episode_0006

“Se-hee, hi… Hm?”

“Hey, stop talking and let’s just go.”

“…..”

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Swift footsteps,

An expression as fierce as a demon,

Se-hee demonstrating her ‘Don’t mess with me’ attitude through her expression.

Right now, her face was saying ‘Touch me and you’re dead.’

Focused on moving forward without hesitation,

Se-hee suddenly finds herself in her classroom, 3rd year class 3, and lets out a deep sigh.

“Ugh~…”

“Seriously… doesn’t know how to pace oneself.”

I get it, I really do.

It’s common knowledge that Taeyang is popular with girls,

dating multiple girls at once,

but what’s stranger is that even though I’ve known this since elementary school,

it still feels odd.

Taeyang boasts about his conquests like achievements,

struts around as if nothing’s wrong,

but…

Is what we know in our heads always the same as what we see?

Despite experiencing similar situations countless times before,

each time, a corner of my heart

aches like it’s being pricked by a needle.

“…Stupid kid.”

What’s with this alpha male nonsense?

Not even noticing the feelings of those close by,

‘Hey, pretty lady passing by? I know a great place, want to go together?’

‘If you date me, I can show you the joy of being a woman, too bad~’

‘Thinking of becoming my girlfriend today?’

‘Hey, be my girl.’

Flippantly throwing out lines,

even though they are empty compliments directed at me,

for some reason, I feel like accepting them.

If you like someone that much, why not just date them instead of rejecting them…? You might think so,

but jokingly suggesting rather than seriously proposing makes me both annoyed and reluctant.

I’m not one of Taeyang’s many girls,

I want a sweet and sincere love.

Although I’ve considered it in passing, watching him blabber meaningless things,

I’ve given up on turning him down.

I’d rather straightforwardly tell him to stop seeing other girls and only date me,

but… what if he rejects me?

Even if we date, what if Taeyang doesn’t stick to just me

and wants to meet various other girls?

Given his current behavior, I can’t be sure that won’t happen.

If Taeyang dislikes me, I can’t control that either,

forcing my way in might make him end up hating me,

…I definitely don’t want that.

Sigh… what’s wrong with my fate for liking such a guy…

Should I manage my expression and go in now..?

Shhh…tap!

?

The door that was opening closes again as a hand reaches out from behind.

Turning back, isn’t that Taeyang?

Come to think of it, is this a wall-slamming pose… nice.

Up close, even his eyelashes are long and his eyes…

No, no, this isn’t the time for that.

Forcing a serious expression, I say,

“What do you want?”

“Ha…ha… gosh, out of breath.

Why are you suddenly going alone? I said let’s go together…”

“…What about those clingy girls you had?”

“They were making a scene in front of the school gate since morning, telling me not to cause trouble and to see them later.”

“Geez… someone who looks like they couldn’t care less about such things

is speaking like a model student.”

“Yes yes~ Thank you for the compliment.”

“We’re in the same class anyway, why bother running separately with a few minutes’ difference?”

“Well… I want to go in with you, Se-hee…?”

“W…what the hell, why does this kid…”

“Why are you so mad, I don’t know, but did you want to solve it by looking at my handsome face?”

I tried to maintain a stern expression, but when he kept saying things that didn’t work, I burst out laughing.

“Haha, good-looking? You look like a gangster.”

Still, did he run over for my sake? That’s nice.

I feel sorry for getting so angry.

“Well… if you want it that badly, I guess I could…”

“Oohoo~ www Rare sight of Se-hee blushing!!!”

“Get lost!”

You bastard.

“Taeyang, Se-hee, hi~”

“…? Taeyang, what’s with the bruise under your eye?”

“Haha! It’s nothing.”

A black eye turned into a night eye.

Taeyang felt relieved that he succeeded in lifting Sehee’s spirits.

Class Time

Those who didn’t know Taeyang well judged him solely based on his appearance, thinking he was just a troublemaker who didn’t listen in school and disrespected teachers. However, it was quite the opposite. In fact, at the beginning of the semester, there were groups openly chatting and looking at their phones during class. But thanks to Taeyang, the class gradually transformed into a clean, studious group, maybe even becoming an honor student class.

For example…

Korean Class

“Hey!!! Can’t you see the teacher is teaching hard?!”

“Don’t worry about the teacher; focus more and listen carefully.”

“Uh… Yeah, Taeyang, thanks.”

Math Class

“Any questions?”

Swish

“Sensei, I have a question.”

“How do we solve this formula here?”

“Well… This formula is a bit tricky, but let me explain…”

History Class

ZZZ…

Cool….

Thud!

“Eek”

“Huh?”

“These guys are falling asleep, don’t you dare doze off!”

“If you ignore me and sleep, you’ll be joining me for some intense physical training in hell!”

“…….”

“Ta… Taeyang…”

The history teacher, seemingly moved, revealed a vulnerable side, followed by the most confident Physical Education class.

“Pass! Pass!”

“Taeyang, catch!!”

Crash!

