Judo Club's Jeon Seon-bae
Oh, by any chance, are you all good at math? Geometry, calculus, things like that, but probability, I mean. If I were the one who created the problem, I think I'd write it like this.
I declined my senior's offer to dine with him. What are the odds that I'll meet him at the restaurant I went to with my crush? And what are the odds that the girl he likes will be sitting with me?
Surprisingly, that's what happened.
"Uh... Jungkook?"
"...."
"The heroine... was there too?"
Here, the female protagonist Seokjin was referring to was not "Go Yeoju," but "Yoon Yeoju." Yeoju, who had been observing the awkward atmosphere, suddenly gulped as her eyes met with Jungkook's, who was sitting across from her. It was the first time they'd seen each other's eyes. The aura of Jungkook, unlike any she'd ever encountered before, made her tense up.
"Well... since it's come to this, should we just sit together? The table is actually for four."
"...Seokjin oppa, I'm sorry."
"Okay. Let's sit together."
"Brother."
"You and him both know each other anyway."
"Me too, you too." There was a poignant note in Jeongguk's words. It seemed like Yeoju wasn't the only one who sensed it, as she glared at Jeongguk and turned her head away. It was a message telling him to do whatever he wanted.
Seokjin sat down next to Yoon Yeo-ju first, and the seat next to Jeong-guk automatically became empty. Yeo-ju slowly walked over to Jeong-guk and sat down, then idly brushed his arm. The temperature in the restaurant wasn't particularly low, but this seat felt particularly chilly.
"...The promise was with Seokjin hyung?"
"Huh? Ah... Yeah, what..."
Jeongguk leaned in slightly and lowered his voice so only Yeoju could hear him. Because their faces were now close, the gaze from across the room felt stinging, but he tried to ignore it and nodded. Even if Jeongguk doubted Yeoju's answer, it couldn't be helped. Yeoju had already become overburdened after encountering Jeongguk with Yoon Yeoju.
"You two just got here? Neither of you even touched the food."
"...Yeah. I don't have an appetite."
"Then why did you come here? It's pretty expensive here. Yeoju, tell me what you want to eat. Since this is our first time eating out together, I'll buy it for you."
"Oh, I'm fine,"
"That damn heroine, heroine, heroine!!! Who the hell is she calling me!! Oppa, why are you calling her heroine? The heroine is me, I'm Yoon Yeoju!!!"
Yoon Yeo-ju, who had been glaring at Jeong-guk and Yeo-ju, suddenly started screaming.Why, why, heroine. Yes, you are the heroine.Seokjin, flustered, conscious of the gazes of those around him, patted Yoon Yeo-ju on the shoulder. Jungkook, seemingly unfazed by this situation, furrowed his brow and stared at her. The sharp voice kept irritating the sensitive nerves in his ears.
"Would you like a drink?"
"...yes?"
"I thought I might need it."
"Ah... thank you."
Amidst the commotion, Jeongguk calmly handed her a glass of water. Yeoju, whose throat was parched from nervousness, accepted it without refusing, and just as she was about to bring the glass to her lips to drink,
widely-
I dropped the glass of water I was holding. It fell to the floor, shattering into several pieces with a loud crash. The water I was trying to swallow ran down my chin, soaking my clothes, and then another stream of water splashed onto my face.
Choak-
It was a glass of water in Yoon Yeo-ju's hand.
"Hey lady!"
"Yoon Yeo-ju!!!"
"ah...."
In an instant, the female protagonist became as limp as a drowned rat. Jungkook, who was sitting next to her, stood up with an angry expression, and Seokjin snatched the glass from Yoon Yeo-ju's hand and placed it on the floor. This was to prevent it from breaking, too.
Yoon Yeo-ju, whose wrist was caught by Seok-jin, looked back and forth between Seok-jin and Jeong-guk with tearful eyes. If anyone else had seen her, it would have been obvious that Yoon Yeo-ju was the victim, as she looked very frail.
"Why... why are you mad at me?"
"what?"
"Why are you mad at me! You shouldn't be doing this to me. I love you guys so much!!!"
"hey."
Tears finally flowed from Yoon Yeo-ju's eyes, dripping down her cheeks. The tears, dripping down her cheeks, looked so beautiful, they didn't match the situation, and Yeo-ju chuckled to herself. The rumors were true. She was so pretty that rumors spread that she had trained to be an idol.
"I... I was the one who came first. I liked Jungkook first, I kissed Seokjin first, so why are you protecting him?"
"Are you crazy?"
"I'm prettier, slimmer, and have a better personality than her, so why do I keep hanging out with her!!!"
...Childish. It was Yeo-ju's review after hearing her spiteful words. Suddenly embarrassed by the fact that she had kissed him in front of everyone, Seok-jin blushed and grabbed Yeo-ju's arm. Jung-guk still stared at her with a stern expression. Yeo-ju, burdened by the attention of others and feeling the discomfort of her damp clothes, was about to open her mouth, when Yeo-ju, seizing the opportunity, shouted again.
"You know I like you, oppa."
"...."
"I... I've waited for a really long time. Isn't this enough?"
"...."
"Huh? Jungkook oppa..."
As Yoon Yeo-ju affectionately called Jeong-guk's name, Seok-jin's expression hardened. To be precise, he seemed sad.
"You know I don't like you."
"...Brother."
"No problem. I asked to meet you to tell you this."
"...."
"It's already been three years. I'm really sick of being involved with you."
"...."
"Stop it. Stop comparing me to Go Yeo-ju and the things I like."
...Huh? The sudden mention of her name made Yeoju's eyes widen and she looked at Jeongguk. Sensing his gaze, Jeongguk glanced at Yeoju, then took off his coat and tossed it to her. It seemed to be a sign for her to put it on.
Yoon Yeo-ju, who had watched the entire process, got up from her seat with a face full of tears and left the restaurant.Heroine...!Seokjin belatedly called out to Yoon Yeoju, but she had already disappeared. He covered his face with both hands and sighed deeply. Knowing that Yoon Yeoju was the reason Seokjin was struggling broke his heart.
The hand resting on her lap rose and fell repeatedly, and her lips, unable to close, trembled repeatedly. Finally, when she mustered the courage to reach out to Seokjin, she was caught in Jeongguk's hand. Yeoju's hand followed Jeongguk's, returning to its original position. The only difference was that now she was holding Jeongguk's hand.
"You should stop now, hyung."
"...."
"...You know that Yoon Yeo-ju is using you, right?"
"...."
"Pretend not to know, pretend not to hear, pretend not to understand. How long are you going to do that?"
"...."
"brother."
Jungkook bit his lip and called out to Seokjin. "Haa," Seokjin exhaled, forcing a smile onto his lips.
"...I."
"...."
"I'll take care of it."
"...brother."
"I will do that, Jeongguk."
Having finished speaking, Seokjin picked up the things Yoon Yeoju had left behind and left the restaurant. I didn't even have the stupid question of where he was going. The face I'd just seen on Seokjin's face was that of a man yearning for love.
No words were exchanged at the table, leaving only the two of them. Jeong-gook was still angry at Yoon Yeo-ju's actions toward him, and Yeo-ju was lost in her own thoughts.
I knew it, but
Just... just...
My heart hurts.