Married For Now-Chapter 50: SPECIAL TREATMENT

THE WEBTOON Reading Club’s personal clubroom was cozy and spacious.

It had a pretty big working station where at least ten people could work on their laptops, computer tablets, or whatever one would need to draw.

But the lounge area was the best.

It had a long table for meetings and stuff.

And I’m not talking about that when I said the lounge area is the best.

Sohee was talking about the really huge sofa with matching accent chairs, the big refrigerator full of food and drinks, and the pantry full of tasty snacks.

There was even a big projector on the wall.

It’s perfect for movie nights.

"Are all college clubs like this one?"

Sohee only realized that he said that out loud when Cho Euntak, who was sitting next to him on the comfy sofa, whispered.

"There are a few clubs in our university known for being this, uh, generous."

"Let me guess. Is it because of Hong Sera?"

Cho Euntak nodded. "Yes, Hyung. It’s a well-known fact that this clubroom and everything in it have been upgraded ever since Sera Noona joined the club."

"Oh, I see."

Sohee stopped asking questions because it was starting to look like they were talking behind Hong Sera’s back.

And Hong Sera was in the same room.

To be precise, Hong Sera was having a meeting with Han Raehyun and a guy named ’Jin Minki.’

Sera was giving us a tour here when Raehyun and that Jin Minki arrived.

"Sera-ya, Minki-ya, I’ve read the manuscripts that you sent to me," Han Raehyun said in a serious voice while holding two envelopes in his hands. "And I’ve made a decision."

Oh, right.

Sohee wondered if he and Cho Euntak should really be there since it seemed an important meeting.

But before he could excuse himself, Han Raehyun opened his mouth again.

"Both scripts are good, but I like Jin Minki’s script more," Han Raehyun said, and then he looked at Hong Sera with an apologetic look on his face. "I’m sorry, babe."

Hong Sera smiled and nodded. "It’s alright, babe."

Aw.

Sohee could tell that Hong Sera wasn’t fine, though.

"I’m sorry, Sera-ya," Jin Minki said in a calm yet slightly apologetic voice. "I just really thought Raehyun’s art style would fit my story, so I asked him to join the contest with me. I didn’t know that you also planned to enter this year’s competition again."

"It’s fine," Hong Sera said, obviously forcing herself to smile. "I also know that Raehyun’s art style suits your story more than it would suit my story."

"Sera-ya, the registration starts next week. You still have time to look for an artist to work with," Han Raehyun said as if to console Hong Sera. "I’m sure someone else will be interested in your manuscript."

Aigoo.

Sohee felt bad while watching Hong Sera smile and nod while being consoled by Han Raehyun and Jin Minki.

But he knew that being comforted like that would only make anyone feel worse.

I know because I’ve been through that before.

While Sohee was silently sympathizing with Hong Sera, he felt someone’s gaze on him.

And then he met Jin Minki’s disapproving eyes.

Why is that kid looking at me like that?

Sohee raised an eyebrow, but Jin Minki just avoided his gaze.

Why is that kid having a one-sided beef with me?

***

A CONCEPT café.

Sohee found himself in a concept café called ’Unreal’ with Hong Sera and Cho Euntak.

That place was social media famous for its unique design.

Inside the café, walls, counters, furniture, and even the utensils were crafted to look like two-dimensional drawings that had come to life.

Even the whole cheesecake that the three of them ordered looked like a 2D dessert.

Of course, that was the same for the cups used for their latte.

Hazelnut latte for Sohee, white caffé mocha for Cho Euntak, and matcha latte for Hong Sera.

We chose different drinks, but we all agreed on the cheesecake.

"I can tell that you’re trying to cheer me up, Sohee Oppa, Euntak-ah," Hong Sera said, and she looked really touched. "Thank you."

"I-It’s alright, Noona," Cho Euntak said shyly. Or maybe the kid was mesmerized by Hong Sera’s pitiful but very beautiful face. "Noona, I know that you’re from the English Literature Department. But I didn’t know you write stories."

"Ah, it’s just a silly hobby of mine," Hong Sera said, smiling as if she was trying to downplay it. "So, I can’t really blame my boyfriend if he finds Jin Minki’s manuscript better than mine. Jin Minki is from the Korean Literature Department, so his taste for literature is really refined unlike mine. And the story he comes up with is really suitable to Raehyun’s art style unlike mine..."

She trailed off as if she just realized that she said "unlike mine" again and again.

"I’m sorry," Hong Sera said, sighing. "I’m bitter and it’s showing. Worse, I pretended I was fine earlier because I didn’t want to make Raehyun and Jin Minki feel bad. So, now, I’m venting to you."

"Sera-ya, if I were in your shoes, I would have been bitter, too," Sohee said after taking a sip of his hazelnut latte. "And we totally understand why you couldn’t show your true feelings earlier."

