By Zephyria Usually, Status Window had closing remarks when it disappeared, but since it was still quiet, I had the feeling that something was going on.
“You’re there, aren’t you?”
The very feeling of Status Window being by my side was really strange.
“Status Window! Come here! I have something to say!”
I was afraid someone would see me talking to myself, but I couldn’t just stay still.
“I’ve been thinking about it, and Status Window, you always wanted to comfort Sung Se-han. Right?”
I recalled the moment I first met Status Window.
“You said you wanted to hug Se-han and see him, and you comforted him by saying you would protect him and be by his side. You made him quit harmful cigarettes.”
As I spoke, I became more and more convinced. I looked around the air and opened my mouth again.
“Those are all the things you wanted to do… and you made me do them, right?”
[Then why did I hurt Sung Se-han’s arm and Lee Tae-kyung’s face? Was that also what I wanted?]
As soon as Status Window appeared, a big breath burst from my mouth. I couldn’t stay still, so I got off the bed and looked at Status Window.
“That’s… because there’s nothing you can get for free in the world. As long as Status Window’s quest is activated, rewards and penalties must operate. Right?”
[……]
Silence meant affirmation. I grabbed my heart, which was pounding as if it would burst out of my mouth, and took a step forward.
“Really, Status Window is really for Se-han…”
[How to Prevent the Death of Genius Idol Sung Se-han.]
[A penalty has been created for having a private conversation with Status Window!]
It was something I had prepared for, but I sighed first.
“We had the conversation together, but only I get the penalty.”
[No! Status Window’s activities are also restricted!]
The words that Status Window wasn’t omnipotent came to mind, and I was suddenly worried.
“Hey, are you getting hurt too?”
[The generated penalty will occur in the near future!]
“Wait a minute. I’m going to Se-han…”
[Lee Tae-kyung, please try to eliminate your inferiority complex!]
[See you again with a better event!]
As soon as Status Window disappeared, the hospital room became chilly in an instant. My legs gave out and I sat on the bed.
“Really… it was a rewarding day.”
It was a special day when I got one step closer to Sung Se-han and was able to see Status Window from a different perspective.
I went up to the bed and lay down straight.
“I’m going to sleep without dreaming.”
I should sleep comfortably. I didn’t want to show Sung Se-han my haggard face from not sleeping.
“……”
However, unlike my plan, I had to open my eyes early because of Sung Se-han, who rushed in as soon as the sun rose.
I enjoyed the luxury of eating the porridge that Sung Se-han made while Kang Robin was taking care of the discharge procedures…
“Tae-kyung, does your mouth hurt?”
Sung Se-han, who was watching me eat, frowned. In fact, I had bitten the inside of my mouth so much yesterday that it was sore everywhere, but I shook my head nonchalantly.
“It’s hot.”
“Eat slowly.”
Sung Se-han, wearing a white shirt and khaki chinos, was dazzling enough to brighten the hospital room. The only thing that was annoying on his perfect face, where I couldn’t find any flaws, was the scab on his lips.
Seeing those lips made me lose my appetite, but I couldn’t leave the precious porridge, so I scraped it until the bottom was visible.
“Guys, are you ready? Let’s go now.”
After I changed into the clothes Sung Se-han had prepared, Kang Robin poked his head out from the doorway and urged us.
“I’ll take you to the company.”
“Okay.”
It was always a habit between us for him to put his arm around my shoulder as if hugging me. But what was different today? I was conscious of our solid bodies touching, and I felt suffocated.
Sung Se-han, unaware of my condition, leaned his face towards me as soon as we got on the elevator.
“Today’s your last schedule, right? I’ll pick you up as soon as it’s over.”
I only nodded at Sung Se-han, who said it as if it were natural for him to come and pick me up. Now, it was natural for us to meet after finishing our schedules.
In the narrow space filled with Sung Se-han’s Cologne scent, I couldn’t breathe and was almost suffocating.
“Lee Tae-kyung’s face is red.”
With Kang Robin’s laughter, the elevator door opened. I avoided Sung Se-han, who was trying to check my face, and got out of the elevator first.
I could finally breathe as I walked out into the wide parking lot.
“I see a lot of familiar faces today too.”
Kang Robin, who was walking ahead, said in a light tone. I could quickly understand what that meant. People taking pictures with cameras could be seen here and there in the parking lot from afar.
“That way.”
Sung Se-han put his arm around my shoulder and turned to the right. Vice Manager was waiting for us in front of Kang Robin’s sedan.
At that moment, I suddenly heard a commotion of footsteps. Before I could turn my gaze, women’s screams echoed through the parking lot.
