Chapter 30
***
“In just a little while, I’ll be able to go to the same school as my brother and sister!”
Seo-yeol said this on the way to school. Baek I-hae, who was still thinking about Seo Do-gyeom, blinked in surprise at his words.
“Huh?”
“Why are you so surprised? I’m already sixteen now. When you become a senior in high school, I’ll be entering as a freshman at the same school.”
Seo-yeol kindly explained. Sometimes he went into more detail than necessary, as if he thought she was a bit slow.
“No, I know that—it’s just hitting me how small our age difference really is. You seem so young like this.”
“We’re only two years apart!”
Getting excited over something like that—wasn’t that proof of how young he was?
‘But if I say that, he’ll definitely sulk.’
Baek I-hae nodded casually. Reading her expression, Seo-yeol grabbed her wrist with a dissatisfied look.
As she’d thought before, he was shorter than her, but his hands were unusually large for a kid.
“Sis, did you know?”
“Hm?”
“That the engagement with you doesn’t necessarily have to be with my brother.”
Baek I-hae’s startled face was fully reflected in Seo-yeol’s eyes as he leaned in close.
For a brief moment, she blinked in confusion, wondering what he meant. Before she could even react, Seo-yeol’s face turned beet red, and he quickly released her hand, stumbling backward.
Covering his mouth and looking utterly at a loss, anyone watching might think Baek I-hae had teased him or something.
“I just mean, that’s how it is! There’s no weird meaning behind it!”
“Oh, yeah. I wasn’t thinking anything weird.”
“There’s no weird meaning, but at least act like you’re aware of it!”
What was she supposed to do?
In simple terms, it meant that their parents’ dying wish for an engagement with Baek I-hae didn’t have to involve Seo Do-gyeom specifically.
Any of the brothers would do, and Seo I-heum was just keeping the same-age Seo Do-gyeom in mind.
If Baek I-hae or Seo-yeol wanted it, the partner could change at any time—that’s what it implied.
‘Did Seo-yeol have a fiancée in the original story? I don’t remember, since he wasn’t positioned as someone who falls for the female lead.’
There were a few mentions of him as the younger brother who acted like the action captain by Seo Do-gyeom’s side.
Usually, a male lead’s brother might get involved with the female lead, but in the game, there was no sign of that at all.
That’s why she hadn’t paid much attention, but surely her match wasn’t meant to be Seo-yeol.
“Why would I need to be aware? You and I are family.”
Maybe that’s why.
Baek I-hae said this with a smile, slightly averting her gaze. She wasn’t sure what expression Seo-yeol wore, but he must have caught the subtle line she was drawing.
Whether it was a joke or serious, she didn’t want to get entangled with anyone after Seo Do-gyeom.
‘After all, once I see the happy ending, I’m out of here.’
Even if it was a place with no one waiting for her, it was still her own life. No damn status window, no forced entanglements with characters—a free life.
“I know. Who said I disliked it? …So don’t make that face. I promise I won’t say anything weird anymore.”
Seo-yeol came closer and took her hand. He rested his head on her shoulder, rubbing against it like a cat seeking affection from its owner.
She wasn’t sure what her own face looked like. She was just afraid that these people she’d worked so hard to become family with might drift apart over feelings that would never come to fruition.
If they weren’t going to happen anyway, it was better to stay family forever. Even if it was just playing family.
That went for Seo-yeol and Seo Do-gyeom alike.
***
Arriving at the classroom alone, Baek I-hae glanced at the still-empty seat next to hers and furrowed her brow slightly.
‘What on earth is he doing that’s taking so long? It doesn’t seem like exercise.’
She considered contacting him but decided against it. He wasn’t a child; he’d come on his own eventually.
“I-hae, hi.”
As she stood by the back door lost in thought for a moment, a voice came from behind. Startled, she quickly turned her head, and the other’s face was closer than expected.
“……Hi.”
It was Ye Eun-seol.
With his still flashy appearance, he smiled softly with his eyes. Other kids his age might find it appealing, but to her, it was a bit unsettling.
‘He doesn’t seem to have bad intentions, but it feels like a socialized smile.’
