.
I mean... Hyung Gachi said "Eve." I thought there's no way it's really Eve, but...
How should I put it... from the way they were talking, it seemed real.
"That Adami hyung... he hit the ultimate fan jackpot."
"Right? But are we even allowed to be eavesdropping on this?"
Of course not.
But honestly, anyone would understand us. How do you hold back from this...
Then a question slowly rose in my mind.
Why are Hyung Gachi and Sunbae Wa-sol with Eve? No — in this case, the "why" isn't what's important.
How?
Thinking about that, I listened to the three of them talk. Or more precisely, Hyung Gachi and Noona Wa-sol's conversation. The voice of the person presumed to be Eve was either too quiet, or I just couldn't hear it.
"Haa, this brat has been at it this whole time! Get over here!"
In that moment, I heard that voice.
"!"
Seo-hyeon and Cheon-u next to me probably didn't notice... but I could tell.
Whose voice that was.
No, that can't be. There's no way a coincidence like that would happen...
"You hand over an ear too!"
...It happened. That coincidence.
No way... There's no way... Sunbae Wa-sol is Kiri...?
I think it's impossible. But if that's true, then the "how" I've been wondering about this whole time falls into place.
If that's the case...
I think I've arrived at an absurd truth.