That Woman's Regret
Her doll-like beauty and the image of a dutiful daughter who never caused her parents any worry had been her greatest asset in the past—but they were also destined to become her heaviest shackles in the future. Yoon Yesul took pride in her parents' expectations and the envious gazes of those around her, yet she gradually felt them turning into a burden.
To Yesul, the boy she encountered on the bus became a fresh thrill, like a warm breeze sweeping across a barren beach—a secret hobby that brought her private joy. 'If I play games with him, could I laugh and chat that freely too?' She'd quietly slip behind the boy engrossed in his game on the bus seat, peek at what he was playing, then download it on her phone when she got home that day.
'This is supposed to be fun?' That was her verdict on day one.
On the next bus encounter, she sneaked up behind the boy, still glued to his phone, and this time checked his game ID.
'AlreadyPoorFromTheStart? Pfft.'
By the third day, it started to grow on her a little. It began the day she spotted his messages lighting up the game server's chat window.
'Heh heh heh. The army, huh.' Yesul knew full well that the guy hadn't even shed his school uniform yet, let alone army fatigues.
Yesul turned out to have a knack for the game. After classes, she'd habitually dive in, and whenever she got allowance money, she'd splurge some on in-game currency. Then one day...
'Hahat. Our noble saintess. If you're killing time solo, wanna run a dungeon together? Yeah, I'm a berserker, but I'm like a skill machine in the berserker world—proud to say my fingers won't lose to anyone...'
Yesul cut off the cheeky chat from the guy sidling up to her character.
'Call.'
And just like that, a touch of delightful rebellion and fun entered Yesul's daily routine. Surprisingly, this little diversion helped her focus even better on her studies.
Then, after nailing her college entrance exam by sheer luck and basking in newfound freedom one day...
"Yesul, we're doing a group blind date. You in?"
"A blind date? With who?"
"Who else? The usual suspects. There's this all-boys high school called Seolleung Boys' High, just four stops from here. One of the guys goes there—he's from the same cram school as me. We chatted and agreed it'd be fun."
"Seolleung... Seolleung Boys' High?"
"Yeah. The organizer said even their kingka's coming. She was all hyped, swearing by it. Sound good? Tempted?"
Some classmates vehemently opposed Yesul joining, but the organizer shut them down.
"Hey, you bitches, spend that time hunting food pics and selfies instead of dragging me down. Without Yesul, the date's dead on arrival. If you had any brains, you'd hitch a ride on her glow."
And so Yesul went to the blind date—and met that fateful boy.
****
He was handsome. Had decent charm too. Watching Jeong Yun-su chatter endlessly by her side, making her laugh, Yesul's thoughts stayed consistent.
'Total kingka. Must be super popular with girls.'
And then...
"Hahaha! How about this? I'll balance this corn kernel on my forehead and get it in my mouth in one minute—hands-free!"
There was the other guy, pulling lame physical comedy in front of his classmates.
"Uh... sure, go for it."
"Ha... haha."
Quickly ignored by his own friends, the boy's energy deflated. He soon stared blankly at his phone, checking something. Then came the familiar melody.
'No way...?'
Without thinking, Yesul moved to his side.
"Hm?"
The boy looked puzzled at her sudden approach, but Yesul couldn't hide her delight.
"Is that... Eggma Mobile?"
"Huh? You know this game?"
"Yeah! I play it too!"
"Whoa..."
Yesul smoothly pulled out her phone and casually showed him her ID.
'Remember this?'
"Eek?"
Sure enough, the boy gawked at her ID, then at her.
"This... no way, you're...?"
Flustered, he showed her his own game screen.
"You're... AlreadyPoorFromTheStart?"
"MiniPureJadeSaintess?"
Yesul figured she must have a natural talent for acting. It felt too seamless—even he couldn't suspect a thing.
****
Kim Seonghwan and Yun-su were best friends. Yesul was the awkward outsider wedged between them at first, but that phase didn't last long.
"Haha, Yesul, your top choice is Korea University too, right? And our scores are similar—maybe we'll end up at the same school? Plus, we met at a blind date... what a connection! So, wanna date me?"
"Well... I need time to think. Meeting just us two feels kinda awkward..."
"Ah........."
