The Jealousy Gambit
The final class of the day ended just past five in the afternoon.
“Wanna grab a drink?”
“Sure.”
“What should we have for dinner?”
“Let’s get malatang.”
“Malatang again?”
“What’s wrong with malatang?”
As soon as the professor left the room, the air filled with the buzz of student chatter. The screech of chairs dragging against the floor, the rustle of bags being packed—groups formed instantly, some heading off to dinner, others skipping the meal to go straight for drinks. Students who commuted from their parents' homes checked the city bus schedules and hurried out of the lecture hall. In the middle of that bustling crowd, I took my time, slowly packing my bag before standing up at a leisurely pace.
“Ugh… I thought I was going to die of boredom.”
I let out a yawn and popped my earphones in. I headed toward the bus stop, listening to some Vaundy tracks I’d been enjoying lately. I’m usually a fan of 2000s ballads, but thanks to Choa’s aggressive proselytizing, I’ve started listening to quite a bit of Japanese music. Turns out, it’s actually pretty good.
“……What should I eat for dinner?”
I was starving. I’d had an early lunch, and just sitting through class had drained all my energy.
“Welcome.”
I stopped by a convenience store to grab a quick bite before heading home. When I first started living alone, I used to be diligent about cooking every single meal. But now that I’ve reached the 'intermediate' level of independent living, I mostly rely on convenience store meals or delivery. I still cook on weekends, though. My neighbor, that parasite, keeps pestering me for home-cooked food, so I end up cooking every weekend. It’s a massive pain, honestly. But it’s also fun, and I like hearing Choa’s compliments when she eats my food and tells me it’s delicious. If not for that, I would’ve given up on cooking a long time ago.
“That’ll be 5,700 won.”
A convenience store pasta and two cans of 1+1 soda for that price. The cost of living these days is no joke. Considering a single triangle gimbap costs 2,000 won now, I suppose I got a decent deal. I paid and headed home.
—Beep. Beep-beep-beep-beep.
I punched in the code and opened the front door.
“Hi-hi.”
As soon as I stepped inside, Choa poked her head out from the bedroom and waved. It was typical—Choa, just hanging out in my apartment like it was her own. We both know each other’s door codes, so we can come and go whenever we please.
“Is it the weekend already?”
Even though we’re 15-year childhood friends who have seen each other naked since we were kids, we decided to respect each other’s privacy on weekdays. That’s why, unless something special is happening, Choa only comes over on weekends.
“Why? Were you planning to jerk off the moment you got home?”
Choa gave a lewd grin, curling her fingers into a circle and moving her hand up and down as if gripping a stick.
“Yeah.”
“Want me to help you out?”
“Yeah.”
“Just kidding.”
We exchanged our usual brand of daily smut, and I went to change my clothes.
“So, why are you here?”
“I was bored.”
“If you’re bored, go out and play.”
“Aaaah, you’re so cold-hearted.”
Choa, who seemed to be in a great mood—perhaps she’d pulled an SSR character in some game—whined and dove onto my bed. She hugged a pillow and rolled around all over the mattress. I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
“Did you eat dinner?”
“Yeah.”
“What?”
“Poke.”
“Again?”
“Poke is god-tier.”
Choa is a total poke addict. There were times she’d order nothing but poke for an entire week. Her absolute favorite is tonkatsu, but she only eats that for lunch. If you ask her why, she says eating it for dinner makes her gain weight. I guess that’s how she maintains a figure like that.
“What are you having?”
Choa flipped upside down and looked at me.
“This.”
I showed her what I’d bought from the convenience store. “Want a soda?”
“Zero?”
“Zero.”
“Oki.”
I tossed her a can of soda and popped my pasta into the microwave.
—Ding!
I took the pasta out and brought it to the table. I pulled up a video by a comedy YouTuber on my phone to watch while I ate.
“Sihooooo.”
Halfway through my meal, Choa sat down across from me. She started rocking her body back and forth. It was a habit she had whenever she wanted to say something.
“What? Want a bite?”
I held out my fork toward her.
“No, it’s not that…”
Drawing out her words was another one of her habits when she had something on her mind.
“Then?”
“Well…”
She pursed her lips, shifting them from side to side for a long moment before finally speaking.
“……Do you want to go on a blind date?”
I froze, just as I was about to put a forkful of tomato pasta into my mouth.
……A blind date? She couldn't possibly be talking about a historical figure from the Three Kingdoms period. She meant a setup. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't care, but I didn't want to hear that from Choa. Being set up on a blind date by the girl you like is basically a roundabout way of her declaring that she has no romantic interest in you. This wasn't the first time, either. Twice in high school, and quite often since starting college. She tells me every day that I’m ugly or that I don't have the face for dating, but deep down, she seems to think I’m a decent enough guy to date someone else. Just not her.
