Chapter 167: A Misunderstanding?

Kim Woojin probably has no idea how much effort Min Ju-hee put into dressing up so femininely.

“Hmm, I think this might look better on you.”

Before having lunch with Kim Woojin, Min Ju-hee was choosing clothes with Seo Yerin, who had come to her room.

“R-really?”

Min Ju-hee was someone who had never dressed up like this before.

That’s why she asked Seo Yerin, whom she considered the prettiest person she knew, for help.

Of course, she kept it a secret that she was meeting Kim Woojin.

‘Ah, my conscience is pricking me a bit.’

“Senior, you look good in these clothes too? You should stop wearing that jumper and dress brightly; it’ll look prettier on you!”

“Cough, well, that’s a bit.”

It was unintentional, but since she ended up having an appointment with Kim Woojin, she dressed up like this.

She didn’t really want to show this girlish side of herself to others.

“Uh-huh, I see. You have someone special you want to show this to!”

“……”

Min Ju-hee, with nothing to say, kept her mouth shut.

Seo Yerin, humming a tune, began to set Min Ju-hee’s hair, mentioning that even Min Ju-hee had such a side.

Surprised by Seo Yerin’s skillful touch, Min Ju-hee said.

“Yerin, you are quite good at this.”

“Yes?”

“No, I just thought you wouldn’t be interested in makeup or anything because you’re already pretty.”

“Ah.”

Seo Yerin, straightening Min Ju-hee’s hair with a curling iron, honestly revealed.

“That’s right, I wasn’t particularly interested.”

After all, everyone says she’s pretty as she is, so why bother with makeup?

“But when there’s someone you want to show it to, you naturally learn.”

“……”

Min Ju-hee, continued keeping her mouth shut.

Otherwise, it felt like she might end up apologizing.

Because it seemed like a big deal if she mentioned that the person she was about to meet was actually Kim Woojin.

“Ta-da, all done!”

She had changed clothes, done her hair, and finished her makeup.

“Tada!”

Looking at herself in the full-length mirror, Min Ju-hee was surprised at her own pure femininity.

“With this, senior Ju-hee’s date will definitely be smitten!”

“…Thank you.”

“You’re welcome! Make sure to win! I should call this guy who’s been out of touch lately.”

“Ahem.”

Inside the restaurant, it was bustling as people chatted and sliced their steaks.

Since we were at an expensive restaurant, it was only natural that people around were in a good mood.

On the contrary.

Our table was enveloped in silence.

‘What is this situation.’

Senior Ju-hee was dressed up.

And very prettily at that.

Honestly, when I first saw her, I didn’t even recognize it was senior Ju-hee.

The important thing was that the senior seemed embarrassed and was focused on eating.

I try to draw the most plausible conclusion through some rational deduction.

“Perhaps…”

“Uh, yes?! Why?”

“Did you plan to meet your boyfriend after lunch?”

“……”

Oh.

It felt like she would have hit me right away if there was a bat next to her, such was the ominous atmosphere.

I thought something might break if I spoke further, so I stuffed another piece of meat into my mouth.

I thought I had read the atmosphere correctly, but was I wrong?

Senior Ju-hee said she wasn’t interested in dating, but aren’t people’s minds like reeds?

Even if you didn’t want to date yesterday, you might want to today.

‘Got it.’

Asking too many questions unnecessarily doesn’t look good, and it also ruins the mood.

I muster up the courage again with senior Ju-hee, who seems to be in a very bad mood, chewing on her meat with a grinding noise.

“Senior, I really appreciate your help this time.”

“……”

“If you hadn’t helped, I would have been in big trouble with President Hwang.”

If senior Ju-hee hadn’t appeared dramatically at that moment, I would have been severely beaten by the enraged President Hwang.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

As I sincerely express my gratitude, senior Ju-hee, with a fork in her mouth, hesitates for a moment.

“Then.”

She makes another suggestion.

“How about watching a movie after this?”

“A movie?”

I wondered what kind of movie she was talking about so suddenly.

‘Oh, come to think of it.’

I remembered seeing a trailer for a movie made by a director famous for martial arts and action, which was coming out this time.

It seemed like she wanted to watch that.

“Yes, of course. Let’s go right after eating this.”

When I nodded with a bright smile, senior Ju-hee’s lips curled slightly, and she started eating the steak a bit faster.

