A Grill Full of Suspicions
Ha Ye-jin quickly conveyed only the important announcements and ended homeroom. Whether it was because she was in a bad mood from the bag inspection day or something else, she skipped her usual chit-chat today. In the deflated atmosphere, I packed my bag and left the classroom. Then, I headed to the infirmary with Gu Jun-hyeok. We were going to check on Jeong In-ah, who'd passed out.
"Hey, not sure if I should ask this..."
Gu Jun-hyeok opened his mouth as we walked down the hallway.
"What was in that box? I wasn't curious at first, but after what happened earlier, now I am. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
He added excuses after asking, like he was justifying himself. I answered nonchalantly.
"Nothing."
"Oh, really? Then why didn't you show it? You grabbed my collar, so I thought it was something huge."
"Who knows..."
There really was nothing in the box. The bone dust that had been inside was all used up in the inheritance ritual, and my father's spell had already run its course. Even if they'd opened it, nothing would've happened.
But that box wasn't something that should be in anyone else's hands but mine. There was no reason not to open it, but no reason to show it to others, either. When they tried to snatch it by force, I got pissed off without realizing it.
"Dunno. I just didn't like it, I guess."
"Yeah, it was kinda shitty. But that bald guy's always like that. I'm over getting mad at him now."
We gossiped about the bald guy—our Sacred Substances teacher—and before we knew it, we were at the infirmary. After greeting the nurse, we went to the bed where Jeong In-ah was lying. Through the curtain, I could vaguely make out her silhouette; she seemed to be lying down, scrolling on her phone.
Shrrk!
"Whoa, ack!"
Gu Jun-hyeok yanked the curtain open roughly, startling Jeong In-ah so much that she dropped her phone. She stared blankly at it on the floor, then looked up at me with dazed eyes.
A brief silence fell.
She shifted her gaze to Gu Jun-hyeok beside me.
"Uh... what are you guys doing here?"
She glanced back and forth between us, her eyes clearly flustered.
Gu Jun-hyeok let out an awkward chuckle and picked up the phone from the floor, handing it back to her.
"Here to pick you up. I texted you yesterday about grabbing dinner after school. Didn't you see it?"
"Oh...? Oh! Yeah, I did. I just forgot to reply. I do that sometimes."
Jeong In-ah added her excuse. Then she sat up on the bed with a limp, listless motion. Her face was still sleepy and hazy as she looked at me. Spotting the bandages on my neck and palm, her eyes widened in surprise.
"Lunchtime... how'd that go? And what's with the bandages...?"
Fear flickered in Jeong In-ah's eyes as she asked. Worried she'd misunderstand, I quickly explained everything. Only after hearing that I'd gotten hurt but nothing serious did she sigh in relief.
Then she narrowed her eyes and glared at me subtly.
"Why do you always do dangerous crap? I thought my heart was gonna drop, for real..."
"When'd you wake up?"
sensing a lecture coming, I quickly changed the subject.
Jeong In-ah rolled her eyes upward like she was thinking.
"Fifth period... No, just now. I woke up right when you guys came."
"You woke up in fifth period and just skipped? Ditching class?"
"Yeah. No! I mean, I just woke up now. For real, seriously..."
She nodded at first, then frantically shook her head correcting herself. She'd woken up right away but had stayed in the infirmary because she didn't want to go to class. I got it. I'd skipped a period myself using the wound from So Do-jin as an excuse.
"Dude, so you woke up and just camped out here? You a delinquent or what?"
Gu Jun-hyeok, who'd been listening, scolded her. And this guy had skipped Sacred Studies that afternoon, claiming massive mental trauma from the lunchtime incident. What a shameless bastard.
"What delinquent! I had a reason!"
Jeong In-ah snapped back, pissed.
"What reason? You woke up in fifth period. You just didn't wanna go to class."
"Ugh, I said I woke up just now, not fifth... Damn it, Do Seon-woo!"
Arguing with Gu Jun-hyeok, she turned to me.
"You. You're the one stirring shit. It really was fifth period. No, wait, just now."
"See? It was fifth period."
"...You're annoying."
Teasing her, she pouted and glared at me. Then she stormed out of the infirmary, muttering angrily.
"Unfair, ganging up on me. Why bother picking me up then? Just go by yourselves. Hell, live your lives together."
"Oh, so you're not coming?"
"...I am."
"Hey, let's call Kim Jin-seo instead. Do we really need Jeong In-ah?"
Gu Jun-hyeok nudged my shoulder slyly, saying it loud enough for her to hear. She whipped around, glaring at us both and yelling.
"Ugh, I said I'm coming!"
*
The restaurant Gu Jun-hyeok took us to was a bit far from school—a proper beef place specializing in high-quality cuts. Prices were steep, the kind that'd make students think twice.
"Why're you standing there? You a vegetarian? We can go somewhere else."
Gu Jun-hyeok said as I hesitated at the door. I slowly shook my head.
"Nah, not that."
"Haha, just kidding. So why not come in? Not hungry?"
I studied his casual expression closely. It looked as innocent as ever, but something felt off. It wasn't just because I suspected him of being a Satanist.
'If someone's buying you beef for no reason, always be suspicious.'
Uncle's old saying flashed through my mind.
"...Isn't this place kinda pricey?"
"Not cheap, yeah. But I'm paying anyway. Better than some half-assed spot since I'm grateful and all."
On paper, it was payment for saving his mom, so not exactly "no reason." Still, wasn't this overkill? Harboring that doubt, I stepped inside.
The aroma of beef filled the air—not overpowering, just enough to whet the appetite.
"What'll you have?"
