My Friend’s Little Sister is Special

“Is there anywhere you want to go?”

Saturday.

The day we decided to go out to celebrate becoming friends with Se-ah.

I originally wanted to hang out with Woo-jin oppa too…

But I knew if I showed my disappointment to oppa, who apologized saying he had prior plans, he would obviously feel troubled.

So I pretended it was fine, that I was okay, trying not to show my feelings.

I wonder if it wasn’t obvious…? I tried my best…

Will this happen a lot in the future…?

Unlike me, who was always free and had nothing to do but study, Woo-jin oppa probably has many friends.

Thinking about that made me a little sad.

No, that’s not right. It’s because he’s that kind of person that he became friends with me too.

…We are friends, right?

“Ye-rin, are you listening~?”

“Ah, sorry…”

Oh. I momentarily forgot I was on the phone with Se-ah while thinking about Woo-jin oppa.

These days, this happened all the time.

Thinking about Woo-jin oppa, then getting lost in thoughts of him and spacing out.

“Oh my, I said we should go wherever you want to go~!”

But, Se-ah…

I really appreciate that you want to go where I want to…!

—But I don’t know where to go…

It’s a bit sad to say this myself, but I’m a professional loner…

I never had the chance to know places where friends go together, and I don’t know where we should go.

I did try to look up some places after getting home yesterday…

But even when reading reviews,

‘Is this really fun…?’

‘With this money, I could rather…’

These were the only thoughts that came to mind.

…I know. These thoughts are really not good. But what can I do when my environment made me this way? What can I do? Maybe I wouldn’t be like this if Woo-jin oppa had been by my side since I was young.

…Maybe.

As I was making excuses to no one in particular and thinking about Woo-jin oppa, I suddenly remembered a place.

“…How about a café, Se-ah?”

“A café? Cafés are good! Is there a specific one you want to go to?”

“…Sugar Café.”

“…Sugar Café?”

“Y-yes…”

“Hmm~”

Is it, is it too obvious…?

Even though this wasn’t a video call like last night, I felt like I could see each other’s expressions right now.

“Is it a coincidence~?”

“W-what is…?”

“The place Ye-rin wants to go today just happens to be exactly! the same café where my oppa is meeting his friends today~?”

“……”

You already know everything.

That’s really mean…

I’ll get you later, Han Se-ah…

I was a bit annoyed at Se-ah’s voice full of laughter, but.

Since I knew I would lose no matter what I said right now, I had no choice but to endure it.

“…I really wanted to try that café.”

“Heeh~ Really~?”

“…It’s true, okay?”

“What do you want to drink at that café?”

“……”

As if my small struggles were completely futile.

As if asking why I was trying to escape without being honest, Se-ah asked mischievously.

For the first time in my life, I felt like I might say something mean.

“…Are you going to be like this?”

“Hmm~? Se-ah doesn’t know what you’re talking about~?”

“Give me a break…”

This is too much, really…

I heard Se-ah squealing and saying how cute I was, but from my perspective, it was just embarrassing, so I briefly covered the speaker with my hand.

“Okay! Let’s go to that café. But…”

“But?”

“Since oppa will be with his friends, you know we can’t join them or anything, right? A clingy woman isn’t attractive?”

“What exactly do you think of me…?”

“Hmm~ Can I be honest?”

“…Don’t.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

…I think I understand a little why Woo-jin oppa gets so worked up whenever he talks about Se-ah.

“Anyway, I’m not that desperate, so don’t worry…”

“Did someone you know suggest going there?”

“……”

Click.

Even though we hadn’t even met yet, I was already feeling drained, so I unconsciously hung up.

[Han Se-ah]

-Ye-rin-chan kawaii! See you later~!

I was slightly impressed that Se-ah sent a message right after I hung up, but.

Still, the thought that this is what having a friend is like made my heart pound.

…But are clingy women really unattractive?

I also asked something I had been curious about while replying.

It’s not about me, but not replying to messages is bad, so, yes.

**

“Ye-rin, are you trying to fill your stomach with a straw?”

“…What do you mean?”

Following Se-ah’s quietly pointing finger, I saw the straw I was biting.

…Huh?

The straw I was biting had somehow become a straaaw.

“…This is why I hate paper straws.”

“I don’t think the paper straw is the problem…”

Until we entered the café, I was happy thinking I would soon see Woo-jin oppa, but.

As soon as we entered the café.

First was seeing a girl at oppa’s table, which was supposed to be just guys.

…Although it was just one person, a presence is a presence.

Second was seeing oppa’s reaction, not knowing what to do with himself because he was so happy when the lady said he seemed like someone who could have a girlfriend.

