"If you wanted to pretend to be asleep, you should breathe."
Seo Jaehoon's voice crashed into my ear. The bastard smiled, looking at me blankly as I slowly opened my eyes and stared up at him. I must have forgotten to breathe again because I was too nervous.
"I'm... going to get up..."
I hesitated before sitting up. The seat was tilted back a little too much, which was embarrassing, and it was hard to get up because it was tilted so far.
First, I reached for the seatbelt clip across my body. With bloodless hands, I barely managed to press the clip. I fumbled a few times because I couldn't get enough strength, and Seo Jaehoon, unable to watch any longer, reached out and released the clip.
"I woke up and... I don't have any strength..."
I made a pathetic excuse. It wasn't new for my body to not have as much strength as I thought it would, so I was embarrassed but used to it. I was always tired.
I slowly straightened my body as the seatbelt slid in.
"Want to get out?"
"...Why?"
"Get some fresh air. You've been sleeping too much."
I hesitated for a moment at Seo Jaehoon's question. I was worried about not having much energy, but his eyes were sparkling so brightly that I nodded instead of refusing.
The bastard quickly opened the door and got out before I could change my mind. He even threw open the passenger door and pulled me out with the utmost care. The cold wind seemed to blow away some of my sleepiness. But then...
"What the... Why are there so many people, damn it."
Seo Jaehoon seemed surprised too. I was also overwhelmed by the fact that there were so many people everywhere, even though it was a weekday.
With a dazed face, I looked around and started walking. I followed Seo Jaehoon, who was walking a few steps ahead of me, like a little duckling. I looked at his broad back in front of me, then gradually lowered my head.
I was walking slowly, focusing on the heel of his shoe, which looked as clean as new, just below his slightly exposed ankle. Because of that, I didn't properly notice anyone coming towards me.
Someone bumped into my shoulder, and my body really... embarrassingly, but really, fluttered and staggered like a piece of paper.
"Ugh—!"
A blank voice burst out loudly. I thought I was going to fall, but instead, I was grabbed roughly by the arm and pulled into Seo Jaehoon's arms.
"Hey. Where are your eyes, damn it? If you bumped into someone, you should apologize."
Seo Jaehoon held me in one arm and grabbed the person who had bumped into my shoulder and was walking away with the other.
"Hey, apologize. If you bumped into him."
This crazy bastard... I got out of Seo Jaehoon's arms. His voice was so loud that he caught the attention of all the passersby. The person Seo Jaehoon was holding stammered an apology to me. Saying they didn't see me.
I wanted to end the situation as quickly as possible. I quickly nodded and said it was okay to the person. When Seo Jaehoon still didn't let go of his hand, his hardened gaze turned to me.
I smiled awkwardly and personally took his hand off the person's arm. The person finally looked relieved and bowed to me before quickly walking away.
"Why are you so angry... I didn't see properly either."
The crowd that had gathered around us gradually dispersed. I felt like I was an animal in a zoo, and my ears turned red before gradually calming down. How embarrassing...
"I can't take that person's side."
Seo Jaehoon kept grumbling as if he didn't like the reproach that came out of my mouth. He grabbed my wrist and made me stand next to him, matching my pace, but curses kept spilling out from his handsome lips. Ugh, what a petty bastard.
"...Thank you."
Yeah, I had to say thank you. Only then did Seo Jaehoon's face relax. His fair and clean face flushed with heat. Crazy bastard... He hardened his relaxed face again as if he was embarrassed, but he couldn't hide his reddened skin.
Seo Jaehoon seemed to have been here before, as he led me around familiarly. We walked towards what looked like a walking trail, and there was a long row of small animal cages on one side.
"Have you been here before? Wow... There are rabbits here too."
There were rabbits and chickens in the long row of animal cages. And dogs. A puppy of unknown breed was whimpering in one corner.
I squatted down in front of the rabbit cage as if possessed. Various colored rabbits, large and small, were huddled together eating something.
"Cute... Pretty. There's a real baby rabbit in the corner. Wow..."
Animals were always the best. The animals were in good condition, as if they were being well cared for. There was also clean water in the water bottles.
Thinking it was a relief, I moved to the side little by little. As soon as I made eye contact with the puppy, there was a commotion inside the cage. The whimpering grew louder, as if it wanted to be petted.
"Aww, the baby must really like people."
I put my hand in without hesitation and gently scratched under its chin. The puppy inside the cage narrowed its eyes and groaned, pleased with the touch. Aww, so cute.
I was smiling without realizing it.
"...It's definitely not ha-."
