TBE 24

chapter 24

Yeong-won’s expression grew cold as he looked down at the uninvited guest. Hadn’t he told her to get lost? Was he too roundabout about it?

But Min-hee didn’t care at all. Instead, she tilted her eyes into a smile, slipped her arm through Yoon-ah’s, and greeted her naturally. To ease the sudden awkward atmosphere, Yoon-ah also smiled.

“They say you two already know each other. Senior Min-hee said she was curious about what the other groups were doing.”

They didn’t know each other at all—he was even hearing her name for the first time now. If Yoon-ah weren’t there, Yeong-won would have had no problem telling her to get lost, word for word. But because she was standing right there, he gritted his teeth.

Suppressing his irritation with all his might, he asked Min-hee,

“Can’t you just read the posts on the Mentee-Mentor Community?”

“But I really wanted to participate in person… My mentee ghosted me, so…”

Why do you think they wouldn’t want to spend time with you? The words rose up in his throat, but once again, Yeong-won swallowed them down. He didn’t want bright and earnest Yoon-ah to see him as twisted. So he silently walked forward.

This week’s mission was to strengthen their mindset before exams by touring the school’s Memorial Hall. As usual, the building was completely empty.

Of the three of them, the only one who paid any real attention to the exhibits was Yoon-ah.

Yeong-won simply watched her, while Min-hee made small polite comments to Yoon-ah but then immediately came back to chatter endlessly at Yeong-won—three times more than needed. He only nodded or gave minimal one-word replies, just enough to be polite.

By the time Yeong-won had mentally carved the character for patience a thousand times, they arrived at the Multimedia Hall. Sensing his mood, Min-hee quickly poked her head toward Yoon-ah.

“Yoon-ah, aren’t you tired from walking around all this time?”

“Oh, sorry. I must’ve dragged you too much.”

“The narrator’s voice is so flat it’s starting to make me sleepy… Yaaawn…”

“I’ll go buy some coffee. I saw a café near the entrance earlier.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

Just as Min-hee held out her card to Yoon-ah, Yeong-won quietly pulled Yoon-ah back by the wrist. Then he held out his own wallet to Min-hee.

“You go buy it.”

“…Huh?”

Min-hee stared at him, dumbfounded, then lowered her eyes to his hand holding Yoon-ah’s wrist. Yeong-won repeated himself.

“You said you’re sleepy.”

“……”

The air between the three grew tense. Not knowing why, Yoon-ah tried to mediate.

“Oh, no, it’s fine. I dragged you both around without thinking…”

“Then let’s go together.”

But Yeong-won still didn’t let go of her wrist as she tried to wriggle free.

“Y-Yeong-won… then how about all three of us—”

“Just the two of us.”

And with that, he walked out of the Multimedia Hall, dragging a flustered Yoon-ah along.

“…Ha.”

Left behind, Min-hee let out an exasperated scoff. So much for him flinching whenever she got even a little close.

Were the two of them always this close? Until recently, they’d just seemed like work colleagues, not this kind of intimate vibe.

“……”

But that didn’t mean Kwon Min-hee was about to give up. She had to have the best of everything. Her fist clenched.

“You came early, Senior Min-hee…”

Yoon-ah looked around the empty classroom, confused. Though she had brushed it off like nothing, Min-hee was sitting there alone, the atmosphere around her heavy.

The reason wasn’t hard to guess. Even during the Memorial Hall mission, and ever since then, Yeong-won had been cold toward Min-hee, who kept tailing after Yoon-ah.

Whether they had fought or not, one thing was clear—Yeong-won didn’t welcome Min-hee. For Yoon-ah, the whole situation was unbearably awkward.

Still, if she were the one being ignored by Yeong-won, it would hurt terribly. Feeling sympathy, she approached Min-hee. Even in the dim room, she could tell Min-hee looked on the verge of tears.

“Is this about Yeong-won—”

“I’m so upset, Yoon-ah… sob.”

Before she could finish, Min-hee’s reddened eyes brimmed over, and tears spilled down her cheeks. Shocked, Yoon-ah patted her back to comfort her.

