TL: looloo
Schedule: 4/Week Wed-Sat
Join the discord! HereThis chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site.
I've just finished eating, competing for meat with those I once called friends. Their appetites were truly something else.
After the meal, we all pitched in to clean up and wash the dishes. The grill was so stubbornly dirty. I thought to myself that I should probably avoid working at a BBQ place in the future.
With the chores done, there was not much left to do. So, I took a brief stroll around for digestion, then retreated to my room to fiddle with my phone.
As I relaxed, dusk approached quickly. The growing darkness was accompanied by a cool breeze, and the symphony of chirping insects added a lovely ambiance.
Although there weren’t many physical activities to do, having a phone in hand meant there was never a dull moment. Some were focused in web comics, novels, or videos, while others gathered for a group mobile game.
I joined in the fun for a while and exchanged chat messages with Heena in between.
[ Han Yeonho : It's getting colder as night falls. You were right; I'm glad I brought an extra layer. ]
[ Heena : Told you! Always listen to me from now on! ]
[ Han Yeonho : Have I ever not listened? ]
[ Heena : Never~ Good boy! ]
[ Han Yeonho : Woof woof! ]
[ Heena : Are you pretending to be a puppy? Next time we go to an amusement park, you're wearing dog ears, okay? ]
[ Han Yeonho : Only if you wear cat ears. Deal? ]
After our chat, there was a brief pause before Heena sent another video. I was wary of my nearby friends making fun of me if I played it aloud, so I moved to the bathroom to watch.
[ Heena : (In the video) Meow~ ]
The clip showed her winking and mimicking a cat's meow. It was so endearing I felt a twinge in my chest.
My girlfriend sure knows how to pull at my heartstrings.
But I wondered, if she ever did a cat cosplay, how would she wear the tail and where?
---
Raei Translations
---
The first day passed like that. We all gathered in one large room, playing games until fatigue took over and one by one, we fell asleep.
While playing, I gradually drifted into slumber, and despite the lack of an air conditioner, I was lulled into a deep sleep by the cool mountain breeze coming through the window.
-♪♬♪~
From my phone, set to vibrate, a song I used as both an alarm and ringtone began to play.
With a slight frown, I gently opened my eyes, only to realize that it was already morning.
"I slept like a log... that was amazing..."
Upon recognizing it was morning, I reached for my phone that continued to ring near my pillow.
I hadn't set an alarm since the start of the vacation, so it was clearly a call. Wondering if it might be Heena, I checked and sure enough, it was her.
But it wasn't just a regular call. It was a video call.
"Yawn~"
Stretching out my yawn, I pressed the call button. I wasn't overly concerned about my just-woke-up appearance; she had seen it before on our beach trips.
"Hey, Yeonho! How are you?"
"Mm, hey..."
As soon as I accepted, there was Heena on the screen, waving at me in her slightly oversized pajamas.
Her relaxed appearance was endearing. Seeing her speak and move in real-time, rather than in a picture or video, gave a comforting feeling.
"Did you sleep well? Seems I woke you up. Sorry~"
"It's okay, I was going to wake up soon anyway."
"Yeah... I just woke up and immediately wanted to see you. So, I called right away. Is that okay?"
Honestly, for someone who claimed she'd just woken up, Heena's hair looked perfectly in place, unlike how it was at the hotel.
However, I held my tongue, not wanting to point out her clear little white lie. Pretending it was unplanned while looking prepared was kind of cute.
"Thanks for calling~ Seeing your face makes me feel great."
Her unique, slightly silly giggle echoed back.
To me, that giggle wasn't silly at all, but rather adorable.
After some brief chitchat, knowing that her breakfast time was nearing, we wrapped up our conversation.
"Let's chat again later~"
"Sure, have a delicious breakfast!"
With a wave, the call ended.
Between the messages, photos, videos, and video calls since yesterday, Heena seemed to be constantly on my mind, more so than usual.
