The Girl Who Came Running
Lee Yurim was leaning against a utility pole, waiting for me.
"Did you find it?"
"Yeah."
I shook the USB drive, and Lee Yurim uncrossed her arms.
"Hey, by the way, I just saw Dami leaving, didn't I?"
"Yeah, you did."
"Your sister, I guess she happened to be home today."
I hadn't expected her to be home either. I’d assumed she would have gone out to hang out somewhere by now.
'She saw something she shouldn't have.'
I didn't see it happen directly, but it was obvious what they had been doing under the covers. I was agonizing over what kind of expression I should wear when I saw her again, when Lee Yurim wrapped her arms around my waist.
"Heh, if I'd followed you in there, it would've been so awkward."
"Why would it be awkward for you? You just have to not touch me like this."
I swatted her hand away, but it was all for nothing. Lee Yurim stood right in front of me, wrapping her arms around me as if she were about to hug me tight.
"Yang Dajun."
"Haa..."
"Heh."
'Having a beautiful girl touch my ears... it feels so good...'
I could see her soft chest right in front of me. I wanted to bury my face in it and stop thinking about everything. Every time Lee Yurim kneaded my ear, I felt like I was melting away.
"Does it feel good?"
"No. Stop touching."
"Tsk, it was nice because it was so squishy."
Lee Yurim toyed with my ear a few more times before speaking as if she’d just remembered something.
"Oh, by the way, Dami's ears were bright red. Did you two fight?"
"No?"
"Well... even if you did, you wouldn't have pushed back, would you?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Like this."
Lee Yurim reached around behind me and said.
"You don't even resist when I touch you like this, do you?"
Starting from my hips, her hand moved all the way to between my legs. She was stroking my crotch as if daring me to get hard. I shuddered and squirmed.
"Don't."
"Aww, but you're just standing there perfectly still."
Is that what a face that hates it looks like? Lee Yurim scanned our surroundings while continuing to stroke my body, as if I were already her man. My body naturally heated up at the touch of a beauty.
"Haa..."
"Heh, Yang Dajun."
She was persistently teasing only the area around my crotch.
'She's been doing that since a while ago. I guess she's trying to make me desperate.'
It felt like she wasn't going to stop. I had sent a text message in advance, knowing this might happen. I glanced at my phone and said.
"Lee Yurim. You're going to keep doing this, aren't you?"
"Of course? I'm going to keep doing it until we arrive."
"Haa..."
I pretended to sigh and muttered.
"Fine. Go ahead and do it..."
"Hmm?"
Lee Yurim furrowed her brows and tilted her head.
"What? What does that mean?"
She fell into thought, chewing over the words I’d muttered to myself. She’d find out soon enough without having to worry about it so much. I just stood there leaning against the wall, waiting.
"What's wrong, Yang Dajun? Are you not going to Dahee's office?"
"I am."
"Then why are you just standing here?"
I turned my head slightly and looked at her with an expression that asked, 'Can't you tell by looking?'
"Can't you tell?"
"Why aren't you moving? Don't tell me you're sulking because I touched you?"
"No. Just wait a second."
I kept my head turned and clamped my mouth shut.
'It should be about time.'
I waited in silence, checking my phone every now and then. Lee Yurim paced around me, unable to sit still.
"Yang Dajun?"
"..."
"Yang Dajuuun."
"..."
"Ughhh!"
Lee Yurim circled me with a bewildered expression. She liked me so much that she would poke my body every once in a while, waiting for me to react.
'Lee Yurim is really looking around everywhere.'
This is a world where women are at the mercy of men. A beauty was struggling and fussing just to cheer me up.
Just then, I saw someone approaching from afar.
"Oh!"
Even though she was quite far away, I could hear her voice. As she walked toward me, her face became clearer. Her pace quickened with every step.
"Dajun?"
It was a girl waving her hand from a distance.
"Hiiiii!"
The girl, who had her hair tied to one side, greeted me while bouncing up and down, then rushed straight toward me.
'She's finally here.'
I waved back at the sound of her calling my name. Lee Yurim, standing beside me, watched with an expression colored by confusion.
"What is this?"
Lee Yurim fidgeted with the hand she had on my body, looking like she was about to cry.
"Seriously, what is this?"
Chae Riji had been hanging out with her friends. They were in their usual cafe, chatting, when her phone suddenly rang.
Buzz.
It was a text from Yang Dajun.
"Huh?"
It was the first time Dajun had ever messaged her first. Chae Riji widened her eyes and checked her phone.
"What is it? Who is it?"
The conversation around her stopped, and her friends crowded around.
"Is it a boyfriend?"
"She doesn't have a boyfriend."
