Chapter 514: I Don't Get It
The day after Yu Daon threw a bomb and left.
"Are you really going to meet her?"
"I can't exactly not meet her."
"It's not like something major will happen if you don't."
I was having a conversation with Manual.
To be precise, Manual was trying to talk me out of it.
"From what I see, they're all crazy perverts. Because you keep saying yes, they've all lost sight of the line and are crossing it, sexually harassing you and all."
"What do you mean, 'perverts'?"
"Why? Is it okay just because you don't mind? Huh? Under mutual consent— Owch!"
I slapped Manual's mouth shut. She held her mouth and made a crying face.
"Don't get angry."
"...You could've just said something, why did you have to hit me..."
"I've told you many times with words, but you kept getting angry."
"..."
Manual pouted.
"Anyway, as you well know..."
"Karmic retribution?"
"...Well, yes. Let's call it that."
Karmic retribution.
It did seem like the only way to describe it.
Having lived for so long with my eyes covered, it was now time to pay the price.
"Why is that karmic retribution? Who said people can just fall for someone as they please?"
"..."
"No, originally, I mean. Huh? Who told them to fall in love? They fall in love on their own, then why on their own—"
I just listened quietly to Manual's rant. She stopped mid-sentence and looked at me.
"...Are you angry?"
"You know I'm not."
"...No. When you're quiet without saying anything, you're usually angry."
If you're going to ask if I'm angry, wouldn't it be better not to do things that make me angry in the first place?
The thought crossed my mind briefly, but I didn't say it out loud.
I really wasn't angry, anyway.
This was Manual, who had sacrificed so much for me for a long time.
Honestly, no matter what she said, it would be hard for me to get truly angry.
And I really wasn't angry.
But that was that.
"Chae-yeon said she's coming today, so don't give her too hard a time."
"..."
Manual scowled, crossed her arms, and turned her gaze elsewhere.
Should I say that because her body is young, her actions are childish too?
Or maybe she's just a bit immature.
Is this what they mean when the body follows the mind?
Anyway.
"It's fine. Nothing major will—"
Before I could even finish my sentence, someone knocked on the door.
I checked the clock: noon sharp.
She came right at lunchtime.
If Yu Daon was for breakfast and Jang Chae-yeon for lunch, is Song A-rin for dinner?
Having this absurd thought, I opened the door.
"Hello."
Jang Chae-yeon stood there, waving her hand.
"Did you miss me?"
"Conflicting emotions are crossing my mind, but yes."
"So the feeling of missing me is included."
She spoke calmly as she stepped inside.
"Wait a moment."
And then, heaven knows what she brought, but she floated a multitude of bags behind her and entered our home.
"What on earth is all that, Chae-yeon?"
"Things I need."
Who would understand with just that?
I looked at Jang Chae-yeon, hoping for a bit more explanation. She looked back at me with an expression that said it should be obvious.
"It's easier to cook with the kitchenware I'm used to."
"...Are you moving in?"
"Is it too small? Should we find a new place? I've actually been looking at a few."
"...How can we just get a new place right here, right now?"
"If you have money, you can do anything, so what's there to worry about? I even looked at a country villa."
What would we do at a country villa?
I still prefer city life.
"For now, I'll be staying here until we find a new place."
"There's only one bed, besides the guest room."
"Your bed is big enough, so it's fine, right?"
"..."
No matter how I thought about it, it seemed impossible.
I was pondering if I should order another bed tonight when...
"You don't plan on giving up your room, do you?"
Manual said confidently, making eye contact with Jang Chae-yeon.
"You don't have to."
"..."
And Jang Chae-yeon answered as if it were nothing, then made eye contact with me again.
"So, I brought bowls, utensils, and some ingredients for today's meal."
"You didn't come here to cook for us, so you don't need to do this."
"I'm doing it because I want to. You don't need to worry."
"..."
If she says she's doing it because she wants to, I have no reason to stop her.
I ended up sitting there like a sack of barley, waiting for her to cook.
"..."
Manual was making a sulky face again.
"Why are you so angry again?"
"Wouldn't you be angry?"
Manual answered my question with a question.
"Seeing women show up one by one on the day after my first time, do you think I'd be happy about that?"
"..."
"Nothing to say, huh?"
Was she always this possessive?
The thought crossed my mind.
"But there's nothing we can do about it."
I could only calmly tell her to face reality.
"She's someone who's risked her life with me for a long time. You're the same."
"..."
"You can understand, right?"
"...Really..."
As Manual sighed deeply and was about to say something,
"I've roughly prepared the meal."
Jang Chae-yeon called us from the kitchen.
Wearing an apron, she looked back and forth between me and Manual.
"Here."
She led us to the dining table.
Whenever Jang Chae-yeon comes over, the house is always filled with the smell of food, huh.
We sat on the chairs, and Jang Chae-yeon served the food.
She calmly offered a plate of food to Manual.
It felt like we were at a fine dining restaurant.
