Chapter 40
“So, the conclusion is that I was trying to set you up with Seo Do-gyeom, and you were trying to set me up with Seo Do-gyeom?”
-…Yeah, that’s right.
Baek I-hae rubbed his forehead.
They both had the same goal, after all. The goal of dumping Seo Do-gyeom onto someone else.
‘No, it’s not like Seo Do-gyeom is a landmine or something. Though, yeah, he’s definitely too dangerous for me to keep.’
He let out a deep sigh. It was a sigh so heavy it felt like the ground might cave in, and Ye Eun-seol spoke cautiously in response.
-I’m sorry to you, but I’m not giving up. Seo Do-gyeom’s already showing interest in you.
“No, no, aren’t I just in the first love position? True love starts when you’re an adult!”
-Pure love begins from childhood, you know. It’s fine; if it’s you, he won’t treat you too roughly.
Ye Eun-seol said this in a gentle, persuasive tone, mentioning that she’d never seen such a kind side of Seo Do-gyeom before.
His ulterior motives for speaking so positively about Seo Do-gyeom were painfully obvious, making Baek I-hae’s teeth grind. That damn thug!
“He was your match to begin with, so you take him. This time, I’ll make sure to give him some good character education from the sidelines so you can have a happy ending.”
-I wouldn’t take him even if you gave him to me, that guy. And besides, I’m a guy, remember? The gender’s all wrong from the start.
“Love doesn’t care about things like gender!”
-You need to have some prejudices!
What a jerk. A guy like Seo Do-gyeom.
Baek I-hae let out a whimpering “hng” and slumped over the desk. The heat from the phone, warmed by the long call, transferred to his cheek.
“I want to go home too!”
-Hey, just live here. Honestly, your looks are more than decent, and your grades are good, right? Start a new life here.
“What? Has our Eun-seol gone crazy? It’s easy to say when it’s someone else’s problem, huh?”
-Your mouth’s gotten pretty foul. Meanwhile, if I get tangled up with Seo Do-gyeom like this, I could end up dead, you know? Better you than me dying.
Well, that’s true, but!
Baek I-hae ground his teeth without voicing the rest. The more they talked, the more it felt like he was getting wrapped up in it.
Ye Eun-seol seemed to sense that too, whispering in a voice tinged with amusement.
-Then let’s do this. We’ll let Seo Do-gyeom decide. We’ll genuinely support whoever he chooses. How about that?
It sounded plausible. Like leaving it to fate.
But Baek I-hae caught on to Ye Eun-seol’s wicked scheme and jumped up from his seat. He even slammed his fist on the desk with a loud bang for good measure.
“Seo Do-gyeom already likes me, so what’s there to decide! Anyone can see he’s head over heels for me!”
“…Ah.”
Huh?
An awkward exclamation from someone else, who shouldn’t have been able to hear, came from behind. Baek I-hae turned around slowly with a frozen expression, only to stiffen completely.
There was Seo Do-gyeom, who had just cracked the door open and was about to step inside. Unusually, he looked extremely flustered.
“Why are you in my room…?”
“…No, you suddenly started cursing, so I thought something was wrong.”
Seo Do-gyeom replied in a calm voice. But he avoided eye contact to the very end.
If the guy had been in another room and came running at the sound of cursing, there’s no way he hadn’t heard what was said just before.
So, the question is.
Who here feels like dying of embarrassment—Baek I-hae, or Seo Do-gyeom?
“Did I seem like I liked you?”
“No, wait, Do-gyeom. Hold on, listen to me for a sec?”
[Baby Gangster, Seo Do-gyeom has gained a major realization.]
No, please.
Put that realization back. Please, pretty please!
[Baby Gangster, Seo Do-gyeom is reminiscing about his feelings up until now.]
[He attaches a label to the emotions he’s harbored for Baek I-hae.]
No, you don’t have to attach it.
Whether it’s a label or a name tag! You don’t need that kind of thing!
-Bravo.
Ye Eun-seol, having roughly grasped the situation, let out a small exclamation and hung up the phone.
It was obvious he had a grin from ear to ear. Damn it all!
“So that’s it. I liked you. And it showed that much to you.”
Seo Do-gyeom covered his mouth. His large hand covered up to his face, but the ears he couldn’t hide were flushed bright red.
It was a reaction Baek I-hae had never seen before, but one that anyone could tell what emotion it stemmed from.
[Baby Gangster, Seo Do-gyeom realizes the emotion called ‘love.’]
