TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/week, Mon-Fri
Illustrations: Here
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The phone rang.
It was Solace.
"Hey, Bom."
"Oppa, are you okay?"
Solace's voice dripped with worry.
"Should I co over there? Is it dangerous?"
She must have been concerned about soone lurking around.
I spoke softly to reassure her.
"I'm really fine. It's not dangerous at all."
"...You don't know that."
"I'm telling you, I'm fine."
"Oh-"
"-Bom. I told you, if there's a problem, I'll call you. Co running."
"...Sorry."
"What's there to be sorry about."
"...Sorry."
A mont of silence followed.
Sensing she had more to say, I remained silent.
Sure enough, she spoke up.
"...But Oppa, how long do I have to stay away?"
"Huh?"
"...Can't I just take off my costu and go to the restaurant? The paparazzi won't even know it's ."
Her plea made feel incredibly weak.
I enjoyed spending ti with her too and wanted to tell her to do just that.
But considering the potential repercussions, I knew it was not a good idea.
If it beca known that she had a direct connection with , it would turn into a definite threat from the villains.
There might co a ti when I'd need to use my powers.
And I didn't want that.
I was tired of being involved in violence.
The bitter aftertaste of those days was nothing compared to the sweetness of my current world.
"...Let's just endure a bit longer, Bom. It's not like anything will happen if we don't see each other for a few days."
"..."
I could hear her sigh softly.
It felt odd, imagining Solace sighing.
"...Oppa, just rember one thing."
"Tell ."
Just then, Song Soo-yeon entered the room.
She paused as she saw , entering boldly but then stopping in her tracks.
She was considerate, not wanting to interrupt my call.
Solace continued.
"...Recently, you're the only one who recognizes as Min-Bom."
"..."
"...Everyone else knows as Solace."
Her words weighed heavy on my mind.
I hesitated, then spoke.
Getting swept up in the mood would only make it harder for her.
I decided to lighten the mood with a joke.
"...Soo-yeon knows too, right?"
"...Haha."
"And your parents does as well."
"...True."
I heard Solace take a deep breath.
Then her voice brightened.
"Got it, Oppa! If anything happens, shout my na loud, okay? And let know when those lurking people are gone!"
"Alright, got it."
"Okay, I'll be waiting!"
The call ended.
Song Soo-yeon, who had been standing at the door, slowly approached.
She sat down cautiously in front of and asked casually.
"Was that Solace Unni?"
"Yeah."
She rested her chin on the table.
"...When did you guys exchange numbers?"
"We've known each other for so long, exchanging numbers is nothing."
She glanced at sideways.
"Is that so? Has it been long since you exchanged numbers?"
"...No, actually we just did it yesterday."
"...I see."
Her voice lightened, and she stretched her neck, changing the atmosphere.
"Misster, so you will help , right?"
"Yes."
"Then shall we start right away?"
She asks more proactively than before, as if a new wind had blown.
"...Right now?"
"There's no reason to delay."
After a mont of thought, I nodded.
"That's true."
"...Phew."
Song Soo-yeon exhaled, releasing her tension.
Her doing so made tense as well.
What kind of request would she make?
I realized that whatever it was, it would likely be a first for too.
Song Soo-yeon suddenly stood up.
"Co-co with ."
Then she swiftly turned and left the restaurant.
I stayed inside alone for a mont, preparing myself, then followed her out.
A few things caught my eye.
Song Soo-yeon, exhaling and relaxing her tension... and those two n from earlier.
They were still there.
It was clear they were watching.
Creepy guys.
I wanted to confront them, but that wouldn't be typical behavior.
Maybe if I appear in front of them tomorrow or the day after, pretending it's a mistake and showing myself often, they might scatter on their own.
Either way, the next few days are going to be uncomfortable.
But is there nothing else for them to do?
All sorts of flies are attracted.
This discomfort is sothing I have to endure, not using my powers.
The re fact that soone is watching is unpleasant.
This too might be a habit from my villain days.
"Mister."
"Oh, yeah. Soo-yeon. I'm listening."
I then tuned out those n.
There's soone far more important right beside , in a much more important situation.
Song Soo-yeon stood next to .
"..."
She hesitated for a long ti.
It seed difficult for her to voice what she wanted to say.
No wonder.
