episode_0020
by admin#20
A torn photo of Hwa-young, with marks from being stabbed multiple times with sharp awls.
Cockroaches, raccoons, ants, and even strange, unidentifiable bugs.
“Wow.”
The contents were nauseating.
“Unnie Hwayoung. This is a gift!”
I felt even worse when I remembered the fan who had casually handed me a gift.
“This is really too much.”
… Even after I threw the box into a nearby trash can, I still had to struggle with the nausea that was building up for a long time.
*
Hwayoung’s next schedule is patrol.
I heard that each hero has an assigned patrol area, and they patrol along a set route.
Similar to police patrols, it seems that the heroes’ patrols themselves have a crime-prevention effect.
‘… I still feel like I’m going to throw up.’
Perhaps because I was still feeling the effects of what I had just seen, I felt uneasy even though I was driving at a mere 30 km/h.
“Huh? Honey. What’s wrong with your expression? Are you dizzy again?”
Hwayoung asks me what’s wrong, wondering if it’s showing on my face.
… How can you be so calm after just seeing the contents of that box?
“No, I just feel a little sleepy because I’m driving slowly.”
I answered her question vaguely and stared straight ahead again.
That’s because I saw the contents of the box she told me not to look at─I know, but it’s a bit much to say the truth.
however.
“… You saw that? That.”
Hwayoung speaks softly.
‘Is this person a mind reader?’
No. As far as I know, Hwayoung is a fire type power user…
“Honey, are you suspecting that I have the ability to read minds?”
Wow. It must be real.
“… Are you really a mind reader?”
“Ugh. No way. It’s written all over your face. Are you the type of person who can’t lie?”
… I have nothing to say. It’s something I’ve often heard since long ago.
Knowing that I had been caught in a lie, I decided to ask the question I had been wondering about.
“Hey, how can you look at that and be so calm?”
If that torn photo was me, I would have had a rotten expression on my face for a long time.
But it seems that was my mistake.
Hwayoung spoke to me with a slightly bitter smile.
“You’re not being so calm? I was surprised too. It’s been a long time since I received such a gift.”
for a moment.
“… Long time no see?”
“It happened a few times. Sometimes, it happens more often when I’m filming a drama with a male hero. Ugh.”
Hwayoung continued speaking with a bitter smile.
“But. I’m used to it now. … I used to cry sometimes.”
Ah, this is a secret, she says. Her expression is somewhat familiar.
Yeah, like…
“Boss. What do you think about the hero named Yoon Seol?”
“Which filming location did he beat up his junior hero, or did he get a parachute from his parents in America… . He really is a funny guy.”
… It’s like visiting the old store and seeing On Yoon-seol.
“What the heck. Honey. Don’t make that face. It’s ruining the mood.”
“It’s okay. I’m taking medicine too.”
“Well, it’s an occupational disease. If you’re feeling better, let’s go. If you’re not feeling better, let me know.”
Thinking about it that way, somehow Hwayoung’s appearance felt a little precarious.
“… Are you okay?”
The words came out of my mouth without me realizing it.
“Huh?”
Hwayoung’s voice trailed off, seeming a little flustered.
But soon he spoke again with his usual smile on his face.
“What? Are you okay? Are you worried about me?”
“If we’re being specific.”
Was that too presumptuous? Still…
“… Sometimes it’s okay to confide in someone. If it comes down to it, it’s okay for me too. Anyway, my manager’s work ends today.”
People don’t know unless you tell them.
“… .”
Hwayoung suddenly becomes silent. I feel a little uneasy at her reaction.
‘Was I being too nosy…?’
Why, aren’t there people who overdo things by making assumptions on their own? Are you talking about me?
At that moment, I thought I had said something unnecessary and was about to focus on driving again.
“… You know, honey.”
Hwayoung opens her lips with a slightly serious expression.
“Did you seduce the princess like that too?”
“Phew… !”
Sway.
The car lurched once in confusion at Hwayoung’s sudden, unexpected words.
“What are you talking about? All of a sudden.”
“Haha. Just kidding. Then, would you listen to my complaints for a moment?”
“… If it’s okay with me.”
There is a reason why so many counseling posts are posted on anonymous bulletin boards.
Because sometimes there are things you can only tell someone you have a shallow relationship with.
“… .”
After a brief silence, Hwayoung opened her mouth.
“You know, honey. Do you know why I call you princess?”
“… Aren’t you just trying to tease me?”
Hwayoung gently shakes her head from side to side.
“When I first saw Yunseol, I thought she was like a princess. Her looks and personality.”
“… .”
I looked ahead and listened to Hwayoung’s words.
“You know what? Yoon Seol never does drama shoots or photoshoots like me. The only things she does are interviews.”
Well, I usually watch TV a lot, but I’ve never seen Yunseol’s face in a drama or movie.
