Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Unnoticed Feelings
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[Si-eun]
"Haah..."
I sighed as I stirred the chocolate in the pot.
Lately, sighs just keep bursting out of me. They say too many sighs chase away your good fortune. Maybe mine's already hit rock bottom.
This is all Hwi-min's fault for making me sigh like this.
Ever since I got back from visiting home last weekend, his attitude has been awkward.
He's not the sociable type by any means, but he'd chat with me just fine. Sometimes he'd even toss in a playful remark or two.
But these past few days? Not a single word. No, he doesn't even respond when I talk to him.
The trigger was obvious.
He changed starting from the day I woke up totally wasted from drinking. Around then, I could feel his gaze shift.
Now, it feels even more distant than before I started helping with the housework.
What on earth did I say to make him start keeping his distance?
When I pieced together the clues, the answer was crystal clear.
Probably.
Probably, I...
...c-confessed to him.
Even if it was the alcohol talking, you can't just act normal with someone you turned down. It must make him uncomfortable, hard to face me.
But I'm not entirely sure.
If that's the case... do I actually like Hwi-min?
"When you drink, your self-control slips, and the truth buried in your heart comes spilling out."
That's what So-hye said at the drinking party.
Is that really true?
Was something like that really inside me all along?
I tried peering into my own heart, but it was like staring into the dark chocolate right in front of me—nothing visible at all. The only thing clear was how hot it was getting.
"Haah..."
Frustrated beyond belief, I let out another sigh.
I just can't take it anymore. I need to hold the guy responsible for all these sighs accountable.
With that in mind, I huffed a little "Hmph" to no one in particular and turned off the gas.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Knock knock.
I knocked on the door and waited for a reply.
Last time I barged in without knocking, it caused a mess... so I decided against flinging doors open willy-nilly.
It was 11:50 PM now—ten minutes shy of Hwi-min's birthday.
In my hand was a birthday present for Hwi-min.
I hadn't originally planned to do anything for his birthday.
But I'd overheard it at the drinking party.
He said it was in a week, and it'd feel off if I didn't mark it somehow. That's the only reason I prepared something. Nothing more to it.
After a short wait, a voice came from inside: "Come in."
I'd worried he might not let me in, but thankfully, that didn't happen.
I took a deep breath to steel myself.
Then I cracked the door open just a bit and hid the chocolate bag behind my back.
Through the gap, there was Hwi-min, glued to his monitor like always.
He wouldn't even meet my eyes. He was definitely awkward around me. But just seeing him like this felt oddly welcoming. We hadn't crossed paths outside of mealtimes lately.
"Why're you here?"
His tone carried a hint of wariness.
"Just."
I answered as casually as I could and headed for the bed. He kept glancing my way, but no real reaction. Good—he hadn't spotted the chocolate. Relief.
I slipped it under the blanket, and Hwi-min murmured low.
"What're you doing?"
"Sitting down."
"I can see that. No snack today?"
"You don't like snacks anyway. And eating them this late at night? You'd pack on the pounds."
"Hmm, well..."
Even to my obvious dodge, he didn't press. Was he just bad at banter, or too perceptive?
With that, he swiveled his chair back, signaling he was done talking.
But there was still time until his birthday hit. I couldn't hand over the gift yet.
And if I just sat there silently waiting to shove it at him, the whole reason for coming would be obvious.
I scooted closer to where Hwi-min was and spoke up.
"What're you up to?"
He turned his head naturally at that. Then, like magnets repelling, he immediately put distance between us.
I had no idea how on guard he was around me. At this point, it was almost ridiculous.
"Studying economics."
"Yeah? Looks like a bunch of squiggly letters."
"Not squiggly—Greek variables."
I'd tried buying time with small talk, but it fell flat. Should've come right before midnight. A tiny pang of regret bloomed.
Hmph. I crossed my legs as I returned to my spot, when a sudden thought flashed through my mind.
Lately, Hwi-min wouldn't even talk to me. But just now, he'd answered normally.
So, I should just ask.
"Hey, why've you been acting so weird lately?"
Hwi-min's shoulders twitched.
"Dunno. Thinking of reverting to my silent brooding concept."
"That's not a concept—you're just naturally bad at talking."
"Well, yeah."
"No joking around. Tell me straight—why the sudden distance?"
"Uh, umm..."
