Chapter 226

[Brother]

[Call me Noona]

[???][Is that really true?] [You tried to break my shinbone when I called you Noona before][Is it real?][Is it really?][Whoa!]

[Forget it]

[Wow, is this really happening?] [Wow, wow, that’s amazing] [I have to tell everyone Noona]

[Do you want to die?]

[You know that the internet spreads faster than word of mouth, right?]

What I hadn’t considered was that I still had some connections left. There weren’t many. Excluding Hwa-won, it was just Seo Eun-a, Im Mi-ra, and Ji Kang-hyeon. Yet, I didn’t want to reveal this kind of personal matter to those younger than me.

Of course, it was unavoidable since I didn’t request to stop the post and didn’t show any intention to calm down the situation, but it was still embarrassing.

So I intended to put it off for as long as possible, but that Ji Kang-hyeon really…

A little while later, Eun-a sent me a thumbs-up emoji that I couldn’t understand. Well, you would do that…. It was such an Eun-a reaction that I had nothing to say. Rather, it was Mi-ra’s response that pained me, particularly because she brought up the name “Se-ne.”

[Wow][So that’s why][That day, that’s why][Se-ne too, that’s why][Wow][Is this for real???] [Wow]

[Don’t ask me…]

[Yes, yes] [Wowwwww] [Noona, that’s amazing]

How can girls be so interested in love stories? They should focus on their own lives. But why is Ji Kang-hyeon chatting so naturally with them? I knew he exchanged numbers with Mi-ra, but Eun-a never crossed my mind. Did they exchange numbers when they were photographed before?

[You’ll pay for this later]

[ㅎㅎㅋㅋㅈㅅ]

A sigh escaped me. I don’t know why Ji Kang-hyeon was chatting, but it ended up like this. How am I going to face Eun-a and Mi-ra later? Of course, since both of them probably sensed something was off about my reaction, they might be suspicious already, but whether there’s evidence or not is an entirely different matter.

…Was my reaction that easy to read? I looked in the mirror and made various expressions, but I didn’t feel like my true feelings were showing on my face. It might be different in front of Hwa-won, though.

Thinking back, I was definitely…blushing in the candid photo. Someone even uploaded that picture and said, “It’s not a white peach but a red peach,” so I had to file a lawsuit against that guy.

[Anyway, that’s not important right now] [I’m starting drama filming next month]

[Oh, really?]

[The reactions are lame]

[So what?]

Seriously, what kind of reaction am I supposed to give regarding your filming news?

The scandal that broke out with Eun-a a while ago quickly died down and ended up being just a sensational story. Naturally, the news about the drama adaptation of Muk Ha-neul’s novel “Sky Mushroom” was fully released, and it was known that Ji Kang-hyeon would play the role of the female lead’s younger brother.

So even if he suddenly told me that they were filming, I just thought, “What do you want me to do about that?” Even without considering that the original work is Muk Ha-neul’s novel, I wasn’t in a position to care about things like that right now. I had ended up participating in Ji Kang-hyeon’s conversation, but I didn’t have that much time.

Two days had passed since Hwa-won and I went out together, and no matter how busy I was, I had a conscience that didn’t allow me to meet Hwa-won immediately the day after we went out. She must be tired. Of course, we texted each other regularly.

Texting really is a wonderful invention. No matter how I feel or what emotions I write, the other person can’t see my face. I could pretend to be perfectly normal. In reality, my face had already turned red when texting Hwa-won.

…Isn’t this a bit problematic? I shouldn’t be like this every time I meet Hwa-won.

The issue was that Hwa-won rejected the suggestion to meet on the second day. Well, that wasn’t strange. She probably got caught up with her father learning something. Maybe she was avoiding me after seeing the chaos online. My heart ached a little.

Eventually, not seeing Hwa-won for two days… made me feel a bit uneasy. So, I couldn’t give a warm response to Ji Kang-hyeon’s words.

[Even if a person tries to share good news]

[What’s good about you filming?]

[My uncle has a decent amount of money][He has a beach house by the sea, and the beach is private]

[Is that bragging?]

Why is he suddenly talking about being rich? It’s annoying.

[I’m not talking about mine] [Anyway, in the summer, we’ll rent it out for money]

[Summer is Han-bom’s younger sister’s name]

[Don’t interrupt me][So I’m planning to hang out with my friends one last time before filming starts this weekend]

[That’s just bragging]

[No…][I’m planning to take Mi-ra Noona and Eun-a Noona with me]

[???]

What is this crazy guy saying? Eun-a… what was it again? She was doing either a transfer or a repeat, so it wasn’t the time for that either, and Mi-ra was also a repeat student. They probably don’t even know who my friends are.

[Why would you bring them to hang out with your friends?][They’re busy studying]

[Isn’t it fine for about 2 nights and 3 days?]

[It’s not fine, you crazy guy!]

