※ This episode will be serialized in a single line.
"...Why? What is it?"
Yoon Jeong-han, startled by the sudden laughter, looked at me and asked a question.
It was a question with no subject, but I had no choice but to answer because it was clearly prompted by my laughter. If I didn't answer, he'd definitely misunderstand again.
"Oh, I just know her. She's so cute."
"...A baby?"
These days, even kids type on cell phones. Yoon Jeong-han looked at me with a suspicious expression, but I shrugged nonchalantly and said, "Nothing's wrong."
"You're a middle school student, so you're just a kid, but aren't you going to be an MC?"
"...Middle school student? No, right, sister?"
"What? The festival's starting soon. Get ready."
Yoon Jeong-han, as if obedient to my words, jumped up, and I followed suit, grabbing my wallet and phone. I couldn't just sit still, since I was already here to see the festival.
"Jeonghan! You're going up now!"
"...don't call me by my last name"
"Uh, uh..."
The girl who kindly told me I had to go upstairs was so harsh, and the tone of voice was completely different from when we were together. The girl was taken aback. Is this how it is in college? I saw people holding their phones and staring intently, then quickly taking their seats to get a closer look at the stage. Oh, I guess I should get a seat too. Yoon Jung-han headed downstage to prepare, and I followed the crowd, finding the best spot for a good view.
"Hey, Yoon Jung-han is the MC today."
"Actually, I didn't come here to see the stage, I came here to see Yoon Jung-han."
"Hey, you should confess instead."
"Why bother if you're going to get kicked anyway?"
Then why do you like it when you know it'll be a waste? You're a college student, and you can't even think of something like that, I thought to myself as I typed on my phone. After all, it's all about liking someone for their face, right?
"Mr. Jeonghan! Do you know what day it is today?"
"Huh? What day is it, Jisoo?"
"Today is the Sebongdae Festival day-"
"Wow, really? Who's coming out?"
"Mr. Jeonghan, don't you know? The Sebongdae Women's Dance Club is waiting under the stage right now!"
"I'm so excited! I want to see you soon, Jisoo!"
"Then let's take a look at Finess from the Sebongdae Women's Dance Club!"
I felt even more embarrassed by the childlike, innocent tone of voice and the fact that I was watching the script. Ah, well, it's more funny than embarrassing. I've seen Yoon Jung-han like that a lot, but to see him so seamlessly harmonize with someone else? The fact that other people are watching is what makes it so special.
'Sister, did I do well?'
I was amazed that I immediately understood when Yoon Jung-han suddenly looked at me on stage and mouthed, "Did I do well?" But how on earth did he find me? It must have been hard to find me from up there.
"Wow, Jisoo! As expected from a women's dance club, it was such an awesome performance!"
"That's right - uh, Mr. Jeonghan. Do you have a lover by any chance?"
"yes yes?"
Behind Yoon Jeong-han, who was flustered, people were shouting. Really loud. He frowned slightly, and Yoon Jeong-han, who had seen it before, motioned for them to be quiet, telling them to be quiet.
"Everyone, please be quiet. We need to hear Jeonghan's answer. Jeonghan, do you have a lover?"
"Um... I don't have a lover, but I do have someone I like."
"Wow - you're the favorite of Sebongdae's popular guys! You must be truly honored."
"I've been chasing you for a year, but you still don't respond well, but I'll keep following you. I love you, sis!"
"Oh- I guess it's a relationship! Oh, Jeonghan! But do you know what the next stage is?"
"Um... vocal club?"
"That's right, Sebongdae's vocal department! We've prepared a sweet song that will melt your hearts. This is a love note from Sebongdae's vocal department!"
Yoon Jung-han winked and shouted, "I love you, noona," but I coldly turned my head away from his phone. I should have just acted normally. Why on earth are you doing that? Strangely, girls go "kya" and like they're idols. ...I don't like that kind of stuff, but you know I don't like that kind of stuff and you do that? Is it written in the script? Anyway, I hate it so much.
"Teacher! I was cleaning up the ramen soup and it spilled on Mingyu's arm. He got burned. What should I do?"
My heart pounded. ...Burns? There were so many, the amount must have been even greater. I left the stage I was watching and quickly grabbed my wallet and phone and left the university. Yoon Jeong-han, who had been on stage, must have seen me hurrying out of the university, and he kept trembling. Without even a moment to catch a taxi, I ran and checked my phone, just in case there were more messages.
"Mom just went to get Seokmin's cast removed, but she left her phone behind, so you were the only one who could contact her. I'm sorry."
If the director wasn't here, I'd be too flustered to do anything... But even though I don't usually run much, I was running like crazy right now. I ran so hard my ankles were starting to ache that I was able to get to the orphanage as quickly as possible. I entered the password and quickly went in, and in the kitchen, I saw Mingyu soaking his burn with cold water, Seungcheol helping him, and Myeongho preparing an ice pack.
"Min-gyu, are you okay?"
"Uh, teacher..."
"Did you run here?"
"Yeah, Seungcheol, how's Mingyu?"
"It stings. And I have blisters."
"Should I go to the hospital?"
"Oh, no, teacher! I don't really feel sick!"
"No, let's go to the hospital now."
"...I'm sorry for worrying you. You must have come in a hurry."
"Teacher, it's okay. You said you'd come right away if anything happened."
The kids bowed their heads and apologized at my words. What's there to be sorry about? Let's see how things are. If it's serious, you should go to the hospital.
"It's not that bad, but let's put an ice pack on it."
"Isn't that bad...?"
"Yeah, I think it'll go down after a few days of bandaging. But there'll probably be a little scar."
"..."
"You told me not to worry, but you're making me worry."
"...sorry"
"What are you sorry about? Are you surprised? It's okay. Just rest. You must have been very surprised."
"...Thank you, teacher..."
I wrapped a bandage around Min-gyu's arm and patted him on the back, knowing he was upset. His shoulders, usually proud and upright, were noticeably slumped today. As soon as Min-gyu entered the room, his legs gave out and he slumped. Even if the burn was severe, it could have been worse... He sat down and checked his phone, finding countless calls and messages piled up. They were all from Yoon Jeong-han.
'Sister, what happened?'
'It's not a big deal, is it?'
Don't get hurt while running.
"Sister, the festival will be over soon."
"Are you really in a hurry? The festival is almost over."
...But I still had to reply. After clearing the messages and missed calls that filled my phone, I slowly typed out my reply.
Yoon Jung-han must have been really worried.
"It's nothing serious, but I'm sorry I missed the whole festival because my friend got hurt."
I sent a reply and tried to get up, but before I could even get up, I checked the text and was amazed at the speed of the reply.
'...What kind of younger sibling is he that you're running to when he's injured?'
'I got burned when I spilled the soup while eating ramen.'
'But why are you telling that to your sister?'
'My parents were out at that time, and I got burned. How could I clean it up by myself?'
'...Even if I get hurt, you won't run to me like that, right?'
'He's a middle school student.'
"A middle schooler can't do that? And there's no one home?"
'Yes, but they are all students too.'
'Can't students do that one thing?'
"What's wrong with you? You and I have no relationship."
'...I guess that's true for you, sister.'
'But sister, I
I want to develop a more special relationship with my older sister.
My older sister is a little more special to other people
Even if I were to face him, I would be better than him
I want to be an even more special person to my older sister.
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It's too late ㅠㅠ The festival... Since I saw it all? I had no choice but to write it in short ㅠ The next episode is really exciting! The ending will be around episode 16! It's a 16-episode series! And there were quite a few scenes with the orphanage kids today! Will Ji-hoon appear in the next episode? (Spoiler alert