Is That Your Girlfriend?
Patters of rain— Up on the stairs, just me and Ryu Seowon chatting alone. Down below, Kim Yejeong, who's (for now) been thoroughly meal-blocked from me. This setup... Feels kinda violently ominous, but it's probably just my imagination. Or maybe the unnecessarily dreary weather's to blame.
"Are you friends?"
Ryu Seowon's calm voice cuts through the sound of the rain. Well, that's not a tough question...
"Yeah."
"Maybe your girlfriend?"
Whoa. One little blinker and she floors it right in. Is this good instincts or bad?
"Girlfriend... nah, just friends."
"Hmm."
"H-hi thereee..."
Kim Yejeong's timid voice slices into our conversation. Ryu Seowon gives a polite bow. I just... awkwardly nod.
"I-is it raining outside?"
Uh, wow.
"A little."
"Ahaha, gotcha. Didn't bring an umbrella. Bummer."
...Act like your usual self. Why are you acting all shy and out of character? Just mutter some "Okaay~" and bounce already.
Step. Step. Step.
Wh-what the hell. Why's she coming up? Scram, this is awkward with you here.
"Ooh, it's really pouring out there, huh~~?"
If you're gonna play it cool, at least don't stutter like that;;
"Do you need to head out for a bit?"
Ryu Seowon strikes here. She's quiet, but not shy, huh. She doesn't seem to pick up on social cues much, come to think of it.
"Y-yeah?"
Meanwhile, Kim Yejeong's clearly freezing up, anyone can see it.
"I was just thinking I could lend you my umbrella if you need it. Though I'd have to head down to the 301 lecture hall."
"N-no, I'm good! I-I just came up for a quick check?!"
"I see."
"Y-yep. B-but the view's nice up here! I-I think I'll hang for a bit toooo~"
Whew... I'm cringing so hard just watching...
"Jiyong-ssi."
Whoa, Ryu Seowon cuts in.
"Yes."
"So, your answer."
"Ah..."
"Any plans tonight?"
Should I be glancing at Kim Yejeong here? Am I the weirdo? I can see it, her vibe. It's screaming at me.
Because... 'Ryu Seowon's ignoring the elephant in the room, but you're staring right at it.' She must feel it too, right...?
Hey, Kim Defeat! Get your head in the game!
...Screw it. Whatever.
"No plans tonight."
"!!!"
Yejeong-ah, please... if you're gonna flinch like that, at least do it down there...
"So you'll let me treat you, then."
Ryu Seowon presses right in again.
"Yep."
"Great. What menu sounds good?"
"You're buying, so whatever you want, Seowon-ssi."
"Hmm."
"Gulp."
...No, don't swallow like that, Kim Yejeong.
"Hmm... It's been so long since I ate with someone, I don't even know what's appropriate..."
Ryu Seowon mutters while scrolling on her phone.
"Anything's fine."
She pauses to think for a moment...
"...How about some chimaek then?"
"Crazy."
Fuck, Yejeong, stop reacting for me!!! If you keep that up—
"Crazy...?"
She has no choice but to react like that!
"Aaaah! N-no no no!"
"Pardon?"
"I-I was just looking at my phone!! It, uh..."
Think fast, Kim Yejeong. Of course it's stressful. But right now, we need that stress. Pull out even a single m from meal-block and you're done for.
"St-stock crashed, news just popped up!"
"Hmm."
...Dodged a bullet there.
"Mind if I ask what stock?"
Why are you doubling down?
"Uh, um...?"
"Thinking of getting into it myself, but no one around to ask. Guess I don't have friends."
No... Ryu Seowon-ssi, why drop unsolicited TMI like that...
Is this what they call girls' talk...?
...Girl's talk?
"Oh, uh, I do generation funds."
"Yeah, most people go with name brands."
"R-right, pretty much...?"
"But it said the gen fund stock dropped?"
"Wh-what?! Did it? N-no? Maybe I saw some rumor!!? L-let me check again!"
"No need to bother."
"Ah, yep!"
Enough already, you two.
"Seowon-ssi—"
Ryu Seowon's attention snaps back to me.
"Yeah?"
...Kinda airheaded vibe, huh.
"Ah. S-sorry. We were talking."
"...I don't drink much, but chicken's fine if that's okay."
"Hmm..."
Hmm... She's pondering. No way Kim Yejeong butts in here too—
"Wh-why not somewhere other than a chicken place! He had chimaek with me yesterday!"
...C8. Should I just yeet her. I get you're trying to block the booze, but now what about me saying no drinks?
"Oh?"
...You realized it after saying it, didn't you. How does someone crumble like this overnight? Come on. You used to crush school, top five in the whole damn grade. Why...
'Last night's sex impact hit that hard, huh.'
Agh, the more I think...
'......She's kinda hot.'
Ga—!
"Chimaek it is. Back-to-backs are always right."
"!!!"
"Really...?"
"Of course. I love booze. Love it."
"...?"
"Practically an alcoholic."
...I'm speedrunning nonsense here, but better than letting Kim Yejeong hijack.
