Closest Friend and Her (3)
As the bus pulled up, the two couples naturally split by gender—the guys together, the girls together—and started boarding. Contrary to the vibes I'd picked up from the two women, at some point Yesul and Lee Hyun were smiling sweetly at each other, chatting away like old pals.
Tap. Yun-su glanced warily at Yesul, then cautiously tapped my shoulder and nodded toward them as a signal.
"What?"
"Shh."
Following his careful cue, I lowered my voice. "Spit it out. What?"
"Did you think about that thing I asked you last week?"
"Asked me?"
Yun-su sighed in frustration, stroking his chest, then asked again in a low voice. "White Day, dumbass. Ring a bell? I asked you to clear your schedule that day."
"......You were serious?"
Last week, Yun-su had hit me with this ridiculous request out of nowhere. March 14th—White Day. He wanted me to tag along and spend the day with him and his girlfriend, something no single guy would ever wish for. We'd hung out as a trio more times than just the two of them alone, so it wasn't a huge ask, but on that day of all days? Totally out of left field.
"You've been dating how long? Every White Day before, it's always just been you two, right?"
I didn't have any plans, but I wasn't some idle loser who'd chase after a couple on their special gift-giving day just to watch them flirt. No thanks.
"If it wasn't that desperate, you think I'd ask?"
"Trouble in paradise? We had fun last week too."
"Sigh... You think laughing and hanging out is all there is to a relationship?"
That's when it clicked what he was getting at.
"Whoa... fuck, no way?"
"Don't say it. I can't even understand myself."
"Not making progress? Didn't you guys kiss already?"
"Kiss... if you can call it that. More like a peck?"
"The hell...? Dude, how many times did I go with Yesul to visit you in the army? A few times you were out on leave, and I even booked a separate room and dipped out."
"We just... held hands and slept."
I had zero dating experience, but I knew it was abnormal for a hot couple like Yun-su and Yesul—three years in—to still be holding out on premarital purity. From what I'd seen, they weren't the type to trash-talk others behind their backs while demanding chastity from each other.
"They call Yesul 'Saint' as a nickname, but damn, is she the real deal? You too scared to make a move?"
"You think a guy in his early twenties doesn't have urges? Fuck, right after discharge last year, after that welcome party you guys threw, when I dropped her off? I got tipsy, pulled her waist in, went for a real kiss... She shut it down hard."
"...Hahaha!"
"Honestly, army leave, lying next to her? You think I wanted to just sleep? You don't know—she packed pajamas in her bag. Not buttons, like a hoodie."
"....And you just watched?"
"You wouldn't get it. The vibe was straight-up 'don't even think about touching.' I couldn't do shit."
"....Saint and Buddha meet at last."
"Ah... fuck, spilling this to a chronic hand-solo like you..."
Truth be told, I lived a restrained life without even a girl to hold hands with, but Yun-su had a gorgeous girlfriend right there. Marriage was distant, but he wasn't the playboy type hopping beds, so I could imagine how torturous it was not advancing with Yesul all this time. Any other guy would've cheated by now. Of course, Yesul wasn't your average girl beauty-wise.
"So? What's that got to do with me third-wheeling on White Day?"
"Remember the day I bragged about our first peck with Yesul?"
"....Vaguely?"
"It was your birthday."
"What? You sneaky bastard! Yeah, now I remember. You came to celebrate, then bragged the next day about scoring. Fuck friendship, I wanted to smash your face..."
"Hey, hey, calm down, keep it quiet. Why would I bring this up?"
"This better not be another scam, asshole. I know you're using me again."
Actually, I was pushing him on purpose. No matter how close, I didn't want to yield my White Day for them. More precisely, ever since Yeon noona gave me that huge heart-shaped chocolate on Valentine's, I'd been waiting to return the favor with candy, intentions be damned. She always gave me chocolate on Valentine's, so last time wasn't special, but I'd held back repaying her, wary of my brother's eyes.
Still, I can give a gift without making it weird, right?
