===

Han Seo was at the convenience store, buying something to drink in order to relieve herself from the tension of not having and not knowing any juniors. Han Seo got herself a Gatorade when she saw her senior.

“Han Seo.” She called. “Hey you!"

“Oh, hello, Ji Min-sunbaenim.” Han Seo greeted but she wondered of Ji Min’s look. “Yes, Ji Min-sunbaenim?” She asked.

“I’ve been looking all over for you at the university.” Ji Min huffed.

“Why?” Han Seo asked.

“Our department head has offered SK Telecom as sponsors for a…um…how do I say this…for a social experiment.” Ji Min said.

“Okay…so…why were you looking for me?” Han Seo asked.

“Being the first placer on your batch for consecutive years, you were assigned by our head to participate in this experiment.” Ji Min said as she showed a big box. “It’s like a promo in getting juniors.”

“Why would I need getting juniors in a promo?” Han Seo asked again.

“Come on, Han Seo. You’ve been dealing with the thought of not knowing any juniors.” Ji Min chuckled. “And by the looks of your face, I think you’ll have a need for this.”

Han Seo looked at the box. “I’ll be interacting with random juniors?"

Ji Min nods but Han Seo just chuckled. “That’s not true.” She defended. “I know a lot of juniors! I know lots of female juniors too.”

“Yeah, you do.” Ji Min said sarcastically as she gave the box to Han Seo. “Here. You can’t decline. It’s the department head’s orders.”

Han Seo sighed and accepted the box. She watches her senior leave and she went to a vacant table. She took a sip of her energy drink as she opened the big box.

Gx9 Center’s Junior Selection Cards

In Association with SK Telecom and Seoul Women’s University, we give you these cards for you have been selected as a participant of this promo for this year. In order to start with the promo, follow the steps enlisted in each card. Each card has a female student with her distinct characteristics. Pick one to start your promo.

“Wow.” Han Seo reacted, seeing little cards. “Why are there so many?” She huffed as she got a card. “Hmm…Kang Mi Na…Aegyo Junior…omo-she has the same name as my aunt…weird…” She mumbles again.

1.) Dial *009#.
2.) If you have chosen this card, type ‘9’.
3.) Press 1 to subscribe.
4.) Then, the student meets you in any time of the day.

“What? How ridiculous…yet intriguing…” Han Seo huffed. “Hmm…this is the junior that I need.”

Han Seo excitedly followed the instructions and waited. When she checked the time, she cussed and went back to the university for her class.

+++

Han Seo finished her classes for today and got to the convenience store again, buying another energy drink plus a chocolate bar. Han Seo got to her favorite spot and checked her phone about the promo.

“What the …” Han Seo mumbled while munching. “I haven’t seen a junior calling me today.” She sighs and slumped on her table.

“Sunbae~~”

Han Seo sat up and faced the right, seeing a cute girl. Han Seo had agape, seeing sparkles around the girl all while she did her aegyo at her.

“Han Seo-sunbae, you’re such a fool~ what are you doing here? You said you’d eat with me~!”

“Uh…I did?” Han Seo asked as Mi Na sat next to her.

“Hurry up and let’s go~” Mi Na holds her arm and pouts.

“Where?” Han Seo asked.

“To eat~” Mi Na answered cutely.

“Uhh…okay.” Han Seo nodded.

Mi Na showed her crescent smiles and did a heart gesture towards Han Seo. Han Seo could only smile as they got out eating somewhere.

+++

Mi Na and Han Seo went to eat at the university’s canteen. Mi Na and Han Seo ate in peace when Mi Na got some dumplings.

“Sunbae, sunbae! Try some of this too~” Mi Na does the airplane thing towards Han Seo. “Say ahh~”

Han Seo was befuddled of this and shrugged. “It’s fine.”

“Ahh, but Mi Na’s arm is hurting~~” Mi Na whines.

Han Seo didn’t have an option and ate the dumpling off of Mi Na’s chopsticks. Mi Na cheered like a little kid as Han Seo tries to gain composure to chew and swallow, finding her junior so cute.

“It tastes good, right?” Mi Na asked; her vibrant aura gleaming like a functional flashlight aimed itself right in the face.

Han Seo didn’t admit much but all Mi Na’s gestures were too cute for her own good. She laughed as she chewed and swallowed, nodding lightly as Mi Na cheered cutely again. Mi Na got some fish and lets Han Seo try.

“Oh, try this one too~” Mi Na said as she got the piece of meat. “Oh? I’m sorry, fishy~” Mi Na apologized, turning her head away as she puts the meat down.

“I’ll get it for you.” Han Seo said, getting her own chopsticks.

