episode_0097

Even before becoming a vampire, I was just a mere citizen who wanted a safe and peaceful life.

I was someone who was very distant from things like a sense of duty to save people or a sacrificial spirit to sacrifice myself to save others.

Bang!

But why?

If someone were to ask me why I am now running towards a dangerously ticking rice cooker bomb, I would answer like this.

Because it’s something I can do.

And because it’s not something dangerous enough to risk my life for.

Because I don’t want to witness a horrific scene unfolding before my eyes.

That’s why.

I’m doing it.

“…If there’s something inside the rice cooker, it’s screwed.”

Well, let’s hope there’s nothing inside.

But most likely, there isn’t, right?

If there was the means to put something inside the rice cooker bomb, they would have prepared a real bomb instead of this crude one.

Anyway.

As I pushed through the crowd and arrived in front of the rice cooker bomb, the safety agents, perhaps sensing the impending danger, began to move slowly.

Watching them evacuate participants with the excuse of an urgent fire inspection, I started moving the rice cooker bomb to a place where there were no people.

Because if it explodes during evacuation, it would be a disaster. Especially in such a chaotic situation.

[Currently, there is an issue within the venue, and a fire inspection is being conducted. For those inside the venue, please evacuate immediately.]

As I brought the rice cooker bomb to a place where no one seemed to be around, the official announcement spread throughout the venue.

In case someone approaches, I waited for the safety agents, wary of any danger, to approach.

One of the safety agents who was surveying the area noticed me and quickly ran towards me with a serious expression.

“Participant? We are conducting an emergency fire inspection. You need to leave immediately…”

“Not because of a bomb threat, right? I have something to say about that too.”

“…What?”

Mentioning the bomb threat calmly, the safety agent was taken aback.

So, I pointed to the rice cooker bomb that I had left at a distance and whispered softly in her ear.

“Do you see that? I happened to find it in the photo zone, and it seemed dangerous, so I moved it over there. They can handle it from here, right?”

“That thing…? This is insane…! Alert! Bomb found in Zone D! Requesting control to prevent access to the area!”

[Copy.]

A time bomb that could go off at any moment.

Seeing that, the safety agent shouted into the radio, and I left her in a hurry and calmly began to exit the venue.

Honestly, at this point, haven’t I done everything I could?

I moved the bomb to a safe place to prevent people from getting hurt, and even took preventive measures, right?

Disarming and removing the bomb is the job of experts.

Of course, it wasn’t something I couldn’t do, but I didn’t want to get involved unnecessarily and end up getting hurt.

I left the scene without any regrets.

…Not knowing at all what consequences my actions would bring.

—–

Following the guidance of the safety agents, as I stepped outside the venue, the first thing that caught my eye was the people in confusion.

Well, it was only natural.

After cursing and coming out due to the emergency fire inspection, suddenly the anti-terrorism unit appeared and entered the venue.

How could anyone not be confused?

It was like a scene from a movie.

As I stood there dumbfounded, watching the anti-terrorism unit enter the venue in an orderly manner, a fierce and sharp voice came from behind.

“Han Jiwu! Are you out of your mind!?”

The owner of the voice was none other than an angel with anger boiling to the surface.

Rushing in and starting with a body blow, Hye-eun grabbed me by the collar and shook me vigorously.

“What on earth! Are you trying to get back in there with your thoughts?!”

“Ahhhhhh!!!”

After letting out a desperate scream as if I were about to vomit from dizziness, Hye-eun sighed and released my collar.

But as if the anger hadn’t subsided, the guy still scolded me with a voice full of rage.

“No matter how strong you think you are, why would you run towards a bomb that could explode at any moment?!”

“Hye-eun…? Can you keep your voice down, people are staring…”

“Don’t you dare open your mouth to say you did well! Do you even know how worried we were?”

The voice that had been scolding me was now filled with moisture.

Overwhelmed with guilt, I could only hang my head and keep my mouth shut.

I have no words, even if I apologize for a lifetime.

