episode_0263

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I had always kept in mind that someday, a troublesome situation might arise.

Of course. Even if Lee Hayoon and Han Sua had Lee Jiyoon as a bridge between them, it was an extremely narrow and uncomfortable one. Han Sua wasn’t the type to actively cross that bridge either.

For two people in the same Class 1-A, it wouldn’t be strange if they hadn’t even had a proper conversation yet. No—I was certain. Even if neither of them knew the sound of the other’s voice, it wouldn’t be surprising.

That’s why, if an opportunity like summer vacation came up later, I had planned to create a connection between them—something like “my friend’s younger sister” or “my younger sister’s friend.”

“…”

Right. I had planned to.

But before that, I got caught by Seol Dabin and her boyfriend.

Seo Woojin, wearing a superficial smile, sighed inwardly as he stared at Seol Dabin and her boyfriend.

…How on earth could he make the two of them keep their mouths shut?

If he tried to cover it up with Lee Jiyoon, the moment the topic of hair color came up, he’d be exposed immediately.

Completely deceiving them seemed impossible.

“…Hello, Teacher.”

“Ah, yes. Fancy seeing you here.”

“Right? Feels like we’ve been running into each other a lot lately.”

“…”

While Woojin forced a smile and racked his brain to act natural, Seol Dabin was also replaying her memories.

The first thing that came to mind was the health teacher she had run into while wandering downtown.

To be more precise—the health teacher who, despite being shy, had a stunningly beautiful girlfriend hiding behind him.

Up to that point, there was no issue.

Unless that “pretty girl” was actually a minor, it was hard to even create a problem.

But the scene before her now… was perfect for stirring up trouble.

Instead of looking for a seat, Dabin, who had been alternating her gaze between the two, decided to press a little further.

“Hayoon. Right?”

“Huh? Uh—”

“You asked me before, remember? ‘Have you ever been confessed to by a girl?’”

It was a while ago, but she remembered the gist of it.

She might not recall the finer details, but the image of Hayoon clutching a picnic basket while asking, “Dabin, have you ever been confessed to by a girl?” out of nowhere was still vivid in her mind.

At the time, she thought Hayoon must’ve just been seeing some guy and, too embarrassed to ask directly, had phrased it as a joke about a girl instead… but.

If the person in question was actually the health teacher standing right here.

If he already had a girlfriend, and Hayoon, unaware, was mistakenly thinking they had something going on…

…If, just if.

If this bastard was taking advantage of Hayoon’s naivety—

“N-No, that’s not it…!”

“…”

Just as Dabin’s sharpened gaze bore into Woojin, Hayoon frantically waved both hands in denial.

“Teacher was just… helping me with… some personal advice…”

“…”

Personal advice.

But it was hard to take that at face value when Hayoon’s face had turned beet red just moments ago…

Was she just embarrassed because she was caught in the middle of an honest conversation?

Dabin’s gaze, which had been fixed on Hayoon for a moment, shifted back to Woojin.

Her eyes were asking, “Is that really the truth?”

And Woojin wasn’t dense enough to miss that.

“A few days ago, she asked if I could spare some time, even briefly. I still don’t know what it’s about, though.”

“…”

“I’m not a counselor, so I’m not sure, but I thought easing into it with casual conversation might help.”

So that’s why they were at a tteokbokki place.

Listening to Woojin’s hastily fabricated excuse, Dabin exhaled slowly and glanced between the two.

Then, gripping her boyfriend’s uniform sleeve tightly to stop him from doing something unnecessary like saying, “Oh, we’ll get out of your way then—”

It had probably been about two weeks since Hayoon had asked that weird question.

“A few days ago” was stretching it, but it just barely fit.

Besides, what Hayoon had asked back then was whether anyone had ever confessed to them, regardless of gender.

The first person she asked was me—who’s been dating the same guy for ten years.

And the second was the health teacher… who has a girlfriend.

The reason? Well, obviously, asking people in relationships would give more accurate answers.

If you forced the pieces together, they sort of fit.

“…”

But was that really it?

For example… what if they were just caught on a date and lied about it being “personal advice” out of embarrassment?

Was that not the case?

“…Ah. I see. Must be tough for you too, Teacher.”

“Not really. This is something I could do over lunch. It’s nothing major.”

Dabin briefly considered saying something like, “Teacher, wasn’t that your girlfriend you were with last time?” but quickly dismissed the idea.

It would’ve been no different from outright accusing him of two-timing, and if she was wrong, the backlash would’ve been disastrous.

If this really was just personal advice, Hayoon would’ve already known, and the teacher would’ve been rightfully offended at being suspected like that.

But asking Hayoon, “What kind of advice were you getting?” would’ve been weird too. No—really weird.

Fortunately, Dabin knew a few ways to navigate situations like this.

The kind of skill people called “social tact.”

She hadn’t learned it intentionally, but after years of dealing with girls who talked behind her back just because of her looks, she’d picked it up naturally.

In moments like this, it was wiser to take a step back rather than digging for secrets and earning their displeasure.

