Chapter 23: The Mirroring Technique

 

I have been studying since this morning.

 

Given that I had to retake the college entrance exams, I really had to invest a lot of time in studying.

 

After lunch, when I was about to get back to my books, my smartphone buzzed with a message.

 

-Vrrrm.

 

I hadn’t expected anyone to reach out to me today, but the message was from Eun-ha.

 

“Ah, that was quick.”

 

I had thought we would catch up on Monday, but here she was, texting me now.

 

I swiftly unlocked my phone and read the message, only to shake my head in disbelief.

 

[Han-gyeol, want to grab some pork cutlet tomorrow?]

 

Hmm, is offering pork cutlet the new high schooler way of apologizing?

 

That couldn’t be. Who apologizes with pork cutlet?

 

Eun-ha must have come to this conclusion after some serious thought on her part.

 

But she decided to apologize by treating me to pork cutlet?

 

It was so cute that I burst out laughing without even realizing it.

 

“She’s too adorable.”

 

I quickly tapped on my smartphone screen.

 

[Sure. What time shall we meet?]

 

It would be perfect if we met and apologized properly, but I didn’t expect much from Eun-ha.

 

Just the fact that she was making this effort was satisfying for me.

 

I was proud of her for trying, and it was also endearing.

 

This was how we would come to understand each other, little by little.

 

After all, people couldn’t change overnight.

 

[How about 2 p.m. tomorrow? Let’s meet at Sangdong Station.]

 

[Alright. So, we’re having pork cutlet for lunch, right?]

 

[Yep!]

 

I wanted to extend the conversation a little more. But I suspected that Eun-ha thought she had upset me, so I also wanted to tease her a bit.

 

As devilish as it sounded, her reaction would probably be cute, so I decided to end the conversation.

 

[Alright then, see you tomorrow.]

 

Smirking, I put my smartphone back on the desk.

 

I wanted to see Eun-ha right this moment, but I decided to hold back.

 

At least this means she no longer found me burdensome.

 

I still didn’t know the depth of her feelings for me, but it felt like we had gotten a bit closer as a man and a woman.

 

I would confess my feelings when I think her emotions had grown to an overwhelming extent.

 

“Ah, I really need to study.”

 

I still had a lot of studying to do for today, and there was also work piled up for tomorrow.

 

But it would all be worth it for tomorrow.

 

The thought of meeting Eun-ha kept a smile on my face.

 

In the end, I put down my pencil for a moment and flopped onto my bed.

 

What was Eun-ha thinking when she sent that message?

 

Did she spend all of yesterday and today pondering how to phrase it?

 

Just imagining Eun-ha, flustered and torn about how to reach out, my heart began to pound wildly.

 

A sense of relief washed over me that I was making the right moves, while my feelings for Eun-ha grew stronger.

 

“Ah, my heart’s going to burst from the excitement.”

 

After about an hour spent lost in thoughts about Eun-ha, I finally returned to my desk.

 

***

 

The next morning, as soon as I woke up, I immediately showered and changed my clothes.

 

I even subtly styled my hair while standing in front of the bathroom mirror.

 

I also considered changing up my hairstyle but didn’t want to make it too obvious.

 

Eun-ha might think I’m mad, so maybe I should maintain a neutral expression today.

 

Or is that too harsh? Let’s just stick to the usual.

 

It was questionable if I could even keep a straight face in front of Eun-ha.

 

But leaving all of those thoughts aside, I left my house and arrived at Sangdong Station.

 

Eun-ha was sitting on one of the chairs near the ticket gates, staring intently at something.

 

As I tiptoed behind her, I heard her muttering to herself.

 

“Han-gyeol. I’m sorry. This isn’t it. I’m sorry for making you feel this way. No, this isn’t right either. What should I say? I’m sorry for avoiding you, Han-gyeol. What if he ask, ‘Is that all?’ What then? Uh... So Han-gyeol, was I wrong? It’s also the same and doesn’t sound right...”

 

She was uttering the cutest words.

 

I had to seal my lips tight to hold back the laughter. And with that, I took a few steps back.

 

Once I was at a distance where I couldn’t hear Eun-ha’s murmuring, I cautiously called out her name.

 

“Eun-ha.”

 

“Ah!”

 

Startled, she almost threw her smartphone into the air but managed to catch it just in time.

 

She turned her head, looked at my face for a moment, and quickly stood up.

 

“Huh? You’re here?”

 

“Yeah, want to go grab some pork cutlet?”

 

“Sure, it’s this way. Just follow me!”

 

I followed Eun-ha as she trudged along.

 

She still seemed to find it difficult to look me in the eye.

 

But given that she had done so much, it was high time for me to take a few steps forward too.

 

I walked up to her side and asked what she did yesterday.

 

“What did you do yesterday? Tutoring?”

 

“Huh... Yeah, tutoring and... well, some other stuff, but I don’t really remember what.”

 

“Oh, is that so? I did some studying and went to bed early.”

 

“Aha! Really? You went to bed early? Good job!”