"Anyway, ah~ look at the time~ Gotta head back to class or we'll be late~"
Even I know that's painfully awkward... but it's still more normal than her crap.
"It's a promise."
"You bet."
"Great. Let's head to class then."
"Yessir."
"We'll go first."
Bow.
Yejeong-ah... fix that dumbfounded look... please...
"Ah, y-yeah..."
"...Mind if I get your name?"
Huh? Seowon-ssi, why now.
"And your number while I'm at it."
"M-me!?"
"Yeah. Wanna... get to know you."
...Just do chimaek you two then.
"Ah, I'm Kim Yejeong... webtoon major, 2X class."
"Kim Yejeong... Got it. Ryu Seowon, web novel major."
Wow. Shaking hands now? Ryu Seowon-ssi, you're hilarious.
"Uh, y-yep... H-honor?"
Pfft. Kim Yejeong's doing that two-handed bow with a waist bend— straight-up comedy gold.
"Friend of Jiyong-ssi, so you're twenty-three?"
"Y-yeah, twenty-three."
"Hmm, same age feels nice."
...?
Twenty-three? Thought she was a year younger since third-year.
"Y-you can drop the formal speech toooo..."
"That okay? If it's weird—"
Kim Yejeong makes an X with her hands.
"Ooh, thanks... whoa."
"Y-yeah! M-my number's 010..."
They're hitting it off.
Sounds of delivery bikes zipping by. Chattering voices filling every corner of the street. Streetlights flickering on one by one in the fading red sunset.
"Enjoy~"
She and I are sitting by the window at a chicken joint right now.
"Thanks~"
Soy garlic tenderloin chicken, one whole bird; fry set, one; and two massive 500cc draft beers hit the table.
'Surprisingly, this isn't a flashback.'
The "she" here isn't yesterday's Kim Yejeong—it's today's Ryu Seowon.
"...Two days straight soy tenders really okay?"
"Even better."
Yesterday's Kim Yejeong ordered soy tenders 'cause she knew it's my fave.
Come to think of it, two days in a row getting fed by girls. Whatever...
"Dig in."
"Cheers...?"
Ah, shit.
"Sorry, spaced out."
Lifting the draft beer that brings bad memories...
Clink~ No toast speeches forced here, nice.
Gulp gulp.
"Kaaah... Feels alive."
Kaaah, doing the reactions and everything. Didn't peg her for that type.
More differences from first impressions than I thought.
"My overall thoughts on Maid Academy Assistant Instructor you wrote..."
...Why just stare blinking without a word.
"Straight to the point?"
"Huh?"
"Uh... thought I'd eat first then..."
Ah, right. That's proper manners.
But honestly, eating with near-strangers— well, minus yesterday's Kim Yejeong, this is my first meal with anyone since discharge?
'...Guess that's why I'm not adjusting well.'
Hmm, tongue got away from me. Major TMI.
"Sorry, let's eat first."
"No need to apologize."
"...Right."
Yeah. So awkward. Okay, eat first.
"This place is a total gem. Nom nom."
"...Nom nom. Yeah it is."
"Totally, nom. Gotta bring Yejeong next time."
Ugh... "Yejeong," kinda cringey.
'Was the no-friends thing legit?'
She seems pretty sociable from earlier. Some backstory or drama?
"Anyway."
Ryu Seowon swallows and restarts the convo.
"Yeah."
"One question okay?"
"Shoot."
"Why do you always skip feedback on the romance parts? Curious."
Blinker once and zoom again.
"...Romance isn't my thing."
"...Doesn't seem that way."
What d'you mean no. It's not not not— fuck it.
'No answer, so snag a tteok and bounce.'
Nom. This one's total flavor bomb. Yesterday Kim Yejeong chugged draft to bottle so fast I barely tasted— legit spot.
"Another question?"
She'll ask anyway.
"Just ask. Skip if it's iffy."
"You know we're same age?"
"Yeah, you said."
"...Usually this vibe leads to dropping formal speech? Like Yejeong."
Enough with "Yejeong" already. Goosebumps.
"No answer."
Tough to reply... Explaining'd be instant blue-balls.
"...Muttering to myself."
Huh? What? Why suddenly.
Puffing cheeks— is she sulking? No idea how to fix, please don't.
"S-sorry, my social skills suck."
"Doesn't seem sucky."
"......"
Ugh, here we go. Silent stare-blink combo.
Does she do that 'cause of my face?
"Muttering to myself..."
No... don't get all mopey, doesn't suit...
"Transferred from film major. Didn't know?"
Yeah. Don't expect much from a loner like me.
"You used [ssi]. Not muttering then."
"Ah."
"Didn't really know I transferred from film?"
Yeah, didn't.
"Thanks for telling me."
"Ask if curious."
...Never said I was.
"Not... really."
"Saying stuff you don't mean."
...Crazy girl.
"Don't say stuff you don't mean— just let me crash."
Ah... haha... so...
"We even shared healthy 19+ talk, right?"
What happened in these last four hours...
"Why, scared I'll pounce if I stay over?"
Too much happened, I'm wiped. For real.