Chapter 94

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 94

Chapter Title: Sticker Photos and Bowling Bet

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Her face, which had only been twitching up until now, suddenly crumbled like dark clouds rolling in. Hasty repairs had been made, but traces of the aftermath still lingered on Lee Seonhwa's features.

Looking at that face, the coffee I'd drunk felt ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like fizzy soda bubbling up pleasantly from my throat.

I'm going crazy.

It felt like I was getting more and more addicted. Was it because I was such a pushover, or were there way more weirdos in this world than I'd ever imagined? Why did I keep getting dragged into these bizarre situations? And yet, was it my good fortune with people, or just plain luck?

Every time, things somehow worked out for the best. Up until last year, I'd never experienced anything like this even once.

"……."

Now, even my memories of those days were hazy. I couldn't recall what kind of face past-me had made whenever things went wrong.

If all this was happening—and these outcomes were following—because I was living diligently, or because I was clearing quests along the way...

There's no way I could quit now. Damn it.

It wasn't just that I was getting addicted. I already was an addict. Not only to the sweet rewards from the quests, but to that refreshing, exhilarating catharsis when the shitty events of daily life resolved in a good direction...

Whew. If I tried to get this kind of release somewhere else, would I have to start reading webtoons? But no matter how satisfying a webtoon payoff was, it couldn't match this level of thrill.

"R... really? Girlfriend?"

"Noona. What kind of question is that?"

"Ah, no. It's just... you seemed a bit distant, so I figured. I mean, I can ask, right?"

As Jo Gi-hang showed his first signs of displeasure, Lee Seonhwa fumbled in panic.

It was definitely a rude question. But it didn't bother me as much anymore. If anything, I felt a twinge of sympathy for Lee Seonhwa.

People can get like that when they're flustered or excited.

"Well, we've only been dating a short time. I can see why it might look that way. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠So, does this count as proof?"

Without a hint of hesitation, Han Aebom leaned in and kissed me. I accepted her kiss as naturally as breathing.

Funny enough, kissing felt easier for us than holding hands.

Smack. As our lips parted, I glanced sideways. Not just the Jo Gi-hang couple—everyone in the café was staring at us with mouths agape.

This wasn't "what a spectacle"—it was a full-on sideshow. Shit.

'This girl's so innocent about the world that whenever things veer this way, she can't control the intensity.'

Feeling belated embarrassment, I ducked my head quietly. But it wasn't over yet.

"I actually have something I'm curious about too."

"What is it?"

"You said you watched The Wicked Woman earlier. The theater must've been packed, right?"

"Yeah, it was full except for maybe two seats. It was the weekend, after all."

"So how exactly did you two m... mph!"

I swear, it was the fastest reaction of my life. Any boxer would've taken a solid punch to the jaw right then.

The instant that 's' sound slipped from Han Aebom's lips, my hand was already clamped over her mouth.

This woman had just been about to ask, with a perfectly straight face, "So how did you have sex in the theater?"

Looks like Lee Seonhwa wasn't the only one getting excited.

"W-what?"

"No, let's change the subject."

Han Aebom seemed to catch on from my reaction and nodded, smoothly shifting topics. After that, we had a safe, mundane two-hour chat.

Talked about real estate, how the job market was getting colder by the day.

Lee Seonhwa saying couples needed to step up since birth rates kept dropping, and Han Aebom agreeing that companies should support that too.

You could really feel the higher average age in the topics. All worldly matters—no celebrities or idols came up. Hell, I wouldn't know any offhand either besides Genesis Eleven.

We bantered about all sorts of random stuff, and before I knew it, quite some time had passed.

"Whoa. It's almost 5 already."

"Time flies."

I don't know about Lee Seonhwa's motive for joining us, but as she said, with more people chiming in, there was no room for awkward silences.

Everyone was too busy with their own stories.

They say adults get quieter with age, but after years of social grinding, it seemed they all had pent-up tales to unload.

'If we wrap this up on a high note, maybe hit a coin karaoke with just Aebom. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠If the mood's right, we could get frisky in there.'

I was timing my exit while entertaining that private fantasy when Lee Seonhwa beat me to it, stacking her empty cup on the tray and standing.

Jo Gi-hang let out a silent sigh, rose with her, and shot me a look.

Thanks for today, man. I shot one back. You too.

"Alright! So where to next?"

No lie—Jo Gi-hang and I, trays in hand and halfway out of our seats, nearly tripped over ourselves.

"Noona, hogging more time here is being a nuisance."

"Why?"

Her genuinely clueless face was somehow more infuriating.

"You said you've just started dating. It's that sweet honeymoon phase—feels like we're intruding if we stick around."