"Stretch~"
Setting my phone aside and stretching, I decided to start waking my friends.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Did everyone sleep well?"
The only problem was, they were already awake. Lying on their beds, staring at me with open eyes, it felt a little creepy.
With four pairs of eyes glaring at me, I was at a complete loss for words. That's when Suhwang, a look of exasperation painted across his face, broke the silence.
"Yeonho."
"Yes?"
"What did we... What wrong did we do to you?"
"What do you..."
"Why do we have to tolerate your annoying voice from the break of dawn?"
"..."
"Why is it that you wake up to sweet morning calls from your pretty girlfriend, and we're jolted awake by your lovey-dovey banter?"
"I..."
"To be frank, your over-the-top affection is getting stale. Did you really have to go that far?"
His cutting words left me without a defense.
It was true; my voice and tone changed when I spoke to Heena. Isn't it typical for most couples, unless they've been together for an incredibly long time?
Furthermore, broadcasting my morning video call with Heena in real-time felt excessive even to me. Anyone would find it overly mushy.
I had nothing to say, so I remained silent. The group watched me with cold, judging eyes.
The one to break the uncomfortable stillness was Suhwang, who had been critical of me just moments earlier. Rising from his seat, pillow in hand, he addressed the group.
"Now that I think about it, we slept in the same room like it's some school trip. Isn't it a waste not to have at least one pillow fight?"
As soon as he finished, everyone was on their feet, pillows at the ready.
Although I knew it was futile, I made one last desperate request.
"Can we at least have a fair one-on-one match?"
"Fine, whatever."
"Sigh..."
I realized there was no reasoning with them from their emotionless response.
Whether it was one-on-one or a group brawl, it seemed I was destined to be the primary target of their pillow onslaught.
Resigning myself to the inevitable, I curled up with my pillow on the bed, hoping to mitigate some of the pain.
-Whack!!
Despite the relentless pillow assault, I endured it all.
After all, I can't help it if my girlfriend is irresistibly adorable.
---
Raei Translations
---
From the morning, our countryside retreat was predictably uneventful.
After enjoying a meal prepared by the elderly couple, we took it upon ourselves to clean up and tidy the house.
Afterwards, we either wandered around or stayed in our rooms using our phones.
Going to the valley early on would have been madness; even during our visit yesterday afternoon, the water was bitterly cold.
So, I left the others holed up in their rooms and walked around outside, continuously sending messages. I made a video call to Heena to show her the surroundings.
"The path is really steep... Watch your step, Yeonho! Be careful not to fall! Maybe just put your phone down and walk!"
But seeing how worried Heena looked because of the treacherous path, I soon returned.
We passed some more time and had lunch, then headed to the valley.
Today, we just waded a little or went fishing for minnows with a net.
"Hey, over there! Catch that sneaky little minnow!"
"That was a clumsy move, seriously!"
"It's escaping!"
"Can we eat it if we catch it?"
I giggled as I filmed the guys making a big fuss over one tiny fish.
Buzzing sound -
[Heena: At the valley again? Be careful! Even if it looks shallow, it's easy to slip and fall!]
While I was filming, messages kept vibrating on my phone and appearing on the screen.
Switching between watching my friends play and reading the constant stream of messages, I was lost in thought.
I did reply to most of Heena's messages, but not all of my responses were thoughtful.
Often, I'd send brief replies when busy or gaming. Even today, I'd check and reply, but sometimes with just a word or two.
Yet Heena never seemed bothered. She never asked for lengthier responses, just consistently sent messages, never giving up.
Thinking about it made me feel a bit guilty. I was the type to become deeply involved with people, unable to easily distance myself, whether in romantic relationships or with friends.
If someone earnestly asked a favor, I found it hard to refuse – a trait I suppose many have to some degree.
I recalled a casual question from Yoonsung in the past: "Do you still talk to Kang Juhyun?"
It had been a while since I heard that name. He was undeniably my close friend in middle school.