“Kyaa! Se-han! Look over here!”
“Sung Se-han! It’s me! It’s Rumi Noona!”
It seemed that the fans had gathered somehow. Well, it would be harder not to be noticed since Sung Se-han was going in and out of the hospital.
“Se-han! Look over here!”
While I was looking around in surprise, people who seemed to be security guards blocked the surroundings. I followed Kang Robin and hurriedly walked to the sedan.
At that moment, the door opened from the car on the right and four women got out at the same time.
The moment I turned my tense gaze, I met malicious eyes.
“Sung Se-han! You traitor! If you’re going to be like this, leave Perfect Puzzle!”
I gasped, my body stiffening at the sharp voice that seemed to tear through the air.
“Tae-kyung, it’s okay.”
Sung Se-han pushed me towards the sedan and blocked them with his body. But they didn’t seem to have any intention of getting close in the first place. They were only raising their voices from their positions.
“Sung Se-han! You skipped yesterday’s live broadcast alone! You skipped the schedule too! It was all because of Lee Tae-kyung, wasn’t it?”
“We’ve gathered all the evidence of you stalking Lee Tae-kyung! Apologize to your fans on a live broadcast before we spread it all!”
“We warned you! Apologize to your fans and promise to be loyal to the group before it’s too late!”
Just then, the fans blocked by security on the left started shouting.
“Are those bitches crazy! Hey! Why should Se-han apologize?”
“Ajeossis! Drag those bitches out first! They’re crazy psychos who follow Sung Se-han around all the time! Huh?”
The security guards blocked the four women, but they got back into their car as if their business was done.
“Tae-kyung, get in quickly.”
I must have been spacing out, staring at the fans. Sung Se-han pushed my head down and shoved me into the back seat.
As soon as Sung Se-han sat next to me, the sedan took off. I stared at the floor until we were completely out of the underground parking lot.
“Lee Tae-kyung seems surprised.”
Kang Robin-nim in the passenger seat turned around and smiled at me.
“No, I’m fine….”
I lifted my head sharply, but my gaze kept drifting downwards.
“I didn’t know Se-han had to skip his schedule because of me. I’m really sorry.”
“It’s not because of you.”
Sung Se-han’s hand brushed across my cheek.
“Perfect Puzzle was invited to a Myungseong Group company event, but I was originally planning to skip it.”
“Why are you the only one skipping a group schedule?”
I looked at him in surprise, and Sung Se-han subtly avoided my gaze.
“I wasn’t feeling well yesterday.”
The guy who wasn’t feeling well was enjoying himself at the party? The perfume smell is quite something….
“Why did you skip the group live broadcast too? Don’t you know the fans are sensitive these days?”
“Ah, Lee Tae-kyung’s nagging is spicy.”
Sung Se-han leaned back in his seat and smiled pleasantly. I couldn’t keep saying unpleasant things to his smiling face, so I closed my mouth, but my mind was complicated.
There were already rumors of discord and withdrawal, so why did this guy keep giving them ammunition?
“Tae-kyung.”
Sung Se-han took my hand and intertwined our fingers.
“Yeah.”
Then the complicated thoughts in my head quickly cleared, and only one fact remained.
Sung Se-han, who likes me regardless of whether I’m a man or a woman.
I raised my gaze and looked at Sung Se-han. Sung Se-han was leaning to the left, looking at me.
“Let’s live together.”
As soon as Sung Se-han said those words, Kang Robin-nim turned to look at me. I was so flustered that I avoided Kang Robin-nim’s gaze.
“Se, Se-han? Stop, stop with those jokes. Okay?”
“I’m not joking.”
Sung Se-han pulled on our clasped hands.
“I’ll make sure living with me doesn’t interfere with your work. So, let’s live together in my room.”
“Crazy, won’t you really stop…?”
At the same time as I frowned, I heard the Vice Manager-nim sigh.
“Oh my… Sunbae-nim. Se-han really can’t do anything.”
The Vice Manager-nim’s words made my heart pound like I’d done something wrong. Kang Robin-nim crossed his arms and scoffed.
“I bet ten thousand won they’ll fight every day if they live together.”
“Only ten thousand won?”
“Then, let’s make it fifty thousand.”
My expression gradually crumpled because of the two people who were talking so amusingly.
“!”
While I was distracted by the conversation in the front seat, Sung Se-han pulled my hand. And he pressed his lips hard on the back of my hand, making me almost jump.
I tried to pull my hand away urgently, but he wouldn’t let go, and he started kissing each of my fingers.