It Seems Like My Childhood Friend Has Returned

“Huff… Huff… Hoo…”

After sending Han Seo-ah off to meet with her friends, I rushed home and immediately started exercising.

Following the secret of strength that a buffed-up character in a cartoon mentioned: “100 Push-ups, 100 Sit-ups, and 100 Squats,” I found myself lying on the floor, gasping for breath, unable to lift a finger.

Whoa, this is hard?

I used to scoff at how someone could become that strong just by doing those.

But after trying it myself, I realized it truly is a secret to strength.

Still, when I touched the muscles I had just worked on, I felt like there was some effect—it was surprisingly solid.

Two weeks… Could it be possible?

Confidence surged as I stripped off my clothes and posed in front of the mirror; just then, the door swung open.

“Whoa, what the?!”

“Oh my, what are you doing, my son, undressing all alone in your room? What’s that smell of sweat?”

Trying to hide my exercise from Mom, I had closed the door, yet the smell seemed to have given me away, and she frowned before apologizing.

“Uh… Did I walk in when it wasn’t okay? Sorry, son~ Let me know when you’re done~”

Waving my hands desperately for her to leave, it suddenly hit me: she could think something completely absurd.

“No, Mom!!! What are you talking about? I was just working out!”

As she was about to close the door, her apologetic expression made me grab her and plead my case. Mom nodded, clearly understanding.

“I know, right~ Our son was working out~”

Her face said that’s exercise too, and I almost lost my mind.

“That’s not the kind of exercise! I mean real exercise, to get ripped!”

After teasing me for a good while, Mom finally seemed satisfied and stopped.

“But why all of a sudden are you exercising? Our son looks great as is. Is Seo-ah telling you to work out?”

“…Not at all. She’s not that type.”

Mom nodded in agreement, but since I had already been caught, I decided to ask for her help.

“Mom, I want to really push it for two weeks, can you help me with my meal plan?”

“Hmm? Two weeks?”

Mom tilted her head at the mention of two weeks, and then a mischievous grin appeared.

“Trying to impress Seo-ah?”

“…Well, yeah.”

With her looking up and down at my body with a proud expression, I felt my face heat up and turned away.

“Hmm~ You really don’t need to go that hard, you know?”

—I know.

I knew all too well that Seo-ah wouldn’t be disappointed by my lack of prince abs.

If it were the other way around, I’d feel the same way.

It was simply—

“I just want to do it for myself.”

I want to become someone who fits her even just a little more.

“Looks like you’ve grown up, our son?”

As Mom approached with a delighted look, ready to give my butt a playful smack, I instinctively took a step back.

Ignoring her disappointed gaze, I pressed on.

“Ahem, could you please just focus on protein for two weeks? I’ll bring the chicken breasts.”

“If you let me pat your bum, I might think about it.”

This woman is something else.

“…Just once.”

That day, I had no choice but to shed tears of sacrifice for future happiness and submit my behind to a charming middle-aged woman.

—

After plotting my secret strategy with Jia and returning home, I collapsed onto my bed, burying my face in the sheets.

Today was tougher than yesterday.

Tomorrow will be tougher than today.

I thought my love for Joonu couldn’t grow any more, but…

As if mocking my reservation, I felt my affection for him swell with every passing day.

Without Joonu, would anything have meaning for me?

—Not happening.

I’m heading over to Joonu’s house to recharge a bit—just as I lifted my body, my phone rang with a ding!

It’s Joonu!

[Joonu♡]

-Where are you?

It seemed like Joonu had left me a message after parting ways with Jia outside my house.

-I just got home!

-What? You came back super fast! Next time, contact me if you’re coming back late.

-If I do? (Cute bunny emoji with sparkling eyes)

-…I gotta come pick you up. It’s dangerous, you know.

-Even if it’s late at night?

-Anytime.

Even though I couldn’t see him, I could picture the blush on his face just from the text.

He wanted to worry about me, even while feeling shy; it was downright adorable, and I couldn’t help but smile.

—I can’t take it anymore.

-Joonu, is it okay if I come hang out now? (Bunny emoji peeking from behind a door)

-Hmm… I’m kinda busy wrapping up my studying right now. Sorry (Dog with folded hands, kneeling emoji)

I felt my whole body go limp upon seeing that message.

-Instead, let’s have a lot of fun tomorrow. Got it?

As if he anticipated my mood, he added an extra message.

Hing… I wanted to see him.

It was a pity, but I figured it was because of our plans on Saturday, and didn’t want to interrupt Joonu’s studies, so I tried to hide my disappointment and replied.