Thinking about why we drifted apart, I remembered it was simply because we went to different high schools.
But diving deeper into that memory, Juhyun did try to stay in touch for a while even after we went to different schools.
However, maybe because I thought we wouldn't see each other often, I gradually responded less and less until we lost contact altogether.
Perhaps if I had reached out a bit more frequently, even considering the inconvenience, I might have made the effort to visit. If I had been that involved, at some point, I wouldn't have been able to simply let go.
However, by saying that, I was pushing the responsibility of our broken relationship onto Juhyun.
If only I had taken one more step forward, if only I had shown a little more interest.
Perhaps, he would have been with me on this trip.
In that sense, Heena is approaching me, ignoring all circumstances and distance.
Always on my mind, impossible to ignore or forget.
Of course, there are distinctions between a girlfriend and a mere friend. But still,
It's something I've always felt deeply.
I've always been thankful for their effort. No matter how I act, they always came back to me no matter what.
And in that sense, what I should strive for, perhaps, is a basic attitude even before considering Heena's consideration.
Instead of just waiting, I should also take a step forward.
"Should I try?"
I stopped filming those fools and before replying to Heena, I hovered my thumb over my chat friend list, hesitating.
But soon, gathering courage, I look at the profile picture of a friend I haven't seen in ages.
[ Han Yeonho : Kang Juhyun! How have you been? ]
After nearly a year, I finally initiated contact. I wasn't even sure if he'd reply to such a conscience-less message. And even if he did, it might be hard to return to our old relationship.
Even without my replies, Juhyun from the past and Heena now, they both made more efforts.
Maybe they always felt a bit anxious when reaching out.
With those thoughts, I mustered the courage to send the message. After replying to Heena, I approached my friends who were focused in fishing.
"Seriously, you haven't caught a single one yet?"
"... This guy's technique is totally outdated..."
What are these idiots talking about?
Author's Note:
Dear readers! Our relationship is safe!
TL: looloo
Schedule: 4/Week Wed-Sat
Join the discord! HereThis chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site.
I've just finished eating, competing for meat with those I once called friends. Their appetites were truly something else.
After the meal, we all pitched in to clean up and wash the dishes. The grill was so stubbornly dirty. I thought to myself that I should probably avoid working at a BBQ place in the future.
With the chores done, there was not much left to do. So, I took a brief stroll around for digestion, then retreated to my room to fiddle with my phone.
As I relaxed, dusk approached quickly. The growing darkness was accompanied by a cool breeze, and the symphony of chirping insects added a lovely ambiance.
Although there weren’t many physical activities to do, having a phone in hand meant there was never a dull moment. Some were focused in web comics, novels, or videos, while others gathered for a group mobile game.
I joined in the fun for a while and exchanged chat messages with Heena in between.
[ Han Yeonho : It's getting colder as night falls. You were right; I'm glad I brought an extra layer. ]
[ Heena : Told you! Always listen to me from now on! ]
[ Han Yeonho : Have I ever not listened? ]
[ Heena : Never~ Good boy! ]
[ Han Yeonho : Woof woof! ]
[ Heena : Are you pretending to be a puppy? Next time we go to an amusement park, you're wearing dog ears, okay? ]
[ Han Yeonho : Only if you wear cat ears. Deal? ]
After our chat, there was a brief pause before Heena sent another video. I was wary of my nearby friends making fun of me if I played it aloud, so I moved to the bathroom to watch.
[ Heena : (In the video) Meow~ ]
The clip showed her winking and mimicking a cat's meow. It was so endearing I felt a twinge in my chest.
My girlfriend sure knows how to pull at my heartstrings.
But I wondered, if she ever did a cat cosplay, how would she wear the tail and where?
---
Raei Translations
---
The first day passed like that. We all gathered in one large room, playing games until fatigue took over and one by one, we fell asleep.
