Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: You know that, right? INTJ and ENFP have good compatibility.
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You know that, right? INTJ and ENFP have good compatibility.
"I'm getting attached. I see you way too much these days~."
The guy grinned the moment he spotted my face and came right over.
Sunwoo, my best buddy I'd known since high school and even enlisted with on the same day, turned off the vacuum cleaner and approached me.
As always, we grabbed each other's hands and lightly bumped shoulders.
"For someone saying that, your face lit up like crazy?"
"How could I not be thrilled with some extra hands? Bow to my belly button~."
"If you're grateful, treat me to dinner."
"You bet. Dad even gave me his card specifically to buy you something tasty."
"Huh? Then let's do beef?"
"Possible."
"Possible my ass. Let's hit up an all-you-can-eat spot."
I lightly punched his chest and set down the duffel bag I'd brought.
I pulled out a change of dobok and a sandwich for a quick bite.
"Kya, I knew I could count on you? As expected from the ace—what a difference."
"Eat up. I'm gonna change."
10:14 AM.
Today, as usual, I clocked in at Sunwoo's taekwondo dojo.
Pickup, one-hour lesson, drop-off.
Rinse and repeat six times.
That's basically all there is to working at a taekwondo dojo, but dealing with these hyper kids full of youthful energy makes it exhausting as hell.
Every lesson, there's at least one brat who won't listen, and sometimes kids so devilish you wonder if they were born just to torment you.
Pissing their pants big time?
That's tame by comparison. Handled about three today.
Twenty-three years old.
And I'm already getting used to childcare.
Of course, I doubt I'll ever fully adapt.
"So you ended up missing the concert after all?"
"I saw it. Just the last song, though."
"Keke. Talk about a jinxed day."
"Still, I discovered a great artist I'd never heard of. That's enough for me."
All-you-can-eat barbecue joint.
It was packed for dinner time.
Sunwoo, who'd been run ragged by the kids, savored a big piece of marinated short ribs chased with a swig of beer.
He let out a sigh that'd make anyone think he was some middle-aged uncle.
"Kyaah~. Nothing beats the beer after wrangling kids all day."
"That good, huh?"
"You wouldn't get it 'cause you haven't tried. Once you do, there's no going back."
"Yeah, right."
"Don't knock it—try a little. What if your father-in-law's a drinker?"
"Father-in-law? I don't even have a girlfriend."
"True. You're a lifelong single."
The guy chuckled as he demolished a fist-sized ssam wrap like it was no big deal.
He gave me a once-over and tilted his head.
"Dude, no matter how I look at it, it's weird. How are you the lifelong single?"
"No interest. Living life at my own pace, doing what I want—that's the best."
"What are you, some idle scholar?"
"Probably in a past life."
"Rich kid youngest son. Lived like a total slacker till your parents couldn't take it and kicked you out to wander the world."
"What the hell."
"That's what I imagine your past life was."
"So detailed it pisses me off."
I smirked at his story that hit a little too close to home and kept eating.
We've been friends since high school, but like guys fresh out of the military, our chat naturally shifted from school days to army life.
Stories starting with "That guy was the worst" ended with "How did we survive that? Never going back," letting us relive one and a half years in just thirty minutes.
The talk circled back to girlfriends.
"I still can't believe it. How's a guy like you still going strong without breaking up?"
"That's all thanks to Sumin seeing my true feelings~."
"You owe her your life. No one else would take you."
"We're even heading to Gangwon in an RV this weekend. I get all that 'slacker, beat it' crap, but I do what I gotta do."
Sunwoo suddenly got emotional, glaring as he pleaded his case.
I took over grilling while he ate.
"Exactly. You catch a ton of flak too, if you think about it."
"Why me?"
"Your face?"
"...Diss?"
"Dressing like Golden Sun when you look like Golden Sun. Ease up on the tanning, dude."
I chuckled and passed him some neatly sliced meat.
It was already a fond memory, the time I barely stopped him from going rogue on the seniors who kept teasing "Park Taeyang, Park Taeyang."
"Ugh, punk. I was gonna introduce you to a girl too. Tsk."
"A girl?"
"Look at you reacting like a proper dude."
Sunwoo wiped his hands roughly with a wet wipe and picked up his phone from the table.
Without a word, he pulled up Instagram and showed me a woman's photo.
"Less a blind date, more like she wants to meet you."
"...Never seen her before?"
"Sumin and I were talking about you. She seemed interested, so I showed her your high school pics and said a bit—she wants to meet."
"Hold up. Who said you could show my photos?"
"Whatever. You in or not?"
He shoved the phone at me like "shut up and look."
I took it, and naturally scrolled through her posts.
"Model?"
"Side gig. Main job's designer. She's got the poise of a fashion model, known as a fitting model in that world, but she's swamped building her own brand."
