LMO 127

“I have a girlfriend too!”

“Just shut up, you….”

Finally, Seong Hae-min threw in the towel. But even with his sigh of resignation, Min Si-hu was undeterred.

“We’ve been dating since high school, so it’s been 3 full years. So please understand that I couldn’t possibly have harbored such unholy feelings.”

It felt like my absurdity had reached its limit and burst like a gimbap side. I whispered to Seong Hae-min.

“That’s why that proverb exists.”

“What proverb?”

“Someone is already drinking kimchi soup before the person offering the rice cake has even thought about it.”

“Pfft.”

Seong Hae-min bit his lip hard. Min Si-hu, unaware of our conversation, rolled his characteristic bright brown eyes and pouted at Seong Hae-min, acting cute.

“But Si-hu, I don’t want to be misunderstood by Yoon-hee.”

Seong Hae-min ignored him, sipping his drink. He seemed used to such ridiculous displays of affection and was letting it go in one ear and out the other, but I couldn’t do that at all. I couldn’t hold back and spoke.

“You’re using the third person…”

“Huh?”

“…….”

Min Si-hu asked blankly. After a brief silence, Seong Hae-min burst into laughter a beat later. He laughed so hard he clutched his stomach. I could feel people at nearby tables glancing at us, but I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride that I had made Seong Hae-min laugh.

And the person in question, Min Si-hu, remained still, like a paused video.

As Seong Hae-min stopped laughing and wiped his tears, Min Si-hu was still blinking, looking like he was deep in thought.

A long while later, Min Si-hu’s first words were,

“Whoa.”

Seong Hae-min looked at him, puzzled.

“What?”

“Crazy.”

“Why?”

“You’re crazy.”

Min Si-hu, repeating only the word “crazy,” his face gradually flushed red, then he buried his head and clasped his hands together, raising them to his cheeks as if begging. And he shouted. This person’s aegyo was as natural as breathing.

“Forget it!”

“Huh?”

“Whatever is happening, I don’t know! But I know this. What I did in that strange world ends in that world! Let’s pretend it never happened. Okay?”

“……So you remembered because you used the third person?”

That was more absurd than him begging to be forgotten. The sudden realization of memory left Seong Hae-min and me looking at Min Si-hu with bewildered expressions. Min Si-hu himself seemed to realize his embarrassment and coughed awkwardly.

“But… I use the third person because my girlfriend likes it.”

“As if she likes it.”

“I swear!”

Min Si-hu desperately tried to defend himself, but it was not very effective. Seong Hae-min snorted, and the pattern of Min Si-hu grumbling continued.

Min Si-hu was absurd and funny, but seeing Seong Hae-min and Min Si-hu bickering as usual also brought a sense of ease to a part of my heart. Honestly, I had felt anxious when I first saw Seong Hae-min and Min Si-hu, but to be able to share the same memories like this…

Reality finally set in. I rubbed my cup.

This was all thanks to Do Yun-hyeok.

He was the one who told me to accept things as they are, without overthinking the cause and effect. He was the one who remembered me first and came looking for me. He was the one who gave me the certainty that I wasn’t going crazy. It was because I had gained the conviction that I wasn’t lost in delusion that I could be so free in the face of such stories…

And now, even if I were lost in a strange delusion, it would be okay.

Do Yun-hyeok wouldn’t think that of me. It was strange how much strength that alone gave me, and yet I wanted to keep leaning on that comfort. I smiled brightly at them.

❖ ❖ ❖

Seong Hae-min and Min Si-hu and I became people who kept in touch. They had some similarities to their novel counterparts, and some very different aspects, and it was surprising and grateful that our friendship from the novel could still exist. Sometimes, others like Lee Beom or Jeon Jae-hyung would also come to mind. But I decided not to be impatient.

As Do Yun-hyeok said, if it’s meant to be, we’ll meet someday.

My chaotic daily life felt like a distant past. Everything was falling into place, like interlocking gears. I faithfully attended my classes and lectures, and in the meantime, my relationship with Do Yun-hyeok also changed.

In fact, Do Yun-hyeok seemed content just meeting me in reality. He still didn’t talk about wanting to do anything specific with me. He was just like in the novel, not demanding a special relationship, just saying he liked me or wanted to be by my side. The only thing he seemed to wish for was for me to play with him sometimes.

But now, I was the one who had changed. What used to be just hanging out without much thought (or rather, being dragged along with a lot of complaints) was now making my cheeks tingle.