"...Whatever. I'm not eating."
"..."
Manual threw a tantrum. Jang Chae-yeon stared at her blankly, then spoke.
"Are you a book, so you don't eat?"
"I'm human, you know?"
"Then why aren't you eating?"
"..."
"Should I tear up an encyclopedia and mix it for you?"
"Are you making fun of me now?"
"You need to get used to this kind of talk if you want to live together."
Jang Chae-yeon looked at Manual, answering as if it were obvious, despite Manual's irritation.
"You know. That nothing will happen even if you shout that you hate it."
"..."
"Eat. It's tasty."
As if she didn't care at all, Jang Chae-yeon offered the bowl again.
"..."
Manual glared at Jang Chae-yeon, then took the bowl and slowly started eating.
"How is it?"
"...It's edible."
Manual said as she ate.
"Somehow, I thought you wouldn't be feeding her properly."
Jang Chae-yeon stared straight at me, and I just shrugged my shoulders.
"I did buy her things she wanted to eat."
"You didn't."
"...Isn't buying her food better than me cooking for her?"
"...See? Can you live with someone like this?"
"..."
At Jang Chae-yeon's words, Manual fell silent for a moment.
"What? Did you want me to cook for you?"
"..."
At my words, Manual remained silent and continued her meal.
"Tell me. Then I'll do it."
"...Then you'd have a hard time."
At my words, Manual answered calmly and emptied her plate.
"It would be a lie if I said I didn't want to eat food you made. But I'm not so heartless as to ask someone who just saved the world the day before yesterday to cook for me."
Manual muttered, making eye contact with Jang Chae-yeon.
"So, we can live together. I'll be considerate."
"That's a good mindset."
And Jang Chae-yeon, meeting Manual's gaze, smiled softly.
I felt a bit left out.
During the meal, I watched them like a hawk, but neither of them said anything more.
Soon after, the meal ended, and Manual put down her bowl.
"Thank you for the meal. It was delicious."
"Good."
"Hurry up and do what you came to do and leave."
Then, she narrowed her eyes and glared at me and Jang Chae-yeon.
What? What does she mean by 'do what you came to do'?
"..."
At Manual's words, Jang Chae-yeon tilted her head as if asking what she meant, then made eye contact with me.
"Did you do anything with Yu Daon yesterday?"
"...Ah, yes. Well. Um."
"So you did."
She answered calmly while stacking the plates.
"It's fine."
"Pardon?"
"Whether it's your first time or whatever, I don't really care."
Muttering, Jang Chae-yeon flicked her finger, and the plates skillfully floated into the air and flew to the sink.
"So that's what you want to watch now."
"Yes. Well, that guy keeps saying that."
"..."
Jang Chae-yeon looked at Manual quietly, then approached her.
"What."
Manual looked at Jang Chae-yeon with a blank expression, but when Jang Chae-yeon sat down next to her and gestured to me, my body began to be pushed away by an unknown force.
"No, wait. Chae-yeon."
"Hurry up."
"No, wait a moment...!"
Before I could say anything, Jang Chae-yeon pushed me far away.
Then, she whispered something to Manual from a distance where I couldn't hear.
What on earth is she saying?
She pointed to her own stomach and said something, then tapped her thighs and said something else.
And Manual's face listening to this turned bright red, so red you could sell her as an apple at a fruit stand.
"No, well, um."
I slowly approached and pricked up my ears. Manual was stammering.
"R-really?"
"H-how do you know? H-have, have you d-done..."
"I heard."
"From, from who?"
"From someone who has."
Jang Chae-yeon answered calmly and was about to say something else.
"I told you to go."
She turned around and pushed me away again.
Even as I was being pushed back by her telekinesis, a sense of unease welled up inside me.
Jang Chae-yeon was again pointing to her lower abdomen and saying something, and Manual listened, just opening and closing her mouth.
*
"I should get going now."
After about an hour of the two of them happily chatting while leaving me out, Jang Chae-yeon said goodbye at the front door.
If you were going to do this, you should have just left me behind. Why come all the way to our house to...
"Are you sulking?"
"No. I'm not sulking, I'm just a bit dumbfounded."
I'm the homeowner, aren't I?
Or maybe it would've been better not to listen.
They say sometimes ignorance is bliss when it comes to knowledge...
While I was having such thoughts,
I felt a soft touch on my lips again.
But this time, it was a bit longer.
No. Much longer.
No...
I looked down at Jang Chae-yeon. Her face was still there, eyes closed, lips pressed against mine.
Tap. With her tongue, she tapped my lips, then Jang Chae-yeon pulled away.
"I'll do the rest next time."
"...What am I supposed to say to that?"
"You can say, 'I'll look forward to it.'"
"..."
"I'm going."
Before I could finish speaking, Jang Chae-yeon opened the door and stepped out.
Ah, I really don't get—
-Thud!
"Ow!"
Manual's kick snapped me out of my thoughts.
I really don't get it.