So when I first came here, I couldn’t recognize it properly.
“Still, that girl has a charm that draws people in. Like a princess in a fairy tale. Of course, there are many people who are jealous, but… they don’t seem to care much.”
“I got a mischievous gift and that’s why I’m like this,” she said with a bitter smile, mocking herself.
“When I stand in front of the princess, I feel like I’m obsessed with popularity… like a child who begs people to love him. That’s why I become mischievous.”
Somehow, it seemed like you were being a bit too conscious of Yoon Seol.
A slightly misplaced interest. Or perhaps a kind of admiration.
‘… At least I don’t think he hates it.’
However, there was one thing she said that needed to be corrected.
“Hey, that guy, he cares more about the antis than you think.”
“What?”
She looked at me as if she was dumbfounded by what I said.
You might be wondering what I’m talking about all of a sudden.
But I continued speaking, paying no attention to her reaction.
“Last time, I cried while drinking at our store. I thought I was a more sensitive person.”
“… .”
“And last time, when you were apologizing to me with a watermelon, you even bit my tongue. Phew.”
That was kind of funny. No, I should say it was cute.
“And, well, I admit she looks like a princess.”
Ice Princess. Honestly, it seems like a well-chosen nickname. Considering her appearance.
“… .”
Hwayoung was quietly listening to what I was saying.
Soon she said with a slight frown.
“… What do you want to say?”
What are you trying to say? It’s simple.
The Yunseol you admire is actually…
“Rather than a princess, she’s just an ordinary person. Ah. She’s not ordinary.”
She has superpowers, is pretty, has a lot of money, and is popular.
‘There are a lot of antis, though.’
Anyway, it turns out that Hwayoung isn’t the perfect fairy tale princess that she thinks she is.
“I don’t really know why Hwayoung is so obsessed with popularity, but… . You don’t really have to compare her to Yoonseol.”
“… .”
This is a bit of lip service.
“At least in my opinion, Hwayoung is a great person.”
To be honest, the way Hwayoung showed me was more like a mischievous child than a cool person…
‘But I can’t tell the truth in this situation.’
The atmosphere is something you have to read.
“… .”
After hearing what I said, Hwayoung lowered her head as if lost in thought.
Of course, he’s not crying. Rather, it looks like he’s holding back a little laughter.
‘Was it too much?’
That’s when I was watching her closely.
“Phew.”
Hwayoung finally couldn’t hold back her laughter and smiled brightly as she spoke to me.
“Honey. Do you just want to keep being my manager?”
“I don’t like it.”
“Why? I’ll do it well.”
She seemed a little disappointed, but her mouth was watering.
I spoke firmly to her.
“I think I’m more suited to being a cocktail bar manager than a former manager.”
If I do one more fan signing event, I might collapse.
“That’s too bad.”
Hwayoung looks a little gloomy.
After a moment of silence, she looked out the passenger side window and said,
“Do you like me?”
Surely you’re not asking me if I like you in a rational sense?
‘no way.’
Since it didn’t seem like he was asking seriously, I answered him half-jokingly.
“… I hate people who do background checks on me.”
“Huh. Then what style do you like?”
“An honest person.”
“That’s too bad,” she muttered, and then she asked me a question indirectly.
“Later, after work, when I go to your cocktail bar, will you serve me?”
I answered.
“Of course. If you come as a guest.”
If you are a guest, not a scout, you are welcome.
***
After finishing all the schedules.
Me, exhausted, and Hwayoung, who somehow looks more energetic.
We, with contrasting appearances, arrived in front of the building where Hwayoung’s office was located.
“Sorry, honey. I made you work overtime.”
“Okay, it’s okay. About an hour.”
… Considering the amount of money I receive, I feel like even if I worked twice as much as I do now, it wouldn’t be enough.
‘Well, I don’t think I would do it again if I were asked to.’
Being a manager doesn’t suit my personality.
“Honey. Where are you going now?”
“Hmm. I guess I’ll just stop by the store for a bit and then go home?”
“Should I bring it to you?”
“It’s okay. It’ll be quick if you take the subway.”
Chae Hwa-young lowered the corners of her lips as if she was slightly disappointed by what I said.
“Really? Hmm.”
Step step step
Hwayoung is getting closer to me.
Finally, when they came close enough that their breaths could touch each other, Hwayoung’s footsteps stopped.
“… .”
Her face somehow looked redder than usual.
Just when he was about to ask me if I had anything to say,
“… See you next time. Mr. Dohan.”
She said softly and immediately turned around and headed towards the office.
‘what….’
I stared blankly at her back for a moment, then soon started walking in the opposite direction from her.
‘…It’s pretty.’
I thought that the sunset that dyed the sky somehow resembled a flower.
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