You Can't Let Your Guard Down #2
I gazed blankly at the sky, muttering to myself. Why do only tragic things keep happening to the people around me? Is it just my imagination?
Sehwa, who had been standing beside me, placed a hand on my shoulder with a complicated expression. Yeah, just stay silent and comfort me like that. Right now, I was putting on an act—playing the part of a heartbroken man on a scenic hill in Seoul.
It was all because of the story I'd told her at the freshman welcome party: that a close acquaintance of mine, someone like a personal secretary, was in critical condition. She'd bought it completely, and this was the result. The two of us had ended up holding a private consolation meeting.
After staring at the sky in silence for a long while, I turned my head toward Sehwa. My face was set in an expression that looked like I was barely holding back tears, trying to appear strong and composed. Sehwa was probably thinking how pitiful I looked right now.
In a choked voice, I said, “Thanks for coming.”
“Of course I had to.”
“It's getting late. Let's head down.”
At my words, Sehwa slowly shook her head. “Let's stay a little longer.”
“I'm feeling better now. Really, I'm fine.”
“When we get back, you'll just be alone at home. So listen to me.”
With a troubled look in my eyes, I slowly placed my hand over Sehwa's where it rested on my shoulder. Her body trembled ever so slightly. But she didn't pull her hand away. Instead, she simply offered a gentle smile that said everything would be okay.
Sehwa's current behavior stemmed from sympathy. But it was clear she also held some affection for me. Good. This was enough.
Now it was time to show her Yu Seunghyeon at work.
I lowered my hand and said to Sehwa, “Suddenly I'm really craving a drink.”
Sehwa let out a small laugh. As if a good idea had struck her, she raised one finger and pointed at the sky. “They say it's going to rain tonight. Want to get some pajeon and makgeolli?”
“It's going to rain?”
“Yeah.”
Pajeon and makgeolli... Yeah, there's nothing better on a rainy day. But not today. Because I'm going to show you Yu Seunghyeon.
“Instead of that, let's go to the bar where your boyfriend, Yu Seunghyeon, works.”
“Hmm... I'd like that too, but... he told me not to come to his workplace.”
“Wouldn't it be fine as long as we don't get in the way? Do you know where it is?”
“Yeah. It's near our house. He said it's a bar in front of the Gold Perfume Hotel in Handae Street...”
The Gold Perfume Hotel. The one I had acquired. Handae Street was the collective name for the commercial district around Korea University and the surrounding area.
But a bar in front of it? Why would he lie about working somewhere like that? This only works out in my favor.
“Yu Seunghyeon said he wanted to thank me in person too. Let's take this chance and go see him.”
“That's true, but... I really wanted to set up a proper meeting separately.”
This was trickier than expected... What now...
As I pondered how to break through the situation, Sehwa's next words made me cheer inwardly.
“But today, I think it's okay to at least say hello. Honestly, I haven't been able to see Seunghyeon much lately, so I miss him.”
“That much?”
“Yeah. He works without any days off. We keep texting, but...”
Nothing beats seeing each other in person. That's why you were able to get so close to me so quickly.
I grinned. “Then let's do this. We'll sneak in quietly, and if he looks busy, we'll just leave. It might annoy him if we're drinking while he's working hard. Like, 'I'm busting my ass and you two are just leisurely knocking back drinks?' He might think something like that.”
A soft curve appeared in Sehwa's eyes. She seemed to really like this kind of consideration. She also looked relieved that I, who had been so sad earlier, was smiling again.
But what can I say, Sehwa? I was never sad to begin with.
The bar was incredibly busy. To exaggerate a bit, there wasn't even room to stand. Yet even though the staff had to handle multiple tables, one employee fixed his gaze squarely on Sehwa and answered her questions with utmost sincerity.
Why? Because she was incredibly beautiful. There was no other reason.
“There is no employee named Yu Seunghyeon here.”
“There isn't? He started about a month ago... Did he quit?”
“I've been working here for a year, and no new hire named Yu Seunghyeon has ever come in.”
“R-really?”
