This Is Your Way of Getting Close?
Is this your idea of getting close? On the way home from the convenience store, I decided to walk instead of taking the bus.
…Technically, Vane had blocked my path, insisting she wanted to see more of the scenery, so I was being half-dragged along against my will.
Like a child on a field trip, Vane kept turning her head this way and that, taking in the surroundings. I couldn’t understand what was so fascinating about this ordinary street. She’d already seen it all when she came looking for me at the convenience store. Yet she stared with sparkling eyes, as if this were an entirely new world.
Vane gripped my hand tightly, showing no intention of letting go. Because of our stark difference in height and build, passersby kept glancing our way. To them, it probably looked like I was forcibly dragging along a slender girl. A cold sweat prickled at the back of my neck.
“…This kind of attention isn’t good.”
Annoyed by the stares, she squeezed my hand harder.
“Why are they looking at us like that, Jaewu?”
She suddenly stopped walking.
“Is it that strange to see a small girl being held by a big guy? Or…”
“Do they instinctively sense that I’m a different creature from them?”
Vane watched the couple who had just passed us, her gaze lingering on their retreating backs. For a brief moment, a chilling killing intent leaked from the fingertips gripping my hand.
“…They’re just curious. Because you’re… you know, too strikingly pretty. That’s why they’re staring!”
I blurted out whatever came to mind, desperate to divert her attention.
“Oh, really? I’m that pretty? Well… even if it’s flattery, it doesn’t sound bad.”
She blinked at my words, then broke into a bright smile. The murderous atmosphere faded. In a better mood, Vane even started humming a little tune.
I glanced at her cautiously before speaking.
“…What were you doing out today? You said your errand finished early.”
It was a question I had to ask. I couldn’t stop wondering if she’d gone out and eaten someone while I wasn’t around.
“Why? Worried I might’ve eaten someone while you were gone?”
“…I can’t tell you everything, but at least I didn’t eat anyone today.”
“…Then why did you go out?”
“I was curious about the world you live in.”
Vane looked ahead as she walked lightly.
“I wanted to see for myself what the streets you walk every day and the scenery you look at feel like.”
“It was a much more barren planet than I expected. Compared to my home, this place is… excessively peaceful.”
“You humans are strange. Why give names to things that will disappear someday and grow so attached to them?”
Walking side by side under the sunset, anyone would have mistaken us for a couple on a date.
“Still, thanks to that, I wasn’t bored. I visited the bakery you like and even the park bench you often sit on.”
“It was pretty fun, going around to all the places that still carry your traces.”
“…I don’t know what kind of world you came from, but this place really is peaceful, just like you said.”
I didn’t look at Vane, suppressing the emotions rising in my chest. My steps unconsciously quickened.
“This isn’t a place where monsters like you can just wander in.”
“…Did you hear me?”
“…”
Even at my sharp words, Vane didn’t so much as blink. Instead, she looked up at the sunset sky with pure excitement.
“By the way, Jaewu. The weather’s really nice today, isn’t it?”
She changed the subject naturally. I couldn’t tell if she was brushing off my warning as mere sulking or if she was genuinely captivated by the view. One thing was certain—she was an expert at letting uncomfortable topics slide as if they were nothing.
“Don’t get angry, Jaewu. On such a beautiful day, I’m right here walking beside you.”
“So let’s just walk quietly for now, okay? Don’t ruin my mood for no reason.”
“Haa…”
A sigh escaped me. Talking to her was impossible. I had zero desire to get close to this monster. If anything, I wanted to cut her out of my life completely. Yet she rubbed her cheek against the back of my hand, smiling as if she were the happiest lover in the world.
“This is insane, seriously…” I barely swallowed the curse that threatened to spill out. While my insides burned black, Vane enjoyed the sunset glow and tugged me along. No matter how murderously I glared at her, she only seemed to see a bad-tempered puppy.
Disgusted by her relaxed attitude, I turned my head sharply—only for Vane to stop walking and stare at something.
“Huh? Jaewu, what’s that?”
Where she pointed stood an ice cream shop with a pink sign.
“…An ice cream parlor. They sell cold, sweet stuff.”
Before I could finish explaining, Vane yanked my hand and strode inside. The moment the door opened, the customers’ gazes naturally turned toward us. The combination of slender Vane and the hulking guy being dragged behind her made for an odd sight. But Vane paid no attention, stopping in front of the display case and reading the ice cream names one by one.