"Isn't it that guy? The one from when we went to school?"
"Oh, the one you got the number from?"
She gave a slight nod to the friends who had swarmed her in an instant.
"What, you're still in contact?"
"Ugh. You lucky girl..."
"Ugh, guys, let me check this text first."
She laughed awkwardly and checked the content of the message.
'Oh... asking if I have time?'
It was a request asking if she could come over for a bit. Chae Riji didn't hesitate to send a reply.
She was about to drink her beverage while sending the text, but the reply came back faster than usual.
Unlike other men, his tone was dry.
'But Dajun, why is he replying so fast? He's the type who wouldn't even read my texts because he was busy.'
Chae Riji bit back a soft smile as she looked at the address in the text. It was because Yang Dajun, a boy she had wanted to get close to but never had the chance, had asked to meet her himself.
Seeing her stand up with a silly grin, her friends asked.
"Leaving already?"
"Yeah, see you next time."
It seemed she had failed to manage her expression. Her friends looked envious, their faces twisting.
"Wow... look at that expression, just look at it."
"Ugh. What is it, Chae Riji? You said he wasn't your boyfriend!"
"It's obvious she's going to start dating him today. She's going on a date."
"Ha... when will I get a boyfriend?"
When girls in their prime gather, they only ever talk about men. Chae Riji laughed awkwardly and left the spot.
"Anyway, I'll get going first, okay?"
"Yeah, get lost already."
"Lucky girl. Have a good time and let's not see each other again."
"Hehehe..."
She waved her hand and headed straight outside. Even though she had said otherwise, she herself was looking forward to meeting Yang Dajun.
Chae Riji hummed as she walked toward the meeting place. Every now and then, she took out her phone to check her reflection. Checking her face once, her hair once, she tapped her makeup with her fingertips.
'Ah, I'm actually kind of nervous.'
Whenever she stopped at a traffic light, Chae Riji would browse the internet and take deep breaths.
[How to attract a man's interest]
Chae Riji was the type who could draw people in and make a place lively wherever she went, but strangely, she had never been in a relationship. This was the article her friends had recommended for her.
[When listening to him, tilt your head slightly...]
[Men think atmosphere is important, so...]
[When making eye contact, look clearly... and get closer...]
She read it over and over again. While checking the address, she also admired Yang Dajun's profile picture. His face was blurred like paint, perhaps because it was shaky when taken. Even though he had taken it carelessly, unlike other men, she couldn't take her eyes off it.
'Cute...'
Chae Riji hummed a tune to herself as she walked. However, as she got closer to the address he had sent, she couldn't help but tilt her head.
"Huh?"
The streets were becoming increasingly dilapidated. It was a gloomy atmosphere where delinquents might gather.
'Is this the right place...?'
Chae Riji looked around, tilting her head. As she peered around, she saw a pair of man and woman in the distance.
'Oh!'
Looking closely, it was Yang Dajun. Chae Riji shouted loudly, feeling glad.
"Dajun, hi!"
She greeted him while bouncing up and down, and Yang Dajun waved back. Chae Riji felt a smile spreading across her face in an instant and ran straight toward Yang Dajun.
"Haa, haa..."
She caught her breath and met Yang Dajun's eyes.
"Sorry for calling you out of the blue."
"Oh, no. It's fine, I was just hanging out outside!"
It wasn't like she was doing anything special. Since Yang Dajun had called while she was killing time with her friends, she had been able to run over without hesitation.
"But..."
Chae Riji said, looking around at the surrounding buildings.
"Is this your house?"
"Oh, yeah."
Yang Dajun answered nonchalantly, but Chae Riji couldn't hide her surprised eyes.
'It looks like it's about to collapse at any moment...'
A shabby building. That alone was enough to tell her about Yang Dajun's poor circumstances. Even though his situation was exposed, Yang Dajun just blinked his eyes as if it were nothing.
'Dajun, he's cute...'
It was so humble that it was hard to believe this was the house where a boy like him lived. No wonder.
'That's why his clothes were shabby.'
Chae Riji bit back a smile. It wasn't because she looked down on Yang Dajun. Rather, she was touched by the way a boy like Yang Dajun lived without any pretense.
'I think I'm going to like him even more.'
Meanwhile, the woman who had been staring at them since earlier... Chae Riji made eye contact with the girl with the short hair. It was a familiar face she felt she had seen somewhere before.
"Oh?"
"Hmm?"
They both let out an exclamation at the same time.
"Ah!"
Lee Yurim and Chae Riji, the two who were facing each other, pointed at each other and said.
"Aaaah, that hair salon from back then?"
"Th-that... the one who isn't his girlfriend yet...!"
"Excuse me?"
Girlfriend, what?