episode_0144

[Huh, did our eyes meet? So what? Come on in! If you come in now, you’ll get a free bottle of beer! Start your drinking session with free drinks and feel good!]

[Hey, are you looking for a place to sit? You’re in luck! We have a vacant spot at our pub! Would you like to come this way? We’ll serve you plenty of snacks ~]

[Hey guys, feeling hot? Want to buy a drink? How much? Regardless of the type, it’s 2,000 won! Too expensive? Hey, you won’t find a better deal than this!]

A crowded street where it’s difficult to take a proper step due to the massive influx of people.

Various noises coming from all directions, and the sweltering heat generated by the dense crowd.

The university festival that Hyeeun had earnestly requested us to attend after three years had not changed much compared to before.

“…There are so many people. I’m already tired at the entrance.”

“Yeah, staying here for a long time will be tough, right?”

Unless there are fewer people, geeks like Jaehyuk and me, who have reached the limit of their physical endurance, can’t even stand still.

We quickly revised our plans in real-time and began to move desperately towards our destination.

“The map roughly says it’s around here… Ah, there it is! Hey! Hyeun!!!”

Walking about 5 minutes while looking at the map on the group chat.

After wandering around, we spotted the symbol of an angel, a dazzling halo, and headed straight towards the pub where Hyeeun was.

As we leisurely chatted with our juniors, a sudden call caught the attention of the angel who turned her head in that direction.

Hyeeun, who noticed us approaching, greeted us warmly with all sorts of welcoming gestures.

“Oh, Jiwoo! Jaehyuk! You came earlier than I thought? There are plenty of seats, so go sit wherever you want!”

“Maybe it’s because our location is more inside, but there seem to be fewer customers compared to other places. So, what’s the main menu here?”

“Well! I’ve tried everything once, and our guys are good at cooking, so there wasn’t anything tasteless! Just choose what you want to eat!”

…How confident must she be to have such a bold expression?

Seeing her so confident made me curious, and the prices weren’t as steep as I had thought.

With the intention of treating my friend, I ordered a variety of dishes.

“Really? Then two bowls of rice, two servings of pork, two fish cake soups, and one seafood pancake. Oh, is there a friend discount chance?”

“Jen – nen! Unfortunately, I’m a toothless tiger, so I can’t do that? But I can give you more than the standard amount!”

“Should we call this angel incompetent?”

“No, if they give you a portion for two as a single serving, they’re quite competent, right?”

“Say that again, what did you say?”

“Oh, a single serving that looks like it’s for two! I made a mistake! Hehe…”

Well, it doesn’t look like a mistake no matter how you look at it.

I stared at her as if to question her, but she pretended not to notice and turned to get the beer.

A while later, she sat down with a bright face and beer, and I opened the conversation with a light question.

“So… where did your other half go? Acting like they’ll die if they’re left alone?”

“Let’s see, it’s… 7:30 now? They’re probably still in one of their liberal arts classes?”

“…Huh? How messed up must their schedule be to be in class right now?”

“I don’t know! They said there’s one class they really want to take! Anyway, just play with me until Darling arrives! Just for an hour!”

“That’s all it takes…”

…I thought she called me for something special, but she just wanted to hang out?

Anyway, I was thinking of staying for two hours, but unexpectedly, I might be able to go home early and rest.

With joy in my heart and stories of the past few weeks, the food started to come out one by one.

After confirming that the amount seemed sufficient, I put on a satisfied expression and began to fill my hungry stomach.

“How is it? Delicious, right? Our kids are really good at cooking, aren’t they?”

“Indeed, not bad. But if the portion of the food was a bit smaller than this…”

“Ah… you know, we’re planning to save a lot of leftovers from the university festival.”

“Well, that’s true… but… never mind, I’ll manage. Honestly, it’s just unnecessary fuss.”

Yeah.

I’m not the one being taken advantage of, and furthermore, it’s not my friend being taken advantage of, so there’s no need to worry.

Taking a bite of spicy pork stir-fry, I quietly asked Hyeun if there was anything worth doing at this festival.

“I saw it on the way here, but it doesn’t seem to have changed much compared to three years ago. Is there anything special to do?”

“I don’t really know… well, there is one thing! Have you seen the spinning wheel event at the campus entrance?”

“The spinning wheel event? Hmm, I think I might have seen it…”

Was that why there were so many people gathered at the entrance?

Before returning to my studio, I should participate in it once.

It seems like it’s some kind of free giveaway, can’t resist free pleasures.

Adding a line to my plan, I focused back on my meal.

As Hyeun quietly tried to start a conversation with Jaehyuk, who was focused on eating, to see if there was something she wanted to say to me.