Pitying Yun-su's slumped shoulders—and fueled by another selfish urge—Yesul added,
"Hanging out as a group might be less awkward and more fun."
"As a group?"
Yun-su's eyes lit up, then he flashed a big grin.
"Yeah, that works. I rushed it. Remember Seonghwan from back then? The game buddy. He's my close friend too. How about we all meet up at Jonggak Station this weekend? Great eats nearby, park, theater—perfect spot."
"Ah....... Sure!"
Watching Yun-su joyfully text Seonghwan while Yesul smiled softly, she couldn't help but beam even wider.
That's how the three started hanging out together. Yesul told herself it wasn't love. Not even a crush. Just comfortable, fun times—vicarious thrills from experiences she'd never dared. A modest happiness from shedding, even briefly, the pedestal image everyone propped her up on.
She thought that fun would last forever. Right up until college enrollment.
"Seonghwan's retaking exams, so he can't hang out anymore. Gotta watch his dad's eyes now."
"Ah......"
A twinge of stuffiness and disappointment faded quickly. Then one day, the classmate who'd set up the blind date pulled Yesul aside.
"Hey. Yun-su's been telling his friends you won't give him the time of day."
"Yun-su? To who?"
"Who else? That organizer guy from his cram school. Cut him some slack and accept him already. How long you gonna string him along? Not that you'd fish like that... but still!"
"............"
"You always drag Seonghwan along whenever you meet Yun-su? That's shitty for both of them. If I were Seonghwan, I'd have spat and bolted ages ago."
"Seonghwan seemed to enjoy it?"
"I only saw him that one day, but I can guess his type. You think he'd say no if you two begged? Ease up. And honestly, Yun-su's a catch—even for you, you'd accept without a second thought."
Yesul had to admit it. Yun-su's looks, brains. Any girl would've dated him a dozen times over.
Her classmate kept pushing. "Your beauty's unmatched, so you two look perfect. And Seonghwan? He's a repeater now. You and Yun-su are heading to Korea University—the top school."
"Hate to say it, but can you really keep hanging with them like this later? Repeater status and Korea U student? Huge wall."
"You and Yun-su are soulmates. Those looks, smarts, same school—who wouldn't say you match perfectly? I'd kowtow and say yes in a heartbeat."
"..............."
No class barriers in the 21st century, but prejudice lingered. Swayed by her friend's sound logic and the others' egging, Yesul caved.
'Yeah... no one's better than Yun-su. Same school, someone to lean on.'
The next day, as if scripted, Yun-su showed up with flowers and confessed. Yesul accepted them in one go, savoring a fleeting flutter.
****
"Yo! Yun-su, Yesul. Long time!"
".....Seonghwan?"
"Haha, Yesul, I called him. This guy's bragging about topping his first mock exam at cram school, so I figured, let's see that mug."
"Asshole, it's not just a little. You know math was my weak spot? I broke 60 this time. Fuck, that's promising, right?"
"Puhahat. Heard you declared to your folks you'd follow bro to Korea University? With those scores?"
"You idiot. Dad forced it—half-threatened, family meeting and all. When he says 'show your resolve for retaking,' you gonna go, 'Eh, I'll just scrape into some Seoul school'?"
"Heh heh."
Stunned, Yesul glanced at Seonghwan, then at Yun-su.
"You've been in touch with Seonghwan? I had no idea."
"Huh? Oh... this punk only hits me up 'cause he says contacting others breaks his study flow, even as a repeater himself. Probably just wants to bug me with questions."
"Dude. That's why I'm treating you to food, right? Don't appreciate my sincerity, and I might pick the cheap diner menu."
"Fine, fine. So where to?"
"That diner over there."
"What?"
"You haven't tried their set meals. That diner's holy grail for Noryangjin repeaters. C'mon, I'll show you repeater life."
"Wait, this guy tho?"
Yesul finally got why Yun-su had picked Noryangjin. Despite the repeater grind, Seonghwan kept cracking jokes, grinning nonstop. She smiled back. Dragged a protesting Yun-su toward "Noryangjin's top PC bang," she watched Seonghwan's back, heart pounding inexplicably.
And she regretted her hasty prejudice—forcing a divide on them, trapped by others' eyes, without realizing it.