Sick Day Home Date
'What're you doing?'
I locked eyes with Kang Hyeok through the crack in the door. He was staring right at me—or more precisely, at Choi Rin. Jealousy burned in his gaze.
Not anger, but jealousy...
If they were lovers or even just flirting, his eyes should've shown fury or betrayal. But no—it was pure jealousy.
Unrequited love?
Looks like they weren't even at the flirting stage yet. Then again, what Shimbu Rumkun had said was that they'd end up together eventually. Meaning, right now, they weren't connected.
This world's gonna be a cakewalk.
Siegfried's world had taken time because Cream and he were already childhood sweethearts, thick as thieves. But here? One-sided crush. Coworkers, nothing deeper. The odds were tilting my way.
I soothed the teary-eyed Choi Rin and sent her off. Then Kang Hyeok slunk out from hiding and entered the infirmary.
"Good work."
His words said one thing, but his eyes and tone were ice-cold.
"Just the captured villain's interrogation left. If you're hurting, take the day off at home."
He didn't want me showing up for work.
Should I? That's actually a great idea.
Pretend to be sick, take sick leave, and enjoy a home date with Choi Rin. Brilliant. Thanks for the suggestion, Kang Hyeok! You're helping me out here!
"Mind if I take that sick leave, then?"
"Of course! Rest up if you're sick!"
Oblivious to my intentions, Kang Hyeok beamed. Anyone would've thought he cared deeply about me.
I took the sick day. Finally, a chance to sleep in. Sure, I'd only woken up early for a few days anyway...
10:30 a.m.
Too late for breakfast, too early for lunch.
Brunch it is.
I figured I'd order some toast. Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang just as I opened the delivery app.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, Choi Rin."
I'd been about to call her, but she'd beaten me to it.
I opened the door, and there she was.
A different look from her usual tomboy style.
"Uh... you said I looked pretty, so... this isn't weird, right?"
She stared at the floor, mumbling so softly it was almost a whisper.
"Told you last time too—suits you perfectly. You gonna make me repeat myself till my mouth goes numb?"
She flashed a bright smile and stepped inside.
"You okay? Heard you called in sick."
She must've heard from Kang Hyeok and come to check on me.
Bet he's crying blood tears right now.
He'd suggested the sick leave himself, so he couldn't back out. And since I'd gotten hurt because of her, he had no grounds to stop her from visiting.
Perfect plan.
This was all his self-inflicted wound.
"Eh... just a little sore. Kang Hyeok suggested I take the day off, so I did."
"Phew... good. I thought I'd messed up somehow..."
She patted her chest in relief.
"You eaten yet?"
"Nah, was gonna get some toast."
"Perfect!"
She rummaged through her bag with a rustle.
"Brought lunch."
She pulled out a bento box. Opening the lid revealed a lavish spread—packed to the brim with meat. It screamed made by Choi Rin!
"Gotta eat well when you're sick! Meat! Meat builds stamina!"
I thought force-feeding meat to a sick person might be questionable, but...
I'm not really sick anyway.
I was faking. I just smiled and took the bento.
Nom... nom...
"Delicious."
Hard for meat to taste bad, and I wasn't dumb enough to complain.
Siegfried or Kang Hyeok might've, but not me.
"Really? First time making a bento. Glad you like it!"
Her smile made one creep onto my face too.
Grrrowl~
Her stomach rumbled.
"Ahaha... I ate breakfast, but... why am I hungry?"
She laughed awkwardly, avoiding my eyes in embarrassment.
"Let's eat together."
"Can't steal from a sick guy."
She refused, but...
"Plenty here."
Not a two- or three-tier—it was a towering four-tier bento, stuffed with meat. Even a burly guy couldn't finish it all.
"Maybe...?"
She glanced at me hesitantly.
"Come on, dig in."
I handed her chopsticks, and we ate together.
Nom nom nom~
She stuffed her cheeks full like a chipmunk.
How's that tiny mouth fitting all that...?
She crammed in so much meat, I half-expected her to sprout a bushy tail. Watching her stirred something lewd in me.
Can't wait to see those lips wrapped around mine later.
