But If It's a Dangerous Day, Can't We Do It From Behind?
As I said before, tacking Monday onto the weekend for a long break was like taking a massive bite out of the forbidden fruit—it resulted in Tuesday sickness plus back-to-back classes. The three-credit full-time major lecture I was currently sitting through was followed by a one-hour break, then another three-credit full-time major lecture. On top of that, the classes were Principles of Economics and Financial Accounting—total snoozefests just from the names alone. Thanks to all that, my Tuesdays always ended with me channeling some office drone getting chewed out by the boss and scurrying back to my studio apartment.
And yet, even if I could go back to last winter's course registration period, I'd pick this schedule again. Waking up late on Monday mornings, scratching my back as I lounged in bed and watched the busy people scurrying below my window—that was pure bliss!
"Yuwon-ah."
Aaah... I wanna be a rich NEET with piles of cash too.
"Song Yuwon!"
Honestly, someone like me could probably snag a wealthy chaebol heir and live the sugar baby life—
"Hey, hey! Song Yuwon! Snap out of it, Yuwon-ah!"
"Eek!"
The fantasy of me in a wedding dress, stone-faced before some rich chaebol guy, faded away at the sharp voice. I turned my head to see Seoeun staring right at me from the seat next to mine.
Ah, class must be over. Snapping back from my bittersweet daydream to reality, the room was buzzing. Dayeon and Chaewon, who'd been sitting behind us, were already packing up and debating lunch options.
"Hurry up and grab your stuff. I'm starving."
Seoeun slung her bag over her shoulder and stood. I shook my head.
"You guys go ahead without me today. Next class is in this same room anyway. I'll watch our stuff. I ate a big breakfast, so I'm not hungry."
It wasn't a total lie. But honestly? I didn't have the confidence to wander the crowded campus at lunchtime looking like this.
"Aww, come on, at least eat a little, Yuwon-ah."
Chaewon, who'd been held back by Dayeon at my mention of skipping lunch, approached with a voice full of worry.
"Nah. I'd probably just leave most of it anyway. And watching you guys eat would be awkward. I'm really fine, so go on without me."
"For real?"
"Just grab me something light from the convenience store on the way back."
"Like bread?"
"Hmm... not bread. Something sweet. Yeah, chocolate milk or banana milk sounds perfect!"
She's such a sweet kid by nature that even after I said I was okay, Chaewon still looked concerned. I gave her a small smile and pulled a card from my black wallet in my bag, handing it over.
Or trying to. The sky-blue debit card didn't go to tiny Chaewon's hand—instead, it landed in a long, elegant one with blingy nails.
Seo Dayeon snatched it, curling her lips into a wicked grin.
"Score! Then cafe lunch is on Yuwon's card."
"Yeah, there's like 2,300 won left on it."
"Don't bullshit me, you big-boobed auntie."
"Don't believe me? Swipe it and see!"
"Heh heh heh. Song Yuwon, you think I won't?"
Seoeun, who'd been quietly watching the banter, snatched the card from Dayeon's hand. Then she flicked Dayeon's forehead with a solid thwack.
"You're not little kids anymore. Let's go, I'm hungry. Yuwon, guard our stuff."
"Ow! What if it actually hurts?!"
"We'll be back, Yuwon-ah."
With that, my noisy friends left the lecture hall. Once even the random guy slowly packing up behind me was gone, I was finally alone.
Only then could I stand and stretch. Sitting through the break had left me stiff all over. The hard chair had made my butt sore, and my shoulders ached. The rough knit of my top brushing against my navel felt so foreign that I instinctively tensed my stomach.
As I tried to suppress that weird sensation and raise my arms for a full stretch—
"Yuwon-ah, Song Yuwon!"
Someone poked their head through the door, calling my name. The voice was as soft as the late spring sunlight pouring through the window. I lowered my arms and tugged down the hem of my crop top, which had no business riding up.
"Oh? What's this, Yuwon came to class looking super pretty today!"
