Midterms Over, The School Festival Begins (5)
Once the festival kicked off in earnest, the parents of the rowdy kids in Jihyeok and Yoona's class kept showing up nonstop. The booth concept seemed to bring out their wild side, so the adults were there to keep things under control. They'd tested a prototype and used it to spark curiosity, then prepared enough colored paper to handle a crowd of five hundred. Material shortages were the last thing they had to worry about.
Watching the children fold paper with bright, curious eyes, Jihyeok, Yoona, and the other students smiled with warm satisfaction.
"...If we ever have kids, should we make them do stuff like this too?"
"...What are you even saying? We haven't even promised to get married yet."
"Hehe. Don't you think both sets of parents would give us their blessing? Besides, you said 'yet,' didn't you, dear boyfriend? Doesn't that mean you're looking forward to it?"
"That's not exactly what I meant…."
Jihyeok broke into a cold sweat whenever Yoona teased him like this, subtly advancing on him. These kinds of days continued throughout the festival. They helped any kids who needed assistance, offered seats to parents who came to rest while their children folded paper, and ran the booth without a single problem.
Since they hadn't been able to enjoy proper skinship for a long time, Jihyeok and Yoona would occasionally slip out under the excuse of buying snacks for the parents. They'd steal a secret Cross Kiss where no one could see.
"...Hehe. Doing this somehow feels a little naughty, doesn't it?"
"Hm?"
"Sneaking out like this when we're both at the top of our grade... it makes it even more exciting."
"...My Yoona's gotten pretty bold, huh?"
"I think my dear boyfriend is just as bad."
"...I can't exactly deny that."
"Hehe... Then, shall we do it one more time?"
"...Yeah."
After sharing plenty of affection, they headed into a shop to fulfill their original reason for stepping out and bought some snacks. They spent their days like this, and before they knew it—
the last day of the festival had arrived.
The final event to close out the festival was about to begin. Both the guests who had come to enjoy the festivities and the students running the booths all headed toward the gymnasium. There were plenty of students, but the number of visitors far exceeded them, making the gym incredibly crowded.
Jihyeok thought it was a real stroke of luck that he'd listened to Yoona when she insisted they go early because good seats would disappear. If they'd arrived late, they probably would've been stuck standing in that cramped space the entire day.
"Phew... Thank goodness we got here early."
"See? It pays to listen to your girlfriend, right?"
"Yeah. If it weren't for you, girlfriend-nim, I would've been standing through the whole performance."
"Hehe. You can praise me a little more~"
Jihyeok stroked Yoona's hair and showered her with compliments.
"Thank you. I would've been in serious trouble without my girlfriend-nim…."
"You could kiss me as thanks, you know?"
"...There are too many people here. I'll do it on the way home."
"Got it~ But I'm still going to devour you today!"
"...Please have mercy."
Thinking today would be another difficult day, Jihyeok watched the events in the gymnasium together with Yoona. It started with the band club's opening performance, followed by various other acts. The faculty seemed to have prepared something in secret from the students, because a special event Jihyeok had never heard about began as well.
"Huh? Was that on the schedule?"
"I don't remember anything like that either."
"The teachers must have planned it without telling the students."
"If it was meant to be a surprise gift, it's a huge success."
"Right? The fact that even my dear boyfriend didn't know about it says everything~"
Once the opening ended, the smaller instruments were moved to a corner of the stage. Their homeroom teacher, who seemed to be serving as the festival's emcee, took the microphone.
"Lay-deez and gentlemen! We hope you enjoyed the surprise event that the faculty secretly prepared for both our honored guests and the students of this school!"
A rather loud cheer reached Jihyeok and Yoona's ears.
"The teacher's tongue is so twisted. Tsk."
"If he bites his tongue it'll be legendary."
"Hey, don't say that. You'll jinx it."
Despite the curses from their classmates, the teacher didn't bite his tongue and perfectly launched into the next part of the program. After that came the dance performance by the dance clubs from each grade. But since most of the dancers were girls, Jihyeok simply closed his eyes.
Yoona's hand, which was holding his, tightened noticeably.
"I'm keeping my eyes closed, so don't worry."
"Huh? You don't have to…."
"I can't help it because of my memory. I can't create a situation that makes my girlfriend uncomfortable. I have to be considerate."
"...I'm sorry. Because of me…."
Jihyeok turned his head and opened his eyes. Seeing Yoona looking so downcast, it seemed she thought he couldn't enjoy the fun performance because of her.
He gently kissed her cheek while she was still feeling guilty.
"...Eh?"
"Well... the upperclassmen's dancing looks pretty good judging by all the cheering. But I think watching my girlfriend as she watches the performance would be more fun."
"...You're just saying that to make me feel better, aren't you?"
"Not at all."
Jihyeok leaned close to her ear and whispered.
"...When you're right next to me, when I can hold your hand anytime, when I can stroke your hair and kiss you regardless of who's watching, how could any performance catch my eye? Just having my girlfriend-nim beside me makes this the best festival ever."