Mi Na was whining. Han Seo was wondering of this aegyo and she couldn’t help but be ashamed because some students were looking at them.

Nonetheless, Han Seo had a great day eating a meal with Mi Na.

And at that, she concludes that she had met the girl with the perfect aegyo, who happened to be her junior.

+++

Days passed quickly. Han Seo and Mi Na had their times in and out of the school and Han Seo couldn’t be happier, finally having a junior she calls as a good friend. Not only that, some fellow seniors were happy that the first placer had a friend, a junior friend.

Mi Na continued to be the cutest of the juniors, sticking to Han Seo’s side like bread on butter. Han Seo didn’t mind. Mi Na was helpful with their school-related works and had been great company outside of school.

Today, she and Mi Na had a date on a café.

“What do you want to eat?” Han Seo asked.

“Hmm…Mina wants a strawberry smoothie as refreshing as an angel descending from heaven, with a chocolate cake that feels as though your tongue had disappeared if you take one bite~!”

Han Seo was almost perplexed. Sure, it was poetic and all but she couldn’t help but wonder of Mi Na’s choice of words.

“I’m not sure how to order that but…I’ll be right back.” Han Seo answered and went off.

“Oh, wait a minute!” Mi Na held her hand before she could go. “If I just have the chocolate cake, what happens to the cheesecake?”

What in the holy is she saying? Han Seo thought.

“It’ll go into a sulk, like this…” Mi Na does a sad pout. “And the tiramisu, the tiramisu will cry…” Mi Na whines, almost in the brink of crying. “What should we do??”

Han Seo thought it was crazy. How could Mi Na wine and cry over some goddamn desserts? Han Seo gasped as Mi Na pasted swirly paper under her eyes, like she was a crying emoji. Han Seo watched Mi Na cry, adding a ‘what should I do?’ in the end. She was almost ashamed again as people were looking.

“Yah! What in the…did you prepare those before you left?” Han Seo asked of the paper.

Mi Na nodded. Han Seo cussed in her head. Han Seo thought her aegyo was crossing the line. But with the people looking, she had to keep her quiet.

“Alright, I’ll buy every pastry available. We’re not going to leave the cakes and tiramisu cry.” She said.

Mi Na cheered and got the paper off of her cheeks and hugged her senior tight. Han Seo just chuckled as she broke and went to the counter to order everything.

“My gosh…the aegyo is killing me…” Han Seo mumbled.

+++

Han Seo was having a meeting with her teammates for the presentation. Han Seo teamed up with Mi Rae and Jeong Mi, also with Mi Na and Mi Rae’s junior, Na Yu Jeong.

“So…who’s going to do the presentation? I did the last one…” Han Seo said. “Jeong Mi?”

“Slip me out of that, heh? It’s my birthday after all.” Jeong Mi winked.

“Mi Rae?” Han Seo called.

“Ah…my sister’s just got out of break from high school so, my family and I will visit.” Mi Rae grinned.

Han Seo could almost slap her dead- friends for making excuses, all while wondering where Mi Na was and if Mi Rae’s junior could help her. “And…Yu Jeong?”

“I have a funeral to attend, sunbaenim.” She answered.

“Huh? Who’s funeral?” Han Seo asked.

“My pet hamster’s…” Yu Jeong answered.

She got her ty excusable remarks from Mi Rae. What a motherer… Han Seo thought again.

“*sigh*…alright…” Han Seo huffed. “I’m making the presentation again…”

“Han Seo, my sunbae~~~”

The four looked towards the door and saw Mi Na rushing inside. Han Seo huffed, asking her of her late appearance.

“I’m so sorry~~ Mi Na intended to get here quickly, didn’t she?” And she delivers another dose of aegyo. “But the bus was so late~~ Oh, I’m so sorry, sunbae~~” And Mi Na hits her head lightly.

“Weird.” Jeong Mi mumbled quietly to Mi Rae.

“How could the great Choi Han Seo get an annoying junior like her, sunbae?” Yu Jeong asked Mi Rae.

“It’s a promo. It’ll be gone for a month.” Mi Rae whispered back.

“Wait, what are you guys up to?” Mi Na asked, sitting next to Han Seo.

“Ah…everyone said they won’t be able to make the presentation because they’re busy.” Han Seo answered.

“Hmm?” Mi Na hummed, crossing her arms. “Who is it? Who is it?!!” Mi Na yells like an angry kid. “Who’s been harassing my baby Han Seo? Hurry up and show yourself! Why can’t any of you do it?! You are such bad people!”

And Mi Na continued to rant with aegyo. The three were silent and annoyed as Han Seo wondered of her sudden actions.

