I stood there for a long time, agonizing over what I should say in response. Combined with the blazing summer heat, it felt like I was suffocating.
Lee Chae-won, standing before my flustered self, looked surprisingly calm. Was this what a confession was usually like?
Thinking back to the chaos Min Siheon and I had caused, I started to wonder whether she was the strange one—or if I had been.
Of course I had to reject her, but I hesitated over how exactly to phrase it.
“Uh….”
Siheon probably couldn’t hear us from where he was. I almost hated myself for earlier mumbling that it wouldn’t be a big deal.
Whoosh— a gust of wind blew, and through the sweltering air, Lee Chae-won’s bangs fluttered. Beneath the stray strands brushing her eyebrows, I could see her steady eyes.
The moment I noticed the faint trembling in them, my resolve hardened.
Right. I had to handle this properly. It was the courteous thing to do—for Lee Chae-won, and for Min Siheon, who was waiting for me.
After swallowing once to wet my dry throat, I took a step back. As the distance widened, Lee Chae-won, who had been holding her hands neatly together, stretched out an arm with a hint of fluster in her movement.
So she’d only looked calm on the outside. You were nervous too, huh. That brave demeanor must have been consideration for me.
After taking a deep breath, I bowed my head toward her. I moistened my stiff lips with my tongue, trying my best not to let my voice shake.
“…I’m sorry. I, um….”
I’ve never thought of you as more than a junior. It might have sounded harsh. But I didn’t want to vaguely brush it off and pretend to be the nice guy, only to make it harder for her to sort out her feelings later.
I lifted my head and looked at Lee Chae-won with a composed expression. Had she already known? Unlike the faintly sorrowful look on her face, her attitude remained calm.
I felt guilty remembering how she would always approach me, trying to start a conversation, without me ever considering why.
If I had realized sooner, I would have drawn the line clearly. The guilt of having shaken someone’s heart weighed on me.
“I’m seeing someone. So I don’t think I can accept your feelings. Thank you, truly. And I’m sorry for making you wait all this time.”
“…….”
I told her honestly that I was dating someone. Given society being what it was, I couldn’t specify who, but I felt like I had to at least say that much.
After hearing me out, Lee Chae-won folded her hands together again. There was nothing more I could say, and an uncomfortable silence stretched between us.
Unable to endure the awkwardness, I looked away first. I let out a sigh, telling myself to accept whatever came.
“It’s okay. I knew you’d reject me.”
“…What?”
What was that supposed to mean? My eyes widened in surprise. Only then did Lee Chae-won’s stiff expression soften as she began to smile.
“Ah~ I feel so much better now. I’m sorry. You were really startled, right? Still, I thought I should tell you at least once if I wanted to move on. You’re not the type to go around spreading rumors, Jungwoo sunbae, and I just wanted to say it once.”
“What are you talking about…?”
After saying that, Lee Chae-won glanced past me. The only one back there was Min Siheon. A sliver of unease crept in.
No way, Lee Chae-won, you… My shoulders trembled on their own.
“I’m not that bad of a person. …Well, I did get tricked in the middle, so I was a little annoyed. But I think I can let all of that slide, for Jungwoo sunbae’s sake.”
It seemed Lee Chae-won already knew that there was something going on between Min Siheon and me.
How did she find out? No, more than that, it amazed me that she could stay so composed even knowing the truth.
“Sunbae, would it be okay if I kept liking you until I’ve sorted things out?”
Lee Chae-won was a better person than I had thought.
“Huh?”
“I’ve already compromised a lot, haven’t I? It won’t take long. Just… please wait a little.”
Ah. When she looked up at me again, her eyes were glistening with moisture. The way her cheeks and lips curved upward felt oddly out of place with the tears. Maybe that was why I couldn’t bring myself to say anything harsh to her anymore.
For some reason, I felt like the worst kind of bastard.
To her, I probably was a terrible person. Accepting everything humbly, I nodded. It meant there was now something I’d have to keep secret from Min Siheon.
“Okay. But could you promise me one thing instead?”
“…A promise?”
I’m sorry, Lee Chae-won. After rejecting her, I added something even harsher.
“If it’s alright, could you keep his situation a secret? Just between you and me. He’s already suffered a lot because of me. I know it’s shameless to ask, but this is the only way I can handle it. You can curse me all you want. I’ll accept it.”
I was asking her not to reveal anything about Min Siheon and me. Society was still like this.
He already had enough ridiculous rumors clinging to him—having his love life tossed around in other people’s mouths would be too cruel.
If I could take the blame instead, I would. But I knew it didn’t work that way, so I wanted to prevent it before it even started.
It was certain that Lee Chae-won would have every right to slap me. I said everything I needed to say, fully prepared to offer my cheek.