Just like that.

After lunch, we headed to the movie theater together.

Since we just ate, we decided to only buy drinks and were booking tickets at the kiosk.

“…You want to watch that?”

“Pardon? Wasn’t this the one you wanted to see?”

When I chose a work by a director famous for action, senior Ju-hee frowned and shook her head.

“It’s not like I had anything else I wanted to see.”

Yet, as if my choice wasn’t quite to her liking, she let out a vague sigh.

“Isn’t it just the style you like, senior Ju-hee?”

“Well, it is…but today, I want to watch something different.”

“Something different? What else is there?”

As I was looking through the movies currently showing on the kiosk, the senior’s hand suddenly pointed to one.

“This one looks good.”

“…Are you being serious?”

A film that looks like a static melodrama just from its poster.

“It’s not even a romantic comedy, it really just seems like a romance.”

“Yeah, today I feel like watching this.”

“Well…if that’s what you want to watch, Senior.”

In the end, we bought tickets for the romance movie and entered the theater.

Senior Ju-hee next to me seemed quite excited about the movie, fidgeting with her hands.

She called out to me, glancing at me.

“Um, Woojin?”

“Yes?”

“Could you massage my hands?”

“Your hands?”

“They’re a bit stiff.”

After all that batting, it’s no wonder she feels they’re stiff.

“I actually learned hand massage from YouTube.”

When I pressed down firmly on Senior Ju-hee’s palm, she shivered slightly as if feeling relieved and smiled contentedly.

‘Come to think of it.’

I did the same massage when I came to the cinema with Yu Arin before.

‘I wonder what Yu Arin is doing now. I hope she met Yoon-ji and is handling things well.’

Hoping their conversation went well, I started focusing on the movie that was slowly beginning after the commercials ended.

“Gasp?!”

I suddenly woke up from a nap.

The ending credits were rolling up before I knew it.

Did I watch 30 minutes of the movie?

The content was boring enough, and it didn’t quite suit my taste, so I naturally fell asleep.

Thinking I had been very rude to senior Ju-hee, who came to watch the movie with me, I glanced sideways.

Senior Ju-hee, like me, had also fallen soundly asleep at some point.

You were sleeping soundly, leaning on my shoulder, it seems you found it just as boring as I did.

“Senior, wake up.”

“Mm?”

“Senior, the movie’s over. Let’s go now.”

“It’s over? Yawn!”

Yawning, you look around and, realizing we’re the only ones left, turn your head in embarrassment.

“Uh, let’s go quickly.”

And then you dash out of the theater as if escaping.

You suggested the movie but ended up sleeping, so your embarrassment must have doubled.

“I’ll just go to the restroom for a moment.”

I also fell asleep, so I head to the restroom to check my hair and clothes.

Usually, the restroom is crowded when a movie ends, but seeing it empty now, it seems we woke up quite late.

‘Will we have dinner?’

As I roughly tidy my hair, my phone rings.

It was a call from Yu Arin.

I was curious about how things ended with Oh Yoon-ji, so I answered the call right away.

- Where are you, you jerk?

“Why the curse as soon as I pick up?”

- I’m obsessed with curses, so speak quickly. Where are you?

When she talks like that, there’s nothing I can say.

“Outside. I watched a movie.”

- With whom?

“Senior Ju-hee.”

If it had been another girl, I might have considered hiding it. But senior Ju-hee is an exception, isn’t she?

Saying that, Yu Arin sighs deeply and complains.

- Weren’t you just having lunch with senior Ju-hee? You watched a movie too?

“How did you know I was having lunch with her?”

- Yoon-ji told me.

“Did you have a good talk with Yoon-ji?”

- Why does that matter?

Honestly, she has such a temper.

- More importantly, did senior Ju-hee dress up today?

“How did you know?”

- The one who dressed her up is next to me.

- Kim Woojin! Why aren’t you answering my callll!

“Seo Yerin! I told you not to send weird photos! When I lost my phone this time, if it hadn’t been locked, someone else could have seen it!”

When I got my phone back, I was freaked out because Seo Yerin had sent a bunch of photos since I hadn’t replied.

- Ugh, I’m on a call. Anyway, is it big? Going on dates with senior Ju-hee?

“What date.”

