Unexpected Date?! (4)
“Senior... it’s not what it looks like, right?”
“Cut it out already. Don’t you ever get tired of this? I’m already stressed out enough as it is...”
Hyoseok was pulling a pitiful face, while Seonghwan scowled with all the irritation he could muster. A little ways off from them, Jia was grinning ear to ear as she teased Lee Hyun.
“I never knew you thought of me that way. That was the confession of a lifetime for me.”
“......Stop it.”
“Give me some time to sort out my feelings first. Can I give you my answer about how I feel by next week? I still need time to think...”
“Ah, I said stop!”
Lee Hyun snapped in frustration, but Jia’s smile didn’t budge an inch.
“Hehe. If you keep playing hard to get like that, you’ll never make any progress.”
“..........”
She hadn’t named names outright, but Lee Hyun could tell that her nosy friend had pretty much figured out who she had feelings for. There was no point hiding it from Jia anyway. Lee Hyun was just as frustrated about it herself.
“The movie was fun though, right? Didn’t I pick a total winner?”
Sure enough, after all the twists and turns, they’d managed to watch the movie. Seonghwan had wanted to bolt from the stares and whispers from the people behind them in the back row, but Jia’s stubbornness left him with no choice but to grit his teeth and sit through it. Of course, with Jia cozying up to Lee Hyun and Yun-su next to him, the suspicious glances only intensified.
“What do you think the male and female leads were feeling in that final look they shared?”
“How should I know...”
The film had ended on a classic open ending, rolling credits as it faded out. A boy who transferred from the countryside meets a rich girl from Seoul by chance in their childhood. Inspired by the novel Sonagi, it cleverly flips the setting to Seoul, following the country boy’s chaotic adventures and the heroine’s emotional journey as she gets tangled up with him. They both feel love for each other, but the guy turns away out of preemptive fear of parting, frustrating the girl. In the end, he chooses eternal friendship over love, while she waits for eternal love, and they start to drift apart. Misunderstandings and conflicts pull them further, but after all the ups and downs, he finally musters the courage to show up before her, and she tears up seeing him smile brightly in front of her.
“Still a happy ending, though, right?”
“...Depends on how you look at it, doesn’t it? She was crying at the end.”
“That’s too simplistic. Girls don’t just cry when they’re sad or hurting. Sometimes they cry from pure joy—like reuniting with someone you never expected to see again, or finally meeting the love you’ve waited so long for, or realizing the true love hidden in your heart.”
“Sigh... Are you the only girl in the world?”
“I am a girl. And you were the cross-dressing guy who confessed to me.”
“Argh, seriously! I said stop!!”
“Heehee.”
As Jia kept teasing Lee Hyun, a heated debate was raging on the other side.
“So you were standoffish with girls too?”
“Yeah, exactly. You think only guys chased after that face of hers? Girls sent chocolates and letters nonstop too, wanting to be friends. She acted all prim and pretty like some young master, so of course the girls flocked to her.”
“Whoa... total girl crush, huh.”
“Girl crush my ass. Dial it back, would you? Don’t waste your time crushing on Lee Hyun’s looks—go find some other girl.”
“Well, I’m the type who swings first and asks questions later once I draw my sword...”
“Sigh......”
Does this idiot even realize he’s not drawing a sword—he’s dancing on the blade? Seonghwan knew Lee Hyun wasn’t the type to fall hard for a guy’s looks or personality right away. She warmed up slowly, like water soaking in bit by bit. Guys like Hyoseok, who fixated on one thing at a time, never lasted long.
Seonghwan glanced at Jia laughing with Lee Hyun.
She’s the exception. Hyun-i doesn’t open up easily, but Jia waltzed in calling her bestie from day one. Must be natural charisma.
He couldn’t shake the relief that Lee Hyun had Jia by her side. He’d worried about her turning into a total loner socially, but she’d found a good friend. That’s why even Seonghwan, who didn’t like her much, tried to go along with Jia’s suggestions. He appreciated how she kept chatting up the taciturn Lee Hyun.
Seonghwan stood and headed over to the girls.
“Movie’s over, so let’s head out? I’m scared we’ll run into those people from behind us.”
He shot Lee Hyun a glare as he spoke to Jia, and predictably, she turned away, ignoring him. Jia just laughed at the two of them before asking Seonghwan in a sly tone,
“How was the movie today?”
