episode_0135

“Until October, let’s support Siwoo’s domestic competition. When the new year comes, we will make a hundred-year pact. In our future, there is nothing but happiness.”

Listening to this, Ackler smiled subtly.

“…Yes. Be happy.”

Just as he was about to ask what that subtle smile meant, his body suddenly thudded as if being carried away with the clouds.

In an instant, he fell.

Startled, he quickly got up and checked his hands first, feeling like he had fallen to the ground. The soft mattress and blanket of the bed greeted him.

“………. Why does it feel like I’ve been chased away.”

You’re hiding something, Ackler.

Is it something I don’t need to know?

At first, I didn’t think much of it, but as I pondered, there was something strange.

From 1 to 25, all personalities were attributed to Ackler, but…

Only I, who came from Jung Siwoo, could become 0 and merge with one.

At first, there was a time when my body and Chaewon’s body switched. That’s how we were able to become one. But why was it 0 Chaewon who was absorbed, not Ackler?

Even if I were to ask 0, it would be difficult to find the answer. Because of our merger, what I don’t know, she doesn’t know either.

I’m too busy helping with Siwoo’s future design to bother thinking about this.

“Are you awake?”

“Oh. Yeah. Were you here already?”

“You woke up later than usual.”

“Oh. I see.”

The hour and minute hands on the bedside clock overlapped, and the sun was already high in the sky. It seemed like he had woken up late because he had met Ackler.

“Kang Hwi, you remember all from 1 to 25, right?”

“Yes. I remember.”

“How was it? Was it really a completely different feeling from me?”

“Well….”

Like a storyteller preparing a grand story, Kang Hwi settled on the edge of the bed.

“Strictly speaking, except for Miss 25 and Miss 26, everyone was similar.”

“Similar?”

“Yes. Well… but that was just because it was surprising when they first settled into that body. After that, they all became similar.”

With a long sigh, Kang Hwi stared at my face intently.

Even if I’m pretty, it’s awkward to be stared at like that. This face belongs to Siwoo.

“Based on my intuition that has been watching Miss for a long time…, right now Miss 26 is becoming quite similar to Miss 0. So, in the end, Miss 26 was also Miss.”

Kang Hwi clearly revealed his aesthetic sense by saying that I had mixed with Chaewon and showed it.

In fact, I am already in a state that is no different from Chaewon, so it can’t be considered wrong.

“Miss 25 was also Chaewon in the end.”

“Right? That’s because Miss showed a color of performance that no one else could show. Although her preferences were a bit different….”

It was somewhat refreshing to hear that Kang Hwi was not just distinguishing Chaewon’s ego by her behavior.

Well, Chaewon’s performances were always like that. They were always hopeful and warming to the heart, no matter when or where you heard them.

I still can’t forget her performance that comforted my shocked heart after meeting colleagues as great as me at the beginning of the semester.

The person who was playing at the cafe that day was Chaewon alone, but it felt like a small orchestra had been invited to perform.

“I feel like I’ll never forget that choir until I die.”

Whether it’s 0, 1, 25, or me.

In the end, now we are all just Min Chaewon.

There’s no need to waste time on useless thoughts now.

It’s not the time to spend time going around with Siwoo and having fun.

House number 25 gives off a suspicious vibe, but it’s probably just a simple prank. She was like a mischievous devil who teased me every time we met.

Maybe she’s just jealous because things are going well between Siwoo and me.

“Siwoo’s concours preparation should come first…”

October is only two months away now. The first round of qualifiers is just a month and two weeks away.

“I have to go meet Siwoo.”

“I’ll make you look pretty~.”

“Yeah!”

Come to think of it, it’s funny.

While others have to practice to prepare for the concours, I’m thinking about going out with Siwoo.

But that just means I trust Siwoo’s playing skills that much.

In the company that manufactures the CPU, the heart of the computer, there are cases where they sell 3-core CPUs as 4-core products.

Rather than paying additional costs to dispose of or dismantle the 1-core block that has problems or does not meet the quality standards, it is more profitable to deactivate the entire defective area and sell it as a 3-core product.