Thinking about it, Yeon was someone likely to become family someday, near or far. No need to act distant over my one-sided crush. Even if I was moving on, I wanted to express my feelings one last time, indirectly.
But this oblivious guy kept asking for help, and I couldn't just ignore my friend's plea.
"That day—your birthday—we rented a party room, decked it out nice, had our first real party vibe, right?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"She loved it. Booze, singing, hyped up... Remember? Yesul, unprompted, belting idol songs and dancing."
I remembered plenty. She flailed so awkwardly, I worried she'd dislocate something. But those memories were etched deep—good and bad.
Before evening, Yun-su and Yesul dragged me out for drinks on my birthday. I figured I'd cover the tab, but they took me to a fancy party room. Balloons, my childhood photos from who-knows-where, snacks. They griped about setup time; I nearly bawled.
Grateful and happy, I lost all restraint. Ditched my usual politeness, went wild—talking shit, eating, drinking. Even dirty jokes I never said around Yesul.
And she played along extra that day.
'Fuck you guys. Not jealous of your couple. Why? 'Cause I got this love-hate right hand and nearly 1TB of East-West milf vids. Kuhahaha!'
'You psycho, Kim Seonghwan. Saying that in front of Yesul...'
'Hohohoho. Guys aren't the only ones with hands? Girls got smooth ones ready for tools anytime.'
'Y-Yesul...?'
Me overdoing it, her egging on, Yun-su reining in. Drunk, suddenly Yesul's humming idols and dancing on the table. We shed pretenses that night, bonds deeper.
Sober next day, slight embarrassment, but afterward, Yesul felt like a true girl-bestie.
"She still brings it up sometimes. Said it was the best."
"........."
"Caught her staring at those pics once. Must've been magic."
"Yeah... it was fun."
"See? Even you. Real talk: After wrapping up, walking her home, she hugged me first."
"Huh??"
"Said she loved it, slurring 'dying of happiness'... I hugged back, kissed her. First time seeing her so undone."
"Dude, you pounced on a drunk girl."
"Not like that... She hugged back, kissed actively. Next day, she remembered."
"Fuck... So recreate it? Book another party room?"
I ribbed him; he leaned in, whispering. "Booked an Incheon pool villa. Indoor heated pool. One night, two days. Come with."
"?!!"
"Just the fun vibe like before."
"...You won't do shit Yesul hates, right?"
My scolding glare; he jumped, eyes innocent. "What kinda friend you think I am? Only as far as she allows. Force more? I'd be a real asshole. I cherish her as much as anyone."
"Haa..."
Damn. Candy for Yeon noona in the morning then.
"Fine, I'll do it."
"For real? Fuck, thanks man."
"But I'll bail late, head home."
"Why? Plenty rooms. Buses stop late."
"How far you two gonna go? Plus early class next day. Dad's watching... Anyway."
Agreement reached, bus hit campus. New semester, freshmen banners everywhere.
Korea University Welcomes Our Freshman Newbies!
Staring at the gate, nostalgia hit.
One year ago, I was lost. No confidence around kids two years younger.
I watched Yun-su grinning, teasing his girl—my best friend, oozing confidence head to toe. Enviable.
Korea University label fools outsiders into thinking elite, but inside? Same high school me. Fiercer competition with brainiacs ahead.
Yesul saved me from loner freshman hell. While Yun-su was enlisted, she looked out—lunch, free periods, even festivals. Tailored to me.
Now, maybe heavier friendship toward her than him. Leaned on her a year.
More: My third gap year coincided with his enlistment; she took leave. Bored without him, I thought. Planned to cheer her, but she helped me.
Suddenly at my study cafe as admin, checking my work, snacks. Tough times eased by her support.
Classmates joked we were cheating. Nah—I knew better. She glowed happiest with him. And I? Firefly to his moonlight.
Always ready to bless them.
Stepping off, I eyed Yun-su's arm around Yesul, smiling.
Jeong Yun-su, you bastard. Never hurt her. I cherish her more than you know.
They never hurt each other. So I could cheer with a smile.
I prayed earnestly.