Chapter 35: The Omen Beneath the Noise

“Are you even listening?”

“Hm?”

Eunjo puffed her cheeks and complained.

“You look completely out of it. How boring! What are you even looking at?”

“No, it’s nothing. I just feel a bit carsick.”

“Really? I guess you’re not used to riding in cars.”

“Yeah…”

I answered vaguely and closed my eyes.

Pretending to sleep would be better—it would keep suspicion away.

I didn’t want my tangled thoughts to be exposed.

The car stopped near the shop Eunjo had mentioned.

Gyesa got out first and opened the door.

Eunjo stepped out, then I followed.

As I got out, Gyesa took my hand under the pretense of helping me.

To others, it must have looked like simple escorting.

But when his hand tightly gripped mine, my whole body tensed.

“Here we are. Let’s go in.”

At Eunjo’s call, Gyesa let go.

Fortunately, no one seemed to notice that he had held my hand a little longer than necessary.

We followed Eunjo into the boutique.

Dresses were lined up neatly inside.

“Oh my, miss. Welcome.”

The shop owner greeted Eunjo warmly.

This was clearly her domain.

“It’s been a while. I heard you received new dresses from France.”

“Of course. I made sure to inform you first. Please, have a seat.”

The owner offered us seats.

I sat awkwardly beside Eunjo, while Gyesa stood behind us.

“How is this pattern? Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Hm. Aedong, what do you think?”

“What do you mean…?”

I trailed off while looking at the checkered dress.

How would I know what suited me when I had never worn such things?

“Just pick for me. I don’t know anything anyway.”

“Really? Then I’ll choose whatever I like.”

At my hesitant nod, Eunjo excitedly began whispering with the owner and darting around the shop.

Watching them, I let out a quiet sigh.

Then Gyesa spoke softly from behind me.

“Those kinds of clothes don’t suit you.”

I turned to look at him.

He raised an eyebrow, looking down at me.

I turned away again and asked quietly—

“…Then what does suit me?”

He glanced around the shop briefly, then leaned down.

His lips came close to my ear.

My skin prickled, and my breath hitched.

“You have a slim waist and delicate shoulders. A dress like that one would suit you.”

He pointed to a peach-colored dress.

It cinched at the waist and flared out below.

Even I could tell it was beautiful.

As I stared at it, he whispered again—

“If you wore something like that and smiled… you’d catch everyone’s attention.”

“Do you think I care about that?”

He let out a faint, bitter chuckle.

“I know you don’t. Instead…”

“Instead?”

He trailed off, meeting my eyes briefly before looking away.

“It’s nothing.”

I was about to press him further.

But Eunjo and the shop owner returned, arms full of clothes, hats, and shoes.

I turned my head sharply, saving the question for later.

“What? Did something happen?”

“No, nothing.”

“Really? Hurry and try these on. I’m not sure about some of them—we need to see them on you.”

Without waiting, Eunjo pushed me into the fitting room.

What followed was like playing with a doll.

After nearly an hour of changing in and out of clothes, I was finally released.

“Don’t you ever get tired?”

I asked, exhausted.

She tilted her head.

“Isn’t it fun?”

“Why would I even ask you…”

As I sighed on the sofa, the shop owner approached.

“Is there anything else you need?”

I was about to shake my head, but then I noticed the dress Gyesa had pointed out earlier.

I glanced at him.

Thankfully, he was busy carrying packages to the car.

“I’ll take that one too.”

I pointed subtly.

The owner smiled brightly and nodded.

Eunjo muttered beside me—

“How did I miss that one? That’s annoying…”

The dress Gyesa had chosen was carefully wrapped.

I fidgeted awkwardly.

I had walked around in rags in front of him without care before.

Yet now, wanting to wear something he thought would suit me felt embarrassing.

But at the same time, I couldn’t take my eyes off that dress.

‘Idiot. You decided to leave Gyesa just the other day…’

Like a dog wagging its tail at its owner, I reacted instinctively to his words.

No matter how much I tried to suppress it, it wasn’t easy.

It was embarrassing—how his words made my heart flutter.

“It’s all loaded.”

Gyesa said as he returned.

The owner came outside to see us off.

With a warm smile, she handed both Eunjo and me her card.

“Please visit anytime.”

I smiled awkwardly.

This was likely a one-time thing.

Still, I nodded politely in gratitude.

“Shall we head back to the estate now?”

“Wait! Already?”

Eunjo protested loudly.

“This is my first outing in a while! Let’s walk around a bit more.”

Gyesa frowned and spoke firmly.

“No.”

“Hmph. I don’t care. I’m having lunch before we go back.”

At her stubbornness, Gyesa sighed.

Judging by his expression, he was probably imagining knocking some sense into her.

But no one could win against Eunjo.

Certainly not me.

“Aedong, you want to stay out longer too, right? Let’s go. I know a good restaurant. Gyesa and Mr. Kim can join us too.”

She was generous in her own way.

While we hesitated, the driver simply nodded, used to this behavior.

“Come on, it’s close.”

The place she led us to was just a few alleys away.

But as we entered the alley, both Gyesa and I froze.

It was near where Obaltan had shot his enemy—and himself.

The memory came rushing back like a nightmare.

My breathing grew uneven.

I thought I was fine…

But returning to the place where everything began felt like being dragged into a swamp.

I knew I had to keep walking.

But my body refused to move.

It felt like if I stepped forward, I would see him again—his face shattered.

“Breathe.”

A large hand covered my eyes.

Gyesa’s warm palm blocked my vision as he whispered in my ear.

“There’s nothing there. It’s just your imagination. Breathe.”

As if entranced, I exhaled.

My ragged breath escaped, and he gently pushed my back.

“Keep walking. There’s nothing there. Just keep going.”

Like a puppet, I followed his command, walking unsteadily.

I didn’t care how it looked to others.

I relied only on his warmth and his voice guiding me.

After a while, his hand left my eyes.

Bright light flooded my vision.

We had already passed the alley and entered a street lined with restaurants.

“Here it is. Come on.”

Eunjo called out from ahead.

People stared, but she didn’t care.

Ordinary people, living ordinary lives.

Seeing them, I slowly returned to myself.

“Let’s go.”

At Gyesa’s words, I moved again.

Yes… everything was in the past.

Things were different now.

Even if we were only borrowing a tiger’s authority, no one could touch us—except Lee Jipyeong.

“……”

“What’s wrong?”

But something was strange.

Why wouldn’t the unease in my chest fade?

Instead of calming, my heart began racing faster.

‘It feels like…’

Like the day Dongsoe attacked.

Like the day the gunshot rang out.

Like an omen of disaster.

My body went cold, sweat running down my back.

“Are you okay?”

I couldn’t answer Gyesa.

I didn’t even understand it myself.

Even Eunjo, waiting ahead, seemed to sense something and started walking toward us.

And then—

Boom! Crash!

A deafening explosion shook the ground.

Flames burst into the sky from a shop near where Eunjo stood.

“Ahhh!”

“Help!”

The street turned into chaos instantly.

Debris rained down from above.

Shattered pieces of the building flew toward us.

Before I could even scream, Gyesa threw himself over me.

“Ugh!”

“Gyesa! Are you okay?”

We rolled across the ground, narrowly avoiding the debris.

Panicked, I touched him—

And our eyes met.

My trembling gaze filled with fear.

His eyes, shaking just as much.

At that moment—

A scream rang out in the distance.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

This Hidden Class Is a Bit Off

ActionFemale ProtagonistGender Bender

Read Now →
Not interested