Siwoo was like a 3-core product in terms of CPU. He could have been used as a normal product if fixed. But because the cost of fixing it was quite high, or it was impossible, he had been living as a 3-core product.

But now it’s different. The improved Siwoo can show everything he has to any opponent he meets.

He wouldn’t be slacking off on concours preparation just because he’s distracted by our date. I know Ji Siwoo.

Until the time of the date appointment, I will find a practice room or go to school to secure as much practice time as possible.

He’s amazing. Isn’t he the one who used to endlessly repeat his practice routine without any distractions like dates or walks before I appeared?

There’s no Superman.

“I’m here early?”

The weather, which had been hot all day, was a bit sunny today. Looking at the slightly overcast sky, it seems like it might rain today.

If it continues like this, Siwoo might catch a cold, so I hope it rains soon.

When is autumn coming?

“No, I just arrived.”

“Are you sweating?”

“I’m just a little sweaty.”

“So, where are we going today?”

Siwoo reached out his hand, and I reflexively placed mine on top of his.

Smiling broadly, he said, “You’ll know when we get there.”

I knew that the weather was unpredictable in the summer, but who would have expected it to rain as soon as we arrived at our destination? I asked for rain because it was so hot, and it actually rained.

Yes, Kang Hwi knew. He’s truly the best maid.

I shook out the folding umbrella in my hand and said to Siwoo, “You go up first.”

“We should go up together.”

“Today, you seem to be emphasizing ‘together’ a lot.”

At his words, Siwoo sent me a slightly hurtful look. I hadn’t done anything wrong, but I retorted back.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You’ll see when we go up.”

I glanced at the wall sign hanging on the half-step of the stairs, despite Siwoo’s intentional attempt to block my view. Soon, I could tell what kind of store we had come to in this shopping center.

The store’s name was ‘Eunhyang Workshop.’ Below it, I saw the rough writing, ‘Ring-making experience available.’

It was a couple ring-making experience cafe that was like an artifact from a few years ago, which may not even exist now due to the aftermath of the pandemic.

From the day we decided to date until today, I quickly calculated the dates.

Three months and 8 days. And in between, 31 days twice.

… 100 days?

“Finally caught on, huh?”

It seemed like emotions were all over his face, as Siwoo climbed the stairs with a satisfied expression.

I quickly packed up the umbrella and followed behind Siwoo.

“Hey, you could have told me in advance.”

“I thought you would naturally know since you have a good girlfriend.”

“If I may offer a lame excuse, I was too busy helping you with your contest preparations….”

“Really? It wasn’t because you were busy dealing with Yoon Jiyu’s side of things?”

“No?!”

As I climbed two steps of the stairs, Siwoo had already climbed three.

The inherent difference in leg length made it difficult for me to catch up with him, even on flat ground or stairs.

“Don’t tire yourself out. This is more tiring than you think.”

A good girlfriend, huh. Siwoo was too preoccupied with his career to pay any attention to our anniversary.

If I had known this would happen, shouldn’t I have just left Siwoo to handle it himself?

Turning the corner of the stairs to the 2.5th floor, Siwoo, who had arrived on the 3rd floor first, opened the cafe door and waited for me.

Arriving energetically, I punched him in the chest and said, “Hey. Tell me about these things in advance from now on!”

“I didn’t tell you because I wanted to surprise you?”

“….”

“Why. Didn’t you like it? Should I not surprise you next time?”

I was disappointed in myself for becoming an oblivious girlfriend.

Siwoo had prepared a surprise event for me, so why would I dislike it?

I lowered my head to hide my blushing face, but it was a futile gesture.

“No….”

As Siwoo carefully lifted a soft bun, he gently lifted my cheek.

Then, he walked into the store first and casually threw out a remark.

“You’ve given up on calling me ‘oppa’?”

“…. Oh.”

“Since we met in front of Yoon Jichang’s house, you’ve been naturally saying ‘hey’.”

“Oh. No, that was just because I was flustered.”

Siwoo’s eyes looking at me were unsettling.

It was like the gaze of a beast seeing a delicious prey.

“… Consistently cute.”