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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The First Han Chaewon Dating Project Begins
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"What's this about the room...?"
A murmured voice slipped through the quietly opened door.
Faint footsteps approached from beyond the bed...
Swish—!
The curtains parted left and right, flooding the space with brilliant light.
Dust particles floated in the air from lack of ventilation, while a pop song played softly in the background.
"Hey! Aren't you getting up?!"
And there was Serin, wearing an irritated expression.
He grasped the situation immediately, but he played dumb.
Tossing and turning as naturally as possible, he furrowed his brow.
"...What the hell is this at 11 o'clock."
"Hah, anyone would think it was 11 p.m. The sun's blazing overhead, Han Chaewon!!"
Ignoring her, he pulled the blanket over his head.
Hooah, no wonder people shell out big money for these.
This premium Polish goose down duvet was so soft and light—
"Get up!!"
"Nooo..."
My premium Polish goose down...
He turned his head blankly in search of the blanket and locked eyes with Serin.
Her face screamed she had a lot to say, irritation plain as day.
Fine. He hadn't seen a thing.
Turning his back to Serin, he closed his eyes like nothing was wrong.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
He turned back to look at her.
"..."
"..."
...This was bad.
Without a word, she whipped her head around, flailing her arm toward where his phone might be.
"Next to the mood light."
"Ah."
He shifted his upper body toward the bed's edge and snatched the phone from the low shelf where the mood light sat.
Casually tapping the screen a few times...
"Wanna get some tteokbokki?"
He offered up Korea's soul food, the kind that could make even a crying kid crack a smile.
"...That place from before?"
"Yeah. The one that had you thinking about moving nearby. Sundae with veggie fritters?"
"Throw in some glass noodles too."
Her face bloomed into instant satisfaction.
Kwon Serin, through and through.
My certified food champ.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"So."
"Hm?"
"Not 'hm.' So why'd you ghost everyone for two weeks?"
It was right around the time her stomach was starting to fill up nicely.
Serin, who'd been quietly munching while watching YouTube, set down her chopsticks and dabbed her mouth lightly with a tissue.
I met her steady gaze in silence, then dunked one of the last pieces of sundae into the tteokbokki broth and ate it.
"Just... I get like that sometimes."
I answered flatly, matching her earnest eyes.
"That's what you always say, but why this time? You don't ghost for no reason."
"Of course not. Serin, am I a pro or what?"
"If I hadn't come, you'd still be wallowing in bed listening to depressing songs."
"Hey, depressing songs? It's Henry Moodie. I'm totally hooked right now..."
"Don't change the subject."
Serin cut me off curtly.
With her arms crossed, staring me down—she wasn't budging easily.
"Look at you, all prickly. Always so firm."
I gave a faint smile at my friend's demeanor and subtly gazed out the glass window.
A small landscaped garden.
Under the bright sunlight, colorful plants showed off their hues. I stared blankly.
Keeping my smile like it was no big deal, I replied indifferently.
"Just... After over a month abroad, my energy tanked."
"You were full of pep before Japan."
"Battery drained. Happens at our age, right?"
"Anyone hearing that would think we're knocking on seventy."
"It's been a while since I was home, so lots to sort out, stuff to do—I figured I'd knock it all out in one focused go. Not texting... yeah. Sorry."
I turned my gaze from outside to meet Serin's, smiling.
Serin kept her arms crossed, staring straight through me.
"Something happened in Japan, didn't it?"
She asked point-blank.
From her reaction, she was already convinced.
"...Not really? I was fine the whole time."
I debated spilling but settled on playing dumb.
I knew it'd come out eventually, but pretending was unavoidable.
Just like the end of every failed confession.
"Oh, right. I bought souvenirs for the members in Japan—hold on a sec?"
"You can give them later. Sit."
"...Why are you so persistent?"
Her voice sharpened a bit.
But Serin ignored my prickliness, still locking eyes with me.
"How could I not be? You're wearing it all over your face."
"Wearing what? I really—"
"Someone who listens to heartbroken unrequited love songs and tosses out albums and diaries stuffed with memories does that?"
"..."
"If you're gonna bullshit, do it right. You're a pro at acting too."
Serin scoffed, clicking her tongue as she turned away.
"...Yumin, right? That's why."
Then, haltingly.
Her voice murmured low, laced with hesitation about even bringing it up.
Yumin.
Hearing that name I'd been ignoring hit like a sinkhole, emotions plunging deep.
Now it just brought a bitter smile and a dull ache in my chest.
"...Kinda."
"Did you fight...?"
"Asking if we fought now?"
"...You confessed, huh."
"...Yeah. Something like that. Didn't go well."
Serin lowered her eyes at my calm tone, nodding faintly.
The cold expression from moments ago was gone, replaced by soft warmth on her face.
"Bratty one. If you're hurting, just say so."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"He said let's just be good friends, and the next day he acted like nothing happened. So he thinks I was joking, got it?"
"How could he?! Even if I was drunk, anyone could see it was real...!!"
"Where's your proof he took it as a joke?"
"The whole trip, he acted like zilch happened. When I said I was heading back to Korea first, he tells me to hit him up when the vlog goes up. And when I go radio silent? Guess what he says?"
"What?"
"Good."
"...Good?"
"Says it's a relief no texts. Sent it with a dancing emoji."
"...Pfft."
"You're laughing?"
"...Sorry."
The bratty one sipped her coffee, glancing guiltily.
Even she knew laughing was overkill, so she kept taking tiny sips from embarrassment.
Haa.
I sighed and chugged the last of my soda.
"Agh, this pisses me off...!!"
"Whoa."
"Why do I have to deal with this crap because of him...!!"
Sudden frustration hit, and I shook my whole body like a tantrum.
