Chapter 50: Go away, you're a nuisance (5)
TL/Editor: Raei
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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."
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.
"Misster, so you will help me, 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 moment of thought, I nodded.
"That's true."
"...Phew."
Song Soo-yeon exhaled, releasing her tension.
Her doing so made me tense as well.
What kind of request would she make?
I realized that whatever it was, it would likely be a first for me too.
Song Soo-yeon suddenly stood up.
"Co-come with me."
Then she swiftly turned and left the restaurant.
I stayed inside alone for a moment, preparing myself, then followed her out.
A few things caught my eye.
Song Soo-yeon, exhaling and relaxing her tension... and those two men 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 something I have to endure, not using my powers.
The mere fact that someone is watching me 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 men.
There's someone far more important right beside me, in a much more important situation.
Song Soo-yeon stood next to me.
"..."
She hesitated for a long time.
It seemed difficult for her to voice what she wanted to say.
No wonder.
She was about to ask for physical contact, something she herself disliked.
How difficult it must be to ask for something 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 me to hold it.
Perhaps it was an unconscious defensive mechanism.
To ease her tension, I asked a question first.
"Soo-yeon, wouldn't it have been okay to do this inside?"
The question was meant to lighten the mood, but part of it was also due to those men being bothersome.
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 emerged.
The nervousness I felt initially resurfaced.
This was my first time getting so close to someone.
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 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.
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