[Mi-ra Noona and Eun-a Noona already said it was okay]

Huh? Don’t lie. Mi-ra and Eun-a wouldn’t do that… No. Even if I exclude Eun-a, Mi-ra would never agree to that. She’s way too diligent.

I immediately skipped Eun-a and texted Mi-ra.

Fortunately, since I had just spoken with her, I quickly got a reply. But…

[Yes][I said I’d go][Why?]

[…Aren’t you a repeat student?]

Why is this happening?

[Oh, it’s fine. I’ll cover the costs myself]

[It’s not about the cost; I’m just worried][You know some people there don’t know anyone]

I’m not the one to complain to you about money.

[They said it’s okay to just hang out among ourselves][I think we can take a break for a few days][There’s still half a year until the college entrance exam]

[Okay][Got it] [Don’t take it too badly][I’m just saying this because I’m worried]

[It’s fine]

[So is Noona coming too?]

[?]

[Kang-hyeon said he’s trying to charm Noona]

[??]

I immediately returned to Ji Kang-hyeon’s message and asked.

[Why would I go there?]

[Is there any reason you can’t go?][I just asked]

[I’m not going. I’m busy]

[Because of your love life? I can bring that guy with me]

[Do you want to die?]

[Why are you being so violent?]

You make me violent. And Hwa-won is busy so she can’t go. So I definitely have no reason to go. At least, I wasn’t in a position to care about that now. Even if Hwa-won wasn’t busy… it would have been nice, though.

Anyway, I first asked about Mi-ra and Eun-a, who were worrying me.

[But isn’t there a guy there?][They’re your friends, right?] [Is it okay for Eun-a and Mi-ra to go?]

[There are only me and two idol trainees, and one of them said he was bringing his girlfriend]

[Is it okay for an idol trainee to date a girlfriend?]

[Of course not]

[You’re just mixing things up] [One is a girl, one is a trainee with a girlfriend, and what about the other one?]

[There’s one trainee who’s a die-hard fan]

[That’s a legendary combination] [So, how many girls?][Are there three if I combine Mi-ra and Eun-a?]

[Three guys, three girls, and with Noona, it’ll make four girls and three guys, and if Noona’s friend joins, it’s perfect at 4 vs 4] [Clear your schedule for this weekend, Saturday and Monday]

[I’m not going, you idiot] [What beach is open in May anyway?]

[It suddenly got super hot from yesterday, so it seems like a good time to go][If it gets hotter, the beach will open to civilians and the beach house will be rented out for money, so it can’t be used]

[Okay, have fun][Know that if anything happens to Mi-ra or Eun-a, you’ll regret it]

[I’ll keep that in mind, so let me know if you change your mind]

[I won’t change it]

The conversation ended like that. I still had various thoughts and worries, but both Mi-ra and Eun-a are adults; I couldn’t force them on this. Both have excellent grades, so a few days off wouldn’t make them drop significantly; sometimes, it’s not a bad thing to relax like this.

Hmm, but wasn’t it that they had always come to my house to hang out? Are they really studying hard…?

Anyway, it was a matter that had already left my hands. They were not the type to listen to advice, and I should just focus on what I can do now. It was lunchtime, so I thought it would be okay to call. If Hwa-won wasn’t avoiding me, she wouldn’t have a reason not to answer.

There could be other things going on, but Hwa-won said she would be free today, and given Hwa-won’s personality, she wouldn’t be doing any work during lunch.

As I dialed, Hwa-won…

…didn’t pick up.

What should I do? Did I bother her too much? Or did she realize that I made the issue spread online on purpose? No, even though I took legal action right away, it wouldn’t have been immediate, so she couldn’t have figured it out right away.

Then why? Why isn’t she answering my call? Did I come off as too burdensome the day we went out? Did I make it too obvious? Could Hwa-won have noticed that I love her?

…Even if that were the case, it wouldn’t be strange. I didn’t drink, but my face turned that red. But my expression… I genuinely didn’t know. Did I make it that obvious? I looked at the candid photo again, and yes, my face was red, but my expression was just a normal, happy one.

The expression that I might be in love felt like just an exaggeration to draw attraction. Hwa-won seemed to have a sixth sense for what girls were thinking, but since I was originally a guy, isn’t it hard for me too, even if I am a girl now? My expression didn’t seem to be a problem.

So, just like always, I felt relieved that this feeling hadn’t been conveyed and was saddened that it hadn’t been shared. But if I show my feelings right away, if I’m too impatient, she might leave, so I should be careful. I should do that.

I couldn’t hide that feeling from other girls, but until I get a clear answer, I won’t know whether the cat in the box is alive or dead.

Let it seep in slowly, but not too slowly. Hwa-won… so that she could like me. So that this desire of mine doesn’t shatter. So that I can continue to be the bad guy.

Soon the phone rang, and it didn’t take long for me to answer.

[Hello?]

[Noona! Why aren’t you going?]

Damn, Eun-a.