Before dating your childhood friend, test them first chapter 17

Was he telling the truth?

It didn’t seem so.

Remembering Yejun’s expression, tone, and atmosphere from that day, Jiho found it hard to believe him now.

Moreover… Didn’t Yejun act suspiciously this morning?

He kept saying strange things, making Jiho wonder if Yejun liked him and that’s why he let him stay at his house, making cryptic remarks to provoke him.

His mind became so tangled with these thoughts that Yejun’s claim of not having anyone he liked felt unbelievable.

Despite Jiho’s doubts, Taeyun seemed to believe Yejun’s words and replied.

“Really… I thought you had someone you liked.”

“Taeyun, I’ve provided snacks, bought meals before, and more.”

“Ah, okay, okay! I get it! I shouldn’t have let you treat me.”

As Yejun began listing all the things he’d done for Taeyun, Taeyun, feeling deceived, raised his hands in surrender.

He couldn’t pretend otherwise after all he’d received from Yejun.

Taeyun mumbled complaints, then met Jiho’s eyes and cautiously asked.

“Is it okay if I introduce her to Yejun instead?”

“Huh? I mean…”

Jiho hesitated, glancing at Yejun.

Since Jiho had no intention of accepting the introduction, it didn’t matter if Yejun did.

But somehow, Yejun’s reaction bothered him.

Did he really not have anyone he liked?

If Yejun had someone he liked, he wouldn’t be arranging a date with another omega.

He wouldn’t have asked for an introduction.

So, he didn’t like Jiho? If he did, he wouldn’t request a date in front of Jiho.

“….”

Jiho felt relieved that Yejun didn’t like him, but it also left him feeling unsettled, as if he was missing something.

As Jiho delayed answering, Taeyun tilted his head, puzzled.

“Jiho?”

“Well…, yeah. I’m not interested in being introduced anyway.”

“Phew… I thought you’d changed your mind. Alright then. Let me give you her number, Yejun. Hand me your phone.”

When Jiho responded nonchalantly, Taeyun took Yejun’s phone to pass along the number.

Taeyun quickly decided to connect them, immediately passing Omega’s phone number to Yejun and listing details about her.

He mentioned that although she’s a bit tall, it should be fine since Yejun is very tall himself, and described her as kind, diligent, and a dance major…

The more Jiho listened, the more he thought this Omega sounded impressive and a good match for Yejun.

If things work out… it would be good, right?

‘Then I wouldn’t have to worry about strange suspicions. I wouldn’t have to hear any more ridiculous demands to take responsibility or marry him just because he took my first experience.’

“……”

So it was certainly fortunate…

Yet, the fact that he easily said he would meet someone else after causing all that trouble left him feeling rather annoyed.

He said it was his first experience, he said to take responsibility, he said to marry him, and now he can change his attitude so quickly?

It was a relief not to take responsibility for that mistake or to marry him. But somehow, Jiho felt like Yejun had just played with him, which didn’t sit well.

He had been awkward and uneasy for days because of that guy…

Jiho downed the remaining beer in his glass in one go.

It was certainly cold like it had just been taken out of the fridge, but it had already turned lukewarm.

His insides didn’t feel refreshed at all.

***

Beep!

Jiho scanned his card on the bus terminal and boarded the bus.

With many empty seats, Jiho sat by the window at the back and looked outside.

It hadn’t been long since midterms ended, but the cherry blossoms that had been in full bloom were now slowly falling.

Every time the wind blew, pale pink petals fluttered down from the trees.

Although the news declared the cherry blossom season over, many people were still out enjoying them.

Most were couples, though some groups of friends were also present. It must be a good season for dating.

Jiho, staring blankly out the window, turned his gaze to his phone.

Confirming that there were no important messages, he naturally opened his university community app.

While primarily used for sharing timetables and other useful information, students mostly frequented the community section.

Only students from the same university could post and read messages, and the anonymity allowed for free, unrestrained postings.

