My Girlfriend Is Very Good to Me

She has a compelling appeal that even my 4-year-old cousin would notice.

Yet, it was impressive how she consistently wore a faint smile without any significant change in expression.

Looking at her, you'd think she wasn't entirely sincere. Or perhaps, on the contrary, she might be genuinely heartfelt.

Not seeing me for two or three days during the week seemed to have been a substantial blow to Heena.

"Just think it'd be better that way. Don't stress over it, Yeonho."

If she had plainly said, "Ah, I want to see you on Tuesday, Friday, and even Sunday!" I would have laughed it off.

It hasn’t been long since we started dating, is it strange that we're trying to spend time by ourselves?

Isn't seeing each other daily a bit much? Not that I dislike it.

"This part uses this formula..."

Anyway, after saying that, Heena began explaining the problem again. I felt it wasn't the time to dig deeper.

So, I quickly regained my composure and focused on studying.

While pondering over the problems I didn't know or found confusing,

"Uh, the solution is right, but the answer is wrong. Want to check again?"

Skimming through with her eyes and immediately spotting the mistake, it became evident just how sharp Heena's intellect is.

Having such a smart girlfriend dedicating her time to help me study, I decided to focus on the problems at hand and leave the trivial matters for later.

There's a belief that trying to tackle many subjects in a short period can be daunting and sap one's motivation to study. So, based on that, I devoted the entire day to studying math, and it felt productive.

If I continue this way and take the test, maybe I can increase my math score by at least 20 points from before. My math grades weren't the best, but Heena's explanations resonate clearly with me.

To think I'd feel this way from the first day. Is this why high-priced tutoring is so popular?

Of course, despite my newfound confidence, my actual test scores might not be as high as I hope. But isn't the growth in confidence important?

And so, I concentrated solely on studying for nearly four hours. It's the first time I've ever focused this long on studying.

It's all thanks to Heena. Not only does she teach diligently, but whenever my concentration wavered, the realization that she's doing so much for me and that I should at least learn properly kept me going.

With that thought, when I considered taking a break and wrapping up, I remembered Heena's overt appeal from earlier.

"Heena?"

"Hmm?"

She, who was still focused in her reference book, promptly closed it and looked at me.

"Should we meet and study on Sunday too?"

It's my compromise. It's not that I dislike meeting on Tuesdays and Fridays, but I'm sure I'll be too exhausted. I might want to play games or just relax.

Taking a day or two off from studying with Heena wouldn't be an issue, but we can't include gaming in our break.

However, upon seeing my reaction, Heena's eyes drooped slightly, perhaps wondering if her words caused it.

"Sorry... did I inconvenience you?"

"No, not at all. It's not that you're a bother. I want to do that too."

"But isn't it tough to study for an entire week? Don't mind what I said earlier, I was just being a bit impulsive."

"How can I ignore it when my girlfriend is being impulsive?"

Despite my words, her expression remained unchanged, making my heart tighten.

Having such a beautiful girlfriend can be problematic. The guilt feels amplified!

"Besides, seeing you, Heena, is like a break for me. Isn't relaxation important?"

"Really?"

"Absolutely. Just one look at your face washes away all my fatigue."

I truly meant it. People are naturally drawn to beauty, and seeing beautiful things tends to soothe the soul. In that sense, Heena is like a universal remedy.

"Even so..."

"It's fine. I just want to be with you."

At my words, a gentle smile tugged at her lips.

"Hehe, do you?"

As she said this, the previously downturned corners of her eyes lifted, and they twinkled playfully. With a hint of mischief, she locked eyes with me.

The sudden change in her expression had me puzzled for a moment, but before I could react, she continued.

"Then... let's just relax on Sunday. Instead,"

As she spoke, she subtly leaned closer, bringing her face near mine.

"After the exams, during the summer vacation..."

Her earlier subdued demeanor had completely disappeared.

"Let's head to the beach, just the two of us."