Do Yun-hyeok and I would go to places like comic book stores, PC bangs, movie theaters, or museums together. Each time, there was a strange atmosphere. But Do Yun-hyeok himself was as usual. So, this was a change I was feeling alone. Until now, I had never been conscious of anyone else when I was with them… meaning, I was now overly conscious of Do Yun-hyeok.

Every time our hands accidentally brushed, I would flinch like a startled bird, feeling so unfamiliar and embarrassed. Each time, Do Yun-hyeok would just chuckle as if I were cute. It felt unfair, like I was losing, so I would always pretend not to notice and stubbornly hold my ground.

Today, after dinner and a movie, I walked with my hands shoved into my pockets, flicking my fingers. If I didn’t do something like this, I felt like I would get too excited.

“The ending was unexpectedly touching.”

“Huh? Uh-huh. I didn’t realize it was all buildup.”

“I liked how they divided the LMOs.”

“Uh-huh. Me too.”

Even in short conversations with Do Yun-hyeok, my flustered reactions were quite amusing. But even more amusing was the feeling of not wanting to go home like this. I, who always wanted to go home after meeting people, was having this feeling for someone for the first time. I couldn’t show it, but I just wanted to keep seeing him. I didn’t particularly want to do anything, so I always parted ways pretending I had no regrets.

Today too, I lingered in the subway station, and when I heard the train approaching, I reluctantly got up and said goodbye first.

“The subway’s here… Well… Today was fun. Bye. I’m going now?”

“…….”

Do Yun-hyeok, who usually said goodbye casually, just looked down at me intently today. What’s up? I thought, glancing at him. He suddenly placed his hand on my shoulder and got on the subway that had just arrived, along with me. Seeing his arm on my shoulder, I was flustered and looked around, but I was somehow pulled into the subway car.

“Huh? This isn’t your direction.”

“I suddenly wanted to walk you home.”

“What? Why?”

“Just because.”

“There’s no ‘just because’.”

“Here.”

After that brief, back-and-forth exchange, we rode in silence for several stops. I fidgeted a few times under his arm, but each time, Do Yun-hyeok seemed to think I was swaying and held me firmly, so I had to stand still again.

When it was my stop, Do Yun-hyeok casually got off the subway with me. The crowd of people disembarking formed a throng. Do Yun-hyeok stood idly until everyone had left, then he started walking.

For some reason, I had nothing to say. When we got on the subway, I wondered why he was acting like this, but my feelings grew increasingly strange.

Do Yun-hyeok walked me all the way to the entrance of my apartment complex. Only when we arrived right at the entrance was I able to break free from his arm around my shoulder. Strangely, my neck felt bare. I awkwardly ran my hand over my neck and said goodbye.

“Uh… I don’t know what came over you, but thanks for walking me home. But will you be okay getting home?”

“Hae-jun.”

“Yeah?”

“Did you have fun today?”

“Yeah. I want to see that movie again. You?”

“Me too.”

“…….”

A moment of silence followed. This time, Do Yun-hyeok said goodbye first.

“Go home safely.”

“Aren’t you going?”

“I’ll go after I see you get inside.”

“Okay. Then I’m really going?”

“Yeah. Go on in.”

Urged by Do Yun-hyeok, I moved my reluctant feet. I fought the urge to keep looking back, and only when I reached the apartment entrance did I turn around. The lights, sensing my presence, flickered on brightly. Seeing Do Yun-hyeok standing far away, I waved as if to say hurry up and go in.

Watching him, I turned away from the entrance I was about to open and ran towards Do Yun-hyeok. Do Yun-hyeok, showing no surprise, asked,

“Why did you come back?”

“Do Yun-hyeok.”

My heart, pounding from running, felt like it would burst through my chest. I looked up at Do Yun-hyeok. The handsome man with a slightly sharp expression met my gaze. And impulsively, I asked,

“You like me, right? Like you said before. Is it still the same?”

Beyond my darkening vision, Do Yun-hyeok, who had heard my question, seemed to smile faintly.

“Yes.”

“Then….”

My heart fluttered as if it had grown wings. I clenched my fists.

“What would change if I said I like you too?”

“…….”

This time, clearly, Do Yun-hyeok broke into a wide smile. His eyes crinkled softly. Seeing that smile, my heart, which had acted on impulse, pounded as if it would shatter my bones.

I was glad it was night. My ears, neck, everywhere felt hot. If it were bright daylight, I would have looked like a tomato, not a person.

And at that moment, Do Yun-hyeok’s face drew closer, and something soft touched and then left my lips.

Soft?

My face, already hot, felt like it caught fire. I quickly raised my hand to cover my mouth. Do Yun-hyeok, grinning shamelessly, was clear even in the darkness. My ears felt like they would explode.