Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Yoo Jo-eun (2)
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"Someone's still following us."
"Yeah... Do you mind if I hold your arm? ...I'm a little scared."
The tremor from Yoo Jo-eun beside me traveled up my arm, making me a bit nervous too. With barely any streetlights and the deserted road, the eerie vibe only grew.
'Mr. Hornsby, is he still back there?'
'Yeah, that short-ass prick under 170 cm. Wanna give him a smack?'
'No way! What if he's got a knife!'
'What a chickenshit. In Texas, I'd pull a gun on him right away.'
'Texas?'
Was this guy from Texas? I knew it was in America, but where exactly? All I knew about Texas was that the Texas Rangers baseball team was there.
'You don't even know where Texas is? Dumbass. Heh, if I hadn't had talent for baseball, I'd be swinging guns instead.'
'Sure you would. Good thing you didn't turn to crime.'
'Heh, if I'd had just one gun, I'd have busted your skull open. Too bad.'
Talking with Hornsby settled my nerves a bit. As my chest calmed, a new sensation crept into my arm amid the trembling—soft yet firm, like the feel of a bra.
"We're almost there."
Squish. So soft. Every time she pressed closer in fear, the plushness of her upper chest brushed my forearm. That tiny-dicked bastard! Stalking a girl like this.
'Mr. Hornsby, is he still following?'
Time to decide.
'Yeah.'
"Instructor. You planning to go all the way home like this?"
"Huh? Are you wasting too much time because of me?"
"No, I mean, what if that stalker prick follows you right to your door?"
I couldn't let a creep like that learn where Jo-eun lived. I explained my plan to chase him off.
"Huh? Isn't that dangerous? Let's just go. He's only been following without doing anything. He always stops at the brightly lit apartment entrance."
She was shaking this hard even with a sturdy guy like me next to her. How much had this poor lamb trembled alone all this time? Thinking of Jo-eun's chest made my heart ache. I mean, her heart that must've hurt. Not the one pressed against my arm.
"Don't worry. I'm an athlete."
With a bat, even silver ganut would be nothing to fear. Shame I didn't have one now, but it should be enough to scare off a stalker under 170 cm...? Right? ...Still scary bare-handed.
"Got it!"
"Huh? What?"
Rummaging through my gym bag, I spotted a few condoms and my murder weapon wrapped in cowhide. Gripping the stitches gave me a surge of confidence—like I could take on anything.
"That's a baseball."
"Get hit in the head with this wrong, and you're dead."
"Huh? This?"
"Feel it. Hard, right?"
"...Yeah, it's hard."
She caressed my precious one, feeling its firmness. My lifelong companion, the baseball. With this guy, nothing scared me.
'Phew. Good thing I carry it for autograph practice.'
"Now, stay behind me."
I turned slowly, shielding her behind my back.
'Mr. Hornsby, you've fought before, right?'
Sharing even a moment of his fighting instinct would help.
'Huh? Never.'
"What?!"
"Maeng-ho?"
"N-no, it's nothing."
'This body's never fought. Only dished out one-sided beatings. Keh heh heh.'
'Knew it. Classic Hornsby! A scumbag like you's gotta have brawled.'
'You fucking yellow monkey shit!'
'Sharing senses now, please.'
At my request, memories of Hornsby's fights flooded in. Perfect. This'll do.
"Hey! You there!"
The guy trailing us flinched. What the hell? Batman?
Black hat, black mask, black hoodie. Definitely not right in the head for summer. Luckily, he was about 170 cm—not too big.
"Yeah, you."
"......"
"How long you gonna follow us? You crazy?"
Sizing up his build boosted my confidence, so I went in strong.
"...Who are you?"
His voice cracked through the mask like it was his first words today. Terrifying from afar, but seeing him talk filled me with courage. Clutching the baseball, I approached slowly.
"Hey! Come here."
I closed right up to him as he stood frozen.
"W-why are you doing this?"
His voice shook hard as I got near.
"Why you keep following? This isn't the first time, right?"
"W-what's that got to do with you! Are you Jo-eun's boyfriend?"
"Nah. Why? Are you?"
He looked like he'd never fought—didn't even take a stance at arm's reach. This nobody scaring Jo-eun?
"Hey, you want me to hit you? Why so scared? Pfft!"
I raised my hand high; he covered his face and jumped back. Confirmed. Total punk.
"Agh, why are you doing this?"
"Why? Why chase someone who hates it, you bitch? Huh?"
"Hates it? Jo-eun and I are in love!"
What bullshit? Stunned, I glanced at Jo-eun—her face said she had no clue.
"Ex-boyfriend?!"
Had to check, so I yelled to her.
"No, I... I've never even had a boyfriend..."
Whoa, jackpot! Wait, no.
"Then who the hell is this guy?!"
"Can't tell with the mask."
"Fuck, she doesn't know who it is!"
"Fuck you, then who the hell are you to be with Jo-eun!"
Suddenly, he swung a fist. What was this turtle-slow punch? It looked like our catcher's throw.