“Hey, Jaehyuk.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Can I borrow your lighter for a moment?”

“If I say no?”

“Well, then… what can I do?”

“Just kidding. I’ll wait while you eat, take your time talking.”

“Thanks!”

“Wait a minute, my intention is… what the heck?!”

An angel is nothing short of a perfect counter to a vampire.

Without any resistance, I was dragged along by Hyeun.

“…I’m really sorry, but I really need your help.”

“Don’t you know not to bother me while I’m eating? Ugh… okay, let’s go in first. What’s the matter?”

“Well, you see… can you look at this for me!?”

“What is this… um, oh, this is really serious?”

…I couldn’t complain anymore about the item I saw at the place I was dragged to.

“What should I say to Darling…?”

The item Hyeun pulled out.

It was none other than a pregnancy test kit with two clear lines.

Um, excuse me, but do you know I’m a man you’re asking, right?

No, wait, are you asking because I’m a man?

Because you know the hearts of men and women?

“Sigh…”

Wasn’t there something about seeing things from the other person’s perspective?

Seeing Hyeun’s awkward and embarrassed state.

I began to seriously contemplate how to respond to the question.

—–

How would it feel to suddenly find out you’re pregnant one day?

Would you feel happy, or would you feel unhappy?

Setting aside other miscellaneous issues like childcare, I first think about the emotional aspect.

Not a regrettable outcome of a one-night stand for pleasure, but a true love’s fruit born from mutual love and desire.

…Well, maybe it wouldn’t be a bad feeling? Slightly embarrassing, but the feeling would be overwhelmingly good, wouldn’t it?

If I were to have Jaehyuk’s baby, I would immediately run to Jaehyuk and show him the pregnancy test kit.

And as I hand him the marriage certificate, I would confidently say,

“Congratulations on becoming a dad?”

“I guess… I have to take responsibility, right?”

“So, please just write your name here.”

Even if it were me, why is our angel, who always makes my heart flutter, so afraid and hesitant every time I see her?

Approaching the stuttering angel slowly, I messed up her neatly arranged hair and slowly opened my mouth.

“I’m here, you know? I really don’t understand why you’re so worried.”

“…”

“If you two don’t get along, I get it, but that’s not the case, right? You’re in love with each other but worried about what?”

“…”

“Just close your eyes and say you’re pregnant. Do you think Junhyun will dislike it? No? Not at all? He might be a little awkward, but he’ll be really happy, right?”

“W-what if he really dislikes it…?”

“Ha, how can you, who have known him for 10 years, know less about him than me? He definitely won’t dislike it. How about we bet 100,000 won on it? I’ll bet on the fact that he likes it, and you bet on the fact that he dislikes it.”

The affectionate and responsible guy dislikes the news that the woman he loves is pregnant?

Damn, the fact that a meteorite will fall on Earth tomorrow and destroy it seems more believable.

No, right? The world can turn into a fantasy overnight… Do we really not know what will happen?

Perhaps she was holding her breath inside, worried about losing the blood-like 100,000 won?

Still, Hyeeun expressed her gratitude to me for helping to clear up her confused mind.

“…Thank you, I was actually worried. As you know, Junhyun and I are both completely unprepared. So I thought he might dislike it.”

“Well, honestly, he must be somewhat prepared too, right? You two aren’t using proper contraception, are you? Am I right?”

“H-how did you know that?”

“I couldn’t not know. Your body exudes the scent of night flowers so strongly, how could I not know?”

How many times did she have to have sex for the faint scent of night flowers to waft from her body?

If that’s the case, it wouldn’t be strange for Junhyun to wonder why she’s not pregnant, right?

…That’s not important, anyway.

“So, Hyeeun? It seems like you have found the answer, so how long are you going to keep me here? Hasn’t the counseling session ended?”

Gulp –

Once a definite answer is reached, spending more time is meaningless.

Grasping my hungry stomach and complaining, the angel apologized and led me back to the pub.

I left for a moment, nothing major should have happened with Jaehyuk. It’s only been about 10 minutes, so it couldn’t have.

A deep-seated, inexplicable sense of unease slowly rising in my heart.

As I quickened my pace, lo and behold…

“Hey handsome, did you come alone? If you don’t have company, would you like to hang out with us?”

The audacity of these foxes to flirt with my better half and smear him with their saliva.

Don’t they have eyes?

Can’t they see the bite marks I’ve marked on his neck?

Clearly a man with an owner, you stupid girls!

Slowly boiling and bubbling anger.

To judge these dirty, unmarried girls trying to seduce someone else’s husband.

Ignoring Hyeeun’s protests, I pushed forward and began to walk towards them.