𝗦𝗨𝗡 & 𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗡 | ᴬᶰ ˢᵒᵒᴴᵒ 『English Version』

Chapter 24

“Look, I like this one better. You both look so cute.”

Sieun watched as Hyeori smiled at the other boy while they walked toward a small shop to grab lunch. He and Juntae had been stuck with volunteer work at the history museum—it was part of their punishment.

Still, Hyeori had decided to show up, snapping pictures with them and of them while they were distracted.

Like a proud mom.

“Sieun-ah, look over here.” “Oh, Juntae-ah, smile again and face the camera.” “Ahh, look how cute—one more.”

That was all he’d heard all afternoon. He’d seen her offering to take pictures for families who wanted a photo with the “royals,” even giving them instructions on how to pose. He hadn’t expected her to be having so much fun.

At first, he’d asked her to come just because he didn’t want to be alone in that crowd. But seeing her smiling like that—like everything was okay—made him feel a little proud of himself. He liked seeing her happy. It felt like the least he could do, after everything he’d let happen.

Once they got their food, the trio sat down at a table, with Hyeori seated between the two boys, staring out the window and taking small bites of her meal. She’d ordered a small portion, but everyone knew she’d probably let someone else finish it. Suddenly, a noise drew their attention, and they looked up to see Hyuntak and Baku joining their table.

Sieun frowned, but watched as Hyuntak greeted Hyeori with a smile and a few words—and how she smiled back just as warmly. His frown deepened when he saw the little banana milk box Hyuntak placed next to her tray, murmuring something only she and Juntae seemed to hear.

“Damn, Gotak-ah, you’re going straight for the tiger. Rawr.”

Baku earned a solid smack on the head from his friend. Sieun watched as Juntae and Hyeori seamlessly joined the rhythm of those two guys, as if they'd known each other forever. She looked so at ease with them, even if all they were doing was goofing around. Like there were no problems. Like none of the pain in her head actually existed.

And that kind of bothered him.

Why does she look so happy with them? Why does she still trust people so easily?

It wasn’t jealousy. It wasn’t because she was getting close to someone else. It was something deeper—anger. Bottled-up frustration. He couldn’t understand how she still had that kind of trust left in her. As if strangers weren’t exactly the reason everything had gone wrong. As if he hadn’t been the one who let the person she loved most in the world end up like that.

"Don’t eat like that. It’s not like you worked that hard."

“Yah, listen up!” Baku turned toward Hyeori, chewing on some rice, his eyes wide like he was about to give a dramatic speech. “Pretty eyes, I’ve got a question for you.”

“Yah, stop calling her that…” Gotak raised his hand in warning, but Baku just laughed and turned back to her.

“She doesn’t mind, so shut it.” He nudged his friend’s arm aside to see Hyeori more clearly. “Some girls gave me their numbers. Think I should ask them out to dinner?”

Hyeori glanced to the side like she was seriously considering it. “Both of them?”

Gotak laughed. “He’s so unlucky in love, neither will say yes.”

Juntae and Hyeori shared a small laugh, which only offended Baku more. He patted Gotak’s shoulder as the boy beside him chuckled through his chewing.

“Alright, listen.” He leaned in. “If they say yes, this idiot will pay for dinner. Deal?” He patted Gotak’s shoulder again.