NOVEL FROG Chapter 182
On the first day of the social gathering, there are no particular schedules. The only official event is the opening banquet held at Hwayangkwan in the evening.
Jin Yeseo, despite coming from a prestigious family, said she wouldn’t host a sub-group because she’s a first-year student. She also planned to skip the tournament happening tomorrow.
“…So the conclusion is, we can just have fun.”
Jin Yeseo’s voice was filled with cheer as we walked side by side.
“During the day, we’ll show everyone how we enjoy the gathering, and then we’ll enter the opening ceremony banquet together as partners in the evening. How does that sound? Doesn’t it look like we’re the perfect couple?”
“That’s true, but…”
“I came up with it, but it’s a flawless plan. Oh, and there’s definitely a place we must stop by today: a stall selling cloud candy, a claw machine, the latest blade demonstration, and, and…”
“…”
Is this really all just acting? It sounds like an incredibly packed schedule, especially since she picked all the things she likes…
After chatting enthusiastically for a while, Jin Yeseo suddenly pauses as if remembering something and shifts her attitude to spy on my reaction.
“…Ahem. Of course, we should never forget to pretend to be lovers.”
With a seemingly shy approach, Jin Yeseo firmly crosses her arms. I can feel the lukewarm warmth and a slight heaviness against my arm.
“…Don’t forget. You are mine today. My… boyfriend.”
Then she repeated that as if saying it with an important tone without even looking at me.
*
Promises are meant to be kept. Especially when they’re made with a friend in trouble.
Because of that, even without Jin Yeseo asking me explicitly, I genuinely planned to do my best today.
Aside from me, Jin Yeseo was giving her all to the performance. It was natural since it was related to her future…
The problem was that the direction of her enthusiasm seemed somewhat misaligned.
“Hey, look over there!”
“What now…!”
Leading me by the hand, Jin Yeseo pulls me towards something. Even after exploring over twenty stalls, she doesn’t break a sweat, which is simply astonishing.
“Dart throwing! If you come in first, the prize is ice cream! Hurry!”
“Just a second…”
Before, I was doubtful, but now I’m certain. The girl with the yellow hair is completely filled with thoughts of enjoying the social gathering under the pretense of acting. Otherwise, there’s no way to explain that bright smile.
Well, I suppose it’s not too bad either. If she enjoys it that much, her genuine happiness will add even more credibility to our act.
“…”
The image of a pure girl enjoying the festival while forgetting all responsibilities and obligations leads me to the depths of my memory.
– Hyun Ah! Come here quickly…!
– Yeon Ah… be careful running like that…
My ears feel muffled as if they are filled with water. Somehow, I find myself in a shabby little village on the outskirts, not at the dazzling banquet.
Every year, the villagers decorated a cramped square with light bulbs and flags, and held a modest festival.
There were no cloud candies or magic demonstrations, just a festival that seemed like it was barely enjoyable for a few dozen gathered residents.
Looking back, I didn’t particularly like festivals when I was younger. How could I enjoy them with those who constantly bullied me as an insensitive person?
– Look! What’s that?
– What’s this?
– I’ve never seen anything like this…!
The sensation of small, white fingers pulling me along.
– Wow… it’s delicious…!
– Ah, try it. I’ll feed you…!
– Hehe, I’ve never had this before…! We’ll come again next year, right? Let’s promise, okay?
– Really? Did you promise…?
Flowing black hair brushed past my eyes. A sweet voice echoed in my ears.
A small and sickly girl who had to live her whole life trapped due to a terminal illness. A girl who took even the slightest semblance of a festival in that village as the ultimate stimulation.
If it weren’t for her, I would never have enjoyed a festival. Still, it felt quite enjoyable back then.
Of course, now… everything seems entirely pointless.
“Hey!”
As I continued to sink down that memory lane…
A voice filled with reproach suddenly pulled me back up.
“…?”
Before I knew it, Jin Yeseo was glaring at me, holding two cones of ice cream.
“Are you not acting properly? If you get caught because of you, I’ll hold you responsible!”
“…I don’t think the person who left it behind is in a position to say that.”
“W-What about the fact that I’m already in line! Just take this!”
Jin Yeseo thrusts the ice cream towards me forcefully and it seems she actually came in first place at the dart game.
“Thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”
“…Hmph.”
Despite her voice dripping with sulkiness, her face is filled with an utterly content smile. Jin Yeseo’s exploration of the social gathering continued even after we finished the ice cream.
To my surprise, the opportunity to widely spread the existence of her beloved partner arrived faster than expected.
“Yeseo!”
“Hey guys!”
“Were you having fun?”