Although most were trivial, interesting posts about campus events and incidents occasionally appeared.

The cafeteria food sucks today

Someone left their umbrella on the first floor of the dorm

What happens when grapes do politics? Glucose

Is it cold enough to wear a cardigan now?

There seemed to be no major events today, just casual chatter.

‘Hmm, I guess I shouldn’t eat at the cafeteria today. ‘

Jiho thought, scrolling down, when suddenly, a stream of tearful posts caught his attention.

⤷Is there some bad news?

⤷Curious, he scrolled quickly, but then his hand stopped abruptly.

⤷CCs are forbidden! I warned you

⤷Looks like the International Business Department’s top guy is dating an Omega ㅠㅠ

⤷All Omegas are the same, they only look at appearancesㅠ

⤷If I can’t have him, I’ll break him…

“International Business Department’s top guy?”

Jiho mumbled the title of one post.

‘International Business Department’s top guy’ was a nickname for Ahn Yejun.

Among friends he was called ‘Yetto,’ but those who didn’t know him well referred to him as the top guy of the International Business Department due to his good looks.

As if possessed, Jiho clicked on the post.

[Title: Looks like the International Business Department’s top guy is dating an Omega ㅠㅠ

Today, I went to a cafe near the school

I saw him sitting alone with a super pretty Omega

They seemed to have a good atmosphere, damn it

(Comment)

Anonymous 1: Are you talking about ㅇㅇㅈ?

⤷ Anonymous (OP): Yesㅠ

Anonymous 2: I saw it tooㅇㅇ The girl is famous in the Dance Department for being pretty

⤷ Anonymous (OP): She was really pretty. At first, I thought she was a celebrity. She’s tall too.

⤷ Anonymous 3: I wondered who would take him, turns out he has high standards.

Anonymous 4: Whatㅋㅋㅋ Are you fantasizing about dating him? Gross

⤷ Anonymous (OP): It’s just that I hoped he would stay as everyone’s celebrity

⤷ Anonymous 4: Isn’t that the same?ㅋㅋ If you’re a fan, you should wish him well

⤷ Anonymous (OP): If you lack empathy, just leaveㅡㅡ Why are you being a jerk here?

Anonymous 5: Honestly, they looked good together….

Anonymous 6: I heard he was going on a blind date before, so it must have been ㅇㅈㅇ]

Reading the post and comments made it clear that the subject was Ahn Yejun.

Jiho remembered overhearing at a housewarming party that Taeyun was going to set Yejun up with an Omega, so he instantly understood what kind of blind date they were talking about.

And he even knew who the girl was.

Come to think of it, this morning, Yejun had said, “Jiho, I have an appointment today, so I’ll be late.”

Was he coming back late because of a date?

As he pondered this, they arrived at the university station. It took just ten minutes by bus, so they arrived quickly without him doing much.

Today, he arrived ten minutes earlier than his class, so Taeyun wasn’t there yet. As he sat down and set his bag down, he didn’t have the energy to do anything else.

‘Why do I feel so drained today?’

Leaning back in his seat absent-mindedly, someone lightly tapped on his desk.

“Jiho, Jiho. Why do you look so out of it?”

Looking up, he saw Taeyun tilting his head and staring at him strangely. Jiho finally snapped out of his thoughts.

“You’re here, I was just thinking about something.”

“I thought you saw a ghost.”

Taeyun joked, sitting down next to Jiho. Jiho glared at Taeyun with narrowed eyes, wondering if he wished he had seen a ghost, but Taeyun just laughed awkwardly and changed the subject.

“Hey, can I come over to your place today?”

“Why, again?”

“The last time I came, Yetto made something delicious. I want to eat and drink a bit.”

Although Taeyun liked drinking, he wasn’t usually one to drink so frequently. It seemed he was eager to taste Yejun’s cooking again.

Though Taeyun also lived alone, and Yejun’s cooking was better than most places, Jiho could understand but didn’t immediately agree.

“He said he has an appointment today. He’ll be back late.”

