The Unspoken Rules of Romance
There are fundamental differences in the way men and women think about dating. It’s due to physical differences. Differences in brain structure. The influence of hormones. I’m not a scientist, so I don’t know the exact causes, but the realm of thought is a domain that science hasn't fully mapped out—not just for me, but for everyone. Regardless, the differences exist. Therefore, men understand men better, and women understand women better. That is the very reason I asked such a question. Even if I searched the internet—a sea of information so vast it’s practically infinite—it’s more accurate to ask a woman directly. Though, of course, asking the person in question would be the most accurate of all.
“Hmm….” Han Yesol tapped the tip of her straw against the table. “Usually, they don’t.”
I knew it. Is that so?
“What about you, Yesol?”
“Absolutely not. Why would I introduce another woman to the guy I like? I don’t even understand the logic.”
Regardless of gender, even from a common-sense perspective, Yesol was right. Why? I just can’t grasp the psychology of introducing someone you like to another person. It’s not like we’re in some erotic *doujinshi* where the guy is into NTR, getting turned on while watching his girlfriend get held by another man.
One of the opinions I found online suggested it was a way to test the waters—to see if the other person had any intention of dating. But in Choa’s case, that didn’t seem to be it. She hadn’t just done it once; she had been consistently trying to set me up. At this point, I wondered if she was just desperate to get me a girlfriend.
“But….” Yesol crossed her arms and leaned her upper body slightly toward the table. “Why are you asking about things like that all of a sudden?”
I laughed it off. “I saw something similar in a movie recently.”
“Oh my, what movie?”
“I don’t remember the title. I fell asleep while watching it.”
“It must have been incredibly boring….”
“Usually, I watch things to the end no matter how bad they are, but I really couldn’t sit through that one. I didn’t like the plot, and like you said, Yesol, it didn’t make any sense.”
After that, the conversation naturally shifted to movies. We talked about what genres we liked and which films had left the biggest impression on us. We spent some time chatting like that.
“Looking at your taste in movies, you’re secretly a romanticist, aren’t you?”
“It’s not a secret. I am a romanticist.”
At my words, Yesol giggled as if she found it funny. I hadn’t meant it as a joke.
“Then, do you have any intention of dating?”
“Dating, huh….”
I want to. I’ve wanted to date since I was in middle school. While other kids were getting girlfriends and celebrating anniversaries—22 days, 100 days, and so on—I was left sucking my thumb. If I may brag a little, I have been confessed to by girls before, but I turned them all down. Some people might jump to a new person if someone who likes them appears, even if they already have a crush, but I only look at one person. And no matter how hard it gets, I can’t give up on that person. As a result, I wasted my teenage years and am now a college student who has never been in a relationship. I am a motae-solo—a lifelong virgin—in progress.
“For me….” Just as I was about to answer, the cafe became noisy.
What the hell. Seriously, what is this? What on earth are they talking about…!
Through the cafe window, I could see two people. One was Han Yesol, a classmate from my department. The other was Park Siho, my childhood friend—or rather, my bul-al-chingu. It was hard enough to understand why those two were having coffee together, but it was even harder to understand why they were chatting so happily.
Why? The question filled my head. Under normal circumstances, I would have marched right in there and snatched Siho away from that little vixen trying to seduce him, but the situation was a bit different this time. The person she was with was my friend. The very friend I had promised to introduce Siho to.
So, I couldn’t bring myself to enter the cafe, and instead, I stood far away, peeking inside.
“No way, Park Siho…!”
I didn’t know what they were talking about, but Siho had a warm, pleasant smile on his face, as if he were having a great time. Seeing that made me scoff. He never smiles at me like that…!
Seeing this hidden side of my long-time childhood friend felt awkward and strange. A tight, squeezing sensation gripped my chest. I wasn’t stupid; I knew exactly what this feeling was. It was jealousy. I was clearly jealous of my own friend.
I love Siho’s smiling face. But he rarely ever smiles for me. He’s always cold, blunt, and only ever plays mean pranks.
“As I thought….” Siho really doesn’t see me as a woman. He stays completely indifferent even when I wear revealing clothes. Time is so cruel. The longer we spend together, the more we become desensitized to each other. No, wait—is it mutual? Because I definitely see Siho as a man.
They say unrequited love is hell. That saying is spot on. It feels like hell.
