episode_0509

.

[Seo Woo-jin] – Where are you right now? – Don’t come. – Jiyoon suddenly said she’s coming to my place.

…What’s going on? Out of nowhere.

Jiyoon… that’s her, right? Hayoon’s younger sister. Why is she coming here now? Weren’t you guys together all this time anyway? Just looking at Hayoon tells me enough.

This time, when they planned to meet up with friends, she just didn’t go, acting like it was obvious. And the friends didn’t even try to force her to stay. So naturally, the three of them—Hayoon, you, and her—must’ve been together. Why are you trying to meet now?

[Seol Da-bin] – Didn’t you say you set aside time today?

[Seo Woo-jin] – She said she has something to say, but I don’t know what. – Just don’t come for now. – If we run into each other, it’ll be awkward for both of us.

I don’t get it. No matter how many times I think about it, it still doesn’t make sense… But I can’t keep questioning it forever.

Letting out a white puff of breath, I glanced around first. Woojin’s message happened to come right as I arrived near the alleyway by his place. Of course, since I’m still outside, I could just say I’m meeting a friend and leave it at that—no need to stir up unnecessary trouble, right?

Looking around, I think I saw someone walking toward Woojin’s place just now. But there’s some distance, and I didn’t get a clear look at their face, so I’m not sure if it’s really Hayoon’s sister. But… probably not, right? She knows my face. Plus, the first time we ran into each other downtown, she was super friendly toward me. If that’s her personality, she definitely would’ve greeted me first…

“…….”

Wait, no. Hold on. Now that I think about it, didn’t Woojin mention offhand before? That her real personality isn’t like that at all? It’s been months, so my memory’s fuzzy, but I’m pretty sure he said that. Still, wouldn’t she recognize my face…? Unless she just remembers me as “some random noona friend who was around that one time”… Hmm…

…Hard to say.

Enough overthinking. I should hide before we run into each other. Turning back the way I came, I tapped out a message with a light click of my nails.

[Seol Da-bin] – Then I’ll wait at a café or something for now. – Any idea when you’ll be done?

[Seo Woo-jin] – Not sure. – I made up an excuse about having something else to do before coming out, so we can meet after that, I guess.

[Seol Da-bin] – Then I’ll wait at the café like we said. Message me when you’re done.

“Sigh…….”

This isn’t training a dog—what even is this? Grumbling to myself for no reason.

509

[Seo Woo-jin] – Looks like meeting today isn’t happening.

Some random café in sight. Some random dessert on the menu. Some random seat with enough distance from other people.

Right as I was about to skip all the annoying thoughts and start killing time in boredom… My phone buzzed briefly with that message.

Honestly, it’s not completely unexpected. With Jiyoon suddenly complicating things, it was obvious something would go wrong. I just chose to ignore the possibility of it falling through entirely.

“Still, of all days…”

“Meeting today isn’t happening,” huh? It’s frustrating, but if I think calmly, it makes sense. Better to endure the annoyance and stay completely hidden than risk getting caught by someone else. Besides, even if I reduce the four weekly videos I promised Baek Ji-ho by Christmas to three, nothing will happen.

Excuses are easy, too. “I tried filming, but… I got too into it, and the footage looked like something you’d genuinely ‘misinterpret,’ so I scrapped it.” He’d buy that, right?

So I’ll just nibble on the dessert I ordered earlier and leave. That’s all I need to do.

“…….”

Like I said, I can’t help feeling a little annoyed… …Not because of sexual frustration. Just pissed that I took the subway all the way here for nothing.

Pretending not to care, I tapped my phone screen.

[Seol Da-bin] – Earlier, you said you could make time by using work as an excuse. – Why the change?

[Seo Woo-jin] – Stepping out for a bit is fine, but… – Hmm. – If there’s any strong body wash scent or something, it’d be suspicious. – I think it’s better to spend time separately and go back alone this time.

Now that I hear it, it does make sense. If I wash, there’s body wash scent. If I don’t, there’s… that scent. No matter what I choose, there’s no way out. …Then again, what if I just wash with water?

