It Seems Like My Childhood Friend Has Returned

It’s hot.

My whole body feels sizzling.

Just a moment ago, as if bewitched, we were tightly hugging each other.

Now, it’s as if we never did that, our faces flushed to the point of wondering if they could get any redder, we couldn’t even meet each other’s eyes, casting our gazes away.

Thinking it would be disastrous if we stayed like this any longer, I told Han Seo-ah to change first, and the moment I saw her quietly nod, I hurriedly rushed out of the dressing room.

Was I nervous?

As soon as I came out, I was hit with a sensation like all the strength had drained from my body, and I leaned against the wall.

It still felt like Han Seo-ah’s warmth lingered all over me.

So big and soft, so big and squishy, even bigger than I thought…

—No, why is this the only thing that’s on my mind?

As I was happily recalling the sensations I had just experienced, I noticed Han Seo-ah, now dressed.

“…Shall we go?”

…That’s a shame.

Was it too shocking what I saw earlier?

Even though she was dressed, the image of Han Seo-ah in her swimsuit automatically replayed in my mind.

“Are you disappointed?”

“Huh?”

“Your face says it all, Joonu.”

How did she know?

Like a thief who just got caught, I was at a loss for words. Then, Han Seo-ah smiled gently and intertwined her soft fingers with mine.

“I’m excited about the trip, right?”

“…Completely.”

I couldn’t be more excited.

#85

We left the swimsuit store after finishing the payment for a swimsuit that was surprisingly more expensive than expected, leaving my mouth gaping in shock.

Although it was Han Seo-ah who would wear the swimsuit, it was practically something I wanted as well. I tried to contribute to the payment, but she stubbornly insisted on paying for it herself, forcing me to raise my hands in defeat.

Asking her to fulfill just one request in return, I told her to say anything.

“…I didn’t expect this.”

The one request from Han Seo-ah was for me to choose her swimsuit.

Since I picked out hers, she insisted it was only fair for her to choose mine.

Thinking, ‘hmm… That’s a valid point,’ I couldn’t dispute it.

While I was looking around in the men’s swimsuit section, I heard Han Seo-ah calling me over with urgency, and when I got there, my eyes couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

“Joonu! What do you think?”

“…Are you joking?”

The bright-eyed Han Seo-ah was holding up a ridiculously bright leopard-print swimsuit in both hands.

“Why? Is it not good?”

“Are you serious?”

She really picked this out?

I gazed at Han Seo-ah, who looked puzzled, as I found myself more confused.

“Hmm… I thought Joonu was a tiger, but I guess I was wrong…”

Was it a puppy? That playful taunt from Han Seo-ah sparked an uncontrollable rage within my precious 19-year-old lower half.

—Are you crazy, Han Seo-ah.

Even if I knew it was a clear provocation, there are times a man must stand his ground.

And that time was now.

“…Hey.”

“Yep~?”

Han Seo-ah smiled at me, as if she thought this situation was just amusing.

…You’ve touched a nerve.

“Let’s go with that.”

“Eh?”

As she reached out her hand, looking shocked as if I meant it, Han Seo-ah’s eyes widened.

“Are you serious?”

This time, the roles had switched, and with an anxious look, she asked, and I shook my hand that was extended for it up and down, gesturing for her to hurry.

“Joonu, I picked it, but somehow this feels a bit…”

“I’ll show you. What a tiger really is.”

Seeing her flustered, as if she didn’t expect me to respond this way, made me internally smirk with amusement. But—

—No, I can’t let it go.

You dare tease my tiger?

This was a problem that even Han Seo-ah couldn’t easily dismiss.

“Joonu, I get that you’re a tiger, so let’s pick something else, okay?”

“Then mimic me.”

“Ehh…?”

Han Seo-ah looked up at me with trembling eyes.

“I Joon-woo.”

“Joon-woo is…?”

“Is a tiger.”

“Tiger…?”

She was about to follow along when suddenly, she looked at me as if I was a crazy person.

I crossed my arms, stoutly declaring, “Joon-woo is a tiger.”

“…Joonu is a tiger. Is that enough for you?”

Watching Han Seo-ah sigh with a disgusted expression while repeating after me, I nodded my head in satisfaction.

Only later did I realize what I had just forced Han Seo-ah to say in a crowded place.

#86

After that, my swimsuit was decided to be a white one.

Though I thought black would be safer, when Han Seo-ah insisted we had to match the colors of our swimsuits, I had no choice but to nod along while making the purchase.

—Isn’t this a couple’s look?

…The reasons for my increasing excitement about the trip kept piling up.

While waiting for the bus to return home after our shopping spree, Han Seo-ah suddenly mentioned,

“Oh, Joonu, by the way, my mom and dad asked if we could have dinner together tonight, is that okay?”

