The Shy Author's Secret
This isn't easy. "Crazy!!!" Wait a second.
My returning consciousness told me to lift my head and look around. I did exactly that, only to find every pair of eyes in the room fixed on me.
'...'
Their eyes were wide, filled with nothing but stunned bewilderment. The most burdensome gaze of all belonged to Kang Ajin. Her shoulders twitched and trembled, her eyes darting around in visible panic. She looked, for all the world, like a kitten caught in the rain.
......
That's not the important part right now.
'Heh...'
Act natural. I kept my expression blank and lowered my gaze. After an awkward cough, the surrounding stares gradually drifted away one by one.
'How embarrassing.'
Anyway, back to the main issue. It seems my favorite author and Kang Ajin are the same person. Of course, it's still too early to be certain. I could've been mistaken.
'Come to think of it... she just uploaded a chapter.'
I'd seen it clearly—the exact moment she registered the new episode. I swallowed hard and turned on my phone. As I opened the novel site, a notification popped up. And sure enough...
'It really went up...'
The next chapter from my favorite author had just been posted. The pen name I'd glimpsed with my own eyes, combined with the perfectly timed upload, pointed to one undeniable conclusion.
'So she really is that genius author?'
She doesn't look the part at all. Why? The author I know is lively and full of energy in her replies, but Kang Ajin is quiet and reserved. Hmm. Let me think back to our conversations.
She'd get worked up over even the smallest donation, always lifting the corners of my mouth.
The author's messages were brimming with passion and energy. There was something strangely magnetic about them. In any case, she seemed like the lively type. Talking with her, I'd assumed she must be some incredible social butterfly.
'But Kang Ajin isn't like that at all.'
The lively, emoji-filled tone of the author and the real Kang Ajin, who only mumbled with her head down, were polar opposites. Their personalities were completely incompatible. It was impossible to believe they were the same person.
'Still, it seems like they match...'
No matter how much I tried to deny it, the facts wouldn't change. In the end, I accepted the truth, and a single thought naturally formed in my mind.
The author of Three Meals a Day Cup Ramen, who had been showing signs of nearing the end. I glanced sideways at her in the flesh.
'If she really is that author...'
This could be an opportunity. A chance to prevent the novel from going on hiatus.
'...I have to save her.'
No matter what it takes. I made that vow.
"That's all for today."
Class had ended before I knew it. The professor left, followed by the students. Among them was Kang Ajin, who had been sitting beside me.
"W-wait a second."
The words slipped out before I could stop them. Once again, it was a reflexive action, like my spine had moved on its own.
"M-me?"
"Uh, yeah."
I'd stopped her, but I didn't actually have anything to say. It had been an impulsive move, so of course there was no plan. I fumbled for words, trying to keep the conversation going.
"Well, you see... I have something important to talk about. Got a minute? I'll buy you coffee."
"......?"
As if my effort had paid off, Kang Ajin nodded. From the look on her face, she'd been swayed by the offer of free coffee. Somehow, I'd convinced her, and we headed toward a nearby café.
"......"
"......"
The walk there was painfully awkward and heavy. It was our first time alone together, and she was the opposite sex, so neither of us could easily start talking. On top of that, Kang Ajin seemed to dislike people, which made me even more afraid of saying the wrong thing.
"Ahem."
"!"
See? She jumped just because I cleared my throat. I glanced at her hunched shoulders and softened the sound of my cough.
"Um. Do you not like coffee?"
"H-huh?!"
She clearly hadn't expected me to speak to her. That reaction flustered me too, but I kept going without showing it.
"You looked like you were in a bad mood. You're not forcing yourself to come because you hate coffee, are you?"
"N-no...! I just... don't have an appetite!"
"Whoa, really? Then you're not forcing yourself to drink coffee either? Just because I asked?"
"Ah, no! I like coffee. P-probably..."
Judging by her expression, it really did look like she was being forced. There are people like that—too kind-hearted to refuse anyone's request. Kang Ajin seemed to be one of them. She looked far too pure.
