The other classmates also looked puzzled by Min-jun’s answer, with some even spitting out their beer in surprise.
“What… What kind of question is that?”
Do-hwa seemed like he was about to sober up. Right now, they might be acting like a couple in public, but is it really a secret relationship? He doesn’t understand what’s going on anymore. Is this guy getting crazier by the day? Why would he ask such a question?
“Oh, does seonbae really hate me?”
Min-jun looked somewhat disappointed.
“Uh… um…? No, that’s not it.”
Do-hwa hesitated for a moment. Right now, this guy was a pain, but he didn’t hate him. But it wasn’t like he loved him either. The looks from his classmates felt sharper, like razors. One wrong move could lead to a huge misunderstanding. He felt like he had to give a good answer.
“So… um…”
But what should he say? Something that would make Min-jun feel good while also not arousing suspicion from their classmates. With each passing moment, Min-jun’s gaze grew more intense. Do-hwa started to feel more anxious and restless.
“Alright, let’s start counting. 3, 2, 1,…”
Kim Soo-yeon, with a glint in her eye, urged Do-hwa to answer, finding the current situation interesting. After finally hesitating, Do-hwa blurted out.
“I love you too!”
He couldn’t help but scream. At the same time, all the eyes in the store turned towards Do-hwa, and his face turned bright red, along with his ears.
“Oh…”
More than the suspicion of their classmates, Do-hwa couldn’t stand the thought of Min-jun rejecting him. It was an instinctive response. At the same time, Min-jun’s eyes sparkled with laughter, and he chuckled while covering his mouth with his hand. Do-hwa took in a sharp breath and then exhaled forcefully. It felt like his bones were ringing. This isn’t right! This is not right!
“Wow, are you two really dating?”
Woo Ji-min was shocked, as if she had just stumbled upon a scandal.
“No, that’s not it. It’s just… I…”
Do-hwa mumbled as if explaining himself, then lifted his beer to take a sip. It felt like he needed the alcohol to cope mentally.
“You don’t have to drink, Do-hwa. You already answered.”
Kim Soo-yeon looked at him as if she were advising him not to push it. Do-hwa took another gulp before slowly setting the glass down. His mind was a mess.
“I just said it as a joke, but it’s nice to see seonbae react like this.”
Min-jun looked at Do-hwa with a playful glint in his eyes. It was a smile so perfect it could make a crescent moon jealous. It was hard to tell how insincere it was. Still, thanks to Min-jun’s response, the suspicious glances from their classmates seemed to ease off. It seemed like they perceived it as just a prank from a friendly hubae. Though it felt a bit overboard.
“Now it’s Do-hwa’s turn to ask a question. You can ask Min-jun again if you want.”
Kim Soo-yeon looked at them with interest, encouraging them to continue. Do-hwa suddenly snapped back to reality. He wanted to ask Min-jun jokingly if he was a murderer, but he was intimidated by Min-jun’s behavior. So, he threw a trivial question at Kim Soo-yeon instead. The truth-or-dare game continued in a typical and boring fashion.
Throughout, Do-hwa’s face was flushed, and he continuously drank beer, becoming tipsy by the end of the game. He was unable to control his body properly as he eventually rested his forehead on the table.
“Do-hwa drank a lot today, didn’t he…?”
“Do-hwa, wake up, huh?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Pr tf mjerlcu agbeyif jujlc?”
Cwbcu atf kbgglfv nblmfr bo tlr mijrrwjafr, Zlc-pec ugjyyfv Gb-tkj’r rtbeivfg jcv tfiqfv tlw eq.
“Vfbcyjf, mjc sbe kjix? Cgf sbe bxjs?”
“Ft… sfjt… P mjc kjix. P’w cba vgecx.”
Gb-tkj rageuuifv ab rajcv eq mbwqifafis klat j ojmf mifjgis rtbklcu rlucr bo vgecxfccfrr. Lf rtgeuufv boo Zlc-pec’r jaafwqa ab tbiv tlw jcv yfujc ab rajuufg abkjgvr atf fzla. Llr rafqr ofia tfjns. Gb-tkj tjv mifjgis fzmffvfv tlr vglcxlcu ilwla jcv kjr bc atf nfguf bo ibrlcu mbcrmlbercfrr. Lf kjr agslcu tjgv ab fcvegf la. Pa’r bxjs. Lf’r cba vgecx! Lf gfqfjafv la ab tlwrfio ilxf j wjcagj.
“One bastard, two bastards…”
Do-hwa started counting in an attempt to sober up. It felt like the devil, Min-jun, was multiplying in the air. Then he noticed the TV playing in the pub. Despite the lively atmosphere, the news was broadcasting.
<The Mafia Boss ‘Roman’ from the Louis Family escapes from prison and flees to Seoul.
CIA agents are currently infiltrating the country to track down Roman and his associates, known as his right-hand men.>
“Huh…? That Mafia boss, isn’t that bastard Min-jun?”
Do-hwa muttered as he felt like something was stuck under his foot. His body swayed as if about to fall, but Jihoon’s arm wrapped around his waist, supporting him. At the same time, Min-jun’s gaze behind them sharpened.
“Jihoon… not you.”
Do-hwa slowly turned his head towards Min-jun.
“Min-jun… why are you here?”
“Me?”
“You’re supporting me. Right?”
Do-hwa pushed Jihoon’s hand away and approached Min-jun. Min-jun’s frozen expression softened in an instant, like that of a general on duty. Like the arrival of spring, he gently wrapped his arms around Do-hwa’s shoulders. At the same time, Jihoon’s forehead creased in a frown.