"I don't know anymore…."
Her face flushed bright red and her expression turned shy. It seemed Jihyeok's attack had been a critical hit. With her face still burning, Yoona grabbed his hand and practically dragged him out of the gymnasium, heading straight for the restroom. The girls' restroom.
"...Y-Yoona?"
"…."
Without saying a word, she went deep inside, opened a stall door so both of them could enter, then locked it behind them.
"Um... Yoona, this is the girls' bathroom. I shouldn't be—"
Jihyeok tried to make an excuse so he could quickly escape this place, but Yoona's surprise Cross Kiss made all his efforts pointless. Although they had used tongues before, on the day of their 100th day she had only held his lips in hers, as if she wanted to start things properly then. Just in case, Jihyeok had kept his teeth clenched to block any space for a tongue, but it seemed she only intended a Cross Kiss. Yoona's tongue didn't move at all.
Her surprise kiss only stopped once their breathing grew heavy. It had taken about ten minutes.
"Haa…."
"Fuu…."
Noticing that Yoona's ears had turned bright red, Jihyeok touched them playfully and said,
"...Did I do this to you?"
"...Take responsibility."
"I was planning to even if my girlfriend didn't say anything…."
"...Not what you're thinking, dear boyfriend."
"Then what?"
Yoona looked directly at Jihyeok's face. Thanks to her small stature that barely reached his chest, he could clearly see her face as she looked up at him. Her pink eyes, moist as if tears had formed during their kiss, captured his gaze completely. The way they looked at each other felt incredibly warm.
Because of how narrow the stall was, they had no choice but to stay pressed tightly together. As a result, he could feel her voluptuous figure against his upper body. When she saw that Jihyeok's face was just as red as hers, Yoona reached up with one hand to stroke his cheek.
"The responsibility I mentioned... is that. ...Marriage."
"...Huh?"
Jihyeok already knew how much Yoona wanted to be with him forever. He felt the same way. That's why even when she jokingly suggested marriage, he would playfully deflect. It still felt far away, and he worried whether he could handle it properly if they really made a promise like Ji-woong had.
"Why do you always say exactly what I want to hear? Why do you keep making my heart race like this...? Just being with you already feels like my heart might explode... If you say things like that too, ...I won't be able to hold back anymore."
"Is it that bad?"
"Yeah... I don't think I could be satisfied with anyone but you now. I used to say it half-jokingly, but now... I don't think I can say it as a joke anymore."
I knew she liked me and wanted to be together, but I didn't realize it was this much... Jihyeok thought.
They were still a fresh couple who had only been dating for sixty-three days. He had thought she was just caught up in happiness because they liked each other so much. But when she said it with that expression, even Jihyeok couldn't help but consider it seriously.
A girlfriend who genuinely liked him. A girlfriend who kept saying she wanted to stay by his side forever, even if she framed it as a joke. A girlfriend who seemed like she would accept anything he did. ...A girlfriend so proactive that if he made a lewd joke, she might just pounce on him instead.
Jihyeok treasured this girlfriend of his too much to want to hurt her easily. He hoped she would always remain the girlfriend who loved him. Even after they became adults, even if it wasn't exactly like now, he wanted them to become lovers who still loved each other without change.
With the hope that his true feelings would reach her, Jihyeok spoke.
"Then, Yoona."
"...Yeah?"
"Let's make a promise."
"...About what?"
Jihyeok wiped away the tears in her eyes as he continued.
"If we still like and love each other the same way after we become adults... then let's seriously consider it. Not as a joke—getting married."
"...!"
Yoona looked shocked, as if she never expected him to say something like that. Neither set of parents seemed particularly opposed to them getting married. But they didn't know if that would change. Still, if they continued to love each other unwaveringly even after becoming adults, wouldn't it be okay?
Thinking that, Jihyeok told her,
"I'm not sure about my parents, but we've practically already gotten permission from your parents. If we don't change... I think it would be fine."
"You're not joking, right?"
"I'm not the type to joke about something this serious. I'm being sincere too."
"Really? Then I won't have to worry... I'll just have to keep seducing you, Jihyeok."
"Huh?"
Yoona pulled him into her arms, pressing her whole body against him so he could feel her figure even more clearly.
"...Eh?"
"Just like me."
"Yeah...?"
"I'll love you so much that you won't be satisfied with anyone but me either, dear boyfriend. You should prepare yourself. Once I make up my mind, I keep at it until I succeed, you know?"
"...Uh."
"I'll make sure there's nothing in your head but me and our family. Look forward to it. I'll release some of my limits to capture you completely for our future marriage."
"Can I run away?"
Yoona leaned her face in close as if to say that was impossible.
"No. You can't run. You're mine♡"
Watching Yoona become even more aggressive than before, Jihyeok felt a little scared. But the fact that he liked this side of her too was probably because he loved her just as much.
...But how do I get out of the girls' bathroom here? Jihyeok wondered.