Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Chaewon Unnie's Boyfriend!!
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Chaewon Unnie's boyfriend!!
Rain is most beautiful when you're gazing at it absentmindedly from inside the house.
In other words, it's great to just look at, but actually going out and getting soaked isn't my thing.
Let me just say it straight.
I hate the rain.
"Ah, I don't wanna go to school."
The moment I stepped out of the car, a sigh escaped me naturally.
Even without the rain, trudging around outside was annoying enough, but having to go to school on top of that?
"Money makes it pro. I got paid. I'm a pro...."
I tried some self-hypnosis for the first time in ages, but my voice cracked under the relentless downpour.
"How did I even survive school back in the day?"
The thought of cutting out early was already swirling in my head.
"How? You just walked it off like a champ."
Chaewon grumbled from the black van as she popped open her umbrella.
"...Can't we just drive?"
What a shameless one. And she has the nerve to nag me?
"Yep. Long time no see?"
Chaewon approached with careful steps, mindful of the rain.
Naturally, just like always.
I murmured that to myself while staring into your eyes, but raising my hand in greeting felt ridiculously awkward.
You're weirdly perceptive about this stuff.
The moment you notice my awkwardness, you'll pick up on any shift in my feelings too.
...Just two and a half months until October.
If I can just make it that far.
I was racking my brain, replaying old conversations to figure out how to greet you naturally.
Then you stopped about a step away and eyed me with a mischievous glint.
It was that familiar look I'd seen a million times before, the one that instinctively sent chills down my spine as my mind scrambled to remember what I'd missed—
Splash splash splash—.
Out of nowhere, you spun the umbrella hard, flinging rainwater everywhere.
Not just my clothes—my GoPro in one hand and even my face got drenched mercilessly.
"...Are you insane?"
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
This is filming. One slip-up and boom, controversy.
"No matter how cute you look in that uniform, no distractions. Or you'll end up getting soaked by some creep?"
"...What kinda nonsense is that."
"How's it look? Real school uniform after almost seven years. Suits me, right?"
Chaewon spun around, showing off her outfit.
Striking all sorts of poses—seriously, idol-level quality for no reason.
"...What reaction are you fishing for?"
"Pretty. Innocent."
"What middle schooler wears pristine white boots to school? And where's the vest? Who said you could just rock a shirt and tie without it?"
"Pretty. Innocent. Cute. Input received, output."
"If the discipline committee sees this, it's instant two demerit points and a teacher sending you home—and you'd have nothing to say—"
"Pretty. Innocent. Cute. Adorable. No answer and you're getting wet again?"
Chaewon brought the umbrella closer and started spinning it lightly.
Rain? I got numb to it standing endless guard duty in the army, but that just makes me hate it more.
"...We'll be late. Let's go."
No way I'd give in easily, so I turned away with a resigned look and started toward school.
Chaewon strode up and fell in beside me.
My bag's gonna be soaked later. Damn it.
With Chaewon waving at the GoPro, the real walk to school filming kicked off.
Apartment complexes towered in the complex, quiet streets stretched out.
Our conversation flowed through the steady drizzle.
"Almost three weeks since the first shoot?"
"Yeah."
"No contact after?"
"...Busy. And three weeks isn't that long, right?"
"Doing what."
"...Tutoring. Prep for that. And games."
"...Games?"
Chaewon shot me a displeased glance.
"You don't play games."
"Started. Had time to kill."
"Play with me instead."
Here we go with the messy talk again.
I didn't want to tire myself out over this anymore, so I cut it short.
"Later. We'll hang later."
"When. Where."
...Didn't expect you to push this hard.
"Before your tour."
"Where."
"...Does it matter? Anywhere we go, it's just gonna be..."
"Then I pick?"
"—."
"Places are all the same anyway, so I pick?"
Felt like backing into a dead end.
My eyes flickered for a second, but I nodded calmly.
"Okay. Break this promise and noona's gonna chew you out?"
You smiled faintly.
Felt like you'd let me off the hook easy.
"But hey, the uniform really suits you. Better than back then."
I could feel your stance shift outright, but I couldn't call you on it.
'...Why do you look extra pretty today?'
My heart had been pounding like crazy since earlier.
