episode_0239

“… … Iseo, I heard you’re having an exam period these days, are you having a hard time?”

A busy cafe with lots of people.

Choi Yi-seo tilted her head in confusion at Oh Yoon-ji’s question, who was sitting across from her.

“No? Why?”

Although it was exam period, overall this final exam was quite relaxed.

I usually spend a lot of time hanging out with Woojin Kim.

Rather, because I studied until late at night before the exam, I actually had some free time during the exam period.

“Your expression doesn’t look very good.”

“… … .”

“Your face is also shady. I called you, so I thought I should listen to your worries.”

“Is this what you called for counseling?”

There were a lot of people in the cafe, but it was so quiet that it felt secluded.

That’s how many students chose the cafe as a place to study. Although it wasn’t intentional, I would say that the store’s environment changed due to the exam period.

Choi Yi-seo continued speaking, pointing out that point.

“You’re calling in college students during exam periods to give them advice?”

“You said you had free time. I thought you would have this much time since you are Choi Yi-seo.”

“… … .”

“And if it was really hard, I would have refused. Unlike in the past.”

That’s right.

Because Choi Yi-seo, who couldn’t refuse a friend’s request or got swept up in the atmosphere, is no longer there.

“You’ve been like this since the old days.”

Should I say it is proactive?

Oh Yoon-ji’s confident attitude of always focusing on herself was both her strength and weakness.

It was no wonder that she naturally took center stage in the crowd.

“… … Well.”

But they say people change as they get older.

At first glance, Yoonji’s expression seemed to have lost some of the confidence she had in the past.

Of course, even though I was older, I was only one or two years older.

“What kind of consultation is this?”

Choi Yi-seo tried hard to pretend not to see it and just glossed over it.

Since Yunji has always hated having others see her weaknesses, it was also a kind of consideration.

“Why are you like that?”

But Oh Yoon-ji, on the other hand, asked Choi Yi-seo the reason.

“You don’t have to know.”

“Is it okay if I don’t know? Is it better not to know?”

“It’s better not to know.”

“Are you talking about Woojin?”

A friend’s keen eye was always something to reconsider.

In fact, it was also because Choi Yi-seo had no talent for lying whatsoever.

“Ahem, so let’s just move on.”

In the end, Choi Yi-seo decided that she couldn’t hide it, so she spoke with consideration in her own way.

“Tell me, I might be able to help you.”

“… … Isn’t it a bit much to ask your ex-girlfriend that?”

Oh Yoon-ji paused for a moment at the comment that it didn’t seem right from a moral standpoint.

Whether it’s to organize your thoughts or to calm your emotions.

Choi Yi-seo didn’t know that far ahead.

“Then it’s okay if I don’t help you?”

Choi Yi-seo sighed deeply at Yoon-ji’s words.

I thought it would be nice to help her as she said.

I wanted to vent my suffocating feelings to someone.

“It’s okay.”

But it wasn’t like that.

Choi Yi-seo answered with a dignified expression, her voice shaking as she said it was okay, but it was a lie after all.

Oh Yoon-ji didn’t bother to ask any further questions.

Because Choi Yi-seo has always been like this.

“When reason and emotion fight, reason always wins.”

“… … Is that a compliment?”

“Maybe.”

Suddenly, Oh Yoon-ji wondered what it would be like to be with Kim Woo-jin, but she thought it would be a secret between the two of them, so she just let it go.

“Then tell me your worries?”

“Yeah, tell me. That’s what I came here to hear.”

I thought it must be a pretty heavy topic to make such a fuss about it.

“You said you’d work with us during this vacation.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“I’m thinking about changing my job, so I was wondering what you think.”

“… … That was your concern?”

I thought it was surprisingly trivial content.

“What should I do?”

“All the broadcasters in our company lack exercise. So I was wondering if you could help them out a bit.”

“Can’t you just call in the experts and write it?”

“Ha, that’s the problem. Broadcasters all have different wake-up times, work times, and home times, right?”

He keeps complaining that he has no choice but to live a more irregular life than he thought.

“That’s why it’s difficult to hire a professional trainer. The times are different for everyone, and sometimes I can’t wake up at the promised time.”

