Chapter 50: Go away, you're a nuisance (5)

Chapter 50: Go away, you're a nuisance (5)

TL/Editor: Raei

Schedule: 5/week, Mon-Fri

Illustrations: Here

Join the discord! Here

The phone rang.

It was Solace.

"Hey, Bom."

"Oppa, are you okay?"

Solace's voice dripped with worry.

"Should I come over there? Is it dangerous?"

She must have been concerned about someone 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. Come running."

"...Sorry."

"What's there to be sorry about."

"...Sorry."

A moment 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 costume and go to the restaurant? The paparazzi won't even know it's me."

Her plea made me feel incredibly weak.

I enjoyed spending time 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 became known that she had a direct connection with me, it would turn into a definite threat from the villains.

There might come a time 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 remember one thing."

"Tell me."

Just then, Song Soo-yeon entered the room.

She paused as she saw me, 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 me as Min-Bom."

"..."

"...Everyone else knows me as Solace."This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

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 name loud, okay? And let me 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 me 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 me 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.

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 me chuckle.

Song Soo-yeon glanced up at me momentarily.

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.

Meanwhile, 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 became accustomed 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 embarrassment.

"What will you do if I say it's uncomfortable? Let go?"

I affirmed 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 men 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 me.

She seemed 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 time 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 alarmed 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 me.

My deeply cherished restaurant was defiled.

I turned my head away.

The two men who had been watching us were now nowhere to be seen.