Unexpected Date?! (2)
March in Korea is infamous for its three colds and four warms—those wildly fluctuating days that define the month's weather. And on Saturday, March 16th, we were smack in the middle of one of those rare, record-breaking warm spells.
And then...
Hyun has clothes like that? She looks so damn cute.
The plaid blouse draped over a loose white t-shirt somehow accentuated her curves just right, while the tennis skirt riding high on her thighs highlighted her hips and those killer legs. It looked like an easy outfit, but it was the kind only a woman with a perfect figure could pull off. Too skinny, and you'd look childish; a little extra weight, and it backfired into something bulky. The sort of thing idol singers wore on TV, striking cute poses now and then.
"Why'd you dress up so fancy?"
To hide how my eyes had involuntarily wandered over Lee Hyun's outfit, I grumbled at her gruffly. I'd gotten used to seeing her in her school uniform or those jeans she always wore whenever we bumped into each other outside. Today's look was a total bombshell transformation.
"Fancy? What're you talking about..."
I smirked as she turned her head away, embarrassed, and teased her some more to poke at her nerves.
"You didn't borrow that from your sister Yeon, did you? I know sisters share clothes, but don't go splitting your legs chasing storks or whatever..."
Thwack!
"Guhhh!"
Of course, Hyun repaid my mischief with swift, thorough justice.
"Ow, come on. Quit kicking my shin. And why'd you hit the exact spot you nailed yesterday?"
"Want me to aim higher next time?"
"What?"
"........."
Hyun ignored my question, staring pointedly at a spot on my lower abdomen. Following her gaze, I instinctively stepped back.
"You crazy bitch, now you're going there...? Eyes up here!"
"Hmph! It's not like you even use it anyway."
"The hell?!"
I was indignant. Two weeks ago, I might've hung my head in shame at her words, but now? Now I was a man who could boast about his experiences with women anywhere. Still, there wasn't much I could say back to her.
"Hurry up. You're the one who dragged your feet and made us late."
With Hyun already striding ahead, I had no choice but to pick up the pace, grumbling under my breath.
Right on cue, a bus pulled into the stop. We hopped on quick and headed toward the back. Even on a weekend morning, there were empty seats scattered around.
Just behind where a passenger had gotten off, a guy was dozing against the window, with an empty seat next to him. No side-by-side spots available anyway, so I figured that was the best bet and nudged Hyun toward it.
Huh?
I pointed subtly at the empty seat, but she planted her feet and wouldn't budge. Glancing around at the other passengers, I whispered to her.
"Sit already. More people will pile on at the next stop. This is our shot for a comfy ride to Yeouido."
But she shook her head, clearly refusing. She glanced at the seat like something was off about it.
What...? Oh!
The empty spot was right behind where someone had exited—no seat in front to block the view. For a girl in a skirt, it'd expose her legs plain as day. I glanced down at her skirt.
Yeah, that flouncy thing could flash her panties if she's not careful.
I shrugged off my jacket, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her over.
"........."
She watched me silently, then followed as I led her by the wrist, head bowed.
"Sit. Use this to cover up."
She hesitated a moment after I handed her the jacket, then sat down. As she did, the guy next to her jolted awake at the movement. He blinked at her in surprise, then flushed red and whipped his head away. I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
Been there, kid.
The guy next to Hyun looked like your typical weekend cram school commuter. Riding buses or subways to fancier academies wasn't unusual. I'd done the same during my repeater days in Noryangjin.
Those were the only times for some personal reflection and downtime—bathroom breaks and bus rides. Sure, I could've ditched parental oversight for more freedom, but then Korea University would've been a pipe dream. Those two years of grinding got me into the top school, but damn, they were a brutal fight against soul-crushing loneliness.
Hang in there, kid. Savor this brief respite.
Old memories stirred as I watched him nod off. I silently cheered on the boy who reminded me of my past self.
And as if sensing my encouragement from afar, the guy mustered the courage to sneak peeks at Hyun's profile... then his eyes drifted lower.
My jacket covered the skirt, sure, but it couldn't hide her legs or the swell of her chest.
This little shit... that wasn't what I meant!
Thud!
Flinch!
I stomped over to her seat, slamming the overhead handle loud enough to echo, and glared down with my meanest face. The peeping kid caught my stare, flinched hard, and looked away fast.
Hyun glanced up at me in surprise from my sudden move, then noticed where I was looking and pieced it together. She didn't react much to my overprotectiveness.
It wasn't just that guy, either. Every stop, new passengers boarded—and the men among them couldn't peel their eyes off Hyun. They started lurking around her like creeps.
These assholes...
With guys crowding her space in the growing throng, I got pissed. Flexing my arms, I planted myself in front of her, blocking them off and pressing close naturally.
Hm?
That's when I spotted it.
"Whoa, you still have that bear plushie?"
A little teddy hung from her bag.
"...You just noticing now?"
She shot back snippily, but I brushed it off.
