My Girlfriend Is Very Good To Me [EN]: Chapter 9

Ep. 8

Saturday morning.

The day of my first date ever.

I was worried I wouldn’t be able to sleep because I was so excited, but I was so exhausted from getting beat up all day yesterday that I fell asleep quickly.

Thanks to that, I woke up early and had plenty of time to wash up as neatly as possible and get ready at my leisure.

When it comes to getting ready, there wasn’t much to do with my hair because of the school regulations, and there wasn’t much to worry about with my clothes either.

I finished with a simple pair of slacks, a thin t-shirt, and a cardigan on top. It’s early summer, and I figured we’d be walking around a lot, so I coordinated my outfit so I could take it off and carry it if I needed to.

Hee-na should be able to come out today without any problems.

[Hee-na: I’ll be there on time~]

[Han Yeon-woo: I’ll head out on time too]

[Hee-na: Yeon-woo, don’t rush too much… be careful of cars on your way. Okay?]

[Han Yeon-woo: I’m taking the subway, so it’s okay lol]

[Hee-na: Okay! See you later!]

Looking at the texts that had been going on until just now, my heart was pounding.

I need to calm this down somehow before I leave….

“……”

“…What, you got something to say?”

My mom must have been making a lot of noise going in and out of my brother’s room looking for my slacks that I couldn’t find. My older brother, who had woken up because of me, was lying down with drowsy eyes, watching me before I knew it.

“Where are you going?”

“Out.”

“It was noisy as hell since this morning.”

“Sorry~”

“Come to think of it, your friends were looking for you like crazy yesterday. What happened?”

“Those crazy bastards messaged you?”

“Yeah. They asked before you came in yesterday. I forgot.”

Those crazy bastards, seriously. Even if we’ve played a few games together and are friends, why are they messaging my brother?

Of course, I still haven’t entered that group chat.

“I think it’s just because I was meeting a friend and didn’t check my messages, so I came late.”

“Hmm…”

“Why are you reacting like that? Aren’t you going to work today?”

“I am.”

He’s my brother, but he always has such a simple reaction.

“Okay, have a good one.”

“Hey, when are you coming back?”

“I don’t know? Maybe in the evening?”

“If you haven’t eaten by 6, give me a call.”

“Why?”

“Yoon-jung wants to have dinner together.”

“My sister? No, don’t keep calling me when you two are on a date.”

“I only call you when we eat.”

“Just eat by yourselves… Anyway, I got it for now.”

Lee Yoon-jung. She’s my older brother’s girlfriend, and they’ve been dating for 4 years. She’s 6 years older than me. She’s been dating my brother since she was twenty, waited for him to finish his military service, and they’re still doing well. I think they’re really in love.

Maybe it’s because there’s a bit of an age gap between us, but she dotes on me a lot, and she sometimes calls me out of the blue when she’s on a date. Even when we meet, we either go to a PC cafe [internet cafe] or eat, one of the two.

Thinking about it like this, she seems like a pretty good person to get advice from. Should I get some dating advice from her when I have time?

“Then I’m going to sleep. Have a good time with your girlfriend.”

“Oh? You knew?”

“I didn’t know, but Yoon-jung told me yesterday. She asked if you got a girlfriend.”

Well, we don’t really text each other, so she wouldn’t know even if my profile picture changed. But how did Yoon-jung notice before my family? I think my mom and dad know, but they haven’t said anything.

“Did you see the picture?”

“Yeah, she’s pretty. Just saying this out of concern, but you’re not being deceived, are you? Watch out for Shincheonji [a controversial religious movement].”

“No, not that Shincheonji…”

“Turn off the lights when you leave.”

“Good night…”

To be honest, I thought it might be that at first, so I have nothing to say. I’m feeling a little complicated, though.

I don’t know, let’s just go and think about it.

I should arrive earlier than Hee-na and wait for her.

—

The current time is 10:30 AM.

Since the meeting time was 11:00 AM, I thought I could arrive earlier than Hee-na at this rate. I was worried about making Hee-na wait while standing, and I needed to go a little earlier to calm my nerves.

I regret not taking an anti-anxiety pill.

I was walking up the subway station stairs, feeling my heart and even my fingertips trembling.

We decided to meet in front of the fast food restaurant, so as soon as I go up, I should turn left and see the meeting place right away.

But it was very difficult to pass from the top of the stairs. Of course, it’s near a downtown area, and it’s always crowded on weekends, but it felt a little more congested than usual.

I wondered if something was going on, so I squeezed my way up and looked in the direction where the people around me were subtly glancing.

After seeing it, I thought it was understandable that people were walking slowly and giving glances.