“Did you two fight? You want to make up, but since he won’t, you’ve been following me because I see him regularly as his mentor?”

“No… I think he just doesn’t like me…”

“Yeong-won may be blunt, but he’s not the type to hate someone without a reason.”

At that, Min-hee slowly lifted her head again. Dabbing her eyes with her cardigan sleeve, she locked gazes with Yoon-ah.

“You must know him well.”

“N-no, not really… I just get that feeling.”

Feeling oddly guilty, Yoon-ah fumbled for an excuse. She had only met Yeong-won about half a year ago, so speaking as if she knew him deeply was embarrassing.

Min-hee stared at her silently for a long moment, then straightened her posture. Looking her in the eye, she asked:

“Do you… like him?”

“…What…?”

“What’s your relationship with Yeong-won?”

Nothing at all. But words didn’t come easily, and Yoon-ah just blinked in panic, heat rising up her back.

Still, saying nothing would seem even stranger. After fumbling for a moment, she finally managed to speak.

“He’s just… like a junior and senior I know.”

“That’s really all?”

“…Yes.”

As soon as Yoon-ah nodded, Min-hee’s face lit up again. She slipped her arm through Yoon-ah’s and smiled brightly.

“Then please help me, Yoon-ah unni.”

Her calling had suddenly changed from “junior” to “unni.” But maybe it was only natural to act sweet when you wanted a favor. Yoon-ah, though tense, asked:

“What… do you want me to help with?”

“I want things to work out between me and Yeong-won.”

“…Oh…”

“I fell for him the moment I saw him on the first day of classes, but he keeps avoiding me…”

So that’s why she followed me around. Yoon-ah finally understood—Min-hee hadn’t wanted to befriend her, but had been laying the groundwork to ask her to play matchmaker.

Not that she couldn’t understand falling for him at first sight. Yeong-won was breathtakingly attractive, radiating an almost alien aura.

Of course he’d be popular with the girls. So why couldn’t she bring herself to say she’d help? Maybe because she’d never played matchmaker for anyone before.

While she hesitated, Min-hee shook her arm insistently. “Right? You will?” All Yoon-ah could do was nod.

“You’re here, Yeong-won. Sit down.”

As he entered the café close to closing time, Yoon-ah greeted him with a bright smile. The moment he sat in the closest seat to her, Min-hee suddenly rushed over and plopped down across from him.

“Hello, Senior Yeong-won.”

“……”

He was about to get up and leave when Yoon-ah, busy grinding beans at the counter, hurriedly raised her voice.

“W-wait, Yeong-won! Could you talk with Senior Min-hee for just a bit? I’m almost done. You’ll both be tasting it anyway…”

“……”

Only after confirming that he stayed put did Yoon-ah return to her work. She had been planning to test a new roast, so she used that as an excuse to bring him here.

Behind her, Min-hee’s chatter occasionally pierced through the grinder’s hum. Yoon-ah deliberately worked slowly, dragging out time as much as possible.

Yet she couldn’t help wondering what Yeong-won was saying in response. Maybe because she knew he was usually taciturn, or maybe because she worried about how Min-hee was doing. Perhaps it was just that she had never seen him sit and talk with another girl before.

He seemed self-conscious about not having a girlfriend, so maybe being with such a pretty student would be good for him. As for herself, she should be satisfied with just being a close older sister figure.

Shaking her head to drive away the stray thoughts, she focused on pulling the espresso shots, then finally brought the tasting drinks to their table.

“I made espresso and an Americano. Please try them and tell me honestly what you think…”

As she set down the tray and explained, she suddenly felt Yeong-won’s intense gaze. When she lowered her eyes slightly toward him, their gazes locked.

Startled by the guilty thought that she was secretly meddling behind his back, she forced a calm smile.

“W-what is it…?”

“…Nothing.”

His lackluster reply finally shifted his gaze to the drinks on the table. Then he quietly pulled out the chair next to him, inviting her to sit.

But noticing Min-hee’s watchful eyes, Yoon-ah awkwardly excused herself to fetch some water instead.