A group of female students approached, waving their hands excitedly. They were all wearing bizarre masks, but it was clear they were Jin Yeseo’s friends.
Among them, I recognized one—an ironic-looking girl who had once saved me in the south and had shared some information about Jin Yeseo.
Her name was definitely Haewon. Unlike the other girls who were too wrapped up in conversation, she gave me a scrutinizing look.
Could she possibly know me…? No way, right?
“But who’s that next to you…?”
“Could it be…?”
After chatting about various trivial matters, the girls finally got to the point. Their voices filled with uncontainable excitement. It seemed they had been itching to ask who I was.
Standing next to Jin Yeseo, she lightly scratched my back as if saying something without words. We had previously discussed a situation like this.
– Just stand still. I’ll take care of the rest.
I gave a slight nod to show I remembered. However, it seemed Jin Yeseo wanted something different.
In an instant, I could see a flicker of displeasure in her green eyes. She leaned her weight against me, making our bodies almost touch.
“Ahem, everyone. Let me introduce you. This is my… boyfriend…”
“Oh my…!”
“I knew it!”
However, before Jin Yeseo could finish her sentence, a scream from the girls echoed violently like the roar of monsters.
“Wow, wow…! I never expected this…!”
“See? I told you I saw him in the square earlier! You never believe what I say…”
“What is going on… Yeseo finally…!”
As the girls marveled, Jin Yeseo’s face flushed with embarrassment. They quickly surrounded us and began bombarding me with questions.
Which family are you from? How old are you? Where did you meet and so on.
“He works at the Central Management Office in the capital. He’s… older than me…”
“I happened to get help during an external request last time…”
“The family is a secret. We haven’t officially received our engagement certificate yet… but soon…”
“We haven’t been dating for long. About 27 days…”
However, Jin Yeseo answered without hesitation to their relentless questions. Her preparedness was astonishing.
But wait, 27 days? What significance does that have? As I pondered, it suddenly hit me—it was the day we all checked into the same accommodation after arriving in City No. 1.
Why did she pick that date? Did she just randomly throw it together?
“Actually, I was the one who confessed first… ah, wow. Even as a student, you’re already preparing for marriage…”
Jin Yeseo, her face animated, continued to spin lies without even pausing to catch her breath.
*
After what felt like a lengthy interrogation from the girls, it finally wrapped up.
“Somehow, you look familiar… Could you possibly remove that mask for a second…”
“Oh my, what are you saying! Yeseo just said it’s still a secret!”
“I’m sorry; Haewon can be a bit peculiar…”
“We’ll take our leave now! Enjoy yourself with your fiancé!”
For a moment, we faced a slight crisis thanks to Haewon’s suspicious gaze… but fortunately, her friends quickly rushed in to smooth things over, and we escaped harm.
“Phew…”
“It’s tough, isn’t it? You did great…”
Jin Yeseo mumbled apologetically. Her face was still beet red.
“…It’s fine as long as we got through it.”
It wouldn’t be a lie to say I wasn’t tired, but considering the purpose of today’s performance, it was a tolerable day.
Now, those girls would plant the seeds of rumors about Jin Yeseo and her mysterious fiancé, spreading them throughout the academy.
Then students like Chun Su-ho wouldn’t approach Jin Yeseo anymore. Hitting on someone who has a fiancé is outright offensive.
Thinking that Jin Yeseo had achieved at least part of what she wanted eased my mind a bit.
“It’s already this time, huh…”
The sun was setting in the west, casting its last glow everywhere. Jin Yeseo’s voice held a hint of disappointment as she observed it.
“Is the opening banquet the only thing left?”
“Exactly. We still have some time, so we can stroll there slowly… huh?”
However, not all encounters were as pleasant.
As we walked with her arm closely wrapped around mine, Jin Yeseo suddenly stopped. Her gaze was fixed on a couple across the stall street.
More specifically, on the girl. And I recognized her too.
The cute-looking student, Moon Yeowool. Despite coming from a respectable family, she’d always been overshadowed by Jin Yeseo. Once we were quite close, but now we’ve completely parted ways.
Moon Yeowool stared at us with a sulky look while her fiancé, Seunghun, simply wore an awkward smile.
Fights between girls can be quite tricky to navigate. Especially in situations like this.
I guess he’s feeling the same way I am.
Moon Yeowool, who had been glaring at Jin Yeseo, briefly glanced at me. And in that fleeting moment, I clearly caught the hint of ridicule in her eyes.
But strangely, it felt like the target of that ridicule wasn’t me but someone else. She also didn’t seem interested in Jin Yeseo’s fiancé, unlike the other girls.
Yet the feeling in the pit of my stomach wasn’t pleasant. Why does Seunghun like such a spiteful and arrogant girl? It doesn’t seem like they were bound by a political marriage either.
