However, even after morning became afternoon and afternoon became evening and my successor training ended, no reply came from Kkotmoa. But that didn’t mean I was going to postpone my plan.
As soon as I finished successor training, I headed to the flower shop. Unlike yesterday when I waited outside, I boldly entered inside.
“Welcome…, huh?”
“I came to buy flowers.”
When I quickly explained to Kkotmoa, who was slightly surprised to see me, he nodded his head. The florist who appeared to be the owner was a generous-looking woman with a good impression. I was relieved because she seemed to treat Kkotmoa kindly.
“Student, what kind of flowers should I get you?”
“Um…, I’m going to propose. Please wrap up all the flowers that have flower language meanings of love or liking. Price doesn’t matter. It can be very expensive.”
I knew Kkotmoa was looking at me, but I pretended not to notice. The lady soon told Kkotmoa various flower names and had him gather them. Kkotmoa recommended other flowers with flower language about love besides those flowers and received praise from the lady. Even though I wasn’t the one being praised, I was extremely proud. It seemed his really capable personality was being demonstrated at the flower shop too.
The flower shop lady created a magnificent bouquet as splendidly as Kkotmoa’s dad. This flower should have its stem cut at this point, the color arrangement is pretty when done like this, this flower should be placed in the center for it to look gorgeous, and so on—while kindly explaining to Kkotmoa, her hands were incredibly fast. I seemed to understand why Kkotmoa worked and learned at this flower shop while receiving less than minimum wage.
However, strangely, Kkotmoa made repeated mistakes with a reddened face and even got scolded. So I felt upset.
Because I was the last customer and thanks to Kkotmoa introducing me as a friend, we were able to leave the flower shop together. My plan was to go to a hotel restaurant room and confess. So I had even contacted them on purpose. I had prepared music, wine, and even cool lines. But Kkotmoa slightly tugged at my collar as I was trying to catch a taxi. When I turned around, I saw an expression that seemed a bit hesitant.
“Why?”
“……You really have something to say to me, right?”
“Yeah. It’s something I only want to say to you.”
His earlobe was flushed red. For no reason, my earlobes also felt hot. I had come thoroughly prepared to confess, but none of the cool words I’d prepared came to mind. Seeing my flower with his gaze lowered while biting his lower lip firmly, my head went completely blank.
However, this time too, the moment my heart overflowed was just an instant. It was no longer easy to hide my feelings in front of him. It seemed better to clash with him again and again instead. I didn’t even have time to go to the restaurant room. I pushed the bouquet I was holding into Kkotmoa’s arms.
“I like you.”
It was the second confession of my life. I made my first confession to you, and I’m making my second confession to you too.
“I won’t run away this time. I’ll hear your answer clearly.”
“I……”
“Yeah. You can reject me. If I have the right to confess, then you have the right to reject me.”
Whether it’s the third or fourth time, however many confessions I have left, I’ll make them all to you. Because my liking someone is limited only to you.
“You can do it, reject me. But I’ll keep hovering around you and confess every chance I get. If you show even the slightest opening, I’ll definitely seize it and dig in. I’ll try somehow to look good to you, and I’ll do my best hoping you’ll like me too.”
You’re my first love, and you’re my second love too.
“I like you, Shin Moa.”
Even if you don’t accept me, ……just as you were my first love, you’re also my only second love.
* * *
It was a day when there was a liberal arts class I took with Kkotmoa. Kang Junwoo also took it together, but it didn’t matter. Anyway, that guy only pretended to attend school for the first 2-3 weeks at the beginning, then quickly started canceling classes on his own as if eating meals. Most of the time it was because of a hangover from drinking too much the day before, or the excuse that it was hard to escape from the warm embrace of the woman he spent the night with. Come to think of it, the guy who used to CC with freshmen as a freshman killer every year seemed strangely quiet this time. Anyway, there’s a reason why he can’t graduate even while attending for 9 semesters.
“Hi, anchovy.”
“Which crazy mutt bastard is calling who an anchovy?”
I don’t know why the guy who used to cancel classes on his own as if eating meals is attending every single time. Does he believe he can graduate this semester if he does this? Absolutely not. I saw this bastard’s earned credits, and he’d have to attend until the 10th semester to barely fill the graduation credits.
“But why are you here? Anyway, there’s a reason why guys who can’t date are like that.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t you know it’s common sense to play chauffeur on a day like today and earn generous points? Since you’re acting like a virgin, why don’t you advertise that you’re a lifelong solo?”
“Speak so I can understand.”
“Huh? Kkotmoa didn’t tell you?”
Come to think of it, Kkotmoa, who always arrived 10 minutes before the lecture started, wasn’t visible even though there was only 1 minute left. I was worried thinking something might have happened. And on the other hand, I was also displeased by the fact that Kang Junwoo knew something that I, who met Kkotmoa every day, didn’t know.
