"You can't say this kiss doesn't count, right?"

Si-hyun was paralyzed by Ye-rin's bold actions. His face grew increasingly red. Looking down at him with seductive eyes, Ye-rin gently placed her hand on his chest.

Thump. Thump.

Si-hyun's heart was beating almost as fast as hers. Realizing this, Ye-rin's lips curved into a mischievous smile as she leaned forward. Their chests touched.

"What do you think you're doing? Get off!"

The soft sensation in his chest and Ye-rin's familiar scent, which he had always been close to, now felt different.

Normally, no matter what Ye-rin did, he wouldn’t be shaken... But now, every word and gesture of hers was stirring his desires.

'Why am I feeling this way...'

Si-hyun used to think of Ye-rin as family. So why was he becoming so conscious of her now?

There were two reasons.

First, Si-hyun, who had become starved for affection while dating Chae-yeon, saw Ye-rin's advances as fulfilling that need.

Second, performing CPR on her and the fear that she might die made Ye-rin take up a significant place in his heart.

"Si-hyun, your heart is beating so fast."

Ye-rin, who had taken control, evolved from a meek lamb into a captivating fox, capable of entrancing every man around her. She whispered softly into Si-hyun's ear, making him even more tense.

"Should we... do it again?"

Ye-rin's warm breath brushed his ear, causing Si-hyun to shudder with embarrassment.

Just as he regained his composure, ready to resist her allure and say something—

Smooch♡

Contrary to what he expected, Ye-rin covered his open mouth with her soft lips. Their eyes met, shaking rapidly in the close proximity.

"Hey, you really!"

Startled, Si-hyun pushed her away. Ye-rin, having enjoyed herself, stepped back with a bashful smile. Feeling the warm sensation still lingering on his lips, she gently touched them and spoke.

"So this is what a kiss feels like..."

It was just a simple kiss, yet it felt like they were connected. Their affectionate gazes met, sharing each other's breath... a sensation almost tangible.

While Ye-rin was lost in her feelings, Si-hyun, incredulous, asked, "Did you do all that just to find out?"

"No way!"

Quickly shaking her head in frustration, Ye-rin wiggled her fingers and continued,

"I would never do such a thing with someone I didn't like..."

With her being so straightforward, Si-hyun couldn't help but recognize her feelings. Letting out a deep sigh, he lay down calmly and asked, "Since when did you start liking me?"

"I don't know. Just being always around you, at some point, I found myself following you with my eyes..."

"Then why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Do you think it's that easy? I'm not as brave as you are."

Si-hyun smiled at Ye-rin’s shy behavior.

He lifted his upper body and faced Ye-rin, brushing her hair back behind her.

"Anyway... I'm sorry I realized your feelings too late."

Ye-rin, now pouting, averted her gaze.

"If you're sorry, then how about dating me from now on?"

"That's a bit tricky."

"What? After everything we've done, now you're backing out?"

"You did all that by force."

It seemed like he was about to reject her. Feeling her heart tighten and the urge to run away, Ye-rin became tense.

Meanwhile, Si-hyun scratched the back of his head and spoke.

"It's not that I dislike you. I'm just not sure about my own feelings yet... I want to be certain before we start dating."

"So then?"

"Give me a little time. Once I'm sure, I'll confess to you."

Ye-rin froze with her mouth slightly open. Soon after, tears streamed down her cheeks. He had finally recognized her feelings and promised to think about it seriously.

"Okay... I'm used to waiting."

Ye-rin gave Si-hyun a salty peck on the lips and continued, "This time, I'll be waiting with hope!"

Her smile was brighter than ever, a smile filled with all the happiness in the world. Seeing that, Si-hyun couldn't help but smile too.

"Yeah. It won't take long."

Si-hyun and Ye-rin entered the lodging. The inside was buzzing with activity.

The peers were busy praising Ye-rin's safe return and Si-hyun's quick thinking.

However, wanting to organize his thoughts, he entered a room, excusing himself to take a short rest.

‘Ye-rin likes me…’

Si-hyun was overwhelmed by the unexpected confession.

She was his childhood friend who had spent the most time with him besides his parents. She comforted him when he broke up with Chae-yeon and always led him positively.

Considering that he didn't know when her feelings began, it's likely she had hidden them for years.

During that time, he distanced himself while dating Chae-yeon, causing her unimaginable hurt.

‘I don't want to accept Ye-rin's long-held feelings half-heartedly.’

Si-hyun still perceived Ye-rin as just a friend.

Love is supposed to be mutual. As long as he viewed Ye-rin merely as a friend, it would be difficult to form such a relationship.

‘Should I get back in touch after a long time…’

His guiding presence during his relationship with Chae-yeon, who he consulted whenever he had concerns. Si-hyun decided to ask his relationship counselor for advice on this matter.

[Me: Aloe Flavored Tea Bag, can I consult you after a long time?]

[Aloe Flavored Tea Bag: Oh! Is it about your ex-girlfriend?]

[Me: No. Things with my ex are mostly wrapped up.]

[Aloe Flavored Tea Bag: Huh? Then, could it be... there's someone else?]

[Me: It's not that. I just got something like a confession, and I don't know what to do...]

[Aloe Flavored Tea Bag: I see. Shall we start the consultation after such a long time?]

Si-hyun confided in his relationship counselor about his relationship with Ye-rin. He explained how he had viewed Ye-rin until now, how they usually behaved with each other, and everything that had happened today.

[Aloe Flavored Tea Bag: This girl feels nice. Much better than your ex-girlfriend, at least.]

He received a positive response from his relationship counselor. It was a stark contrast to the pressure he used to feel whenever the counselor insisted he break up with Chae-yeon.

