Chapter 35

“So you’re saying I’m an idiot for making him say that? That I gave him the wrong idea?”

“No. The fact that he walked away in one piece—that’s the problem. If he spouted nonsense like that, you should’ve half-killed him. That’s the Gamjeong I know.”

Saying he regretted it, saying he still loved her—he pleaded so desperately, and Iseong couldn’t stand by. He had to step in, fearing she might waver.

“You don’t know everything about me. Your assumptions—”

“This is it?”

Iseong cut her off and pulled her suitcase toward the SUV. He swiftly popped the trunk and tossed it in.

Sigh. She followed and climbed into the passenger seat. There was no use fighting—her suitcase was already in the car.

They said nothing during the short ride home.

Just like when they were in high school, when a petty fight left them sulking for half a day in silence.

Flashback

“Hey, let’s go to the snack shop. Ice cream’s on me today.”

She squatted by Iseong’s seat, who was glued to his phone. His jawline looked especially sharp that day.

“You’re stressed, right? Let me inject some sugar. Let’s go.”

He must’ve argued with his dad again. His father was authoritative, and Iseong always reacted strongly to that. Maybe it was about school, or about protecting his mom.

Without lifting his eyes, he stood abruptly.

“I’m getting a cone.”

“Ugh, you thief.”

Just then, Hyeonwook slung an arm around her shoulder and joined them.

“I’ll take a popsicle, Gamjeong.”

“Ugh, you freeloaders. Fine, you can come too.”

But Iseong grabbed Hyeonwook’s arm and pulled it off her shoulder.

“You’re out. I’m getting two.”

He tugged on Gamjeong’s sleeve and waved Hyeonwook off like a fly.

Still, Hyeonwook slid into the seat beside her, stubbornly sticking close.

Iseong knew something was brewing between them. Hyeonwook’s feelings were clear. He’d asked before—“Are you and Gamjeong really just friends?”

He believed they were. He had to believe it. That inner voice telling him otherwise—he ignored it.

But their constant glances were driving him insane.

Gamjeong still paid for all their ice creams.

As she sat next to Hyeonwook, who looked like a puppy desperate for affection, her big mischievous cat eyes sparkled as she looked at him.

That made Iseong irritated. He drummed his fingers on the table.

Gamjeong stared at him and asked teasingly:

“What’s with the sour face? Did your dad bug you about law school again?”

“If you don’t know anything, just keep quiet. Letting kids do whatever they want ruins them.”

He hated his dad’s tone more than the scolding itself.

But right now, it wasn’t his dad—it was that guy slurping ice cream next to her that bugged him.

“It’s nothing new.”

“Then what’s bugging you?”

That guy. Right next to you. With his head on your shoulder.

“Just leave privileged Iseong’s worries alone. Heehee.”

A thin wrinkle formed between Iseong’s brows. Why was everything getting to him today?

Gamjeong, annoyed, shrugged Hyeonwook’s head off her shoulder.

“Ugh, stop clinging!”

Lately, Hyeonwook had been sticking to her like glue.

“Don’t I look good today?”

Was that supposed to be flirting? The way he tilted his head and blinked made her giggle. Then he winked.

“Don’t I look like that guy from Youth Boys? I even got a business card from UN Entertainment. You know that, right?”

“She gets that card all the time.”

She glanced at Iseong as she said it—and caught his glare. Maybe things were really bad at home.

“Hey, I need to talk to you.”

“What now? More tragic family stories? The more secrets you two share, the more everyone thinks something weird is going on.”

“Ugh, again? He’s known me since I was born. We shared baby bottles and took our first steps together. His mom’s my aunt, my mom’s his aunt. What do you call that? Siblings. Family. Okay?”

That was the line Gamjeong always used when people got suspicious. Iseong used to agree.

But at some point… it started to irritate him.

Hyeonwook picked his ear and left with a sigh. Gamjeong’s sharp cat eyes locked onto Iseong again.

Strange. Why did her gaze sting his heart?

“Come on, spill it. What’s with the gloomy vibes?”

“I’m older than you.”

“There it is again. You’re older by, what, a month?”

“Gamjeong.”

Why did he say her name like that? So seriously? His eyes were glassy.

“Whaaat?”

“Do you… like Choi Hyeonwook?”

“Huh? That’s what you’re going to ask with those misty eyes? Hyeonwook… well, he’s kinda cute lately?”

“Cute? So you do like him?”

Why was he policing her feelings? Did her mom hire him to screen guys?

Or maybe…

“What, you think Hyeonwook’s too good for me? I think I’m too good for him, actually.”

“You think you’re too good? Then why don’t you act like it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you know how gross teenage boys can be?”

She did. She knew how dirty their minds got.

Then again, so did teenage girls. She used to wonder if all that romantic stuff in books was really so magical.

Girls had desires too. Iseong always pretended to be above it all, but his tone now sounded like he was judging her too.

“What’s with the grumpy old man act? So it’s my fault for making him imagine stuff?”

“I care about you, okay? Don’t you know that Hyeonwook’s all over you? If you don’t set boundaries, he’ll keep pushing. Do you want to be a pushover?”

“A pushover? Don’t you think that’s too far? Whatever. I’m done talking.”

She’d said she was done talking and glared at him for half the day. Looking back, it was such a childish fight.

Is it really that different now?

Then and now, Iseong’s message hadn’t changed:

Behave yourself around guys.

Should she say it was consistent? But why did her heart feel completely different now than it did then?

Why did the silence in the car feel so awkward and tense?

Just as that memory passed through her mind, Iseong’s car pulled up in front of her house.

To break the heavy tension, she calmly opened her mouth just as Iseong spoke.

“I’ll behave—”

“You’re right. I don’t know all of you.”

“Huh?”

She reflected on what he’d said before they got in the car. Her heated response at the time.

“You don’t know everything about me.”

“You’re right. I don’t know all of you.”

“That… I was a bit too worked up earlier. Sorry I snapped.”

“No, you were right. I don’t know you. I don’t know much at all.”

So, if I said I wanted to know everything about you… would you run away again?

“You’re jumping to conclusions. You’re one of the people who knows me best. And I know you better than most, too… right?”

Not even close. You don’t know anything.