Cho Euntak nodded in agreement.

"Sohee Oppa, Euntak-ah, I’m such a loser," Hong Sera said, sighing. "Raehyun is my boyfriend, but that doesn’t mean he has to take my side all the time. He also has no obligation to work with me just because we’re together. You know, Raehyun is really serious about being a webtoon artist. He’s good at drawing, but he’s still learning how to write a decent story. So, he’ll often ask for Jin Minki’s help since the two of them enjoy the same genre. This isn’t the first time that the two of them will be working on a short story. Even so, I still feel jealous. I also want my boyfriend to draw my short story. That’s why I worked hard to write this script." frёewebnoѵēl.com

She then touched the envelope on the table, gently running her fingers over the seal.

It’s the manuscript that Han Raehyun rejected.

"But I’m a romance girlie, so I chose the romance genre even though I know Raehyun doesn’t like it," Hong Sera said, sighing. "But maybe I should have chosen a different genre."

Right.

The webtoon-making contest had a theme: Longing.

Any genre was fine as long as the story had ’longing’ as a theme.

"But even if I chose a different genre, I’m sure Raehyun would still choose Jin Minki’s script," Hong Sera said, sighing. "I know that Raehyun should choose the script he wants to work with, but why do I feel this way? I hate the bitterness in my heart. It makes me feel like a bad person."

"It’s normal, Sera-ya," Sohee said, and he was just stating a fact. "Han Raehyun is your boyfriend, so it’s natural that you want to receive special treatment for him."

Hong Sera looked surprised as if it was the first time the thought crossed her mind.

And then she fell silent.

Does Sera not consistently receive special treatment from her boyfriend?

"Sera-ya, can I read your script?" Sohee asked carefully, changing the topic. "I like the romance genre, too."

"Really, Oppa?"

"Yes. You can check my NaviToon account history— most of the webcomics series I read are under the romance genre."

Now that Sohee thought about it, NaviToon— a platform for Korean webcomics— was owned by Navi Group.

The conglomerate that Lim Jinwook’s family owns.

"Me, too, Noona," Cho Euntak said. The kid still sounded shy, but it looked like he was more enthusiastic than shy this time. "I also read webcomics under the romance genre. But not really for the story. I just think that most romance webcomics, especially if it’s fluff, have pretty aesthetics. I live for pretty colors and backgrounds."

Hong Sera’s face beamed. "Comrades!"

Sohee and Cho Euntak smiled and nodded.

Yep, we’re comrades now.

Long live the romance genre.

Anyways, Hong Sera finally let Sohee and Cho Euntak read her manuscript.

It was actually more of a storyboard.

Hong Sera’s manuscript was titled ’Gacha Girl.’

The story was actually super cute.

It’s about a girl who literally spends her lifespan on gacha, desperate to pull her favorite "boyfriend" in the game that she’s obsessed with.

Oho?

The story started shallow, but the plot twist was actually surprising.

Moreover...

"It’s only three Chapters, but I felt so attached to our gacha girl, Noona," Cho Euntak said in a cracked voice. "The ending hurts."

Yep, Sohee had to agree with Cho Euntak.

The ending hurts so good.

Hong Sera handed a tissue pack to Cho Euntak, and then she turned to Sohee with a surprised look on his face. "Oppa, you’re crying?"

Oops.

Sohee touched his cheeks, and he was surprised when his fingers got wet.

Oh, I’m crying.

He couldn’t help it, though.

"Sera-ya, I really loved your short story," Sohee said while wiping his tears with the tissue that Cho Euntak handed to him frantically. "I’m not a good artist, and my art style is on the cute and fluffy side. But, if you’re okay with it, can I be the artist for this masterpiece?"

Hong Sera looked surprised at first, and then she burst out crying. "Thank you, Oppa. I really, really want my short story to be a webcomics. But since Raehyun rejected it, I thought no one else would want it."

Sohee handed the tissue pack back to its owner— Hong Sera. "I’m sure other artists who have the same taste would like your masterpiece, too."

"I agree with Sohee Hyung," Cho Euntak said while nodding enthusiastically. "Noona, can I help? I envision the Gacha Girl’s world as vibrant, colorful, and very aesthetically pleasing. I’d like to paint the backgrounds, if that’s okay with Sera Noona and Sohee Hyung."

Sohee patted Cho Euntak’s back. "Thank you for offering, Euntak-ah. I actually suck at drawing backgrounds, and I don’t think 3D backgrounds would suit the story. To be honest, I imagine the story to have the ’watercolor’ aesthetic."

Hong Sera and Cho Euntak nodded enthusiastically.

Sohee smiled, and then he burst out laughing when he realized that the three of them just cried— and everyone in the café was probably talking behind their backs. "We should call our group ’Crybabies’ or something."

***

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