Chapter 77

* * *Iseul chopped up some sausages before putting it in a container.“You should rest a bit, you have friends here,” her mom commented.Iseul shook her head.“Ugh, mom, can’t you see what’s happening over there?”Iseul pointed at the table with Taejoon and Soyeon. Her mom smiled immediately.“Are they going out?”“Nope, it’s a one-sided love.”“The guy, huh?”“Right? Right? But the girl doesn’t know at all.”“She doesn’t? With him being that obvious?”“Yeah. Soyeon never looks at Taejoon. Especially when they’re alone. Hehe.”“You should tell her, then.”“I should, but… That’s not fun.”“And the other kids just left to set the mood?”“Yeah. I mean, we came here just for this today. Oh, that and promoting our restaurant.”“Oh my, my daughter’s become a true merchant, I see.”“Whose daughter do you think I am?”“Mine, obviously.”Iseul’s dad shouted from a different room in the kitchen.“What about me?”Iseul smiled before directing her attention back to the table. Soyeon was still looking down at her bowl of soup. Taejoon, on the other hand, was fiddling with his spoon with a stiff expression.“A-hem! Springtime of youth!”Things would immediately get heartwarming and romantic if Iseul told Soyeon what was going on, but… then the club would be deprived of entertainment. ‘Well, it all ends today, though.’Taejoon promised himself. He would confess to Soyeon before today ends.

* * *“Hah.”“What’s up?”Daemyung looked at Dojin standing next to him.“Everyone else is finding their girlfriends and boyfriends, and here I am, what I was thinking.”“......”“Iseul doesn’t seem interested in getting into a relationship, the seniors all seem to have their matches, but me on the other hand… Ah, my springtime is rotting away.”“Romance doesn’t account for all of your youth, you know.”“It isn’t, but it does account for a significant part of it. Daemyung, Maru is our only hope. I’m sure he got that girl’s number that time. We need to make use of that.”Daemyung shook his head.“I’m n-not that interested.”“Liar. Cross your heart and tell me. Every dude with a dick wants love, yo.”Dojin spoke with exaggeration as he would on stage, some of the pedestrians turned to look at them as a result. Daemyung became embarrassed, and quickly started walking away.“Hey! Don’t leave me alone, dude. I feel embarrassed.”“O-oh, so you’re aware that you’re an embarrassment?”“...Yeah.”The two of them entered a convenience store nearby.“Taejoon was confessing today, right? You think he would’ve done it by now?”“Dunno.”Daemyung was pretty surprised when Taejoon informed the group of his plan. Taejoon? Liking Soyeon? Even more surprising, everyone else already knew about this?‘Maybe I’m just slow.’A girlfriend… Just thinking about it made Daemyung a little excited.“Oh, it’s Maru,” Dojin said, taking out his phone.After exchanging a few words, Dojin ended the call with a ‘meet you at the station’.“Maru’s done with work?”“Yeah. And here I thought he couldn’t make it. Anyway, to think he’d give up being with a pretty lady to hang with us instead… He’s a bit odd himself.”Daemyung thought of Soojin. The woman was incredibly pretty, he remembered. She was the manifestation of purity itself, as a matter of fact. After a while of waiting, Maru came into the convenience store himself, with his hands in his pockets.“Let’s go,” he said, before walking back out.“How was work?”“It was alright. It ended pretty fast, which was why I called you. What are you doing here, by the way?”Dojin gestured at the restaurant nearby.“They’re in there right now.”“Ah. How was Taejoon?”“I honestly wanted to take a picture.”Daemyung smiled, too, remembering Taejoon’s expression. The boy’s frozen face was an uncharacteristic expression.“We’ll probably have to wait then, huh?”“Probably?”

* * *And yet again, they were at a bar. Miso grinned, looking at Taesik sitting next to her. Just looking at him made her happy, the fact that this man was hers made her even happier.“So, how has practice been?”“Ugh, what’s up with the guys around me and the acting club? Aren’t you interested in me? Also, that politeness thing! Can’t you try fixing it?”“I’m sorry. No, sorry.”Miso shook her head.“Well, practice is perfect for now. My use of the word ‘perfect’ should give you a pretty good sense of what’s happening.”“Yeah, I can see it.”“It’s going to be different from the first competition. Plus, Maru’s here too.”“So the prelims aren’t going to be a problem?”“If it is, I’m going to leave the industry.”She was confident. Really. They were on a highway to the finals, and they would take first place as well.“A comedy… isn’t it difficult?”“It is. But that’s what makes us special. If we win at the nationals this winter, we’re going to sweep up every award. Just watch!”“That'd be nice. Would be something nice to brag about.”“Oh my, Mr. Advisor. Were you having a hard time?”“I mean, I wouldn’t have to care so much about what the other teachers think of me.”Watching Taesik complain was a little cute. Miso couldn’t resist pinching his cheek.“Don’t you worry, mister. I’ll change what the school thinks of your club with this.”Just you watch. That first place plaque was going to have the name ‘Blue Sky’ engraved on it.