episode_0049

Friday morning.

The time is 8:50 am.

There were still 10 minutes left until the first period began, and a small event was taking place in our first year, second class.

That’s what it is.

“Wow, look at the expression on Jooju’s face. Are you intentionally laughing because you’re advertising?”

“If you were next to me, you would have hit me first, admit it?”

“I admit, my eyes got so intense that I wanted to stab them with my index and middle fingers.”

The kids in my class were making fun of me by looking at my appearance as a model for a cosmetics commercial, which I did at Seungwoo Kim’s request.

The boys I’m close to are playing a video posted on Ham Ji-eun’s YouTube channel and are giggling as they tackle each and every time I say something.

“Thanks to the skin lotion, my skin seems to be more moisturized… . Damn this. What kind of pretense is this?”

“Fucking smoke, it almost feels like a bomb attack? My eyes are rotting, my eyes are rotting.”

“The cosmetics are good, but the model is really bad.”

“The desire to purchase drops due to the model. First of all, I never use cosmetics that have Joo Woo as the model.”

“… … No, it’s not that bad, is it?”

Even when I look at myself in YouTube videos, I look a little, no, very awkward.

But still, there is no need to be criticized this much.

It seemed like he was using the video as an excuse to say things he always wanted to say, so I cautiously said something, and the kids all gave him a straight look.

“Uh, that’s about it.”

“Be thankful that you didn’t swear twice, Jooju.”

“Ham Ji-eun If it weren’t for YouTube, she would have already left malicious comments. Change the advertising model from next time.”

“… … .”

Really tidy that up.

I turned my head and looked at Seungwoo Kim.

I wondered if he had the same thoughts as the other kids, so I just asked him with my eyes, feeling like I was grasping at straws.

Seungwoo Kim quietly observed me in the video and tilted his head as if he truly did not understand.

“Why? It looks good to me.”

“Hey, what’s okay about being okay? No matter who sees it, it’s a really cool performance.”

“It’s Woojoo’s first time as an advertising model, so it’s inevitable that she feels a little awkward… . Considering it’s my first time, I look good, right? The facial expression is good and not too overdone.”

“Miss, what is Kim Seung-woo’s sense?”

“Are you siding with the model just because she’s the advertiser’s friend? Is it a cosmetics cartel?”

“I’m not the advertiser’s friend… . I’m friends with the person who received the advertisement.”

Kim Seung-woo must have completely adapted to being part of the basketball family now, shrugging his shoulders and fending off the kids’ attacks.

That relaxed appearance was quite surprising and new, so I looked at him without realizing it and at some point our eyes met.

Seungwoo Kim took a quick look at the kids.

“Woojoo, you did a great job, so there’s no need to be discouraged. At this level, I did much better than when I first acted.”

He patted my shoulder and grinned.

‘… … and.’

I had a vague feeling from the moment Jamsil Stadium was purchased, that although he only looked a little scary, he was actually a very nice kid.

I was moved by his honest words, and I looked up at Seungwoo Kim, feeling my heart sink a little.

“Yes, I think it’s okay for me too. The universe came out really cool, right?”

“That’s right, space! You came out so cool~!”

“Boys, you do that because you’re jealous, because you’re jealous!”

And on top of that, the girls in my class defended me after watching the video I appeared in as a model.

I, who had been feeling a little glum, quickly regained my energy, glanced at my friends and grinned as if to ask them to take a look at this.

“Look. They say the other kids are fine. Aren’t your eyes wrong at this level?”

“Wow, in One-Eyed Village, people with two eyes are said to be abnormal… … .”

“Everyone is crazy, crazy.”

“Even so, the truth cannot be hidden, Lord Universe. You’re so fucking hot, you bastard… !”

“Yeah, I can’t hear you~ Seungwoo and the girls said they were nice~”

“Fuck it’s good, hey… .”

“But Woojoo, your girlfriend said she saw this video?”

Kim Seung-woo, who was laughing, asked me.

“No, you probably haven’t seen it yet?”

“Really? We talked about this a lot in our group chat room over the weekend. Didn’t you show it to me then?”

“It’s a bit difficult to show… .”

“Ah, indeed. Even if it’s a cosmetics commercial, acting is acting, isn’t it a little embarrassing?”

“… … Ugh, well.”

Although I roughly glossed over it, the second problem was actually embarrassing to show.

After all, the biggest problem was that I did what Aki told me not to do.

