“…Do you actually know what you might be saying?”

“I’m not silly sufficient to neglect what I mentioned a couple of minutes in the past. So, I do know. I do know.”

“What are you considering?” mentioned Na-Yool in a single breath, releasing the air she had been holding again. Si-Jin shrugged his shoulder complacently and spoke up as his stare out of the blue penetrated her.

“Considering of turning into somebody who you’ll be able to trigger bother too.”

“…What does that even…”

“It means what it means.”

Si-Jin interrupted as if no extra phrases have been wanted. A couple of seconds of silence which felt like minutes stood between them. Na-Yool couldn’t stand it, and a severe query rolled out of her mouth.

“…Why do you out of the blue wish to date?”

Simply then.

“Automotive.”

A one-word warning, and in a flash the entrance passenger door slammed shut in entrance of Na-Yool’s eyes.

She stared in a daze at Si-Jin’s half physique caught to the automotive window from outdoors and the automotive that zoomed by behind him.

This man, how unimportant does he assume this matter is… Though her mind knew he had no different alternative, Na-Yool couldn’t suppress her anger for having the door shut to her face as a substitute of getting a solution from him.

Within the first place, was this how this subject ought to be mentioned? A automotive roughly parked in an alley, its proprietor confessing whereas standing crookedly in the direction of the passenger seat… ‘Confess’ not even within the current tense, as a result of he had already skipped the preliminaries and gone straight to the principle subject earlier than he obtained off the automotive. No, from the beginning, was not the bugging phrase ‘confess’ absurd? That immodest and shameless smug! Na-Yool glared at Si-Jin’s face by means of the door that opened once more. And when he seemed again at her in puzzlement, she was much more riled up.

“For now, get off. Except you wish to hold speaking like this on the street.”

“……”

“We are able to discuss as we go, or pack your issues first and focus on correctly after.”

“How might I be within the temper to pack first?”

“You don’t wish to?”

“You’ve obtained issues backward—”

“In the event you don’t need, keep right here.”

Na-Yool swiftly stepped out of the door opened by him. Then, she began strolling off with out wanting again. On the sound of Si-Jin catching as much as her as if mocking her hurried steps, she inexplicably grew aggravated and upset.

When she took two steps, he solely needed to take one. This hole, this inequality. From taking a number of steps to creating a dwelling, each matter appeared really easy to him. And even matter of the center.

What if she is mistaken, what if she is studying an excessive amount of into it, what if she finally ends up liking him one-sidedly, and consequently, what if she embarrasses herself… Generally she was compelled to take the shovel to dig her personal grave. In order that her ideas and emotions in the direction of him stay elusive. Like a hazy fog, she secretly hoped that this ambiguous relationship would final lengthy.

However how might it’s really easy for this man? Have been her efforts to keep up this ambiguity only a waste then?! To assume he had referred to as her a ‘arduous nut to crack’… Unbelievable! Na-Yool had climbed the steps with out a break. Out of breath, she puffed as often as doable to not let it present and entered the code of her residence’s door.

After which, she slammed the door shut earlier than Si-Jin might comply with in. Opposite to his worries, because of him, she had no time to consider this morning’s incident.

…But why am I so indignant?

She was certainly indignant, however definitely not at him. Just like the logic of ‘I drank alcohol however didn’t drive drunk’, Na-Yool rationalized her ideas. No… was she even indignant? She leaned in opposition to the door and tried to really feel a way of safety from the acquainted room. However removed from feeling secure, the dysfunction within the house even made her really feel dizzy.

Two brief knocks got here from the door behind. She straightened up and rotated, glared on the door for a second, and rapidly flung it open as if she might now not stand the confusion raging in her thoughts.

“—Are you okay?”

“—Do you want me?”

Inexplicable irritation, anger, the suffocating frustration… Possibly all merely was pretend, to defend her personal self from anticipating issues. A protection mechanism to stop her from blurting out such phrases.

Si-Jin remained silent. Seemingly not burdened, however neither puzzled nor happy. Only a refined in-between. Na-Yool deemed that there can be no additional reply from him and continued to completely converse up.

“If you’re simply appearing on a whim, then, I don’t wish to.”

“……”

“It was good to this point. I’ve by no means felt so carefree in my life… It was novel, and I preferred it. All was new and it was a primary. That I’d sleep round with out being in a relationship…  It goes in opposition to my morals, and I couldn’t do it even when I die, however I used to be amazed that I might do it with you… that stunning realization, I preferred it. The belief that I’m now not insignificant and boring.  Sure, to this point.”

“……”

“So, it can’t be greater than that. I don’t wish to be swayed by you this manner.”

“What method is that?”

“Like proper now. From again within the automotive until now.”

“……”

“You’re messing with my thoughts. Casually, and with ease, like this, on a whim.”

Si-Jin was nonetheless standing by the door with a wierd face. Na-Yool nodded with a satisfied expression as if he had answered one thing again.

“Subsequently, I’ll faux I didn’t hear it. I had deliberate to go to the true property company as we speak anyway and transfer home as quickly as doable. Thanks on your concern.”

“……”

“Affection actually is a scary factor. Having somebody such as you, who doesn’t appear sympathetic, to take care of me like this…”

Si-Jin grabbed Na-Yool’s wrist earlier than she might flip her again on him. She obtained startled and froze, however he quickly launched his grip, and their palms stilled within the air with out transferring distant from one another. A refined ambiance stuffed the silence which appeared to separate them for some time, earlier than being damaged by Si-Jin.

“…It’s not on a whim.”

“……”

“Neither out of any rattling sympathy.”

“……”

“……”

“…What’s subsequent?”

“……”

“Does nothing comply with after that?”

“…Let’s say I such as you.”

Was it the type of phrase that one would painfully exhale in a breath? Na-Yool snorted in derision and took again the hand that Si-Jin was now not holding on as if distancing herself.

“Let’s say? I should be such—”

“…I such as you.”

“—a joke to you! You assume you’ll be able to toy with me because it fits you, however since final time, it actually doesn’t really feel nice. This isn’t the way it ought to be. It shouldn’t—”

“—I mentioned, I such as you.”

“……”

Na-Yool sucked in deeply and stared stupidly at Si-Jin as if her breath was caught. He stared again with the identical decided gaze he had when he seemed down at her whereas opening the automotive door for her. Expressionless, however unshakable.

No, somewhat extra decided than again then. A bit of extra intense, and in addition…

“…Why are your ears so crimson?”

“……”

A pair of burning ears might be seen on both sides of his composed, chiseled face. Bewitched by the sight, Na-Yool stuttered, unable to take her eyes off.

“Mr. President, your- your ears…”

“…Sufficient.”

He didn’t even know that his complete face was shining a vibrant crimson.

Chapter 24 – Friday’s final stays (A)

Na-Yool had no concept how time flowed after Si-Jin’s confession. With flushed crimson faces and ears, they stood dealing with each other at her residence’s door body ‒ one in, one out ‒ and for a while, mutually casted a probing, unusual gaze to the opposite one whereas subtly avoiding one another’s eyes. Till, as if below a spell, Na-Yool finally packed her baggage and got here out.

The big purchasing bag she was carrying might hardly be thought-about baggage. However along with her head nonetheless elsewhere, it was all she might consider packing up. Merely wanting from the doorway, Si-Jin turned away and set off as quickly as she came visiting along with her purchasing bag. They went down the steps with out saying a phrase, as they did once they got here up. The silence was overwhelming.