Confirmation
Confirmation
"Cheol-min-ssi, it's a gift."
"You had fun playing with your younger sister? You didn't have to give me this. Thank you."
Not long ago, I had covered for Walter at the trading company. It was meant to give him some leave, since he looked like he didn't have time to play with his younger sister Bibi.
Then, a few days later, I happened to run into Walter, and he handed me a gift as thanks.
"It's not much, but I saw them selling snacks as souvenirs in the village I visited, and it reminded me of you, so I bought it."
"I'll enjoy it. Did you hear from Thomas-ssi? Nothing special happened that day, so the work wasn't hard."
"Yes. But if you hadn't suggested it first, even if I'd gotten leave, I probably wouldn't have been able to take Bibi anywhere for a while."
Walter scratched his head sheepishly.
"I'm glad you think that way. Anyway, I'll enjoy what you gave me. Thanks again."
After exchanging pleasantries, Walter went back to work.
I recalled the image of Bibi clutching Walter's pant leg and begging him. Good thing I spoke up then. Got this reward out of nowhere too.
I carried the gift box back to the restaurant to prepare for the afternoon business.
"I'm back."
"Oh my, Min. What's that?"
Marie-ssi reacted when she saw the unfamiliar object in my hand.
"Ah, I ran into Walter on the way."
I explained what happened.
"We still have time until opening. Want to have a light snack together? Where's Elin?"
"I think she's in the restroom? She'll be back soon, so I'll go ahead and brew some tea."
Just as Marie-ssi brought the tea, Elin returned.
"Elin! Come on in. Walter brought a gift from his vacation, let's eat together."
"Wow! What is it?"
Elin approached with a bright smile.
Break time. A short moment if you call it short. Soon we'll be busy again, but this leisurely cup of tea—isn't this the joy of life? I'd always wanted to feel this back on Earth. Here, it's everyday life. Some people could feel this without coming to another world, but I wasn't one of them, and I let out a small chuckle.
After closing, Marie-ssi went out with Thomas-ssi. On the way home alone with Elin, Elin asked.
"Where did Walter buy those snacks?"
"you know Bibi, right? Apparently they went to the next village to see the flowers."
"I talked to Bibi last time, and she said her oppa just slept all weekend. Looks like he made time to go together this time. Bibi must have been really happy."
"Probably. I haven't seen them since, so I don't know."
"When was the last time you saw them?"
"A little while ago, Walter and Bibi were in front of their house—"
I told her the story of how the siblings ended up going on the trip.
" Heh~. So that happened. That's cool, Min."
Elin subtly moved closer, and my heart raced a little.
"So Bibi wanted to 'be together' with her oppa so much that she clung to him~."
"Y-yeah, I guess."
Elin hummed.
"Hmm~."
Why was she doing that? She seemed to want something. I didn't sense her taking an interest in anything else. I discreetly swallowed my saliva. It would be a lie to say I wasn't nervous. In a situation like this, any man's heart would be in his throat.
Just as I was focusing all my attention on Elin's lips, her cherry-like lips moved.
"Min..."
"Yeah."
I stammered without meaning to.
"Is there something you want to do, Min?"
"Something I want to do? What do you mean? Haha."
What's your intention, Elin? It doesn't feel like she's joking. Her somehow serious gaze felt like it was piercing my heart.
"No, hearing about Bibi made me wonder if there's something Min desperately wants to do?"
Is she talking about a bucket list?
"Well? I've been thinking I'm really happy lately, so I haven't thought about that kind of thing."
Before coming to Miran Village, it was eventful. On Earth, I endured terrible days, and just when I thought I was freed, I fell into another world. Then I got stranded in the forest and ended up here until today.
"I don't have big wishes. I just hope every day is as happy as today. Together with Elin, always. What about Elin?"
When I looked at Elin's face, it was bright red like a beet.
"Huh? Huh? Me? Me? Me too!"
Elin broke down.
"Huh? Elin? What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"Passed! Top score!"
"What are you talking about? Your body is hot! Did you catch a cold?"
Elin was in a total mess. In the end, I never found out what Elin's wish was, and I carried her home on my back.
"Me too... ...Ah... Me too..."
In the meantime, she kept mumbling something, but her voice was as faint as an ant's crawl, so I couldn't understand.
The next day.
"Good morning."
I greeted Elin.
"Ah! Yeah! G-good morning! Hehe! Yeah! Good morning!"
Elin was still weird. When our eyes met, she'd keep looking away then back. Same with her hands and feet—they couldn't stay still. She was twisting her whole body all over.
What is it? Did I do something wrong yesterday?
Last evening.
When Elin and Cheol-min were leaving work together, Elin suddenly became curious about Cheol-min's feelings.
That's right. Elin liked Cheol-min. His exotic appearance. His outstanding work ethic and sense. His tall stature, and the muscles he'd gained recently from cooking and carrying heavy loads. They got along well in conversation, lived in the same house, and he was the closest male to her.
When did it start? Did interest slowly develop from their first meeting? Now, she didn't really care. It had been over a year since she'd known Cheol-min, and Elin wanted to take the next step into a new relationship. Beyond colleague or acquaintance, to the next stage.