Aki told me not to model for a cosmetics advertisement, but in order to preserve my friendship and loyalty with Kim Seung-woo, I went to Ham Ji-eun’s studio and broadcasted a cosmetics advertisement.

If Aki finds out about this, I’m afraid of having to deal with it… … ?

Aki doesn’t get upset easily, but once he gets upset, it lasts for a really, really long time.

That’s why I hid this video as much as possible, and if possible, I didn’t want Aki to know about it for the rest of his life.

“But, if everyone in my class knows it, wouldn’t the kids in the next class know it too?”

“Uh, you already know everything, right? I also received a link to the video from a girl I know in the class next to me. Isn’t this a kid in your class?”

“Well, then you know almost everything. Even my girlfriend in the main universe already knows.”

“I guess so. Because they will all be close to each other.”

Listening to what you say, it seems like you already know everything.

‘… … Of course Aki knows.’

The moment I thought that, buuung─.

The cell phone in my pocket vibrated.

When I took it out and checked, it was a personal chat. The sender is Aki.

[Wooju-chan]

[Talk to Atashi later]

“… … .”

What was coming was coming.

* * *

4th period, PE class.

Originally, the 4th period on Friday was not a joint physical education session, but the timetable was adjusted because several first-grade teachers, including the physical education teacher, are going on a field trip preliminary field trip starting next week.

So, today’s 4th period is a joint physical education session for classes 1 and 2 that was scheduled for 1st period next Monday.

What this means is that Aki in class 1 and I in class 2 run into each other.

Aki clearly said we would talk later, but I had no idea that later would be just a few hours later, not after school.

… … Anyway, near the basketball hoop.

Today, we are taking a physical fitness test, so we each warm up for 10 minutes and then take various tests during the remaining time.

So, I should also be slowly warming up.

I sat quietly next to Aki and watched him.

The reason for paying attention is, well.

The mistakes of the past, the price paid for maintaining loyalty to Kim Seung-woo.

‘I knew you were upset because you hadn’t spoken to me since we broke up while shopping last time, but… .’

I never thought I would get caught modeling for a cosmetics advertisement in that situation.

Since I told you not to do it, you must be very angry, right?

Thinking like that, I looked at Aki’s expression.

“… … .”

“… … .”

I can’t immediately read Aki’s expression.

He looks too calm to be angry.

To say that nothing is wrong would be to say that there are some emotions hidden in one’s heart… … .

“Hey, Aki.”

It felt a little burdensome to wait like this, so I opened my mouth first, as I had done something wrong.

Aki slowly turns his head and looks at me.

The expression is still expressionless.

To be honest, I was a little shocked to see this girl always smiling brightly.

“Well, I’m sorry. I’m angry… ?”

“No, I’m not angry?”

“… … .”

Regardless of time and place, the person who says, ‘I’m not angry’ is the scariest.

When he speaks, he doesn’t even look at my eyes and turns his body completely in the opposite direction.

When you see ‘I’m upset~’ as something that is clearly expressed through words and actions.

This is at least 3 to 4 of the 5 stages of Aki-pijim. So, it’s between medium and large.

“… … Heung.”

“… … .”

No, I was convinced that it was probably just a major upset.

‘Well, well… .’

Since I sent him away alone and didn’t even apologize, it’s only natural that he would get upset like this.

Even though I am self-employed, there is nothing much to say.

Still, I didn’t want my relationship with Aki to become estranged because of something like this.

No matter what anyone says, the person closest to me is Aki, and the person closest to Aki is me.

Of course, in this situation, if you ask, ‘Aki, who are you closest to?’, of course, someone else’s name will come up, not my name… … .

“You know, Aki.”

“… … Why.”

My childhood friend’s reaction is cold.

It was so cold that for a moment I thought spring was already over.

However, I expected this kind of reaction to some extent. We have also prepared preparations for that.

Instead of saying something, I took my phone out of my pocket.

Then, I tapped the keyboard and accessed the site I had been looking at all weekend.

“If it’s okay, can you take a look at this?”

I carefully held out my cell phone.

I thought what would happen if I didn’t receive it, but fortunately that didn’t happen.

“… … What is this?”

“Not much, ”

The name of the site displayed on the mobile phone screen is Lotte Hotel Busan.

As the name suggests, it is a lodging establishment in Busan.

“Well, we received tickets to Lotte Water Park at the baseball stadium a while ago. But when I looked into it, I found out that the water park was in Gimhae. You know Gimhae, right? Near Busan, down there.”

“Ugh, I know… .”

