A notice was posted in the group chat for the same-grade, senior-junior pair.
[1st Mission]
Visit a café near the school
Take a photo together as proof
"Easier than I thought."
When I muttered while checking the notice, Sujin snickered.
"For you, it isn't easy."
"Why?"
"Try going to a café first with Park Wonbin."
"...That's a bit much."
Honestly, I wasn't confident.
It had gotten a little more comfortable than last week, but Wonbin was still at the level where he would only answer if I asked a question.
Two of us facing each other at a café for an hour?
I was already suffocating.
*
[Wonbina!]
[We have to do the mission this week, so how's Friday?]
10 minutes.
20 minutes.
40 minutes.
There was no reply.
'Is he busy again?'
Just as I was about to give up.
[Yes.]
Just one character.
I snorted.
'He doesn't leave me on read, at least.'
*
Friday afternoon.
I met Wonbin in front of the school gate.
"Hi."
"...Hello."
"Today we're going to the café in front of the school."
"...Okay."
The two of us walked side by side.
Silence.
As expected, it was quiet.
I spoke first.
"Did class end today?"
"Yes."
"What about assignments?"
"...I have some."
"A lot?"
"...A little."
That was the end again.
I sighed inwardly.
'At this point, it's a talent.'
We went into the most famous café in front of the school.
There were quite a lot of people.
"What do you want to drink?"
"..."
Wonbin just stared at the menu.
"Don't you want anything?"
"..."
"Wonbina?"
Only then did he cautiously open his mouth.
"...I'm not sure."
"Huh?"
"I... don't really come to cafés."
"...Really?"
Nod.
"You don't even come with friends?"
"...No."
"Not even once?"
"...No."
I laughed for no reason.
"You're really something else."
Wonbin averted his eyes for no reason.
"I'm sorry."
"No, why are you apologizing again?"
"Just..."
"If you don't know, I'll recommend something for you."
In the end, I ordered an iced vanilla latte for him.
"Most people like this."
"...Thank you."
We got our drinks and sat by the window.
A brief silence passed.
I bit my straw and suddenly asked,
"Were you always this quiet?"
"..."
"Or is it just me?"
Wonbin looked at me with a flustered expression.
"...No."
"Then?"
"...I was always like this."
"..."
"I... don't talk well."
"Even with your classmates?"
"...Yes."
"Even with friends?"
"...Yes."
"Even with your family?"
"...Not like that."
"...Pfft."
I burst out laughing without meaning to.
Wonbin's ears turned red again.
"Sorry."
"It's okay."
"It's just that you're so honest."
Only then did the mood loosen up a little.
I started asking him all sorts of random things.
"What did you do in high school?"
"Track and field..."
"Oh? Were you good?"
"...No."
"Then why did you do it?"
"...My friends told me to."
"So you had a lot of friends?"
"...Two."
"..."
"..."
I ended up laughing again.
"You're funnier than I expected."
"...Me?"
"Yeah."
"Everyone says I'm not fun."
"That's because you don't talk."
It was the first time.
Wonbin let out a small laugh in front of me.
Just for a moment.
But he definitely laughed.
*
As we were about to leave after finishing our drinks, I remembered the notice.
"Ah."
"...?"
"Photo."
"..."
Wonbin's expression froze.
"It's the mission, remember?"
"..."
"Don't tell me you're nervous about this too?"
"...A little."
"Not a little, more like a lot."
I held up my phone at the bench in front of the school.
"Here, come closer."
Wonbin took one step.
Then another step.
He came over at almost turtle speed.
"Closer."
Another step.
"Hey."
"...Yes."
"If you stay that far away, only half your face will show up."
"...I'm sorry."
In the end, I gently pulled Wonbin's arm toward me.
The instant I did, Wonbin's body went rigid.
"...Why."
"...Nothing."
"Are you nervous?"
"...No."
"Your ears are red."
"..."
"Okay, fine."
Click.
When I checked the photo, I burst out laughing.
"Hey, hahaha"
"...Why."
"Is this a criminal mugshot?"
"..."
In the photo, Wonbin was standing at attention like a soldier.
His expression was deadpan too.
Not even the corners of his mouth had lifted.
"Again."
"...Yes."
"Smile."
"..."
"The corners of your mouth."
"..."
"Park Wonbin."
After a long hesitation, Wonbin's mouth corners lifted just a little.
Click.
This time, it looked much more natural.
"There!"
I showed him the photo with satisfaction.
"...Oh."
"...?"
"More than I expected."
"Huh?"
"...It came out well."
"Right?"
After I sent him the photo, Wonbin saved it right away.
"You're saving it already?"
"...Yes."
"You like it?"
"...Yes."
"Is this your first selfie?"
"..."
"...Yes."
I was truly shocked.
"Really?"
"It's my first time."
"Wow."
At this point, he was basically a rare animal.
*
On the way back to school.
Unlike when we first met, the silence wasn't awkward anymore.
Every now and then,
we exchanged short conversations.
Then Wonbin cautiously opened his mouth.
"...Noona."
I answered without thinking.
"Hm?"
Wonbin froze on the spot.
"..."
"...?"
"...Ah."
His ears turned red again.
"What's wrong?"
"...I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"...I was about to say 'sunbae'."
"...?"
"...but I said noona."
I stopped walking for a moment.
"Just now."
"..."
"You said noona, right?"
Wonbin lowered his head sharply, his face bright red.
"...I'm sorry."
I couldn't hold back my laughter in the end.
"Why are you apologizing?"
"...Because I made a mistake."
"It wasn't a mistake."
"..."
"From now on, just call me noona."
Wonbin slowly raised his head.
"...Is that okay?"
"Yeah."
"Call me however feels comfortable."
After hesitating for a moment, Wonbin said very softly,
"...Okay."
"...Noona."
I felt strangely happy.
No matter how much he was some prince or whatever.
In the end, he was just a twenty-year-old with severe shyness.
And from that day on.
Park Wonbin started calling me not 'sunbae' but 'noona'.