It wasn’t like these two would be attached at the hip forever—they’d have plenty of time apart. She could wait for an opening then.

If their answers to the same question didn’t match, that alone would prove one of them was lying.

“We’ll get going then. Oh, Hayoon. See you in class later?”

“Uh, yeah…”

Hayoon was, conveniently, also in Class 2-A like Dabin.

The health teacher could be found in the infirmary on the first floor of the main building anytime.

With a faint smile—much like Woojin’s—Dabin bid them goodbye, tactfully retreating before dragging her boyfriend away by the wrist.

“The loser was supposed to buy lunch. So I should’ve treated you, Sunbae.”

“Didn’t I say we should just forget about it if I won?”

“You refused, so I compromised with takeout.”

“I refused that too. Stop yapping in my ear and go play games with your fan club. That island-decorating one.”

“Haah… You’re so cruel… A passionate junior like me, going this far to help you out, and this is the thanks I get…”

“I hate the heat. Could you please back off?”

“Ah, was that a joke?”

“…Get lost. Now.”

Lately, he’d become even more annoying.

To summarize Yoo Siwoo’s recent behavior—this was it.

The reason was obvious: what had happened last time.

After getting worked up because of Seo Woojin, I’d tried to deal with it alone, only to catch Siwoo’s eye for a moment.

So I’d been trying to act even colder than before, but the results were… underwhelming.

Honestly, it was like he was a masochist—no matter how harshly I cursed at him, he seemed to enjoy it.

“And what fan club? They’re just people squeezing in time to help you out.”

“They’re girls here to see your face, aren’t they? Don’t play dumb.”

“…Well, you’re not wrong.”

With midterms just around the corner and lunchtime almost over, the student council room was empty except for me and Siwoo—neither of whom had to worry about grades.

So, for once, I spoke bluntly instead of sugarcoating it. Leaning back in his chair, Siwoo smirked and continued.

“What about the guys, then? By that logic, aren’t you my fan, Sunbae?”

“…”

“What’ll I do after you graduate…? I wonder if the student council will just be me and a bunch of girls.”

“…”

“Maybe I should quit the student council after you leave too. Would that make it more of a tragic love story?”

“People don’t call stalkers ‘tragic lovers.’”

“That’s why I’m trying so hard to seem like one.”

“…Haah…”

…What kind of nonsense was that?

After shooting him a disgusted look, I turned my attention back to the remaining paperwork.

What filled my mind afterward, drowning out Siwoo’s noise, was the “new friend” I’d made earlier because of Yozora.

To be precise, she was more of an acquaintance—a junior I knew.

We’d talked briefly during lunch, and at Yozora’s insistence, we’d even exchanged phone numbers. But I still couldn’t get a read on what kind of girl she was.

She was more introverted than she looked. That was about all I could say.

When I’d walked her home drunk, she’d been chatty and sociable, but…

Apparently, when sober, this was her default.

Considering Yozora hadn’t found it strange, it must’ve been normal for her.

So then, what would it take to force a friendship with a girl like Han Sua?

“…”

…Dirty talk.

“…”

But no matter what, I couldn’t exactly bond over having slept with Seo Woojin.

Given how she hadn’t resisted Yozora’s lewd jokes earlier, it seemed like she’d been influenced by the wrong crowd. But…

We’d only just exchanged names. It was too soon for that kind of conversation.

…Well, maybe if I just left out Woojin’s name…

…

…Pervy.

I could pretend to be experienced, casually bringing up… sex-related topics…

“Ugh… I skipped lunch searching everywhere for you, Sunbae… And you were just in the cafeteria…”

As I absentmindedly tapped the paperwork with my pen, frowning, his grating voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I sighed and finally responded.

“Then go to the convenience store or something.”

“Ehh? Shouldn’t you at least say sorry for ignoring my calls?”

“I’m not sorry, so no.”

“Hmm… Then come with me to the convenience store?”

“Why would I? I’m staying here. Go by yourself.”

“Then tell me what you want. I’ll grab it on the way back.”

“…I don’t need any—”

“Ah, a café mocha, right? I’ll be back soon, Sunbae.”

“…Haah.”

This wasn’t a conversation. It was a one-sided announcement.

But since Siwoo’s goal had always been to get my attention, he left satisfied, grinning.

What did he even gain from this?

If he really wanted to do something perverted with me—

Unfortunately for him, cheap tricks like that weren’t my style.

There was no way I’d ever roll around with a guy like him.

…Unless I was so horny my brain short-circuited.

The only man I could enjoy sex with…

…was Seo Woojin.

And even he wouldn’t feel good if I wasn’t in heat…

…

Probably.

It probably wouldn’t feel good.

“…”

Watching the student council door close, I tossed my pen aside in frustration—

Only to pick it up again, looking pathetic.

“…”

I turned on my phone, tapping the screen aggressively.

“You free today?”

After staring at the message for a while—

I realized, belatedly, that I’d almost sent it to Seo Woojin.

So I changed the recipient to Han Sua before hitting send.