Ch.147147. How to Prepare for the End of the Year

A phone call from Juyeon.

Hana briefly tormented her innocent hair with her left hand.

What could it be?

At this hour?

She swiped the screen to the right.

[Hello?]

[Hello.]

[Yeah. What is it?]

[Ah. Well…]

What could Juyeon find difficult to tell Hana?

It was most likely about her boyfriend, Suhyuk.

Could she be saying they met secretly somewhere again?

Or perhaps she wants to quit the band because she can’t bear to see Suhyuk’s face anymore?

In that brief moment, various possibilities crossed Hana’s mind.

It was proof that she was constantly conscious of Juyeon.

[Yeah. Go ahead.]

[Next month is Suhyuk’s… birthday, you know…]

Her boyfriend’s birthday that she wanted to celebrate for the first time.

Hana instinctively felt her expression hardening.

[Yeah. So?]

[Suhyuk got me a gift before…]

[…Separately? Besides what he gave at your birthday party?]

A story from Suhyuk and Juyeon’s past that Hana didn’t know about.

[…Yeah.]

[What did he give you?]

[An effects pedal.]

Hana searched her memory, recalling the end of summer.

It was when Juyeon had started learning guitar from Suhyuk.

Their private guitar lessons that had now disappeared.

Still, the gift itself didn’t seem to have such deep ulterior motives.

If he gave her an effects pedal, couldn’t it be seen as just a thoughtful gesture between friends?

At least, it was quite a practical item to give as a gift from a female friend with romantic intentions.

[I see. Anyway, so?]

[I want to get him something too.]

Hana was silent for a moment.

[You can just give it to him at the group birthday party.]

[But that doesn’t seem enough…]

[Are you saying you want Suhyuk to make separate time for you on his birthday?]

Her tone was heavily laced with the message, “Are you serious?”

[No… that’s not it…]

She might want that in her heart.

But that was now territory she shouldn’t cross.

The permission Juyeon was seeking while holding her phone.

It was…

[Can I just meet him separately to give him a gift?]

She wasn’t asking for anything more.

[What… are you giving him?]

As long as it wasn’t something inappropriate, she thought it wouldn’t matter.

She was even prepared to say it was fine if Juyeon wanted to buy him a different kind of effects pedal in return.

[I haven’t decided yet.]

[But you have something in mind?]

[Not yet.]

[Hmm…]

Hana brushed her hair back.

It was a frustration difficult to name.

Despite everything, Suhyuk and Juyeon were clearly members of the same band.

Some might find it strange that Juyeon was asking Hana’s permission to give a gift in the first place.

Who asks their friend’s girlfriend for permission before giving a birthday gift?

Nevertheless, the fact that Juyeon contacted her first could be seen as evidence that she wanted to be considerate of Suhyuk and her.

But what could she possibly want to give that required going to such lengths?

What gift could warrant all this?

[You can see him for exactly 1 hour.]

[Finish within 1 hour.]

This was Hana’s compromise.

She planned to reclaim Suhyuk as soon as the set time was over.

And she’d make sure to find out exactly what gift he received.

[…You’re giving me a whole hour just to give a gift?]

[Well… I’m sure you two have things you want to say to each other.]

By that time, Suhyuk would have no reason to see Juyeon separately anyway.

It was essentially a sentence telling her to say her goodbyes.

[…Thank you.]

Though she expressed gratitude verbally, Juyeon felt rotten inside.

It felt like begging an owner to borrow their possession temporarily.

A bitter sense of defeat.

[But does Suhyuk know? That you’re giving him a gift?]

[No… I haven’t even decided what to give him, how could I tell him?]

[But you called me first even though you haven’t decided what to give him.]

A sad smile formed on Juyeon’s lips.

[…It would be sad if I bought something and couldn’t give it to him.]

Hana’s breath caught.

A short sigh followed.

[Ah. Okay. I got it. Anyway. When the time comes, I’ll just tell Suhyuk to go see you.]

[Yeah. Thanks for understanding.]

Juyeon didn’t forget to express her gratitude until the end.

[Juyeon.]

[Yes?]

[…Never mind.]

She almost apologized out of emotion.

But that wouldn’t be right.

It would only make Juyeon feel more miserable.

[I’m hanging up.]

[Okay.]

After ending the call, Hana buried her face in her pillow.

Is this the right thing to do…

Letting Suhyuk and Juyeon see each other was definitely not a good decision in the context of a relationship.