While playing, I gradually drifted into slumber, and despite the lack of an air conditioner, I was lulled into a deep sleep by the cool mountain breeze coming through the window.
-♪♬♪~
From my phone, set to vibrate, a song I used as both an alarm and ringtone began to play.
With a slight frown, I gently opened my eyes, only to realize that it was already morning.
"I slept like a log... that was amazing..."
Upon recognizing it was morning, I reached for my phone that continued to ring near my pillow.
I hadn't set an alarm since the start of the vacation, so it was clearly a call. Wondering if it might be Heena, I checked and sure enough, it was her.
But it wasn't just a regular call. It was a video call.
"Yawn~"
Stretching out my yawn, I pressed the call button. I wasn't overly concerned about my just-woke-up appearance; she had seen it before on our beach trips.
"Hey, Yeonho! How are you?"
"Mm, hey..."
As soon as I accepted, there was Heena on the screen, waving at me in her slightly oversized pajamas.
Her relaxed appearance was endearing. Seeing her speak and move in real-time, rather than in a picture or video, gave a comforting feeling.
"Did you sleep well? Seems I woke you up. Sorry~"
"It's okay, I was going to wake up soon anyway."
"Yeah... I just woke up and immediately wanted to see you. So, I called right away. Is that okay?"
Honestly, for someone who claimed she'd just woken up, Heena's hair looked perfectly in place, unlike how it was at the hotel.
However, I held my tongue, not wanting to point out her clear little white lie. Pretending it was unplanned while looking prepared was kind of cute.
"Thanks for calling~ Seeing your face makes me feel great."
Her unique, slightly silly giggle echoed back.
To me, that giggle wasn't silly at all, but rather adorable.
After some brief chitchat, knowing that her breakfast time was nearing, we wrapped up our conversation.
"Let's chat again later~"
"Sure, have a delicious breakfast!"
With a wave, the call ended.
Between the messages, photos, videos, and video calls since yesterday, Heena seemed to be constantly on my mind, more so than usual.
"Stretch~"
Setting my phone aside and stretching, I decided to start waking my friends.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Did everyone sleep well?"
The only problem was, they were already awake. Lying on their beds, staring at me with open eyes, it felt a little creepy.
With four pairs of eyes glaring at me, I was at a complete loss for words. That's when Suhwang, a look of exasperation painted across his face, broke the silence.
"Yeonho."
"Yes?"
"What did we... What wrong did we do to you?"
"What do you..."
"Why do we have to tolerate your annoying voice from the break of dawn?"
"..."
"Why is it that you wake up to sweet morning calls from your pretty girlfriend, and we're jolted awake by your lovey-dovey banter?"
"I..."
"To be frank, your over-the-top affection is getting stale. Did you really have to go that far?"
His cutting words left me without a defense.
It was true; my voice and tone changed when I spoke to Heena. Isn't it typical for most couples, unless they've been together for an incredibly long time?
Furthermore, broadcasting my morning video call with Heena in real-time felt excessive even to me. Anyone would find it overly mushy.
I had nothing to say, so I remained silent. The group watched me with cold, judging eyes.
The one to break the uncomfortable stillness was Suhwang, who had been critical of me just moments earlier. Rising from his seat, pillow in hand, he addressed the group.
"Now that I think about it, we slept in the same room like it's some school trip. Isn't it a waste not to have at least one pillow fight?"
As soon as he finished, everyone was on their feet, pillows at the ready.
Although I knew it was futile, I made one last desperate request.
"Can we at least have a fair one-on-one match?"
"Fine, whatever."
"Sigh..."
I realized there was no reasoning with them from their emotionless response.
Whether it was one-on-one or a group brawl, it seemed I was destined to be the primary target of their pillow onslaught.
Resigning myself to the inevitable, I curled up with my pillow on the bed, hoping to mitigate some of the pain.
-Whack!!
Despite the relentless pillow assault, I endured it all.
After all, I can't help it if my girlfriend is irresistibly adorable.
