episode_0062

“Should I report it to the boss?”

“No, forget it. It’s best not to get involved with weird people as much as possible. Just think of it as a temporary fix and move on.”

Whether it was intentional or not, the elf who had done a hit-and-run after dining and dashing.

When I asked the boss what to do with the phone, he suggested covering it up and immediately started mixing a cocktail.

If one hit-and-run could ensure that we never saw that crazy elf again, then it was definitely not a bad trade-off.

Since the elf had left in a hurry, I was confident that at least today, they wouldn’t return, and began clearing the spot where the elf had stayed.

“I apologize, my girlfriend has caused a great disturbance.”

“Hmm…”

Not long after, the elf returned with her boyfriend, causing me to sigh helplessly.

The only relief was that unlike the clueless elf, the man seemed sensible.

Lowering his head in place of the elf, the man urged her to quickly apologize for her nonsense.

In response, the elf chewed her lip, offered an insincere apology, and then once again left the cocktail bar as if fleeing.

“Sigh…”

The man sighed as he watched the door where the elf had disappeared.

Judging by his tired and worn-out expression, it seemed like he had experienced this kind of thing more than once.

Seeing his weary demeanor, I cautiously offered him a seat.

“You seem troubled. Would you like a drink before you go? Sometimes having a drink can help clear your thoughts.”

“Thank you for the offer, but… no. Following her will only stir up emotions. Could I have a Doctor Killer instead?”

“If the guest can handle it, then there’s no problem. I’ll prepare it right away.”

Starting with a Doctor Killer…

Seems like his stomach is already turning inside out.

As he ordered a strong cocktail first, I internally rolled my eyes and quickly made the cocktail, handing it to him.

Gulp, gulp.

Upon receiving the glass, the man began to drink its contents without any hesitation.

However, the Doctor Killer is a cocktail with a very high alcohol content.

Perhaps feeling the burn in his throat, the man stopped drinking the cocktail and placed the glass back on the table.

“Phew…”

Taking a long breath once again, he expelled his pent-up emotions along with a burst of heat from his mouth.

“Indeed… After drinking something so strong, it does make you feel a bit melancholic, haha…”

Smiling sadly, he expressed his gratitude.

I filled a plate with rusks and offered it to him, along with words of comfort.

“I may not know why you’re feeling down, but take a break here for a while. Things tend to work out better when you have peace of mind.”

“…Hmm, really? You’re right, maybe I haven’t had much peace of mind lately…”

Feeling the effects of the alcohol slowly kicking in, the man took a bite of the rusk, leaning back in his chair with a distant look on his face.

Then, as I cleaned up, he glanced at me and asked in a low voice.

“If, hypothetically speaking, your beloved suddenly changed into someone else overnight, how would you react?”

“Could you provide more details? The information is too vague.”

“Assuming that your lover, who still holds the same feelings, has completely changed in personality and appearance. Of course, not for the better, but for the worse.”

Although he prefaced it with ‘assuming,’ it was clear to anyone that this was the man’s story.

The notion of someone changing into someone else overnight likely referred to his loved one being caught up in a racial transformation crisis.

Since he had introduced the elf as his girlfriend just a while ago, it was undoubtedly about that elf.

…What answer should I give him?

Honestly, considering the antics of elves, it was probably right to firmly suggest breaking up immediately.

Having to apologize for someone else’s mistakes, how humiliating is that?

However, I couldn’t speak rashly.

There must be some reason why that man can’t leave the elf and continues to maintain their relationship.

If not, wouldn’t he have left long ago if he couldn’t tolerate those repulsive actions?

It’s not my place to speak without knowing the full story.

So, I awkwardly smiled and gave a vague response as much as possible.

My words were meant to minimize any impact on their relationship.

“Well, it seems like it will depend on what kind of feelings you have. If my emotion is ‘love,’ I would definitely stay by that person’s side…”

“What if it’s a different emotion?”

“Well, I’m not sure. Since I don’t know the details, I also don’t know what choice I would make. But even if I don’t know anything else, if things have turned for the worse, shouldn’t we start by trying to restore that person to their original state?”

“…”

After hearing the response, perhaps deep in thought, the man chewed his bread with a complex expression.

Then, as if a good idea struck him, he quickly finished his drink, paid for the cocktails with gratitude, and got up from his seat.

