Chapter 26
Chapter 26
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: D-1 to MT and Emergency Meat Run
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Trying to cool off alone, but sighs brimming with resentment kept escaping me.
However.
Sighs inevitably carry emotions.
Thick tears rolled down Na Min-seo's deeply furrowed cheeks.
"Ugh, u-hic. Uh-heuk…!"
Like the sky had come crashing down, or like someone who'd lost a priceless treasure.
Na Min-seo collapsed right there, sobbing and full of resentment.
"Y-you idiot moron jerk…!"
It was impossible to tell if she was resenting herself or Joo Ji-hyeok.
What good would knowing do anyway?
A heart that could no longer reach Joo Ji-hyeok.
Before long, time until MT: D-1!!
'And it's already D+3 since Joo Ji-hyeok started dating!!!'
Time flies, so fast!
Watching that small, precious D-day number grow on my KakaoTalk profile fills me with pride!
Hehe! Wonder when it'll hit 100 days!
I was grinning to myself when Senior Baek Sang-a posted an announcement in the dept head group chat.
[Baek Sang-a: Attendance on MT day was approved by the professors on the condition that all students except third-years prepping for the graduation exhibition participate, so dept heads, post in your year-group chats!]
[Me: Got it!!]
[Hati-ho: Understood!]
Kuh! The power to post announcements in a group chat that even has the TA! It's not a big deal, but it feels important and kinda nice!!
I immediately relayed Senior Baek Sang-a's message to the 23 Visual Design group chat. Confirmations started rolling in right away.
[Succubus Choi Eum-a: Confirmed!]
As expected, my girlfriend's number one!
Right now, Eum-a was holed up in her room reviewing Photoshop. I'd taught her a few times, and she'd gotten hooked!
What a rewarding girlfriend.
The next confirmation came from an unexpected person.
[Mo Myo-mi: Confirmed]
"Her at number two?"
She never bothers with this stuff usually—what gives?
'...Too easy to question.'
The vibe's been different lately, huh?
Ever since I helped out at the ingredients mart, Mo Myo-mi stopped growling at me. No more demanding Churu, and she started treating me like I blended into the background.
It's like mysterious transparent human treatment, but compared to before, it's a huge improvement, so I don't mind.
Plus, no more feeding her Churu or cat-only cans that humans can't eat.
"This feels like a decent relationship... but maybe I should talk to her sometime."
Our first impressions were pretty rocky.
Sweeping our bad fate from the vice dept head nomination under the rug with that criminal takedown isn't bad, but as classmates in the same major, talking it out to clear the air feels right... Hm?
[Baek Sang-a: Emergency announcement! Forgot fresh food! Need people to hit the ingredients mart with me now for meat!]
[Mo Myo-mi: I can go]
The urgent post popped up in the dept head chat.
And Mo Myo-mi replied almost instantly.
Expressing willingness to join!!
Giving me straight-up chills!!
"Did she eat expired Churu or something? This isn't like her at all???"
The Mo Myo-mi I knew avoided anything bothersome.
That's why she'd tried extorting 100,000 won worth of Churu over the vice dept head thing!!
"Gasp. Did the mart trip make her see the light? Repaying Senior Baek Sang-a who had her back?"
Whatever sparked it, it's perfect for me since I wanted to chat with her!!
[Joo Ji-hyeok: Count me in!!!!!!!!!]
[Baek Sang-a: Aigoo, my ears are ringing]
Sweet guy Joo Ji-hyeok!!
Using "help" as an excuse—sortie time!!!!!!!
I left the dorm and headed down to the underground parking lot where Senior Baek Sang-a had parked her car.
Oh, there's Senior Baek Sang-a! She had the engine running on her light blue-gray mid-size car and was wiping dust off the side mirror.
Pretty chill for someone who posted an emergency! Was it a false alarm or something!!
I'd have come anyway!!!
Ding—
The elevator arrived in the underground lot right on cue! The person stepping out was none other than…
"...What're you staring at?"
You, as expected—Mo Myo-mi!
"Nah~ Just, you look extra prickly today~"
"…."
Clack, clack. Mo Myo-mi stepped out of the elevator in her heels, brushing past me with a warning.
"You—don't do that eye-smile thing."
"What? Why not?!"
"Makes me uncomfortable."
"…."
They say you can't spit on a smiling face, but Mo Myo-mi must be the exception.
'Fair enough!'
This prickly, thorny kitten!!
Coming out to repay her debt to Senior Baek but acting all aloof!!
"Kekeke!"
"Don't laugh like that."
Mo Myo-mi shot me a glare with narrowed eyes.
But her ears and tail weren't twitching in annoyance—body's honest! Looks like my likability shot up after that last incident?!