There was a fierce determination in her gaze, reminiscent of a lioness.

"Just for a night."

---

Raei  Translations

---

It was nearing 10 o'clock, and as I walked to the bus stop holding Heena's hand, my mind was a whirl of thoughts.

Going to the beach? That's plausible. To be honest, I'd been contemplating it too. Instead of just wandering around our neighborhood, why not visit an amusement park, hit the beach in the summer, or go skiing in the winter?

I understand the idea of just the two of us going. While I considered going with friends for a moment, there was a part of me that wanted to enjoy some sweet moments alone with her.

But...

An overnight trip?

That was beyond what I had imagined. In my vague plans, any trip would start early in the morning and end the same day.

Do I like the idea? Of course. What guy wouldn't want to spend a day at the beach with his girlfriend and then spend the night?

As for money, I have some. I'm not entirely sure how much an overnight trip would cost, and there's a chance I might come up a bit short. But one way or another, I can cover it.

So, what's making me so conflicted?

It's mostly due to my limited experience in relationships and certain conservative sentiments.

I know Heena likes me a lot, and I do like her. But in reality, we haven't been together for that long.

Sure, some physical intimacy can come early, but is it alright for us to spend a whole night together so soon? What exactly does Heena expect from me? Am I rushing things?

These thoughts consumed me.

"Yeonho?"

If opportunity knocks, I wouldn't reject it. But still, a part of me wonders if it's okay.

"Yeonho?"

"Huh? What?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"Just... where we could go to the beach."

I couldn't straightforwardly share my jumbled thoughts.

Yet, sensing my hesitation, Heena probed, "Are you sure?"

"...I, Yeonho, have never told a lie in my life."

She laughed, "What will you do if you get caught lying in the future?"

"I'll grant you a wish."

"...Really?"

Can she not suddenly ask me so seriously? It was just a light-hearted comment, but now it's intimidating!

Well, I didn't put much thought into it. But it's not like I'd mind making a genuine bet. I trust Heena not to ask for something absurd.

"If you can prove I lied."

"Alright, I'll remember that."

Seeing my girlfriend nodding so seriously made me wonder if I'd made a mistake.

After a thoughtful pause, she looked at me with a smile and said, "Did I push things too fast?"

I was momentarily speechless, caught off guard by her question that seemed to hit right at the heart of my worries.

Blaming myself for being too obvious, I internally reprimanded myself.

I appreciate my girlfriend who always tries to put me first. I can't exactly thank her enough, yet she still has questions like these.

As I stopped in my tracks, she said, "Don't overthink things."

"Overthink what?"

"My feelings."

With unwavering confidence, she confessed again, "You might think this is all happening too quickly, but I just like you a lot."

"I feel the same way, but..."

"I know. But I'm sure I like you even more."

We both silently acknowledged each other's feelings. I've known for a while that her feelings for me run deep.

"I don't measure emotions, and I don't want to. That's why I'm always honest. I'll keep expressing my feelings without hiding them. If you're okay with that, I'd appreciate it if you just accepted them purely. That's all I ask."

She took a step towards me and stared deep into my eyes. With a steady gaze, she held my hand close to her heart, enclosing it gently with both hands.

"This might be presumptuous, but as for those things you might be imagining, I'll leave them up to you. You know... those things."

She must have noticed my confusion.

Despite being noticeably flustered by her bold statement, she seemed unfazed, saying, "One day, when you feel the time is right, I will never say no."

"So, will you consider the beach trip I suggested? All I want is to spend the entire day with you."

Hearing her straightforward confession, all I could do was nod in agreement.

"Okay."

What more could I say?

I still had concerns about our relationship, and various complicated thoughts remained, albeit in a different context. But at least I was certain about her feelings.

So maybe, just as she said, I shouldn't overthink things and should just go with the flow, aligning my actions with my girlfriend's pace.

But one thing kept circling my mind as Heena and I walked side by side towards the bus stop.

Was she implying what I thought she was implying...?