'It feels like I'm bullying her or something.'
Unable to bear the guilt creeping up on me, I added a few more words.
"If you're busy, you can go. It wasn't anything important anyway. No need to force yourself to make time."
She tilted her head, then shook it vigorously. Her voice carried a hint of urgency, as if she were trying to comfort me after seeing my gloomy expression.
"I have plenty of time! And... it's not like you're making me uncomfortable either, so don't misunderstand!"
"Huh? I didn't misunderstand anything like that."
"...!"
The atmosphere was so awkward that I ended up cracking a joke without thinking. I chuckled inwardly while watching Kang Ajin's face.
'Heh heh.'
How should I put it? She looked like there was a giant exclamation mark floating above her head. Her over-the-top reaction made me let out a small laugh.
"Don't tell me you actually thought that about me?"
"N-no, that's not it!"
"Tsk. I'm hurt. Sorry. I won't talk to you anymore from now on. I must've overstepped."
"Ugh... I'm sorry..."
Her voice trembled slightly. Her deflated expression was more than enough to awaken the protective instinct buried inside me. In the end, I found myself reflecting on my actions.
'...I'm such a jerk.'
Teasing a girl this sweet... I'm definitely going to hell. Yeah, that kind of joke was crossing the line from the very first meeting. I'll hold back next time.
Before long, we arrived at the café. Before ordering, I told her to pick something first.
'I wonder what she'll choose.'
Kang Ajin hummed in thought. I waited, listening closely. If "chocolate latte" came out of her mouth, that would add more credibility to the theory that she and the author were the same person.
'The author said she only drinks chocolate lattes at cafés.'
Especially since she apparently hated Americanos the most. She'd only tried one once in her entire life. Just in case, I made a suggestion to the hesitating girl.
"I'm getting an Americano. Want one too?"
She gave a small nod. It was clearly a gesture of agreement, but her expression told a completely different story. Her face, now filled with anxiety, practically screamed, "I hate Americanos..."
"Never mind. I'm getting tired of Americanos, so I'll get something else. You want something different too?"
"Y-yeah!"
Her nod was much more energetic this time. She really must hate Americanos that much.
'Hmm. So it really is a chocolate latte?'
Just as I was waiting for her lips to part, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I glanced at Kang Ajin before pulling it out.
'Park Kangtae? Oh, right. I forgot.'
We were supposed to go to the next class together. He must've called because I suddenly disappeared. I gave Kang Ajin a wry smile.
"Mind if I take this call real quick?"
"S-sure."
"I'll be right back, so could you order for us? Just get me whatever for mine."
"H-huh?"
I handed her my card with my other hand. But Kang Ajin only fidgeted with her fingers, refusing to take it.
"Y-you want me to... order?"
"Yeah? What did you say?"
Her voice was so quiet I couldn't hear her. I tilted my head and asked again, but...
"Ah, it's nothing..."
She shook her head and swallowed her words. It didn't seem like nothing. It was written all over her face.
'I'll deal with the call first.'
Putting out the urgent fire came first. Park Kangtae holds grudges for a long time, after all.
"Thanks! If you're hungry, feel free to order some bread too!"
With that, I hurried outside.
#
Even though it wasn't cold, her shoulders were hunched up tightly. Kang Ajin lowered her head and tried to organize her thoughts.
'What should I do...'
Whenever she went to a café, she always chose unmanned ones. The reason was simple: the ordering process was too difficult. Just talking to a part-timer was an enormous ordeal for her. After agonizing over it for a long time, Kang Ajin steeled her resolve in about three minutes and shuffled toward the counter.
"What would you like to order?"
For a moment, her mind went completely blank. She'd carefully chosen her words and even run through multiple simulations, but the moment the real situation hit, her thought process short-circuited.
"Excuse me, miss?"
The part-timer's gaze felt unbearably heavy. Unable to meet it, she lowered her head.
"Are you ready to order now?"
Faced with the question once more, she forced her mouth open with great difficulty.
"Ah, no..."
In the end, Kang Ajin chose to escape the situation.