“The movie? Eh... pretty fun, I guess?”
It wasn’t exactly his taste, but it was solid enough. The visuals were great despite the straightforward plot, and each episode had solid laugh points. And above all...
“The female lead was smoking hot.”
Shin Yu-hee, who’d switched from idol singer to actress, the next-gen star following top actress Seong Eun-ha. She’d shed the idol stigma with solid acting chops.
But mostly, they cast her ‘cause she’s gorgeous. The director had poured effort into highlighting her charm—from crying scenes to drunken antics, she looked captivating even at her most disheveled.
“Knew it—you were just staring at the girl’s face.”
Lee Hyun glared at him, bristling at his answer.
“You like her too, don’t you? Admit it, freshly outed Hyun-i?”
“Gaaah!”
Her rare wail made Seonghwan burst out laughing.
Gotcha. You’re mine now.
As the thrilled Seonghwan basked in it, Jia chimed in again.
“What about the male lead?”
“Male lead?”
Kwon Ki-seok, mid-30s but matched perfectly with 20-something Shin Yu-hee, looking ageless...
“Dude was insanely handsome.”
That summed up the actor. But Jia shook her head, unsatisfied.
“Not that. The character. What’d you think of the role?”
“Hm...”
He thought for a sec, but the verdict was quick.
“Frustrating as hell. The girl’s sending all these signals, and he just runs scared? No way you play dumb when a babe like that comes at you. Totally unrealistic. Director made the guy a total idiot.”
What would he have done? Like with Yumi and Yuri, if he was sure, he didn’t hesitate. The girls had given him that certainty, sure—but he never ran.
Plus, who’d kick away a stunner like Shin Yu-hee?
As Seonghwan grinned to himself picturing her, Jia’s voice pulled him back.
“Right? You’re not the type to ignore a girl’s feelings, are you, oppa?”
“Huh?”
Sensing something off in her words, Seonghwan looked down to see Jia gazing up at him with sparkling eyes.
Whoa, is she about to confess?
His standards were high these days, especially post-Yuri. He didn’t want weird entanglements with Jia.
“Nah, it’s not like that exactly... depends on the girl, y’know.”
“Okay, that’s enough. Time to move?”
“Move? Where to?”
“Where? Han River Park’s right up ahead.”
“Huh?”
“You promised to go along with me today. Let’s see it through to the end.”
Seonghwan had agreed to follow her lead today, so he had no grounds to refuse.
Eh... been a while since Han River. Not bad.
As he stood, Hyoseok—who’d been hovering—rushed to Jia and Lee Hyun’s side.
“Jia, what about me?”
“Huh? What?”
“You didn’t ask me? About the male or female lead?”
“Oh... you’re good.”
“......Sob.”
Ignoring Hyoseok’s heartbroken look, Jia linked arms with Lee Hyun and started walking. Taller than Jia, Lee Hyun casually opened her arm for it, making a cute matching pair. Hyoseok could only stare in dismay.
“Fuck... it’s not real, right?”
“Han River ramen?”
“Hell yeah.”
“...I want jjajangmyeon.”
“I’ll get it. Wait, can’t carry it all alone. Hyun-a, come with—”
“I’ll go with you. Hyun-i and I want jjajangmyeon too, right oppa? Be right back.”
“No... I wanted to go with Hyun—”
“Hurry up!”
Excited for a rare park outing, Seonghwan suggested ramen despite the awkward dinner hour. Jia cheered instantly. Lukewarm-seeming Lee Hyun stated her preference clearly. Hyoseok eagerly volunteered to go with her but got shut down, left dazed. Jia dragged him off assertively. Seonghwan watched with interest.
“They actually suit each other, huh? What do you think?”
“Jia’s... too good for him.”
“Haha, you two really bonded. Hyoseok’s not bad-looking.”
“Yeah, better than you.”
“Ouch, shit.”
With Jia and Hyoseok gone, the bickering siblings were back to their usual.
This familiar dynamic made old sights hit harder.
“Yeon-i, it’s been ages, right? Fountain’s still there. Bathroom’s changed a bit, but same vibe.”
“...I see it.”
Gruff words, softer tone—Lee Hyun was lost in nostalgia too. Seonghwan glanced; she stared at the fountain.
Yeah, that fountain area.