Karaoke Confession Bet
After finishing the mock exam and slipping out of school, I couldn't help but think about Mary Christine in all sorts of ways as I watched her walking ahead of me. The dream I'd had before... no, more precisely, the prophetic vision I'd experienced, where I'd witnessed the tragic future awaiting this girl with my own eyes.
Yeah, my thoughts on that still weren't fully sorted out, so being dragged out like this felt off somehow...
"Ahem."
But she wouldn't give a damn about what was going through my head. Soon enough, as we entered a quiet alley perfect for a private chat, Mary Christine turned to me and prodded with a pointed glance.
"Hey, you. Isn't it about time you said it?"
"...Said what?"
"What do you mean, 'what'? You forgetting the bet we made?"
...So that's what she called me out for—the confession showdown from before. She had no intention of backing down, as expected.
Realizing that, I decided to play it coy in front of her.
"Hmm, I've got so many bets with you under my belt that I can't even count 'em. No idea what you're talking about~"
"How can you not remember that?! The one where whichever of us says they like the other first loses...!"
Mary Christine flared up right away, but her words caught in her throat. Then, embarrassed to say it out loud herself, she continued in a voice that barely squeaked out.
"...Anyway, that one."
"Oh, right, that one anyway?"
"Argh! You know exactly what I mean—stop pretending!"
It was an unreasonable demand. I wanted her to drop the bet altogether if possible.
"F-Fine, whatever. You've had plenty of time... Isn't it time to wake up to your feelings for me and admit defeat? So if you wanna say it, go ahead anytime. This humble self will graciously accept."
...From the way she put it, she was dying to hear a confession from me. Letting out a small sigh, I gave her the exact opposite of what she wanted.
"Nah, not really feeling like admitting defeat anytime soon."
"You little—seriously?! I've even shared my lunches with you! Do you have any idea how expensive those side dishes I gave you were?!"
"Buying affection with money feels kinda cheap, doesn't it?"
"What about the guy who mooches and can't even say thanks?!"
"Well, technically, you pretty much force-fed them to me... Sigh, whatever."
Dragging this out would just lead to parallel lines forever. Hoping she'd understand, I cut straight to the chase and voiced my rejection clearly.
"Anyway, my answer's the same as before. I don't have those feelings for you, and I don't plan to ever."
"...!"
Mary Christine bit her lip and glared at me sharply. It was anger, sure, but she couldn't muster a real comeback because my words were digging into her heart again. She wasn't being honest, but deep down, her feelings for me were genuine.
Telling someone like that point-blank "nope" would just turn into a wound too deep to shrug off, proportional to how much she'd clung on.
"...Just so you don't get the wrong idea."
I couldn't let that happen. Her precious time and affection shouldn't be wasted on a guy like me.
"Sure, I'm turning you down, but it's not just you—I'm not interested in getting close to any other girls either."
No lie there. I was already scarred by the fixed idea that love ends in ruin, and on top of that, I'd faced the grim future that came with bonding to someone.
Yeah, she'd clearly regretted it from the future visions. Getting together just because of that regret would hurt someone else too, so the best I could do was avoid pairing up with anyone from the start.
"Huh? Not getting together with anyone?"
Did my words not convince her? Mary Christine narrowed her eyes fiercely and grilled me.
"Doesn't seem that way with Soeun, though. Word is you two even commute together."
"...Our paths just overlap partway."
"And you're seatmates in the same class to boot. Plenty of time together means stuff's bound to happen... right?"
Damn, why was she so sharp only at times like this?
"Nothing's going on, so can you stop assuming?"
Sure, I had my guilty spots, but I couldn't just spill them here.
"Hmph, really? Fine then."
Relieved as her interest waned at my deflection, I sighed inwardly. If she found out about yesterday on the subway, it'd be a storm. Fingers crossed Soeun could keep her mouth shut.
"So bottom line, no surrender to me yet?"
But separately, Mary Christine still hadn't given up on her feelings. Bracing for what was coming, I nodded along to her next words.
"Mock exam's done anyway—no homework today. Come on. Heading to today's bet arena."
Yes, yes, when the princess commands, I obey.
Following Mary Christine led us to a coin karaoke spot downtown. Settling into a room, she grabbed the mic and cleared her throat.
"Ahh, mic test. Sound's good, vibe's not bad~"
"...Karaoke battle this time?"
"Yup~ Each sings their best song, highest score wins. Fair and square, right?"
"Eh, if we're betting on scores, why not use today's mock exam results?"
"Ugh! We come all the way to karaoke, and you wanna talk studying?!"
Yeah, yeah, she'd die before picking a bet she could lose.
"Oh, and loser grants winner one wish—no limits, as long as it's physically possible!"
"Same old rules, no objections..."
"Exactly—'physically possible' means you have to obey simple commands like saying a few words. Got it?"
