Chapter 6: Huh? Hello?

“Eun-ha, did something good happen?”

“Huh? No, everything’s as usual.”

“Really? You seem especially cheerful today.”

“Maybe because it’s the weekend?”

“Hmm~ I don’t think so. Feels like you’ve had some good news?”

“I don’t know the answer to this problem! Tell me!”

This was my cousin, Hyun-joo, who was also my private tutor.

She’s a student at a prestigious university’s math department and tutors me while receiving a teaching fee from my parents.

Thanks to her, my math grades have improved a lot, and she had been helping with both regular and mock exams.

“Quit beating around the bush~ Did you by chance get a boyfriend?”

“No way! I’m in my senior year of high school; where would I find the time to date?”

“What about that boy I saw you with before? Seo-ha, was it? He seemed nice.”

I had run into my sister while hanging out with Seo-ha a while back.

However, things have changed since then.

“Haha... It’s not like that. Also, Seo-ha has a girlfriend now.”

“What?! That’s unexpected. When I saw him, I thought he surely had feelings for you.”

I held back from telling her the full story, fearing it might complicate things.

Of course, there was a time when Seo-ha had feelings for me, but he was dating Jung-yeon now.

I would be lying if I said it didn’t hurt, but I genuinely wish them well.

Yet, looking straight at them was still a little painful.

“Let’s focus on our lesson.”

“Ah- Okay. Shall we move on to the next topic?”

“Yes.”

By the time our two-hour tutoring session ended, it was lunchtime.

I only used honorifics and address her as “teacher” during tutoring. Once the tutoring was over, we reverted back to just being sisters.

“Sis, are you going to eat before leaving?”

“Hmm? Should I? By the way, why haven’t I seen even a hint of your brother?”

“He’s probably asleep.”

“Then, excluding your brother, should we go out and grab something delicious?”

“Yes? I’d love that.”

“Hehe! Let’s go! I’ll treat you to something delicious.”

“You’re not spending all your tutoring fee on me, are you?”

“Of course not! I properly save up what I need to.”

“That’s a relief. Let me change my clothes and come out?”

I casually wore a cap and a fluffy zip-up hoodie.

The weather was still pleasantly cool.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Hmm? Anything’s fine.”

“You know, you should never say that when you have a boyfriend.”

“Why?”

“When my sister’s boyfriend hears ‘anything’, we always end up eating pork cutlet or spicy stir-fried pork.”

“Is that so? Well, I need to stop by a bookstore, so how about we take our time deciding?”

“Sounds good. I’ll think about it while you browse the books.”

“Hehe, deal.”

.

.

.

.

Browsing through the bookstore with my sister, I began selecting reference books.

Since the new semester had started, there were many books to buy.

Although it would be a bit heavy to carry home, it was better to get it over with at once.

One book, two books... By the time I selected five, I was done with reference books.

“Can you carry all these?”

“If I distribute them between my two hands, I think so.”

“Then shall we pay and leave?”

“Ah, let me choose one more novel.”

“You’re buying even more? You’ll wear out your arms.”

“It’s better to get everything in one go, right?”

“Okay then, I’ll skim through some magazines in the meantime?”

“Sure.”

I quickly headed to the novel section. read a new novel every fortnight, so it was time for a fresh pick. Just as I was considering my next read-

“Excuse me, I came to buy reference books. Where can I find them?”

“Section A, right over there.”

“Ah, thank you.”

-A familiar voice reached my ears, so I turned to look.

There was a boy asking a store employee about the location of the reference books.

Wearing a cap, having just come out of his house, it was Han-gyeol.

“Han-gyeol?”

Upon hearing his name, Han-gyeol looked my way. And with a visibly surprised expression, he responded,

“Eun-ha?”

Han-gyeol approached me.

Oh! I didn’t even wash my hair today and came out so casually; I shouldn’t have recognized him.

“What brings you here?”

“Came to buy reference books.”

“Oh- Really? Me too. It’s quite a coincidence. But-”

“Yes?”

“Why did you buy so much? Can you even carry it all?”

“Well, I just thought it’d be easier to buy everything at once, haha...”

I replied with an awkward laugh.

Just then, my sister approached, calling out to me.

“Eun-ha, haven’t you chosen y- Oh? Were you with a friend?”

“Ah, yes. He’s a classmate.”

“Hello. Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Han-gyeol.”

Han-gyeol politely bowed to greet my sister.

“Hi. I’m Eun-ha’s cousin and also her tutor.”

“Oh, I heard you tutor Eun-ha on weekends.”

