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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Yumin Seems to Like You
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Yumin seems to like you.
Our connection spans over seven years, including our trainee days.
We've shared controversies and triumphs, mishaps and blessings, joys and sorrows alike. All those moments have woven together into something we could easily call "family."
So, who could even dare to imagine this?
"Unni~."
"I missed you, Chaewon unni."
"Yup. It's been a while, unni."
"Perfect timing. We prepped some mala tang right when you were due to arrive. Go change and come join us."
Her family showering her with affection, welcoming her so warmly.
They'd even come out to greet her not at the front door, but all the way in the yard.
And that included Lee Yerin, who—outside of schedules—spent her days sprawled on the sofa binge-watching dating shows nonstop.
"...Members? What's with the sudden act? You guys have been drinking?"
She wondered if they'd all lost their minds and instinctively scanned her surroundings.
"Unni, why are you looking around like that...?"
"Where's the camera? If I were the director, I'd definitely set up the angle right over... there..."
"It's not that!"
As she headed toward the flower bed, Minah yelled and beat her to it, rummaging through the plants like she was pleading, Is this enough now?
Chaewon stared blankly at the maknae's dramatic display, then turned to eye the pine tree nearby.
"Knew it. It's over there."
""It's not!!""
Whether it was genuine outrage at her twisted suspicions or not, even May—who rarely raised her voice—was staring at her in disbelief.
"PD-nim. Writers. Where is everyone?"
But Han Chaewon, six years into this industry,
had been crowned number one "Most Fun Female Idol Hidden Camera Reactions" by Forever fans and the self-cam crew. Doubting her members' reactions now would be straight-up disqualification.
"Fine. I'm not going in until I find it."
Thanks to that, she only entered the house after they'd convinced her there was no hidden camera.
Fifteen whole minutes later.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Isn't this mala tang just so good?"
"It's seriously amazing. I was craving it the whole time in Japan. There's none near where I live."
The Bread Sisters (May and Yerin) sat on the sofa, beaming with satisfaction as they chatted away.
The Eldest-Maknae Pair (Serin and Minah) were hustling in the kitchen with the dishes.
After her shower, as Chaewon came down to the living room, May and Yerin looked up from the sofa, eyes sparkling.
"Chaewon unni, need anything?"
"Just say the word. I can even give you a massage? Should I do it now? Want me to wash my hands first?"
Yerin flashed a bright smile, her voice dripping with aegyo.
"Sorry, but I called dibs on massaging her first."
Serin's booming voice rang out from the kitchen in response.
"Aww~ Since when is it first-come-first-served~?"
"Exactly. You two can just do it together."
"Huh? Our maknae line's got some real sense."
"Why not all four of us?"
Everyone burst into laughter at Yerin's suggestion, quickly falling in line.
It was such excessive kindness that Chaewon wondered if she'd stumbled into some alternate universe.
They'd dashed out barefoot to the yard the moment she arrived to grab her bags, and even during mala tang, they'd tried to sneak her extra bites of meat...
"Tell me now, and I'll let it slide. Where's the camera."
This had to be a camera. No, there definitely was one.
As she whipped her head around searching, May—who'd quickly dried her hands and sliced some fruit—grabbed her arm and pulled her onto the sofa.
"Chaewon unni, ahh~."
And then she fed her fruit in that super intimate way you only do with close loved ones.
...She wanted to keep this moment forever. Was there really no camera?
As she munched happily with the Bread Sisters, the Eldest-Maknae Pair finished dishes and brought over drinks.
Milk teas that Minah was learning to make in her dessert class.
"Ta-da~."
"Whoa~, they all look different?"
Yerin's eyes darted back and forth between the milk teas and the maknae, sparkling with excitement.
Getting exactly the reaction she wanted, Minah's dimples deepened.
"This one's chocolate, this is Earl Grey. That's brown sugar... Anyway! They all taste great!"
"Made by our maknae line? How could they not? Chaewon, you want the brown sugar one, right?"
"Brown sugar for me, always. Thanks, Minah~."
"Cheers~."
"Thanks for making them, Minah."
They thanked her and reached for their favorites.
Everyone took a sip, eyes full of anticipation, and...
"Baby girl, you could open a café someday."
All the members nodded vigorously at her words.
They chatted about this and that for a while.
Starting with how gathering like this felt just like old dorm life, they dove into random memories from those days, lost in nostalgia.
An hour flew by in a blink. The moon hung high in the sky.
"As you all know, I got dumped."
"Guh?!"
"U-Unni?!"
"Whoa, dropping that out of nowhere?"
"...Chaewon unni."
