Chapter 26: Flirt Traps Everywhere
He sounded triumphant.
"I already saved my number in your phone. Didn't expect you to be this sweet to me."
Then he laughed again. Ugh, kids. What a headache.
"What do you want? I'm busy."
He finally stopped laughing and put on a more formal tone.
"My friends saw you on TV during the competition. They really want to meet you. We're going to karaoke tonight. Wanna come?"
In my mind, I saw an endless field of blooming flowers. Karaoke? That was something I could never say no to. I agreed without hesitation.
"Okay, give me the address. I'll bring a friend."
He gave me the details and hung up. I invited Duyên and Vy, but Duyên refused. She was disciplined and hardworking—she wouldn't go out until she finished her studies. Plus, she didn't want to ruin her image in front of Mr Aunt.
When Vy and I arrived at the karaoke bar, the boys were already waiting. Their faces practically glowed. We sat down and picked our songs. I chose a bunch of emotional ballads—songs about heartbreak, unrequited love, and waiting. Vy, on the other hand, picked dance music. So the night alternated—one slow, emotional song from me, followed by a high-energy dance track from Vy.
I sang so soulfully that the boys sat in awe, while Vy's dancing left them gaping. After about ten songs, we started feeling awkward. Up until now, it had just been the two of us performing while the boys sat there like an audience, occasionally clinking beer glasses.
For a bunch of kids, they were surprisingly well-mannered—way more polite than the guys in my class. I smiled and said,
"Come on, you guys sing too. Don't just sit there."
The Gold Medalist came closer and said,
"Let's do a duet."
Uh… but what song? There weren't any love duets for siblings! I hadn't even agreed yet when he handed a note to the staff.
I stared at the screen in shock—A Round Earth.
It didn't have to match my mood. It didn't have to be relatable. It was just singing, right? So I took the mic and sang my heart out.
This kid had an incredible voice. His tone blended with mine, filling the room with emotion. We sounded exactly like a couple. But whatever—it wasn't real, so who cared?
"The earth keeps spinning quietly,
We keep drifting apart silently.
Not because we don't match,
But because of all our mistakes.
Do you love me?"
— "I love you. Do you love me?"
— "Yes, I love you."
That was it—I couldn't keep singing anymore. So cheesy!
If this kid were even a year older, I might have tolerated it. But this? No way. I would rather duet with Mr Aunt or That Handsome Butt—that would have been easier to accept. I put the mic down immediately.
"Next song, please. That was way too sappy."
The Gold Medalist put his mic down too and burst out laughing. Then he leaned in close and whispered in my ear,
"How about you be my girlfriend for real?"
Did I hear that right?
This was the first time I had ever been "confessed to"… and it happened in a noisy karaoke bar. And his tone was so casual—half-serious, half-joking.
I immediately put on my wise older sister face and lectured him.
"At your age, I was busy studying for university entrance exams."
He looked genuinely surprised.
"Oh? You don't know? I got direct admission into your school's honors program—even though I haven't even taken my graduation exams yet."
What?!
Was my university's admission standard really that low?
I tried to act indifferent.
"And why would I need to know that?"
He saw my obvious jealousy and laughed out loud.
When the dorm curfew was near, Vy and I left first. The Gold Medalist offered to take me home, but I declined.
At the dorm entrance, Vy suddenly asked,
"Are you two having a cold war?"
I blinked. Was she talking about me and Duyên?
It was true—we had been growing distant lately, and it made me uncomfortable. But I had no idea how to fix it.
Vy's clear eyes held a faint sadness.
"You two are so dumb. All this over a guy? I don't even know who's right or wrong, so I can't say anything."
I stood there in silence.
Out of nowhere, I felt a deep longing—for that quiet smile in the night, for that lonely silhouette.
Hoàng Kim Chung…
That night, I thought a lot.
The only right thing to do was to prove to Duyên that there was nothing between me and Mr Aunt. But was there?
Why did I always look forward to Mr Aunt's lectures?
Why did I sometimes stare at my laptop screen and imagine Mr Aunt's focused expression?
Why did seeing Mr Aunt's online status make me feel so warm?
Why?
I wasn't noble, but I knew one thing—no matter what I felt for Mr Aunt, I had come after Duyên.
And if Duyên loved Mr Aunt so much and still wasn't reciprocated, then what was I to Mr Aunt?
I didn't have a boyfriend yet, and I wasn't sure if I ever would.
But at the very least, I could keep my best friend.
Which meant I had no choice.
I would have to use That Handsome Butt one more time.
I just hoped my friendship could go back to the way it was.