There, next to a roadside tree, leaning slightly and looking at her phone with slightly furrowed, delicate eyebrows, as if she was a little uneasy.

There was an incredibly beautiful girl.

Asymmetrical, slightly parted bangs that reached her eyebrows and long, silky black hair that fell down.

Distinct yet delicate features on a slender face.

Light makeup that adorned her, and small earrings that sparkled slightly without being excessive.

An outfit that made anyone think, ‘She must be here for a date?’ A light beige wrap knit, a light brown wool skirt above the knees, pure white socks and dark wine-colored flats, and a shoulder bag to complete the look.

Like the people passing by, I couldn’t take my eyes off her for a moment, admiring her. She was waiting for someone, presumably for a date.

And that someone was me.

-Rub, rub

I couldn’t believe that fact, so I spaced out for a moment, then rubbed my eyes with my hands and looked again.

I thought I had realized enough that Hee-na was pretty with just those two meetings. But Hee-na, who had made up her mind and dressed up, was on a whole different level.

Her overwhelming visuals dominated this place.

Because of that, I should go right up to her, say sorry for making her wait, and start the date with a smile, but I can’t bring myself to move.

However, the gazes of some people towards ‘my girlfriend’ made me feel strangely good, but also very uncomfortable. So, I couldn’t just stand there dumbly, and I slowly approached her as if possessed.

One step.

Two steps.

As I pushed through the people and approached her, the atmosphere changed slightly.

Who would think that I’m Hee-na’s boyfriend? They’d probably see me as some thug trying to pick her up, not knowing my place.

As she slightly raised her head at the changed atmosphere around her, her eyes met mine. And, betraying the expectations of those who were subtly giving her glances, she greeted me with a very bright smile.

“Yeon-woo!”

Hee-na, who ran to me in an instant, immediately wrapped my hand with both of her hands. I got goosebumps all over my body from that very soft touch.

Hee-na’s face, which was completely different from when she was alone, was clearly felt.

“You came early?”

“I thought I came early, but I’m sorry I was later than you.”

“No~ I thought you’d be like this, so I deliberately hurried a little too.”

“Did you wait long?”

“Hmm~ Not really?”

She continued to speak, giggling at how happy she was.

“You should have contacted me. Then I would have hurried a little more.”

“Uh-uh, no. I, I wanted to wait for you.”

“You wanted to wait… why?”

For a very brief moment, her smiling face seemed to waver at my question.

“Because I believed you would definitely come. This time, not too late.”

“…Uh, you’re not subtly dissing me for being later than you, are you?”

“I’m not~ They say waiting time is also part of the date, right? Hehe, I benefited from the date time getting longer.”

“Hmph, I can’t do this. I’m coming 3 hours early for the next date.”

“That’s cheating, that’s cheating! You can’t do this anymore!”

It felt a little embarrassing to be holding hands and having such a conversation in front of the station.

Of course, I don’t think everyone is looking this way, but I felt like I was developing a bit of paranoia because of Hee-na.

Besides, I felt like we’d just be looking at each other here and wasting time, so I grabbed Hee-na’s hand and led her away.

I was originally planning to have lunch here, but I felt awkward going inside now, so I decided to look for another place.

As we naturally started walking hand in hand, I felt like my hands would get sweaty again from the pounding in my chest.

Hee-na seemed to be quietly following me as I led the way, but then she let go of my hand once and grabbed it again.

In a hand-in-hand form where all her fingers overlapped with mine.

When I looked at Hee-na with a question mark, she said firmly.

“I like holding hands like this. Because we’re dating.”

I had nothing more to say. Honestly, I liked this better too.

Stop, corners of my mouth! Stop going up!

Don’t smile like an idiot!

I don’t even expect you to be chic or anything, so don’t make a stupid face, Han Yeon-woo!!

I strongly urged myself inwardly.

First date, perfect girlfriend, holding hands.

I somehow managed to hold on to my overloaded mind. And, although I was a little embarrassed, I brought up the words that I really wanted to say.

Words that I had to say as her boyfriend, since she had dressed up so much for today.

“Oh, I forgot to say something.”

“Yeah?”

“You look really pretty today. I was surprised as soon as I came up from the subway station.”

“So pretty? Me?”

“Yeah, very.”

“Hehehe… I’m glad. I was worried a lot this morning.”

I was clearly complimenting her, but why am I more embarrassed?

Hee-na giggled a little foolishly at my compliment. Even that looked cute.

I desperately managed my expression and fixed my gaze forward. If I looked at Hee-na’s face, who was looking up at me from next to me, I felt like I would really smile like an idiot.