What a lame excuse. Hwi-min might brush it off, but he shouldn't expect that leniency from me.
But apparently, that was the best his brain could squeeze out. No more answers came.
No point waiting, then. Time to grill him.
"Just to check, y'know."
"Mhm."
"That night we were drinking—really, nothing happened?"
I lowered my voice, even though no one was around to eavesdrop. If my hunch was right... I'd basically confessed to him.
But he didn't respond, even after waiting. He looked deep in thought, lips sealed tight.
Frustrated, I finally spoke up.
"If—if by some chance I said something."
Probably... if it'd been a confession.
"It was all drunken nonsense. Not a shred of sincerity. So just forget every word."
"..."
It wouldn't have been sincere, so I wanted him to forget.
I wasn't even sure if it was sincere or not... but if it'd just burdened him—a guy with zero interest in women—and that's why he was acting weird. No need for feelings like that.
"Got it."
Only then did Hwi-min nod and reply.
So I really did confess, huh.
And if so, was that feeling... genuine?
Right then, a cheap beep echoed through the room.
My phone showed 12:00. Must've been a clock somewhere chiming midnight.
"Haah, seriously."
Frustration hit again, and I sighed once more. My head and heart were both a tangled mess—for him and for me—so I ruffled my hair wildly.
"Umm, you okay?"
Hwi-min looked flustered.
I shot him a quick glance.
Then pulled out the chocolate I'd hidden under the blanket and held it out.
"Take it."
He eyed the package.
"...Chocolate snack for today? You said it'd make you fat at night."
"What? No."
What kind of idiot question was that? Had he seriously forgotten his own birthday?
I snorted and whipped my face away.
"It's a present. Happy birthday."
I glanced back, and Hwi-min's mouth fell open like realization had dawned.
"You eat anything fine usually, so I don't know if you like chocolate... but it's kinda kid-level taste, so I figured you'd like it. Made some."
"Not that much of a kid taste."
Well, true. He always polished off any side dish or meal without complaint.
"Made it? You made this yourself?"
"Yeah."
To be precise, I'd melted store-bought chocolate, poured it into molds, let it set, and piped on the lettering.
"Snuck out to buy ingredients and tools without you noticing. Then you suddenly holed up in here, so I got away with it."
"I see."
This wasn't the time for "I see."
How worried I'd been, him avoiding even eye contact. How many sighs I'd heaved. Probably shaved minutes off my lifespan.
I was about to demand some accountability when Hwi-min spoke, a faint smile on his lips.
"So in the end, you made this for me?"
Yes. Exactly.
...That's what I should've said, but his smile irked me for some reason.
After frustrating me like that, why was he grinning ear to ear?
"...Nope."
"Nope?"
"Yeah. Made it for someone else, had extras, so threw this in."
"It says 'Happy Birthday' right here?"
"How many people in the world do you think share your birthday?"
His comeback stalled. As expected—weak at verbal sparring.
But then Hwi-min burst out laughing for some reason.
"Why're you laughing?"
"Nothing."
If it's nothing, why laugh? I glared, full of complaint, and he finally took the chocolate.
"Thanks."
A genuine smile as he looked me straight in the eye.
Sincerely thankful words right back at me.
Something in my chest melted at the sight.
I couldn't put a name to the feeling, so I jerked my head away and stood up.
"Heading out?"
He asked as I walked to the door.
"Want me to stay longer?"
"No, not that. You came just to give me this?"
Why ask something so obvious?
No ambition, no drive, always smirking, conceding every word fight. Why's he sharp now?
Infuriating. I wanted to vent this petty anger.
So I turned my head.
"Figure it out yourself, dummy."
And snapped at him, all prickly.
Back in my room, I leaned against the door.
Hwi-min had been acting off these past few days, but once I went and talked to him, it was like old times.
That alone made me a little happy.
If it was just awkwardness, fixing the cause should sort it out. I'd laid it all out clear today, so hopefully things go back to normal starting tomorrow.
The past weekend without Hwi-min. And this week, with him keeping his distance.
For some reason, I'd felt lonely.
I'd always been used to being alone since I was little. There were days I didn't see a soul all day. I'd never felt lonely before.
Yet strangely, it hit me this time.
Sad because someone wasn't around me.
An emotion that hadn't existed in me until now.
If I had to give this feeling a special name...
What...
would it be?