A flustered Sehwa looked up at me. The employee's gaze naturally shifted to me as well. Just look at that face full of hostility.
I completely ignored him and shrugged at Sehwa. “Looks like we came to the wrong place... He said he worked at a bar in front of the Gold Perfume, right? He didn't tell you the name?”
“No.”
“Then let's check the others. There are two more around here...”
A bar in front of the Gold Perfume was basically this one. The other two were a bit farther away. Sehwa seemed to realize that too, because anxiety flickered in her eyes.
“Okay...”
Getting flustered already? You might actually faint soon.
Leaving behind the jealous employee's glare, I pushed through the crowds of Handae Street with Sehwa and checked the two other bars. And of course, Sehwa couldn't find Yu Seunghyeon anywhere.
“What the hell...? Maybe it's a different hotel? I think I might have mixed up the name...”
She was still confused. She hadn't even considered that Yu Seunghyeon might have lied. Well... with that solid trust of hers, I suppose that's understandable.
I asked, “Why don't you try calling him?”
“I just did, but he didn't pick up.”
He must be busy running errands. Honestly, suggesting she call was just a formality. I already knew exactly where that bastard was.
Right now, Yu Seunghyeon was at a convenience store a few blocks away. By the way, the tracking demon's effect was outstanding. I could pinpoint not only Yu Seunghyeon's location but Yuria's as well. I hadn't located Silvia yet, but I would soon enough.
“Hmm... Then let's just go anywhere and drink. We can greet Yu Seunghyeon another time.”
At my suggestion, Sehwa lowered her long lashes. She really was beautiful. So beautiful.
“Alright.”
“There's a street stall on the road in front of the Gold Perfume selling noodles. Want to grab a quick bite there before we go?”
“Noodles sound good... But when did you see a street stall?”
“I tend to notice things around me pretty well.”
“That's true. Shall we?”
And so we headed to the small street stall on the roadside in front of the hotel. I ordered anchovy noodles and soju, then chuckled as I watched Sehwa cutely rubbing her wooden chopsticks together.
“They haven't even come out yet...”
“It's been a while since I had noodles, so I'm excited.”
“They serve noodles at the school cafeteria too.”
“They taste awful.”
“Yeah, that's true.”
As we chatted casually, a kind-looking auntie brought out the noodles. Without needing any cue, Sehwa and I both thanked her at the same time, then filled each other's soju glasses.
Even as I clinked glasses with her, I kept a close eye on Yu Seunghyeon's location. He was currently loitering near the hotel entrance. Curious, I took a sip of soju and glanced sideways at the Gold Perfume Hotel. I saw a young woman arguing with a customer.
A troublemaker customer, obviously. It was clear at a glance. And Yu Seunghyeon was trying to mediate between them.
Perfect angle, perfect composition, perfect distance. Time to let her know.
I downed the soju in one swift gulp and pointed at the hotel with my finger. “Looks like there's some kind of lover's quarrel over there.”
A lover's quarrel. The kind of fight that's the most entertaining to watch after a full-on brawl—pure, primal entertainment.
With a face full of curiosity, Sehwa followed the direction of my finger. She tilted her head for a moment, then her expression froze.
She saw it.
Yu Seunghyeon protecting the young woman. The troublemaker customer throwing a tantrum at both of them. It was a flawless scene.
I inwardly mocked Yu Seunghyeon to my heart's content before asking with a puzzled look, “What's wrong?”
Sehwa's hand trembled slightly, and then she stood up from her seat.
“Wait... Just wait here a second. There's something I want to check.”
Without waiting for my reply, she left the stall. I'll watch from a distance, then. First, let me finish these noodles.
I amplified my vision and hearing, then leisurely watched Sehwa approach Yu Seunghyeon. As the distance closed, he noticed her too. His face gradually stiffened, and by the time she was right in front of him, he couldn't hide his panic.
Whoa... just look at that face. It's priceless! The soju tastes especially sweet today.
Sehwa immediately realized that Yu Seunghyeon had lied to her. The two of them began arguing in earnest—or rather, it was mostly Sehwa lashing out at him.
