Chapter 41
‘Is this even possible?’
Baek I-hae was utterly confused.
‘I know he has feelings for me. But I never expected him to admit it so readily like this.’
Baek I-hae wondered if it was okay to reveal her own emotions to Seo Do-gyeom. Her gut told her she shouldn’t get swept up in his pace like this.
“Do-gyeom, have you ever liked someone before?”
“No.”
“Then you can’t be sure if you have romantic feelings for me or not, right?”
Baek I-hae said this with her eyes wide open. Seo Do-gyeom, meeting her gaze, simply blinked slowly.
Words that were neither affirmation nor denial flowed from his lips.
“It seems like you’re asking that hoping for a certain answer.”
What a unnecessarily sharp guy.
Baek I-hae clicked her tongue inwardly while flashing a picture-perfect smile on the outside. Then, in a small voice as if soothing a child, she whispered.
“Neither you nor I have ever seriously liked someone before, so this could just be a misunderstanding. So let’s not jump to conclusions right now and think about it a bit more.”
“But I think I like you.”
“I prefer something certain over ‘I think.'”
In the game, too, Seo Do-gyeom hadn’t properly realized his feelings for the female protagonist and had only shown jealousy and obsession.
Simple jealousy and obsession could be cute. But if that obsession grew, he might even try to kill another man just for making eye contact with her.
‘At this rate, could Uncle and I-heum be in danger too? Nah, they’re family, so it should be fine.’
Baek I-hae stared at Seo Do-gyeom in silence. He met her gaze and blinked slowly.
Then, he subtly rolled his eyes and averted his gaze!
‘If he’s this cute, maybe it’s worth a try… No! Snap out of it, Baek I-hae! Don’t fall for Seo Do-gyeom’s beauty trap!’
It was maddening—like expecting a feast when the person offering rice cakes wasn’t even thinking about it.
“Then, if I become certain, will you become certain too?”
Seo Do-gyeom glanced back at the confused Baek I-hae and asked.
At that, Baek I-hae, who had been mentally tearing her hair out for a moment, paused. Anyway, even if she asked again later, he’d probably deny liking her.
“Of course!”
Baek I-hae shamelessly decided to extend the grace period. Vowing to turn Seo Do-gyeom’s heart around in the meantime.
Seo Do-gyeom nodded. Fortunately, it seemed he himself wasn’t fully confident in his feelings.
“Got it. But I want to make a good impression on you—what should I do?”
“Huh?”
“Until I think it over and make a decision, I’d like you to think about me too.”
Baek I-hae clamped her mouth shut.
‘This guy has no idea he’s basically screaming with his whole body that he likes me, does he?’
Seo Do-gyeom might not have realized it himself, but it was clear he liked Baek I-hae.
His pure affection was directed at her to the point where it was hard to pretend not to notice.
Maybe that’s why.
“…When I was little, I got locked in a closet during midsummer for a short while. So I really hate dark, enclosed spaces. To the point where I have trouble breathing.”
It was as if she couldn’t resist, and she felt like sharing information about herself.
Seo Do-gyeom blinked in surprise. Then he let out a low “Ah,” in realization.
He must have recalled how unusually sensitive Baek I-hae had been when she was locked in the truck during Baek Yeong’s kidnapping.
“So, if a situation like that comes up, it’d be great if you could be considerate of me.”
“Got it. I’ll definitely keep that in mind.”
Her heart stirred at his calmly delivered promise.
There it was again. Baek I-hae felt something strange in her chest.
“Um, and what I like is a sense of belonging, I guess. Probably because my parents aren’t around right now.”
Seo Do-gyeom nodded. His eyes sparkled as if urging her to continue, and Baek I-hae scratched the bridge of her nose.
It felt somehow embarrassing yet pleasantly attentive—someone trying to learn about her and showing interest.
The fact that she was becoming imprinted on Seo Do-gyeom. In a way, wasn’t that a sense of belonging too?
“And I like getting rewards proportional to my efforts. That’s why I study hard.”
It was work where the time and process invested yielded results. The satisfaction she could get as a student, not yet old enough to earn money.