“He sometimes goes to meet his dad, you know.”
“What?”
“Whoa. You really didn’t know?”
“……How did you know?”
“I called to give him a ride on the way, and he said it was today, so I found out?”
“……”
“Keke, even though you follow him around and shower him with material attacks, there’s no progress, huh? Oh my, what to do. I guess he didn’t want to tell you. Well, as expected, if it’s a friend, someone reliable like me— Hey, hey! Where are you going?!”
The moment the professor entered, I ran out of the lecture hall. If what Kang Junwoo said was true, I could earn generous points if I drove him today. There was exactly one thing Kang Junwoo was superior at compared to me. That he had countless romantic experiences compared to me who had none. While running out of the campus, I called Kkotmoa. After a few rings, I could hear his voice.
—Huh? Hello?
“Where are you?”
—Home. I have something to do today, so I’m going to cancel class on my own.
“What time do you need to leave?”
—Ah…, you heard from Junwoo. I need to leave in an hour. I’m getting Jae-a ready right now.
“Wait. I’ll arrive within an hour.”
My heart was rushed, so I hung up without even hearing his answer and caught a taxi. At my words that I’d pay three times the fare, the taxi driver dropped me off in front of my house in less than half the usual time.
I quickly went up to the second floor, grabbed the car keys, and went straight to the garage. Even I thought it was an incredibly fast speed. Mom in the first-floor living room seemed to say something, but I couldn’t hear it properly. If it was urgent, she would call, and if not, it would be something I could hear later.
Unlike Kang Junwoo, who owned a foreign car to show off, my car was a domestic car. It was a model released by D Motors the year I turned twenty. Although D Group wasn’t showing outstanding prominence in the automobile field, I had quite a bit of pride since it was one of only three automobile brands in Korea.
Even though it had been a while since I drove, I was quite talented at driving. It was thanks to car racing, which I briefly took up as a hobby during the time I was wandering unable to forget Kkotmoa. While heading to Kkotmoa’s villa, just in case, I put a Bluetooth earphone in my ear and called again.
—Hello?
“Are you waiting?”
—I am, but is it urgent?
“Yeah. I’ll arrive within 20 minutes, so at least feed Samyukshippal breakfast.”
—No way…….
“I hope you won’t refuse since I’m going to give you a ride anyway. I already drove out.”
There were no more words from Kkotmoa. So I was anxious he might just leave before I arrived. I had bribed Samyukshippal in preparation for times like this.
“Let me talk to Samyukshippal for a moment.”
—Why?
“Because I have something to say to my alliance partner with whom I’m making a big deal. Let me talk to him.”
—……Just a moment.
There was a whispering sound over the phone, then soon Samyukshippal answered the call. He probably nagged him to answer the phone politely.
—Hello? Invincible hyung?
I really liked the way Samyukshippal called me. I bought him whatever he wanted to eat for dinner every day, bought him clothes, and even bought him a belt and bag that were popular among elementary school students, so he completely became on my side.
“Samyukshippal. You’re going to meet Dad today, right?”
—Yes! So I just took a bath with hyung and dried my hair.
“Wait because I’ll give you a ride.”
—Wow, Invincible hyung has a car too?
“Of course. I have everything. If you wait quietly with your hyung until I arrive, I’ll buy you what you want to eat for dinner and buy you the gift you want. How about it?”
—Don’t worry. I’ll take care of my hyung.
The way he lowered his voice and spoke was like filming a spy movie. After hearing the reliable and mature answer, I hung up. Even before, Deonggeori was somewhat helpful, but after growing up, I wondered what I would do without Samyukshippal—he was that helpful. I was proud of myself for making a big deal and forming an alliance with this kid.
While going to Kkotmoa’s villa, I recalled the situation when I confessed. Actually, I said he could reject me in case it was a burden, but I hoped he wouldn’t reject me. At my confession, Kkotmoa, who lowered his eyes and just quietly looked at the flowers, spoke in a barely audible voice.
‘How can I trust a coward who runs away without saying anything?’
‘I know. That’s why I’m saying you can reject me.’
‘……’
‘Answer me when you can trust me. I’ll wait without rushing you. Until then, I’ll keep confessing.’
Those words implied I wanted a positive answer. While saying with my mouth that he could reject me, it meant not to reject me but to answer when he could accept me.
And I really bought dinner every day for Kkotmoa and Samyukshippal while wasting money, and after sending Samyukshippal into the villa first every time, I confessed that I liked him. He didn’t give any particular answer, but fortunately he didn’t reject me either. If possible, I wanted the day when he could trust me to come quickly so I could hear a positive answer soon.