…Are you that happy about it, oppa?

Because of those two things, my good mood from before cooled as quickly as the iced tea in my hand.

I’m not angry, probably. Oppa has no reason or need to lie.

As I thought earlier, unlike me, he probably has many friends.

It’s just that. I was slightly, just slightly upset to see oppa looking so happy even without me.

…I shouldn’t have come.

If I hadn’t, oppa would be oppa, and I would be me.

We would have enjoyed ourselves separately and then casually asked each other how our day was through messages when we got home.

And then naturally, like yesterday, we would have called each other and fallen asleep in a good mood.

It felt like I had ruined things by coming.

“…Se-ah, I’m going to the bathroom.”

…It’s stifling.

Seeing sides of oppa that I didn’t know kept making me feel a bit suffocated, so I got up from my seat using the bathroom as an excuse.

When I entered the bathroom, I saw my reflection in the mirror, my eyes having turned red.

-A clingy woman isn’t attractive?

…Am I perhaps clingy?

No, right…? This much is normal between close people, right…?

I would have been the same if it were Se-ah, probably. Yes, yes.

Thinking that I wasn’t the weird one made me feel a bit better.

With a lighter heart, I left the bathroom and saw Woo-jin oppa standing at the entrance looking at his phone.

…Was he waiting for me?

I was a bit flustered to suddenly meet him when I wasn’t mentally prepared.

“…What are you doing here, oppa?”

“Ah, you’re here?”

“Were you waiting for me…?”

“Yes. I was waiting for you.”

“Why…?”

“Just because I wanted to talk with you. We met unexpectedly today, after all.”

As soon as I saw oppa saying he had been waiting to talk to me with a smile.

The bad feelings that had been building up in my heart seemed to disappear as if by magic.

Oppa, that’s cheating. This makes me look like a fool for sulking alone…

“…I don’t have anything to say.”

Did I really just say that?

Contrary to my happy heart, what popped out were prickly words.

Seo Ye-rin, you idiot. What if oppa gets upset…

“Hmm~ It seems like you have a lot to say to me?”

Oppa spoke with a smile, as if he knew all my feelings.

“…Me?”

“Yes.”

“…I don’t.”

“But.”

Oppa smiled as if troubled and lowered his head toward me.

What was reflected in oppa’s eyes as he came closer to me was-

“You’ve been calling for me this whole time.”

My eyes that had turned red.

Ah-

My eyes, which I had only thought of as a curse.

When I’m with oppa, they felt like nothing short of a blessing.

My emotions, which had been painful because I couldn’t hide them, could now make me happy because they could honestly convey my feelings without hiding them.

And because I was grateful to oppa for noticing, I could no longer hide my heart with shallow lies.

“…Oppa, you said today was just guys meeting up.”

“I’m sorry. I really only found out after I got there.”

“…Oppa, were you happy earlier?”

“Ahem. I-I don’t know what you’re talk—Ack…!”

I lightly pinched his side, annoyed that he was pretending not to know when he clearly did.

“Well, honestly, it was something to be happy about. You might not understand, but usually it’s not easy to get compliments on your appearance from the opposite sex. Even if it’s from a friend you’re not interested in.”

I could do that for you anytime. With much more sincerity.

Oppa, how much…

“So, anything else?”

It was something that could be resolved so easily.

I was just grateful that oppa approached me first and started the conversation.

As I was about to tell oppa that I was fine now, looking at him as if asking me to say more, a good idea came to mind.

“Oppa.”

“Yes?”

“I wasn’t angry or upset.”

“……Ah, is that so?”

‘For someone who says they weren’t angry, everyone who says that is actually angry.’

—That’s the expression you’re making, oppa.

The delayed response and the expression that seemed to say ‘Yes, oppa believes Ye-rin’ made me want to pinch his side again.

“Anyway, I’m going to go somewhere else with Se-ah now…”

“Already? Where are you going?”

“Are you curious…?”

“Of course I’m curious, since it’s your first time going out together.”

“Then….”

I slowly and naturally reeled in oppa, who had eagerly taken the bait I had gently cast.

“Let’s contact each other when we get home. Like yesterday.”

When I smiled and said that I was also curious about where he was going, oppa’s face somehow turned bright red.

But I think I know what my face and eyes reflected in oppa’s eyes look like right now.

In my heart, I wanted to hold onto the oppa before me and spend the whole day together, but.

Now was the time to let go momentarily. Though it was regrettable, I had to let go.

The feelings disguised as interest were gradually.

Feeling like they might overflow.

“Okay?”

“…Yes, I got it.”