That was also why Baek I-hae’s grades were well above the top ranks in the school.
“What about you?”
Baek I-hae found herself asking Seo Do-gyeom, who had been listening intently.
Because she had become curious about him, the one showing interest in her.
‘This much should be fine.’
That’s what she thought.
Seo Do-gyeom, pleased by the interest Baek I-hae was showing, quickly opened his mouth.
“I don’t like quiet things.”
It was an answer she hadn’t expected from Seo Do-gyeom, who didn’t mingle with others and spent time alone.
When Baek I-hae made a surprised expression, Seo Do-gyeom smiled. It was just a slight lift of the corners of his mouth, but it was a clear smile.
“That’s why I thought it was nice to hear you chattering away beside me.”
“I thought you found me annoying.”
“At first, I did, but now I think your voice is pleasant to listen to.”
Thump.
A small resonance spread through her.
“I felt it with Yeol too, but I seem to like small and cute things. Your gaze caught my eye because you feel like a little animal.”
To be precise, he had thought of her as a baby pig.
Baek I-hae recalled the inner thoughts she had glimpsed through the status window and pursed her lips.
[Baby Gangster, Seo Do-gyeom thinks Baek I-hae is cute.]
Thump.
A louder resonance than before spread through her.
“It’s also intriguing because I never know where you’ll bounce off to. It was surprising how calmly you watched horror stuff that I shy away from.”
“…You’re supposed to tell me about yourself, so why do you keep talking about me?”
She ignored the stirring in her heart.
When Baek I-hae grumbled in a sulky voice, Seo Do-gyeom tilted his head to the side.
His face held a questioning look, as if he hadn’t realized it himself.
“Yeah. I guess it’s because no matter what I do, you keep coming to mind.”
Thump!
Baek I-hae jumped up from her seat. A silent internal scream echoed loudly.
‘You crazy bastard! Flirting without even realizing it should be a crime at this level! Saying that with a face like yours could make feelings appear out of nowhere!’
His innocent expression, as if asking what was wrong, made it even more frustrating.
Thump! Thump!
Now her heart pounded wildly, as if an earthquake had struck. Her face was flushed red, on the verge of exploding.
“No, no thinking about me!”
“…Why?”
“Because it’s about me, so it’s my call! If the person involved says no, then it’s no!”
It was childish behavior that didn’t suit her usual hierarchy. But Baek I-hae’s mind was in such chaos that she couldn’t properly register what she was saying.
And understandably so— just like Seo Do-gyeom, this was the first time Baek I-hae had liked someone.
‘I absolutely can’t let him find out how I feel!’
Baek I-hae had no choice but to admit it. Unlike Seo Do-gyeom, who was dense about emotions, she was simply in denial.
The curiosity toward Seo Do-gyeom had blossomed into fondness. And that fondness had now transformed into romantic interest.
An undeniable truth. Even reminding herself that the seat beside Seo Do-gyeom wasn’t hers couldn’t turn back her true feelings.
“Thinking about you is forbidden?”
Seo Do-gyeom closed his mouth for a moment. Then he nodded readily.
Baek I-hae’s confusion was just starting to settle at his unexpectedly calm response.
“Then I’ll have to stay by your side all the time.”
“…Why does that conclusion come out?”
“Because if I don’t see you, I’ll miss you and keep thinking about you. Then I won’t be able to keep the promise I made to you.”
Why did it end up like that?
‘This is a big problem.’
Baek I-hae felt like crying. No amount of willpower could calm her heart, which kept thumping away.
Though if it stopped, that would be a problem in its own way.
‘This is really a big deal.’
With a tearful expression, Baek I-hae looked at Seo Do-gyeom.
“If it’s uncomfortable, I can at least study next to you. You stay by my side when I study.”
Perhaps interpreting her expression as discomfort, Seo Do-gyeom spoke in an uncharacteristic excuse-like manner.
She knew even that was his clumsy consideration for her. The problem was knowing that it was behavior he hadn’t shown to the original female protagonist.
‘…I like Seo Do-gyeom.’
It was the moment their first love for each other began.
