＜Episode 35＞ Waiting
“I… … Because I don’t want to see the person I like suffer.”
I could see Si-eun holding her breath for a moment.
By the time regret came, it was already too late.
Her lips, which moved freely, spit out nonsensical words. I never dreamed of confessing prematurely at a time like this. I was really upset, and I confided in my heart.
Si-eun, who heard my confession, raised her eyes and looked up at me.
It was an unbelievable sight. It’s a natural reaction. Even I, who had said it, was surprised, but the person who suddenly confessed was likely to be even more embarrassed.
“That, that.”
Then Si-eun said in a shaky voice.
“Joke, is it the same? if not… … Maybe it means that I like you as a friend… … .”
Apparently, Si-eun didn’t want to miss even the slightest possibility.
Is there still room to turn around?
Now, if “I like you as a friend.” If you return the same answer. Maybe I’m going to miss out on what I just said.
I confessed without even preparing for it. Even now, it might be better to turn around and go back.
And Si-eun showed the way. As if it was the last detour.
However, for some reason, the lips did not fall off.
friend told me It’s my strength to act without noticing others, so show the best possible action.
I also told Sohye before. Si-eun is a woman who can make a boyfriend at any time. If you hesitate, you may lose the opportunity, so it would be better to convey your feelings early.
That advice certainly helped, but now more than that.
If I don’t tell the truth, I feel like Si-eun will refuse my help.
This thought came first.
So I couldn’t turn back. Even if I was coldly rejected, I wanted to let you know my heart.
“no.”
Tighten your throat and answer.
“I like you as the opposite s*x.”
Si-eun flinched and shook. His long hair gently swayed in response.
A look of tension was evident in his facial expressions and gestures. If you think about it, it was. To get a confession from a man who lives in the same house. As a woman, I have no choice but to worry.
But now looking back is useless.
He looked directly at Si-eun and said.
“Your personality and your way of speaking. It must be difficult, but to always live upright. Tick-tick and laugh sometimes. and… … Always pretending to be strong, but sometimes showing weakness. All.”
I could see Si-eun’s eyes fluttering.
“So it breaks my heart to see you sad. So I want to help you, even for myself.”
“… … Ugh.”
An unfamiliar sound came out of Si-eun’s mouth.
Si-eun, with both cheeks dyed bright red, listened to my story. The lips opened and closed repeatedly. It was noticeable that his whole body was trembling.
Obviously, he looked very embarrassed.
“There, that… … . sorry.”
“I’m sorry, you say?”
Si-eun tilted her head when she suddenly spoke of an apology.
“It must be complicated in my head, but I’m sorry for even saying things like this. But I just wanted to tell you. The answer is, well, you don’t have to.”
“… … Yes.”
Si-eun, who managed to respond, turned her face and opened her mouth.
“That, then. Because you said so… … . First of all, your help… … I will appreciate it.”
“Um, yes.”
It seems that they are finally willing to accept my help. It was fortunate.
“He, and… … .”
After hesitating for a moment, Si-eun bit her lip.
“Can I come back to answer the confession?”
‘ he said in a tense tone.
I thought that I might be rejected right away on the spot. Unexpectedly, Si-eun seemed to be seriously considering it.
Or, well, accepting and rejecting, the current Si-eun will be complicated in my head. Maybe he just delayed the answer. I feel like I have put the burden on you, and I am even feeling sorry for you.
But that alone made me happy somehow. I was only fooling myself.
Ignoring the beating heart, he says.
“okay. Do that.”
“… … yes. thank you.”
Si-eun replied muttering.
The tremor was still there, but his voice softened somewhat. And most of all, he was showing a small smile. Seeing his more relaxed face puts my heart at ease.
I don’t remember what happened after that.
We ate the delivered food we ordered in moderation at the same table, but not a single word was spoken in the meantime.
It was such an awkward thing for a confessed man and a confessed woman to stay in the same house.
Until yesterday, no, until just a few hours ago, we were talking to each other normally. We watched movies together and sang songs together.
It felt like a distant past.
Afterwards, we each showered and went to sleep. “Bye.” Saying the same goodbye, “Yes.” I remember getting that answer back, but that was all.
I felt a lot more awkward than before I met my employer and housekeeper.
The next morning, when I woke up, Si-eun had already left.
From today until Si-eun returns, alone. Thinking like that, I felt lonely.
Even when it was only gone over the weekend, the vacancy felt big. There is no promise of when he will return this time. Maybe she will come back only after confirming that her mother wakes up after the operation.
I opened the cupboard to fill it with ramen, and then closed it again.
It’s because Si-eun’s angry face came to mind just by touching the ramen bag, and her thoughts disappeared.
If you need other cleaning or laundry, I will do it myself. Even if I was inexperienced, I was willing to try. So that things don’t pile up like a mountain when I get back. This was the only thing I could do while Si-eun was gone.