Being with senior Ju-hee isn’t a date. It’s just hanging out.

It’s more like wandering around with a superior than with a friend.

When I answered like that, a deep sigh from Yu Arin washed over me.

- You idiot. The senior who never dresses up wore a dress, did her hair, and put on makeup?

“……”

- She probably didn’t smoke either, right? What movie did you watch?

“I don’t even remember the title, but it was a romance.”

- See? Ugh, Kim Woojin. Why do people like someone like this?

“You’re asking me that?

- If you drink wine today, you’re dead. Yerin, say something too.

“……”

- The moment you stay out tonight, your balls-!

It was such a brutal threat that I decided to pretend I didn’t hear the rest.

Even Yu Arin was so shocked that she hurriedly snatched the phone away.

- Anyway. Be careful. We know you’re confused and haven’t made up your mind yet, so don’t play with our feelings.

- If you mess around with us, then just-!

Click.

The call ended just like that.

Staring blankly at my phone, I felt like I’d been hit on the back of the head.

Senior Ju-hee, with me?

Then the memories from the last time at Gold One came vividly back to me.

Senior Ju-hee, who had somehow ended up in my arms.

It wasn’t a dream, but it was an incident that passed by like one.

“……”

As I stepped out of the bathroom, my lips were tightly sealed.

Senior Ju-hee seemed to have freshened up as well after using the restroom, waiting for me with a neat appearance.

“Going back to the dorm is a bit of a hassle, should we grab dinner before heading back?”

The senior naturally suggested moving on to the next step as if it was rehearsed.

I should have kept quiet.

“Is this a date?”

In the end, I couldn’t hold back my curiosity and asked bluntly.

The senior was flustered, perhaps not expecting such directness.

Since I had already spoken, I decided to be straightforward.

“Senior, do you like me?”

“Huh?!”

With a peculiar exclamation, the senior blushed and took a step back.

I pursued the senior by stepping forward and continued my questioning.

“Why did you dress up today?”

“Ah, well…”

“Why did you suggest watching a romance movie?”

“Guh!”

“Did you practice asking me to dinner when you went to the bathroom just now?”

“W-wait a minute!”

“Last time.”

Squeeze.

Before I knew it, I had grabbed both shoulders of senior Ju-hee and met her eyes.

Did she really beat up thugs with a baseball bat with a body that looks like it would fit perfectly in an embrace?

It was hard to believe.

“Why were you holding on to me at Gold One?”

“…!”

Bang!

I heard something explode.

In anime, don’t emotions usually explode with steam coming out of the head at times like this?

But that wasn’t it.

“Ugh!”

It was the sound of my head exploding from senior Ju-hee’s uppercut.

My body seemed to lift slightly.

Now that I’ve experienced firsthand how the senior dealt with the thugs, I shouldn’t question it.

“Ouch, that really hurts.”

When I rubbed my chin and looked at the senior, she was taking deep breaths, trying to forcibly calm her emotions.

Then, it raises a question.

“Se-senior. But there’s not really a reason for you to like me.”

Isn’t there not much reason to like?

Of course, sometimes you just end up liking someone after seeing them, and they naturally catch your interest.

But it’s senior Ju-hee?

Would Captain Ju really have their heart stolen in that manner?

In the first place, wasn’t she someone who rejected relationships themselves?

So I thought there might be some sort of trigger.

“Well, you see.”

Senior Ju-hee began to explain, braving her embarrassment.

“At Gold One, you…had, had, had, se-x with Yerin and Arin.”

Her stammering was admittedly cute.

“So, you saw that.”

Even trying to pretend to be calm, I felt sweat pooling on my head.

My mind was screaming an alarm for something that should never have been discovered.

Since the senior’s story wasn’t over yet, I listened to senior Ju-hee’s words as nonchalantly as possible.

“Ever since I saw you then, I’ve been somewhat interested…”

“…Pardon?”

Did I hear that right?

“Just, since then, I’ve oddly taken an interest in you.”

Hmm.

On the contrary, I felt my mind calming down.

Like solving a difficult math problem and feeling a refreshing relief.

“To summarize briefly.”

I clenched my fist and neatly summed up the situation.

“You’re mistaking lust for love because you’re hor-ouch!?”

Senior Ju-hee’s fist struck my solar plexus, stopping my words.

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