The cute girl beaming at me as she approached was our second-year senior, Baek Harin. Adorable face, petite frame a tad small even for a girl. But with those impressive breasts that didn't match her height and her round, sweet personality, she was one of the most popular seniors in the department, guys and girls alike.
Of course, I really liked her too. I bowed politely in greeting.
"Harin sunbae! Hi."
"Heyyy, Song Yuwon! Sunbae? You did this last time too! How long are you gonna call me that so stiffly? I'm starting to feel a little hurt!"
She skipped right up to me, furrowing her smooth brow into a pouty frown.
But sunbae, even that face is too cute.
"Uh, unnie? Harin unnie?"
"Yesss, unnie!"
Her face relaxed at "unnie." But seriously, like with Song Yunseo, why do girls get so hung up on that word? If a grubby boy went around calling "hyung, hyung," it'd be creepy.
"Anyway, what's with this outfit today? Yuwon's waistline is gorgeous!"
"Ah, that..."
"How'd you hide something this pretty? And how is this chest-to-waist ratio even possible?"
I'd heard that line somewhere before. Harin sunbae's eyes locked onto my waist. The gaze and the praise made me uncomfortable, so I quickly changed the subject.
"Unnie, what brings you here? Were you looking for me?"
"Oh, right! Yeah, Yuwon-ah. Unnie has a favor to ask."
Her eyes, which had been fixed on my lower belly, returned to my face. I took a small breath and stepped back from her closeness.
Truth be told, eye contact at this range was pretty intimidating.
"A favor? What is it? You could've just Kakao'd me."
"Welll, I thought it had to be face-to-face."
The fresh cuteness radiating from her started to mix with hesitation.
"Why the suspense? You're scaring me."
"It's nothing big..."
She took a breath, then carefully lifted her pink-tinged lips.
"You know our festival cafe, right? Your shift is Thursday afternoon, yeah?"
"Yeah. With Seoeun, Chaewon, and Dayeon."
Wednesday was like today—two three-credit classes, so no go. Thursday and Friday had one morning class each. The four of us had matching free afternoons on those days, so two options. But Friday afternoon... uh, something about "Orb" what? Anyway, the three of them had insisted on lining up at lunch for some popular male idol up close, so Thursday afternoon it was.
Harin fiddled with her small, fluffy hand as she continued awkwardly.
"I know you signed up with your friends... I'm really sorry... Yuwon-ah, could you maybe switch schedules?"
"Switch?"
"Yeah. To Friday afternoon."
Her round eyes stared up at me pleadingly.
"Somehow all the servers that slot ended up guys. We need at least one girl to make it look right, so it came up in a rush."
"I don't mind switching. But would I be the only girl?"
"We're looking for others, but everyone's schedules clash. I ran into Seoeun and them in the hall earlier, and they said you'd probably be okay."
What? What the hell? Those traitors!
Selling me out like this. Sure, I'd whined about not standing in the blazing sun for over three hours just to ogle some pretty boy face, but still! No loyalty!
As I racked my brain for how to get revenge on these backstabbers—
"Hah?"
Something warm and soft wrapped around my hand.
"Would it be tough, Yuwon-ah?"
Harin was right in my face now, gripping my hand tight and locking eyes. With our sizes, our chests were brushing dangerously close. The sweet perfume wafting from her melted away my hatred for the traitors in an instant.
"It's not like you'd be the only girl out front—I'll be in the kitchen too. Yup yup! So no pressure."
But... even sooo...
"Working with you, unnie... that okay?"
W-Wait! That... no, your boobs... no no, if you come at me with such warm intentions...
I'm in a bind here.
"A-Alright."
"Really?!"
"Yeah... that slot, everyone's off watching the celeb performers anyway, so no customers."
"Yay! Thanks! I was stuck in the middle everywhere. Starting to regret joining student council... Anyway, as thanks, unnie'll treat you to something yummy after the festival!"
Harin shook our joined hands up and down, beaming. That smile was so overwhelming my eyes naturally drifted to the jiggling chest above and below.
This is why, whenever I see Harin sunbae, I get why the girls make such a fuss over my boobs...