Seeing her casually bringing it up, I was just about to respond lightly when she continued,

“I told them we’re going on a trip together. They want to discuss that during dinner.”

At that moment, it felt like the words ’I absolutely don’t want to go’ rose to my throat, but I managed to suppress them with superhuman patience.

“…You told them?”

“Yep! I said your family would cover the accommodation fees, so they said they’d cover the additional costs.”

“…Thank goodness. Did your uncle, I mean, your dad say anything?”

The moment I said ‘uncle,’ I saw Han Seo-ah’s lovely eyebrows furrow down, so I quickly changed my words, watching her expression change in real-time, smiling like a half moon with delight.

Even amidst worries about the upcoming encounter, I couldn’t help but think she looked cute.

“Umm~ My dad…”

“Is…?”

“Wants to see Joon-woo really badly tonight!”

This could be the last supper after all.

I shut my eyes tightly against the looming dread of the future.

Once I closed my eyes, I felt like the darkness was the vision of my future.

#87

Beep beep beep-

As I opened the door and stepped inside, the delicious scents released and a soft fragrance greeted me.

“We’re here~”

“Excuse me…”

The bright Han Seo-ah was a stark contrast to me, standing there all crumpled up.

“Oh my, you’re here already? Almost done, so please take a seat at the table.”

—No, I’d rather wait in my room.

As I spotted Han Seo-ah’s dad, sitting at the table with his head bowed and arms rested, a lump formed in my throat.

When I looked at Han Seo-ah for help, my eyes pleading for mercy, she said, “Joonu, let’s hurry and sit down.”

It felt like she was dragging me into hell instead, making me want to cry.

Sitting at the chair that looked like a furnace from hell, the weary-eyed dad lifted his head.

“…Joon-woo. It’s been a while.”

“…Uh, yeah…”

Just exchanging greetings made me feel like I would start sweating profusely all over.

“Is it cold in the house now?”

“What?”

“I saw you two holding hands tightly, so I thought the house was cold.”

He chuckled, suggesting we should turn up the heater a bit more, but the way he spoke had no trace of warmth, and his eyes were dead.

He stared at me with an intensity that made me feel like if I didn’t let go of Han Seo-ah’s hand right now, I’d be the dish for tonight’s dinner.

I rushed to pull my hand away but then saw Han Seo-ah’s hand clasping mine tightly, as if saying, “don’t let go,” and I shot her a look that said, “please, don’t do this.”

—Help me.

With that, Han Seo-ah wore a bright smile, moving her head from side to side, as if she found the whole thing amusing.

—Just let me die.

“Today feels a bit chilly…”

I said, feeling utterly defeated, and then I heard the sounds of laughter from Han Seo-ah and Han Seo-ah’s aunt.

Yet, the pressure I felt in front of me only intensified in contrast to their laughter.

“Ahem… So you two are going on a trip to the sea, just the two of you?”

“Yep, we plan to go after finals.”

“It seems dangerous for two students to travel alone.”

“I’ll make sure to be as careful as possible, so there won’t be any risky situations…”

I felt like a voice whispered in my ear, saying, “The most dangerous thing for Seo-ah is actually you,” as the suffocating conversation went back and forth, and her dad rapped his fingers on the table annoyingly.

“…You said your family would cover accommodation fees, right?”

“Ah, yes. My parents said they would take care of it.”

“Have you arranged for the accommodation?”

“No, not yet…”

“Hmm, have you decided?”

“Yep, we’ve decided on it.”

?

When Han Seo-ah suddenly spoke, having been quiet until now, I looked at her, surprised. She wore a mischievous smile, as if she found this all amusing.

—This feels ominous.

What is this sense of foreboding?

“…Did we decide on accommodation?”

I was confused, hiding my unease and asked.

“Yep, we decided. I reserved it with my mom, but I forgot to mention it. Sorry, Joonu.”

—You don’t sound sorry at all.

Seeing her sparkle her eyes and smile, I couldn’t shake the feeling of impending doom creeping up on me.

“…Is that so? Where is it?”

“It’s a hotel at the place we’re going…”

“A hotel…?”

“It has one room.”

She smiled brightly, like a kid who just pulled off a successful prank.

As she giggled, I felt cold sweat trickle down my forehead.

“There’s… only one room?”

“Nope, there were many rooms, Joonu.”

Sweat formed a bead at my brow and rolled down.

“The beds… they’re two, right?”

Trying to calm my pounding heart, I asked, but she looked at me like I was asking something ridiculous.

“Joonu.”

“The room and the bed… they’re normally booked together.”

As she winked at me, expecting something, I stared blankly, mouth agape.

Suddenly, her dad faceplanted onto the table.

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