episode_0049
by admin#49
“Because you’re kind, I believe you’ll make sure Ji-ah doesn’t get hurt.”
I left Minah’s meaningful words behind,
We had an early lunch downtown with Gia and headed to a nearby cafe.
Maybe because it was the weekend, the cafe was quite crowded.
For some reason, it felt like everyone was looking at the table where Jia and I were sitting… but I decided to just ignore it since I was starting to get used to it.
“… .”
Actually, it would be more accurate to say that I don’t have time to care about that.
Because all my nerves are focused on how to tell Gia right now.
Tiring-
And after a while, the clerk called our order number.
“Customer number 143. Your drink is ready.”
“Oh, that’s our number. I’ll go.”
“No. Sit down. Does your back still hurt?”
“I said it’s okay now. … Then let’s go together.”
You’re strangely stubborn.
Eventually, Gia and I headed to the pickup point together to get some drinks.
“Enjoy your meal.”
The pupils of the clerk who was giving a formal greeting wavered slightly when he saw Jia.
… and it’s really burdensome to see people standing next to me looking at me with envy.
“Thank you.”
Regardless, Zia took her drink without showing any particular interest.
Looking at that, I become aware of it again.
The person who other people look at like that, he or she must like me…
After that, we sat down at the table again.
‘…It smells good.’
As I took a sip of the Americano in front of me, the fragrant aroma of coffee filled my mouth.
By the way, Jia ordered a novel drink that was a shot of yuzu tea.
“Is that tasty?”
“Yes. My sister recommended it to me last time.”
… the world seems to turn really strangely.
It wasn’t long ago that I learned that “Ashotchu” is an abbreviation for “add a shot to iced tea.”
‘These days, trends are scary.’
While I was ruminating on such trivial things, Zia spoke to me.
“Sir, I’ve been thinking about this since I was eating lunch earlier… Did you not sleep well last night?”
“Huh? Why?”
“You just look really tired.”
Actually, I only slept for about three hours yesterday. Even those three hours, I forced myself to sleep.
Instead, I lay in bed and kept thinking.
If it’s true that Jia likes me, what should I do?
The conclusion is, as I already told Min-ah, the weight is tilted towards rejecting Ji-ah’s feelings…
‘I just can’t say it out loud.’
Right now, I’m in a state of panic, not knowing how to bring this up to Jia.
“… I couldn’t sleep well. I had something to think about.”
As I was talking roughly like that, Jia looked slightly embarrassed and spoke to me in a subtle way.
“If you have any concerns, please let me know.”
“Uh.”
“It might not help much, but… Still, it’s better than suffering alone.”
“… Thank you.”
When the person who caused me trouble said that right in front of me, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
When I hear that someone likes me, I naturally become interested in them even if I had no interest in them before.
As if to prove that it was true, I was strangely conscious of Zia right now.
“… .”
Wouldn’t it be okay if it weren’t today?
And in the first place… what if both Mina and I were just mistaken?
Then, it would just end as a simple happening.
I secretly hoped so, and spoke quietly to Zia.
“… You have to go there.”
“Yes?”
“Do you have someone you like?”
When I asked cautiously, Jia’s eyes opened wide for a moment.
Phew. Phew.
Then, Jia started coughing repeatedly as if she had caught a cold.
After that, Zia cleared her throat and spoke to me in a slightly trembling voice.
“, what are you talking about all of a sudden…?”
“Just curious.”
Jia’s pupils shaking wildly from side to side.
Is it because I just coughed, or is it because I’m embarrassed?
… Jia’s cheeks are flushed red enough to be seen at a glance.
And then Jia,
“… is there.”
He said in a voice that sounded like he was crawling into a mouse hole.
A girl in love, an expression that often appears in dramas and comics.
… Is there anyone who fits that expression so well?
I suppressed my expression, which was about to dissolve against my will, and continued speaking in as calm a voice as possible.
“… I’m just saying this just in case, but it’s not me, right?”
