Of Course I Wanted You to Worry!
Seha was held up by the professors for quite a while, fielding all sorts of questions. Honestly, he couldn't even remember what he'd said in response. His mind had been too scattered.
The campus was eerily quiet. All the students had evacuated after the emergency barrier alarm blared. The central building, usually bustling even at this hour, felt strangely alien with not a soul in sight.
Seha climbed the stairs and arrived at the student cafeteria. The lights were off. Chairs were shoved haphazardly here and there—traces of a hasty escape. A tray lay overturned, soup spilled across the floor.
An empty cafeteria. And in the midst of it all, Dahong sat there. In the same spot as before, chin propped on her hand. Ruby was still curled up in a ball on the chair beside her, fast asleep. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the two of them.
Dahong turned her head. "You're late."
The table was spotless. No tray, no dishes—nothing at all.
Seha stood frozen at the entrance, staring. The emergency alarm had sounded. The students had evacuated. Everyone in the cafeteria had fled. Yet Dahong was here. In the same seat. Alone in the empty hall.
......
Something stirred deep in his chest. A feeling he couldn't quite name.
Why had Dahong stayed behind? Because she knew he'd come back? Because they had to leave together? Or just... because she had nowhere else to go?
"Seha?"
Dahong tilted her head. Seha was just standing there at the door, dazed.
......
He considered asking why she'd stayed put when the alarm went off—but he stopped himself. He was afraid of the answer.
Dahong rose from her seat. She scooped up the sleeping Ruby from the adjacent chair with one hand, cradling her close, and approached Seha. Her footsteps echoed through the vacant cafeteria.
She stopped right in front of him. Her gaze swept over him.
"Belzar dropped by?"
Seha looked up. Red eyes gazed down at him—unreadable, as always.
"......Yeah."
"I see."
Dahong fell silent. She didn't ask if he was okay or what had happened.
"Let's go."
She brushed past him and headed for the cafeteria door. Seha lingered for a moment, then followed in her wake.
They arrived home.
"What's for dinner?" Dahong asked as she plopped onto the sofa.
She'd checked him over back at the cafeteria. No wounds. No blood, no abrasions, no mana burns. His hands had been trembling and his face pale, but that was fear, not injury. It would fade with time.
"...What would you like?"
Seha headed to the kitchen. His hands were still shaking faintly.
"Eh, anything's fine."
Anything's fine.
His heart plummeted at the words.
......
Seha opened the fridge. Not much inside: a few eggs, some vegetables, kimchi.
"......How about some ramyeon?"
"Sure."
He pulled out a pot, filled it with water, and set it on the gas stove. The TV droned in the background.
"Belzar's mana is lingering pretty strong."
Dahong spoke up suddenly. "Must've chatted for a good while."
"......Yeah."
"What'd you talk about?"
Seha flinched. What was she after? Pure curiosity? Politeness? Or maybe—just a speck of concern for him?
"......We talked about you, Dahong."
"Me?"
"She said she doesn't get why you're sticking by my side."
......
"Belzar thinks you don't really care about me. That it wouldn't matter if it was someone else."
Seha watched her reaction inwardly, hoping for denial. Not true—couldn't be anyone but you. Or something like that.
But Dahong's response was cool. "Probably. If someone else had summoned me, I'd be with them instead."
......
The water began to bubble. Seha hadn't even opened the ramyeon packet yet.
"So for you, it doesn't matter who the summoner is, right?"
For a moment, only the TV and the boiling water filled the silence.
"Who knows. Food on the table, a place to crash. No real hassle. Guess so."
Seha gripped the sink edge. Food, shelter, clothing. As long as those were covered, anyone would do for Dahong.
You're my first summoned beast. I need you—no one else. Without you, I'd still be a total failure.
His mouth went dry, bitter.
"...She mentioned lifespan too."
"Lifespan?"
"Even if I die, you'll keep living. I'm just a speck of dust in your life."
......
Dahong paused. "That's just how it is. I've lived a long time. I'll live longer."
......
The water was roiling now. Still no ramyeon packet opened.
