Kiss Her Right Away When You See Her
A short yet endlessly long weekend came to an end, and Monday rolled back around. Still wrapped in the lingering afterglow of everything with Harang noona, I half-listened through classes until the end-of-day bell rang before I knew it.
"Gyeol! Let's hit up karaoke!"
"Got plans."
"Ah, fuck, you always bail like a bitch."
"Sorry~"
I brushed off my friend's invite, shouldered my sports bag, and yawned as I headed out of the classroom with Seobin, who was doing the same.
"Dude, what the hell is a soul mate?"
"Those guys are glued at the hip."
Yeah, nothing to say to that. I'd skip other kids' invites two out of three times, but with Seobin, we often headed home together or hung out just the two of us. I liked chilling solo, but whenever this guy wanted to hang, I'd usually go along—proof we were pretty tight, since he got me to push past my laziness.
Today was a rare case where I was the one inviting. We hurried to the cafe where we'd agreed to meet Sena and Seoin.
My mouth was itching to spill the story, and Seobin was dying to hear it, but if we started without them, they'd throw a fit for sure.
When we got to the cafe, two girls were already posted up in a secluded corner spot. They'd ordered drinks and were sitting there reverently, like they were waiting for the apocalypse.
Lee Sena, with her calm bob haircut and gentle face that left such a soft impression. And Min Seoin, the mid-length high school girl who looked just like her brother but with a bit of a spunky edge.
Seeing them both in that infamous Gendo pose from Evangelion X hit me with a wave of pressure.
"Why are they sitting like that?"
"Talk about intimidating."
I had no idea they'd built up such epic expectations for my story.
...Okay, honestly, it was pretty fun!
---
I wet my throat with some fresh fruit juice and, at their request, laid out the whole story from Saturday in chronological order.
Of course, I didn't spill everything. Like that bathroom blunder where I'd messed up—I skipped that one.
But aside from that, I think I covered it all. It had only been two days ago, and the impact was so intense that I hadn't forgotten a single detail.
I even included yesterday's phone call, mustering the courage to bare it all despite the embarrassment. Then I waited for their reactions.
They looked like they had a ton to say while listening, but they stayed quiet until I finished.
They knew this was my first real shot at love, that I was spilling my guts with all the desperation in the world—and they took it seriously.
Right after I wrapped up, Seoin leaned in dramatically.
"You gonna just sit there like this?! Go text that noona right now and fu—!"
Slap!
"?!?! Why the self-harm out of nowhere?!"
"...Sorry. Let me calm down. Hoo, haa..."
She'd been raging mid-sentence when she smacked her own cheek and pulled back, taking deep breaths. I couldn't even process the reaction.
And next to her...
"Hee hee hee hee... This... this is it... How... so good... so fun... ahhh..."
Where was the girl who'd sworn to give killer advice if I just trusted her? Sena was writhing around with this creepy laugh.
Finally, Seobin, who'd been resting his chin on his hand and staring at me.
"Fuck yeah, story's over. Just do what I say. You see that noona Saturday? Grab her chin and kiss her right— Ow!!!"
Thwack! Thwack!
"You crazy bitch! Stop kicking my shin!!"
"Shut your mouth...! Don't ruin Gyeol oppa's love story!"
"It's a done deal, fuck! Fine, fine, stop kicking! That shit hurts!"
"......"
Suddenly the under-table area turned into a warzone. The girls who'd promised advice were lost in their own worlds, but at least I could tell they were super positive about it.
Anyone hearing the story would give it the green light, no question.
I hadn't come asking if I could date her—it was more like, now what?
A bit later, once they'd calmed down, Sena cleared her throat awkwardly.
"Ahem. Sorry. It was way more fun than I expected, so I got carried away... Um~ But honestly, I'm not sure what to tell you."
"You listened to the whole thing and now this? Some conscience."
"No, no! It's just... how do I put it..."
"Forget it, unnie. I'll say it."
Seoin shoved past Sena, who was scratching her cheek looking troubled.
"Oppa. Hard to believe, but that noona has zero dating experience too, right? That's for sure?"
"Yeah. One hundred percent."
"Then, as someone who's a Yeoggo High love expert—"
"Says the eternal single... Puhahaha rofl!!!"
Smack!!!
"Gahhh..."
"As I was saying."
"Yeah."
I ignored Seobin sinking into his pain and focused on Seoin.
Mos Sol or not, a girl like her had probably gotten confessed to dozens of times. Advice from someone with that experience was gold.
I leaned in close, ears perked, and she whispered low.
"Oppa, just..."
"Yeah?"
"Act like you always do. That's best."
"......???"
What? I'd spilled my story as payment for advice, and now they were trying to eat it for free?
