Ordinary Daily Life? (2)
For a fleeting moment, even the sound of passing cars and the voices of students heading to school faded into the background. Only that one sentence lingered in my mind.
“You like me?”
“…Yeah.”
Inevitable silence followed her answer.
Both she and I.
But the one who couldn’t bear the silence any longer was U Hana. She tucked her hair behind her ear unnecessarily and added softly,
“It’s not too obvious, is it…?”
“…”
There had definitely been moments I’d vaguely sensed it. I’d brushed them off thinking, No way… it’s just U Hana being U Hana.
It felt awkward to say anything else in this situation. But considering the context of her confession, there were things I had to ask. I decided to clear them up first.
“So, Lee Seol pushed me away and told me that because you were jealous?”
“Probably.”
Her response didn’t sound uncertain—it felt more like she was being cautious because it was so obvious.
…So that’s what happened at the sports festival. Things were so chaotic I hadn’t even noticed.
…Wait, no.
On the other hand, it was absurd.
Just because your friend said she was jealous—did it really warrant going that far? Acting like she was cutting ties completely.
Anyway, I now had a rough idea of why Lee Seol had acted that way.
“…”
I fell silent for a moment. So did U Hana.
Then, once again, she spoke first, cautiously.
“I’m not expecting an answer right now…”
“…”
“It’d feel weirder if you stayed completely clueless.”
It seemed she hadn’t planned to confess so suddenly. She was saying this upfront so I wouldn’t get hurt misunderstanding things or taking it the wrong way.
It didn’t feel like an evasion. There was no pressure for a reaction or guiding me toward a specific answer.
Come to think of it… I needed to respond. Give her an answer.
But for some reason, the words wouldn’t come.
Probably because I couldn’t reply right away. This was something that needed time to think about. Especially given my situation.
At that moment, she took a small step back. A smile had crept onto her lips.
It was a forced attempt at her usual expression, but she couldn’t hide the hint of embarrassment.
“I’ll head off first.”
“Where to?”
“Won’t it be harder if we keep walking together?”
She asked, but she wasn’t waiting for an answer. She just glanced up at me briefly, then put some distance between us like she was really planning to go ahead alone.
“I’m doing this so it doesn’t get any more awkward… I’ll be out here at this time tomorrow too. You?”
She wanted to act normal… right? At least, she didn’t want everything we’d built up to crumble over this one conversation.
…After confessing like that? Sure, she’d said it to explain the sports festival incident, but still.
I stared at U Hana for a moment before nodding silently. Only then did she flash a relieved smile.
“See you later.”
She gave a light wave and turned toward school.
I watched her back as she walked away, then let out a long breath. Only then did rational thoughts start to return.
Come to think of it, in the original story, U Hana never had any romance described with anyone.
Was she just picky? Or did she have her own clear standards and never let just anyone get close?
That made sense. She always blended well with people, but she wasn’t the type to open her heart to everyone. Even when she was playful and casual, there was a line—and she rarely let anyone inside it.
And someone like that…
Likes me.
The fact hit me clearly again, and strangely, my chest tickled. Wasn’t this a good thing? …No, of course it felt good.
I’d been unconsciously keeping a neutral expression, but my body was more honest than I thought. My neck felt hot. I even wanted to touch the nape with my fingertips. Was I embarrassed…? It felt unfamiliar even to myself.
Since my looks changed, I’d heard plenty of confessions or near-confessions. Some girls showed subtle interest in passing, and way more were just dazzled by my face.
But this was completely different. I couldn’t brush it off lightly. The feeling itself was on another level.
So it wasn’t that having someone like me was embarrassing. It was because it was U Hana saying it.
The problem was what came next. What do you do in a situation like this?
That thought dragged in another harsh reality.
For starters, I was an actor. I had to keep building my career.
My little sister’s words came back to me. My image wasn’t fully established yet. Getting tangled in personal scandals or drawing the wrong kind of attention now wouldn’t be good.
Of course, she’d said to be careful only until I joined an agency—but I’d entered one sooner than expected.
But… would people really care that much about my dating life? Suddenly, those idol-like comments flashed through my mind.