“…‘Daddy’s an Alien’? ‘Star Shooting’? Why are the names like this?”
“You humans really do attach the wildest imaginations to everything you eat. How cute.”
Vane chuckled as she read each name on the menu. Especially fixated on “Daddy’s an Alien,” she tilted her head and looked at me.
“‘Alien.’ It feels weird, like they’re talking about me.”
She tapped the menu with her finger.
“Jaewu. They didn’t actually grind up a real dad for this, did they?”
“Well… even if they did, it wouldn’t be so bad. I’ll have this one. You’re buying, right?”
Ignoring the stares pouring onto Vane’s back, I held out my card. Even while the employee scooped the ice cream, Vane couldn’t stay still. She pressed close to me, staring intently through the glass as the ice cream was served. I quickly grabbed the cup and led her to a corner seat before more attention gathered.
The moment she sat down, Vane picked up the pink spoon and scooped up a chocolate ball from the ice cream. Crunch. The sound of the hard chocolate ball being bitten echoed.
“…It’s good. Most of the things you eat like meals didn’t suit my taste, but this kind of snack seems pretty decent. Though it doesn’t fill me up at all.”
After licking the chocolate from her lips with the tip of her tongue, Vane picked up the spoon again. This time, she scooped up a huge amount of ice cream and held it right in front of my mouth.
“Here. Say ah, Jaewu. I want to feed you myself.”
“No. Eat it yourself.”
I tried to push her hand away, but Vane ignored me and pressed the spoon right up to my lips.
“Take it nicely when I’m offering. I’m feeding you directly.”
Unable to resist her persistent spoon, I reluctantly opened my mouth.
“How is it? Tasty?”
“It’s good…”
Pleased with my answer, Vane smiled in satisfaction and withdrew the spoon. She quickly finished the rest of the ice cream, then stood up as if her business was done. Grabbing my hand again, she led me outside. By the time we left the shop, the sun had completely set. The street beneath the streetlights that had begun to flicker one by one was much darker and quieter than before.
Vane clung to my arm and pulled me toward a dark alley.
“Yeah. It’s better when it’s dark like this. I want to walk a little more… Is that okay?”
“Sure, whatever…”
We walked side by side down the dark alley. Vane, still holding my hand, looked much happier than before, but I couldn’t relax. Every time we passed someone, my nerves stood on end, worried she might do something.
Glancing at my stiff expression, Vane suddenly stopped walking.
“…This is really frustrating.”
She yanked my hand hard, forcing me to meet her eyes.
“I was pretty affectionate with you today. And yet you’re still this guarded?”
“I’m trying my best to get close to you. Shouldn’t you at least acknowledge that much, Jaewu?”
The moment I heard that, I was dumbfounded. She’d ruined my daily life and even threatened my life, yet she genuinely seemed to think this was her way of trying to bond.
“…Is this your idea of getting close? Scaring people and dragging them around however you want?”
“I’m treating you quite gently by your standards. If it were any other human, I would’ve eaten them down to the bones long ago.”
“It’s because it’s you that I’m walking with you like this and even feeding you something tasty.”
“…”
“Don’t act stupid. I’m holding back a lot just to enjoy my time with my mate a little more. Don’t test my patience, Jaewu.”
“…I already told you. There’s no way I’ll ever fall in love with you.”
I shook off Vane’s hand.
“I haven’t enjoyed a single moment with you today. I just want to go home and rest.”
Vane stomped her feet in frustration and grabbed my hand again, shaking it.
“Haa… So you want me to treat you even better? Fine, I get it. I must’ve been too human-like, and now you’re getting the wrong idea.”
She grabbed me by the collar and dragged me with strength that was hard to believe came from her slender body. The place she took me was the end of an alley where not a single person’s shadow could be seen. Only then did she release my collar and drop to her knees.
“So emotional approaches don’t work, huh? Fine. This side is more comfortable for me anyway.”
“There’s only one reason you can’t feel my efforts. It’s because I haven’t given you what you really want yet.”
Vane’s gaze swept over my body before stopping right at the front of my pants.
“Okay. Then how about I do something you’ll like this time, instead of what makes me feel good?”
“I’ll handle you properly… until your body becomes honest with my touch.”
The sight of Vane grabbing my pant hem and struggling to yank it down made my head go blank for a moment.
Wait… this isn’t the situation I intended at all…?!