"Impressive."
"Studied abroad young, respected in her field, already dropped a few designs. Anyway, she's Sumin's longtime friend. Not just pretty—driven, great personality."
The woman Sunwoo showed me was captivating at a glance.
Visuals that could've landed her in entertainment.
Killer figure from modeling, adorable smile, and above all, Sunwoo's endless praise made it credible.
"You know that, right? INTJ and ENFP have good compatibility."
"Waste of breath on someone who doesn't buy MBTI."
"Sumin and I pictured it—you two would match perfectly. Loves working out, enjoys singing along to music, passionate about her career. Plus."
"Plus?"
"Super cute personality."
He scrunched his brows with that classic American reaction grin.
Sunwoo nailed my type spot-on.
"...Yeah?"
"Sumin wouldn't let her go lightly, but it's for you. We vouch for you, Kang Yumin, so we're setting this up. You'd be the perfect couple."
Sunwoo was dead serious.
Sounded casual, but raised by a martial artist dad, he cherishes his people fiercely.
If he's pushing this hard, he means it—no worries there, but...
"I'll think about it seriously."
Life never goes as planned.
Who knew you'd pop into my head right then.
"...What? Not meeting her?"
"I said seriously. Give me a few days."
I handed back the phone and glanced at the menu on the wall.
"Want naengmyeon?"
Afraid she'd see through me, I laughed it off.
Bedtime already, but sleep was nowhere in sight.
I knew exactly why.
"Never been this stupid in my life..."
The rooftop felt unusually vast.
I chuckled wryly, staring blankly at the sky.
About three weeks since returning from Japan.
In other words, three weeks without contact from you.
Yeah. I'd been obsessing over it.
I knew obsessing made me the weirdo.
After fumbling a heart-pounding confession with a lame "let's stay friends" rejection, why was I the restless one?
I knew that reason too.
Knew it, and that's why I was going insane with frustration.
At this rate, I'd die trapped by you.
"Should I give up?"
The final option surfaced softly.
Was this truly our best? I muttered, sighing deeply.
Then my phone rang.
Near midnight.
Not a time for casual calls.
"———."
My breath caught at the name.
I exhaled deliberately and answered.
-Hello?
Your voice, unheard for weeks.
"...Hello?"
-What're you up to?
You sounded awkward too.
Calling after so long, not even asking how I was—just "what are you doing?"
How could I say I was thinking of you?
I answered as calmly as possible.
"Just at home."
-So what're you doing at home?
"...Gonna make me say it twice? I'm at home."
Awkwardness sparked needless irritation.
Even after ages, our talk felt like banter.
...Relief.
Your voice sounded fine.
But.
"If you're just gonna spout nonsense, I'm hanging up."
At this rate, I wouldn't be fine.
A few words, and those pesky feelings were sprinkling back into my heart...
Talking to you had become too much for me.
Swallowing a hollow laugh at emotions too complex for words, I went cold.
-Vlog's going up tomorrow.
"......"
-That's why I called.
"......Got it."
-Yeah. Tomorrow.
You brushed it off calmly.
Unaffected? Or had you chosen to let go too?
Either way, our childhood friend charade was over.
That obvious truth stabbed like a dagger.
It hurt—too much.
"...Nothing else? I'm hanging up then——."
So I went colder.
-I like you, Yumin.
Did my wounds not hurt you?
-I like you. Do you like me?
No way.
Your trembling voice screamed pain.
She's a girl too, Kang Yumin.
"...Drinking?"
Now I was the one acting lame.
You must've seen through it.
Breath unsteady, voice shaking, lines cheesy.
-Shut up and answer. Yes or no—simple question, Mr. Loser.
"Still figuring out the intent. Why ask this out of nowhere? Filming?"
-Loser trait: dodges questions.
"...Calling after ages just to piss me off."
A hollow laugh escaped amid it all.
So long I nearly ran out of breath.
The Han Chaewon I knew.
My fifteen-year childhood friend.
Not our usual chat, but your words let me feel our "us" again, if only briefly.
"I like you, friend. Happy?"
The agonizing three weeks faded.
-Yup! I like you too, friend~!
"Now explain what's going on——."
Click. The call ended; I stared blankly at the screen.
Still as willful as ever.
I muttered, chuckling, gazed at the sky, then dialed.
"...Sorry for the late call."
Life doesn't go as you think.
That's what makes it fun.
Dunno who said it, but spot on.
Three weeks of agony, no clue what to do—then a sub-three-minute call flips it.
Who'd have guessed?
But I'm a J.
Planner type.
"Sunwoo. Thought about that blind date you mentioned..."
Here's hoping it goes as planned, as expected.
Even if it's clichéd crap that gets hate.