Chapter 21
“Get home safe, Noeul. You too, Hansol.”
Jun-gi sent Noeul a look that said, Thanks for inviting me today.
Noeul gave him a little chin-lift, as if to say, Go on, get going.
“Yeah, see you.”
Hansol also said goodbye.
Jun-gi flashed a quick grin and turned away.
…Cool.
Just imagining herself giving that kind of casual grin made Noeul feel queasy.
If she did it, everyone would assume she was joking.
She was jealous. She tried hard to pretend otherwise, but she was always jealous.
Noeul kept watching Jun-gi’s confident back a little longer.
Take a good look. That’s what “cool” is. Girls like that. Totally different from me, right?
“Why’d you invite Jun-gi?”
Hansol spoke once Jun-gi was far enough away.
Noeul liked that question.
It meant there had to be a reason to call Jun-gi.
He wasn’t an automatic member of their little group—more like a guest who showed up only when there was a purpose.
It made their trio—Noeul, Hansol, Ji-woo—feel like the real core.
Even though Noeul often told herself she ought to stay independent, she felt a growing sense of belonging—twisted, almost possessive, the kind that wanted to shut others out.
“I was texting with him,” Noeul said. “He asked what I was doing for dinner, so I said I was eating with you two. Then he said he’d come along.”
She hoped Hansol would show a hint of annoyance—say Jun-gi’s presence had been awkward or boring, that dinner was better with just the three of them.
Of course she knew that was unlikely.
No one gets uncomfortable around a guy that handsome.
Just looking at him gives you a dopamine hit.
“Hmm.”
Hansol only nodded.
After a short silence, Hansol spoke again.
“But didn’t you kind of notice?”
“…Notice what?”
“That Ji-woo was uncomfortable with Jun-gi.”
A thrill ran through Noeul.
She’d half-suspected as much.
Anyone could see Jun-gi was into Ji-woo, while Ji-woo pretended not to notice.
Even if Ji-woo wasn’t the most perceptive, she couldn’t possibly miss moves that obvious.
And a girl as pretty as Ji-woo had surely dealt with plenty of that before.
If nothing else, she’d be an expert at spotting a guy’s clumsy flirtation.
Ji-woo never really laughed at anything Jun-gi said—just gave a polite smile and changed the subject.
It did seem like she wasn’t interested.
If it were any guy other than Jun-gi, Noeul would have immediately concluded Ji-woo wanted distance.
But this was Jun-gi.
Unless Ji-woo was blind, how could a girl dislike being approached by someone that good-looking?
Maybe Jun-gi wasn’t boyfriend material for her—someone as beautiful as Ji-woo might want not only a handsome face but also the best personality, humor, and talent.
Still, dislike him? Impossible.
Being liked by someone automatically raises your own stock.
If an “80-point” person likes me, I must be worth at least that.
If a zero-pointer liked me, I’d just feel insulted.
Jun-gi was already over 80 points on looks alone.
If he was even average in other ways, he was near the top.
So Noeul had assumed Ji-woo’s coolness was some kind of subtle, high-level flirting between exceptionally attractive people.
But after Hansol’s comment, Noeul realized Ji-woo’s reaction wasn’t unusual at all.
Ji-woo really was uncomfortable.
The certainty filled Noeul with excitement.
“…Hmm…”
Noeul kept her voice neutral.
“I thought maybe, but I wasn’t sure. Could’ve been just me.”
Was Hansol only guessing too?
Or had Ji-woo told her directly?
Noeul wanted to know for sure.
“Did Ji-woo say Jun-gi makes her uncomfortable?”
“No, nothing like that. It’s just obvious, isn’t it? Ji-woo’s not into him, and Jun-gi keeps pushing.”
So Hansol was only speculating.
That meant it could still be an act—Ji-woo pretending discomfort to spark Jun-gi’s interest.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Noeul’s mind.
Hansol continued.
“Not that Jun-gi did anything wrong. I just mean, next time, maybe check with Ji-woo before you invite him.”
“Yeah… but Jun-gi’s fine.”
Noeul secretly wanted Hansol to contradict her—to admit she didn’t like Jun-gi either and explain why at length.
Hansol hesitated.
“Yeah, he’s fine… but I do think he comes on too strong. You’re his friend, not a girl, so maybe you don’t feel it. But relying on his looks like that—it’s kind of… clumsy. Sorry to bad-mouth your friend, but yeah.”
Noeul made the kind of face someone might wear after hearing a less-than-kind remark about a friend.
Inside, she felt almost giddy.
She wanted Hansol to be even more blunt.
But if she joined in, she’d just look like someone who talks behind a friend’s back.
So she said lightly, “It’s not that he’s relying on his looks—he’s just… straightforward. No hidden agenda.”
“You’d think that. Because you’re his friend.”
Hansol shook her head.
Noeul only gave a maybe, maybe not shrug.
“Can we study for the quiz together? I don’t know a thing,” Ji-woo said, looking desperate.
“Let’s do it,” Hansol replied. “Noeul can teach us like a top tutor.”
Noeul smirked.
“Then you two should pay me.”