It dated back to when she started middle school and I was hanging with high school buddies. She'd chased after us insistently, and we ended up at a PC bang together for the first time. At the claw machine next door, with my friends and her watching, I'd snagged it on the first try. Normally, she didn't care much for plushies when we hung out, but that day she threw a fit until I basically handed it over.
I'd won it for Yeon-unnie originally, though...
I'd always prided myself on knowing the Lee sisters' tastes from our childhood hangouts. Hyun was the active type even as a kid—bikes and arcades with me—while Yeon loved collecting dolls.
But Hyun had been so stubborn that day, I caved and gave it to her.
"Whoa, did you carry that thing all through school? How'd I never notice?"
"'Cause your eyes have always been like that."
Cheeky little...
Still, bantering with her like old times drew the men's stares away. They shot me baffled looks—glancing from my face to hers—but whatever.
Deal with it. Go live next door to her if you want in.
I met their glares head-on with a scowl. Then the bus stopped again, more people boarding.
As they trickled on, Hyun stood up abruptly, eyeing the door.
"What? We still got a ways to go."
She silently pointed to one side.
An elderly grandma was struggling aboard.
Oh...
I turned back to Hyun, who was slinging her bag over her shoulder, waiting.
Without thinking, I ruffled her hair.
"Good girl. You're sweet to everyone but me."
"Hmph."
She pouted bratty-like but didn't dodge my hand.
When she was little, I'd pat her head like this whenever she did something cute. It'd been ages since I'd done it instinctively, but neither of us felt awkward—she didn't say a word.
As the grandma approached, Hyun quickly yielded the seat.
"Grandma, please, have my seat."
"Aigo... thank you so much, dear."
She swapped places smoothly. I held out my hand to her.
"Now gimme my jacket back. Good deeds are good deeds, but return what's mine."
But she eyed my hand, then snorted and draped it over herself instead.
"H-Hey? What're you doing?"
"I'm keeping it. It was a bit chilly anyway—perfect."
"What? You show up all spring-babe chic, and now you steal my innocent jacket? You've got that blouse at least."
"Can't a guy handle that?"
"Nope. Not handling it. So hand it over?"
She ignored my hand and turned away.
"God, this brat..."
I started to complain but trailed off, sensing the chilly vibes around us. I scanned the crowd.
Horror, anger, suspicion—the emotions in the men's eyes surrounding us hit me like a truck. I shut my mouth.
This damn looks-based world. She stole my jacket, so why am I the one getting death stares?
I was pissed but kept it bottled. Familiar story.
Aigo, that girl's doll-pretty. She's gonna be Miss Korea someday.
The constant praise for Hyun, and the sidelong doubts for me: Not her brother... not her boyfriend either, huh?
I got it. I'd always thought Yeon was beautiful because of my crush, but Hyun was every bit her equal. Even with my skewed standards from Aunt Eunyoung's influence, Hyun turned heads.
Wait. Aunt? Why'd she pop into my head?
Something murky from memory's depths stirred, furrowing my brow. Like dark clouds trapping a vague recollection I couldn't quite grasp.
"Hey, time to get off."
Snapping out of it, Hyun poked my shoulder to reel me back.
"Huh? Oh... zoned out for a sec."
"Idiot."
She spat the insult and hopped off first. I scowled at her back.
"Give me my jacket, you psycho bitch."
Ignoring the bus crowd's gasps, I chased after her.
"...What the hell is that?"
"Haa......"
Three minutes after hopping off the bus and walking to our meetup spot. Hyun raised her hand to greet someone—then we both froze.
A guy with glossy, slicked-back hair like he'd slathered on sesame oil, dressed to kill in jeans and a white knit shirt, stood there with arms wide in a grin.
"That's him, right? The guy from yesterday at the main gate—Lee Hyo-seok or whatever?"
"Haa......"
Hyun could only sigh at the sudden intruder.
"Was he supposed to be part of the group today? Yesterday's vibe said otherwise."
"......I don't know."
"Hm... Then maybe Jia mentioned it?"
But Jia, standing next to Lee Hyo-seok, just shrugged at us—clearly clueless too.
We exchanged baffled looks.
"Not you... Jia's out... so how'd he know to show? Stalking her?"
Reading Hyun's stiff expression, I pondered. Then yesterday flashed by, hardening my face.
Hey... sunbae-nim. Hear anything about Hyun and Jia going somewhere tomorrow?
Lee Hyo-seok sidling up while I was dazed from Jia's unilateral plans.
Uh... Yeouido, Yeongheung Bookstore for some books... but why...? And me too...? Wha...?
As I mumbled soul-left-my-body style, he pressed.
Any idea what time?
11? ...But why... I got no money... uh...
Thanks, sunbae-nim.
He'd bowed politely and bolted.
"Ah?!"
Realization hit; I shuddered.
"Shit, it was me?"
Thwack!
"Aaaagh! What the—?!"
Pain exploded in my shin. I whipped around to find Hyun, face beet-red, eyebrows skyrocketed, eyes blazing fury.
"You clueless moron!!"
Thwack!
"Aaaagh!"