As soon as we sat, Gu Jun-hyeok grabbed a menu from the table and handed it over. Jeong In-ah took it, flipping pages with mock seriousness. Then, with a mischievous grin, she pointed to one item.
"Ooh, this one?"
She'd picked the most expensive thing on the menu—a course where different cuts came out in order, grilled by the server on request. Top-tier service, top-tier price. Not something for a casual meal.
"That one?"
Gu Jun-hyeok frowned, a bit thrown. Jeong In-ah nodded with a smile, so he called the server.
"Three of these, please."
He ordered without hesitation—the ridiculously pricey course.
Now Jeong In-ah panicked.
"W-wait...? What if you actually order it? I was kidding!"
"Shoulda said so sooner. Already ordered. Just eat."
He shrugged it off. He wasn't stingy, but he wasn't a big spender either. Today, though, he was throwing money around like it meant nothing. Like it wasn't even his.
"Where'd you steal the money from?"
I asked half-seriously, wondering if it really wasn't his.
He waved it off with a ridiculous look.
"Bullshit. Why would I steal? I got more than enough."
"More than enough? Must be loaded."
Jeong In-ah chimed in.
He ducked his head slightly.
"Not loaded, but... whatever. Hoarding it is pointless. It's just paper if you pinch pennies. As long as I don't starve, it's fine."
Uncle would've fainted. Even I felt a chill down my spine. Had I caught his miser bug?
"Beef's here... Enjoy~"
The meat arrived. The server plunked it down on the wooden board irritably and bolted. Gu Jun-hyeok tilted his head watching her go. I was puzzled too. That back looked familiar, like I'd seen it before. The voice too.
"Wait, isn't the server supposed to grill it? Hey! Hey—!"
Gu Jun-hyeok raised his voice, calling her back. She flinched and froze. As she sidled toward the kitchen, he grabbed her shoulder.
"Excuse me, aren't you supposed to grill it? That's what the menu says."
"...If the customer wants, you can grill it yourselves."
"Huh? I don't want to. I'd prefer if you did."
Annoyed by her attitude, Gu Jun-hyeok snarked back. They bickered pointlessly, drawing stares from other customers and staff. Good thing it was early—not too crowded.
"...Fine, got it."
Feeling the eyes, she sighed reluctantly and turned. Hair neatly tied up, apron on—different vibe from usual, but that face was unmistakable. Kindness Holy Mark holder, Yeo Min-seo.
She rubbed her temple like chasing a headache, scowling, then wobbled over with tongs and scissors.
"How would you like it cooked?"
She asked curtly. Too stunned to reply right away. Jeong In-ah's eyes were wide, mouth shut. Gu Jun-hyeok sat back down, staring like she was a zoo monkey.
"Blue rare, please."
"Medium's better for this cut."
"Oh, yeah? Then do that. But what're you doing here?"
He munched a side dish casually. Yeo Min-seo tossed meat on the grill. Sizzle— The savory smell spread.
"Working."
"Full-time? Or part-time?"
"Part-time."
"Ah. But can we even work at our age? Isn't this illegal?"
"None of your business, asshole. Shut up and eat."
She spat curses roughly but sliced the meat with pro skill, plating it for Gu Jun-hyeok. Despite her rough mouth, her hands were steady. Then mine and Jeong In-ah's plates.
"Hey, is this medium? Looks well-done. I prefer rare."
"...Then why not order ground beef?"
"Whoa, sassing customers? Can't stand this. Get the manager."
Gu Jun-hyeok teased threateningly, but she ignored him. Once the meat was mostly done, she set down the tongs.
"Next one's coming soon. Take your time chatting."
With that, she left our table. Looked like she sat for a break, but another table called, and she rushed over, grilling with a gentle smile—polite and skilled. Totally different from with us. The mismatch was awkward, verging on unpleasant.
"...Isn't she from our school? What's her name?"
Once she was gone, Jeong In-ah leaned in, whispering. She knew the face but not the name. I ate a piece and answered.
"Yeo Min-seo. Kindness Holy Mark."
"Oh, her..."
Jeong In-ah nodded knowingly. Like her, everyone at Florence knew her face; fewer knew the name. Bad rep for personality, but top grades. Famous for beating Kim Jin-seo in sparring. I'd gotten a bit famous for beating her.
[Subtly bragging about yourself...]
I ignored Legba's mutter.
"Whoa, she's super polite at work. Pure 100% Kindness Saint on the clock—"
"Sir, please keep it down~ Other guests are complaining."
Yeo Min-seo popped up, cutting Gu Jun-hyeok off. She brought the next round, grilled, sliced, plated. We ate and talked; more meat came; she grilled again. Repeat.
"..."
The beef was delicious. But I couldn't taste it fully. Too much on my mind. Why was Yeo Min-seo working here? Parents own the place? Covering as an alibi to dodge Satanist suspicion? Or broke? Nah, didn't seem desperate for cash. Gut feeling.
Thirsty from thinking, I drank water. My foggy head cleared. But Jeong In-ah was gone.
"She got pissed 'cause you zoned out and didn't listen. Said she's going home?"
I looked around frantically; Gu Jun-hyeok said casually.
"For real?"
"Nah, kidding. Bathroom."
"Psycho..."
I stared at his calm, lying face. No tells at all. If he lied this well...
"Hey."
Gu Jun-hyeok's low voice cut my spiraling thoughts. He stared blankly, emotionless. No joy, no sadness. His face looked colder, harder today. Without Jeong In-ah, we sat in heavy silence, facing each other.
Finally, he spoke.
"Satanist or whatever... You don't actually think it's me, do you?"
He asked with a faint smile. Like he assumed no, but checking just in case. But I couldn't smile.
(To be continued)