episode_0064

064.

After the regular academy classes ended,

Soyeon and I slowly walked up the alley.

Following Soyeon’s desire to walk a bit today, we chose to use some of the footpaths to go home.

Step by step.

The sound of our footsteps walking together echoed softly in my ears.

We walked along the stream walkway where the clear water flowed gently.

The pleasant breeze and the moist humidity of the stream gently caressed our skin.

In the clear river, fish and water striders swam leisurely. Some children gathered around, watching the fish.

“It feels like it’s been a long time.”

A refreshing voice, like a beautiful jade bead rolling, gently tickled my ears.

“Going home together like this, just the two of us.”

I subtly moved my gaze to confirm the source of the voice.

There, I could see a lovely girl with flowing hair like a waterfall and gentle pumpkin-colored eyes looking at me.

Her appearance reminded me of a star faintly shining in the night sky.

Like the one lone star in the dark sky, scattering light in the darkness, captivating the eyes and hearts of those around.

“It feels like we used to do this often.”

Was it because of the fading sunset light?

There seemed to be a faint shadow on Soyeon’s face.

“Isn’t that right?”

Soyeon asked with a slightly cloudy expression.

Until middle school, Soyeon and I were almost always together, or so it seemed.

If I were to jokingly say, we were like fruit and needle, a pair of straw shoes.

But now, that’s not possible.

Because it shouldn’t be.

“As time passed, we drifted apart.”

“I had a lot to do… I was busy.”

At my words, Soyeon smiled bitterly.

“Busy, huh…”

Soyeon looked at me and spoke with a somewhat weak voice.

“You didn’t avoid me on purpose, did you?”

“Huh?”

“…Just kidding, just kidding.”

Soyeon immediately laughed, but I could see her laughter fading.

I looked at Soyeon for a moment and sighed.

“We’re not together anymore, right?”

“Oh.”

“Isn’t it a bit strange to keep sticking together?”

For a moment, Soyeon’s large pupils shook slightly.

A shadow fell over Soyeon’s eyes. The faint light lingered for a moment before fading away.

“Yeah, we broke up.”

“Well, it was a fake relationship, after all.”

“A fake relationship…”

Soyeon bit her small pink lips.

With a hint of apology and bitterness in her eyes, she glanced at me before looking away.

“…It must have been tough. Because of my foolish request.”

“Well, I knew you were in a difficult situation. I could grant that request.”

“…It’s nothing.”

She replied lightly, as if it were nothing.

Instead, Soyeon’s expression softened slightly, and she bit her lower lip.

“…I didn’t know you were struggling.”

“Soyeon?”

“…You always think of me, don’t you?”

With a faint gaze, Soyeon murmured for a moment before shaking her head slightly. Now is not the time for this kind of conversation.

“Oh, let’s talk about this later, later.”

Soyeon slightly lifted the corners of her mouth and smiled brightly. Judging by the slight quiver of her lips, it seemed like she was forcing the smile.

“Oh, hey, look here. Do you remember when we played by the river during the summer festival back in the day?”

“…Yeah, I guess.”

Although I was tempted to subtly question Soyeon’s unusual behavior today, I shook my head inwardly.

Let’s just leave her be for now.

I gazed out at the water and raised my voice cheerfully.

“Wasn’t it the summer water gun festival?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Soyeon smiled brightly and vigorously nodded her head.

Memories of Soyeon and I playing drums together at this place in our childhood came flooding back to me.

On hot summer days, we would come with our parents and splash each other with water, having a blast.

I felt sorry for Soyeon, who was drenched and uncomfortable because of me, as she puffed air into her cheeks and pouted for a while, but it was quite cute.

As childhood friends, we had many memories together in various places.

“It was really fun back then.”

“Yeah, it was.”

“We didn’t have any worries back then, we could just play together without a care in the world.”

I let out a bitter smile.

“Well, if we have time later, we can come play again. It’s summer now, after all.”

“R-really?”

“If other kids come along, it’ll be quite fun, right? Like Sihun or Seoyoon.”

“…Sihun?”

Soyeon’s expression darkened again.

Did I say something wrong?

You like playing with those kids.

Is the atmosphere still awkward between you and Sihun?

Or maybe, could it be…?

“What, you want to play alone with me?”

“Huh? Oh, no, I mean…”

Soyeon widened her eyes, then hesitantly extended her finger.

It seemed like she was trying to subtly gauge my reaction.

It’s true that we haven’t hung out alone much lately.

We used to hang out a lot in the past.

But things are different now.

How does Sihun see our relationship?

We decided to walk home together today because Sihun had to rush back for training with his swordsmanship instructor.

“We haven’t really been hanging out alone much lately, so… it’s a bit disappointing, right?”

“Ah, what are you talking about? We’re just taking a break, right? What would people think if they saw us?”

“…Is that so?”