Thwack!
"Aak!"
"What're you doing?"
I dodged and lightly smacked his occipital with my knuckles. He crumpled forward. Seizing the moment, I yanked off his hat and mask, grabbed his hair, and lifted his face.
"Jo-eun, know this guy?"
"No, never seen him."
"Jo-eun! It's Hyun-jun. You know me. Hyun-jun!"
"Don't know you."
Smack. He yapped loud, so I quieted him with the back of my baseball hand.
"You don't know me...? After all I've done... Doesn't matter. Yeah, I'll tell you today."
He mumbled something. Couldn't catch it all, but he seemed kinda pitiful, so I let go of his head.
"Ugh."
"Listen, kid, live straight! If you like her, say it to her face! Don't stalk like a creep. Man up! Ptui."
I spat near his face and stood.
"Show your face again, you're dead. For real."
I nudged his head with my foot and turned. Jo-eun stared, awestruck. Wait... awestruck?
"Uwaaah! Maeng-ho, behind you! Behind!"
What? Her scream made me whip around—the stalker was digging something bulky from his hoodie pocket. Shit!
"Uwaaaah!"
I hurled the baseball at his face and bolted to Jo-eun, grabbing her hand and running.
'Sto... knife... Flowers...'
Hornsby yelled something, but I couldn't hear over my sprint.
"Where to?"
"Left! Ahh, my ankle...!"
Shit, twisted? Where's that guy?
'Flowers, you idiot!'
Skewer me? Fuck!
"Hop on my back first!"
"Okay! Sorry..."
"Hurry!"
She reached around; I felt her soft thighs in my hands, heavy warmth on my back—but not the time.
"Running! Just tell me directions!"
"Got it!"
Couldn't die like this. Piggybacking her, I dashed per her guidance. Huff, huff. Heart's gonna explode.
'Heh, moron. Watching your dumbassery's always fun.'
'My student's in danger—no, fuck! Tired, so shut up!'
Silenced Hornsby and focused. Running without arms was hell!
"Huff, huff. Almost... there...?"
"Here! That apartment!"
Shit, thighs burning. How long since I ran like this? Punishment for skipping training for sex?
"There!"
"Huff, huff. Yeah, bright here. Heave."
"You okay?"
"I'm fine. Jo-eun, your ankle?"
"Not too bad to walk. Let me down."
Crisis over, breeding urge surged? Didn't wanna let go of those soft thighs.
"Nah. Just in case, I'll carry you home."
Saved her life—fair compensation, right?
"Really, I'm fine..."
"I'm not. Huff, heave."
"Then let's head inside at least."
Using her voice as GPS, I trudged on. Stopping after running made legs feel like lead, but thigh feel kept me going.
"Just go in. I'll punch the code."
She stretched forward; her chest pressed fully against my back—nice.
"In we go."
Door opened; we entered the lobby. Gotta split here? Set her down, hit elevator button.
"Well, made it this far. I'll head out."
"Um...!"
"Yeah?"
"You've come this far—have a drink before you go! Your face looks ready to burst, Maeng-ho!"
I touched my face—sweaty, hot. Yeah, water sounds good.
"Then, excuse me."
"No, thank you. What if he followed to my door?"
"Ugh, creepy. Carrying a knife? Total psycho."
"Right? You'd have saved me big time if not for you. ...Ah!"
Mid-chat, she clapped. What?
"That guy—I remember! Old student who confessed solo and quit. Didn't think he'd stalk! Never pegged him for that."
"Can't judge by faces."
"True. First saw you, thought you were a hot thug. ...Today, you're so reliable."
"Th, thug?"
"Yeah. I mean, handsome. Like, playboy vibe? Ah! Rude? Hehe."
"Nah. Whatever."
Heard thug faces were top compliments from girls... Wall mirror showed sweaty me looking sexy. Face still got it.
Lately, more "handsome" comments. Sharper eyes or something. Before, batting pitcher and benchwarmer life dulled my looks with worry. Now, confidence reviving them?
Contract with Hornsby really boosted it.
'Thanks, Mr. Hornsby.'
'Keh hah hah hah!'
My thanks got him roaring. That funny?
'Ah, what to do with that bald-headed shit? Why'd you run?'
'Duh! Guy pulls a knife, run!'
'For real, keh hah hah! Haven't seen a moron like you in ages. I yelled "flowers," hah hah!!!'
'Huh? Flowers?'
Not skewer?
'Yeah, ran from flowers. Heh. Nicely wrapped bouquet! But you bolted without checking. Great show. Keh.'
Thud, legs gave out. I ran from flowers? Looked like a knife...?
Replayed: Dim streetlight road, he pulled lumpy thing from pocket... Bolted blind.
"Maeng-ho! You okay? Pushed too hard? What to do... My fault...!"
"You saw the knife, right?"
"Yes! Pulled something out."
Yeah, as long as Jo-eun didn't know...
"What now? Hope no injury flare-up. Ah, no. Let's get to my place quick!"
Ding! Elevator arrived.