Like the way office workers hide their true feelings and smile to project a good image outwardly.
Ye Eun-seol also greeted the surrounding students in a friendly manner. It was the confidence of someone who knew his looks inspired goodwill.
“You didn’t come with Do-gyeom today, I see.”
As she went to her seat and sat down, Ye Eun-seol, who was in the seat behind, followed naturally and asked.
There was no way Ye Eun-seol, who had just transferred yesterday, could know they commuted together—how did he?
She looked at him suspiciously, and he waved his hand with an innocent smile.
“I saw you two leaving together yesterday, and when I stared, the kids in class told me. They said you two get along well and commute to and from school together.”
“You sure have a lot of interest in us.”
“Misunderstanding.”
Ye Eun-seol sat down and leaned his upper body toward Baek I-hae, coming closer. Then he whispered.
“To be precise, I’m interested in you.”
“…….”
The more she saw him, the more he reminded her of Baek Yeong—an unsettling guy.
At least Baek Yeong was good at acting, enough to fool anyone completely. The Ye Eun-seol in front of her wasn’t even that.
‘Ah, maybe he’s interested in Seo Do-gyeom, and since I seem close to him, he’s on guard?!’
Baek I-hae, who had been mindlessly wary, suddenly opened her mouth at the realization that dawned on her. It might be close to the truth.
In the original, the female lead had felt attracted to Seo Do-gyeom’s looks at first sight!
‘The gender’s different, but the story flow might be similar? He’s definitely on guard against me.’
Baek I-hae decided to drop her prejudices. The status window had confirmed that the original female lead was Ye Eun-seol, so she wouldn’t deny it anymore.
“Eun-seol, don’t worry.”
“……About what?”
His eyes, looking anxious just like when he’d heard “eunuch” yesterday, turned toward Baek I-hae.
“I’m nothing to Seo Do-gyeom, and I have no prejudices. If you’re interested in him, I’ll actively support you, so just trust me……!”
Ye Eun-seol’s large hand covered Baek I-hae’s mouth. It was so big it blocked her nose too, making it hard to even breathe.
“Wait, wait. You said something like this yesterday too—what on earth are you talking about? Why would I be interested in him?”
Ah, so this was Ye Eun-seol’s true self.
Instead of his usual relaxed smile, he frowned in genuine confusion, whispering with a furrowed brow.
His real personality might be a bit irritable. Thinking that, Baek I-hae tilted her head feigning nonchalance.
“Because you fell for Seo Do-gyeom at first sight?”
With her mouth covered, her hot breath was fully felt. It must have been the same for Ye Eun-seol, but that didn’t seem important to him.
His face crumpled pathetically.
“Crazy.”
And the quietly muttered curse was low, unlike the gentle voice that usually called her “I-hae.”
Now she saw that his voice had been an act too. Baek I-hae found Ye Eun-seol, revealing new layers like peeling an onion, a bit intriguing.
“You…… no, I-hae. I don’t know why you’re having such a creepy misunderstanding, but I’m not interested in Seo Do-gyeom at all.”
“Really?”
“As I said earlier, the one I’m interested in is……”
Ye Eun-seol’s hand fell away. It felt like her blocked breath suddenly cleared.
It wasn’t that Ye Eun-seol had removed it willingly, nor had Baek I-hae forced it off.
An outsider’s hand had intruded between them. Baek I-hae, seeing the hand that forcibly pulled Ye Eun-seol’s away, followed the arm with her gaze.
Somewhere, she heard a sharp intake of breath.
“This is troublesome.”
It was Seo Do-gyeom.
Having cut his bangs that used to gloomily cover his eyes, he now appeared with his face fully exposed.
It was a development different from the original. She could feel the surroundings holding their breath in surprise, staring at Seo Do-gyeom.
If Ye Eun-seol was a handsome guy who captured attention with his flashy looks, Seo Do-gyeom was one with a cold, static image.
And he gave off a slightly more dangerous charm. That was the kind of thrill it brought to girls his age—a risky excitement.
“Baek I-hae has her hands full just dealing with my interest.”
That risky excitement came to Baek I-hae without warning.
Her face flushed bright red.