“Ah.”

“You’re not a professional trainer, but you’ve been working out for a long time. I heard from Minji that you even took a barf. Can you show me?”

“… … Let me choose some pictures.”

Because there were some things that were taken in a suggestive way.

It is necessary to choose a photo that has as little exposure as possible and is taken in an ordinary manner.

Oh Yoon-ji exclaims, ““Oh.”,” as she picks up just one photo from her phone and shows it to Choi Yi-seo.

I thought he was going to say something sentimental, but he quickly returned to talking about business.

Oh Yoon-ji lowers her head and opens her mouth in a low posture.

“To be honest, the problem is that it costs a lot to hire a trainer. That’s why I’m asking you for a favor.”

“Um, can I be honest about that?”

“I know this method works best for you. You are rational, but weak to emotional requests from others.”

It was weak.

But it wasn’t wrong, and it didn’t feel that bad.

“I’ll pay you much more than Minji. Plus, you won’t have to do chores and all you have to do is exercise with the kids.”

“Well, it’s not bad.”

It wasn’t bad, it was good.

Personally, I like working out, and I like being able to get paid to do it with other people.

“Right? I’ll even sign you up for a gym near our company building. The equipment there is really good. I go there sometimes to work out too.”

After listening to Yoonji, I started to have much more expectations.

Choi Yi-seo searches the name of the gym she told her about on her phone and exclaims in admiration as she looks at the interior photos and equipment.

‘this.’

I thought I had neglected Yoonji because I was too focused, so I raised my head.

“Yoon, Jiya?”

“… … .”

The atmosphere was strange.

Yunji’s eyes are clearly open, but they seem to be looking at something other than this place.

I called out to Yunji several times in a hazy and dull mood, but there was no answer.

“Yoonji?!”

“Huh-? Huh!?”

As I called out to her urgently, shaking her, Oh Yoon-ji, who had finally come to her senses, took a deep breath.

It was as if I had even forgotten to breathe.

“What? Where does it hurt? Why are you like this all of a sudden?”

“No, no. It’s nothing.

Oh Yoon-ji smiles, saying it’s nothing.

Although Choi Yi-seo was genuinely worried, Oh Yoon-ji intentionally changed the subject.

“Anyway. When summer vacation starts, take a couple days off and then go straight to work. With Minji.”

“… … .”

“I told you it’s okay. I was just tired and took a short nap.”

Can you call that sleeping?

It didn’t just feel like it was broken.

A cold feeling that the body of the person named Oh Yoon-ji is here, but her mind has gone somewhere.

But at some point, I started to think that it would be more natural if I couldn’t wake up.

Oh Yoon-ji ends her story hastily, smiling and refusing to talk about herself.

“Then that’s it. I’ll take care of you during the vacation. Since all the kids in our group have easygoing personalities, it won’t be difficult.”

“Yeah… … .”

“And.”

Oh Yoon-ji slowly gets up from her seat.

Choi Yi-seo looked up at her while sitting, as she had planned to just study here from the beginning.

“As a senior, let me give you some advice.”

senior.

Everything from the sound of the words to their meaning brought a bitter smile to Choi Yi-seo’s lips.

“To be worried means you have regrets. To be regretful means you love.”

“… … .”

“Different people are at fault, blaming each other, and fighting. Ultimately, it’s only possible if you’re by each other’s side.”

Yunji’s clear voice pierces Choi Yi-seo’s heart.

“No one knows what kind of ending awaits them after time passes.”

As she watched Yoon-ji’s back as she left, Choi Yi-seo thought about the advice she had given her.

“Sigh.”

Because I knew what Oh Yoon-ji and Kim Woo-jin were going through.

I had something to ask.

I really wanted to ask you if you were okay with your relationship with Kim Woojin developing like this.

but.

Because Choi Yi-seo didn’t have the courage to step that far.

What remains is a heavy lump.

“Sigh.”

I wanted to lighten my complicated hair.

Rather, meeting Oh Yoon-ji made him feel even more confused.

Before I knew it, my fingers had already memorized the number and I was typing it into my phone, a number I had written and erased countless times.

After a while.

“Haaak! Haaak! Is that you?!”

