Idol’s Childhood Friend

7 – I like you too, Chaewon

I can’t say I know you the best, but I’m sure no one knows you as well as I do.

For example, something like this. People say you are a natural actor, but I know your little habits that I have seen countless times in situation comedies.

For example, if you continue to talk shamelessly and put too much pressure on yourself to compromise, you will blink and stare blankly.

“———.”

Just like now.

“Huhaa…!!”

Exhale exaggeratedly on purpose and escape from the embrace. You are still staring into space with a straw in your mouth.

I can’t quite tell what he’s thinking based on his facial expression, but I can guess almost perfectly through 15 years of experience.

‘Wow…. I was just trying to kiss Yumin… ? Well, wouldn’t he want to die like this?’

I lost track of time and when I saw him blinking, he sobered up.

This is an opportunity.

It may be awkward and crazy now, but in the future, you will be able to laugh and say that it was like that. It is an exquisite situation that can be made into a memory once you get over it.

So, I hoped we would pretend not to know each other and move on……

“Hey Stop It. Where are you taking me?”

Why do you have to choose the worst move?

“Look at the time, the time…! You’re not going to the bamboo forest tomorrow…?”

“It’s okay to be late. Let’s sit down and talk a little more, okay?”

It sounds like a conversation. You’re doing this because you don’t want to be caught drunk.

I would like to tell you to stop acting and go to sleep……

“Isn’t our Min nice? Come here~”

When you insert the fact, the eyes tremble so much as if they will cry at any moment.

You may be acting out the act of your life, but the sight of you kicking off the blanket this evening without being able to sleep a wink is good in my eyes.

Yes. You’re going crazy because you’re so uncomfortable, but I’m going crazy.

‘There’s no way it’s going to be okay…….’

What you and I are doing right now is a situational comedy in itself.

You pretending to be drunk and me knowing this but pretending not to know. Anyone can see that this is an odd ‘childhood friend situation drama’ where each person acts as their usual self to hide each other’s secrets.

Of course, you, so preoccupied with alcohol and unexpected kiss attempts, really don’t seem to know this. Therefore, countries that know the truth must also step forward and put an end to this situational drama.

“…It’s just until 11 o’clock, okay?”

Nevertheless, there is only one reason why I go along with this clumsy situation comedy.

Because I want this relationship to remain the same.

Because that’s all I want.

“Yes! Until 11 o’clock!”

A flawless smile and clear voice.

The smile of Chae-won, a ‘childhood friend’, is slightly different from the smile of Chae-won, a ‘celebrity’, and is a little more pure and clear. I feel at ease as if I am possessed by something.

Yes, this is correct for us.

No one ordered us to remain friends, but the moments when we shine the most are just like this.

“The sea reminds me of 6th grade.”

“Second 6?”

“Don’t you remember? “When we went to Busan for summer vacation.”

I can tell a small story about the moments we had together, no matter what you said or what you said.

“… Thanks to this, I had the unique experience of being stung by a large jellyfish about 1m long.”

“Thanks to you, I was able to experience seeing someone being hugged by a large jellyfish about 1m long.”

“Yumma.”

“Sorry. “I shouldn’t smile, but I stop without realizing it.”

At the time, memories that were scary enough to give me nightmares are now something I can look back on with a big smile, thinking that it was like that.

“That was back then. “There was a time when I was really annoyed that I couldn’t go on a field trip because of the final evaluation of the debut group.”

“Ah, I remember. “It was truly a sight at the time.”

“What?”

“Even when I’m drunk, I understand well…” ?”

This is true for us.

The ‘us’ I know has this kind of relationship.

So you have no choice but to notice it even more.

“———That’s why I like you.”

The tomboy I know does not smile with a deep gaze.

“Yes. I like you.”

The situational drama addicts I know do not whisper sweetly.

“I like it. Kang Yu-min, you.”

The patient I know who is in the terminal stage of princess disease is……

“… “What does a school trip have to do with what I like?”

You don’t make me so calm.

“You sent me a lot of photos back then. “I heard there were over 300 copies?”

“… Did I take that many pictures?”

I remember. I tried to take at least one more photo, but by the time I got back to the hotel, I was with the back group instead of the front group.

Yet I pretend not to remember the expectant look in your eyes.

“Yes. He also called me during my break or when I was returning home and told me how I spent my day and told me stories related to the photos.”

I remember. I sent him a message in between to ask when the day would end, and I woke up half-asleep because I had to call him on time.

Thanks to you, I dozed off the whole time on the bus, and even the teacher told me to sleep early today.

“… That’s right. “I remember you telling me that you played with sand alone at the beach.”

“Even though I spoke bluntly at that time, calling it a deception and all, I was honestly very grateful. “I felt a lot of comfort while looking at the photos, and the story was so vivid that I felt like I was there myself.”

A strange feeling that makes me flinch again.

Ah. It seems like you keep showing me something you don’t know.

“… What. “What are you planning to do to me tomorrow by getting on a plane like this?”

So I made a joke.

Let’s not do that. It’s enough as long as we’re doing well as we have been.

He calmly melts his heart, which is almost like a plea.

“I got first place in the end-of-month evaluation and got a vacation when I entered the debut group. “When I said I wanted to go to Jeju Island, which I couldn’t go to then, you said you would go with me.”

“Do you remember how you messed up back then? “I still can’t forget you lying down and spinning around telling me to go to Jeju Island.”

“… “Don’t remember that.”

You are staring and frowning. Only then did I feel like I was seeing you, the person I knew, and I relaxed for a moment.

10:57. The appointment time has already arrived.

From the corner of my eye, I look at your face, which was looking away from a more comfortable position.

… What on earth is this kid saying that he’s lacking?