Should I ask my agency?
That might be the quickest way.
*
I arrived at school.
As always, I was early, so there were only a few students in the classroom.
My gaze instinctively went to one side. U Hana.
She was already there.
…Of course she was, since she left first. Why was I thinking something so stupid?
U Hana was laughing lightly while chatting with a friend. She’d always been bright, always the one who put people at ease…
…Had her expression always been like that? It felt strangely unfamiliar.
At that moment, U Hana looked my way. Our eyes met.
Normally, she’d wave casually or greet me first, but today we both hesitated awkwardly. That brief silence felt endlessly long.
Then U Hana approached with a forced casual smile.
“You’re here.”
“…Yeah.”
I replied, but my tone came out stiffer than expected. I cringed the moment I heard it, but it was already out.
U Hana blinked for a second, then smiled again like it was nothing.
“Why’re you so stiff?”
“I’m not.”
“You totally are.”
She raised both hands and lightly pressed the corners of my rigid mouth, then lifted them gently.
“…Mmph.”
“…Cute.”
From her attitude, it seemed she was at least trying to act normal on the surface. Or had she decided to be more open about it?
By then, I felt a bit indignant.
This felt unfair. Is there always this gap between the one who unburdened their heart and the one who heard it? Sure, U Hana must’ve mustered huge courage too. And she was probably forcing the casual act now. That was practically her specialty…
I tried to play it cool too.
“Want me to do it back?”
“Your hands’ll get makeup on them.”
I raised my hand like it didn’t matter, and she laughed, stepping back.
Just then, the classroom door opened. In came the class’s one and only girl with striking red bob hair.
Lee Seol. She walked straight to her seat without glancing our way, like she’d checked from outside where U Hana and I were.
Now I knew why Lee Seol was acting like that.
Well, I’d thought being friends with her was fine, but maybe I’d misjudged. Had I been taking her too much for granted?
I had no idea how to approach her now. I was curious about what she was thinking… but going up to her would make things weird. It might get more awkward, and I wasn’t even sure she’d respond.
Then U Hana leaned in close and whispered,
“I’ll talk to her first.”
“…Okay.”
But I hadn’t expected U Hana to actually say that. Because she was jealous… she told you to stay away from me?
The more I thought about it, the more surreal it felt. When did she start liking me this much?
She didn’t show it obviously… No, actually, she’d been dropping hints pretty subtly.
Anyway, I needed to sort out my feelings before I could figure out how to act around both of them.
*
Morning homeroom. The teacher tapped the podium lightly and announced,
“Today’s the day we switch seats.”
“Ah.”
Next to me, Ji Hyun-su sighed in disappointment. Makes sense—friends like us ending up together by chance wasn’t common.
We’d draw lots to decide. In first year, we used a program, but second year, the kids pushed for drawing lots because it was more fun, so that’s how it stuck.
My turn came, and I drew a slip.
Number 22.
Paired with 21… who was 21?
Before I could even get back to my seat, Ji Hyun-su rushed over.
“What number you get?”
I showed him, and he clicked his tongue.
I checked his too. Number 2. Front row.
Seo Jae-hyun’s was 5. Front row too.
Idiots who get joy just from seeing each other’s faces—Ji Hyun-su and Seo Jae-hyun grinned at each other like fools.
Then U Hana approached me.
“…What’d you get?”
I showed her the paper like I had with Ji Hyun-su.
It wasn’t next to me—I could tell from how her expression shifted. Her slightly upturned lips dropped instantly.
Then her face brightened again.
She showed me her number.
28. Right behind me.
“Finally sitting nearby. We’ve had the worst luck till now. Hing.”
“…”
Before, I might’ve taken it as a joke and laughed it off… but she’d been hinting at it all this time, huh.
As we talked, the teacher’s voice rang out again.
“Everyone’s drawn, so find your numbers and sit.”
The classroom buzzed with noise.
I glanced at the paper in my hand once more and headed to seat 22. As I stood there, someone approached the seat right next to me.
I turned and saw Yoon Seo-ha.
“Oh. 21?”
“…”
Yoon Seo-ha gave me a quick glance, then nodded silently.