Ch. 28 - Let's grab a bite sometime? (3)

Ms. Hye-Rim's voice always had a soothing effect on Jung Ha-Yeon. She couldn't understand why simply hearing a human voice could make her feel so good. Perhaps it was some kind of magic that Ms. Hye-Rim possessed.However, that warm feeling quickly turned cold.

[I'm going to the aquarium with Alice on Saturday.]

Ms. Hye-Rim is planning to visit the aquarium with Alice.

Jung Ha-Yeon sensed they had become close. She could tell by the way Alice looked at Ms. Hye-Rim, indicating some level of favorability.

So it wasn't surprising that they would spend time together.

But why does she feel so uneasy?

"Just the two of you?"

She asked, just in case. Are they going with just the two of them?

[Yes, well. That seems to be the case.]

Even though Ms. Hye-Rim took it lightly, Jung Ha-Yeon felt it was a big deal to her.

She couldn't explain why. Suddenly, she felt a tightness in her chest. Imagining Alice and Ms. Hye-Rim exploring the aquarium together made her feel terrible.

Was this what people called a date?

Though both were women and maybe they're just going out as friends., Jung Ha-Yeon couldn't stop the thoughts from racing through her mind.

'Ehehe~.'

Alice's expression mirrored the one Jung Ha-Yeon had seen at the Association before, when Ms. Hye-Rim affectionately patted her head.

It didn't seem like the face of someone who merely harbored some favorability.

Of course, the nature of Ms. Hye-Rim and Alice's relationship wasn't Jung Ha-Yeon's concern. She was merely an acquaintance of Ms. Hye-Rim's, nothing more.

That was true, but...

"Really...? Okay, so do you have time on Sunday?"

Jung Ha-Yeon didn't want to just sit around and do nothing. She had to do something with Ms. Hye-Rim.

She wanted to have a date with Ms. Hye-Rim too... No, She just wants to spend time with her. Spending time together is necessary for being friends, right?

So her Sunday must be mine.

In a moment of unknown crisis, Jung Ha-Yeon said something surprisingly bold, even for her.

"I'd love to spend some time with Ms. Hye-Rim, too. Can I see you on Sunday, even if it's just for a little while?"

[Uh...... Yes, sure, it's fine.]

Though she sensed a slight hesitation from Ms. Hye-Rim, her agreement was what mattered most.

Regardless of how she got her to agree, the important thing was that on Sunday, Jung Ha-Yeon would meet with Ms. Hye-Rim.

"Okay, so I'll see you then?"

[Okay, but when, where, and what are we doing?]

"I'll let you know later after giving it some thought."

She only wanted to meet Ms. Hye-Rim, but she hadn't considered what she actually wanted to do. Therefore, she decided to contemplate this thoroughly.

This would be her first meeting with Ms. Hye-Rim outside of work. She needed to carefully consider what they would do.

[...Okay. Then text me when you decide.]

"Okay, I will."

They said goodbye to each other and hung up the phone.

Jung Ha-Yeon found herself smiling, feeling better, until she noticed Lee Yoon-Seo looking at her with a slightly surprised expression.

"......Ha-Yeon."

"Huh?"

"You're more proactive than I thought, huh?"

While Shin Hye-Rim went out to talk with Jung Ha-Yeon, Team 5 members continued their discussion amongst themselves.

"Why's the Team Leader taking so long? It can't be about work again, can it?"

"I doubt it."

At Lee So-Young's words, Shin Yu-Sung smiled slightly.

"As far as she knew, the only people who would call her at this hour were Team Leader 1 or the chief, and the chief was probably off work, spending time with his family. So the only person who would call was Team Leader 1. She's probably just making small talk."

"...From the way you're talking, it sounds like she doesn't have any friends."

"That's not far off the mark."

Park Oh-Jin joined in with Shin Yu-Sung's comment.

"I can't say this in front of the team leader, but she's always been quite solitary. Not one to easily approach others or trust them."

"So-Young, ever heard of the lone wolf? That's our team leader."

"Really? She doesn't strike me as that type. She's tough, sure, but she also has a softer side."

While agreeing with Lee So-Young, Shin Yu-Sung continued.

"That's because her personality has only recently become flexible. If you saw the old team leader, you wouldn't be able to breathe in front of her."

"What? Was it really that bad?"

"Man, I still can't forget the first day I saw her. I thought that if there was an ability to kill people with just a glance, she must have it," Shin Yu-Sung exaggerated.

His words made Lee So-Young skeptical, but Park Oh-Jin laughed, agreeing that he was right.