“Anyway. I didn’t want to study either, and I wanted to congratulate you on being in the debut group. “More than anything, she sang that my mom wanted to go to Jeju Island.”

“The last reason was decisive.”

“You got along well with my mom and her aunt. “But you came to Jeju Island to celebrate, so how can you two wander around for 4 days and 3 nights?”

“Thanks to you, you took me with you throughout the trip.”

“I’m sure my ‘J’ was created at that time.”

“It was fun. Even back then, you and I watched the sunset at the beach, and we sat like this in the evening and talked about various things.”

Your voice lowered slightly. I wince again at that subtle change and take a deep breath.

“… That’s right. “It was really fun back then.”

“Thank you. “For always being by my side, then and now.”

“I guess you’re quite drunk. “I hear people thanking me for being by their side throughout my life.”

I try to ignore your gaze that keeps landing on my cheek.

If I were to look into your eyes right now, I wouldn’t be able to guess how long I would be able to endure these feelings that I am trying my best to suppress, so I would rather give up on looking at you.

Even so, the feeling that I tried to ignore tickles me, as if I realize belatedly that I have been bitten by a mosquito.

I guess I was bitten by a poisonous mosquito.

The bite site was greatly swollen.

“hehehe, I guess so. “But you didn’t get your tongue twitched at all?”

“It’s really gross. “How can a drunk person’s repertoire be the same?”

“But it’s true. “My pronunciation isn’t awkward at all?”

“Soy sauce factory manager.”

“Gangjang Gonjang Gonjanjang.”

“That’s bad.”

“Why are you laughing at me? “I had really good diction~.”

“Okay, go to sleep. “Let’s skip the bamboo forest tomorrow and get up late and eat udon.”

“What? Are you going to sleep already?”

“It’s already 11 o’clock. “Not already.”

Gently place one leg over the outside of the bed. I was the only one aware of it except myself.

Isn’t this an overreaction?

To be honest, it’s only now. Is it even possible that now, 15 years later, you are looking at me with different eyes?

The probability of something like that is close to zero, and even if it did happen, I don’t want to believe it.

So.

“———Tell me this one thing clearly.”

Why are you here now?

Why?

“Honestly, there are a lot of things I can’t say to my parents, members, close celebrity colleagues, or friends, but I can say them comfortably to you. “Isn’t it amazing?”

I listen to your story in silence.

… No. I keep my mouth shut because I have nothing to say.

“I can’t beat my parents in terms of how long I’ve known them, I can’t beat my members in terms of affection, and I can’t beat my celebrity colleagues and friends in terms of bond, so why do I think of you first when something happens?”

The more I listened to your story, the more I forgot about it.

The scene decorated therein.

The emotions decorated within it.

The heart decorated within it.

“I didn’t understand that so I thought about it? But, oddly enough, even though it’s my problem, I think you know, and I think your answer is the right answer to solve my problem.”

Everything that I thought had become dull becomes a strong perfume and passes by the tip of my nose.

… Oh, I guess it’s not perfume.

“So. So, I need to tell you properly… ?”

When I see that it doesn’t disappear and continues to stay around me.

Then.

“I like you too, Min-ah.”

What should I call this?

“———.”

Your eyes are shaking violently as you look at me.

A serious voice that cannot be felt normally and the weight of the head gently placed on the shoulder. The pungent smell of alcohol and an equally strong scent that you can’t tell if it’s shampoo or perfume.

Things I have never felt in 15 years.

How tight must your heart be right now? How much it hurts for you to endure all of this and give me your heart.

I am no different from you.

If I speak now, I feel like a very pathetic voice will come out, so I’m groping my main neck.

“…… “Because we are childhood friends.”

So that’s all I said. In the end, the answer I gave in a trembling voice was something like this.

Kang Yu-min, you selfish bastard.

Even if you think about it, this is too boring.

“Is there anything you find difficult? “Of course it’s because we are childhood friends.”

A tangled mess of question marks that I don’t know where they started from.

My heart, unable to find an answer, moves towards the opposite of what you are hoping for.

“I have a lot to be thankful for. “Because you were next to me, I became a lot more mature and adult.”

It’s not that I haven’t tried liking someone. So I know very well that this answer is neither mature nor adult-like.

Being foolhardy and blindly believing in the kindness of the other person……

I say I know best.

There is nothing we can do. Being selfish, being boring, and being stupid are all meaningless.

“So, let’s continue to get along well, my friend.”

My first love has long since ended, so what do you want now?

Now, 15 years later, why is your first love me, Han Chae-won?

Why?

“If we have time like today, let’s go on a trip together. “We both like to travel.”

Yes, because it was my first love. This is the first time I know what it means to love, and all I know is love……

Because my first love was like an immature baby who didn’t know how to give or receive love.

“Let’s get along well, let’s get along.”

If only you had held my hand so that I could walk even just a little bit. If only you had smiled and watched my steps.

“As it has been and will continue to be.”

I wouldn’t have hated you so much for giving me your hand and smiling at me now, Chaewon, despite my withered heart.

“… ….”

“It’s late, so I’ll go quickly. Good night.”

Leaves the bed without making eye contact.

You don’t move at all. I open the door, looking at your lowered head.

“I like you too, Chaewon.”

I said the words that I believed I had nothing to do in my life.

Clap-. Close the door.

+++

“A true Hamanam, Kang Yu-min….”

I sit there and laugh under my breath like a crazy person.

I thought it would be sweet to say I like you, but that’s not necessarily true.

“…… Ha. It was something like that. In this respect, I was being dull….”

Ah-. I think I finally understand what you said about not feeling anything no matter what happens.

You gave me love, but I still don’t know how to receive it. You still can’t escape from ‘that time’ when you first loved each other.

“What should I really do?” ….”

It is said that love is about timing.

I think that’s right.