“Really? What a shame…”

Jiho bluntly told Taeyun to wake up from his dream, causing Taeyun to slump his shoulders in disappointment.

It seemed that the food prepared by Yejun was his main goal, as he didn’t suggest drinking together without him.

Perhaps it was because they had been talking about Yejun. A post he saw on the bus earlier came to mind.

Since Taeyun was the one who introduced Yejun to that omega, he might know something…

After pondering for a moment, Jiho subtly brought it up.

“…I saw on the anonymous board earlier that Yejun is meeting the omega you introduced him to. There was a post about them being seen together.”

“Ah, that might be true.”

Taeyun nodded, unphased by Jiho’s words, as if he knew something.

“Are they dating?”

“Didn’t he tell you?”

“Not really… I wasn’t that curious, so I didn’t ask.”

Taeyun gave Jiho a slightly awkward look, as if to say, “You didn’t know?”

Jiho didn’t even know if Yejun had gone to the blind date. Yejun hadn’t mentioned it or shown any signs.

…But if even Taeyun knows, why didn’t he tell me?

It wasn’t that Yejun had lied to him, just that he hadn’t mentioned it. They usually shared all kinds of stories because they spent so much time together.

It was a bit… strange that he didn’t mention something as big as going on a blind date or having a lover.

As Jiho furrowed his brow unconsciously, Taeyun spoke nonchalantly, as if it was no big deal.

“I heard they met about a week after I gave them each other’s contact info. The girl seemed to like him, even said she wanted to buy me a meal.”

“…Really?”

“I was worried Yejun might do something weird, but it looks like that didn’t happen. Since he didn’t cause any trouble, it seems Yejun likes her too.”

Taeyun ran his hand down his chest, relieved as if he had been a bit concerned as the matchmaker.

…So it’s true they’re dating.

Honestly, Jiho didn’t care whether Yejun came home late or had a girlfriend.

Even though they lived together and had been friends for a long time, Yejun had his own life.

As long as it didn’t affect him, it wasn’t something to be concerned about.

When they were younger, Jiho used to feel childish and upset, thinking he was losing time to play with Yejun when he had a girlfriend.

But now, he thought it was much better than misunderstanding things. It was actually good news.

However, imagining a pretty omega next to Yejun made him feel oddly choked up.

‘Why am I feeling this way? Do I still have that petty feeling of losing my friend? I’m too old for that.’

Wondering if he was the only one feeling this way, Jiho cautiously asked Taeyun.

“Hey, if your closest friend got a girlfriend, how would you feel?”

“Why are you asking something like that all of a sudden?”

“Just think about it quickly.”

Taeyun, though puzzled by the question, thought deeply as Jiho urged him.

After a moment, Taeyun furrowed his brows in apparent displeasure.

“I’d probably think, ‘Damn bastard, he’s dating?’”

“…”

…That’s not it.

But after thinking for a moment, Jiho realized it might be jealousy. He didn’t think he was desperate for a relationship, but seeing Yejun dating made him feel envious.

‘Should I date someone too…?’

Jiho thought, wrapping his hand around his nape.

Taeyun, seeming to understand why Jiho was asking, inquired, “Why, does it bother you that Yejun has a girlfriend?”

“…A bit.”

When Jiho nodded honestly, Taeyun let out a knowing smile.

“That’s why I said I’d introduce someone to you. I always thought you’d match better than him.”

“…”

“I’ll introduce you to someone good next time.”

Treating Jiho as if he was missing an opportunity, Taeyun promised to find someone for him next time.

Jiho was about to say it wasn’t necessary, but just then, the professor walked into the classroom.

Although he missed the chance to refuse, Jiho found himself thinking, ‘It wouldn’t hurt, would it?’ Given his feelings, he might subconsciously want a relationship.

‘…Yeah, if I find someone nice, I’ll try dating too. Maybe I’ve been too rigid.’

Jiho nodded, feeling an unexpected surge of emotion.