Chapter 15. What Does It Mean to Be Childhood Friends?

“All the tteokbokki you mooched off me would probably add up to 100,000 won.”

“Gasp. Did I really eat that much?”

“Back then, every time you stole a bite, I really wanted to flick your forehead… Uh.”

“No, not me. If I ate 100,000 won’s worth, then that means you ate even more, doesn’t it?”

“…That’s true.”

Now that he thought about it, she was right.

Why had they spent so much money on something that was just spicy and sweet?

Thinking about it now, it felt like a waste.

‘But it was delicious, so whatever.’

The young hyunwoo had been satisfied.

“I can just pay it all back later. The tteokbokki you treated me to, the rent I’m freeloading off of.”

“You don’t really have to pay back the rent, though.”

“But I do have to pay for the tteokbokki?”

“Of course.”

“Isn’t it usually the other way around?”

Thanks to that, he had been able to stay with Yoo Chaea until now.

Munch munch.

‘It still tastes good, though.’

The tteokbokki they had that day tasted exceptionally sweet.

On their way home after wrapping up what felt more like a nostalgia trip than a date.

“It’s already dark.”

“Well, we did go out pretty late.”

The streets were swallowed by darkness.

Only when they passed under the streetlights did their clasped hands briefly appear in the glow.

The way home was quite long.

Their slow pace was to blame.

Since Hyunwoo had to support Chaea as they walked, it took even longer.

“Today was really fun.”

“That’s a relief. How’s your memory?”

“Some things are coming back, some aren’t… I’m still not sure.”

“Don’t rush it. You can take your time remembering.”

They strolled along, sharing bits and pieces of their day.

“Are we going out again next week?”

“Probably. Once midterms hit, we won’t have any time.”

“Ah, midterms….”

Only then did Chaea remember the thing she had completely forgotten about.

“Will I be able to do well?”

“You always say everything comes back to you once you see the questions.”

“That’s true.”

When she tried to recall concepts on her own, her mind remained blank.

Yet strangely, once she saw the problems, she solved them with ease.

Still, she couldn’t help but worry.

‘What if we end up at different universities?’

It wasn’t about her grades—it was the fear of not being able to go to the same school as Hyunwoo.

Noticing the slight change in her expression, Hyunwoo spoke in his usual indifferent tone.

“You’re smart. You’ll be fine. You even did great at the escape room earlier.”

“Hyunwoo….”

Chaea’s lips curled into a wide grin.

A pure, straightforward compliment—something he rarely gave—completely melted her.

“Why are you being so nice today?”

“What did I even do?”

“Hehe….”

Chaea took a step closer to him.

“Isn’t this a bit too close?”

And yet, Hyunwoo didn’t pull away.

Like a big dog that growled but didn’t resist when petted.

As Chaea wondered why he was acting this way today…

‘Is it because people said we looked like a couple?’

That thought naturally came to her.

Today had been full of misunderstandings.

The escape room staff.

The lady at the snack shop.

Everyone seemed to assume she and Hyunwoo were dating.

“…Well, we are dressed like a couple.”

“Gasp.”

She finally realized it.

They had unknowingly matched their outfits today.

“Huh? But.”

A question immediately followed.

“Is it okay if people think we’re a couple?”

“What?”

“You used to hate it when people assumed we were dating. You’d get all serious and deny it whenever our friends asked.”

“I never hated it. And I didn’t get all serious… Wait, did I? Anyway, back then, we really weren’t a couple….”

As she watched Hyunwoo, uncharacteristically rambling, a certain conversation with Enubi resurfaced in her mind.

— If hyunwoo confessed first and asked you out, would you still want to stay just friends?

A question that shattered the assumption that she and Hyunwoo had to remain childhood friends.

Back then, the idea had overloaded her brain.

But now, she could take her time thinking about it.

What if she and Hyunwoo started dating?

‘What do couples even do?’

They go to cafes together, watch movies.

Visit amusement parks, go shopping.

Take walks or play games together….

‘Wait, we already do all of that.’

The more she thought about it, the weirder it seemed.

They did all those things just because they were childhood friends.

So what made it different from being a couple?

Deep in thought, she suddenly realized they had reached her house.

“Hmmm….”

Chaea stood still, letting out a soft hum.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going inside?”

Standing frozen at the door, Hyunwoo couldn’t help but be confused.

“Hyunwoo.”

“What is it now?”

Chaea lifted her gaze, eyes filled with seriousness.

“What does it mean to be childhood friends?”

She threw out the question she just couldn’t answer on her own.