Chapter 128: So, Did You Like It?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 128: So, Did You Like It?
People say they usually look forward to the weekend.
But for a VTuber, weekends don't seem to mean much.
I've been a streamer for about two years now.
Technically, it hasn't been a full two years, but counting by the calendar year, this is my second year.
Thinking I must have a decent amount of experience by now, I picked up my phone to check the time.
“He's late...”
He said he'd call after the shoot.
It's so cold out. Surely he's not still filming outside?
Worried about him, I clicked the link for [Love Rides the Waves] and checked the comments section.
On episode 4, 5, and 6—all episodes he wasn't in.
People were still leaving comments demanding they bring back Kim Eojin.
[Sigh... Eojin oppa. You can't just drive me crazy like this and then disappear, can you?]
It wasn't the top comment, but it still had over thirty likes.
My thumb instinctively moved toward the dislike button, but I stopped myself with a bit of reason.
“...Eojin oppa. He's mine, you know?”
Somehow...
I still don't think I've gotten used to this yet.
There will probably be countless people recognizing him at school and other places.
If I got upset every single time, our relationship would never work.
And frankly, if that were the case, he would have been the first to complain to me.
Even when the Pink Army said they wanted to lick Luka-tan's feet, he would just nod and say he understood how they felt.
While I thought that was going a bit too far, it would have definitely been a huge stress if he had actually complained about it.
I didn't know many people around me who suffered from an overly possessive partner, but I'd seen it often in online posts.
Not letting them go anywhere.
Controlling their phone.
Asking why they're being neglected.
If he had told me he hated that I streamed for an audience full of guys, I...
My spirits sank at the slightly depressing thought, and I shook my head.
Right. He wasn't like that, and that's why we've had such a lovely relationship until now.
-Vrrrrrr
My phone vibrated.
It was the person I'd been waiting for.
[Hello?]
[Yeah, hello?]
The gloom that had briefly settled over me vanished completely.
[I just finished, and I'm about to leave in the manager's car.]
[You're stopping by my place, right?]
He was silent for a moment.
[...Huh?]
[Uh...]
When he didn't answer, I asked again, and he trailed off as if something was bothering him.
[Why? Are you busy with something?]
[No, it's not that.]
[Then what is it?]
Then what's the problem?
[It's nothing. I'll be there. Wait for me. I'll be there in thirty minutes.]
[Have you eaten?]
[No. I'm starving. If you haven't eaten, let's eat together.]
[Okay! I'll get some food ready then!]
Oh my. He hasn't eaten all this time?
I remember he left pretty early this morning.
I felt sorry for him, working so hard.
After hanging up, I considered ordering delivery but decided it would be better to quickly run to the supermarket, so I threw on some clothes.
Right. He's coming back from a long day of work. The least I can do is make him a meal.
He always eats whatever when he's alone anyway.
His always-empty fridge was more than enough to make me worry.
I quickly tossed the ingredients into my basket. Today's menu: kimchi-jjigae.
Since he worked in the cold, a warm meal would surely be better.
We have rice from yesterday, so that should be fine.
Grabbing a pack of pork neck, I quickly paid and turned on the induction stove.
Just as the bubbling stew began to release hot steam.
He walked into my room.
“It's cold, isn't it.”
“Yeah, it is.”
He must have come straight here without taking off his makeup, because he hung his padded jacket on the rack with a very idol-like face.
“What's this? You're cooking?”
“Yup! A special treat since you worked so hard today! You get to eat Luka-tan's homemade kimchi-jjigae~”
I tried to be extra cute for him, whose face, though pale with makeup, seemed drained of energy.
But his reaction was... strange.
He looked uncomfortable somehow.
“Aw... we could have just ordered in...”
“No. I wanted to feed you something I made.”
When our eyes met, he quickly looked away.
“Why? Is it because you don't want to eat my cooking?”
If that's really the reason, I might actually get hurt.
Does that mean you thought all the food I've made for you until now was bad?