Looking at the angel crying uncontrollably with a guilty face, Jung-hyun patted Hye-eun’s back and warmly embraced her.

And then.

“Let’s call it a day for now. It seems a bit much to spend more time together… together.”

After quietly glancing at me, he immediately left with the angel.

Amidst the chaotic environment, emotions sank.

Silently gazing at the spot where the angel and demon had left, Jaehyuk slowly approached and spoke.

“Are you going to stay here?”

“…No.”

“Then let’s go back. Or how about we go to a food cart and have some chicken feet and soju?”

“That sounds good.”

Although I was wearing a cosplay costume, taking off the jacket would make me look like an office worker.

I felt like I could endure the melancholy brought on by alcohol and guilt.

After gladly accepting Jaehyuk’s suggestion, I started walking towards the food cart.

“…I have something to ask.”

On the way to the food cart that we had seen at the event venue.

Breaking the heavy silence, I cautiously asked him a question.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Aren’t you angry or annoyed?”

“…Sigh.”

Instead of answering, Jaehyuk let out a sigh.

Pausing for a moment, he looked down at me and asked in a low voice.

“Do you think I would be like that?”

“…No.”

“Then why ask? Did you get bored because I wasn’t saying anything?”

Whether he was holding back his boiling anger, Jaehyuk took a deep breath and continued speaking.

“I feel like I want to grab something and throw it away right now. I want to scream until my throat hurts.”

“…”

“If you were in my shoes, wouldn’t you feel the same? A friend you’ve been close to for a long time, and the woman you love suddenly risking their lives for strangers?”

Growing increasingly emotional, Jaehyuk slowly calmed down instead of unleashing his pent-up emotions.

Turning his gaze away, he spoke in a melancholic voice.

“Angry? Annoyed? Of course I want to. I want to show you how worried and scared I was.”

“…”

“But how can I do that? How can I get mad at someone who looks like they’re about to cry at any moment, huh?”

After finishing his words, Jaehyuk shook his head and started walking towards the food cart again.

I silently followed him, suppressing my sorrowful emotions.

I know I caused the worry, but it’s a bit sad.

I did the right thing. It’s the right thing to do if I can. Can’t I at least give a word of praise?

The person who committed a sin sheds tears, that itself is a sin.

In the moment when I was holding back the tears trying to come out with clenched fists.

“Still, you did well, kid.”

“Huh?”

At that moment, someone approached closely.

Putting their hand on my head, they relieved the burning thirst with a warm voice.

“Even if you did something good, it annoyed us, so understand that. It’s because we were worried about you that much.”

“Oh, um, okay…”

“By the way, are you crying now? I didn’t intend to make you cry.”

“Oh, no, I’m not crying!”

Although I hit his chest hard, Jaehyuk, who was laughing while letting out painful groans, seemed to be quite hurt by the hitting.

Soon, after coughing a few times, he quickly changed the subject.

“But, that really annoyed me a lot.”

“What now?”

“You taking pictures with other people. I haven’t even taken a picture with you yet…”

“Pfft! What, are you jealous now?”

“Well, yeah, I am jealous.”

Making a blunt expression, he started to spit out words that were incomparably pathetic.

Whether it was because the distance was too close, or he was being too nice to strangers, he kept grumbling for a while.

Was he embarrassed by his own thoughts? Jaehyuk started to speak and then quickly ran away.

“He’s really a funny guy.”

There doesn’t seem to be any reason to be jealous, so why is he acting like that?

While laughing awkwardly because it was unbelievable.

Suddenly.

A sense of déjà vu passed through my mind.

The distance was too close.

He was being too nice to strangers.

The words Jaehyuk just said… weren’t they too similar to the recent thoughts I had?

“…Huh?”

And then I realize.

What the sense of déjà vu was.

“So, that means…”

The source of that unpleasant and annoying feeling was jealousy?

The reason for the moments when Yejin and Jaehyuk were together being so uncomfortable was jealousy?

I realized what the feeling I shouldn’t have known was.

I stood still in that spot, screaming towards the bright moon.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh