NOVEL NEXT Chapter 16
“Ha….”
The next morning after deciding to confess to Han Seo-ah during our trip, I sighed at the breakfast table due to the worries from last night that just wouldn’t leave my head.
From where to go for fun to how to confess, every single worry was anything but easy.
Sure, we had gone on family trips together many times since we were kids, but we had never gone just the two of us.
I couldn’t be sure about where Han Seo-ah would like to go or if I could pull off the best confession.
Of course, I had faith that Han Seo-ah would be happy anywhere, but since this could be a special day, I didn’t want to disappoint her.
Lost in my thoughts, I found that the morning sun was already up.
As I squirmed at the table like a dog needing to go out, my mom must have sensed something strange because she looked at me curiously.
“Joonu, are you sick?”
“…Do I look that way?”
Come to think of it, should I let my parents know we were going on a trip?
The thought of my worries not just resolving but escalating made my head throb.
What do I even say?
I mean, will they even let us go?
While my parents might be okay with it, what if Han Seo-ah’s parents say no?
Even though Han Seo-ah’s parents were really close with mine and had always liked me since we were kids, if we were going on a trip alone… they might try to kill me.
After some pondering, I decided to tackle the easier worries first and opened my mouth.
“…Mom.”
“Yeah~? What’s up?”
“Is it okay if I go on a trip with Han Seo-ah?”
“With Seo-ah? Sure~! Is there somewhere you want to go?”
Did she really interpret this as a family trip?
She had no idea that it was just the two of us and naturally accepted it as a family vacation, so I gulped and decided to tell her the truth.
“…It’s not a family trip.”
“Hmm? Then who are you going with?”
My mom’s eyes widened in surprise and confusion as her expression went from puzzled to horrified.
“Joonu, you’re not seriously going just with Seo-ah, are you?”
“……Yeah.”
“Oh my.”
As I saw my mom flapping her hands around, unsure of what to do while yelling “Oh my oh my oh my,” the embarrassment hit me like a truck, and I buried my head.
Drip, drip, drip –
I was sweating like I had just exited a water park, unable to wipe my sweat as I awaited my mom’s reaction.
“Joonu, look at me.”
When I lifted my head to my mom’s voice, there she was, my beloved mom, grinning almost devilishly.
“Do you want to go alone with Seo-ah?”
“…Yeah.”
“Is Seo-ah okay with it?”
“……Yeah.”
“Where to?”
“That’s still up in the air.”
“Oh my my, Seo-ah said she’s okay but where is it? When are you going?”
“I’m thinking we’d go after the midterms.”
Since I desperately needed my mom’s help to persuade Dad and Seo-ah’s parents and she was happily interrogating me with that big smile, I had no choice but to answer obediently.
“Hmmm~ If you’re going for one night, it’ll cost money, and you’ll need a place to stay… and you’ll need to convince Seo-ah’s parents too?”
“…Right?”
“Have you told Dad?”
“Not yet. You’re the first to know.”
“Just for this?”
My mom laughed like she knew everything about my true feelings.
Ugh
“Please help me.”
Having been caught anyway, I decided to be straightforward.
“Oh, our son has grown up!”
“Ugh, Mom, c’mon.”
She seemed ready to say I had become an adult, so I quickly changed the subject, and finally, Mom said, “Alright, alright.”
Ugh!!!
“I’ll talk to Dad and get him to cover the cost. But in return…”
“…In return?”
“You need to figure out the destination and place to stay. You can manage that for your beloved Seo-ah, right?”
I was caught off guard.
With no way to say no to such a cheeky question, I shut my eyes tight.
It was almost like I had revealed it already, but admitting I liked Han Seo-ah in front of my mom took a ton of courage, and I felt my palms getting all sweaty, with beads of sweat dripping down my forehead.
Ugh, I want to die.
The embarrassment was pushing against my limits, but I held it all back at the thought of Han Seo-ah’s bright smile when we went on our trip.
“…I can do it. No, I’ll do it.”
“Whee! Our son is super mature!”
“Ugh, come on! …Thanks, Mom.”
One worry down, I felt like if I stayed here any longer, I’d barf up the breakfast I just had, so I quickly stood up to leave.
“Joonu, if Seo-ah’s parents say no, just tell me. I’ll help convince them, okay?”
That’s right. That’s the final hurdle.
Just thinking about it made me sigh heavily.
“Heh. Don’t worry too much. It might be surprisingly easy? Got it, son?”
Leaving my mom muttering something I didn’t quite understand, I hurried out of the house and rang the doorbell at Han Seo-ah’s place.
Ding dong
As soon as I pressed it, my lips curled up automatically at the cheerful footsteps approaching the door.
Would she greet me with a bright smile again? I wondered with a bit of excitement.
#65
Walking to school alongside Han Seo-ah, our usual path looked the same, but every day, I felt a little closer to her.
Was it just my imagination?
We used to maintain a distance of about three feet, but now we walked so close that our shoulders brushed against each other while neither of us showed any signs of discomfort or the intention to back off.
Instead, we just pretended it was normal.
“So, is there somewhere you want to go?”
Ever since we met, our conversation had been all about our trip.
“Hmm… what about you, Joonu?”
The sea.
I wanted to say, but saying that might cause some unjust misunderstanding.
No, going to the mountains would be tough, and there are too many bugs, so…
It wasn’t like I was thinking any differently. …Probably.
As I hesitated, it seemed Han Seo-ah picked up on something, narrowing her eyes and staring at me intently.
“Joonu… you seem like you have a place in mind?”
With an aura that was almost like a little devil whispering, “Come on, tell me,” I felt myself gulp.
“The sea… wouldn’t it be great? May is perfect for it.”
“Right! The sea sounds great! Swimming and beach walks, right? But—”
Her teasing smile as if to ask if that’s really the only reason made me long to hide in a mouse hole.
“Hmm… Joonu, should I buy a swimsuit?”
“…Do as you wish.”
Han Seo-ah’s sparkling eyes at my bashful reaction made it clear she was enjoying my embarrassment, but at the same time, types of swimsuits that would suit her popped up in my mind.
“Do you have a swimsuit in mind?”
Just as if she read my mind, I looked at Han Seo-ah, who was now smiling knowingly.
“…Will you wear it for me?”
“It’s the sea after all~”
Han Seo-ah leaned slightly against my arm and said, “If Joonu wants, I’ll wear anything.”
“…Anything?”
“Yep. Anything.”
Not a little devil, but a succubus instead.
I’d believe it if there were a heart-shaped tail swaying behind her right now.
“Then…”
“Then?”
Caught in her earnest gaze, I blurted out my honest feelings.
“How about one without too much exposure?”
“No excessive exposure…?”
Han Seo-ah blinked in surprise.
What on earth does she see me as?
…Is it because we’ve known each other for thirteen years? She knows me well.
It was a bit uncomfortable but hard to deny; I felt awkward.
“Why?”
With a look of genuine confusion, she tilted her head and stared at me. I started to sweat coldly.
She’s usually quick to catch on; why is she acting like this?
Or is it a high-level act of pretending not to know?
“…Because other people will see.”
I knew it was selfish, but my face was burning red, about to explode from embarrassment.
But I couldn’t yield on this one, so I stared her in the eye and tried to act calm.
Han Seo-ah looked shocked, utterly taken aback as if she couldn’t have imagined my thoughts.
Her eyes wide and mouth slightly open, I realized she truly didn’t get it.
Why?
It was awkward, yet while thinking her expression was cute, she finally closed her mouth.
“Sorry… I didn’t think of that.”
Huh?
“What do you mean?”
When I looked confused, she replied, “I could only think about you… sorry.”
As she pouted and whispered that she also didn’t want to be seen by others, my heart raced at how I finally understood why she hadn’t noticed.
In that moment, the urge to pull this lovable creature into my arms swelled.
“You don’t have to apologize. I’m the one who should apologize.”
“No, it’s fine. I misthought.”
Han Seo-ah, who was sulking just a moment ago, had changed to a playful smirk as she approached me, looking bright like a cheeky succubus again.
“Instead, Joonu…”
I stepped back instinctively as her steamy aura became more intense.
“For our beach trip… you can expect my swimsuit.”
“…Did you forget what we just talked about?”
Shaking her head as if to say “No way,” she continued, “If it’s the excessive exposure that’s the problem because of other people seeing…”
Stopping and looking up into my eyes, her shining gaze and the subtle upturn of her lips made her look like a predator eyeing its prey.
“Joonu, I only need to show it to you, right?”
Her gaze urged me to agree with her, and without realizing it, I found myself nodding.