At my question, Jia’s expression suddenly froze.
And then…
“Huh?!”
… Jia’s panicked voice echoed throughout the cafe.
“, all of a sudden, what are you talking about… .”
Perhaps conscious of the eyes of those around her, Zia spoke to me in a voice that was almost a whisper.
“Just in case.”
I asked Zia a question mixed with subtle anticipation,
“I, I, I don’t really like this topic. It’s embarrassing, so let’s talk about something else.”
“… Yeah.”
“Shall we go see a movie next time? There’s a discount on movie tickets at a movie theater near here.”
Instead of answering, Jia changed the subject in a way that was obvious to everyone.
When I saw that sight, I felt like my throat was burning for no reason, so I took another sip of the Americano in front of me.
‘… You write so filthy.’
Oddly enough, there was no coffee aroma.
***
After leaving the cafe, Jia was walking down the street again with Dohan after watching a movie.
“… .”
She thought as she looked at the profile of Do-han, who was quietly walking down the street next to her.
‘… It’s strange.’
Dohan’s sudden request to go out. And Minah’s unnatural behavior upon hearing it.
Jia knew that Minah had no plans today.
Because I remember Mina saying with her own mouth last night that she was going to rest well over the weekend.
But it’s obviously strange that I suddenly had something planned this morning.
“… .”
But, what if that was a lie on purpose to allow Do-han and himself to spend time alone?
‘no way.’
Jia recalled what had just happened at the cafe.
“Do you have someone you like?”
“… I’m just saying this just in case, but it’s not me, right?”
Dohan originally doesn’t bring up topics related to love very often. In other words, it’s clearly unnatural.
Not only did he ask if there was someone he liked, he even asked if they liked him.
If other people saw it, they would have asked if I was secretly flirting.
and,
“Would you like me to show you couple seats?”
“Yes?”
Just a moment ago, at the movie theater, Do-han was visibly shaken by the words of the movie theater employee who suggested couple seats.
… As the discount rate was quite large, Do-han and Jia ended up sitting in the couple seats.
“… .”
As Zia recalled the events of the day one by one, she came to one thought.
‘…if.’
─I thought, maybe the old man likes me too.
‘What should I do?’
It was just a guess, but Jia’s heart began to pound uncontrollably.
Ji-ah glances at Do-han next to her, wondering if he can hear her heartbeat.
“… .”
Dohan still has a complicated expression on his face, wondering what he’s thinking.
As Ji-ah was letting her imagination run wild after seeing such a sight, a familiar park soon came into view.
“Mr.”
“… .”
“Mister?”
“Uh, uh. Sorry. I was thinking about something else.”
“… Let’s rest there for a moment. My legs hurt.”
Of course, since she wasn’t wearing heels and hadn’t walked much today, Zia’s legs were fine.
“Okay then.”
Of course, Do-han nodded to Jia’s words.
—
After a while,
Jia and Dohan sat side by side on a familiar park bench.
And a moment of silence flows between the two.
Meanwhile, Jia recalled the confession scene in the comic book Seyoung lent her.
A romantic scene where a cartoon character that resembles you confesses to a character that resembles you and they end up dating.
That scene strangely stayed in Jia’s mind, and she read it over and over again.
‘… 6 months is too long.’
I hurt my back yesterday and lay in bed thinking about it the whole time before I went to sleep.
No matter how much I think about it, the possibility that Do-han will have a girlfriend before he graduates from school is very high.
… there is a higher chance that the target is the popular hero Yun Seol-il.
“… .”
Jia looked around.
The sunset turned the sky red, and the surrounding noise seemed to have disappeared, filling the air with silence.
A park where there were just the two of them by chance.
The sound of my heart pounding in my chest, and the long shadows stretching out.
A cool breeze blowing,
“… .”
Even Dohan looked at him with meaningful eyes.
Another thought suddenly crossed Gia’s mind.
‘… Isn’t this a chance to confess?’
0 Comments