“I’ll teach you guys a lesson!” Mi Na raised a fist cutely then held Han Seo’s hand. “Don’t worry sunbae. Mina is great at making presentations. I’ll be sure to help you out~”

This was important. Han Seo would’ve persuaded her to make the presentation for the team but with Mi Na’s aegyo and her sincere commitment to help, she couldn’t say no.

Besides, two heads are better than one, right?

+++

Mi Na and Han Seo were in front for their presentation. Han Seo would’ve been chill for she was an expert in presenting but somehow, her butterflies in her stomach couldn’t get the best of her.

“This presentation is really important. Will we be able to do it well?” Han Seo asked.

“Don’t you believe in Mi Na right now?” Mi Na asked, pouting.

“No, no! It’s not like that.” Han Seo answered.

“Mina will get mad!” She pouted, doing devil horns with her fingers.

Han Seo sighed and stopped the girl from doing aegyo in a serious matter. Han Seo managed to stop her and made a conclusion to herself. Mi Na’s aegyo had reached extremes.

“Right, Team 3.” The professor calls.

“Okay! Good morning, everyone. Team 3 will be presenting their talk on economic backgrounds.”

Everyone applauded and was expecting Han Seo’s presentation to go well due to her reputation in the university. As the PPT was displayed, everyone was laughing. Han Seo looked and gasped of the PPT.

It was all wrong. It was all cutesy and not simple and formal as expected. She saw her name shipped with Mi Na’s. And when she saw ‘Team Love’, she felt hitting herself on the whiteboard.

“Yah! What is this?!!” Han Seo flipped out.

“It’s so cute, isn’t it?” Mi Na asked with another dose of the cutesy stuff. “Team Love~ <3”

“It looks like a joke!” Han Seo huffed.

“It’s good, right?” Mi Na inches her face on Han Seo’s.

“The …how many hearts did you put in it?” Han Seo wondered.

The professor sighed and had to let them start presenting. Mi Na presented first and Han Seo was literally flipping out.

“The economic growth is going right up!” Mi Na presented, doing a superhero pose.

The students sighed and expected more from Han Seo, even the professor was so ready to put a red mark on Han Seo’s paperwork. Han Seo sighed of this.

“Yah…don’t do that. Just so you know, the state of the economy isn’t great.” Han Seo mumbled.

Mi Na pouts sadly. A statement popped out of the PPT as Mi Na cried. “Economy, please don’t get hurt~!!”

Han Seo was urging herself to face-palm and hit her head on the whiteboard. Mi Na continued to whine, hitting Han Seo like a prissy girl.

“Stop that! Please!” Han Seo said.

“Choi Han Seo!” The professor slams her book.“Just stop the presentation! You have a correct backup for that, right? Let Kang Mi Na stay outside and present the real report yourself!”

“N-Ne…I apologize, ma’am….” Han Seo nodded then faced Mi Na. “Go outside and order some tiramisu for us so that they don’t cry.”

Mi Na nodded cutely and went out. Han Seo changed the file and the professor and the students sighed in relief. Now they get to see the real presentation.

“My apologies again for a while ago…” Han Seo apologized as she presented.

+++

Han Seo huffed angrily. She managed to save her group’s asses with her backup. She knew Mi Na would do all cutesy stuff for their presentation but it was a big toll of her grades. The professor considered her second presentation and got her group-mates their decent grades.

Jeong Mi, Mi Rae, and Yu Jeong got 82, and Mi Na got 80. Han Seo aimed for a 90 but she got 85…and she was very disappointed.

She saw Mi Na eating a tiramisu and saved one for her. Han Seo sighed and joined her in eating.

“I’m sorry for a while ago, sunbae~~” Mi Na apologized cutely and Han Seo grew madder.

“It’s fine. Next time, I’m doing the presentations thanks to your little stunt.” Han Seo mumbled, eating her piece.

Mi Na nodded and ate silently with Han Seo. Once they were done, Han Seo pulled Mi Na by the stairs as they had their talk. Mi Na wondered of her sunbae’s mood and Han Seo just lost it.

“Our team got the lowest grade because you what you did! I have to report to the professor to save your asses again and I have to take a ing remedial. What am I going to do now? It’s all ruined because of you!”

“But I stayed up all night making the presentation, sweating it out!” Mi Na complained using aegyo and Han Seo lost it again.

“It’s all aegyo, every single thing!” Han Seo spat and Mi Na whined cutely again. “Aren’t you even able to speak without it?”

Mi Na cried. She tried not to without the aegyo and she was hyperventilating. Han Seo grew worried.

“Oh Mina? What’s happening?!” Han Seo flipped out as Mi Na collapsed on her arms.

Han Seo nudged her and felt her. She was cold like a corpse. Han Seo thought about her and it hit her senses. Just like the card said, without the aegyo, she gets a corpse.