His steps were unsteady, indicating a rising intoxication.

I briefly worried if he might cause an accident in that state while heading back like that.

“…Why are you coming out now! I’ve been waiting!”

Seeing the elf who had been waiting outside taking the man away, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“I hope everything works out well.”

Even though the elf who had come to the workplace ready to cause a scene was quite annoying, it would still be nice if it ended in a happy way, right?

Hoping earnestly that the man would reform the clueless elf.

I said I would take a short break and started playing with Nero in the employee lounge.

—–

“Gee… Even if the alcohol is weak, what will happen if you drink such strong liquor! What if your body breaks down!”

“…”

“Why on earth did you drink? You usually don’t even touch it!”

A dizzying view almost inducing nausea.

A face radiating intense heat as if in front of a fire.

In the sense of imminent danger of losing consciousness at any moment, the nagging voice of my girlfriend reached me.

This is unbelievable.

…Who did I drink because of, is that even a sound coming out of my mouth?

Chuckling wryly, I quietly called out my girlfriend’s name.

“Geunyoung.”

“Yeah?”

“Please be quiet, it’s too loud.”

“…What?”

Whether it was so shocking to be told to shut her mouth, she stopped in her tracks and looked at me with a blank expression.

Soon after, I pushed away my girlfriend’s hand and leaned back on a nearby bench, slowly starting to release the pent-up grievances.

“Why did you drink? Seriously, do you really not know that?”

“…”

“It shouldn’t be unknown to you, Geunyoung. Even if others don’t know, you should know…”

As she sobbed and spoke, unable to contain the surging anger, she erupted in a furious tone.

“How long do I have to cover for you? Why should I kneel and ask for forgiveness for something I didn’t do?”

“Yes, Yejun…”

“It’s been three months, Geunyoung. At least if I showed such behavior, shouldn’t I show signs of improvement? Why are you constantly causing trouble and not getting better?”

The first time I said harsh words to my girlfriend.

Tears welled up in her deer-like gentle eyes, but I continued pouring out my anger without stopping.

“Tell me honestly. Isn’t saying ‘I love you’ all nonsense?”

“W-what are you talking about! There’s no way…”

“There’s no way, but why are you giving me a hard time! Is making the person you love uncomfortable an expression of love?”

…”

Chewing on her lips in frustration, Geunyoung shook her head with tears welling up, unable to find any words of rebuttal.

But even that sight seemed repulsive to me now, so I spoke with a feeble voice.

“You know? I thought you would return to your normal self in three months?”

“My girlfriend was just an ordinary person who liked nature a little. She didn’t behave like this, going against common sense and hurting others.”

Recalling happy memories, I continued to speak with a sigh of disappointment.

“I have no idea why you’re acting like this. No, I don’t even want to know. I just wish you would stop these antics.”

“People should know that being cursed at is wrong, right? Why not swallow your pride? I’m genuinely curious.”

Of course, I knew that elves were a proud race.

After living together for over three months, how could I not know that?

But insisting on wrong beliefs and engaging in strange behavior was both incomprehensible and unbearable.

She had been a great help during difficult times, and out of gratitude, I had managed to endure it somehow… but now, I had reached my limit.

“If you continue like this, let’s break up. You don’t have to listen to my nagging, and I won’t be stressed. It’s a win-win situation, isn’t it?”

“T-That’s…”

“Choose. Live comfortably with your pride intact, or live with me by swallowing your pride. I… will welcome whichever you choose.”

Although I said those words, honestly, I hoped she would choose the latter.

I didn’t want this sweet relationship that had lasted for years to fall apart.

Couldn’t she just bend her stubborn pride a little, even just on the outside?

I…

It would be enough if she did just that.

No matter how long I waited, there was no response.

Had the weight of love become lighter than pride, as I sighed quietly, thinking such thoughts?

As if denying those thoughts, the elf suddenly embraced me.

And then…

Softly –

With a tear-stained bird kiss, she whispered her choice into my ear.

“I’ll do better from now on… Please don’t leave…”

…I’m such a pathetic fool, getting swayed by one sentence like this again.

A truly sweet whisper heard after a long time.

Feeling the warmth of affection in her tender voice, I loosened my grip on my sanity and slowly began to lose myself, savoring the sensation of her soft, teasing lips.