It’s bitter, really……. The tomato pasta, which should have been sweet and savory, suddenly tasted sour.
“Remember Yesol?”
“The person we had lunch with?”
“Yeah.”
I don't usually remember people's names unless it’s important, but I remembered her. I’m not senile, after all. I took a sip of my soda and pictured the girl I’d seen at lunch. Han Yesol. A girl with a neat bob cut and a striking mole under her left eye. She had great style, just like Choa. I’ve felt this for a while, but pretty girls really do seem to hang out with other pretty girls.
“What do you think of Yesol? Wasn't she pretty?”
Choa leaned forward as she asked. In the process, her voluptuous chest pressed flat against the table.
“Hmm…… she was pretty, yeah.”
I hesitated for a second before answering honestly. If I said something harsh like, “I don't know,” or “She’s just okay,” she’d get mad at me for bad-mouthing her friend.
“Reaaaaally?”
Choa pursed her lips and twisted them to the right.
“Why?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re reacting like you didn't like my answer.”
“No, it’s not that. Yesol is pretty, yeah, yeah.”
Choa nodded with a smile.
“But why the sudden blind date?”
“Because you’ve been looking lonely lately.”
“I’ve always been lonely, not just lately.”
“True, true.”
“Try denying it for once.”
“You know I can’t lie.”
“That’s true.”
Choa started rocking back and forth again.
“It’s just… you seem like the type who could date, so I wondered why you weren't… that’s why I wanted to set you up. Who else is going to set you up with a girl if not me?”
Just yesterday, she’d firmly insisted that I didn't *not* date by choice, but because I *couldn't*. Seeing her say this now, it seemed she finally thought there was a chance for me. But the truth is, I’m not dating by choice. Because from childhood until now, there’s only been one person I’ve ever wanted to be with. The problem is that the chances of me dating that person are incredibly low.
“You’re a college student, you should at least try dating.”
“What about you?”
“Me? I can date whenever I want.”
Choa showed me her phone, just like yesterday. There were several messages from people who looked like seniors in her department, asking her out for drinks. The way they keep sending messages even when she doesn't read them is just…… they’re impressive in their own way. From my perspective, they look pathetic, but unless you’re a total heartthrob, you have to be that aggressive to get a girl to date you. Aggressive, huh…….
“You need to get a girlfriend so I can get a boyfriend, or whatever.”
“Is it my fault?”
“Not a fault, exactly. I just feel bad dating while you’re still a childhood friend with no one.”
It’s a heartbreaking story. Choa seems to want to date. But the man closest to her doesn't seem to register as a romantic prospect at all. I knew that already……. But having it confirmed once again felt like having a stone stuck in my throat.
“But you’re going to refuse this time too, right?”
“No.”
“Ugh, I’m trying to make an opportunity for—wait, what?”
Choa, who had been rambling with a sigh, looked at me with her eyes wide open like a surprised puppy.
“Wh-what, what, what?”
“I’ll take it.”
“Take what?”
“What do you mean, what? The blind date.”
Be proactive. Up until now, I’d refused every time Choa tried to set me up to stay faithful to her, but just doing that wasn't going to advance our relationship. This relationship, which has become so comfortable, needs a spark. Something to make Choa start seeing me as a man…… so I decided to take the blind date this time. Simply put, I’m trying to induce some jealousy. A feeling of, “See how it feels when the guy who was always by your side goes to meet another woman.” Of course, I don't know if Choa will actually get jealous.
“Suddenly?”
“What’s sudden about it? You said you’d set me up.”
“That’s true, but…….”
“Give me her number.”
“Are you really going to take it?”
“Really. Why would I take it fake?”
I stood up and started cleaning up my meal.
“What’s gotten into you?”
“Like you said, I’m a college student, I should try dating.”
Choa followed me, trailing behind me as I headed to the bedroom.
“Give me the number.”
I pulled my phone out of my bag and held it out to her.
“……Never mind.”
Choa pushed my phone away with both hands, looking serious.
“Thinking about it again, I think Yesol is too good for you.”
“What?”
“Yesol would be better off with a guy who’s kind and has good fashion sense, not a guy like you who’s blunt and has no sense of style. Yeah, yeah, you definitely don't match.”
I let out a dry laugh and started getting ready for the gym.
“Then set me up with someone else.”
“Someone else……?”
Choa followed me around like a shadow until I packed my bag and reached the front door.
“Didn't you say you weren't going to date?”
“I was planning not to. But since you keep pushing me to do it, I’ve started to want to try it once.”
I put on my sneakers and pulled my cap down low.
“I’m heading out to work out.”
I ruffled Choa’s hair—she was looking at me with an expression that clearly said she couldn't believe I was actually going to go on a blind date—and walked out the door.