---
Raei Translations
---
From the morning, our countryside retreat was predictably uneventful.
After enjoying a meal prepared by the elderly couple, we took it upon ourselves to clean up and tidy the house.
Afterwards, we either wandered around or stayed in our rooms using our phones.
Going to the valley early on would have been madness; even during our visit yesterday afternoon, the water was bitterly cold.
So, I left the others holed up in their rooms and walked around outside, continuously sending messages. I made a video call to Heena to show her the surroundings.
"The path is really steep... Watch your step, Yeonho! Be careful not to fall! Maybe just put your phone down and walk!"
But seeing how worried Heena looked because of the treacherous path, I soon returned.
We passed some more time and had lunch, then headed to the valley.
Today, we just waded a little or went fishing for minnows with a net.
"Hey, over there! Catch that sneaky little minnow!"
"That was a clumsy move, seriously!"
"It's escaping!"
"Can we eat it if we catch it?"
I giggled as I filmed the guys making a big fuss over one tiny fish.
Buzzing sound -
[Heena: At the valley again? Be careful! Even if it looks shallow, it's easy to slip and fall!]
While I was filming, messages kept vibrating on my phone and appearing on the screen.
Switching between watching my friends play and reading the constant stream of messages, I was lost in thought.
I did reply to most of Heena's messages, but not all of my responses were thoughtful.
Often, I'd send brief replies when busy or gaming. Even today, I'd check and reply, but sometimes with just a word or two.
Yet Heena never seemed bothered. She never asked for lengthier responses, just consistently sent messages, never giving up.
Thinking about it made me feel a bit guilty. I was the type to become deeply involved with people, unable to easily distance myself, whether in romantic relationships or with friends.
If someone earnestly asked a favor, I found it hard to refuse – a trait I suppose many have to some degree.
I recalled a casual question from Yoonsung in the past: "Do you still talk to Kang Juhyun?"
It had been a while since I heard that name. He was undeniably my close friend in middle school.
Thinking about why we drifted apart, I remembered it was simply because we went to different high schools.
But diving deeper into that memory, Juhyun did try to stay in touch for a while even after we went to different schools.
However, maybe because I thought we wouldn't see each other often, I gradually responded less and less until we lost contact altogether.
Perhaps if I had reached out a bit more frequently, even considering the inconvenience, I might have made the effort to visit. If I had been that involved, at some point, I wouldn't have been able to simply let go.
However, by saying that, I was pushing the responsibility of our broken relationship onto Juhyun.
If only I had taken one more step forward, if only I had shown a little more interest.
Perhaps, he would have been with me on this trip.
In that sense, Heena is approaching me, ignoring all circumstances and distance.
Always on my mind, impossible to ignore or forget.
Of course, there are distinctions between a girlfriend and a mere friend. But still,
It's something I've always felt deeply.
I've always been thankful for their effort. No matter how I act, they always came back to me no matter what.
And in that sense, what I should strive for, perhaps, is a basic attitude even before considering Heena's consideration.
Instead of just waiting, I should also take a step forward.
"Should I try?"
I stopped filming those fools and before replying to Heena, I hovered my thumb over my chat friend list, hesitating.
But soon, gathering courage, I look at the profile picture of a friend I haven't seen in ages.
[ Han Yeonho : Kang Juhyun! How have you been? ]
After nearly a year, I finally initiated contact. I wasn't even sure if he'd reply to such a conscience-less message. And even if he did, it might be hard to return to our old relationship.
Even without my replies, Juhyun from the past and Heena now, they both made more efforts.
Maybe they always felt a bit anxious when reaching out.
With those thoughts, I mustered the courage to send the message. After replying to Heena, I approached my friends who were focused in fishing.
"Seriously, you haven't caught a single one yet?"
"... This guy's technique is totally outdated..."
What are these idiots talking about?
Author's Note:
Dear readers! Our relationship is safe!