This shoot's concept was capturing our middle school daily lives.
Chaewon started full-on trainee life at fifteen.
Around then, we only vaguely knew about each other's routines—we'd never actually seen them up close, so we were clueless about the details.
We wanted to highlight that transitional phase where our paths diverged with different choices, so that's how the concept landed.
Hence, me and Chaewon in middle school uniforms, filming our walk to school with the GoPro and all.
Commute was fifteen minutes on foot.
Classes started at 8:30 back then.
Our houses were close, so we'd meet at the three-way intersection at 7:50 and walk together.
"You were the problem."
"Guilty as charged."
I glanced over with a chuckle, and you nodded right along.
"On time maybe once a month?"
"Give me a two-minute margin. Korean time."
"Even then, it's rare. You're usually five minutes late."
"Five minutes is humanely forgivable, right? How do you just leave exactly at five?"
"Want me to say it's my fault?"
"...No love, that's all~."
Haha.
Chaewon laughed awkwardly and mumbled sorry.
She owned it straight up, no need to rub it in, and it didn't bug me anymore, so I just shrugged and grinned.
After two crosswalks, we reached the middle school.
"Wow, it's been forever here too."
Elementary school felt super unfamiliar after the remodel, but middle school hadn't changed much, so it wasn't that weird.
Long time, like you said. Still rundown.
That was my take.
"No one's around 'cause it's vacation."
"Coming to school on break? Unthinkable back then."
Mid-July.
We timed the second shoot for the start of summer break.
Fewer people meant easier on-site management for smooth filming—ideal for crew and cast alike, but...
"Straight to Class 1-3 on the second floor of the main building."
Today's concept: our middle school days.
Following the writer's lead, we headed right to Class 3-1 on the second floor.
"“Whoaaaa!!!!”"
"No way! It's really Chaewon Unnie...!!"
"Ever!"
The classroom door swung open to a thunderous roar.
We're spending the day with these kids.
......Man, my energy's already draining.
"“Han Chaewon! Han Chaewon!”"
Forty in total.
Back when I graduated, enrollment was around 450. Pretty big for a middle school.
And not just any middles—forty infamous second-years...?
We're screwed. Energy fully sapped.
"Okay, okay, it's Han Chaewon, so everyone calm down."
Chaewon stood at the teacher's desk, all proud and natural.
No surprise from an idol—she owned the room like a stage, and the excited kids quieted instantly.
I hung back awkwardly beside her...
"Chaewon Unnie's boyfriend!!"
"Chaewon Unnie deserves better!!"
"Give us back our noona...!!!"
Of course. The juniors welcomed me with top-idol-level fervor.
Money makes it pro. I got paid. I'm a pro....
I forced a smile through the cheers and gave a small wave.
"...Guys, I never stole Chaewon—"
"What TV. What fridge. What washer."
"Chaewon Noona ain't dating you~."
"Uncle's hot tho...~."
Early dismissal. I want early dismissal.
Didn't think I'd ever hear "what TV" for real, plus that jammin lingo and "uncle" on top.
But kids, Chaewon and I are the same age? Uncle vibes, sure, but full-on old man treatment hurts.
I'm twenty-three, twenty-two in Korean age?
"Teacher. Can I head out early...?"
I raised my hand toward the teacher chuckling quietly at the back, signaling my intent, but Chaewon smacked it down.
Meanwhile, the crew watching from behind looked way too amused.
...No one's on my side.
"I'm Kang Yumin, Class of '27 alum. Thrilled to spend a fun school day with you all—"
"Boring."
"Chaewon Noona, wave~!"
"Chaewon Unnie fan here!!"
Never hanging with middle schoolers again.
"Hey, hey. You second-years heading to third next year can't be this rowdy. Gotta impress your senior unnies, oppas, noonas, hyungs."
Maybe spotting my near-tears, the teacher clapped sharply, reined in the kids with charisma, and approached the desk.
"...I'm a Chaewon stan."
Ah, fan outing. Got it.
I squeezed an awkward smile between their shy greetings.
If the camera wasn't rolling and this wasn't paid work, I'd probably ditch school for the first time ever.
"Rainy days are for staying home..."
Today's gonna feel endless.
"Hey, this is your noona."
Don't get cocky.