The perfect timing to bring up the main topic.
She figured an hour was plenty for ice-breaking, but apparently not.
She chuckled, stood, and pulled a tissue from the box on the table.
"Why the reactions? You all came all this way for this, right?"
"...Well, yeah."
"True. I got dumped coming here. But I'm not turning into some tragic heroine, so cut the worried looks. It just makes things awkward."
She handed a tissue to Yerin, who was hastily wiping drink from her lips with the back of her hand.
Once seated, all eyes were already on her.
Though their emotions varied, the common thread of concern for her brought a smile to her face.
She sipped the last of her milk tea, mulling over her words.
"Serin told you how it went down?"
"...Kinda."
"No need to repeat then. Hmm... Where to start? Oh, right, that first."
Not too bright, not overly somber...
In simple terms, a calm smile that wouldn't invite pity.
"I've decided not to dwell on getting dumped anymore."
""...""
"Look at you Bratty Members' faces? Someone'd think I'm faking being okay. I'm not, so relax."
To convince the doubtful members, she plastered on an even brighter smile.
"Working up a sweat after so long cleared my head. Oh, I already thought it was a joke confession anyway, and I still do. Sulking forever would just hurt me, right? It hit me like that."
She met each one's eyes softly.
First, their maknae line with those charming dimples.
So mature despite just turning adult. Still, that maknae vibe meant her quirky side was endlessly cute.
"You might not get it, but that's how we are. After fifteen years as childhood friends, we just roll with it. Even I didn't expect him to brush off a drunken confession as a joke, though."
Next, their May, who'd come to Korea and whom she was endlessly grateful for.
Chaewon was always pinching her cheeks, which had to annoy her, but May always grinned and called, "Chaewon unni~." She was a gem.
Gotta have a daughter like her someday.
"It sucks, but what can you do? He doesn't feel the same, and I can't force him. Yeah, it's a shame we're not on the same page."
Next, their aegyo queen Yerin, more babyish than the actual maknae.
She was the kind of little sister who made you want to spoil her rotten with how she fawned over her unnis.
Chaewon kept wanting to buy her stuff without thinking. And the girl made bank herself.
"Gotta accept it. No point moping over someone. Me, Han Chaewon? Watch. I'll make him regret it someday."
Finally, their reliable same-age friend Serin.
Always guiding her right when she was lost, sometimes more like an unni than a friend.
She owed her so much comfort over the years.
"So what I'm saying is, yeah, I'm fine. And your support makes me even more fine. Thanks for coming today~."
She clapped to lift the heavy mood.
The members, who'd been watching rapt, let out soft sighs or sipped their remaining milk teas...
'Even after all that, their unease won't fade.'
They were just too kind-hearted.
They blamed themselves for egging her on, thinking it ruined her shot with a fifteen-year childhood friend.
Even now, their smiles looked forced.
Nothing for it, then.
"I'm uploading that vlog I shot? It's unedited, so two hours long, but check it out, members. It's hilariously good—your best reaction yet. Oh, right. Serin, what'd you think of the vlog—?"
"Speaking of which."
"...Yeah?"
"We showed it to the others before you got here."
"...Oh, okay?"
Chaewon nodded casually at Serin's words.
She'd planned to share it anyway, so if they'd seen it, they'd know.
It was destined to blow up.
She parted her lips, subtly anticipating their feedback.
"I know it's super rude to bring up? Dragging out something that's done—how unpleasant and insulting it must be. I get that."
Serin spoke a beat ahead, her face tense.
Her eyes held a resolute glint.
"...What're you talking about?"
Chaewon had a hunch but forced a smile anyway.
"I couldn't stop thinking one thing the whole time. Wondered if I was alone, so I showed the members. And through that whole two-hour vid, we all thought the same."
"..."
"...That."
Serin swallowed, unable to spit it out.
The others were busy glancing between Chaewon and Serin, while she gazed back impassively, smiling as she met Serin's eyes.
"It's fine."
"—."
"Nothing bad ever comes out of your mouth. Yeah. It's fine."
"Chaewon..."
"Go ahead. I'm braced."
Blatant guilt on her face.
Whatever she was steeling herself to say despite the shame... Chaewon's hunch solidified.
"...Okay."
She steeled herself to tamp down her emotions and smile at her friend's determined face.
"Yumin seems to like you."
"—Huh?"
She'd braced for Forget him for good.
This felt like a punch to the gut.
She couldn't process what she'd just heard.
"...W-What'd you say?"
"Yumin. He seems to like you."
Muddier and more unclear than any emotional whirlwind of the past two weeks.
"...Ha."
Her mind reeled.