episode_0056

“It’s hot…”

Perhaps due to my low body temperature, the weather felt even hotter.

Struggling through the heat, we finally arrived at our meeting place, where Junhyun and Hyeeun greeted us with bright smiles.

“I saw the grumbler yesterday, and it’s been a while for Jiyoo, right? How have you been?”

“Just hanging in there. Adjusting to things, been busy working.”

“Haha… Both of you working at the same bar? Isn’t that an office romance?”

“Haha, if we were dating, it would be a different kind of office romance.”

After lightly brushing off the angel’s mischievous joke, I waved to the devil who was diligently fulfilling their quota of misdeeds for the day.

“You seem quite busy. Weren’t you supposed to stay home if you’re busy?”

“Oh, that was just now. I’ve been putting off meeting the quota to study for exams. It’s been about a month, right? How have you been?”

“As I said before, just hanging in there. Oh, right! You two are dating now, right? What happened? Tell us!”

“…Later. Let’s go eat first. I’m starving because I skipped lunch.”

Unable to resist my curiosity, I threw the question, but Junhyun quickly changed the subject, avoiding eye contact.

Still so bashful.

…Or maybe it’s embarrassing to talk about it out loud.

“Avoiding garlic and sharp objects… Going with something safe like Western cuisine sounds good. What do you want to eat?”

“I know a place nearby that serves great hamburgers. Shall we go there?”

“Hamburgers… Sounds good! Let’s go there then!”

Choosing our dinner menu didn’t take long.

Due to my OCD, garlic allergy(?), and advanced phobia, my food options were limited.

The safest bet was, of course, a cuisine that avoided all three weaknesses.

After quickly deciding on our dinner, we headed towards the restaurant.

Surprisingly close by, we arrived at the restaurant before engaging in any meaningful conversation.

Seated and having ordered four of the same dishes, I filled my cup with water and turned to Hyeeun.

“I thought it was only a matter of time before you two started dating. So, how did it happen? Tell us about it.”

Even from just observing online communities, the two races, angels and demons, couldn’t stand each other. Considering Junhyun had shown aversion to Hyeeun before, I was curious.

What had transpired between them in this month?

How did the demon’s tough heart soften?

Urging for an answer with eager eyes, the angel, with a sly smile, put on her earphones as if to say she couldn’t hear.

Confirming that there was no need to be discreet, the angel began her story within the lively atmosphere.

A tale from the distant past that Jaehyuk and I were unaware of.

—–

My first encounter with Junhyun was during the peak of my middle school syndrome.

With my grades in shambles, I reluctantly started attending a math academy under my parents’ concern.

As usual, I got scolded by the teacher for not doing my homework, and in the midst of being disciplined, I remember encountering a guy heading to the restroom.

“First time seeing someone getting disciplined at the academy. How did he end up like that?”

“Just ignore it and go your way. If you talk to him again, I won’t let it slide.”

“…The usually lenient teacher gave a punishment this time. Wonder why.”

“I said if you talk to him again, I won’t let it slide, right?”

“That was just me talking to myself, though? Hey, hey! Wait a moment!”

Boldly approaching, I was swiftly subdued, and as the noise attracted the attention of the teacher, we both ended up getting scolded side by side.

Honestly, considering the situation, it wouldn’t be strange to feel a sense of disgust.

Jeonghyun didn’t feel that way.

Simply put,

“Kill that dirty attitude for real, you’re hurting others.”

“…Shut up.”

“And don’t just jump in without looking at who you’re attacking. It’s because I’m the one who didn’t leave a scratch on that pretty face; what would have happened if it was someone else?”

“I said shut up!”

With nagging remarks, all he did was mock my defeated self.

A human figure I experienced for the first time.

Perhaps due to this unique memory, the existence of Jeonghyun seemed to linger in my mind for a long time.

Others only saw my naive side and either cursed or ignored me, but no one had ever come this close before.

I thought I would continue to see him after our first meeting, but unfortunately, the second encounter could only happen when we were in the third year of middle school.

Even though we went to the same school and academy, strangely, we rarely met after our first encounter.

Later, when I asked Jeonghyun about it, it turned out we almost never crossed paths.

The academy session was on a day I didn’t usually attend.

And at school, he mentioned he couldn’t even enjoy break times properly due to being buried in homework.

Anyway,

The second encounter came as we entered the third year of middle school.

It happened during class allocation, with the guy who arrived quite late sitting next to me.

“Sorry, but even if I sit here… Wait, where have I seen you before?”

“Yeah… Where was it? Oh, Fly High Academy. I remember now.”

“Oh, that idiot from back then? Long time no see! How have you been?”