I really don’t get it…
“…”
After a brief standoff, the four of us seemed to come to the same conclusion, starting to walk silently.
If we weren’t intending to stir things up, it was best to leave.
“Cut… smack…”
However, the moment Jin Yeseo and Moon Yeowool brushed past each other, a peculiar noise caught our attention. Jin Yeseo froze in place.
“…What?”
“…”
Jin Yeseo didn’t respond. It was clear that some words were exchanged between them. When the noise was heard, Jin Yeseo suddenly lowered her head, as if something had upset her.
“…I’m sorry. I’ll just go fix my makeup for a second.”
After some time, Jin Yeseo finally opened her mouth.
“Hey, wait a moment…”
“I’ll be back soon, just wait here…!”
And with that, she hurriedly left me behind and disappeared in an instant.
“…”
What on earth did they talk about that left her so emotional she could barely speak?
I can just see my impression of Moon Yeowool getting worse. If she weren’t Seunghun’s fiancé, I might have thrown a few punches.
Maybe it was too much to ask for permission to hit her once…
“Did you wait long?”
Suddenly hearing a voice, I turned around. Jin Yeseo waved her hand as she rejoined me.
“You’re back quickly. Are you alright?”
“…Yeah, I’m fine?”
Jin Yeseo replied as if she was slightly perplexed. It seemed she didn’t want to think about earlier. In that case, it wouldn’t be a good idea for me to pry further into it.
“More importantly, let’s hurry. We don’t want to be late for the opening ceremony.”
As Jin Yeseo approached, she naturally slipped her arm through mine, now used to it.
“…?”
But oddly enough, the soft warmth of her arm felt heavier than before.
Am I just a little tired after a long day…?
“Why?”
Noticing my gaze, Jin Yeseo tilted her head in confusion.
“…Nothing. But why do I feel like you’ve grown a bit taller all of a sudden?”
“Hmm? Ah, I guess it’s because I changed to heels. Look here.”
Jin Yeseo nonchalantly tapped her feet. Indeed, she was wearing quite high heels that I hadn’t seen before. Perhaps she changed to prepare for the banquet.
Considering the heel height, she did seem a bit taller than before… but there’s still a difference between what I see and what I feel.
“Since it’s so tight, it’s a bit awkward to walk…”
“We’re engaged. What does it matter?”
With Jin Yeseo not letting go of my arm, we began walking towards Hwayangkwan.
*
“Hah…”
Jin Yeseo faced the mirror in the powder room, her face still flushed. She didn’t appear embarrassed or ashamed, but rather looked impulsively excited.
“I almost got caught…”
What if a guy sees her like this? Unconsciously, she began to walk hurriedly.
– Didn’t you say you don’t like guys? Has your mind changed?
– You said they were crass and uncontrollable… ha.
“…”
Moon Yeowool’s whispered words were filled with mockery. There was no need to guess; the intent was clear.
What hurt even more was knowing these were words she had once said herself.
Moon Yeowool merely returned what had been thrown at her.
“Crass and uncontrollable…”
The intent was clear. She wanted Jin Yeseo to feel humiliation and shame.
Yet right now, Jin Yeseo felt an entirely different emotion. And that made it even more bewildering. Far from feeling humiliated or ashamed, she was…
“Why am I not feeling bad…?”
Jin Yeseo, gazing at her reflection in the mirror with glazed eyes, shook her head vigorously. She broadened her eyes, as if steeling herself.
“Get a grip, Jin Yeseo. Not yet, not yet…”
Today’s objectives were twofold. The first was to showcase their strong bond in front of the family’s watchers, and the second was to thwart any ill intentions that Baek Seoyeon might harbor before she acts out.
So far, things had gone relatively smoothly. But the most crucial part was about to begin.
The evening festival, where people’s guards are easily lowered, the banquet that would last the night, and the various sweets and drinks that blur reason.
“…I can do this. I’ve prepared well. It’s different from last time. Everything has been properly organized…”
Jin Yeseo steeled her resolve as if carrying a noble mission like a pilgrim. In reality, it was closer to being a martyr. She was willing to sacrifice her own body to save Baek Seoyeon.
“…I can do this.”
After murmuring to herself, Jin Yeseo finally arranged her appearance. She tidied her hair and loosened the buttons at her neck to reveal her collarbone slightly. Then she spritzed on the special perfume she had bought from a secret store.
Taking a deep breath, she finally left the powder room and headed towards the place where the man awaited.
“Sorry. Did you wait long…?”
However, Jin Yeseo found herself at a loss for words without realizing it.
The tall man wearing a lion mask was nowhere to be found.