[Me: Really?]

[Aloe Flavored Tea Bag: Yes. Being long-time friends, you both probably know each other's strengths and weaknesses. Seeing how your friend got so angry at your ex, she doesn't seem like she'd treat you as coldly as the ex did.]

[Me: I see.]

[Aloe Flavored Tea Bag: Of course, that's just my opinion. The most important thing is how you feel, Si-hyun. What do you think about her?]

[Me: Sometimes she's a bit eccentric, but I think she has a good heart.]

[Aloe Flavored Tea Bag: Nope. I meant what do you think of her as a romantic interest?]

'As a romantic interest...'

Si-hyun scratched the back of his head, trying to recall his memories.

His heart had pounded to its limit because of Ye-rin's unexpected kiss.

Reflecting on today's experience, it was clear that Si-hyun had become conscious of Ye-rin as a romantic interest.

'But can I really call this liking her?'

Regardless of love, it’s natural for a man's heart to race when in close contact with a beautiful woman.

Si-hyun had once loved Chae-yeon passionately, but now he couldn't distinguish if his current feelings were the same.

[Me: I recognize her as a romantic interest, but I'm not sure if this will develop into romantic feelings.]

[Aloe Flavored Tea Bag: Hmm... The only way to know is to observe. If you really want to understand your own feelings, it might be a good idea to keep a close watch on your friend going forward.]

Creak-

The door suddenly opened, and Chae-yeon walked in, looking at Si-hyun.

"The others said we should go out for drinks."

Si-hyun wondered why Chae-yeon was delivering this message but quickly nodded.

"Alright. I'll be there soon."

Si-hyun replied to Aloe Flavored Tea Bag, thanking them for the consultation. After exchanging a few more messages, he stood up from his seat.

‘Why is she still here?’

Chae-yeon, whom Si-hyun thought had already left, was standing by the door, staring at him. She kept clenching and unclenching her hands behind her back as she asked,

“..Who are you messaging?”

“What does it matter to you?”

“Just curious... Is it Ye-rin?”

Si-hyun didn’t want to engage in meaningless conversation, so he walked past Chae-yeon and left the room. The savory smell of grilled pork belly greeted his nose as he exited.

Si-hyun found an empty seat and sat down, and Chae-yeon sat beside him.

‘Why does she keep sticking close to me?’

Feeling irritated, Si-hyun grabbed a pair of wooden chopsticks and said, “Why don’t you move and avoid ruining the meal?”

Chae-yeon flinched. She clenched her fists on her knees and replied in a subdued voice,

“I can sit wherever I want, can’t I?”

“Fine, do whatever you want.”

Not wanting to be petty, Si-hyun decided to ignore her. As he distributed wooden chopsticks and paper cups to others,

“Si-hyun!”

Ye-rin arrived with a plate full of meat and sat down to his right. She leaned in close and smiled brightly. Si-hyun showed a bashful response, while Chae-yeon shot her a murderous glare.

“Look at this meat. It’s perfectly grilled, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is..”

Si-hyun’s shy reaction gradually gnawed at Chae-yeon’s heart. Hadn’t he acted the same way when they were dating?

As Si-hyun’s attention increasingly leaned towards Ye-rin, Chae-yeon felt an indescribable anxiety.

On the other hand, Ye-rin, enjoying the reaction, wrapped a piece of meat in a lettuce leaf and offered it to Si-hyun.

"Here. Open wide. Ah~"

"It's fine. I can eat by myself. Why are you doing this..."

"Oh, hurry up~ My arm is hurting."

Urged by her persistence, Si-hyun reluctantly opened his mouth, and Ye-rin quickly placed the wrapped meat inside.

Complete chaos ensued, leaving him barely any time to taste the food. Determined to break down Si-hyun's defenses, Ye-rin continued her playful seduction.

"Oh, I got ssamjang on my hand."

Smooch. Smooch.

Ye-rin deliberately sucked her fingers that she had just used to feed Si-hyun.

Even though he hadn't had a single drink, Si-hyun's face turned a deep red at the provocative sight.

'Si-hyun, you're so adorable…'

Ye-rin also felt embarrassed by Si-hyun's genuine reaction. Holding her chest and smiling shyly, she offered the plate of meat she had brought.

"Feed me too."

"Alright.."

While Si-hyun, moving slowly, wrapped another lettuce leaf, Ye-rin sat with her mouth wide open, revealing her white teeth. Just as Si-hyun finished and was about to feed her,

Swoosh.

Chae-yeon, who was sitting beside them, shoved a lettuce wrap into Ye-rin's mouth.

"Mmph!"

Ye-rin's face scrunched up instantly. The wrap Chae-yeon gave her was filled with only chili peppers and garlic, without a single piece of meat.

In the end, Ye-rin couldn't bear to eat it and spit it out into several tissues. With a voice full of irritation, she asked, "What are you doing?"

"You said you were hungry, so I made it nicely for you," Chae-yeon replied.

"Ha. Just be honest and admit you were messing with me," Ye-rin shot back.

"If that's what you think, then sure," Chae-yeon retorted.

Tension flared between them with Si-hyun caught in the middle. The attention of their peers was drawn to the showdown between the ex-girlfriend and the potential girlfriend.

However, Ye-rin laughed mockingly, unfazed.

"So, you want to have a go at it? Fine, bring it on."

She opened a bottle of soju. Though she was all show and couldn't handle more than a few shots, she wasn't one to back down.

Similarly, Chae-yeon, who was also not a strong drinker, couldn't afford to retreat now either. She picked up a soju glass.

Sluurp...

The goddess of the Tourism Management Department and the lightweight drinkers were set for a showdown.