"Just one question."
"Shoot."
"The alarm went off."
"Yeah."
"Why were you still sitting there?"
......
"You knew I wasn't in the bathroom. You waited that long."
"Yeah."
"Weren't you... worried about me?"
......
The TV went quiet. Dahong must've hit mute.
"You knew Belzar was there. You're so strong, even an archdemon couldn't touch you."
Seha's heart pounded. He'd said it himself, but deep down, he wished she'd claim ignorance. I didn't know you were in danger. If I'd realized Belzar was there, I'd have come right away.
But the answer was as expected.
"Yeah."
......
"Couldn't you... have come for me?"
His voice cracked.
"If I'd moved, you'd be dead. That's how Belzar is."
......
"Were you hoping I'd worry?"
Seha turned off the stove. He spun around.
Dahong sat on the sofa, watching him. Expressionless. Those usual inscrutable eyes.
Something snapped inside him.
"Of course!"
Even he was startled. His voice came out louder than intended.
"Of course I hoped! We're living together! I almost died!"
He couldn't stop. He wanted to, but the words kept pouring.
"You always do this! 'Doesn't matter.' 'Whatever's fine.' 'Don't worry about it!'"
It all spilled out—words he didn't even mean.
"You don't care about me, do you!? Like Belzar said, I'm just convenient to keep around!?"
It felt off. Like the emotions weren't his own. Something boiling up from his chest, too vast and hot.
The usual him wouldn't have gone this far.
...Why am I like this?
He had to stop. But he was yelling at Dahong.
"You're my summoned beast! So...!"
Gasp... Gasp...
His head spun. Silence.
Ruby peeked from the cat tower, wide-eyed in shock. Dahong remained blank. No anger, no surprise.
Rustle.
Dahong stood from the sofa. Approached him.
Seha stepped back. She didn't stop. Striding forward.
"W-wait."
He retreated until his back hit the sink. No further room. Dahong kept coming.
Finally, Seha leaned back against the sink, spine arched. Dahong loomed over him, their bodies nearly touching.
Dahong stared down at him impassively and muttered, "You reek of Belzar."
"......Huh?"
Seha couldn't process it. Why bring up Belzar now?
"Archdemons rattle your emotions just by being near. Belzar specializes in it."
She explained flatly. "Stirs up the dark ones, swells them, makes them burst."
"......Uh."
"Makes sense after that long an exposure."
Dahong straightened slowly. "It'll settle with time."
She stepped back to the sofa, picked up the remote, and unmuted the TV. The panelists' boisterous laughter filled the room.
Seha stayed slumped against the sink for a long while. His heart still raced.
...What did I just do?
His words echoed in his mind.
'Of course I hoped.'
'You don't care about me.'
'You're my summoned beast!'
......
Every one embarrassing.
Seha bowed his head. "......Sorry."
......
Dahong didn't reply.
Seha eyed the half-boiled water. He mixed in cold to cool it, then dumped it down the drain. He pulled out his phone, opened the delivery app, and set it on the sofa arm.
"Eat without me. I'm going to bed."
He didn't look back as he headed to his room. The door clicked shut.
Click.
Dahong glanced at the closed door.
"Nyaah—."
Ruby padded over.
"He'll be fine," Dahong said. "Kid's not the type to crumble over something like this."
"Nyong."
Dawn.
Seha opened his eyes. His stomach growled. He'd skipped dinner, after all.
The window showed it was still early morning. Dahong lay beside him, back turned.
......
Seha slipped quietly out of bed to avoid waking her and padded into the living room. He flicked on the kitchen light, thinking of making egg toast.
Ruby, sprawled on a cushion, cracked one eye. Golden gaze fixed on him.
Seha approached the fridge but paused. A paper bag he hadn't noticed sat on the table.
Inside was paper-wrapped food. He unwrapped it: a sandwich. Dahong's order.
......
Seha stared at it in silence. He'd said he was fine. Had she known he'd need it anyway?
He pulled out a chair and sat. Took a bite. Soft egg flavor spread in his mouth.
Seha ate quietly.