She was about to ask for physical contact, sothing she herself disliked.
How difficult it must be to ask for sothing you hate.
"...Soo-yeon, speak freely. I know you don't really want to do this."
"..."
"...I think it's great that you want to change. So don't be embarrassed."
"Hold my hand."
After I reassured her, Song Soo-yeon finally spoke, suggesting just one thing before freezing again.
But I could sense all the changes happening in her body.
Slightly rough breathing.
Accelerated heartbeat.
Swallowing.
Reddening ears.
Her body, trembling ever so slightly.
She was very nervous.
Her fist was still clenched tightly.
I wasn't sure how she wanted to hold it.
Perhaps it was an unconscious defensive chanism.
To ease her tension, I asked a question first.
"Soo-yeon, wouldn't it have been okay to do this inside?"
The question was ant to lighten the mood, but part of it was also due to those n being botherso.
Song Soo-yeon shook her head.
"...My goal is to hold hands and go for a walk."
"Ah."
That made sense.
I nodded and looked down at her.
It was my turn to act.
I couldn't just let Song Soo-yeon keep trembling.
"..."
But as I went to hold her hand, a strange feeling erged.
The nervousness I felt initially resurfaced.
This was my first ti getting so close to soone.
I had held hands to break or twist them, but nothing like this.
Had I ever even shaken hands before?
But this wasn't a handshake.
Even I knew that much.
I slowly reached out my hand towards her.
As the back of my hand brushed against hers, Song Soo-yeon's whole body flinched.
Still, I didn't stop.
I placed my fingers one by one on her tightly clenched fist.
Starting from the pinky, then the ring finger, middle finger, and index finger.
I could feel her hand trembling slightly.
What was she feeling to tremble so much?
But whatever it was, she was suppressing it, mustering strength to evolve.
I couldn't let her down either.
After covering her fist with my palm, I carefully stroked her fingers.
Slowly, her fist opened in response to my gesture.
I slipped my hand between her unfolding fingers.
Her palm was damp.
"...Kuk-kuk."
Her tense appearance made chuckle.
Song Soo-yeon glanced up at montarily.
Her face was red like a strawberry, with a hint of moisture in her eyes.
She frowned as if annoyed by my laughter.
"Ah, sorry."
"...Eut...!"
When I apologized, Song Soo-yeon quickly turned her head away.
anwhile, we completed the interlocking of our fingers.
"..."
"..."
As expected, her hand was long and delicate.
We stood there, holding hands poignantly, in front of the restaurant.
We remained still until we beca accustod to each other.
After a few minutes, I asked.
"...Is it uncomfortable? Can you bear it?"
Song Soo-yeon replied curtly, seemingly trying to hide her embarrassnt.
"What will you do if I say it's uncomfortable? Let go?"
I affird naturally.
"I would let go."
"...Don't let go."
She gripped my hand tightly.
I was at a loss for words.
"..."
Though unexpressed, my feelings were warm and fuzzy.
Is this what it feels like to have a lover?
It didn't seem bad.
"Eut!"
As I thought this, Song Soo-yeon's face turned even redder.
"...Why?"
"No, nothing."
While we were sharing warmth, those two annoying n caught my eye again.
Now they were blatantly watching us.
They must have thought I wouldn't notice from this distance.
My elated mood quickly deflated.
I clicked my tongue quietly and spoke to Song Soo-yeon.
I didn't want to be like this in front of those guys.
"Shall we go for a walk now?"
"..."
Song Soo-yeon nodded silently without a word, showing only her profile to .
She seed to be smiling, but it was probably my imagination.
We naturally started walking.
As I felt in the morning, the weather was nice.
We didn't talk. There was no need to feel that.
The elated feeling I had settled stickily by the ti the walk ended.
I looked at my restaurant.
"...."
Unknowingly, my expression hardened.
No, it crumpled.
"Uh, Mister..."
Song Soo-yeon, equally startled, looked at our restaurant too.
She was alard by my expression.
It was felt through our clasped hands.
But I had no leisure to relax my face.
I just kept staring silently at my restaurant.
'F*cking bastard.'
'Damn a*shole.'
The two curses written in yellow spray paint all over my restaurant shook .
My deeply cherished restaurant was defiled.
I turned my head away.
The two n who had been watching us were now nowhere to be seen.
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