Kim Woo-jin, out of breath as if he had come by bicycle, was standing in front of him.

“I told you it was okay to come late.”

Choi Yi-seo tried to hide her depressed mood, but he answered with a bright smile.

“I wanted to see you earlier.”

Even though he only said one word, he felt the lump in his chest melt away.

Kim Woo-jin secretly sat down next to her.

I called to return the clothes, and the moment I was about to take them out of the bag.

Kim Woo-jin gently grabbed the hand that was reaching for the bag.

There was no separate word.

He approached Choi Yi-seo calmly, carefully taking her hand as if asking for permission.

He hugged me affectionately.

“… … !”

There was no particular word.

That was just the end of it.

I wanted to ask what was going on because the atmosphere was completely different from usual.

That wasn’t it.

What was different from usual was myself.

“Are you having a hard time?”

In Kim Woo-jin’s voice, comfort flowed rather than forgiveness or an apology.

Is that why?

Choi Yi-seo nodded slightly in his arms, hugging him tightly without realizing it.

“What was so hard?”

“Because of you.”

“My bones hurt.”

I couldn’t see it because he had his face buried in his chest, but it seemed like he was smiling bitterly.

“It’s complicated, my head hurts because it’s so complicated.”

Was it wrong for me not to be able to forgive Kim Woo-jin?

Was it a mistake to meet Yoonji?

Or should I have just strongly denied this relationship from the beginning and left?

I had a lot of thoughts.

“Then just say whatever comes to mind.”

Choi Yi-seo said the first thing that came to her mind when she heard Kim Woo-jin’s words.

“Bad guy.”

“Ahem, again?”

“You said you were studying, how could you do that to Arin? If you lie, what will happen to my trust in you?”

“I have no excuses. Again?”

“I waited because I wanted to eat lunch with you. But are you spending time with Yerin?”

“… … Hey, there’s more?”

“Idiot. It’s annoying. Why do you make it so hard for me?”

“Again?”

“If you’re going to tease me for dating three people, shouldn’t you take care of it yourself?”

“This is my first time dating three people. Again?”

“I’m embarrassed to be like this in a cafe.”

“It’s okay, it’s in a corner so no one can see it. Everyone is studying. Again?”

“… … I feel good because I haven’t been with you in a long time.”

“Me too.”

“Why did you suddenly hug me?”

“Because you looked like you were having a hard time?”

“Why are you so perceptive only at times like this?”

“Don’t you want to miss it?”

“Do not answer questions with questions.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I want to have dinner with you.”

“Let’s eat something delicious. Something you like.”

“You and Yoon Ji-rang are really not related?”

“It’s all over.”

“Is this okay? Yoonji is my friend, and you are my friend’s ex-boyfriend.”

“It wasn’t Oh Yoon-ji’s friend and Oh Yoon-ji’s ex-boyfriend meeting, it was Choi Yi-seo and Kim Woo-jin meeting.”

“I know that letting you go is the most comfortable thing.”

“I respect your choice, but I will continue to try not to let you go.”

“… … .”

Choi Yi-seo with her mouth tightly shut.

Kim Woo-jin smiled broadly as he looked down at it.

“Is it the end?”

“… … .”

With each word I uttered, I felt like the worries surrounding it were disappearing.

Maybe that’s why.

Before we know it, what remains inside is not rational thinking.

A feeling close to purity.

Suddenly, I remembered what Oh Yoon-ji had said earlier.

You are a rational person.

In the battle between emotion and reason, reason always wins.

I didn’t deny it.

Because he knows it too.

And the one who was changing that kind of self was clearly the man in front of her.

Maybe that’s why.

As the complicated and tangled rational thoughts began to clear away, the clear emotions that had found me began to shout out loud.

“I think I love you… … so, so much. So much that I want to forgive you.”

Kim Woo-jin, who hugged Choi Yi-seo, who had blurted out those words, a little more tightly, smiled faintly.

“Me too.”

Normally.

And in the end, it all got ruined like that.

And then, at the very end, he spouts out all this nonsense.

‘Why, only at times like this?’

Choi Yi-seo felt Kim Woo-jin kiss her forehead, and laughed awkwardly at herself who had fallen again.