Unexpected Date?! (1)
"Ugh... I'm so beat. My body's heavy as lead."
It was definitely no easy feat getting up at dawn the day after drinking and dragging myself to school.
And then.
"How do you just show up right on time and shove that face in mine?"
"........."
As I stretched and stepped into the school gates, Lee Hyun had sidled up next to me out of nowhere, glaring daggers.
"If you're gonna glare, at least tell me why first. Otherwise, how's your oppa supposed to get it or reflect on it?"
"You stayed out all night again yesterday, didn't you?"
The second the words left my mouth, she fired back like she'd been waiting for it, glaring even harder.
"What are you, a human surveillance camera? Why are you tracking my every move?"
"Don't give me that camera crap. After getting chewed out by your dad like that, you're out all night again just a week later? I'm more like a psychologist curious about your mental state."
She shot back without missing a beat, and my head started throbbing.
"Yun-su, you know, Yun-su. That guy we met on the bus on the first day. He booked a pool villa to hang with his girlfriend for White Day, but they thought it'd be too quiet just the two of them, so they dragged me along too. I got swept up in it before I knew it."
I skipped the part about rushing after them in a taxi over some silly misunderstanding. No need to stir up unnecessary drama.
But without that context, my story lost all plausibility, and Lee Hyun could only gape in disbelief.
"What kind of idiot books a room to be alone with his girlfriend and then invites a friend? And you just eagerly jumped at the invite?"
"Hey, that guy's name—what's with the rude titles? Back in the day, you at least called me oppa even if you dropped the honorifics."
"Hmph."
When she bristled like that, eyes blazing but pouting all sulky, it took me right back to her bratty kid self. That's why I sometimes poked at her on purpose just to see it.
"And what about you? What'd you do yesterday? Get even one candy for White Day? Ha, with your personality, what guy would wanna give you a gift? Hahaha! If you're desperate, your oppa here could buy you a lollipop or something."
"Lee Hyun got tons of candy."
"Huh?"
I'd been laughing loudly to tease her when a voice from the side made me turn.
"Hi! Nice to see you again."
"Uh... yeah?"
Again? Wait... oh yeah...
Her round face and gentle eyes looked familiar now that I focused—the girl who'd been sitting next to Lee Hyun at my part-time spot, Don Doni Ne.
"Ah! You... from that time at 'Don Doni Ne,' when Lee Hyun got drunk and threw a fit at our boss. You were sitting next to her?"
Even as I greeted Jeong Ji-a, I kept needling Lee Hyun.
"No, you psycho. I didn't throw a fit. I even apologized to the boss."
I watched her counter with a potato-fist punch, grinning.
"I'm Jeong Ji-a, same year and education department as Lee Hyun. Hohohot. You two look like you go so well together."
She'd dropped a wide-area taunt on both of us.
"What'd you say?"
"Ji-a, what was that?"
We both turned on her with fierce glares, and she flinched for a second. But then she flashed her signature eye-smile and turned to Lee Hyun.
"Hyun, you know how you're all meh with the guys in our class? Barely listening, awkward chats and all. But you seem so comfy with him—it looks nice, that's all."
"It's not comfy, it's just easy pickings. I've lived next door forever, so she thinks she can push me around. Stick around long enough, and you'll see her true colors. Tell the education guys to steer clear—she's a total bitch."
Wham!
"Gahk!"
"Pot calling the kettle black. Post pics around our apartment complex and run a poll—which of us seems more bitchy?"
"Urk. Shin-kicked again... Hey, you bitch, in this looks-obsessed world, side-by-side with your face and mine? That's not a vote, that's making me the punchline. Where do you get off spouting that bullshit?"
"Hmph."
Amid the brutal trash-talk flying between us, Ji-a watched with sparkling eyes.
Lee Hyun... no way?
Feigned indifference versus genuine interest? Easy to spot. Especially for a nosy parker like Ji-a, who scoped out guy-girl dynamics with hawk eyes.
Let's test it.
She straightened up and slyly asked me,
"So, oppa, did you give Hyun any candy?"
"Oppa...?"
I pointed at myself with a baffled look, and she nodded, chuckling.
"You said you're Hyun's next-door oppa. Better than 'sunbae,' right? I like comfy too. Plus, hanging with Hyun means I'll see you 'lots.' So, oppa, talk casual with me."
"Oh? Uh, sure?"
Swept up in her sociable charm, I nodded—then replayed her words and smirked.
"Did I give Hyun candy? Hahaha! Ji-a, you got a brother at home? No? Ah, that explains it. Real brothers don't give little sisters candy. It's a social taboo. Unwritten rule. Besides! She wouldn't want anything from me, right, Hyun?"
I teased her with a glance, but her face had hardened into a death glare.
"See? That face. Just thinking about candy from me crumples her up. Even if I wanted to give her some..."
"Oppa!!"
"Eek? What, what?"
Ji-a cut me off with a shout, startling me into wide eyes.