“Aaaaaah….” I covered my face with both hands and let out a silent scream. It would be so much easier if I could just give up and stay as childhood friends, but I can’t. How can it be like this? There are five truckloads of men lining up just to have me. The more I think about it, the more pathetic and miserable I feel.
“Haa….” I smoothed out my messy hair. …Let’s go in. I can’t just leave those two in such a cozy atmosphere. I feel bad for Yesol, but… I am more than willing to play the villain.
I steeled my heart and put on a thick skin. With a bright, beaming smile, I headed toward the cafe. A coincidence. I’d pretend it was a coincidence and interrupt them. It was my fault, after all. I called dibs first.
*Cling*
As I entered the cafe with a light, graceful step and a smile, everyone’s gaze locked onto me. It wasn’t my imagination. They were genuinely looking my way. I don’t have any special powers, but I know how to draw attention. It’s impossible to define exactly, but everyone has a unique aura. The best example of someone who uses this is an idol. Idols have a specific atmosphere called "charm." They use that atmosphere to captivate people and make them fall for them. Since I’ve been scouted by various entertainment agencies since I was a student, I must have a similar aura, and I know how to use it.
I don’t know the exact principle. If I had to say, is it confidence? If I think about showing off my looks with confidence and act accordingly, I can do it. As soon as I stepped into the cafe, the surrounding gazes began to gather on me. It wasn’t a delusion. I could feel eyes glancing at me from all directions. And then, even Park Siho.
When the cafe grew noisy, Siho turned around.
“Oh?”
And then, our eyes met. Of course, it was intentional. I had been looking toward Siho to make eye contact. But I immediately looked at Yesol instead, smiled brightly, and gave her a light wave. Yesol waved back at me.
“You were here?” I asked, playing dumb as I walked naturally toward the two of them. “Sorry, I overslept. I definitely set my alarm.”
“Did you go to bed late yesterday?”
“No, not really.”
I *did* go to bed late. I remember falling asleep around 4:00 AM while worrying about what to do. The alarm didn’t go off, or maybe it did and I didn’t hear it. Siho usually wakes me up every morning, but for some reason, he didn’t today and just left on his own.
“Sorry, I didn’t interrupt you two, did I?” I looked back and forth between them with a smile. Interrupt? As if. I came here specifically to interrupt.
“Oh, we were just about to get up,” Siho replied. He stood up from his seat.
“Try waking up earlier in the morning. Is it right to keep a friend waiting?”
“Aah!” Siho pressed down on the top of my head, teasing me.
“Stop it!” I snapped, swatting his hand away irritably.
“I’m leaving.”
“Go ahead.”
Siho waved his hand and walked out of the cafe. Or rather, he *tried* to leave. He turned back to the table and said to Yesol, “I didn’t finish answering earlier. I don’t.”
With that, he gave a small smile and left the cafe. "I don't"? What does he mean he doesn't? I decided to ask her point-blank what that was about.
“Choa.”
“Yeah?”
But before I could, Yesol spoke first. “By any chance… did you not tell Siho-ssi about what I asked yesterday?”
If she meant what she asked yesterday, it was about her wanting me to introduce her to Siho. I had told him. I definitely had.
“No, not yet. I was busy yesterday, so I couldn’t ask.” I lied brazenly.
“I don’t think you need to ask anymore.”
“Why?”
Yesol sighed and let her shoulders slump. “He said he has no intention of dating.”
“What?”
“I asked him, and he said he doesn’t want to date.”
What is this? That’s strange. Yesterday, he told me he was a college student and should try dating at least once, and asked me to introduce him to someone.
“Aah, that’s a shame.” Yesol packed her bag and stood up. “He was a rare find—a handsome guy.”
It seemed she had taken it lightly, thinking she’d meet him if she could, and if not, so be it. It didn’t seem like she had fallen for Siho at first sight and was desperate for an introduction. Well, considering she never misses a group blind date and changes boyfriends often, she probably asked for the introduction with her usual casual mindset. Thanks to that, I felt a little less guilty.
“Let’s go to class.”
Yesol, having quickly shaken off her disappointment, left the cafe.
“Haa….” I let out a sigh of relief. Either way, it worked out. But….
He told me he wanted to date and asked me to set him up, but then told Yesol he had no intention of dating? I have no idea what he’s thinking. Even after 15 years as childhood friends, he’s still full of mysteries.