“What the ! You can’t be dead, right?” Han Seo nudged her again and felt her nose.

There was little air. Han Seo huffed and carried Mi Na to the clinic.

+++

Jeong Mi, Mi Rae, and Han Kyul watch Han Seo pacing around as Mi Na was on her bed, resting.

“Yah, what happened?” Han Kyul asked her distant cousin.

“Mi Na fainted because Han Seo stopped her aegyo. She would’ve died if Han Seo didn’t send her to the clinic on time.” Jeong Mi said. “Just like in the card…”

“This is madness.” Han Seo stopped, facing them. “I almost killed a junior thanks to my venomous words.”

“Seriously, her aegyo can get in your nerves, like when we discussed about the presentation.” Mi Rae said. “I could almost punch her face. It was so annoying.”

“But that’s the thing, right?” Han Kyul asked, facing them. “Seriously, you’re just like Imonie Min Seo before.”

“What? What does Mama have to do with this?” Han Seo asked but then she got her cousin’s idea. “Could it be…could it be about my eleven aunts?”

“Bingo.” Han Kyul nodded.

“That’s right.” Han Seo had her eureka moment. “Mama had a promo from SK Telecom before, with the cards and everything. I’m facing the same predicament just like what Mama faces when she was 27 years old.”

“But the difference is that it’s school-related, not family-related.” Han Kyul said.

“Woah…” Jeong Mi and Mi Rae reacted. “Just like in Imonie Min Seo’s stories…”

“Precisely…” Han Kyul said.

“Yeah…” Han Seo nodded. “I know what I have to do…”

The three friends went out and Han Seo went to Mi Na’s aid. Mi Na was waking up and Han Seo was by her side. Mi Na yawned cutely and did a crescent smile for Han Seo.

“Sunbae~ did Mi Na faint a while ago?” She asked.

“You did.” Han Seo pats her head. “I’m sorry for stopping your aegyo. You had me worried back there.”

“I’m sorry too, sunbae~ Mi Na will try to reduce aegyo so that my Han Seo won’t worry again~” Mi Na pouts.

Han Seo just chuckled. Now that she realized her mistake, she wasn’t annoyed of Mi Na’s aegyo and she found it cute, like any person would think of.

Mi Na sat up and hugged her sunbae tight. Han Seo chuckled and hugged Mi Na back.

“Just like me and Mi Na.”

Han Seo and Mi Na looked to the door to see Min Seo and Mi Na. Little Mi Na bowed as Han Seo went to the two.

“Mama…Imonie…what are you doing here?” Han Seo asked.

“We were informed that Mi Na fainted.” Min Seo said.

“Omo-my baby! How could you faint?!” Big Mi Na went to hug Little Mi Na tight.

“Whaat?! That’s Imonie Mi Na’s daughter?!” Han Seo gasped.

“Omo-is my Han Seo-sunbae my distant cousin?” Little Mi Na asked back.

Han Seo was raising questionable looks at her mother and aunt. Min Seo and Big Mi Na sighed and they had to explain the small little world.

+++

Han Seo could only watch her mother and her aunt like they were a couple. Big Mi Na was cuddling to Min Seo as much as her daughter was cuddling to her. It made Han Seo conclude where the aegyo came from.

“Imonie, how did Mi Na get into the promo?” Han Seo asked.

“Just like in your school system of being a first placer, my baby Mi Na also ranked first from a different program. She was asked to participate in a promo in exchange for an excellent grade.” Her aunt said.

Little Mi Na looked at her and nodded, all while doing her aegyo.

“Just like you, Mi Na-ya.” Min Seo said.

“Unnie~~” Big Mi Na does aegyo to Min Seo.

“Such a small world…” Han Seo could only mumble.

+++

The parents had to say goodbye to their children. Big Mi Na went ahead to Min Seo’s car and Min Seo had to say goodbye to her daughter first.

“Take care of your distant cousin, okay?” Min Seo said. “Don’t kill the cutesy vibes. Just bear with it.”

Han Seo nodded. Min Seo waved a hand to the children and went inside her car, driving herself and Big Mi Na back home.

Han Seo and Mi Na went inside the university together. Mi Na did her aegyo, holding Han Seo’s hand tenderly.

“Sunbae~~” Mi Na coos and Han Seo looked at her.

“What is it?” Han Seo asked.

“Let’s eat tiramisu. They might sulk and cry.” Mi Na said.

Han Seo could only nod and come with Mi Na. The promo wasn’t over and Han Seo would deal cuteness every day. But she didn’t mind. She’ll bear with it, not because her mother said so, but because she cared.

For Han Seo, sometimes too much aegyo can’t kill.

===