“Yes? If you know anyone who needs tutoring, can you let Eun-ha know?”

“Oh, I will. But I don’t have Eun-ha’s contact.”

Right, we hadn’t exchanged contact numbers yet.

“Well, we can take this opportunity to exchange them.”

“That’d be good. Eun-ha, can you give me your number?”

“Uh… sure.”

I typed my number into the phone Han-gyeol handed over.

After pressing the call button and hearing my cellphone ring, I pressed the end call button.

However, I felt a bit embarrassed. Maybe it was because we exchanged numbers in front of my sister?

“Hehe...”

My sister had a peculiar smirk on her face.

It was the look of someone who had just witnessed something amusing.

I wished she wouldn’t make such insinuations, but that was wishful thinking.

“Why, what with the laugh?”

“It’s nothing. Your name was Han-gyeol, right? Have you had lunch?”

“No, I haven’t eaten yet.”

“You should’ve. It’s your prime growth time; you need to eat well. I was planning to have lunch with Eun-ha, would you like to come with us?”

“Uh, sis...! It might be burdensome for Han-gyeol...!”

“Why? Oh, but in return for the free meal, you have to help Eun-ha carry her reference books. Want to come?”

Of course, I would be grateful if Han-gyeol helped me, but...!

I was feeling a bit self-conscious today.

“Yes! I’d love to.”

Han-gyeol readily agreed without much hesitation.

“Good. We haven’t decided what to eat for lunch. Do you have anything in mind?”

“I’m not particularly picky.”

“Hmm- We’re okay with anything as well.”

Upon hearing my sister’s indifferent reply, Han-gyeol seemed deep in thought.

Then he responded with a bright smile.

“How about pork cutl-”

“Vetoed.”

My sister was telling the truth.

She rejected Han-gyeol’s suggestion even before he could finish his sentence.

Do all guys really love pork cutlets that much?

“Huh?”

“Not pork cutlets.”

“Then stir-fried pork-”

“Not that either.”

“Huh? You said anything would...”

“Let’s just have pizza.”

“Okay.”

I had to bite my lips hard to suppress a laugh.

Han-gyeol’s stunned expression was so cute to watch.

“Let’s... let’s hurry then!”

I turned my back first and headed to the counter.

Seriously, Han-gyeol seemed like a really fun and kind guy.

****

At the pizzeria, my sister looked at Han-gyeol and me with a satisfied expression. I was extremely nervous about what she might say, but the conversation was surprisingly ordinary.

“Do you have a tutor or attend any private lessons? It might be good since you’re in your senior year of high school.”

“Are you trying to sell something? I’m starting to regret mooching this pizza.”

“Hey- I’m just asking. But you catch on pretty quick, don’t you?”

“Isn’t there something odd about how you phrase things?”

Han-gyeol looked slightly flustered, which was amusing.

Yet, he quietly divided the dishes, which was both surprising and endearing. It felt like his considerateness was innate.

“It’s okay. I have some time to spare for one more person, and since you’re Eun-ha’s friend, I can give you a discount. How’s that?”

“You really know how to do business.”

“Ha! You sound like a working adult. Don’t you get that a lot? How does he seem to you, Eun-ha?”

Suddenly, all eyes were on me.

“Well, Han-gyeol seems mature.”

“See? Even Eun-ha thinks so.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. What subject is the tutoring for?”

“Huh? Math. Are you good at math?”

“Hmm... I don’t even bother with questions 21 and 30.”

It made me wonder how well Han-gyeol was doing in his studies.

“Do you study well, Han-gyeol? Would it be rude to ask about your grades?”

“Uh... There’s quite a variation by subject. I think I’m weak in Korean Literature.”

“Oh really? How about math?”

“I think it’s alright. I’ll reconsider after I see my mock exam results in March.”

“Is that so? Ah, the pizza’s here.”

As soon as the pizza arrived, Han-gyeol took the plate and served my sister first.

Then he served me, and lastly, he took a slice for himself.

“Thanks. You have good manners.”

“I’m eating on your dime, so it’s only right. Ha.”

“Ha! You’re so funny. Are you sure you aren’t a working adult? Makes me want to learn how to be an adult.”

“There’s no way. As you can see, I’m a fresh-faced high school student.”

Up until this point, the conversation was heartwarming.

But the atmosphere shifted with the next question.

“So, do you have someone you like?”

I was about to caution my sister.

“Yes. I do.”

But I was utterly shocked by Han-gyeol’s immediate answer to my sister’s question.

--- End OF The Chapter ---

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