When the story of the water park is brought up, Aki’s expression gradually regains vitality.

I thought it was about time, so I quietly added while looking at Aki.

“After the exam, let’s go to the water park together. I reserved accommodation using the money I received from my part-time job.”

“I made a reservation for accommodation… ?”

“Yes, the place I just showed you is the accommodation we will be using.”

“Uh… . really? How did you make your reservation? Minors cannot sleep together or stay in hotels… ?”

“Yes, that’s right. Is it not possible to sleep alone? However, it is possible to stay separately, as long as there is parental consent.”

I had a hard time getting the parents’ consent.

First, I called my parents in the U.S. and explained the situation, then sent them a consent form for minors to stay, and received a fax with a signed document.

I also called Aki’s parents.

[I’m planning to go to the water park with Aki. Due to the distance, I don’t think a day trip will be possible, so it’s about 2 days and 1 night. Yes, of course we will sleep separately. There won’t be any accidents. thank you. But can I ask you a favor? If nothing else, we need consent from our parents if we want to sleep in a hotel by ourselves… … .]

After giving a detailed explanation, I finally received consent.

After receiving the consent form, I sent the prepared documents to the hotel and received permission for the two of us to stay separately. So for the past few days, I haven’t had time to appease Aki’s anger.

“I have obtained parental consent and am ready.”

“… … You got consent?”

“Ugh, now Aki, all you have to do is say okay.”

“… … .”

Road lock.

Aki’s eyes rolled into space.

He didn’t say anything, but he looked a bit harsh, so I quietly went and sat next to Aki.

“Sorry, I should have apologized sooner… . It’s an advertisement shoot, a hotel reservation. I was a little busy with the consent form and everything, so I couldn’t do that. I’m really sorry, you were very disappointed, right?”

“… … .”

“This time it was a friend’s favor, so I really had no choice… . From now on, I will never do it on my own. Aki I won’t do anything you tell me not to do, and unfortunately I won’t do it. I won’t let you go alone like last time.”

“… … .”

“… … And, if you go with me.”

I held Aki’s hand carefully.

“Aki I’ll do whatever you want, and I’ll even have fun with you. … … How about it?”

“… … .”

“… … .”

Why aren’t you saying anything?

Perhaps there was something you didn’t like… … ?

I was a little anxious, but I felt like I had done all I could, so I just waited.

OK.

Aki seemed to be thinking deeply about something.

“… … What.”

He wiggled the hand that was holding me.

“Okay. … … Atashi is fine, but if Uju~chan really wants to do that.”

I blushed slightly.

“Oh, really? Good luck, then… .”

“… … But!”

Aki suddenly wakes up.

I accidentally lost my grip and looked up at Aki.

“I can’t let go of my anger right away. Because Uju~chan lied to Atashi… !”

“I don’t think I’ve ever lied… … ?”

“… … Uju~chan, are you talking back to me?”

“Oh, sorry… .”

Even though there were things I didn’t say, I didn’t lie, but it was true that I made him feel sad, so I just admitted it.

Aki looked down at me with a slightly red face, then crossed her arms and placed her forearms under her chest.

“Just one day.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll be angry for just one day today, and from tomorrow I’ll go back to normal.”

“… … Are you going to be angry for just one day?”

“Yes, just for one day. I won’t be angry beyond that. … … Because Uju~chan worked hard too.”

“… … .”

I am grateful that you recognize my efforts. But what does it mean to be angry for just one day?

I couldn’t understand it at all, but he said with his own mouth that he would get angry for just one day and then go back to normal… … . I felt like if I said anything about it, the number of days would just increase.

“Okay, well… . okay. Then, today, I will accept everything Aki does to me without saying anything.”

“… … Really?”

──Class 1, class 2! After the warm-up is over, gather inside the auditorium!

The loud voice of the physical education teacher was heard at that time.

It seemed like 10 minutes had already passed since we were talking, so I got up and followed Aki.

“Really? Are you really, really not angry?”

“Ugh, really. No matter what I do, I won’t be angry.”

“… … Hehe, okay.”

Aki responded with a smile and moved his arms.

Shock, shock.

Aki wrapped his arms around me, and we naturally stood side by side.

“… … What are you doing?”

“They said they would accept everything without saying anything, but that was a lie. Uju~chan?”

“… … .”

Does getting angry mean that it has already started?

‘… … what.’

In fact, if this is how you get angry, I feel good about it.

Thinking like that, I nodded and walked forward.

“No, let’s go. To take a physical fitness test.”