I always wondered about this issue while reading, but this chapter really drove it home to me.
What did Bomi find in the MC to begin with, that she could not find in her athlete buddy? The chapter even closed up with her smirking while thinking: "oh, he is so dependable."
...Even though the MC relied on the athlete's capabilities more than once, the MC's dependable? And lo' and behold, it was the athlete that came to the girl's rescue. I'm not sure what the author is going for, but it looks like it is intentionally written to be confusing about this matter. What would a hot woman, with a hot chad of a "male childhood friend", be looking in a shrimp that can barely look at her in the eyes?
...Well, I dunno. This is a Korean story, and hamfisting in drama in w/e form is a must. So I guess it makes sense, but this has to be the first time I seen a Korean be """subtle""" about it.
P.S: I can only explain the girl's interest in the MC, is if she truly sees the athlete as a brother (and vice-versa as a sister), and so she wants a projection of her "brother", in an other person. Sexual dynamics 101 sort of bullocks.