"Mmph? Mmmph!"
Mouth full, I couldn't make out the words, but the vibe was hurry up and eat.
"Slow down. Want some rice?"
No rice in her bento, of course.
"Yeah!"
I scooped her a bowl, and her meat vacuuming doubled in speed.
"I'm good now that I've checked on you. Gotta head back to the office."
We'd polished off the bento (mostly her), and she was leaving.
"Why not take the day off? We caught the villain—our work's done."
"Hmm..."
She pondered.
"You dressed up so cute for once. Gonna change right back?"
She glanced at the full-length mirror by the shoe rack, kicked off her shoes, and came back in.
"Maybe rest a bit longer?"
"Let's watch a movie!"
That "bit" would stretch all day.
"Popcorn, popcorn~ Movies need popcorn~ ♬"
Theater crowds would've drawn eyes, so home movie it was. Once decided, she dashed out for popcorn and cola.
We picked a superhero flick. Not my taste, but she loved it, so whatever.
"Whoa~ Never saw that coming!"
Post-movie review time.
Kinda childish, but...
It was watchable. Reviews done, we played board games and console stuff. I nailed her tastes from the last house raid.
"Woo~ That was fun! Hyeok never plays with me!"
"Yeah? Come over anytime you wanna game."
Subtly planting the idea: my place = perfect gaming spot.
"For real? I'll visit a lot~?"
"Anytime!"
Dinner capped the sick day home date.
"Rin! Why'd you bail yesterday?!"
First thing at work: Kang Hyeok's pissed-off voice.
"What's the big deal~? I miss a day or two, and you freak?"
Choi Rin played dumb, like she couldn't grasp his issue.
"I've told you a million times—act like a leader with some responsibility!"
He had a point.
She's lacking as a leader.
But say it out loud, and...
"You know how hard I bust my ass in the field! Then you yap from your desk?!"
She'd explode like that.
"No... that's not what I—"
"You desk jockeys have no clue about field risks!"
Pent-up nagging erupted.
"Why's it always go there?"
"Whatever! Fine, I'll 'leader' my ass to the interrogation—like you want! Let's go, maknae!"
Done talking, she grabbed me and stormed out.
Kang Hyeok muttered to himself, face blank with regret.
"Then... I'll head out too."
He glared daggers at me.
What? You screwed up.
Outside, a sulky Choi Rin waited.
"What's next?"
"Dunno."
Blurt without thinking.
"Date, then."
"D-de-date?!"
Her pissed-off face flushed silent.
"When a guy and girl have fun, it's a date!"
Lightened it so she wouldn't freak.
I took her hand, heading to the gacha shop from our last raid. The one with limited-edition Pandaring merch she loved.
"Whoa—! Limited Pandaring!"
"Heh—! Took some digging!"
She bounced with joy.
"Thanks!"
Overjoyed, she hugged me—then bolted to the display.
She cranked the gacha hard, but...
"Why! Why won't it drop?!"
Everything but the limited one.
"Lemme try."
Casual spin...
"No way—!"
Limited Pandaring on the first go.
"Even heaven's heartless!"
She despaired over a keychain.
"Here."
Handed it to her, slumped on the floor.
"Huh? For me?"
"Got one already."
She snatched it before I could change my mind. Eyes sparkling like a kid's.
"Now we're couple keychains?"
Showed her the one on my phone, emphasizing couple.
Bzzz—! Bzzzzz—!
Vibration killed the vibe. She checked her phone, powered it off, and pocketed it.
Damn it... why isn't she picking up?!
Called Rin again. Got the beep... then "phone off" message.
Why're you with that guy...?
Useless C-rank hero. Me? I'm her invaluable sidekick. She needs me by her side.
Only I can rein in her scatterbrained ass.
She thinks so too. Definitely...
So why did that face keep popping up? Rin alone with the maknae—not me—in the infirmary. That unknown expression haunted me.
No! He just sacrificed for her—that's why!
Rin's not some lightweight who'd fall for a guy she barely knows. Right?
Pushed the anxiety away.
When she sorts her feelings, I'll comfort her.
Yeah—one drink of her favorite booze, some talk, back to normal.