Chapter 23
[ Yeah. ]
“Noeul, I’m on my way to meet Ji-woo.”
[ …You’re already at the meeting place? ]
“Mm-hmm.”
[ Didn’t you say you’d meet at two? It’s only a little after one. ]
“I dunno. I just came out early.”
[ It’s scorching hot and you went out early? ]
“Will Ji-woo feel pressured if she knows I’ve been here too long? Should I say I just got here when she arrives?”
[ Well… it might feel a bit much…. ]
“Right? Should I hide somewhere and come out like three minutes late?”
[ No. This isn’t a stage play. If she asks, just say you got there ten or twenty minutes early. ]
“Ten to twenty? Got it.”
[ Listen to yourself. Do you hear what you’re asking me? ]
“You know Ji-woo better than I do.”
[ …Not really. …I’m just a friend. ]
“Still. Ugh, I don’t know what vibe I should have. Should I be upbeat? Or more serious? But then I’ll freeze up from nerves. What do I do?”
[ It’s okay if you look nervous. Ji-woo knows you like her. She’ll know you’re nervous. Pretending not to be will feel more fake. ]
“Yeah? You’re right. I am nervous. Just be natural… natural….”
[ You sound too hyped. Speak a little slower—slower than feels normal to you. ]
“Sloooower… liiike… this…”
[ Not that slow, idiot. Why are you talking like a fool? You’ve dated before. ]
“I don’t know. Back then my looks carried me.”
[ There it is, the real you. Weren’t you the one who always said you didn’t get why people thought you were handsome? ]
“How could I not know? I was just pretending to be humble.”
[ Unbelievable. ]
Jun-gi and Noeul laughed.
“Ah, I feel a little less tense now. Thanks, man. I’m really going to do well this time.”
[ …Yeah. ]
“Any other advice?”
[ You want advice from a guy who’s never dated? ]
“Not that. I mean just… human-to-human, how to make a good impression.”
[ How would I know that? ]
Noeul hesitated, then said,
[ …Just remember—you’re not only good-looking, you have a good personality and you connect well with people. You’re a good person. She’ll feel that without you bragging. ]
“You’re the one with the great personality and conversation skills.”
[ Stop. You’re making me nauseous. ]
Jun-gi chuckled.
“Man, you should’ve been a girl. I’d date you.”
[ Even if I just grew my hair out? ]
“…Hmm, I’d have to think about that.”
[ You’re always like this. You never understand my heart! ]
“Geez.”
They both broke into laughter again.
[ If something funny about me comes up, just use it. I’ll let you exaggerate a little. ]
“Seriously? Damn, I’m touched. Friendship goals.”
[ Just don’t make up crazy stuff. If Ji-woo asks, ‘Did he really poop in the street?’ you’re dead. ]
“Ahaha! Okay. I’ll only stretch it thirty percent.”
[ That’s still a lot… fine. Limited-time offer—thirty percent exaggeration allowed. ]
“Thanks.”
[ Yeah. …Good luck. ]
“Thanks. I’ll text you.”
[ Okay. ]
Jun-gi hung up.
He was excited not only to spend time alone with Ji-woo, but also because he felt again how lucky he was to have a solid friend like Noeul.
For a while, Jun-gi had felt a pointless jealousy toward Noeul. Ji-woo seemed interested only in Noeul. At first he thought Ji-woo was doing it to get his attention—mentioning Noeul on purpose, always trying to include Noeul when they hung out….
But time passed and Ji-woo’s focus never shifted to him.
Could it be that Ji-woo liked Noeul more than Jun-gi? Impossible. It didn’t fit Jun-gi’s sense of things. So he decided Ji-woo wasn’t looking for a boyfriend but simply a friend. As a friend, Noeul might well be better: gentle, witty, and clearly not harboring romantic feelings.
Ironically, that only made Jun-gi like Ji-woo more. Many women—especially pretty ones—wouldn’t even be friends with a guy they thought wasn’t attractive enough. They’d think it lowered their “status.” Even as a friend, Jun-gi was usually the preferred one. But Ji-woo didn’t care about that. She seemed to care only whether someone was genuinely good.
That made Jun-gi want her heart all the more. Everyone already knew he was handsome; he didn’t need to prove it. But if Ji-woo liked him, it would mean the rest of him had value too.
Just then, Ji-woo appeared in the distance.
She wore a short pleated skirt and a light cardigan. Each step made her skirt sway, showing off her pretty legs. The cardigan traced the delicate line of her shoulders and the curves of her chest.
Up close, her expression was a little cool.
It didn’t seem like she’d come out in high spirits.
Jun-gi didn’t mind much. He already knew she wasn’t particularly into him. If anything, it made her more appealing—other girls grinned the moment they saw his face and giggled at every word he spoke.
He wanted Ji-woo’s genuine approval.
Jun-gi said, “Hot, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
“There’s a café over there with seats. Want to go in?”
“Sure.”
“That game is seriously legendary.”
“Han Noeul played it all night back in first year. How’d he get you hooked too?”
