Pizza for Just the Two of Us
Ding-dong~ Ding-dong~
The doorbell echoed through the whole house, and I bolted to the door along with the sound.
"Hold on~"
I opened the door to that voice, and sure enough, there was Im Lua.
"You made it? Come on in."
"Yeah, 'scuse me."
Im Lua stepped inside and headed straight to the bathroom to wash her hands.
Listening to the sound of running water, I glanced around the house.
I'd never once thought our home was quiet, but today it felt extremely silent.
To break that silence somehow, I called out to Im Lua as she emerged from the bathroom.
"...It's pretty quiet, huh. Should I turn on the TV?"
"Do whatever you want."
Im Lua nodded lightly and, as usual, had brought something along.
"Oh yeah, fruit."
"...You brought fruit last time too, and now fruit again?"
"...Mom and Dad told me to bring it over."
I nodded at that, and she filled me in on the pizza.
"Pizza should be here soon."
"Cool. That's a relief."
Im Lua nodded and headed to the living room.
She glanced at the sofa and asked me,
"Mind if I sit on the sofa?"
"Go ahead, no need to ask."
"Then 'scuse me."
It felt like a reversal of a conversation we'd had before, which made me chuckle. She'd told me to make myself at home at her place too.
Im Lua sat down with a small smile.
I glanced at her as she settled in.
She was dressed super casually—a white short-sleeved blouse and incredibly short hot pants.
She clearly knew her own figure, going with such a bold outfit. It left me with nowhere to look.
"...Where you looking?"
At her question, I whipped my eyes away and changed the subject.
"...Anyway, no one's home, so why'd you wanna eat here specifically?"
"Well... If we eat at my place, more mouths to feed. I'd get less pizza that way."
Hearing that, I thought, Classic Im Lua—smart as ever.
Choosing my place with fewer people just to maximize pizza per person? Practical as hell.
"Makes sense."
"Plus, inviting you over to my house felt kinda embarrassing."
"Huh? Outta nowhere?"
Caught off guard, I looked at her, and she was gauging my reaction too.
Embarrassed, yet she shows up in that outfit? Things were getting harder and harder to figure out.
How hard? About as incomprehensible as my latest test scores.
To calm my confused mind, I decided to ask her something else.
"Hey, how'd you do on the tests?"
"Mm... Still in the high 90s across the board."
High 90s in everything—not just the scores, but lumping all subjects together like that was impressive too.
That basically meant top of the class in every subject. Except maybe something quirky like Korean history.
Even that, she'd probably snag a top grade no problem. That's just how Im Lua rolled.
"As expected, you're amazing."
"Amazing? Nah... You're the impressive one for boosting your scores that much."
"Pulling up from low to average is easy."
"Still, raising scores takes serious effort."
Hmm, maybe.
But no matter how I sliced it, her study time had to dwarf mine.
Plus, she'd probably sacrificed her own studying to tutor me.
I should apologize for that.
"...Sorry."
"Outta nowhere? For what?"
At her question, I spilled the guilt in my head.
"For keeping you from studying properly while helping me."
She shook her head right away.
"No way, not at all."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Duh, teaching someone else is great study practice. You gotta understand it inside out to explain it well."
Hearing that, it kinda made sense. If I had to teach someone video editing, I'd review shortcuts, organize my tips in my head, and probably relearn a ton myself.
Maybe I'd actually helped her study.
...Nah, no way. What I asked her were all basics. I barely touched the tough stuff that'd challenge her.
And even then, I'd just nod along blankly—no real review or deep dive for her.
Still, if the teacher insists, I only had one response.
"...Got it."
"Yeah, so no need to apologize. Tutoring you helped me plenty too."
"Thanks."
"Yeah."
She even gave me that eye smile as she looked at me.
It was so pretty, and my heart skipped a beat.
Always had thought this since we were kids—Im Lua was seriously bad for the heart.
Objectively, subjectively, she was stunning.
Refined features, killer figure, and that adorable eye smile. Gorgeous.
Why other kids found her intimidating? Probably 'cause she came off a bit stoic.
Not really—she was pretty lively, just with a cool first impression.
"You should smile more often."
"Outta nowhere?"
Too late to take it back after saying it, so I pushed on.
"Well... Your first impression's kinda cold. You know?"
"Yeah... I don't talk much."
"But once you get going, you're great at it."
"That's 'cause it's you—I talk more around you."
"Do it with others too."
She shook her head at that.
"No way, impossible."
Impossible? Seemed easier than me studying.
"Just tease 'em a bit, crack some jokes like you do with me."
"No, can't. Too hard."
"Harder than tutoring me?"
"Yeah, harder."
She nodded firmly.
"You can't picture me messing around and joking with total strangers like I do with you?"
Could I picture Im Lua doing that?
Of course— she even punches me sometimes.
But separately... hmm... somehow...
...It just bugged me.
Im Lua goofing off, laughing it up casually with other kids—especially guys?
Something about it rubbed me wrong.
Ugly possessiveness? Yeah, that vibe.
Maybe that's why I lied to her.
"...Yeah, can't picture it."
"Right? Doesn't fit. This is good— a few close-ish friends. That's plenty."
She did give off "friendly with everyone but not super tight with anyone" vibes.
"You ever go hang out when girls invite you?"
"Too busy."
"Cut back on studying a bit."
"That's the hard part."
Her studying was definitely cramping her social life.
Paradoxically, it also made her seem approachable and friendly overall.
"...Oh, they left the pizza at the door."
"Cool, I'll grab it."
"Nah, I'll get it. You just grab plates and forks. Oh, and cups."
"Ordered cola?"
"Zero cola, ma'am~"
Thorough as ever.
I nodded and hopped up, grabbing two plates, two forks, and heading back to the living room. Im Lua was already holding the pizza box.
"Pizza~ Pizza~"
Our family had been eating more pizza lately, but nobody matched her enthusiasm.
"I loaded it up with toppings since I ordered—cool with you?"
Loaded up?
Her pizza had way more toppings than my usual order.
"Looks... loaded."
"Uh... too much?"
No way.
Anything but pineapple, and more toppings on pizza is always better—the more, the merrier.
I shook my head right away.
"Nah, no such thing. Looks awesome."
"Phew, good."
She nodded with a little laugh—damn, so charming.
I tore off a slice and handed it over.
"Here, pizza."
"Thanks. Dig in."
"That's my line. Dig in, Im Lua."
The second I said it, she shot me a glare.
What?
I blinked, but her sharp stare stayed locked on.
No choice—I gave her what she wanted.
"...Dig in, Lua-ya."
"Yeah, eat up."
...Man, just calling her name feels so cringey.