I was so engrossed in the puppy that I didn't properly understand what Seo Jaehoon was saying. I didn't hear exactly what the first word was because I was so distracted. What was he sure about?
I took my hand out and turned my head back, and Seo Jaehoon's face, looking down at me with his arms crossed, came into view half a step behind me.
"Huh? What?"
"Nothing."
"The puppy is really cute. The rabbits too. Cute."
I thought it wasn't a big deal, so I turned my head back and reached out to the puppy. Then I felt someone next to me. What is it...
"It looks like you."
Seo Jaehoon squatted down next to me.
"Huh?"
"That rabbit over there, in the corner. The white one."
When I moved my eyes along Seo Jaehoon's fingertip, I saw a small rabbit crouching. It even looks like you, watching people's reactions. His quietly muttered voice flowed straight into my ear.
I got goosebumps. It really did look a bit like me. And the fact that there were exactly three rabbits surrounding the small rabbit made me empathize even more. I want to chase them all away.
I couldn't take my eyes off it, but I was grabbed by Seo Jaehoon's hand and stood up against my will.
"Let's go now."
"Ah... Okay."
"Do you think the puppy would be better off if it had a home?"
At Seo Jaehoon's question, I nodded without thinking. I thought anything would be better than those bastards. The bastard smiled weakly and urged me to go. I barely took my eyes off it and went back the way I came, still holding Seo Jaehoon's hand.
I didn't realize it when I was sitting in front of the animal cages, but the wind was a bit chilly. I really, really, really didn't want to, but I muttered that I was cold. I should have covered my mouth.
As soon as Seo Jaehoon heard me, he took off his jacket and put it on my shoulders as if he had been waiting for it. He didn't forget to carefully close the front of the jacket.
"Thank you..."
I felt a little warmer thanks to him. Seo Jaehoon nonchalantly put his hands in his pockets and walked, holding the empty sleeve of the jacket instead of my arm hidden in the coat. The sight was so funny that I burst out laughing without realizing it.
"Why?"
"...Nothing. It's nothing."
I shook my head slightly. I was walking slowly, following Seo Jaehoon, who had started walking again, when I suddenly felt someone behind me. At the same time, a firm arm wrapped around my waist. I was so surprised that I couldn't even scream and stopped walking, and Seo Jaehoon's head naturally turned back at the taut sleeve.
"I've been looking for you, Ha Yeoul."
Nam Kangwoo's voice rang out softly. His breathing was rough, as if it wasn't a lie that he had been looking for me. Nam Kangwoo, who took a few long breaths to calm his breathing, slowly released his arm around my waist.
"Where did you go?"
"...Jaehoon... Jaehoon and I were in the back... in the back where there's a walking trail—"
Nam Kangwoo's eyes turned sharp at my stammering answer. I could tell exactly who his cold gaze was directed at.
"Seo Jaehoon. What am I supposed to do if the bastard who told me to buy him a hot dog doesn't answer his phone? I thought something happened."
Nam Kangwoo pulled me close and stood me next to him. The look in their eyes was fierce.
Seo Jaehoon shrugged instead of answering. Didn't hear it. A flat voice came out.
Ah... Why are these bastards doing this again... I cautiously looked back and forth between the two, then hesitantly stood between them.
"...I'm cold. And I'm hungry..."
Both were true. I was cold, and my stomach, which hadn't eaten anything all day, was clamoring for something.
As if things were about to calm down at my words, Nam Kangwoo's expression and Seo Jaehoon's expression softened a little. I sighed noticeably and trudged to the bench in front of me.
Nam Kangwoo took the seat next to me and put the bag he was holding loosely in his hand on the table. White sugar was sprinkled on top of the hot dog covered in red and yellow sauce. It was a food I didn't like, but my mouth watered. I must have been really hungry.
Nam Kangwoo noticed me and wrapped a tissue around the stick handle and handed it to me.
"Try it. Seo Jaehoon said this is the best hot dog he's ever had."
"...Crazy bastard."
I was surprised by the words that came out without me realizing it, and I quickly blinked my eyes. Uh, that, uh— I stammered, and Nam Kangwoo and Seo Jaehoon looked at me as if they were wondering why I was so flustered.
"It's not like anyone doesn't know Ha Yeoul curses a lot now."
"That's right."
"Don't hold back, just curse now."
Seo Jaehoon smiled, curving his beautiful lips. That... that bastard with his face as a weapon... I reflexively smiled back at the bastard's smile, then quickly bit into the hot dog at Nam Kangwoo's fierce gaze.
What was annoying was that it was the best I'd ever had, just like Seo Jaehoon said.
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