Why could my friend articulate it so neatly and prettily?

Come to think of it, back in college, he'd occasionally joked he should've been born a girl. His personality and looks were so feminine, after all.

'Huh. Thinking back after all this time, he'd actually rock cross-dressing.'

I shook off the stray thought.

"No, instead of telling me that, just ask them directly—it's simpler. Hey, you two mind if we keep hanging out? If so, Ki-hang and I will bow out. But honestly, splitting now feels kinda lame, right? We're all couples here—how about a bowling bet?"

For someone trying to play it cool, tacking on "we'll bow out" with all that clingy pleading undercut it badly.

The surprise was Han Aebom actually mulling it over seriously. Less the "bowling" part, more hooked on "bet," I figured.

Living under the same roof, I'd learned Han Aebom hated losing as much as death itself.

'She shares that with Senior Ji Seon-hye too.'

What was it she said?

'I despise when someone contradicts me.'

...Yeah, something like that.

Not exactly the same track, but similar vibe.

"Sounds good. Bowling bet it is."

"Hehe, figured you'd bite. Shall we? Let's go, Ki-hang! We have to win! Got it? We must!"

"Okay, okay, Noona. Don't shove— you'll drop the tray."

"Sorry~."

Caught off-guard by the sudden bowling bet, Han Aebom and I cleared our cups while chatting quietly.

"Might as well win it."

"Obviously? I wouldn't start if I thought we'd lose."

Her stance and voice were utterly reliable.

But.

"By the way, Aebom."

"Yes?"

"Ever bowled before?"

Han Aebom answered proudly.

"No."

You're kidding.

*

"Ah! Life Five Shots time!"

"Huh? Noona! Ah, seriously..."

"Let's all take a pic here before we go! It's fate, right?"

I'm dizzy. For real.

The woman who boldly proposed bowling despite never having played was one thing, but this one was a whirlwind too. Only my poor friend, dragged every which way, deserved pity.

But no, he actually liked girls like that. For real—Jo Gi-hang was that type. He loved being swept up in the chaos. Acted inconvenienced on the surface, but deep down enjoyed the variety of experiences.

He was a total homebody who rarely left alone anyway, and super shy with strangers.

"Come on in, everyone. My treat. Ki-hang's already in line."

Lee Seonhwa spat that out and dashed inside again.

Wow. A place I'd never set foot in my whole life. I'd glanced at them passing by, sure.

Always packed with girls shrieking and laughing—felt like I'd suffocate. And with phone cameras everywhere, why shell out 6,000 won for two shots?

But here I was today.

"Aebom, let's go. Ever done sticker photos?"

"No. First time."

I felt her hand throb in mine. First times always bring that flutter.

Stepping in side by side, it was noisier and fuller of young women than I'd imagined. The prop corner was chaos—girls grabbing hats, sunglasses, plushies, giggling nonstop.

'Oof, not easy.'

That insider energy, huh? Nah, just embarrassing.

How did they laugh and chatter so casually? Amazing part: my introverted friend was right in there.

"Noona, how's this?"

"Ooh! Cute! Suits you! I'll go with this."

I took a deep breath and said,

"Shall we do props ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠too?"

Honestly, Han Aebom would nail a life shot bare-faced, but with hundreds of props here, it'd be a waste not to.

"Sure."

As Han Aebom headed for the props, the crowd parted like the Red Sea. Even the high school girls in uniforms—Sunday still—fawned dramatically.

"Whoa, what?"

"She's fire. That sister's visuals are insane."

"Goddess."

"One thing's sure: snap with her, and we're squid city. Not Life Five Shots—Squid Five Shots."

"Fr real."

Whatever the peanut gallery said, Han Aebom focused intently on picking props. After agonizing, we settled on strawberry headbands and strawberry-shaped sunglasses.

"Okay, our turn!"

With four of us, four shots for 12,000 won, under Lee Seonhwa's lead, we snapped away enthusiastically.

I had no clue what was what, but Han Aebom and I had fun enough. Guess this was the appeal that kept places packed even late at night.

Moments later, clunk—the printed shots emerged. Lee Seonhwa's face stiffened as she checked them. We'd tried hard, but unavoidably, it looked like we'd crammed all the ugly into theirs.

What could you do? Han Aebom's face was too perfect.

"Pfft! What is this? Puhaha."

Meanwhile, Han Aebom beamed at the prints. First time seeing her smile like that.

This silly pic already felt precious to me too.

"A-alright, off to bowl now, right?"

Lee Seonhwa, stuttering, clenched her fist and rallied.

"We have to win! Bowling at least! We must!"

......Not super confident on this one.