Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Angel and Demon (2)
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Dust drifting between the library shelves sparkled in the sunlight.
Bella sorted the returned books while staring blankly out the window.
Just thinking of his face from yesterday made her lips curl up involuntarily.
"Bella, have you finished sorting the books?"
Startled by her colleague's voice, Bella whipped her head around.
"Ah, yes! I'm doing it right now."
She hurried with her hands, but her mind was entirely on last night.
The warmth of his body under the large umbrella, the pleasant touch of their shoulders brushing—it all felt so vivid still.
'Ah, I'm going crazy. Focus on work.'
Of course, it wasn't that easy to concentrate, as she told herself.
When she tried to shelve a book, she'd put it in the completely wrong spot, and when taking a loan request, she even wrote down that man's name instead of the customer's.
"Bella, you're acting a bit off today. Are you feeling okay?"
"No! I'm fine. Just a little tired."
It wasn't tiredness—it was that she couldn't get her head straight because she kept thinking of someone—but how could she say that?
Bella glanced at the clock.
Lunchtime hadn't even come yet, and quitting time was still far off.
"Haa..."
A long sigh escaped her lips.
Back in hell, every day had been boring and stifling, but she'd never felt time drag like this.
As Bella stared blankly at the clock, its round face suddenly morphed into his.
'Aah, I'm losing my mind.'
It didn't stop there—his calm voice and the perfect memory of him caring for her in the rain swirled through her head.
'Haa... Today, I have to at least get his home address so I can send a letter.'
Bella clenched her fist, and the books in her hand tumbled to the floor.
Thud crash—!
"Bella?!"
"S-Sorry!"
The long day finally waned into evening.
The moment quitting time hit, Bella bolted out of the library.
Usually, she strolled leisurely, but today her steps were quick and urgent.
'What if he's already at the cafe? No, what if he doesn't come?'
All sorts of thoughts swirled in her mind.
Arriving at the cafe, Bella peeked through the glass window.
'He's here!'
At the same table where the owner had seated them together last night after urging them.
There he was, sipping coffee and reading a book.
Bella's heart began to pound.
'What do I do? How should I make my entrance?'
She hurriedly checked her reflection in the window.
Is my hair okay? Clothes not wrinkled? Makeup not smudged?
"It's fine. I'm as pretty as always today. Mhm."
Taking a deep breath, Bella pushed open the cafe door.
Ding-a-ling—
With the bell's chime, owner Luhan looked up from the counter.
"Welcome~ That's the gentleman from yesterday, right?"
"Yes, hello."
Bella tried to act calm as she greeted Luhan.
But her gaze was already fixed toward the window seat.
At that moment, Rael looked up and saw her.
Their eyes met.
"..."
"..."
As they stared blankly in silence, Luhan cleared his throat and asked,
"Would you like to order, miss?"
"Ah, yes! An espresso, please. But it's really free, right?"
"Of course. Come every day, no pressure. I told that gentleman the same. Where would you like to sit?"
As Bella opened her mouth to answer Luhan,
Rael, who had been watching her, spoke first.
"This seat's empty. Would you like to join me?"
"Pardon?"
Bella doubted her ears.
This stoic man was offering her a seat first?
"We met yesterday by chance, so no need to sit separately."
"Then, thank you. I'll sit here."
Bella carefully took the seat across from him.
Her heart felt like it would burst, but she kept her cool on the outside.
She'd gotten the chance to sit at the same table, but there was one big problem.
'How do I keep the conversation going...?'
Bella screamed inwardly.
'Aaaah, I need to say something.'
She hated herself for just gaping like an idiot during this golden opportunity.
Same situation as yesterday.
"Here's your espresso. Have a nice time."
The awkward silence between the two broke only when the owner arrived, just like last night.
"Thank you, sir."
As Bella sipped her ordered coffee, he read his book across from her.
"Did you get home safely after walking me yesterday?"
"Yes, my place isn't too far, so I got back quickly."
Here, Bella had no choice but to hesitate.
Should she ask for his home address?
She could ask casually, but after only meeting once, would seeming too forward make him dislike her? That worry held her back.
And then.
"Ah, mind if I ask for both your addresses? I'm so grateful you came again today—I'd like to send a little gift."
Luhan, hating the awkwardness, threw a straight pitch for her.
Bella couldn't help but be shocked.
The timing was so perfect, she wondered if he'd read her mind.
Unlike the flustered Bella, Rael wrote down his address right away at the mention of a gift.
"Now just the lady needs to write hers."
Luhan pointed right below Rael's address on the paper.
And in that brief moment, Bella memorized Rael's address.
'Okay. Not far from my place.'
"Hold on a sec. The pen's ink is running out—I'll grab a new one."
To give Bella enough time just in case, Luhan deliberately dragged it out.
Thanks to that, his address was perfectly etched in her mind.
"All done."
With Bella's address in hand too, the cafe owner grinned mischievously and returned to the counter.
"Wonder what gift the owner will send."
Rael asked lightly, eyes still on his book in a relaxed pose.
"Hmm... Coffee beans?"
"Then we wouldn't come back to this cafe anymore."
"No idea. What do you think, Rael?"
She said his name casually.
Bella hid her excitement and waited for his response.
"Not sure why, but I feel like he'll send different gifts to each of us."
"Why?"
"Just a hunch."
With that, he turned back to his book.
Bella bit her lip watching him.
'What's with this guy? Is he not interested in me...?'
He'd started the talk, but his gaze wasn't on her.
But she wasn't one to give up here.
"What book are you reading?"
As she peeked over, Rael finally looked up from the book and met her eyes directly.
"Just a philosophy book."
"Philosophy? That's pretty heavy reading."
"Eh, it's a hobby."
Bella glanced at the title.
'How Angels Survive in the Human World.'
She was puzzled, but since this cool guy was reading it, the content must be profoundly philosophical.
"I mostly like novels. Fantasy or romance—they're so good!"
"Hmm... I see."
"..."
The conversation died again.
Sipping her coffee noisily, Bella found the situation utterly frustrating.
'What is it with this man?'
Why was he making her so anxious? She felt like going mad and jumping around.
Letting out a quiet sigh, Bella turned her gaze to the window.
And then, something caught her eye.
In the alley in front of the cafe, next to the trash bin, something small was huddled.
'What's that?'
Narrowing her eyes, Bella realized it was a kitten.
Tiny body, one hind leg bent at an odd angle.
'It's hurt.'
The cat mewed faintly outside, but passersby ignored it.
They just sidestepped it as if annoyed or walked past without noticing.
Bella shot up from her seat.
Rael looked up, but without time to explain, she burst out the cafe door.
Curious, he peered out the window and saw her suddenly dart to the alley, crouching in one corner.
Bella knelt before the kitten.
"Oh no, your leg..."
The hind leg looked clearly broken.
The tiny body trembled, letting out pained cries.
"Meow... nya..."
For a moment, it sounded like a human imitating a cat, but right before her was definitely a small kitten.
"What was that just now...?"
"Meow..."
The cat's cry normalized again.
As Bella tilted her head at the oddity,
The cat before her... no, Luhan transformed into a kitten, desperately mewed.