“Huh?”
“Your skin and eye color too. Is your mother not Asian?”
“Uh…”
Dave’s blue eyes, covered in darkness and looking navy-colored, alternately looked at the tips of my ears, my cheeks, my pupils, and my hair. …I’m a bit confused—am I being racially discriminated against right now? Am I being sensitive? After pondering for a moment, I asked back.
“…You don’t think all Asians look the same, do you?”
At my voice filled with displeasure, Dave’s eyes widened. As if that really wasn’t his intention, his expression looked quite shocked.
“Ah, I didn’t mean it that way…! I’m sorry if I offended you. I was just curious about you.”
“Both my mother and father are Korean. They’re not mixed race. I’m a third-generation immigrant.”
‘My eye color and hair color are light just because I have less pigment. Not all Asians are black-haired. Got it, you white friend?’ I spoke clearly and deliberately, fully conveying that sentiment. Dave nodded his head.
“I see. I apologize again. I’ll say sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. Um, if I talk about myself, my great-great-grandfather came from England. From then until my dad, they’ve lived here continuously. My mother is an immigrant who came from Lithuania. …Mom wanted to be an actress. A Hollywood actress. But well… she married Dad, had me… it’s a common story.”
The rest of the story Dave didn’t tell was so common that it painted itself in my head even without him saying it. Dave’s voice became somewhat quieter, nearly drowned out by the thump! thump! thump! of the blaring song. But because I leaned forward and listened as carefully as possible, I could hear it all properly.
“Do you look like your mother?”
“Yeah.”
When Dave’s dark blonde hair was covered by the pitch-black darkness, it looked brown. Nevertheless, it was still much lighter than mine, which was truly brown-colored hair. I imagined a woman who resembled Dave. Blonde with blue eyes, she’d be tall too, and her build would probably be large. That is, if Dave had inherited his mother’s blood very strongly.
“Your mother must be very beautiful.”
“She was beautiful.”
It was past tense. …His mother passed away. Dave’s bangs, as he nodded, lightly tickled my forehead. The wind coming through the open window shook his hair, making my skin tingle even more. I thought the distance was too close. However, perhaps because of Dave bringing up intimate stories, I wanted to show the sincerity of listening to that story. I deliberately didn’t pull my body back.
“She suffered a lot emotionally. Dad is… a bit… he has a strong wandering eye.”
“Ah.”
My heart easily went out to the woman resembling Dave that I’d just imagined. And to her son as well.
“Do I not feel attracted to anyone because I don’t want to become like my dad?”
Dave slightly lowered his eyes. The palm resting on his thigh gradually curled up and soon clenched into a tight fist.
“Couldn’t that be possible…?”
It was a cautious story. Since I couldn’t hastily make a definite conclusion, when I slightly trailed off, Dave slightly raised one corner of his mouth.
“You don’t need to look so tearful. Sometimes, no, very often… I do miss Mom but… what can I do.”
“…”
Having never lost family, I couldn’t dare empathize. Although I wasn’t in an affectionate relationship with my family in the original world, still, if one of them died, it would hurt as if a finger had been cut off. Unlike my cold and rational parents, I… as Mom said, I tend to put my heart into useless things.
“…Do you hate your father?”
“There are many respectable things about him professionally. He’s an excellent businessman, and he provides me with a good home and environment. He’s not bad as a father either. He’s affectionate to his children. But… when I think of Mom, there are times I hate him.”
I couldn’t hate Dad, Mom, or hyung. Honestly, I was a bit envious of Dave, who said he hated them.
“Should we talk about something else now? I’m fine, but I think you might be bored.”
“I’m not bored.”
“Then that’s good. Still, I’d rather hear your story than talk about myself. I’m curious.”
Dave grinned like a mischievous child. My story? What story do I have to tell?
“What are you curious about?”
“Have you ever dated anyone?”
“…Dated?”
Why is the topic suddenly jumping there? Bewildered, I blinked my eyes, and Dave waved his hand.
“You know the worry I mentioned before. I want to talk about that.”
“Ah, um… No.”
There were quite a few girls I’d confessed I liked. But they all rejected me. I had to study, and I didn’t feel like dating those girls.
“Then your first love?”
“…I haven’t had one yet.”
It was a lie. In 8th grade, there was someone I secretly liked. But I quickly gave up on those feelings. I was busy with high school entrance exams, and I knew it wouldn’t be reciprocated.