“And I should try dating properly at least once. It would be awkward if rumors started spreading while we were hanging out alone. You don’t mind, right, Soyeon?”

I shrugged casually and joked.

But Soyeon only showed a bitter smile along with a faint blush and wavering eyes.

Like someone feeling guilty.

“Oh, haha. I see, yeah. You should try dating too…”

Soyeon laughed as usual, trailing off her words before abruptly stopping.

She lowered her head for a moment, hesitating.

The conversation came to a sudden halt.

A subtle, awkward silence settled between us.

“…”

“…”

Soyeon seems a bit off today.

Her reactions are a bit strange.

I shifted my gaze for a moment.

The walking path in sight was adorned with fresh greenery, vines, and beautiful flowers. It was well-maintained as it was frequented by many people.

In the distance, I could see the darkness settling through the lush leaves.

Oh, is it already evening?

The darkness had fallen, and the lights along the walking path cast a bright glow.

Soyeon and I enjoyed the beautiful lights for a while before feeling hungry and deciding to stop by a street vendor to buy some chicken skewers.

When I offered to pay, Soyeon waved her arms and said, “You don’t have any money, remember? I’ll treat you today!”

But wait a minute.

Do I really have a lot of money?

It’s not a joke, but it feels like money is multiplying every time I breathe.

Wouldn’t you be surprised if you found out how much I earned from stocks?

I finished the card payment before Soyeon and she looked at me with a teasing look, then sighed and thanked me.

The awkward atmosphere faded as Soyeon and I enjoyed some street food, strolled along the scenic path, and had trivial conversations on our way back home.

It felt like going back in time when we used to walk back home together, chatting and playing around during our middle school days.

But ever since I recalled memories from my past life, Soyeon and I rarely spent time together like this.

Was Soyeon feeling a bit nostalgic in her own way?

Maybe her bringing up past stories while walking home together today was a sign that she missed our old relationship.

I, too, didn’t mind the nostalgic feeling after a long time.

However, our relationship can never go back to the way it used to be.

Never.

***

“So, coffee it is?”

“The service is surprisingly good today.”

“It’s the price of the chicken skewers, the price of the chicken skewers.”

“Really? But coffee is fine. It’s quite late already. We should go back and sleep.”

“Oh, right.”

We had arrived at Soyeon’s house before we knew it.

Since we walked part of the way, it took quite some time to get to her house.

But it wasn’t a bad time. It had been a long time since just the two of us walked back home together.

Soyeon and I casually put down our bags and entered the room.

“So, what did you want to say?”

“Um.”

Soyeon, who sat at the head of the bed, hesitated, so I raised my head alone and waited.

“Well, should I go first then?”

“Oh… yeah. Jinhyuk, you said you had something to say too, right?”

“Yeah.”

I had something to say and something to give.

Should I start by jokingly saying I have the ability to see the future?

I didn’t know how Soyeon would react, but I needed to say it seriously so she could believe it wasn’t just a joke.

Thinking about the future, I needed to make her believe that I had the ability to see the future.

“Soyeon.”

“Yeah.”

I sat on the desk chair and looked at Soyeon seriously, sensing a slight change in the atmosphere.

Did she feel that the atmosphere had changed a bit?

Soyeon also adjusted her posture slightly.

“I actually have something to confess to you.”

“…Uh, confess?”

“I’ve been hiding it from you all this time, but the situation has led me to believe that I need to tell you.”

“…Wait, w-what are you talking about?”

I was about to say that I’ve been hiding the ability to see the future all this time! But Soyeon seemed more flustered than necessary.

Soyeon’s confused eyes wandered around, and when our eyes met, she seemed surprised and quickly lowered her gaze, fidgeting with her fingers.

…How should I put it?

Confusion, anxiety, guilt, and other complex emotions seemed to mix in her eyes.

Oh, could it be that Soyeon…

Did she mistakenly think I was going to confess my love?

No, it’s understandable that she would have a slight misunderstanding since I suddenly tried to create a serious atmosphere and bring up a confession. There might have been a slight error in my choice of words.

“What… I guess Soyeon might be quite flustered from her perspective.”

If you suddenly think that your childhood friend is confessing, you can’t help but be surprised.

“But if it was the usual Soyeon, she would have probably thought it was a joke and just laughed it off, right?”

Like the clueless protagonist of a reverse harem, she probably thought, ‘Oh, Jinhyeok is playing another boring prank~’.

Because Soyeon, who couldn’t possibly think that I liked her.

“But that reaction…”

I scratched my chin for a moment, then made up my mind to continue speaking.

Anyway, it was a bit amusing to see Soyeon flustered, but I can’t just leave her alone, so I need to quickly put an end to this misunderstanding.

“C-confession, you say, Jinhyeok, I… I…”

“I actually awakened a psychic ability related to future prediction.”

“…?”

In that moment,

Soyeon had a slightly dumbfounded expression.