-Okay! Study hard… And can you contact me like yesterday when you’re done, Joonu? (Bunny emoji with sparkling eyes)

-Of course! I’ll message you when I’m done.

Hik-

His words brought a smile to my face; it was nice to hear that without question.

Just the thought of Joonu’s simple words making my heart race felt simply glorious, as if I had become Joonu’s dedicated fan.

—

Thinking that seeing Joonu might not happen, I figured I might as well do some studying myself, but then I remembered I hadn’t told my parents about the trip.

Since both were home, I intended to mention it when I opened the door, and there they were, gathered at the dining table.

“Seo-ah, are you hungry?”

“Um, no. I just came out to tell you both something.”

“Hmm?”

As I suddenly declared I had something to say and sat down, both parents looked tense, curious about what I had to say.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s nothing serious. I just want to go on a trip.”

As soon as I mentioned the trip, the mood noticeably brightened.

“A trip? What’s the plan? Where are you going?”

“After midterms, I think I’m headed towards the West Sea.”

“The West Sea sounds good. Yerin, should we go too?”

“Should we? I’ve been wanting to go to the beach for a while~.”

While my parents smiled and chatted about the beach, Mom suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to me.

“But Seo-ah, how many people are going? Is it just you and that Jia girl you mentioned before?”

“For the beach, four would be the perfect number. Isn’t Joonu coming too?”

Oh, what nonsense.

I shook my head vigorously to clear up their misunderstanding.

“Um, no. It’ll just be me and Joonu.”

The moment I finished speaking, both of them froze as if they had turned to ice.

“…What did you say?”

“I’m going with Joonu—just the two of us for a night.”

“A night?!”

Dad shouted as if I had told him some unbelievable horror story, while Mom looked intrigued, staring at me with interest.

All I had to do was convince Dad, right? Okay.

“No way! No matter how you look at it, a guy and a girl alone for a night is—”

“Dad.”

“Seo-ah, Joonu is still a boy in his prime. You know boys at that age—wolves, wolves!”

“Dad.”

As I called him repeatedly, Dad looked at me, his eyes filled with concern.

“Uh…?”

“Well, you see…”

No matter how brave I tried to be, it was slightly embarrassing to say this in front of Mom and Dad, so I covered my heated cheeks with my hands and continued.

“Even if Joonu is a wolf, that’s okay for me…. No, I’ll make it so!”

Just the thought of it made my body heat up.

If Joonu wanted me, I was ready to give him everything at any time.

Seeing my stunned reaction, Dad’s face turned ghostly pale, his mouth agape in disbelief.

It was as if he couldn’t accept the reality before him, blinking rapidly to confirm what he was hearing, but—

I regrettably noted that my feelings wouldn’t change.

—I’m really sorry, Dad.

Meanwhile, Mom seemed rather pleased with my boldness, a bright smile lighting up her face.

Instead of worrying, she looked genuinely excited, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she gazed at me, which made me feel relieved.

“So, is there anything you need to prepare?”

“Hmm… Joonu’s parents said they’d cover the lodging cost, but can you help with the rest?”

“Joonu’s parents…?”

While I began discussing the trip more seriously with Mom, I caught Dad murmuring “Joonu’s parents” repeatedly from the side.

But neither Mom nor I paid him any mind.

“Oh my! If Joonu’s parents are covering the lodging, then of course we’ll handle the rest. Where are you planning to stay?”

“Well, I don’t think we’ve decided on that yet. We only figured it out yesterday…”

Upon hearing my words, Mom’s finger started waggling side to side like a warning.

Wondering what that was about, I exchanged puzzled looks with her, only for Mom to beckon me closer, indicating it was important.

“Seo-ah, if you’re going during the high season, you need to book quickly, or there won’t be any places left. You don’t want to stay in some rundown place, right?”

“…!”

Hearing her words, which sounded like a warning for Dad’s ears, I felt a light bulb go off in my head.

—That’s not happening…!

“Mom, can you help me with booking accommodations right now?”

In a panic, as if an alarm had gone off inside my head, I asked urgently.

“Of course! Let’s book on our end first, and then we can tell Joonu later.”

“…! That sounds better, let’s do it like that!”

The thought of choosing a place to spend the night with Joonu filled me with newfound enthusiasm.

Downloading accommodation apps and browsing through my options, I suddenly glanced back at Mom and beckoned her closer.

“What’s up?” she asked, stepping closer.

Cautiously, I whispered to her, “Mom… is it okay if we book just one room?”

“Oh my, Seo-ah.”

“Yeah…?”

“The room and the bed… we usually just get one together.”

Seeing her wink at me with a smile, I realized I still had a long way to go.

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