episode_0038

After finishing their not-so-date date, they returned home.

Lee So-yoon, having prepared well, lay on the bed and kicked her feet back and forth.

“Ugh. Another failure today.”

In the middle of it all, she found herself enjoying the game more than trying to appeal as a woman, which was a mistake.

Foolish and stupid. Shouldn’t I be enjoying the game right now?

But spending time with Seo Jin was too enjoyable.

So-yoon kept fiddling with a sticker photo of the two of them on her student ID card in her wallet.

The two people in the photo looked like a happy couple.

I hope our relationship will be like this in the future.

Replaying her unspoken thoughts in front of him, So-yoon tossed and turned on the bed with her rabbit doll.

***

“Sigh… Oh, right. Jia is asking for introductions, it’s a big deal these days.”

During lunchtime, as usual, Yoon Ji-woo brought up the topic while they were eating together.

“Jia… Oh. Your sister, right?”

Seong Yoo-rin remembered and responded to Ji-woo’s words.

“Oh, right. Seo Jin said he’d make room for you guys that time.”

“Oh, right. I forgot about that.”

They had actually forgotten.

With so much on their minds these days…

“Let’s just have a meal together.”

Hong Yeon-seo swallowed a mouthful of fried rice and spoke.

“We can meet on a good day.”

I replied to Ji-woo like that and finished my meal.

It feels like I have a lot of outings planned lately.

I never imagined living a life where promises are made so urgently.

Did I ever imagine living this kind of life after spending my high school years?

“Um~ How about meeting on Friday or the weekend, spending some time at a café, having dinner, and then parting ways?”

Everyone agreed with Isae’s suggestion.

So, after chatting and discussing their meeting with Yoon Jia, they finished their lunch.

As they moved to the tray return area with empty plates, Isae followed behind me.

“Jina.”

“What?”

“Did you have fun with So-yoon yesterday?”

“…Huh? Um, yeah, it was fine.”

Since So-yoon didn’t say it was a secret, I answered casually.

“Next time, let’s hang out together, okay?”

Isae leaned in close, smiling.

I instinctively moved back slightly and nodded.

“Okay. Watch where you’re going, so you don’t trip.”

“Is that a promise?”

“If I said it is….”

Isae smiled at my firm answer and walked away, fist clenched as if she had accomplished something.

Why do kids these days like going out and having fun so much?

It’s becoming troublesome with all these promises.

***

“Seo Jin~ What did you do with So-yoon yesterday?”

During PE class.

Hong Yeon-seo approached me as I lay on the stage.

The girls must have been playing volleyball.

Turning my head, I could see the girls still playing volleyball.

Hong Yeon-seo, with slightly damp hair, seemed to have come after playing volleyball.

“Why aren’t you playing volleyball?”

“Just came out to get some water. But more importantly, what did you do with So-yoon yesterday?”

Why are they all coming one by one to ask about yesterday?

“We didn’t do much. Just had dinner… and hung out a bit before she went home.”

There was a hint of a glare in Hong Yeon-seo’s eyes.

Her smile was the same as before, but there was something different in her expression.

The air… had turned cold!

“What did you do while hanging out?”

“…We went to the game center in the city.”

With my answer, the frozen air thawed once again.

Sometimes, Hong Yeon-seo can be as scary as Isae.

“Oh! I love games too! Let’s go together sometime.”

“When I have time.”

“Go every day? Oh my~ Am I that good?”

Hong Yeon-seo, covering her mouth with exaggerated hand gestures, looked surprised.

“I don’t play every day either.”

Even so, her schedule was packed.

Both personally and with other people.

“Anyway. We made a promise, right? If I contact you, you have to come?”

“If I have time.”

“Well, you have to answer definitively.”

Seeing the determined look in Hong Yeon-seo’s eyes, full of the will to keep bothering me if I don’t agree, I reluctantly nodded my head.

“Alright…”

In the end, another promise was made.

Is this déjà vu?

* * *

“Hey, Lee Jin-ah.”

After all the classes for the day were over, everyone scattered for club activities.

Surprisingly, Seong Yoo-rin approached me, calling me by my name.

It felt like our distance had gotten a little closer since the last study group.

“Why?”

“Well… about last time. I did apologize, but… it was just words.”

“I’m fine with it.”

“But still. I want to compensate you at least as much as you don’t feel burdened.”

