7. Not a Parasite, It's a Pillar Husband.
I quickly washed up and headed down to the restaurant on the lower floor. Cheong-ah and Bella were already there, waiting. Was something bothering Cheong-ah with me? She'd been acting a bit off since today—no, more precisely, ever since we got back from the guild. Even now, she seemed strange. Normally, she'd wait for me to finish washing or wash after me. But today, before I could even step into the room, she'd dashed in and beaten me to it.
Okay, fine, washing first isn't a big deal. She's a woman, after all. And our recent "baths" had just been in ice-cold stream water. Of course she'd want a proper hot soak after so long. Totally understandable.
But then she just heads downstairs alone without a word to me. That was totally out of character for her. No way I wouldn't feel something was off.
What did I do wrong? I pondered for a second, then walked over to them and pulled out an empty chair to sit down. We ended up positioned like we'd perfectly trisected a circle—same as always. But the atmosphere felt stiff, unlike usual. I cleared my throat awkwardly and broke the ice.
"Ahem. Uh, have you ordered yet?"
"Huh? Oh, when'd you get here? Nah, not yet."
"……."
Bella had been staring off into space, unfocused, until my cough snapped her out of it. Cheong-ah met my eyes but immediately turned her head away without answering.
……What's going on with these two?
"Got it. I'll just order then. Bella, the usual meat dishes for you, right?"
"Yeah, whatever."
She nodded vaguely and sank back into her thoughts. I turned to Cheong-ah, recalling what she usually ate, and asked. But her response was something I hadn't expected.
"Cheong-ah, you want something with veggies in it...?"
"……Dunno. Not hungry. Can I just head up first?"
Then why'd you come down? The words nearly slipped out, but I bit them back. She clearly had a bunch of grievances with me right now—saying that would've just dug the hole deeper.
"H-huh? W-what's wrong? You feeling okay?"
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me, dear. It's nothing. I'll sleep it off."
With that, she stood up and headed straight for the stairs.
What's her deal? Her actions were so unlike her usual self that I racked my brain trying to figure it out.
"Hmm."
It hit me after a moment: today must be one of her sensitive days. Was that it? But even for that, she seemed extra prickly today. I should probably try to soothe her. First, I turned to Bella, who was still lost in thought.
"Bella, I'm heading up too. Looks like you'll have to eat lunch alone."
I scraped my chair back and stood. Bella finally focused on me, glanced sideways to confirm Cheong-ah was gone, then asked,
"Huh? What? Where'd Cheong-ah go? And where're you off to?"
"Uh, well……."
What the hell was she thinking about so hard...? I started to explain Cheong-ah's behavior but shook my head and made something up instead. Better she stay in the dark if she didn't know.
"Cheong-ah doesn't feel well. I'm gonna look after her. Sorry about lunch—you're on your own. We'll eat dinner together, promise."
"What? Ju Cheong-ah? She's sick? What the hell's up with her all of a sudden. Fine, go. See you at dinner."
"Yeah. Enjoy your lunch."
As I turned to leave, she called out. I looked back to see her smirking faintly.
"Oh, right. Hey, Ian."
"Yeah?"
"Can I have some booze?"
"……Just a little."
"Heh heh... Thanks."
Once Ian headed upstairs, Bella's upturned lips drooped right back down.
"……That bastard, lying."
Ju Cheong-ah sick? Bullshit. That bitch had been perfectly fine just a minute ago. Grumbling to herself, Bella leaned back in her chair, sprawling out. She lazily raised a hand and ordered some lunch... no, drinking snacks.
"Beer—the biggest one. Actually, just bring a whole oak barrel. Ian's paying."
Thinking about Ian going up to Cheong-ah soured her mood even more.
'Guess I'll drown it in booze.'
She had plenty to mull over already, and now weird interruptions kept pissing her off. Lately, Ian had been taking up more and more space in her head. She'd been barely holding it together, acting normal despite the awkwardness creeping in... until it all blew up at the guild today.
'My desire? You lunatic.'
Pfft—remembering that made her lips twitch up involuntarily. But then she thought of Ju Cheong-ah, and they sagged again.
'......Fuck, Ju Cheong-ah.'
This irritation wasn't some petty jealousy. She didn't have the kind of twisted morals that lusted after another woman's man. It was just that Ian kept shaking her up like this, and meanwhile, Cheong-ah shot her those jealousy-filled glares every time. The funniest part? Cheong-ah didn't even realize she was jealous.
Anyway, it left her feeling all kinds of weird. In the end, wasn't it all Ian's fault?
"Ugh, whatever. What's the point of overthinking? Since when did 'thinking' fit with me anyway?"
Just as she gave up sorting through her tangled thoughts, the food arrived. The aromas wafting from the dishes made her sit up straight. And with a thunk, a massive oak barrel—big as her torso—landed on the table. Seeing it slosh with fresh, hoppy beer, Bella grinned in satisfaction.
Yeah, what was the use of brooding alone?
"Time to drink and see!"
Leaving Bella behind, I headed up to the room. I debated knocking but just went in with my key. There was Cheong-ah, lying on the bed. As I crept closer, my foot bumped into her clothes scattered at the foot—clearly what she'd been wearing moments ago. Even the bandages binding her chest were undone.
What's with the mess? She never leaves clothes strewn like this. Cheong-ah always folded everything neatly, no matter the situation. But now her stuff was just dumped everywhere. Was she really that sick and just wanted to nap?
As I approached quietly, her voice came.
"Why'd you come up? Go eat."
"Huh? No way. How could I eat after you left like that? I was worried."
"......I told you not to worry about someone like me."
"What're you saying? How could I not worry about you?"
I sat on the bed and gently touched her shoulder. She swatted my hand away.
"Just worry about Bella. I'm not even on your radar anyway."
"What? No, what the hell? Why wouldn't you be? I think about you all the time."
Not on her radar? What does that even mean? Sure, I'd been paying more attention to Bella lately, but I'd never neglected Cheong-ah.
I tried explaining, but she snorted and pulled the blanket over her head.
"Hmph. Liar."
"No, that's......"
As I started to respond, a thought struck me.
Wait, no way.
"Cheong-ah, are you... jealous?"
The blanket twitched.
"......N-no. I don't get jealous. Hating on another woman isn't fitting for a proper wife......"
Her reaction made me chuckle. I poked a little more.
"You are jealous, huh?"
"......No."
"You totally are."
"......I'm not."
"Then pull back the blanket. Let me see your face."
"......N-no. I don't wanna."
"Why not?"
"My face looks super ugly right now."
Ugly? Cheong-ah? Even if she scrunched up in embarrassment, she'd just look cute.
"It's fine. You couldn't possibly look ugly. You're always pretty."
"......Hmph. You think sweet-talking me will make me happy?"
"Yeah. You look happy—the blanket's shaking."
"......Ugh! Y-you... Stop teasing me!!"
As she tried to retort, I grabbed the edge of the blanket and yanked it off with force. Caught off guard, she forgot to hold on, and it flew away. Her eyes were red-rimmed and teary, a bit of snot leaking out. But cute overtook gross in my mind.
"Kyaa?! D-don't look! Give me the blanket!"
She screamed, covering her face with one hand, fumbling for the blanket with the other. No chance. I dodged her hand, whisked it away completely. It tumbled under the bed, leaving her explosive figure in just a thin white slip fully exposed.
"Blanket... give it baaack...!"
I caught her reaching arm, pushed her back against the bed, pinned her other arm—the one shielding her face—and exposed it fully. She twisted her head, struggling to hide.
"D-don't loooook......"
"It's okay."
You're adorable right now. I whispered in her ear and slowly brought my lips to hers.