I Can See the Tsundere’s True Inner Thoughts

Chapter 5 – The Bus Ride Home

—–CROW—– 

It was an ordinary situation, like any other.

Heading to the bus stop to catch the bus home.

“Ah~ Today’s classes were so boring~!”

“I said this last time, but if you’re going to complain so much, why even bother going to…”

“It’s a figure of speech. Try to understand.”

Walking side-by-side with Han Seo-ah, who lived next door and had to take the same bus.

“A guy with such poor social skills. That’s why you don’t have a girlfriend.”

“…”

“Lee Si-woo, if you ever want to have a girlfriend in your life, you should listen to your noona.”

[Si-woo just needs to date me once and then marry me.]

Only Han Seo-ah’s still-visible inner thoughts continued to unsettle me.

Honestly, it was beyond bewildering; it was starting to feel burdensome.

After all, as I’ve said countless times, it was Han Seo-ah, whom I’d grown up with like a sibling almost my entire life.

Always together, always side-by-side.

But our relationship was always closer to that of rivals.

To think that this sibling-like childhood friend had actually liked me all along.

How could I not be surprised?

Anyone who wasn’t surprised would be abnormal.

Han Seo-ah, completely oblivious to my inner turmoil, continued speaking.

“Speaking of which, when will our Si-woo get a girlfriend and show her to his noona?”

“…Our birthdays are only a month apart. What’s with the ‘noona’ all of a sudden?”

“I was born before you, so I’m your noona. Anyway, stop changing the subject. Tell me.”

[But what if Si-woo actually gets a girlfriend without me knowing? Should I tell him not to date anyone right now?]

“…”

This wasn’t a split personality or anything.

How could her spoken words and inner thoughts be so different?

“…Getting a girlfriend is the problem in the first place.”

“Well, I guess that’s true.”

“Even if I did get one, why would I introduce her to you?”

“Huh? You wouldn’t introduce her to me?”

“No. Who knows what you’d say.”

“…Is that so? Heh.”

[What do I do? I think I’ve been too mean to Si-woo. What if he really gets a girlfriend secretly?]

Outwardly, she was smiling nonchalantly.

But inside, she was anxious at the thought of me secretly getting a girlfriend.

‘…Why is she cute?’

For a moment, I thought she was cute.

Wow, this had never happened before.

Me, finding the tomboyish Han Seo-ah cute.

Perhaps because of these feelings, my words were much softer than before.

“And I don’t want a girlfriend yet.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I’m busy with school. Who has time for a girlfriend? I’d rather focus on my exams.”

“…”

“…But why are you suddenly asking about my girlfriend status?”

“No reason, just curious.”

[Of course, it’s because I like you, you idiot.]

“…Pfft.”

“What’s so funny?”

I spat out the drink I was sipping onto the street because of her sudden inner thought.

Young-joo, you were wrong about the side effect being bewilderment.

Seeing a close friend’s inner thoughts is just bad for my heart.

Han Seo-ah looked at me suspiciously.

“You’re really strange today, you know.”

“…Me? I’m the same as always.”

“Don’t lie. You’re so different today.”

[I know Si-woo better than anyone. I’ve always watched him from the side.]

[He can be a bit of an idiot sometimes… but he looks cool when he’s calm.]

“…Ahem.”

Hearing unexpected praise, which the speaker herself was completely unaware of, made my face flush.

And it was from Han Seo-ah, no less.

The same Han Seo-ah, who usually showered me with nothing but criticism…

‘Get praised once after a hundred successes, get scolded once after a hundred failures.’

Whoever coined that phrase, it was well-made.

Hearing praise from Han Seo-ah, who always criticized me, felt much better than being praised by anyone else.

“Something’s definitely strange… but I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

“Han Seo-ah, we call that ‘nothing being wrong.'”

“…Is that so?”

When Han Seo-ah nodded in agreement, the sentences that had been appearing didn’t show up this time.