"Not candy—give something else. And I'd like some too."
"Huh?"
Her casual toss-out left question marks all over my face.
"What do you want? Chocolate if not candy? Wait, is that even the point? We're not that close..."
Clap!
"What're you talking about."
She smacked her palms together, interrupting.
"Not blood siblings or anything—what's it matter? I never had a brother. Getting gifts from one is my dream. Right, Hyun?"
"Uh? No... I mean..."
Ji-a leered wickedly at her blushing, stammering friend, then turned back to me.
"Get some for her—and me. We'll get close that way."
What the... seriously?
Even with my recent hot streak via Yumi and Yuri, this bold freshman straight-up demanding gifts was baffling.
Fuck. Is 2024 my year for women exploding on me? My era's finally here?
Snapping to, I eyed Ji-a.
"Okay, I sorta get what you're... not really, but whatever. So, what do you want me to buy?"
"Heehee."
She giggled, pulled out her phone, searched something, and showed me.
Huh? What... Yeouido Youngheung Bookstore, March 16th, 11 AM, with Lee Hyun? What's this?
I squinted at the cryptic text, and she explained with a grin.
"Hee. It's my phone schedule. Hyun and I planned to hit the big bookstore Saturday for textbooks and stuff. Come help pick books and treat us to something yummy."
"M-meh?"
My dumbfounded bleat echoed, but she barreled on.
"You know Yeouido International Finance Road? Big mall there with a bookstore, eats, even a theater. Short walk to Hangang Park too. Books, movie, park breeze—perfect day."
Perfect for her, maybe. For me? Disaster.
"M-me? We're not that close, are we?"
"You're close with Hyun. She's my BFF. So we're close too."
Her ironclad logic left me tongue-tied. First girl this aggressively friendly—and Lee Hyun just silently watching? Suspicious.
Are they teaming up to fleece me?
"Haha, but payday's not till later. I only started part-time 'cause my allowance got cut... haha."
"No prob. Advance pay's fine."
"Ad-advance?"
I didn't dare ask from whom, but I didn't need it anyway. If it was an excuse to tag along with Lee Hyun for books, Mom and Dad would cheer and top up my cash. To them, the Lee sisters were like family.
Even so, why me?
Ji-a's warm friendliness was nice, unlike Lee Hyun's prickliness, but we weren't bookstore-and-park buddies yet. No amount of sociability erases first-meet awkwardness. And blunt Hyun wasn't bridging any gaps.
Why's she so quiet today? Should I bail her out? Damn, someone save me!
As I desperately wished for rescue...
"Oh? Lee Hyun."
An unexpected intruder popped up from left field. Me, Hyun, and Ji-a all whipped around.
Whoa, him?
I clocked the guy's face and glanced at Lee Hyun—her expression was stone-cold fury.
Yup. That dude from the shop next to her... the one bickering with the boss.
The night before, when I'd walked in, they'd been at each other's throats. This was the class clown opposite her, force-feeding drinks with lame jokes.
Ji-a glanced at us both, then stepped up to Lee Hyo-seok.
"Hey, Hyo-seok. Morning class today?"
"Oh? Yeah, Ji-a. You too?"
Ignoring her like she was background noise—even from behind—made Lee Hyun's eyes narrow beside me.
Oblivious Hyo-seok grinned cheekily, heading for her side, then spotted me and blinked blankly.
"This guy's... wait, aren't you from Don Doni Ne...?"
"Yeah, that was me."
I wasn't thrilled with his first impression either, so my tone was frosty.
"Ah... Hi, sunbae. Education freshman Lee Hyo-seok. Sorry I didn't greet you properly last time."
"It's fine. We're not even same department, so no need. Hyun, I'm heading out first. Good luck with class. Ji-a, see you 'next time.'"
Might as well use this gatecrasher to bail—I quickly waved to Hyun and Ji-a, trying to fuzz out tomorrow's "plans."
But.
"Sure thing, oppa. See you 'tomorrow.'"
"Eek?"
"Hee. Skip, and Hyun and I storm your place."
Ji-a matched her friendliness with sheer bullheadedness.
And amid it...
"T-tomorrow? Wait, what plans? Where? For what? Me too! Let me in!"
"No, you don't need to know."
"Hey, what is it? Hyun, tomorrow plans? Ji-a! Where?"
"Hyo-seok, get to class. Hyun, let's go."
"W-wait, me too! Hey, you two alone... fuck."
Ji-a hooked arms with Lee Hyun in a flash and strode off, leaving stunned me and Hyo-seok behind.
Lee Hyun gripped her arm back, matching stride. Ji-a felt the pressure and glanced sideways.
Yup... hee.
Lee Hyun's faintly flushed face bore a tiny smile. Ji-a couldn't help smiling too.
"Tomorrow's gonna be fun. Right, Hyun?"
"Huh? Oh... yeah, sure..."
Her evasive mumble rang refreshingly in Ji-a's ears.
"Hohohot."
Ji-a burst out laughing despite herself.