“I don’t even know why you’re apologizing to me.”

“Sorry… Se-ah said she would tell you soon.”

Se-ah? It seems like they both have secrets to keep because of their involvement with each other.

“Alright. If it makes you feel better to do that. I’ll treat you to a meal sometime.”

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Yeah. Anything more than that would be too much.”

Seong Yoo-rin nodded her head after hearing my words.

“Yeah. Then let me know a convenient time. I’ll adjust to it.”

“Uh, I’ll contact you later. I’m going now. Good luck with your advanced class studies.”

After giving words of encouragement to Seong Yoo-rin, who was in the advanced class, I turned and headed towards the club.

…Wait, did I just make another promise?

Is this déjà vu?

* * *

After-school club room.

“Hello.”

“Oh! You’re here.”

As I opened the door to the club room, no one else was around except for Yoo Seol, who greeted me.

It seems Yoo Seol had decided to do club activities in the subculture club during that time.

“Yes. You said you would help me. So I moved here right away. Hehe.”

Seeing Yoo Seol’s harmless smile, I felt a sense of guilt.

Can I really provide meaningful help to that person…?

“Others… seem to be over there.”

Pointing to the closed room, Yoo Seol followed my hand and nodded.

“Yeah. They were reading comics.”

I cautiously opened the door to prevent any light from seeping in.

However, contrary to Yoo Seol’s words that they were reading comics, I saw three people deep in discussion with serious expressions.

“Let’s make the most profit using the two at the upcoming event.”

“Right. Let’s gather as much investment as possible and set up the largest booth.”

“Haha. Perfect plan. You two are truly trustworthy!”

Swoosh.

I erased the memory of the chaos behind the dark curtain.

I didn’t see anything.

“Why is your expression like that? Weren’t you reading comics?”

“Yes? Yes. I was reading comics.”

Seeing Yoo Seol’s innocent face, I couldn’t bring myself to say that the club executives were planning to use us for profit.

I made a cup of hot chocolate as usual and moved to my seat.

But there was another desk next to mine.

“Oh! They said this is the junior’s seat. Is it okay if I work next to you?”

“Um. Yeah, sure. It’s fine.”

“Thanks. I’ll learn a lot from you.”

Yoo Seol’s sparkling eyes were too overwhelming.

I wish she would lower her expectations of me a bit.

Sitting down, I twirled my pen as usual and started working on my drawings.

Although I could feel a strong gaze from the side, I tried to ignore it and focus on my work.

………

“Um, senior?”

“Oops. Oh, sorry. Did I make you nervous?”

Yuseol, taken aback, seemed flustered. In this aspect, she’s similar to Seong Yurin.

“Just a little.”

“I was just curious, your drawing technique is different.”

“Is that so? I’ve never formally learned how to draw. Other people might be different.”

“Really? Wow. You draw so well self-taught.”

Yuseol’s gaze became even more intense.

Thanks to her, today I feel more confident in my lines.

Before we knew it, it was time for club activities to end.

Honestly, I was quite worried about how to help Yuseol as soon as I saw her. But it seems like she just decided to observe today.

She didn’t even draw her own picture and kept observing me.

Her gaze was a bit overwhelming, but it’s better this way. It’s more difficult to teach her various things.

Seeing me organizing my tools, Yuseol looked startled and checked the time.

“Oh. It’s already this late.”

“That’s right. By the way, are you still in a meeting… I mean, watching anime?”

I raised the curtain again to greet her.

Fortunately, this time she was just watching anime normally.

The attention of the three of us shifted to the person who came in from behind.

“Oh, hoobae. Are you leaving?”

“Yes. I’m planning to go soon.”

“Ah, yes. We should get ready to go too.”

Leaving the three who were tidying up behind, I prepared to leave the club room with my bag.

But Yuseol grabbed me from behind.

“Um, Seo Yujin…? Hoobae…?”

“Just call me by my name. It’s more comfortable.”

“Oh, right. Jin-ah. About the conversation we had yesterday.”

“Yesterday?”

What did we talk about yesterday?

Seeing me pondering, Yuseol made a displeased face.

“I suggested we have a meal together as a celebration of becoming friends.”

“Oh… Ah, yes. I’ll contact you when I have time.”

I couldn’t bring myself to reject her, so I ended up making another promise.

“Yes! Please do contact me.”

This feels like déjà vu, doesn’t it?