When a third party suddenly appeared, the flustered troublemaker customer slipped away. The young woman, who had looked relieved, suddenly stepped in front of Yu Seunghyeon and said,
“Who the hell are you to yell at my uncle like that?”
Huh? She's throwing fuel on the fire. If it weren't for her, Sehwa might have calmed down after listening to Yu Seunghyeon's excuses. I'll have to tell Marcela to give her a bonus.
Anyway, the woman's behavior only fueled Sehwa's anger even more. In the end, Yu Seunghyeon coaxed and persuaded the young woman until she went down to the basement.
Then Sehwa exploded. “Uncle? Since when did he become your uncle? Are you raising a niece now? And what the hell was that just now? You have time to look after her? You're really full of yourself, aren't you?”
Yu Seunghyeon fumbled for words. “No... Everyone here calls the female staff 'uncle' as a term... And Sehwa, I'm sorry for working in a place like this, but I had no choice if I wanted to earn a lot of money...”
“Is that what's important right now? You don't even care that you lied to me?”
“That's not it... Let's go somewhere quiet first and talk seriously...”
“Talk seriously? Why don't you do that with that woman!”
With that, Sehwa turned and walked back toward the street stall. Naturally, Yu Seunghyeon tried to stop her. Well, whether he caught her or not, I just had to watch until their fight ended and then comfort the upset Sehwa...
“Uncle! The manager's calling! There's a fight downstairs! The girls are pulling each other's hair—it's a total mess!”
A pretty young woman urgently called out to Yu Seunghyeon. He looked back and forth between Sehwa and the woman, hesitating. And the choice he made was...
“Sehwa, I'm sorry! I'll be right back, so please wait for me!”
He left those words to hold her there and headed down to the basement. Yeah, he can't afford to get fired from a job that pays this well, so he has to listen. Good attitude.
By the way, what a stroke of luck? No... This wasn't luck. It was clearly Marcela's arrangement. She must have known I was trying to plant distrust in Sehwa today and set this up. As expected, you're the best advisor. When I get back, I won't make you lick my toes... I'll just give you proper praise.
“Ha... This is seriously ridiculous...”
Sehwa stared in the direction Yu Seunghyeon had gone, her face a picture of disbelief. It hurts, doesn't it? Feels like the sky is falling, right? Well, maybe not quite that bad. Still, the person who's only ever told you the truth suddenly lies, and instead of trying to hold onto his long-time girlfriend, he chooses that? Yeah, you'd be pissed.
I had already paid the bill while they were fighting and was now standing on the street with a helpless expression. Sehwa spotted me, marched over furiously, and asked,
“Did you see that?”
“I didn't mean to... Sorry.”
“No need to apologize. Let's just go.”
“Uh... Where...?”
“Anywhere. I need to cool off right now. Maybe back to that hill where we were earlier.”
I nodded and carefully lifted one hand. A plastic bag containing cloudy broth and colorful vegetables. Seeing it, Sehwa asked,
“What's that?”
“The noodles... It seemed a waste, so I had them pack it up...”
Sehwa stared at me with a dumbfounded look. She glanced back and forth between the bag in my hand and my face, then finally let out a small laugh as if she couldn't help it.
With an innocent face, I asked, “Should I buy some disposable bowls...? Want to eat it there?”
“Seriously... How can you be such an idiot... Fine, let's do that. We'll have to stop by a convenience store on the way. It'll be all soggy and won't taste good, though.”
“Then should I buy new ones?”
“No, it's fine. Let's just go.”
Her tone and expression had returned to normal. That's when I realized what kind of feelings Sehwa held toward me.
There was a place for me in her heart. Of course, it was probably tiny. It might just be something sitting unconsciously in the back of her mind. But it was there.
After today, that spot would grow even bigger.
As I followed behind Sehwa, who was walking away from this place, I hunched my shoulders like a guilty man and thought,
The preparations are complete.
All that remained was the transformation. Amducias, just wait a little longer. I'll make sure you can run wild to your heart's content.