But one thing weighed on her heart: what about Cheol-min's feelings? He was friendly to everyone, so she had no idea how he felt about her. Did Cheol-min like her too? Elin wanted to prove that. Confession was supposed to be about confirming the relationship, right? She wanted to confirm. Whether Cheol-min was looking in the same direction as she was.
So she decided to test Cheol-min. Just as they were talking about Walter, a natural topic came to mind that was easy to speak about.
This was it.
"So Bibi wanted to 'be together' with her oppa so much that she clung to him~."
Did Cheol-min understand? That she'd subtly shown her feelings? Was it too weak? Cheol-min didn't seem to notice. Yes, even if she were in his shoes, she'd think concluding "Does she like me?" from this was too much.
"Hmm~."
Then what should she do? Maybe ask a bit more directly?
"Is there something you want to do, Min?"
'Eep! Was that too blunt? What if he thinks it's weird?!'
Sure enough.
"Something I want to do? What do you mean? Haha."
Cheol-min was flustered.
'Aish! It's all or nothing!'
She couldn't back down now. Everything has its timing. If the timing isn't right, there are definitely things where the opportunity never comes again. Elin believed this was that moment. Whatever happened, she had to charge in.
"No, hearing about Bibi made me wonder if there's something Min desperately wants to do?"
Elin asked Cheol-min a question that went one step further.
"Well? I've been thinking I'm really happy lately, so I haven't thought about that kind of thing."
'Ah, did he still not understand my feelings?'
As Elin felt a pang of regret inwardly, Cheol-min's words weren't over.
"I don't have big wishes."
Elin's anticipation swelled.
"I just hope every day is as happy as today."
She was curious about the next line.
"Together with Elin, always."
Finally, the answer Elin had hoped for came. No, this answer was beyond what Elin had wanted. It was ultimately the goal she'd been aiming for.
'This is a proposal, isn't it!!!!'
She'd not only jumped over the stairs in one go but had burst through the ceiling and flown away. On top of that, Cheol-min added the finishing touch.
"What about Elin?"
Bang—!
She'd exceeded her manageable limit. Elin felt like she might ascend to heaven.
"Huh? Huh? Me? Me? Me too!"
Stammering. Elin broke down.
Did Cheol-min even know what he'd said? He hadn't said it with any great intention. But to Elin, it had a very, extremely, hugely great meaning!
Just before she died of happiness and lost consciousness, Elin ended up being carried home on Cheol-min's back.
'Did I answer Min properly?'
Even while being carried, she pictured Cheol-min confessing in her head.
'I feel like I didn't answer properly! I have to tell him! My feelings!'
On Cheol-min's back, Elin kept mumbling.
"I like you too. I like you too. I like you too."
But was it because Elin was overloaded? Her voice didn't come out as loud as she thought. She whispered it near Cheol-min's ear, but it didn't reach.
"Good morning."
Cheol-min's greeting the next day. Because of what happened yesterday, she couldn't look him straight in the eye.
'How can he act so normal!'
Did this man have no awareness? Was she just overreacting?
Elin forced herself to act calm and replied.
"Ah! Yeah! G-good morning! Hehe! Yeah! Good morning!"
'Perfect! That was totally natural!'
"Th-then, I'm heading to work first!"
As expected, it was too much. She rushed off to the restaurant.
"Uoooooh!"
She wanted to cool her heated head. Elin ran aimlessly.
"She's still acting weird..."
Cheol-min whispered softly to himself as he watched Elin grow distant.
He thought she'd get better soon. But as time passed, Cheol-min became confused. For a while, he felt like she was avoiding him, but then she seemed fine. But her fidgeting and twisting had been going on for days. She wasn't angry. She clearly wanted something, but he couldn't figure it out at all.
He'd felt this same sensation a few days ago. By now, Cheol-min wondered if he was missing something very important.
"Another great meal today."
He'd zoned out, and before he knew it, it was closing time.
"Hey, are you worried about something?"
It must have shown. Cheol-min waved his hand.
"Huh? No, it's nothing. Sorry if I made you concerned over a small worry."
"Nothing to be sorry about. That's just how it is. What's the matter?"
"Haha. It's really fine. Thank you for worrying about me."
"Is that so? Then never mind. Still, if you ever need someone to listen, just say the word. Sometimes just having someone listen can solve things. Well, think of it as thanks for the delicious cooking!"
He was right. The customer chuckled and left. This customer was known in the neighborhood for being tight-lipped. For some reason, Cheol-min's heart was moved.
Could this solve his worry?
"Excuse me, sir! Just a moment!"
He stopped the customer who was heading out the door.
"Do you have a moment?"
The customer gave a kindly smile.
"Of course~."
Cheol-min closed the shop.
"Thank you for your time."
"How could I refuse when you said you'd make me something for dessert? So, what's the story?"
"Ahem. This isn't about me, but something that happened to an acquaintance."
The customer listened quietly as Cheol-min spoke.
"Did my... acquaintance do something wrong?"
The customer listened and gave an answer right away.
"Something very wrong."
"Huh? Something very wrong?"
"Tell that 'acquaintance' to think again about what he said to the other person."
Cheol-min thought carefully about what he'd said to Elin. After a moment, he seemed to realize, and looked at the customer.
The customer nodded and pointed to the ring finger of his left hand.
"Well, I'll be off. Thanks for the meal."
When the customer left, Cheol-min immediately burst through the door and ran out.