“You’ve never liked anyone, never dated… Do you believe you’re heterosexual?”
“…I believe so.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
I answered excessively firmly. Dave tilted his head.
“I’ve dated and kissed, but I’ve never liked anyone, so I’m worried. How are you so certain?”
“I just… know.”
“Just?”
“Just.”
“But I just don’t know.”
Dave lowered both eyebrows. Dave, the popular guy with 97% popularity, seemed confused by such worries of his.
“You’ll gradually figure it out. I’ll help you.”
“Really?”
Dave, whose shoulders had been drooping, suddenly raised only his eyes to look at me.
“Can you really help with anything?”
“Huh?”
I didn’t say I’d help with ‘anything’…
“July, you’re such a reliable friend!”
But I got swept up by Dave, who suddenly hugged me. It was already too late to correct my words. I just blinked with a dazed face.
“I’m really curious about something. I think you could help me well.”
“…What is it?”
That grinning face made me a bit anxious.
“I’ve kissed a girl, but I haven’t done it with a guy yet. If I try it once with a guy, wouldn’t I know for sure?”
“How am I supposed to… help with that, ah. Should I go find a decent guy outside?”
Beep! Beep! My instinct sent a warning. I don’t know what it is, but let’s avoid it first. I hurriedly got up from my seat. But my wrist was grabbed. Dave, who had slyly gotten up, pressed against the wall and blocked my way. Dave’s arm had trapped me.
“July…”
Don’t call me like that so strangely…!
“July, there’s never been anyone who listened as well as you. And you’re willing to help. I’m so happy.”
Dave smiled very beautifully with that characteristically handsome face. Unlike my expression, which was hardening. What, what is this? What on earth…!
“…Ngh!”
Suddenly Dave’s hand cupped my cheek and our lips collided very urgently. At that moment when the fact that our lips touched was so absurd, a tongue entered my mouth.
“Mmph!”
Wait, wait! With both wrists grabbed, I was ‘subjected to’ a kiss just like that. Even though I’d never kissed anyone even once, I could tell Dave was quite familiar with this act.
Hey, system, status window! Help me! Please!
“Wow, this is my first time kissing someone with a tongue piercing… It’s pretty good.”
Dave said while licking his lower lip wet with saliva and simultaneously tracing my lower lip with his thumb.
<Status Window>
◈ Name: David Evans
◈ Age: 16 (11th grade)
◈ Popularity: 97%
◈ Favorability: ???♥
◈ Nickname: Dave, the Only Quarterback, Bluedale’s Sweetheart, Bluedale’s Lover of Everyone, Bluedale’s Hot Guy
◈ Special Notes: Quarterback of Bluedale High School’s football team The Savers, protagonist of the drama ‘Pizza Saver’
“If I could kiss David even just once, you can take everything I have!”
Instead of helping me, the system just pulled up Dave’s status window. I didn’t even give up my life, so why did I end up kissing Dave? I… I… At nineteen years old, I had my first kiss stolen by a sixteen-year-old boy… I recalled anew the soft sensation that had touched my lips just moments ago. My hands trembled.
System, hey, help with something. Does this make any sense right now? Hey, heeey! The bastard who usually chattered noisily was unusually quiet. And when light slyly appeared in the air, I felt slightly relieved. Finally, that system bastard seemed to have come up with something…!
NEW!
Romance index increased by 5%!
NEW!
‘Queer’ keyword added!
NEW!
Queer index increased by 5%!
NEW!
Rotten Pineapple index increased by 2%!
…I’m going crazy.
SYSTEM
Viewer A shows interest 🙂
Viewer B turned off the TV 🙁
Viewer C is satisfied 🙂
Viewer D started spreading rumors on social media 🙂
Viewer E threw the remote 🙁
NEW!
Rotten Pineapple index increased by 1%!
NEW!
A small cult following has formed!
NEW!
‘July Baek’ added to ‘protagonists’!
【Rotten Pineapple】
Current [43]%
◈ High-teen: 100%
◈ Romance: 5%
◈ Queer: 5%
…With status windows popping up frantically, my mind was completely in chaos. I wanted to stop thinking. System, please knock me out. Please, please… But I was too healthy.
“July, I don’t think I’m asexual. I think I’m gay.”
Dave said while staring intently only at my lips. As if he’d never worried at all, his face was very refreshed.
