Like a Dream
Ha-yeon was waiting at the front door.
"Why is Senior Su-ah..." As expected, she hadn't heard properly.
"I told you earlier, didn't I? It's just us." Even if Su-ah confirmed it, Ha-yeon still held all the cards. So if she wanted to exclude Su-ah, she easily could.
"Is there... any way?" With Ju-ran in that state,
"You sounded so firm about it earlier, I thought you'd be happy." I had no choice but to take Su-ah's side. Dammit. To think I'd have my weakness caught by Su-ah of all people.
When I had explained Ju-ran's misunderstanding and tried to get our stories straight, she had agreed on one condition: she wouldn't be excluded from today's gathering. So, unfortunately, the only person I could rely on right now was Ha-yeon. Reject her. Please, reject her. Though not as extreme as Ha-yeon, Su-ah was still incredibly dangerous.
"Well, fine." What was with that refreshing smile? Just a moment ago, she had been glaring at Ju-ran as if she wanted to kill her, telling her to bow her head to the floor.
"Eating a meal together is a bit much. How about we go to a cafe instead? On your tab, Senior." Even Ju-ran was dumbfounded by Ha-yeon's bright attitude. Su-ah's eyes sparkled, seemingly intrigued by Ha-yeon's sudden shift in demeanor.
"Oh, I didn't know. You're quite mature, Ha-yeon. I thought you'd still be angry." You might have forgotten because she still wears a school uniform, but legally, we're adults.
"I'm truly sorry about earlier, Senior." "Oh, please. Don't call me 'Senior.' Call me 'Unni.'" Suspicious. They're both acting so suspicious. What on earth are they plotting? My already anxious heart grows even more uneasy.
Su-ah naturally linked arms with Ju-ran and Ha-yeon. "Let's go. I know a really nice, expensive place. Let's bleed Ju-ran dry today, Ha-yeon."
"Uh... yeah..." Ju-ran, completely flustered, was swept up in Su-ah's pace.
"Ju-ran, you'd better treat us properly today to show how sorry you are." Once Su-ah got the momentum going, she smoothly led a friendly conversation between the two.
Watching the three of them walk ahead, I stood there blankly, wondering if I could just slip away and let them sort it out themselves.
"What are you doing, Oppa? Hurry up." "What, you're still standing there?" Ha-yeon and Su-ah looked back, instantly shattering my foolish hope.
Right, I had to go anyway. Even if we had agreed to keep our night together a secret, leaving Ju-ran alone with them made me too anxious.
Steeling my resolve, I followed them into a taxi and arrived at the university district. Amidst the bustling crowds, Su-ah led us to a cafe so luxurious that I wondered if such a place could even exist in this small city.
The moment we stepped into the second-floor establishment, the rich aroma of coffee beans washed over us. Colorful, delicate desserts were neatly lined up in a glass display case, and on the shelves behind the counter, glass jars filled with coffee beans and tea leaves were meticulously organized with dated tags.
"Welcome." To make things more striking, the male employees wore tuxedos, while the female employees wore maid outfits.
It wasn't like the bubbly maid cafe I had visited once in high school with a friend—the kind where you couldn't even order without chanting some bizarre spell like Moe Moe Kyun. Instead, this place had an elegant atmosphere, with clean black-and-white uniforms and long skirts that reached down to the ankles.
Back then, the manager and staff had asked if I wanted a part-time job. I had gone in thinking of kitchen work or cleaning, but when they thrust a maid outfit in my face, I bolted. I remembered swearing to never set foot in such a dangerous place again.
"Order whatever you want, kiddo. It's on me." In the relaxed atmosphere brought about by Su-ah, Ju-ran confidently walked toward the counter, only for a hand to suddenly drop onto her shoulder.
"Whoa, whoa. Where do you think you're going? Don't make it so obvious that this is your first time in a place like this." At Su-ah's teasing, I, who had been about to follow Ju-ran, stopped in my tracks and pretended not to notice.
Holding onto Ju-ran, Su-ah looked around. "Oh, the terrace is open today. Shall we go out there?" she asked, seeking Ha-yeon's opinion. "That sounds nice. The weather is perfect, after all." We took our seats on the terrace. Ha-yeon and I sat side by side, with Ju-ran and Su-ah sitting across from us.
"Menu," Su-ah muttered quietly, and the black table surface instantly transformed into a digital screen.
"What's this?" Su-ah asked, tapping the screen.
"The puree is blueberry too, right?"
A conversation with an AI had begun. I thought this kind of technology only existed in Seoul. As expected of an expensive place, it really was on another level. The prices displayed on the screen were no joke.
Worried about Ju-ran's wallet, I stole a glance at her. She didn't seem concerned about the prices at all, her eyes and ears entirely focused on this novel piece of technology. Was her modeling pay really that lucrative?
"I'll have this, this, and this," Su-ah said, tapping the screen without hesitation.
"I'm not buying for you," Ju-ran grumbled, showing her annoyance.
