Chapter 181: When You’re Feeling Down, Just Eat First!

R̀​èàd̈​ ̃​õñ ̂Ḱâ​ẗR̀êâd̂íñ​g̀C̃​àf̂ẽ

Unnie and I walked around the streets together while eating crepes.

Originally, we planned to eat inside the shop, but Jia unnie suggested we shop around for fun while eating, so that’s what we ended up doing.

Now that I think about it, it’s been a long time since I’ve eaten while walking outside.

I often do that with Frappuccinos, but for something like crepes that you have to chew slowly, it felt like a rare experience.

“Da-jeong, what toppings did you get in yours?”

Midway through happily munching on my sweet crepe while wandering the streets, Jia unnie showed interest in the one I was holding.

I’d asked for a lot of toppings, so mine was noticeably thicker than hers—probably why she was curious.

“Strawberries, bananas, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and what looks like little cubes of chocolate cake, I think?”

“No ice cream?”

“Nope. Did yours come with ice cream?”

“Yeah. Strawberry ice cream and cheesecake too.”

Oooh, ice cream? I just picked mine based on looks—it seemed the tastiest at a glance. Maybe I should’ve thought harder.

But this one’s plenty good too.

As I happily chewed, already planning to try hers next time, unnie casually offered:

“Wanna try some? It’s really good.”

“Huh? Can I?”

“Of course.”

Delighted by the unexpected offer, I scurried over to her. Sure enough, inside her crepe was a scoop of strawberry ice cream and a slice of cheesecake.

Huh, so they put actual cake slices in here, not just cubes like mine. Yeah, this does look tastier. Next time, I’m definitely getting this one.

“You can take a big bite—I won’t judge.”

“Uh… w-well, then, pardon me?”

Even though she said that, I couldn’t just chomp down half her crepe. I carefully took a modest bite instead.

“Mmm…!”

“Good, right?”

“Yeah! But the ice cream’s super… chewy?”

The texture stood out more than the flavor. What is this? Normal ice cream melts in your mouth, but this one feels like you’re actually chewing it.

“Must be gelato. The sign outside said they make it fresh.”

“Gelato?”

“Yeah. Have you never had it before?”

“Nope. Only heard of it.”

Unnie explained what gelato was as I marveled at it, eyes sparkling.

Ah-ha, so this is gelato! I’ve heard the name a ton but never tried it. I assumed it was just fancy ice cream, but the texture’s totally different.

Gelato, I like you.

“Next time we all meet up at the company, we should go to a gelato place. I heard there’s a good one nearby.”

“Yes! Let’s go!”

Just as I was wondering when I’d get to eat gelato again, Jia unnie—as if reading my mind—suggested exactly that. I nearly threw my arms up in excitement before remembering:

Oh, right.

I’m holding a crepe.

I almost flung it behind me. After waiting in line forever for this thing.

“Unnie, have a bite of mine too! It’s only fair.”

“Hmm. Okay, then. Aah.”

I offered her my crepe, expecting her to decline—but instead, she leaned in and took a bite.

“Wow…”

And in that close-up moment, I couldn’t help but mutter in awe.

It’s not news, but Jia unnie is so pretty. Even in a group full of gorgeous members, everyone always says they envy her looks—now I get why.

“Huh? Da-jeong, what’s up?”

“You’re just… really pretty, unnie.”

When I answered honestly, her face turned bright red.

“Wh—pretty?”

“Yeah! When you leaned in just now, I was stunned. How are you this pretty?”

“D-Da-jeong! I mean, thanks, but that was so sudden…”

She started rambling, avoiding my gaze.

Wait, does Jia unnie get flustered over compliments too? Even someone this beautiful? I’d think she hears “pretty” at least once a day—guess you never get used to it.

“Hehe, unnie’s shy about praise. That’s kinda cute.”

“W-well, obviously! Strangers are one thing, but when it’s someone close, anyone would react like this!”

Huh.

I guess it’s like how saying “I love you” to family can feel embarrassing. I still get flustered when the members call me cute, after all.

…Wait, no, that’s different.

I’m not cute, so it’s embarrassing when they say I am.

Jia unnie is pretty, so her being shy about it is a whole other thing.

Yep. Conclusion: Jia unnie is pretty and adorable. Debate over. Mic drop.

“Oh, unnie. You’ve got cream on your cheek.”

“Cream? Where?”

Still lost in my mental monologue, I noticed a dab of cream near the corner of her lips—probably from biting my whipped-cream-loaded crepe earlier.

She tried wiping it off but missed the spot. She could check her phone camera, but it’s easier if I just do it.

“Here, stay still. I’ll get it.”

“I’m not a kid, I can—”

“It’s fine!”

I reached out and swiped the cream off her cheek. Staring at it for a second, I then—

“Nom.”

Without thinking, I popped it into my mouth.

I did have wet wipes in my bag, but… well, it was sweet cream. My body moved before my brain could stop it.

“D-Da-jeong?! Why would you—that’s—”

“Ehehe… I guess I just couldn’t resist whipped cream.”

Jia unnie stared at me, horrified, while I laughed awkwardly. She looked like she had a lot to say, but after a long pause, she just sighed and patted my head.

Heh. Feels nice.

After finishing our little shopping trip, we headed to Han River as planned.

There were fewer people than I’d expected—probably because it was a weekday and not yet rush hour. It almost felt like we’d rented the whole place to ourselves.

“Feeling better now?”

“Yeah! So much.”

I nodded energetically, then spread my arms and ran around like a kid.

Honestly, lately, my life’s just been home, work, and the occasional restaurant. It’s been ages since I’ve been somewhere with open skies, grass, and trees. The last time was probably when I went to the park with Ra-hee unnie to exercise.

“Should we lay out the mat first?”

“Yeah! I’ll help.”

After scouting the area, we settled on a spot. We’d borrowed a mat and blankets from a nearby shop—apparently, you could even rent tents here.

“Next time, we should come with all the members and set up a tent. That’d be fun.”

“Hehe, yeah! Yuna and Chae-yoon unnie would love that, right?”

“Pff, true. Chae-yoon’s not that hyper, but Yuna? She’d lose her mind.”

Well, Chae-yoon unnie is an extrovert, but she’s not the type to run around wildly. She just likes being around people.

Yuna, though? She’d go full unleashed puppy mode the second we arrived.

“Da-jeong, is there anywhere you want to go?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. Now that I think about it, you never really spoke up when we were planning group trips before.”

Did I? I don’t remember, but if unnie says so, it must be true. It’s not that I didn’t want to go anywhere—it’s just…

“Hehe, I’m happy anywhere. As long as I’m with the members, it’s fun no matter what we do!”

Yeah. It just didn’t matter to me.

“…Yeah, I figured you’d say that.”

Unnie smiled, like she’d expected that answer.

Whoosh—

A gentle breeze swept over us, perfectly cool for spring. We both closed our eyes and savored it for a while before finally getting up.

“Alright, let’s go grab some food.”

“Okay!”

The crepes were long digested after all that shopping. As they say, even Geumjeongsan Mountain is best enjoyed on a full stomach—time to refuel.

“What do you feel like eating?”

“Han River ramyeon!”

Obviously, my first pick was Han River ramyeon.

The cherries said ramyeon tastes amazing here! You haven’t truly been to Han River until you’ve tried it!

LegoMyEggo