Read at noblemtl.com
Meanwhile, there was a small commotion at school.Read at noblemtl.com
Monday lunch. As usual, after having dinner in the student cafeteria, I headed to the classroom, when I heard someone running behind me.When I turned my head to check, the owner of the footsteps was none other than a friend.
I thought he was running because he had something to say to me, but he was right. The friend, who narrowed the distance by running, put his hand on my shoulder and took a deep breath.
When I gave him time to stand still and catch his breath, he soon recovered and lifted his face.
“You worked hard to run. But why did you run?”
“Yes, I have something to tell you.”
“You can do it in the classroom.”
I was about to go to the classroom with a snort, but a friend grabbed my shoulder.
Then he lowered his voice, as if whispering in his ear.
“What is your relationship with Yoo Si-eun?”
I knew it.
Still, I could feel some people staring at me from the restaurant.
I think it was just as Sohye said. The front of the station seemed to be a hot spot for our school people. Given that the rumors spread throughout the school in just two days, there must have been one or two eyewitnesses.
Do I have to answer
At first, I decided to pretend I didn’t know.
“why? What’s going on?”
When I asked, pretending not to understand English, my friend lowered the volume even more.
“My friend said he saw you and Yu Shi-eun walking around together.”
“okay?”
“okay? Are you going to pass it on?”
“Well, let me tell you, it has nothing to do with it. It’s normal to say that we’re going to college students and who goes with whom~?”
“Not usually. It wouldn’t be surprising if Yoo Si-eun goes with any man or with any woman you go with.”
well Isn’t the latter a bit surprising?
“But it’s a bit special if you and Si-eun Yoo go together, right? Shouldn’t it be a rumor?”
“Well, indeed.”
Yes it is. It would be a good gossip to say that I go to school with Si-eun, who is famous at school, and I don’t even know the kids in the same department.
If anyone has really seen us. I can’t think of a way to make excuses.
Si-eun is my housekeeper, and I made a lot of money by investing, but I actually liked Si-eun, so I asked her out on a date… … .
After examining each one, there is nothing that is not a secret. I also have no choice but to catch it.
“Is it some kind of optical illusion? Like a mirage.”
“Don’t say nonsense.”
“Or is it a doppelganger?”
“Why are your doppelgangers and Yoo Si-eun’s doppelgangers running around the station together?”
“Well. You should ask my doppelganger.”
“Don’t play around. really nothing… … .”
“Ah, hello! Hwimin-senpai!”
In front of her friend who was about to ask, Sohye walked in with her hand flashing.
It is the same as usual to be lively, but somehow it becomes more and more lively. Is sleeping in class the secret?
“Um, hello.”
On the other hand, I, who was concentrating (on other things) throughout the lecture, returned a weak greeting.
Then, Sohye laughed softly.
“by the way. The weekend was really fun.”
“weekend?”
“yes. Last weekend, the three of us who worked together on a project played together, didn’t we?”
“yes?”
The story was different from what I remembered. I tried to ask what you were talking about, but then I shut my mouth.
Is Sohye trying to make an alibi for me now?
“uh? Was it like that?”
“yes. That’s what it was, old man.”
Sohye intercepted and answered the question my friend posed to me. Then the friend said, “Um, that’s right.” said
It must have been a first meeting, but it seems that the conversation is established like this. What are the original people like?
“Then why did he say he saw them walking together?”
“Ah, that was because there was a time when I was away from the two of you because I was playing hide and seek. Perhaps it was noticed by other people at that time. Yes? Senior Hwimin.”
“Um, what. Do you see that?”
When I vaguely affirmed, my friend nodded as if he understood. Of course it’s all lies. Is it possible for three college students to play hide-and-seek in a downtown area in the first place?
Anyway, I’m glad the misunderstanding seems to have been resolved. It wasn’t a misunderstanding, but as a result, the trouble was gone.
So I went into the classroom and tried to open my laptop, but So-hye was looking at me with a smile in the seat next to me.
“what’s the matter?”
“I don’t need to say thank you, senpai.”
“I won’t do it because I don’t need it.”
“Ahaha. It’s too much. He’s a colleague in the back seat.”
Having said that, Sohye asked in a serious tone.
“So, did you confess?”
When I turned my head, I saw a very interesting face. They seem to enjoy other people’s lives as if they were watching a sports game.
“Don’t tell me.”
Sohye blinked her eyes in surprise at my answer.
“uh? Did you really do it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Ahaha. Senior, he is a man who does it when he does it.”
“Quiet… … .”
After sighing as I looked at Sohye who was bothering me, I looked at the seat in front of me.
Seeing that Si-eun’s seat was always empty, I felt a little uncomfortable.
Each day passed like this.
I had hoped that I would be contacted sooner or later, but that didn’t happen. It must have been a difficult time, but there was no time to write for me.
What is the point of even contacting me first about a topic I confessed out of nowhere? For me, I had no choice but to wait.
So Monday, then Tuesday, then Wednesday, and then another Thursday.
It was Friday evening that Si-eun returned home.