As they exited the pub, their classmates, including Kim Soo-yeon, were waiting outside.
“What took you so long to come out?”
“We’re thinking of going for a second round; are you two okay?”
Kim Soo-yeon asked, then licked her lips as she looked at Do-hwa.
“Do-hwa doesn’t look okay at all.”
Do-hwa was practically clinging to Min-jun, almost like a cicada stuck to a tree. Do-hwa gradually seemed to rely more on Min-jun than on the attention of others. Min-jun, perhaps sensing Do-hwa’s feelings, tightly held his hand.
“I think we should head home now.”
“Yeah, I’m going to go too…”
Do-hwa mumbled and leaned a bit more into Min-jun’s embrace. Min-jun also wrapped his arms tightly around Do-hwa’s shoulders. Jihoon’s face stiffened as he witnessed this scene. The other classmates also exchanged strange glances while whispering among themselves.
“Aren’t they acting a bit weird? Like, are they a couple or something?”
“No, I think Do-hwa just drank too much. He’s like that when he’s drunk.”
“Well, this is going to be a memorable moment.”
Their classmates nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, Woo Ji-min cautiously approached Min-jun, looking around the pub’s surroundings.
“Min-jun, can you make sure Do-hwa gets home safely?”
“Of course.”
“To be honest, I’ve noticed some strange guys eyeing Do-hwa since earlier.”
She seemed concerned about the men Do-hwa bumped into before the truth or dare game started.
“I see.”
“Did you notice too?”
“It seemed like those guys intentionally bumped into Do-hwa seonbae.”
“Yeah, it looked like they were trying to start a fight for no reason.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take responsibility and make sure seonbae gets home safely.”
Min-jun nodded, patting Do-hwa’s back. Soon after, Kim Soo-yeon approached as well.
“Then you two head home, and we’ll settle the bill later in the group chat.”
“Okay, got it.”
Woo Ji-min bid farewell to Do-hwa once again and then walked away from them. Just as Min-jun was about to hug Do-hwa, a shadow loomed over them. At the end of that shadow stood Jihoon.
“I’ll take Do-hwa home. I know where he lives.”
“Do-hwa seonbae moved. I’ll take care of it, so please be careful on your way home.”
Jihoon’s gaze soon turned sharp like an axe towards Min-jun. In response, Min-jun stared back as if refusing to yield to Jihoon’s gaze.
“Jihoon, I’ve moved like Min-jun said. I don’t live there anymore. Min-jun knows our new place well, so don’t worry.”
Do-hwa added, his eyes clearing as he explained.
“Got it.”
“Goodbye then.”
“I’ll take care of it, so please be careful on your way home.”
Min-jun asserted his ownership of Do-hwa by hugging him tightly. He walked away without looking back.
“That Min-jun is such a nuisance.”
Jihoon gritted his teeth and began walking in the opposite direction. Soon after, the door of the pub opened, and a group of men came out. They were the same men who had bumped into Do-hwa earlier.
“Hey, isn’t that wimpy nerd Do-hwa? The one who’s always sucking up?”
One man asked, looking at the bleached-haired guy.
“Yeah, you’re right. At first, I didn’t recognize him without his glasses and with a different hairstyle, but when I looked closely, it’s definitely him.”
“Wow, that new guy got messed with big time. Shouldn’t we show him to the newbie?”
“Yeah, let’s start with a hearty greeting.”
“Now that wimpy parasite-looking guy is with him, what’s the deal?”
“I bet one punch will settle it. What’s there to worry about?”
The bleached-haired guy licked his lips and started following Do-hwa from behind.
“Min-jun… I don’t feel well…”
Do-hwa groaned as he made a sickly sound.
“Do you need to throw up?”
“I just… want to walk a bit and then get in the car… Ha…”
Do-hwa felt like the world was spinning. Though he felt a bit better after throwing up earlier, he still wanted to feel the cool breeze a bit more. Min-jun looked around, and he spotted a playground nearby.
He walked over there. It was quiet, with no one around except for a few modest play structures and three benches. Min-jun guided Do-hwa to one of the benches, then took off his jacket and placed it on the bench like a cushion before gently seating Do-hwa on it.
“Why did you lay down your jacket?”
“Seonbae, your butt might get cold.”
“What? It’s not that cold today. Put it back on. Okay?”
Do-hwa felt uneasy seeing Min-jun only wearing a shirt.
“Seonbae, it’s not that cold today, so you don’t have to wear it. How about you? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
Do-hwa’s response sounded more stable compared to earlier.
“That’s good.”
Min-jun kneeled in front of Do-hwa, making sure Do-hwa could easily pull him into a hug if needed.
“Seonbae, should we play truth or dare, just the two of us?”
“Huh?”
Do-hwa also looked at Min-jun. His face under the streetlight seemed vivid, like a painting.
“I want to play with you, just the two of us.”
“…”
If the truth or dare game at the pub earlier was played lightly, now Min-jun’s eyes held a sense of gravity. Do-hwa, who had been confused, wondered what Min-jun’s intentions were. Why was he tolerating Do-hwa’s lies, which he seemed to know so well, and why was he being so affectionate… Most of all, Do-hwa wanted to know what kind of person Min-jun was under the name ‘Wisp.’
“Okay, let’s do it.”
“If it’s too difficult to answer, let’s kiss each other on the lips.”
woah….next chapter’s gonna be good!! Thanks for translation
Out of the fire and into the frying pan
He laid a trap in plain sight waiting for the rabbit to fall knowingly…..
Thank you for the chapter ☺️
Rabbit blindly hops in…
Ji-hoon bro I’m praying for you 😭🙏