It seemed her agreement was genuine, not a lie.

‘…This is like a human lie detector.’

No matter how I thought about it, I was a human lie detector.

The slight difference from a regular lie detector was that I could also discern the true feelings hidden behind lies.

Lost in thought, we arrived at the bus stop.

“Hmm, the bus is still about seven minutes away.”

“Seven minutes? What should we do while we wait?”

“I’m going to read the webtoons I missed this morning.”

“You missed your morning webtoons?”

“Yeah, I was texting you.”

“…Really?”

This time, I nodded slightly instead of answering.

It was true that I missed my webtoons because I was sending angry texts to Han Seo-ah, who had ditched me.

[Did Si-woo just say he missed his webtoons because texting me was more important?]

[What do I do? Is my face red right now?]

Han Seo-ah seemed to have completely misunderstood my nod.

“…Well, if that’s the reason, I’ll allow it.”

“Who are you to allow me to read webtoons…?”

“Hey! Be quiet and read your webtoons.”

[Sorry, Si-woo. I just want to savor this happy feeling a little longer.]

Just a few words.

Did they really bring Han Seo-ah that much joy?

I was slightly bothered by the fact that it was still probably just her misunderstanding.

But I didn’t want to ruin her small happiness.

So, I quietly took out my smartphone and started reading webtoons.

One chapter, then two.

By the time I reached the third webtoon, which had just updated, the bus arrived.

‘Ding-‘

Hearing the familiar sound of the card reader, I boarded the bus, and as usual, the seats were already taken.

Right, this is normal everyday life.

If there were empty seats, I would have been suspicious, wondering what kind of day it was.

I grabbed the bus handrail, which had become more comfortable than the seats at some point, and was about to continue reading my webtoon.

“…Lee Si-woo.”

“What?”

“Can you move over a little?”

“What are you talking ab…”

I was about to retort, but then I saw the number of people standing behind Han Seo-ah and understood.

Were there always this many people getting on here?

People got on here, but I didn’t think it was ever this crowded.

I was puzzled by this unexpected situation, but there was no reason not to move.

“Come this way.”

“…Thanks.”

I handed the handrail I was holding to Han Seo-ah and grabbed the one next to it.

Feeling a little mischievous, I decided to tease her.

“You know you’re getting a comfortable ride thanks to me, right?”

“That’s why I said thank you.”

“Just a thank you?”

“Then what do you want me to do?”

“Do the dishes at my house tonight.”

“…Isn’t it a bit much to ask for dishes just for giving up my spot?”

“If you don’t like it, go back over there.”

“…You’re so petty. Fine, I’ll do the dishes.”

Han Seo-ah pouted at my threat to take back the handrail.

Ah, this is the life.

It had been so long since I won a pride contest.

Usually, I always lost to Han Seo-ah, whether it was a small argument or a big one.

Of course, I always let her win.

As the more mature person, for the person with a smaller heart than mine.

Definitely not because most of the arguments were my fault.

Trying to convince myself of my moral victory, I finally told the pouting Han Seo-ah the truth.

“I was just kidding. Did you really believe that?”

“…Sorry, for some reason, I thought you were serious.”

“You’re right. I am serious.”

“…”

“Just kidding.”

“Seriously, Lee Si-woo, one day you’re definitely going to pay for this.”

[I don’t mind doing the dishes.]

[And right now, I want to do dishes with Si-woo for the rest of my life more than just tonight.]

“…Cough!”

“?”

Once again, Han Seo-ah’s sudden confession made me cough.

How could she think such things without any change in expression?

Wasn’t this a talent in itself?

The talent to perfectly hide one’s feelings from others.

I wish I had a similar talent.

If I did, I could hide my racing heartbeat after reading those sentences.

But unfortunately, I didn’t have such a talent.

All I could do was take slow, deep breaths, so Han Seo-ah, pressed close to me because of the increasingly crowded bus, wouldn’t hear my heart pounding.

—–CROW—– 

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