"We're all going to share anyway. Right, Ha-yeon?"
"Yes. Our goal today is to empty Senior Ju-ran's pockets."
"I-is that so? Well, if that's what you want..." Her expression softened instantly.
I couldn't believe it. To think that the three people who had been in such a precarious state this morning could create such a peaceful scene. For someone like me who rarely left our neighborhood, the view of the bustling streets below added an extra layer of unreality, making the present moment feel incredibly distant.
"Like a dream" was probably the perfect phrase to describe this feeling, but I secretly hoped for the opposite. I wished that everything up until now had been the nightmare. I wanted to believe that I had just woken up from a bad dream, feeling slightly dizzy, and was now living in this reality alongside these three harmonious people. I prayed that the ominous sense of foreboding I felt was nothing more than a needless worry.
"So, was my brother's cock delicious?"
Right, of course it was too good to be true. The moment the order was placed, Ha-yeon brought up that horrific topic from this morning. I hurriedly looked around in a panic, but thanks to the street noise, it didn't seem like anyone had heard.
"Could we not talk about..."
"Oppa, why don't you just stay quiet?" No, I'm not trying to butt in, you crazy bitch! I wanted to scream, but under her fierce glare, I couldn't even open my mouth. Ah, whatever. I don't care anymore. Let them treat me like a pervert. At least we were far from our neighborhood, so that was a relief.
"I... I'm sorry once again."
"I'm asking you. How did my brother's dick taste?" Ha-yeon's voice grew cold in an instant, though it was still much warmer than it had been this morning. Not that it made me any less terrified. If she caught us with a trick question and found out that Ju-ran and I had spent Friday night together, it would be the absolute end. I had to throw away all dreams and hopes and stay completely sharp.
"To my shame, I... I was under a misunderstanding back then. I thought Ha-woon also liked me..."
"Calling my brother so familiarly is a bit unpleasant, coming from the perpetrator."
"Oh, come on, Ha-yeon. They're classmates. And the restraining order is over anyway."
"No, let me correct myself. I thought your brother liked me too... so I believed it was okay to do that."
"'Your brother too'... Does that mean you have feelings for my brother, Senior?"
"If I didn't, would I have done such a thing? I'm not the kind of woman who goes crazy just looking at a dick."
"Huh?" Su-ah stared at Ju-ran with wide eyes. Come to think of it, she probably still thought Ju-ran was completely promiscuous.
"Ah, well... I know my reputation is bad. Some bastards went out of their way to spread malicious rumors about me in the past. I didn't bother explaining myself because it was too tedious, but... I want you to know that I'm not that kind of person, Ha-yeon."
Hearing Ju-ran's words, Su-ah's expression stiffened. Was it because she had thought of Ju-ran as just a passing fling, but realized it wasn't the case? If that was her disappointment, it felt a little satisfying. But I wish you were just a passing fling too. Actually, I wish you'd disappear from my sight right this second.
"Does it change anything just because I know? What matters is my brother's feelings."
Here it came. It would be a terrible move for me to step forward first and say I didn't like Ju-ran. There was no point in letting them see how anxious I was.
"I am currently trying my best to win his heart." This simple-minded, brute-force girl's straightforward charge showed no signs of stopping.
"I guess you haven't considered that my brother might find it burdensome."
"If your brother finds it burdensome, I will restrain myself."
"Hmm... What do you think, Oppa?"
"It is... a bit burdensome." It was my honest feeling. I mean, dragging me into the restroom first thing in the morning...
At my answer, Ha-yeon's face instantly relaxed, a satisfied smile blooming on her lips. Perhaps I could breathe a small sigh of relief.
"Is that so? Then I shall restrain myself." At least you're doing well, Kwon Ju-ran. She was maintaining a distance, completely unlike how she usually treated me.
"Restrain yourself? I want to hear you say you won't get involved with my brother at all."
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that. I want to win over his sister too." The Lion Queen subtly bared her fangs.
"However, if you refuse to accept me to the very end, then I have no reason to kneel and bow my head to you either." Her lowering voice and flashing eyes overwhelmed everyone.
Gulp... Ha-yeon swallowing hard in sheer terror was quite a sight, but if I let this continue, I would be the one suffering the consequences. Out of habit, I looked toward Su-ah, hoping for help.
You idiot. Thinking back, she might have treated me so well from the very beginning just to make me depend on her. Should I consider this a blessing in disguise? Su-ah didn't even notice my gaze.
Her eyes were cast down, her brow deeply furrowed in intense displeasure. It was an expression she had never shown me, one she only occasionally directed at Tae-hyun when she was in a foul mood.
Ju-ran's truth, her relentless advances, her unyielding momentum. Perhaps one of those things had deeply displeased her. Not that she needed to care. You don't stand a chance anyway.
"Here are the drinks and desserts you ordered." The timing was perfect. Only the clinking sound of cups and plates being placed on the table echoed with unusual clarity.