I slammed the table, glaring at Serin.
"Serin. I'm Han Chaewon. Not some lightweight who jokes about confessions."
"...What's with her."
"Guys who like me are a dime a dozen. But how! How does he brush off me saying I like him with 'let's be friends'..!!"
"Hey, quit that soda. That's not soda."
"It pisses me off. If he's gonna act like that, he shouldn't have been so nice...!!"
I slammed the empty soda bottle on the table with a thud.
"Kang Yumin, you jerk. Yesterday too?! Says he needs to ghost till the vlog drops, so tell him when it's out?! Like I'm in any state to upload!!"
"From his side, that's fair to say."
"Hey! Whose side are you on?!"
"Jerk. Is that something you say over coffee?! How can he be so shameless, like a fox?!"
"Hey! Even so, only I get to trash Yumin!!"
"...Ugh, this pisses me off..."
Serin let out a hollow laugh, shooting me a side-eye.
Her sharp, fierce glare snapped me back to reality.
Embarrassed, I cleared my throat pointlessly. Serin sighed, propping her chin and scooping some ice cream cake.
"So. What about the vlog for real?"
"..."
"You posted on Insta with pics saying it'd be up soon. What was the thumbnail title again...?"
"...Finally Revealed: 'That Childhood Friend'."
"Talk about foot-in-mouth. You announce it, then go MIA, so Juhwan bro (Ever's official channel PD) hits me up."
"Oh yeah, I should've texted him..."
"Exactly why'd you hype it up?"
"Me too!!"
"———."
"Did I expect this...?"
Emotions swirled wildly on their own.
Yelling at the wrong people, regretting stupidly.
My voice shrinking, words trailing off—it all screamed fragility, but I pieced them together in a trembling tone.
A bird chirped faintly beyond the open window for ventilation.
"I didn't plan to confess that day, didn't think I'd get rejected..."
"..."
"Now I don't even know. He acts fine, and I feel like I'm overreacting, then boom—depressed, like some tragic heroine. If he'd just cut contact, I wouldn't be stuck in limbo."
I smiled self-mockingly and thunked my head on the table.
Tilting it sideways, I fiddled with my phone like an idiot, checking his Kakao profile again.
God, this sucks.
Not even showboating, but why upload that one I took?
"You really think I was joking? Kang Yumin, do you seriously feel nothing for me...?"
"...I'll talk to Juhwan bro. No vlog in this mess."
Serin, who'd been quietly listening to my grumbling, took my hand.
She rarely initiated touch, so this meant one thing for sure.
"Don't apologize. We didn't push you into this."
"...Who said?"
"That's your face. All guilty like we egged you on and caused this."
"..."
"Fine. I'll text Juhwan today. Vlog? Whatever, upload it."
"...You're uploading?"
Serin stared in disbelief.
That look made me sit up, ruffling my messy hair back.
Her words were cool, but Serin was the most sensitive member.
Maybe even sadder than me right now.
For her sake, I forced a smile.
"Gotta separate work and personal. Promised Forever, right?"
"...Still."
"I'm a wreck now, but vlog Chaewon is bubbly. Honestly, shot it so fun—edit that, it'll be our best yet."
"..."
"Don't give me those wistful eyes, bratty one. Anyone'd think I broke up with my fiancé."
I chuckled, got up, and dashed to grab my MacBook from the bedroom.
Quickly pulled up a video.
"If you're that worried, watch it. I didn't edit—just raw clips stitched..."
"And...?"
"Clocked over two hours."
"...That long?"
"Shocked me too at the size. Just filmed whenever it seemed fun, didn't expect two hours."
"This okay?"
Serin's wistful expression held two questions for sure.
Could I edit this much alone? Could I relive what I don't want to while doing it?
Her face and words mixed surprise and pity.
I smirked at my bratty friend.
"Kwon Serin. Am I a pro or not?"
"...What?"
"Quit yapping and watch. Bet you—this'll be a legend in idol YouTube history."
"Chaewon."
"Yeah."
"...That's overconfidence."
"Haha. If you're consoling, go all in, bratty one."
What good's high empathy?
If you're gonna flop at the crucial moment.
I furrowed my brow, staring, then burst into endless laughter at the absurdity.
Anyway, Kwon Serin.
She knows me too damn well.
"Gotta head out soon. You?"
"Boxing?"
"Yeah. First time in ages, so coach might hold me up. Like two hours?"
"I'll watch the video and wait."
"Not heading home?"
"You think daytime Yongsan-to-Pangyo commute's a breeze? Morning tomorrow."
Serin closed the ice cream cake lid and stashed it in the freezer.
I finished gearing up for the gym and headed downstairs to the living room.
"Pick up anything on the way back?"
"Nothing springs to mind. Oh, May's back in Korea today—call her here?"
"Not the dorm, y'know?"
"Wear your clothes? Got training wear?"
"Dressing room, far right. Unopened undies there too."
"OK."
I pulled my cap low, grabbed phone and car keys.
House owner leaving, no send-off—Serin just hauled the MacBook to the guest room upstairs from the dining area.
Still, she came running worried—that made me grin brightly as I called out.
"Kwon Serin, be back soon~!"
"Melona on the way."
Lighter steps carried me out after so long.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇💬 [Members (🦊🐹🐶😼🐰)]— SerinMembers. Everyone to Chaewon's house.
| 1:21 PM
— Maknae Line (Minah)Why?
| 1:40 PM
— SerinThe First Han Chaewon Dating Project Begins.
| 1:41 PM
— Cutie (May)On my way.
| 1:41 PM
— Meow (Yerin)Got it.
| 1:41 PM
"...What's this?"
Current time: 3:58 p.m.
Something was going down without me knowing.