“There’s a reason people stay up. Once you start, you can’t stop.”
When Jun-gi complained to Noeul about having no common interests with Ji-woo, Noeul suggested bringing up Happy Farm Farm. He said Ji-woo’s eyes would light up and she’d chatter excitedly, and the mood would naturally loosen.
Noeul was right. Ji-woo was a Happy Farm Farm fanatic.
Jun-gi listened while Ji-woo talked a mile a minute, adding little comments.
“It was huge in our department, right?”
“Totally. I think Happy Farm Farm ruined a bunch of students.”
“Speaking of which, Han Noeul’s amazing. He stayed top of the class even while playing that.”
“Seriously. How does he do that? He’s such a good talker too. When I have kids someday, I’d want Noeul to tutor them.”
“Out of all my friends, I think Han Noeul is the smartest. Nicest personality too.”
“Right? I had the same feeling. I wanted to be friends with him right away.”
Ji-woo lit up whenever Noeul’s name came up.
“How did you two become friends?” she asked.
“We… met at a department trip early in first year? Before you transferred, I went a few times.”
“Ah, got it.”
“I’d just moved up from Busan and missed orientation, so I didn’t know anyone. I was sitting alone and nobody talked to me. Noeul was the first to come over.”
“Wow, classic Han Noeul.”
Ji-woo listened, fascinated.
“He’s funny—seems shy at first but can be really bold. Usually quiet, but when it’s time to liven things up, he’s the best.”
“Yeah, I love his jokes. Never mean, always fun.”
“Exactly. That’s why I like him.”
Jun-gi was glad Noeul existed as a bridge. Without that topic, he might not have managed such a long conversation with Ji-woo.
Still, it felt a bit odd—like he was relying on Noeul’s charm to get closer to Ji-woo. But maybe that was fine. If they got closer, other shared topics would come, and eventually something just between the two of them would grow.
“Wait, you’re from Busan?” Ji-woo asked.
“Yeah.”
“But you don’t have an accent at all.”
“I worked hard my first year to get rid of it.”
“Most people can’t.”
“They just don’t practice enough. I still slip when I talk to my parents, though.”
“So you can switch it on and off. Cool.”
“Yeah. Glad I fixed it before meeting you.”
Ji-woo smiled faintly.
“I think a little accent would be cute. Girls sound adorable with one.”
“Nah, I’d sound ridiculous.”
“More than your accent, stop saying ‘daebak.’”
“Right—Noeul told me not to say that.”
“He did?”
“Yeah.”
“Of course he did.”
“Is it that weird?”
“Mm… it kinda ruins the vibe.”
“You should’ve told me sooner.”
“I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”
“It’s okay if I’m hurt now?”
“Hm… maybe.”
Jun-gi grinned.
He decided not to confess today. If he did, they might slide back into that awkward not-quite-friends zone.
He liked things as they were—slowly getting closer.
[ Just left Ji-woo. Owe you big time today. Got a good feeling. ]
Noeul stared at Jun-gi’s text for a long time before replying.
[ Should I expect beef as thanks? ]
Jun-gi replied right away.
[ Beef…? Sure, why not. My treat. ]
Noeul sent a dancing-fox sticker, then set the phone to silent and tossed it onto the bed.
– Just left Ji-woo. Owe you big time today. Got a good feeling.
When Noeul first read that message, something cold sank inside.
It meant he’d secretly hoped for a different text: Ji-woo doesn’t seem into me. The vibe was off. You helped a lot but it didn’t work… Something like that.
He’d imagined getting such a message and thinking, I really did my best. Nothing more I could do. He’d imagined the relief of that, Ji-woo and Jun-gi not getting together, everything turning out in Noeul’s favor.
Why had he hoped for that? He knew there was nothing magical about attraction. Isn’t it stranger if a pretty woman and a handsome man spend time alone and don’t like each other? Why expect anything else?
Even while helping Jun-gi as much as he could, Noeul hadn’t really believed they’d hit it off—or maybe he’d just wanted to believe that. Maybe he’d trusted Ji-woo’s earlier comments: that Jun-gi was dull, hard to talk to, not her type….
Noeul shook his head.
He was tired of self-reproach. He didn’t want to think anymore. They liked each other—good for them. It was none of his business now. He wanted to leave it at that.
But the next day, when he saw Ji-woo, he realized he hadn’t let go completely.
“You were right—Jun-gi’s really nice,” she said.
A chill spread through his chest.
He realized he’d wanted Jun-gi’s feelings to be Jun-gi’s alone, that he’d hoped Ji-woo wouldn’t feel the same. Maybe the good vibe had been only Jun-gi’s illusion—that’s what he’d wished.
Why does hope feel strongest when it’s crushed?
Noeul said, “Told you listening to me wouldn’t hurt.”
It’s fine.
“I reflected a bit myself.”
It’s all fine.
“I learned not to judge people too quickly.”
Everything’s back to normal.
“Yeah. Thanks to you.”
“…….”
“Thanks.”
