Two weeks had passed since he realized his feelings. He was growing restless.
He understood his friend wanted to work independently.
The steady deposits into her account showed how hard she was working.
But was all this really necessary?
Even when he messaged asking to meet, she never responded.
Perhaps she was that determined, but it still felt excessive.
Was one meeting really so difficult?
Does the first to fall in love always lose?
That’s exactly how it felt.
No matter how much he wanted to see her, she only gave cold refusals.
No explanations, just rejection.
His chest ached.
He never knew rejection from someone you love could hurt this much.
Even after being turned down, he never once disliked her.
Instead, his longing grew fiercer.
He went to the Gate again today.
Only during combat could he forget everything and feel at ease.
After hours wandering the Otherworld slaughtering Monsters, exhaustion drove him out.
He emerged late at night, changed clothes without washing up, and fell asleep in his car.
Early the next morning, after selling his Magic Stones, he checked his account and saw her deposit.
"She’s working really hard."
It only made him more anxious.
He feared she was pulling away for good, that she’d never see him again.
As someone new to romantic feelings, his greatest fear was driving her away forever by getting too close.
Maybe it was inevitable.
She... his friend was originally male.
Having lived longer as a man, who did she see as the opposite sex?
He was too scared to ask.
What if she preferred women?
Then he’d have to lock these feelings away forever.
So he couldn’t move forward, only maintain this fragile distance.
He sent another message asking to meet today, but got no reply.
Probably inside a Gate, not even read.
Another week passed without seeing her.
His frustration peaked.
The more active and successful she became, the more distant she felt.
He resorted to his last secret option.
He decided to consult a woman he knew, the one who best understood their situation.
He felt guilty about it.
This was the woman who had liked him for years, who confessed multiple times.
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Thinking about that made him sorry. Had she endured this same pain?
Now that he understood, he felt truly remorseful.
But she was the only woman he could ask.
Steeling himself, he sent the message.
= Need some advice
Thirty minutes later, she replied.
-Should we meet?
= Okay
That’s how he ended up arranging to see Yoo Mi-ro.
They met at a small restaurant.
"Come on in."
Yoo Mi-ro greeted him, dressed stylishly.
"So what’s this about?"
"Sorry to ask you, but you’re the only one I can talk to."
Her expression tightened.
Of course he was the guy who’d rejected her repeatedly.
"Go on. I’ll decide after I hear it."
He felt a little ashamed.
What man does love consultations? Isn’t that embarrassing?
"There’s a woman I like."
Yoo Mi-ro’s face twisted slightly.
"You have a girlfriend, don't you?"
"No."
Why did both Yoo Mi-ro and Jeong Si-yeon think he had a girlfriend?
"Really? Then who were you talking about back then?"
Back then?
Only now did he remember the incident from months ago. Though he'd kept it secret that it was about Jeong Si-yeon at the time, he had indeed sought advice.
"That... that was..."
"Not going to tell me?"
"It was about Si-yeon."
"What!?"
Yoo Mi-ro looked utterly shocked before falling into deep thought.
"So that's what it was about that time."
She seemed to reach her own conclusion while muttering to herself.
"So what was the consultation about?"
"I needed help."
"About a woman you liked?"
He hesitated greatly about whether to say it.
To confess he'd fallen for a friend who used to be male.
But since she wasn't the person involved, he found some courage to speak.
"Jeong Si-yeon."
"Pfft, hahaha!"
His chest tightened. He'd expected this reaction, but facing it directly still irritated him.
Yoo Mi-ro kept laughing.
"Hahaha! That Seong Si-hyun! Hahaha!"
"Damn it."
After laughing for a long time, Yoo Mi-ro finally calmed down and caught her breath.
"Whew, so what started it?"
Did he have to share this too?
Wasn't this actually Yoo Mi-ro's fault?
It was because of what she'd said that he started seeing his friend as a woman.
"In a way, Yoo Mi-ro, this is your fault."
"What?"
"Because of what you said at the hotel that time."
"Ah, that?"
"Yeah, talking about living together forever? Damn it, I actually started considering it."
"Pfft, hahaha!"
Damn, it stung every time he saw Yoo Mi-ro laughing.
"S-sorry. Hahaha"
"Tch."
After another long bout of laughter, Yoo Mi-ro gradually composed herself.
"Alright. So how do you want me to help?"
How should he answer?
"Because of what you said, Si-yeon won't see me and it's driving me crazy."
"Really? That's surprising. She's actually going solo?"
"Yeah, and she's working especially hard."
"Hmm, so what do you want to do?"
"First I want to meet her. Any ideas? She keeps firmly rejecting my messages."
"Why not just go see her directly?"
"W-wouldn't that make me look like a stalker?"
"What? Between friends, it's fine."
Right? Maybe showing up unannounced would be faster?
Yoo Mi-ro's eyes suddenly lit up:
"I've got a great idea."
"Really?"
"Yeah! But you'll have to model clothes for me for free."
Model? Now that he thought about it, this company did deal with clothing.
"Perfect timing - I'm not satisfied with the models for our new autumn collection."
Though it sounded troublesome, he could endure it if it meant seeing Si-yeon naturally.
"Fine."
After agreeing to model on the weekend, Yoo Mi-ro messaged a few days later saying she'd hooked Si-yeon.
-
After that, Yoo Mi-ro kept teasing him.
-Hey! What's so great about Jeong Si-yeon anyway?
He wanted to curse but held back.
If he didn't reply, this woman would spread rumors everywhere, so he answered:
= I don't know! I just like her. None of your business!
-That's it? How boring
He was helpless against Yoo Mi-ro.
She still held leverage over how many times he'd rejected her confessions before.
-Don't pull a stupid move like suddenly confessing like I did back then
-Don't just blurt out a confession in public
Come to think of it, Yoo Mi-ro's first confession had been in a hallway.
-Girls get swayed by the atmosphere and setting, got it?
-Planning the scene before confessing increases your success rate!
= Really?
-Of course! I was too young to know back then!
Quickly taking notes.
= Does Si-yeon even count as a girl?
-Duh! Are you stupid?
Well, the Si-yeon I like is definitely a girl.
-Anyway she can't turn back into a man now
-Also you should express your feelings more often
Express feelings?
What nonsense is this now.
-Saying you're lonely or miss her works well
= Why?
-Friends say she softens when she hears "I miss you"
-That way you slowly break down her walls and she'll meet you
= Noted
He stood before the mirror practicing expressions.
His reflection looked stiff and blank.
Started earnestly practicing sad faces, silly grins, all kinds of expressions.
"This is exhausting"
Next day.
-Still asking her out daily?
= What?
-Stop inviting her out, show more care and compliments
= Why?
-To break through her defenses, not force meetings!
= Same as before?
-Right, take it step by step
After changing his invitation messages to caring and encouraging ones per Yoo Mi-ro's advice, the chat logs noticeably lengthened.
= Thanks
-Working?
-I want a good man too
-You're wasting my time
Left speechless by her retort.
Finally promised to introduce her to quality men.
-Are you really gonna setting me up?
-Thanks!
Though teased, it felt worthwhile.
Just a few more days until he sees her.
Both excited and nervous.
Meeting under work pretext means she can't avoid it.
The thought of finally seeing her made him genuinely happy.