“At least buy you dinner!” Ji-woo pleaded with big eyes.
Noeul pretended to consider.
“Should we invite Jun-gi… or is that… too much?”
At the mention of his name, Ji-woo and Hansol’s expressions stiffened almost imperceptibly.
The sight sent a little rush of pleasure through Noeul.
She kept wanting to praise Jun-gi in front of them—supposedly to help Jun-gi and Ji-woo get closer so she herself wouldn’t harbor false hopes about Ji-woo.
That was the official reason.
But really, she enjoyed watching Ji-woo and Hansol bristle.
She wanted them to criticize Jun-gi for her while she maintained her image as someone who never talks behind friends’ backs.
Was it wrong to steer the conversation so they’d bash him while she pretended innocence?
Probably.
Jun-gi hadn’t done anything terrible.
It was Jun-gi’s own heavy-handed flirting that shaped their opinion.
I’m just hearing about it, she told herself, trying to feel okay.
“You two are so obvious,” Noeul teased.
“Ha… we didn’t say a word,” Hansol said in a deliberately awkward voice.
“Seriously, Jun-gi’s a great guy. You just don’t know him. Among the guys, he’s famous for being loyal. It’s rare for a handsome guy to be that popular with other guys—it means he’s got a good personality.”
Hansol replied, “Then maybe he should just hang out with the guys.”
“You’re really that exclusive, huh?”
“We don’t dislike him,” Hansol said. “It’s just… the vibe got a little awkward somehow.”
“You’re judging from a few glimpses. Give him another chance.”
“I get that you want everyone to get along—he’s your friend. But you’re smart; you know it’s not something you can force.”
“…Maybe so.”
Noeul felt a little jolt of guilt.
She’d better drop the subject before they saw through her.
“Hey, you…” Ji-woo finally spoke.
“Are you trying to set me up with Jun-gi?”
“Well…”
Noeul couldn’t think of an answer.
If Ji-woo believed that, so much the better—it hid any chance she’d suspect Noeul’s own feelings.
And it was half-true anyway.
So Noeul nodded slightly, as if to confirm it.
But she didn’t add that Jun-gi was genuinely serious about Ji-woo.
If Ji-woo knew that, she might start seeing him differently—and who could resist a gorgeous guy who’s truly sincere?
The thought unsettled Noeul.
She wanted them to end up together… but not for Ji-woo to fall for him completely.
But how else would they end up together?
Ji-woo said, “Honestly, I just… don’t feel that way about Jun-gi.”
Relief and quiet joy washed over Noeul.
And she realized she’d never truly wanted them to be a couple.
Same old me, she thought.
I can’t help being like this.
Anyway, whether she wished it or not, those two were never going to happen.
That wasn’t because of anything she’d done; it was just how things were.
“Did you promise Jun-gi you’d help him with me or something?” Ji-woo asked.
“No, nothing like that. Just… said I’d invite him along if we were hanging out, that’s all.”
Ji-woo nodded, seeming to understand.
“Hey, Noeul.”
Jun-gi was stretched out on the student-lounge sofa when she arrived.
“No one else here?” she asked, setting her bag down.
“Yeah. Empty today.”
He looked off—voice low, expression dark.
“You feeling okay?”
“Ah… yeah. I guess.”
Sensing he didn’t want to talk, Noeul let it go.
After a moment Jun-gi spoke.
“Ji-woo… I don’t think she likes me.”
“…Why?”
A small spark of pleasure flickered inside Noeul.
“It’s just a feeling, you know? Hansol too… Did I do something wrong?”
A pang of guilt jabbed at Noeul.
“You didn’t do anything,” she said evenly.
“Right? I can’t think of anything either. I didn’t mess up when you were there, right?”
“…No, you didn’t.”
“Maybe I came on too strong?”
“…I’m not sure. Didn’t seem that way to me.”
Normally she might have joked that with a face like his, coming on strong was a blessing, not a burden.
But she couldn’t bring herself to say it now.
“I don’t know. Maybe… she just doesn’t like me.”
The hurt in his voice was unmistakable.
He’d probably spent all night wondering what he’d done wrong, only to reach the bleak conclusion: She just doesn’t like me.
For the first time, Noeul realized Jun-gi truly liked Ji-woo.
All this time, despite hearing it again and again, she’d never really believed it.
Deep down she’d assumed that someone that handsome couldn’t fall seriously for anyone—that only plain people loved deeply and got hurt deeply.
She felt as if she’d made some big mistake, done Jun-gi some real wrong.
She reminded herself she’d done nothing wrong.
Jun-gi said quietly, “You worked so hard to set us up. Sorry. Guess I’m just not good enough.”
“That’s not—” Noeul trailed off, guilt tightening her throat.
“I owe you a drink. When are you free—today? Tomorrow?”
“…Tomorrow, I guess.”
“Okay!”
Jun-gi stretched, shaking off the mood, and sprang to his feet.
“You know I really appreciate it, right?”
Noeul gave a faint smile.
Jun-gi waved and left the lounge.
The smile slowly faded from Noeul’s face.