“No! That's not it at all!”
“What's wrong? Did you get scolded a lot by the people there today?”
His reaction seemed stranger the more I watched him, so I turned away from the food for a moment and stepped in front of him.
“That's not it either...”
“Look at me.”
I reached out with both hands and held his face, turning it toward mine.
He reluctantly met my gaze.
What on earth was casting such a shadow over his face?
Feeling him trying to avoid my eyes, I slowly caressed his face.
“Something happened today.”
It was a statement, not a question.
I felt like he wouldn't tell me unless I pushed him like this.
“Tell me. It's okay.”
Unlike a moment ago when he was avoiding my gaze, he now looked at me steadily.
A question seeking reassurance escaped his lips.
“Are you sure it's okay?”
“It's about your work. Why wouldn't I be okay with it?”
As I offered words of trust, telling him not to worry, my boyfriend's heavy lips slowly began to move.
“Today...”
“Yes.”
“The... the shoot was fine.”
“Okay.”
He stammered.
He continued, like a child who doesn't want to be scolded by his mother.
“But the director suddenly told me... no, not me. He told the actress behind me...”
A chill ran down my spine.
The moment he mentioned an actress, I felt my body flinch involuntarily.
“What did he tell her to do?”
He seemed to shrink back, conscious of my reaction, but I pressed him for an answer.
“He told her to... link arms with me...”
I didn't need to ask who she linked arms with.
“Oh, is that all? And here I was, thinking it was something serious~”
I said playfully, lightly hitting his arm.
“You scared me! You were being so dramatic.”
“R-Really? Ah. I just thought you'd hate it...”
...I do hate it.
But it's work.
I didn't think I was some great adult, but I knew I had to separate his public and private life.
If he continues acting, he'll hold hands... hug... kiss...
As my thoughts went there, I could feel it getting harder to control my expression.
“...Doah?”
“Oppa. Why don't you go sit over there? The food's almost ready, I just need to set the table.”
“Is there anything I can do to help...”
“It's fine, just wait a moment.”
These facial muscles of mine just wouldn't move the way I wanted them to.
I didn't need a mirror to know.
That I looked pathetic right now.
Sigh... No... This is something I have to understand...
It's not like he cheated on me, for crying out loud.
It's not his fault.
Right. The director told him to do it. What's a rookie supposed to do?
If my manager told me to do something, I'd do it. It must have been the same for him.
I was only able to regain my composure when the kimchi-jjigae had boiled down so much that it desperately needed more water.
“Come and set out the spoons!”
“Ah. Okay!”
He got up, came over, and took the bowls and utensils.
After safely placing the kimchi-jjigae on a pot stand, we started to eat.
“Hoo... hoo...”
The stew was very hot, and a puff of white steam rose from his spoon every time he blew on it.
“So, Oppa.”
“Yeah?”
“That... actress you linked arms with. Who is she?”
“Uh... her name was Ara? I think it was Ara.”
Who's Ara?
I subtly turned, picked up my phone, and typed the web drama's name into the search bar.
Ah. Her.
I'd already binged all the released episodes, so I recognized her face.
I clicked on her profile. A slender woman with very distinct features was smiling, showing her teeth.
“So what kind of scene was it, the one where you linked arms?”
“You know that scene I showed you before?”
“The one where you tell the loser not to mess with you?”
“No, not that one. The scene after, where the bullies are all gathered together, like they're having a meeting?”
I didn't remember a scene like that, but I nodded anyway.
“It was a scene where I really didn't think linking arms was necessary, but the director just told us to do it, so...”
Was this dinner, or an interrogation?
Seeing that the amount of rice in his bowl was barely decreasing, I thought I should probably stop talking about this.
Right... I mean... it was just linking arms...
Linking arms...
His arm...
My appetite completely vanished, and I put down my chopsticks.
“...Oppa.”
“Yeah?”
Still, I have the right to confirm this one thing, don't I?
“So, did you like it?”
His head shook from side to side as if it were powered by a motor.