You aloof-pretending thorny cat!!
I approached Senior Baek Sang-a alongside Mo Myo-mi, who was side-eyeing me.
Having finished cleaning the car, Senior Baek Sang-a spotted us and flashed a huge grin, baring her sharp shark teeth and crimson gums.
"You two are right on time—nice!"
"Ehew! How could we be late for sunbaenim's summons?!"
I rubbed my palms together fawningly.
Not scheming for anything—just amping it up since Mo Myo-mi was eyeing me like a bug and clamming up!
"Hop in, everyone. Buckle up! We're just grabbing meat quick and bouncing, right?"
"Yes!! Got it!!"
"…Yeah."
I answered Senior Baek Sang-a and went for shotgun.
But she blocked me!!
"Ji-hyeok, dept head—back seat."
"Huh?! Why?!"
"You're too loud. Love the energy, but you'd distract me up front and we'd crash."
"Kaaak! Unfair, but it makes sense—no rebuttal!!"
"Hahaha! Thanks for getting it. You take front then, Mya-mi."
"…."
Mo Myo-mi slid into shotgun without protest!
She buckled up and immediately glared at me through the rearview!!
'Were you gunning for front?!'
No helping it! Stole her spot—time to luxuriate in the back!!
...That's what I vowed!
But gotta behave during the drive!
Anyway—let's roll!
Vrooom—
Senior Baek Sang-a's car tore down the road toward the ingredients mart!!
She rolled down the window, and wind blasted into the car.
Kuhhh! So refreshing!
"Uwoooo."
I stuck my head out the window and savored the rushing air.
This somehow stuffy taste…
...Smog?!
I pulled my head back in and glanced at the two up front.
Senior Baek Sang-a focused on driving, Mo Myo-mi staring straight ahead in silence. They say shotgun's for the driver's conversational sidekick, but for such a heavy role, Mo Myo-mi was corpse-quiet.
'Knew she'd pull this!'
Clamming up in front is rude to the driver!
No choice—I'll sacrifice myself!
"Sunbaenim!! Tell us your first love story!!"
"Huh? Outta nowhere?"
"Yep!!"
Nothing's more fun to hear or easier to react to than first love tales!!
Mo Myo-mi must've been curious too—her bright blue eyes flicked toward Senior Baek Sang-a in the rearview.
Senior Baek Sang-a, bathed in her cute juniors' attention!!
She gave an awkward smile and said,
"Haha. You look so expectant—kinda sorry? I don't really share personal stuff."
"Ah… Guess no helping it."
"…."
Me and Mo Myo-mi deflated in sync.
But her follow-up froze us solid.
"My ex cheated right before our 100-day and I bit his finger clean off—not exactly a feel-good story."
"…Yep?"
"…?"
What did I just hear?
B-bit his finger off?
'N-no way it got amputated, right?'
Something about the context makes it sound severed… M-must be a misunderstanding? Right, sunbae?
"Hahaha."
Don't just laugh—tell us what happened!!!!
Our fear of Senior Baek Sang-a amped up, we three arrived at the ingredients mart.
She clicked her tongue at the packed lot.
"Weekday and it's this jammed? No good. Ji-hyeok, Mya-mi—you two go ahead and wait for me."
"Yes!"
We got out first and, as instructed, waited out front.
But what's this? Standing there, Mo Myo-mi's tail was puffed up rigid.
'Can't say it looks like an erect dick, huh?'
Wanna joke, but her eyes were shaky with anxiety—not the vibe.
Trauma from last time?
'Looks tough, but she's got a soft side.'
Learning a new side of Mo Myo-mi feels kinda fresh. Though it bums me out that it's this side.
She looks so pitiful!
I'd half-thought to tease her to loosen up, so I snuck behind and poked her shoulder with a finger.
Plan: She'd turn, and I'd poke her cheek!
But opponent's a super-tense cat beastkin.
No way it'd go smooth!!
"Kyaaaaak!!"
I screamed.
She'd been so on-edge she hadn't even noticed me behind her—and she grabbed my poking finger like she was gonna snap it!!
"…What. It was you?"
"Hand! Let go of my hand!!!"
"…Serves you right for pranking."
"Kaaaa."
Mo Myo-mi released my finger.
But it was already swollen. At least not broken—thank goodness. Thank goodness. Sniff sniff!
'Never pranking her again!'
Would make me the real idiot!!
I blew on my throbbing finger and glanced at Mo Myo-mi—huh?
'Tail's gone down?'
The tension-puffed tail had relaxed.
Looked comfy just watching.
If one finger poke unwound her, that's progress?
Moments later.
Senior Baek Sang-a finally parked and arrived.
Alright, now—
"Let's head in!"
"Kyathoo!"
Mart assault begins!!