She was the girl who had even suggested sleeping with her boyfriend.

It was like leaving fish with a cat.

Despite knowing this, Hana foolishly permitted their meeting.

“Really… what am I supposed to do…”

While Suhyuk was soft-hearted, Hana couldn’t be cruel either.

The time spent together.

The memories that remained.

All of these became shackles, restraining her selfishness.

“Ugh… you deserve punishment! Lee Suhyuk!”

Hana kicked the blanket and called Suhyuk.

[Hello?]

Again, that plain voice as if nothing had happened.

[Hey.]

When she used “hey” instead of “honey” or “Suhyuk,” Suhyuk knew he needed to be on alert.

[…Yes?]

An automatic switch to formal speech.

[Say ‘I love Yoon Hana’ 10 times. Now.]

[I love Yoon Hana…?]

[What? Why are you trailing off? Don’t you love me?]

Despite sweating at the sudden military drill instructor-like roleplay, Suhyuk followed her instructions.

[I love Yoon Hana!]

[I love Yoon Hana!]

[I love Yoon Hana!]

[Good. Excellent.]

Like a bow received while prostrated, Suhyuk’s love confessions were sweet whenever she heard them.

[…Did something happen?]

His perceptiveness was improving bit by bit.

[No.]

[Then why are you like this?]

[Do I need a reason to want to hear that you love me?]

[I’m just worried something might be wrong.]

Kind. Kind. Kind.

Ahhh!

Why are you so kind to everyone else too!

[Nothing’s wrong. So don’t worry.]

[That’s good.]

[What were you doing?]

[I was… um…]

[What? Were you doing something weird?]

[No. Of course not.]

[If you’re going to do something, come to my place and do it together.]

Hana would welcome Suhyuk anytime if he wanted.

[It’s not that… I was just thinking about things I want to do with you during the break.]

[…Really?]

Hana’s voice was filled with delight.

[What do you want to do? Should we go on a trip somewhere?]

[I wrote that down too. I want to see the sunrise with you.]

[Ahhh! I’d love that! What’s this? Honey? Why are you being so adorable?]

The instant promotion to “honey” in her address.

Suhyuk couldn’t help but smile.

[There’s also a band coming for a winter concert. I found it while looking around.]

[Who! Which team!]

[I’ll send you the link later.]

[Send me the link and make reservations right away!]

[They haven’t even started accepting applications yet.]

Hana’s eyes sparkled.

She wanted to go see Suhyuk right now.

[Anyway! Share your list of things you want to do with me too. I’ll make one!]

[Yeah. We’ll do everything we want to…]

Suhyuk was about to finish his sentence but stopped.

He didn’t want to say he needed to do everything before going to the military because it didn’t seem like a good thing to bring up.

[…How can we do everything?]

The perceptive Hana cut him off.

[We absolutely can’t do everything. You think we can finish everything we want to do in just two months?]

[Don’t you have many things you want to do with me?]

An almost confrontational tone.

[Hey. There’s plenty to do during military service, and after you come back too.]

[Are you going to the military to die or something?]

Suhyuk couldn’t hold back his laughter at Hana’s almost hysterical response.

[No. Definitely not.]

[Right. So even if we have fun during the break, think about having fun afterward too.]

[Okay. I’ll look for things to do while in the military too.]

[When you get leave, you should only see me, except for family.]

[…Wouldn’t that be difficult?]

[What?! Who else would you meet? You don’t even have friends!]

Just because it was true didn’t mean she should expose someone’s wounds so bluntly.

[Okay, okay.]

[Hey~ I’m being serious~]

[No, what if I’m being serious too?]

[By the way, did you know? I watched a video yesterday and in it…]

The two continued talking until drowsiness overtook them in the morning, and they fell asleep.

* * *

A large bookstore with many people coming and going.

As the end of the year approached, Christmas and winter-themed decorations were visible everywhere.

In one corner of the stationery section, there was a display of diaries and calendars for the coming year.

Juyeon stood there for a long time contemplating before reaching out.

“…I’ll go with this.”

She picked up two dark brown leather diaries that she liked the most.

Though she wondered if he would have any use for it in the military, it was still a gift she wanted to give.

One for me.

One for you.

It was definitely a gift that would make Hana dislike her.

That’s why she needed permission.

The gift Juyeon was preparing for Suhyuk.

To fill the inside, Juyeon also purchased a new pen.

The blank white spaces under the dates began to be filled.