"Before you came in, So-Young, she was a bit of a wild cat. She didn't allow anyone to talk to her except for business matters."

"Is that so? It's a little different from now. I can sort of imagine it, but at the same time, I can't imagine it at all."

"You don't have to know. Just know that she used to be that way. She doesn't seem to be as wary of others as she was then."

Park Oh-Jin had always thought of Shin Hye-Rim as a wild cat: a small animal that refuses to be touched, is wary of anyone, and has a fierce personality on top of that.

It's a perfect match for the Shin Hye-Rim of the past.

"Hmm~. So she used to be much scarier than she is now, huh?"

"So, So-Young, you should be careful when the team leader gets angry because that blonde witch from the past might wake up."

As the three of them discussed Shin Hye-Rim, the main character of their conversation returned to the store.

"What are you guys talking about so happily?"

Sitting down, Shin Hye-Rim asked nonchalantly.

"We were just talking about you."

"I see. It's customary to gossip when the boss isn't around. So-Young, you're a good worker now, too."

"I wasn't talking behind your back..."

"Really? Can you say that for sure?"

"......"

"Look at that. Since you're not saying anything, I'm sure you were talking behind my back."

Laughing, Shin Hye-Rim gulped down her beer. Seeing her like that, Lee So-Young imagined Shin Hye-Rim as Park Oh-Jin and Shin Yu-Sung had described her.

'Was this person really that fierce?'

Of course, Lee So-Young thought that Shin Hye-Rim was somewhat violent and scary. But she didn't think she'd be unable to look her in the eye.

'Come to think of it, she was also responsible for the bloodbath at the Hero Association.'

However, after listening to what Park Oh-Jin and Shin Yu-Sung just said and the ghost stories from the past, there was some credibility to it.

Lee So-Young looked at Shin Hye-Rim as she thought to herself.

Then Shin Hye-Rim turned her head and spoke to So-Young.

"Oh, right. So-Young, there's something I want to ask you."

"What is it?"

"What kind of gift would a girl be happy to receive?"

".....What?"

Jung Ha-Yeon's sudden shift in tone, expressing her determination to meet me on Sunday, resonated through the smartphone with a resolute undertone.

I found myself puzzled by her change in demeanor at the mention of meeting Alice and her insistence on seeing me this week. Perhaps she simply wanted to convey her gratitude in person once more.

That's just who she is—someone who reciprocates kindness, no matter what.

However, the issue arises with her request to meet on Sunday.

It's not that I objected to meeting her then. I'd gladly make time to see my favorite girl once more, regardless of any inconvenience.

But the concern lies with Jung Ha-Yeon.

"She'll have to block the gate again on Sunday."

This marks the end of episode 1 and the beginning of episode 2. The Class A gates are appearing less frequently now, and one is due to open this Sunday.

So when Jung Ha-Yeon asked to meet me on Sunday, I hesitated, knowing I couldn't simply tell her, 'Sorry, you won't be able to see me because the A-class gate will open that day.'

If I did, she'd inquire about how I knew that, which would complicate matters.

"Well, I have plenty of time, so she can meet me whenever she wants."

Still, I can't shake the feeling that she'll feel disappointed to have to leave for her weekend shift just when we were about to meet.

"Perhaps I'll find a way to make it up to her next time."

In the original manga, Jung Ha-Yeon endured a lot when blocking the gate. Offering her a gift to lift her spirits would also bring me satisfaction.

But the challenge is that I'm unsure of what she likes.

"In the original manga, she only mentioned that she's content with whatever Shin Chul-Min gives her."

Any gift from someone you care about is cherished. But I'm not Shin Chul-Min.

I know she likes me to some extent, but it's mostly a feeling of gratitude. It's not like she would be happy if I gave her a random rock from the street.

"In the original manga, there was no indication of Jung Ha-Yeon having any specific preference, but she's still a girl."

I guess I can give her anything she might like in moderation, excluding clothes and makeup. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NʘvᴇlFɪre.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

But I'm not originally a girl, so I have to ask someone who knows about girls.

With that in mind, I asked Lee So-Young.

"Just bring her a modestly sweet treat."

"Isn't that too simple?"

"It's not like you're giving a gift to your lover. What's the harm?"

"Hmm, fair point."

Regardless, I'm sure she won't dislike sweets.

Since I won't be seeing her this week, I'll save the gift for next week.

I almost went on an outing with someone on a rotation for three consecutive days, Friday through Sunday, straight. If the chief found out about this, he might even jest, 'Wow, Hye-Rim finally made a friend.'