Seojin smiled and reached over, pinching her cheek lightly. "See? It's fine. If you got a little fatter, you'd only get prettier. And if your uniform's tight, we'll just buy a new one or get it altered."
Seolhyo swatted his hand away. "You could've just said that. Why say so much?"
Across the table, Irina and Mijin stared at them with identical deadpan expressions.
"Why are we even here?" Irina muttered.
"To witness this live drama," Mijin replied flatly.
They finished eating soon after, bowls nearly spotless.
Irina leaned back with a satisfied sigh. "Ahh, that was good. Should we head out?"
"Okay."
They stood and walked to the counter together.
"It's 14,000 won including the tangsuyuk," Irina calculated quickly. "3,500 won each."
"That's so cheap."
"Let's come again tomorrow."
I was already pulling out my wallet when Seolhyo suddenly said, "I'll pay. I'll treat you."
I looked at her. "Let me. I can pay for yours, you know."
"I know," she replied calmly. "But you're always the one paying. Let me at least cover this. It's cheap anyway."
Then she turned to me, voice lowering slightly. "For the bracelet… I still feel guilty that you bought something that expensive."
I opened my mouth to argue, but she shot me a fierce look that clearly said, Don't argue anymore.
I slipped my wallet back slowly. "Fine."
She nodded in satisfaction and paid at the counter.
Turning back to the girls, she added casually, "I want to try the jjamppong next time."
Mijin grinned. "I'm having jjajangmyeon again tomorrow."
We ended up resting at a small roofed structure near the school gate, the kind with sturdy benches and a solid tiled roof meant to keep the rain off.
The three girls sat side by side on one bench Mijin in the middle, Seolhyo and Irina on either side chatting and laughing while unwrapping the popsicles I'd bought them.
As I leaned against the pillar, enjoying my own, I noticed them fiddling with Seolhyo's black slider phone.
"Hey, my eyes were closed!" Mijin whined, squinting at the tiny screen.
Irina laughed so hard her popsicle almost slipped from her hand. "That's why I told you to keep them open, duh!"
Seolhyo poked Mijin with her elbow, grinning. "Can't you keep your eyes open for at least three seconds?"
The three of them broke into laughter again, but the pictures they were trying to take were a total mess someone always blinking, half faces cut out, or tilted so badly it looked like the ground was sliding.
I shook my head, chuckling under my breath, then flipped open my own phone and strode over. "Move over. Here look here, I'll take it."
The three of them blinked at me, surprised.
Irina raised a brow. "Do you even know how to take one?"
I smirked, flipping the phone into camera mode. "I know how to take a decent one."
They shrugged, sitting up straighter.
Irina quickly fixed her hair, Mijin flashed a playful peace sign, and Seolhyo tilted her head ever so slightly, a soft smile forming naturally.
I crouched a little, adjusted the angle without thinking, waited for the perfect moment, then clicked.
The shutter sound went off.
"Alright, done." I flipped the phone shut smoothly.
They huddled around me when I opened it again to show the photo.
Irina blinked. "Woah.. this actually looks good."
Mijin's nodded affirmatively. "It's good, It doesn't even look crooked"
Even Seolhyo stared for a second longer than the others, her smile softening. "It's… really nice."
I stood over them, smirking. "Now you know how amazing I am."
Mijin crossed her arms, giving me a look. "You're good at this."
I just shrugged, taking another bite of my popsicle. "…Talent, I guess."
We then started walking back toward the school, feeling the breeze sway my hair, I comb through it while looking up.Autumn… Haaah.
It makes me want to sleep.
Seolhyo's phone suddenly chimed.
She casually slipped a hand into her pocket, sliding the device open and glancing at the small glowing screen.
The light reflected faintly in her eyes.
Her brows slowly furrowed.
"…Huh?"
Irina and Mijin were still chatting away, completely unaware.
But Seolhyo's steps began to slow, her thumb hovering over the keypad like she wasn't sure whether to reply.
Then she lifted her gaze slightly.
"Seojin."
There was something in her tone quiet, but off.
I turned at her.
Without a word, I stepped back to her side, closing the small distance between us.
"What's wrong?"
She looked a little nervous, but she lifted her hand and held the phone out to me.
I leaned closer, eyes scanning the screen.
My expression darkened.
..He really dared to text her?
A slow irritation crept up my whole body instantly.
I kept my voice steady anyway.
"…He just sent this now?"
She nodded lightly, lips pressed together. "Mhm. I don't know why he wants to meet, though… What should I do?"
I straightened where I stood, then reached out and gently patted her head.
"You can just do what you always do. Ignore him. Reject him. Block him."
My eyes narrowed slightly as I looked down at her.
"…Or do you want to meet him?"
She immediately swatted my hand away from her head. "Why would I meet him? We're not even close. We're practically strangers. And you don't talk or meet with strangers."
I let out a quiet chuckle at her quick response, sliding an arm tightly around her shoulders.
"Okay, okay. Let's go. Those two totally forgot about us."
Seolhyo snorted under her breath but didn't pull away, falling into step beside me as we walked.
I raised my voice. "Hey, wait up!"
Ahead of us, Mijin turned around. "What the hell are you doing walking so slowly hurry up. There's no time for a sunset walk date."
Irina didn't even bother turning fully. "Yeah, I'm not waiting for you two just to get smacked by the teacher for being late."
Seolhyo and I both chuckled, quickening our pace to catch up with them.
As we closed the distance, I exhaled slowly, my expression sharpening without anyone noticing.
He better not try anything.
If he does… I'll be the one dealing with him not Seolhyo's brother.
Evening settled in, and school finally ended.
We walked toward the gates with our bags slung over our shoulders, the sky already dimming into soft orange and blue.
Park Dong glanced at me. "You sure you're not coming?"
"Yeah," I replied easily. "I'm walking Seolhyo home."
Seolhyo, who was beside me, looked up. "What is it? Where are they going?"
Suwon answered for us. "We're heading to the PC bang. All the guys are going. Except Seojin."
She turned to me immediately. "You don't have to walk me home. I can go by myself."
"But-"
"No buts." She cut me off, looking firm. "I'm not a kid who needs to be walked home. I can take the bus with Jinkyung. Don't worry too much. Just go have fun."
I stared at her for a moment, then sighed softly.
By then, the others were already halfway across the crosswalk, somehow way ahead of us.
"Hey! Hurry up!"
"Stop flirting already!"
"Just kiss her and go!"
I blinked at them. "…Weren't they just beside us? How are they already over there?"
Shaking my head, I looked back at Seolhyo.
"…Alright." I adjusted my bag strap. "Thanks, babe. Be careful, okay?"
"I told you not to call me babe!" she snapped, glaring up at me.
Despite the glare, I leaned down without hesitation and pressed a quick kiss to her lips then another to her cheek.
"Okay. Love you."
She looked around quickly, checking if anyone saw.
Seeing the coast clear, she let out a quiet sigh.
"…Be careful too. Love you too."