 

The lighthearted conversation continued, but the unspoken words hung heavy in the air. What lay ahead was still uncertain, but for now, we were moving in the right direction.

 

Holding back laughter was harder than I thought.

 

She was just too adorable.

 

I bit my lip as we arrived at the pork cutlet restaurant.

 

“Two pork cutlets, please. Ah—Han-gyeol, do you want to try the cold noodles? They’re supposed to be really good here!”

 

“You’ve been here before, Eun-ha?”

 

“No? It’s my first time, too. I looked it up online, and this place is supposed to be the best.”

 

Ah, so she looked up a popular place.

 

This was making my heart flutter in its own way.

 

“Alright, let’s have the cold noodles, too. We can share.”

 

“In that case, two pork cutlets and one cold noodle, please.”

 

“Sure, it will be ready in a moment.”

 

After Eun-ha placed the order, I passed her the utensils and water.

 

She took a sip, thanking me, while subtly gauging my expression.

 

Ah—how can I be mad when I’m with someone like this?

 

Still, I tried my best to keep a poker face.

 

It would be meaningless if Eun-ha didn’t express what she really thinks.

 

“Your food is ready.”

 

The waitress laid the pork cutlets on the table, and Eun-ha kept stealing glances at me.

 

She was likely pondering what to say. Normally, I’d pick up the conversation, but not today. If Eun-ha didn’t share her thoughts, I intended to maintain this atmosphere until we head home.

 

Still, I acted as if I wasn’t mad.

 

I sincerely responded to the questions she threw my way.

 

We had some back-and-forths, but there was no extended dialogue.

 

In the end, I didn’t get the chance to delve into her thoughts about me until we finished eating the pork cutlets and cold noodles.

 

When I was about to pay, Eun-ha quickly pulled out her card and paid.

 

“I’ll transfer the money to your account, Eun-ha.”

 

“No, no! How about we go to a café?”

 

“A café?”

 

“Yeah. We just had a meal; let’s have dessert at a café. You can pay there, right?”

 

“Uh—yeah. Sure.”

 

We went to a café and stood side by side in front of the kiosk.

 

I added honey bread and a blueberry yogurt smoothie, which I planned to drink, to our order list.

 

“What will you have, Eun-ha?”

 

“Um... I’ll have the same as you.”

 

“Blueberry yogurt smoothie?”

 

“Yes, that one.”

 

Both of us knew that something remained unsaid, but for now, the unspoken words were no match for the sweet treats that awaited us.

 

Eun-ha usually goes for Hallabong Ade...

 

Could this be the mirroring technique?

 

Or is Eunha flirting with me?

 

Nah, Eun-ha isn’t the type to flirt...

 

Why had she suddenly become so unpredictable?

 

“Is there something on my face?”

 

“No, just wondering. Have you ever had a blueberry yogurt smoothie before?”

 

“No? I just wanted to try it since you’re having one.”

 

“Oh—okay.”

 

Damn it. Calm down, my heart.

 

There were bound to be countless more heart-fluttering moments ahead.

 

If I get like this every time, it’s going to be a tough road.

 

Contrary to my inner dialogue, my heart was pounding quite fast.

 

We waited next to the counter until the drinks and honey bread were ready.

 

When I carried the tray filled with our ordered drinks and bread to the table, it was time to talk.

 

It seemed like a good moment to start a conversation, but Eun-ha still appeared hesitant.

 

I didn’t want to be the one to break the ice first.

 

Then, Eun-ha’s small lips began to move.

 

“Han-gyeol.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“About what you said to me on Friday...”

 

“Mhm.”

 

The air grew tense, both of us keenly aware that a pivotal conversation was about to unfold.

 

Eun-ha finally broached the subject.

 

She looked me squarely in the eyes and, with a deadly serious expression and a heartfelt tone, apologized.

 

“I’m really sorry.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Yeah... you’re right. I’ve been avoiding you since Wednesday.”

 

With each word that Eun-ha spoke, my heart quivered.

 

I hadn’t expected her to apologize so earnestly. Knowing how clumsy she could be with words, I thought she would hem and haw.

 

“But it’s not because I dislike you or find you burdensome, like you said. To make you understand, I have to tell you the reason, but it’s a deeply personal matter, making it difficult even to share with you, who are directly involved. But really! Seriously! It’s not because I dislike you or find you burdensome! We became super close as soon as the semester started, and you’ve helped me out a lot... More than anything, I don’t want to distance myself from you. I can’t tell you the reason, but these are my true feelings! But please believe me! I genuinely don’t dislike you.”

 

I had never seen this side of Eun-ha.

 

Not outside this novel, nor within it.

 

Still feeling restless, still finding it hard to express her thoughts openly...

 

But the sight of her desperately conveying her emotions to me was incredibly beautiful.

 

I already thought I was head over heels for Eun-ha.

 

I thought my affection for her couldn’t grow anymore.

 

But it seemed my feelings were only growing stronger the more time I spent with her.

 

This is a big deal.

 

--- The End OF The Chapter ---

 

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