Even after I came home after getting confessed to by Wonbin, I was out of it for a while.
It was partly because it was the first time someone had directly told me they liked me, but it was even more because it was Park Wonbin of all people.
The Wonbin I knew was a quiet underclassman who got shy around people easily.
That guy said he liked me.
And had for quite a long time, too.
I lay on the bed and stared only at the ceiling.
"What am I supposed to do."
I still wasn't even sure if I liked him or not, but pretending not to know was hard, too.
For now, I decided to try acting as usual.
That was the conclusion I came to.
*
But the next day, the moment I ran into Wonbin at school, I changed my mind a little.
"...Noona."
"Oh, Wonbin."
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah."
"Have you eaten?"
"Not yet."
"...Then do you want to eat together later?"
I looked at Wonbin for a moment.
"Yeah."
"...Okay."
Wonbin answered and turned away.
But he hadn't even gone a few steps before he turned back again.
"Noona."
"Hm?"
"What time does class end today?"
"At four."
"...Got it."
"Why?"
"It's nothing."
And then he left again.
I snorted a laugh.
He hadn't seemed this awkward even before he confessed.
Now that he'd said he liked me, he somehow seemed even weirder.
*
Lunchtime.
Wonbin was sitting across from me, fiddling only with his spoon.
"What's wrong with you?"
"...What's wrong?"
"No, you've been acting weird this whole time."
"I'm not weird."
"You can't even talk properly."
"...I'm not good at it to begin with."
"But we've gotten closer."
"That's..."
Wonbin shut his mouth.
His ears turned red.
In the end, I burst out laughing.
"You're still nervous?"
"...A little."
"Why?"
"Because noona..."
"Me?"
"...is nice."
He said it with such a natural face that I was the one who got flustered.
"No, how can you say something like that so casually?"
"It's not casual."
Wonbin muttered under his breath.
That made me laugh again.
It was strange.
I had definitely thought I'd be awkward too after being confessed to.
But seeing Wonbin stumble like this, I found him cute before I felt nervous.
"Got it."
Smiling, I pushed the glass of water in front of Wonbin toward him.
"Take your time."
"...Okay."
*
For several days, the same kind of thing kept happening.
On KakaoTalk, he was actually pretty natural.
What are you doing today?
Going to a café with friends after class.
Which café?
The one in front of school.
Can I go too?
Come if you want.
Can I really go?
Yeahㅋㅋ
But the moment we actually met.
"Noona."
"Yeah."
"..."
"What is it?"
"...Nothing."
That was it.
The guy who was so good with words on KakaoTalk turned into an idiot the second he stood in front of me.
One day, he brought me the drink I said I liked and stood there for a long time, just holding out the bag in front of me.
"What's this?"
"...Drink it."
"What is it?"
"...Something you like, noona."
"Oh."
I took the drink and smiled.
"Thanks."
"...Yeah."
"But why are you so nervous?"
"...I'm not nervous."
"Your ears are red."
Wonbin immediately covered his ears.
It was so funny that I couldn't hold it in and laughed.
"You're seriously cute."
"...Noona."
"Hm?"
"Don't say that."
"Why?"
"I get even more nervous."
I laughed for a long time.
*
That evening.
I got a message from Sungchan.
"Yeoju."
"What?"
"Is there something going on with Park Wonbin?"
"Out of nowhere?"
"He's been asking me weird things lately."
"Like what?"
"What you're supposed to do when you're dating."
I lost my words for a moment.
"...What?"
"I mean."
Sungchan laughed.
"I guess it's his first relationship, so he doesn't know anything."
I couldn't help laughing too.
"So what did you tell him?"
"What else?"
"I told him if you like someone, just treat them well."
"But then he said this."
"What?"
Sungchan paused for a moment.
"He said he was worried you'd feel pressured if he was too good at it."
I couldn't say anything for a moment.
"He thinks that much about it?"
"Seems like he's dead serious about you."
The moment I heard that, one side of my chest started to tingle strangely.
*
The next day.
I got a message from Wonbin.
Noona.
Yeah?
Today time okay?
Why?
Because I want to see you.
I stared at the screen for a long time.
If it had been before, I would've brushed it off without thinking.
But after his confession, even a short line like that made my heart flutter for no reason.
To hide that fluttering, I answered briefly.
Yeah. See you after class.
His reply came quickly.
Okay.
And then a little later.
I won't be awkward today.
In the end, I burst out laughing.
But somehow.
It felt like that promise wouldn't be kept.