The goalpost shakes violently as if it’s about to break.

“Nice one, Taeyang~!”

“As expected, our class ace!”

“Hey, don’t just give us a ride like we’re on a plane.”

Except for how he treats girls disruptively, he seems to excel at everything else, much to the amusement of his classmates.

Let’s grab some water…

“The more you look at Taeyang, the more charming he becomes, right?”

“That’s right~ At first, it was hard to approach him because of his looks, but there’s a subtle kindness about him, isn’t there?”

“By the way, did you hear about that…?”

“What?”

“The things the girls dating Taeyang say with their mouths shut~”

“They said that the guys they dated before looked like kids compared to him, showing a level of maturity that’s almost adult-like?”

“It’s a whole new world… Once you taste it, it’s like crossing a river you can never return from, or something like that…”

“Wow… Is it that intense?”

“He’s really good at studying, dating, and even sports…”

“Don’t just talk about it, why don’t we ask Taeyang out too..?”

“Hey, even if you say that, it’s not like he’s dating multiple people, you know~”

Astonishingly…

…I hear unexpected information.

Is it really…?

…Oops

I’m definitely not curious about that guy’s love life.

My classmates are just keeping an eye on my childhood friend’s gossip!

But Sehee was the only one unaware of her classmates gradually turning their heads towards those talking.

Before she knew it, it was time to head home.

Due to living next door, Taeyang and I usually go to school and come back together.

“Phew~~ Worked hard again today.”

“What should we eat for dinner tonight… Oh

“Dad won’t be coming today.”

“Huh? Why?”

“He said he’ll be coming late today after a company dinner.”

… Could this be an opportunity?

Pitter-patter

“You… Isn’t it a bit difficult for you to cook alone?”

“I’m not as good at cooking as you might think. I’ll probably just make something simple.”

“I guess there’s no choice~ I’ll cook for my poor childhood friend…”

Tap tap tap tap

Clang! Clang!

“Huh? Ahh, today I’ve planned to have a good time with my girls, so I might not have time, you know?”

“…What’s with that disappointed expression?”

“…Oh, I see.”

“Are you perhaps expecting something~?”

Sehee’s face turned bright red.

“Just leave!”

“WW Fine, then see you tomorrow.”

After parting ways with Taeyang and entering her house, Sehee sighed.

“There’s nothing I can do.”

After taking off her shoes and tidying up neatly, Sehee entered the living room and saw her sister curled up on the couch.

“Did you come, Unnie?”

“…Yeah.”

“Oh~ You have the face of the female lead who got rejected by her crush, the tragic heroine of unrequited love, don’t you?”

“Knowing and still asking…”

“Incompetent~ The worst~ ♡ Becoming a middle schooler but can’t even express feelings to the guy you like.

You’re disqualified as an older sister~ Should I just steal Taeyang away from you~ ♡”

“I told you not to talk like that!”

Thud

“Ouch!”

“Ouch! Unnie!! Aren’t you overreacting because of a joke?”

“You keep picking fights with me, that’s why.”

“…Hmph!! If you’re venting anyway,

I don’t even have any interest in Taeyang oppa!!

The one I like is Mr. Minsu!”

“Your taste is quite unique.”

“What’s wrong with Mr. Minsu!! You don’t dislike him either.”

“Of course I don’t dislike him. Where can you find someone as kind and gentle as Mr. Minsu?

But liking someone and loving someone are different things.”

“Do you even know how many years older you are compared to Mr. Minsu?”

“Incompetent sister~ What does age matter in love?”

“Boys your age don’t catch my eye! It’s only Mr. Minsu for me! Hehehe ♡”

“Even though he’s a boy your age.”

Listening to her little sister Sebit, a 6th grader, she couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.

“What about Mom and Dad?”

“They both said they’re going to a couple’s gathering today, remember, unnie?”

“Incompetent~ You’re only in middle school and already getting dementia?”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“I’ll cook dinner later, so relax until then and have some snacks since we’re having a meal.”

“Okay~”

Her younger sister gives a sign of understanding, waving her hand.

I wonder what she’ll grow up to be…

Thinking like that, she walks into her room.

“Sigh….”

She takes off the stuffy school uniform and changes into a cozy t-shirt and shorts.

Now I feel a bit better.

She dives onto the soft bed,

embracing her favorite teddy bear cushion, Gomdol, to melt away the day’s fatigue.

“Ah… feels good.”

As she rolls around absentmindedly, a sudden thought crosses her mind.

Having thought about Kim Taeyang all day long today,

she starts thinking about the items inside her drawer.

…Should I take a look at them after a long time…

In the drawer, there was a picture of Taeyang and me from elementary school days,

him fooling around next to me, and me frowning at him.

Back then, I only thought of him as a lively kid,

but when did things change to this extent…?

The pitiful and foolish expression on my face and the messy skin in the photo

are the same then and now.

…But would I be who I am now if it weren’t for Taeyang back then..?

The moment when I first met Taeyang flashes back.