I eyed her suspiciously, and Seoin waved her hands frantically.
"No, hear me out! This isn't some blind date! You've known each other forever, and it built up slowly like this! That's why it works! Just keep being your usual sweet self!"
"Exactly! I think so too! No need to do anything special! From what you said, she seems happy just being around you!"
"Every day is special... Kyaa! Insane, totally insane!"
"How... my heart hurts...!"
"......"
My faith in these two advisors plummeted as they shrieked and flailed.
Felt like they'd binged a teen drama or romance novel and come back hyped.
I stared at them coldly in disbelief, and Seobin nudged my arm, lowering his voice. Guess the shin-kicks hurt bad.
"Ignore those idiots and just remember what I say. Go overboard right at the start, then when you're heading home after the date and the mood hits, kiss her. Got it locked in?"
"Sigh......"
"Dude, trust me! You only play it careful in the early flirting or dating phase. You and that noona aren't some one-day thing. Plus, she's three years older—straight up, high schoolers are kids to her. Gotta make her see you as a man!"
"Hmm."
Like siblings, their persuasion styles were similar, but Seobin's had more punch.
If she liked me, she saw me as a guy at least a bit, but three years was still a gap you couldn't ignore.
Looking back, she'd mostly treated me as cute rather than manly.
That wasn't a bad dynamic, but as a guy, it stung the pride a little.
But a kiss, though.
"Hey, but."
"What."
"We haven't officially started dating yet. Is it cool to do that...?"
Kissing before we're even official felt off. Common sense, right?
Seobin looked at me like I'd lost my mind.
"...How dense can you be? Confess first or confess right after! You're groping and sleeping together— you think she's not gonna date you?!"
"Right? That's gotta come first."
"Duh, you moron! Man, you're so frustrating."
"B-But from her side, wouldn't that seem cute...?"
"If Gyeol oppa was my friend, I'd lock him up and rail him. What a waste."
Their giggling fantasies wrapped up, and now Sena and Seoin were chiming in with their two cents.
I'd only learned romance from anime and comics—real life was all new, so yeah, I was anxious about everything. Their nagging felt unfair, but it was kinda helping, so I took it.
More for steeling my resolve than the actual advice.
Yeah. No reason to hesitate now.
We saw each other a few times a week anyway. Might as well level up from close little bro to boyfriend.
The sooner, the better.
Saturday's date would be perfect timing.
It wasn't called a date, but it totally was.
Thinking about it, my heart was already pounding like crazy, and there were still five days left.
It wasn't just now—yesterday too, any thought of noona made my heart go rogue.
Might need to pop some calming pills on the day.
"Anyway."
Seobin, mid-rant, slurped his drink and grinned slyly at Seoin across from him.
"Once Gyeol starts dating, Seoin's the last mosol left? Damn, Gyeol's dating and you're still single? Legendary~"
"Shut up!! I have a boyfriend! Jay-Q oppa's my man!"
"That oppa's got millions of girlfriends~"
"Hey!!"
Sibling fight ignited in seconds.
I just nodded along.
No more mosol for me.
Well, starting Saturday, but it was basically locked in.
So.
"Gyeol oppa's still mosol till Saturday! You haven't dated yet!"
No damage from Seoin's jab. Just made me chuckle.
True, mosol till Saturday.
"Yeah. Still mosol for now~ Yep. Haha."
"......"
"......"
"......"
"What. Why."
"Your smug ass is pissing me off."
"Seoin, hold back...!"
"Unnie... if I end up in juvie, you'll visit, right...?"
"Seoin!!"
"Gyeol's dead meat!"
"Hey, hey! Ow, that hurts bad!!!"
After taking a few punches from furious Seoin, I got some tips on what to watch out for and a few date spot recs before parting ways with the trio.
Way more helpful advice than expected—solid meetup.
All I had left was to keep my cool till Saturday.
While enjoying tonight's call with noona—and probably tomorrow's too.
Just thinking about it filled my chest so full I could barely breathe.
I missed her so much.
Always expressionless, but those rare tiny smiles were so damn charming.
I wanted to see Harang noona every single day. The thought consumed me.
Bad enough to make me wanna run to her place right now.
But nah, it'd be a total nuisance for her, so I wouldn't.
---
"But isn't Gyeol building up way too much fantasy? From what I've seen a few times, she didn't seem that pure. Super caring, sure."
"I've never met her, so I dunno... But from the story, it kinda feels like she deliberately blew up our weekend plans...?"
"Purity in women? Nah. If they like a guy, they hook 'em and chain 'em down. Women are beasts."
"Got it. Noted the next mosol's opinion."
"Hah... Wanna go? Come at me!!"
"Bring it!!"
"Both of you, stop~"