But her reaction was strange. Her brows knit subtly, and the corner of her mouth twitched like she was suppressing laughter. How should I describe it? Simply put, she looked conflicted.
“Sunbae’s way too good for him. He’s seriously so crooked….”
“What?”
“It’s a secret, okay? Ah, can I even call it a secret? Well, I guess you’re the only one who doesn’t know, Jungwoo sunbae. That sunbae’s personality is seriously weird. It’s even more annoying because he’s so good-looking.”
“…Oh.”
Lee Chae-won’s blunt tone somehow felt warm. I could only feel grateful toward her.
It was all because of me. She must have been acting that way so I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.
And the way she complained about him in a way I couldn’t help but slightly agree with made it impossible not to laugh.
“Yeah, he is weird.”
The person who knew best how strange Min Siheon was—was me. Still, I couldn’t hate the guy.
When I tilted my head and smiled easily, Lee Chae-won let out a deep sigh and let her arms droop. Adjusting the bag slung over her shoulder, she relaxed her gaze.
“Since it’s your request, sunbae, I’ll definitely keep it. I guess I should say I was lucky—seems like I’m the only one who noticed. …Or maybe not? I’m telling you, that sunbae is kind of shady.”
Her teasing at the very end made it seem like she’d accepted everything. Then she gave a polite bow, saying her friends were waiting.
“I contacted you at dawn. That was rude of me. …And thank you for being honest with me, Jungwoo sunbae.”
“…No. I’m the one who’s sorry. And thankful.”
“If he ever gives you a hard time, call me. Just standing next to me would probably make him lose his mind. If you want revenge, I’ll help anytime. I’ve got a bit of a grudge against him, you see. Anyway, I’ll get going now. Have a good vacation.”
The conversation ended on a rather lively note. The heavy atmosphere had long since disappeared.
The hem of her thin summer cardigan fluttered as Lee Chae-won brushed past me. As I naturally turned, I spotted Min Siheon standing some distance away.
Walking with quick little steps, Lee Chae-won passed by Min Siheon and glanced back at me. I really had a good junior.
Just as I was about to step forward, thinking everything was settled, Min Siheon—who had been standing at a distance—started walking toward me first.
I couldn’t see his expression clearly, but the speed of his steps told me he’d been paying close attention to this meeting.
Now that I thought about it, he did seem a little closer than before…. Even though we hadn’t been within earshot, something still felt off.
Strangely enough, if it was Min Siheon, it felt like he might already know everything.
“It’s probably just my imagination, though.”
“What is?”
Before I knew it, Min Siheon had come right up to me, looking down. The sunlight pouring down from behind him made it hard to see his face.
Judging by his low, sunken voice, he didn’t seem to be in the best mood.
Still, compared to the chase I’d experienced before, this didn’t feel all that serious. Back then, he’d been terrifying. Compared to that, this was mild.
For a brief moment, my thoughts wandered elsewhere, and Min Siheon called me back. He poked my shoulder with his finger, whining that I’d taken too long. It didn’t seem like he was actually angry.
“What were you talking about that it took so long? …I almost interrupted you.”
“Hey, Siheon.”
“Yeah?”
“I got confessed to. But I rejected her right away. I thought I should tell you everything honestly.”
At my words, Min Siheon fell silent. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t expected this, so I stepped closer to him.
We were already close enough, but I wanted to be even nearer. His face, shaded and dim, came right up to mine.
Because he had lowered his head to look at me, his hair fell over his eyes. Couldn’t he lift his head a little? I reached out and placed my hand against his cheek. At the touch, Min Siheon flinched, his shoulders twitching.
When I applied a bit of pressure, tilting his face, light fell across it, revealing his features.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—the king of jealousy, Min Siheon, wore a fairly composed expression.
He seemed a little sulky, but much more stable than I’d expected.
At that, a small laugh escaped me without meaning to.
“Ah, sorry.”
I’m completely lovestruck, aren’t I? Shaking my head from side to side, I stepped closer to the still-silent Min Siheon and wrapped my arms around him.
The open space behind the sunlit building was thick with damp humidity.
Even standing still made the heat rise, and when my body pressed against his firm, lukewarm warmth, my heart pounded wildly in my chest.
Resting my chin on his shoulder, I steadied my breathing.
“Sorry for making you worry.”
“…I really can’t win against you.”
“I did it on purpose, you know.”
“You did?”
Even in this heat, Min Siheon accepted my embrace with his whole body. He lifted his arms, gripping my shoulders tightly and pulling me flush against him.
Sweat dampened the skin where we touched, but neither of us made any move to pull away first.
“Let’s go on a date.”
Vacation’s just starting, after all. I was full of anticipation about enjoying my relationship with him. Maybe Min Siheon felt the same, because a soft breath slipped from his lips.