I debated asking but eventually gave up.

“…Little bastard.”

Even if I’m already doing this behind Hayoon’s back. Even if I got caught trying to buy a dildo similar to Woojin’s and was treated like an idiot. Even if I’ve already admitted that having sneaky sex with him feels good. Even if the man I think about every time I touch myself is always that ridiculous pervert.

“…Usually, he’s the one who dirty-talks me into sex first, and now… Ugh.”

It’s still hard for me to be the one to bring up wanting to have… sex.

[Seol Da-bin] – Then I’ll have to reschedule. – Christmas is probably too busy, right?

But I’m a civilized person, after all. I can’t deny that I’m a little pent up, but holding out for a few days isn’t that hard. 23rd, 24th, 25th—just four days, including today. I can find other ways to pass the time.

Besides, Baek Ji-ho will be back for Christmas…

“…….”

…Even if he comes back, there’s nothing to do with him. And I can’t think of anything I even want to do with him.

[Seo Woo-jin] – If I force it, I could make time even on Christmas. – But I already have plans.

At this point, “boyfriend” doesn’t fit as much as “childhood friend.” We’ve known each other since we were kids, so we know a lot about each other. Turns out, he has slightly creepy hobbies—that kind of childhood friend. That’s all this relationship is, really.

As I was mulling over these thoughts that’ve been surfacing lately, Woojin’s reply came at the perfect time.

If he has plans on Christmas, it’s better to just schedule for the day after. Christmas with Ji-ho would feel more natural anyway.

So, furrowing my brows, I stared at my phone before slowly sighing and typing a reply.

[Seol Da-bin] – Got it. Let’s meet on the 26th. – Don’t make me come all this way for nothing again.

Unlike outside, my sigh wasn’t white. Just a little more… I let it out quietly.

“Be careful walking back. I saw what you were wearing earlier—those soles are slippery.”

“If I fall, I’ll just ask you to treat me. As payment, you can dress up as noona and have sex with me. You’d still end up treating me, right?”

“How many times do I have to say it? That doesn’t magically heal the initial injury.”

“If it’s urgent, I can just make something to cushion my fall with ice. You think I’m not fast enough for that?”

“It’s not about reaction speed… …Hey, are you bringing up that time we played games together again…?”

“…Pfft. If you knew, you should’ve played better. You always died first and made me carry you~”

Seo Woo-jin, who had stepped out briefly for personal matters.

After finishing a lazy, uneventful round of sex with him (whose hands had gotten a little cold), I teased him as he changed clothes, unable to follow me downstairs.

Once I reached the first floor, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

“…Oh, right. That noona…”

The pretty noona at the end of the alley before I came here. She’s Lee Hayoon’s friend, right? She came by once before, saying our phones got swapped… And I saw her when Hayoon was messing around downtown.

Why was she around here?

“It’s near the academy, but… Did she come to meet a friend or something?”

I glanced back where she had been, but of course, she wasn’t there now. All I saw were the usual illegally parked cars and the sky, already tinged with crimson.

Still, just in case, I walked to the end of the alley—but of course, only passersby filled the street.

“Come to think of it, Hayoon said she broke some plans to come here too…”

No need to dwell on the noona. Even just in Class 1-A, weren’t they all noisy about going out to celebrate after evaluations? That noona whose name I forgot probably came here for a similar reason.

So, shoving my hands in my pockets, I turned toward home.

“…….”

But one thing nagged at me. That noona—wasn’t she looking at her phone and seemed a little annoyed?

If she was annoyed at her phone… Hmm…

“Maybe she just broke up with her boyfriend right before Christmas…?”

…Nah, probably not. She’s really pretty—what kind of guy would dump her? In fact, remembering her boyfriend’s face…

If anything, she’d be the one dumping him. To find someone better.

Well, breakups aren’t happy news either way. Not wanting to jinx it, I swallowed the thought and headed back to the entrance.