“It doesn’t seem like we’ll be exchanging pleasantries easily.”

“A bit frosty. Hey, they say if you meet once, it’s a coincidence; twice, it’s fate; three times, it’s destiny, right? Since we’ll probably meet three times anyway, let’s be friends! I’m Seo Junghyun, and you are?”

“…Lee Hye-eun.”

Was it because of his very friendly nature?

Unconsciously, I let my guard down and ended up telling him my name.

After the class allocation was over and I returned home, what I felt was doubt and resignation.

I pondered for a long time why he wanted to be friends.

Suddenly, I remembered the deep emotional scars caused by trying to act kind in front of a guy in my second year.

To erase the melancholy feelings, I had to watch comedy animations for a long time.

However,

“Hye-eun! Want to study together? Hey, if you don’t want to, just say it! If you make a face, your ugly mug will get even uglier!”

“Let’s go eat together! Today’s lunch is so good, seriously, seaweed soup with soy sauce! You have a picky palate? Isn’t that too much?”

“Where did you say you live? Oh, over there? Let’s go to school together starting tomorrow! I also live around there!”

Contrary to my gloomy expectations, Jeonghyun truly treated me as a friend.

Knowing it wasn’t hypocrisy, I was well aware due to bitter experiences.

His reactions were completely different.

Unlike the guy in my second year who always showed annoyance and negativity, Jeonghyun always treated me with brightness and positivity.

How could I not notice that?

“Should I trust once more?”

A ray of light piercing through the deep darkness.

Feeling fear, yet drawn towards that light, I cautiously started stepping towards it.

And then,

Triggered by an incident, I found my heart stolen by that light.

It was a somewhat different day than usual.

The day Jeonghyun, who always had lunch with me, left without a word.

Filled with the fear of losing something once again, I searched for him even skipping meals.

“It won’t be the same experience, right?”

Walking anxiously, near the gym storage room, was it there?

Hearing a familiar voice around me, like a frog in front of a snake, I froze in place.

“Hey, Seo Junhyun. Why are you hanging out with that second-year syndrome otaku? Do you like her?”

“Me, like her? Just kidding around, you crazy girl.”

A conversation between a girl who pretended to be my friend in the second year and a guy who seemed to treat me like a real friend.

The disappointment upon hearing the initial conversation was indescribable, to be honest.

…If there’s no sincerity, why speak so warmly to me? What’s fun about hanging out with me?

Holding my breath, I waited for Junhyun’s next words.

“She’s just a friend, this idiotic girl. A friend you can always relax with. Why do you need a reason to hang out with such a friend?”

“Seriously, we’re in the same department. Acting all nice, acting all close, but if you think you’ll get hurt hanging out with me, you’ll eventually ditch me.”

“What the hell are you talking about? Why am I like you, you son of a bitch? Not everyone in the world is like you, you know?”

Junhyun’s voice filled with anger, something I had never heard before.

But at that moment, that voice was truly resolute.

I silently sighed in relief at his words indicating he really considered me a friend.

Following were some harsh curses.

I began listening to the conversation again.

“Instead of messing around, take care of yourself. If I may advise you, if you keep hurting others, you’ll end up getting hurt too.”

“Hanging out with an otaku and saying such disgusting things. Isn’t it cringeworthy? Tsk, worrying about me is bullshit, pure bullshit.”

“Forget worrying, it’s probably meddling. Ah, damn it. There’s less than 20 minutes left for lunchtime because of you. I was going to buy udon today.”

“…”

“If you come looking for trouble one more time, I’ll push you onto that smooth asphalt, got it? Ugh… The udon and tonkatsu must be cold by now, they taste bad when cold, seriously.”

Junhyun started walking slowly after issuing the threat.

I tried to run away hastily as I feared being caught eavesdropping, but perhaps due to my impatience, my legs tangled, and I fell flat on the ground.

“Ouch…!”

An involuntary scream escaped me.

Junhyun, who was nearby, couldn’t have missed this sound and quickly ran over to mock me as I lay fallen.

“What, were you looking for someone to eat with and couldn’t find them? This is glorious, isn’t it?”

“…Noisy.”

“Anyway, you’re being cold, but how about this? Lunchtime has only 15 minutes left, so I can’t eat with you.”

Junhyun, clutching his hungry stomach with a bitter smile.

I brushed off the dust on my uniform and, sighing, said to him, “Bread…”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“I’ll buy you bread from the school store, come with me.”

“Oh, really?! You’re welcome!”

“It’s not ‘you’re welcome,’ it’s ‘thank you,’ you idiot!”

…Perhaps that was the moment.

It might have been the first time my heart fluttered.