[His impression of Baek I-hae is revised.]
[Baby Gangster, Seo Do-gyeom now feels so shy that even making eye contact with his first love, Baek I-hae, is embarrassing.]
[Favorability increases by 30.]
‘Oh, dear God.’
There’s no escaping it now.
The first love position he’d mentioned as a joke had become reality in that moment.
***
First off, Baek I-hae pulled Seo Do-gyeom into the room. She had no desire to let any more commotion spill out into the hallway.
At least it was a relief that Seo I-heum and Seo-yeol were on the first floor and didn’t seem to have heard anything.
“What’s wrong?”
Seo Do-gyeom obediently allowed himself to be led in by Baek I-hae’s hand. She sat him down on the bed and took a seat beside him.
[Baby Gangster, Seo Do-gyeom thinks his heart is racing like mad as they sit side by side on the bed.]
[A peculiar emotion wells up, and he contemplates what name to give it.]
Baek I-hae stood up from her spot and moved to the chair at the desk across from him. For such a young kid, he was already aware of her as a girl, treating himself like a man in her presence.
In contrast to his blank expression, the flashy status window made Baek I-hae’s face flush hot. She fanned herself with her hand, trying hard to cool the heat, before speaking up.
“Seo Do-gyeom.”
“Do-gyeom.”
“…Right, Do-gyeom. What you heard earlier was a misunderstanding. When I said you like me, I meant it in a family sense.”
“As family?”
Seo Do-gyeom tilted his head. Then he furrowed his brows ever so slightly.
[Baby Gangster, Seo Do-gyeom recalls Seo I-heum and Seo-yeol.]
[He feels absolutely no emotion.]
[Baby Gangster, Seo Do-gyeom gazes at Baek I-hae. His face grows hot at the sight of her thigh, exposed because of her crossed legs.]
No, please, not this.
Baek I-hae cursed the shorts she’d worn without a second thought until now and straightened her posture. Placing a cushion on her lap was an added measure.
“It feels different, though.”
Seo Do-gyeom said it seriously. It seemed like a conclusion drawn from comparing her to Seo I-heum and Seo-yeol, where he felt distinct emotions toward her.
Well, sure, gruff male family members would feel different from a pretty girl her own age.
Seo Do-gyeom sometimes came across as endlessly clueless, but in moments like this, he seemed remarkably sharp.
“A sister! A dad and a brother are different from a sister! It’s that feeling of wanting to protect and watch over her, right?”
Of course, Baek I-hae wasn’t about to give up that easily. She’d heard from Ye Eun-seol about the possibility of a bad ending—how could she purely rejoice in Seo Do-gyeom’s affection?
Not being able to return home was one thing, but if she ended up connected to Seo Do-gyeom! No matter what kind of ending it was, it didn’t seem like ordinary happiness would be waiting.
“…Is that how it is?”
Seo Do-gyeom tilted his head again.
Seeing that innocent expression made her feel a pang of guilt, as if she were rejecting him needlessly by recalling his in-game persona.
‘It’s too burdensome to accept this affection without any precautions. To begin with, I don’t even seriously like Seo Do-gyeom myself.’
Of course, it was true that her heart had fluttered more than once. She’d been aware of him in that way.
But wasn’t that just the kind of reaction anyone would have if a handsome guy like Seo Do-gyeom was close by?
Baek I-hae forced herself to think that way. And she resolved to keep her distance from Seo Do-gyeom until she could sort out her own thoughts and firmly decide what to do next.
Seo Do-gyeom stared straight at her in that state, then quietly asked.
“…Do ordinary big brothers feel embarrassed when they see their little sister’s thigh?”
“Wouldn’t that make them a pervert and total trash?”
“Am I trash?”
Seo Do-gyeom asked earnestly. Baek I-hae shut her mouth for a moment before shaking her head.
Not yet, at least. Not yet.
Of course, this was a secret from Seo Do-gyeom.
“Of course you’re not.”
“Then do you think I’m a pervert?”
“That… no, right?”
The ever-rational Seo Do-gyeom was the spitting image of Seo I-heum. There was no way someone like him would engage in perverted behavior.
When Baek I-hae denied it, Seo Do-gyeom slowly nodded.
“Then you’re not a little sister.”
Did he even understand the implication of what he was saying?
“….”
It was only natural that Baek I-hae’s face heated up as she listened. There was no chance for the flush in her cheeks to subside.