Got it so well I could see right through her scheme. Guessing her angle now, I pointed it out with a pitying pang.
"A forced confession like that—worth anything?"
"Wh-What...?"
"You know words without heart won't fulfill your wish."
Yeah, what she craved was a genuine confession. She knew forcing it via bet rules wouldn't cut it.
"...Doesn't matter."
Still, she set these terms to seize momentum, not closure.
"Hearing those words from you—even formally—is what counts."
If even a rote "I like you" slipped out, it might signal a shift in my feelings, a sign her hopes weren't dashed.
"...Fine, if that's enough for you."
A bitter resolve on my end. One phrase wouldn't shatter my convictions.
From here, I'd just flatly deny her feelings head-on.
"Let's start then. Who goes first?"
"Me, obviously. Watch—you won't even wanna sing after my killer performance."
She seemed confident this time, grabbing the mic and fiddling with the machine. Lights hit, screen lit up with her pick: Say You Love Me.
A super common love song title in K-pop.
"We've always been together~♬ In sadness~ in joy~ You were always by my side~♬"
"You were my given~ In my memories, you were always there, so I thought you'd be in my future albums too~ I was sure you'd be my other half~♬"
"But for some reason, my lips won't part. That one simple phrase feels impossibly hard, and the longer the silence, the farther you slip away~"
"So I've always hoped so desperately. That you walked the same path as me, felt the same. I'm wishing for that from you. That the words I couldn't say would come from your mouth~"
"If you voiced my wish, everything would fall into place—but is that just my selfish greed?~♬"
"Still, you must know. The words I'm hiding despite my dishonesty. If you've lived the same time as me, you surely know."
"So someday, please say it with those lips. If you don't want our time together wasted..."
"Whisper that one phrase 'I love you' gently in my ear as I drift to sleep dreaming of you."
Clap, clap, clap.
The room echoed with applause from its sole audience member—for a song sung solely for him. I couldn't accept those feelings, yet the performance still stirred my heart.
"Your singing's improved a lot."
"Hehe. Obviously—I practiced nonstop for the last three days for today."
"What? You slacked off before the mock exam?"
"Sh-Shut up about that!"
She yelled at my jab, but her flushed face betrayed lingering embarrassment from the song's afterglow.
"S-So? How was my song...?"
Worried her feelings hadn't gotten through? Feeling a pang at the anxious girl, I dodged the question and eyed the machine screen.
"Better leave the judging to the score about to pop up."
Yeah, today's bet hinged on who scored higher. Her song clocked in at a solid 98—impressive for this precise machine.
"G-Great! This should clinch it!"
"Heh, that thrilled?"
"Of course! Get ready—lower score than me, and you're my slave!"
Hey, don't stray from the spirit. But her bossy flashes were so Mary Christine; chuckling, I worked the machine.
"Just to confirm: I sing my best, top your score, I win?"
"Yup~ If you can pull it off~"
Her smugness screamed confidence. Sure, she was talented all around, but singing wasn't my forte. Straight-up, I'd lose—but ironically, scores favored system savvy over raw skill.
Exploit the glitches, and gaps were easy. The screen's "Your Suffer" nailed that loophole perfectly.
"Woe-eeek~! (Your suffer~!)"
Lyrics? One line, slurred out. Backing track ended, lights dimmed—Mary Christine's face went blank.
"Wha—already over?"
"Yup. Shortest song in the catalog."
Total: 1.3 seconds. Shortest track means fewer errors, so nail the rhythm and perfect score's yours.
"100 points. My win, right?"
"No way!!!"
Realizing the trap too late, she screamed at the gleaming 100.
"That wasn't singing! Just a 'woe'! No way that counts!"
"You said best song for highest score. Rules are rules."
"You cheating jerk! Slipping by on tricks againnnn!!"
She grabbed my collar, cursing up a storm. As victory sank in, her grip loosened on my shirt.
"This time..."
A hollow mutter escaped her lips.
"This time, I thought it'd work, but like this..."
"...!"
Yeah, she hadn't picked that song lightly. Realizing it was her confession in melody, I skipped commenting and picked up the mic again.
"Since we're here, wanna stick around longer?"
"Huh?"
"Mock exam's done, nothing else today, sun's still up—let's have more fun. You pay, obviously. Counts as my wish?"
Back to status quo. Brush it off casually, no forced confession from me, no signaling I knew her heart.
Yeah, play it normal—that's ideal for us.
"Duet..."
Still clinging? She snatched the mic, flushed face turned fierce.
"Next: duet."
"Duet? Together?"
"Wh-Why hesitate? We used to do it all the time."
Eyes fierce, unyielding. Understanding it as her love language, I conceded inwardly and raised my mic.
"Got it. Let's duet."
I couldn't refuse. Even knowing these memories might wound her later.
Ten years with her weren't something to toss aside lightly.