Chapter 11 : Let’s eat (3)

“WooSeok, are you done eating? Let’s go!”

“But dessert hasn’t come out yet…”

“You said you wanted to stream, right? We need to go set up your equipment.”

Yena seemed to be in a very bad mood after Naeun left.
She pushed aside the plate she had been ravenously eating from and stared at me, her chin resting on her hand.

I found it amusing how she kept laughing to herself and then suddenly getting startled, likely due to her lack of composure. After watching her for a bit, she flashed a playful smile and met my eyes.
Wondering why she was acting this way, I stared back at her, and then, with a small popping sound, Yena quickly looked away.

She stood up, brushed off her pants, and started rambling.

“Let’s go. I want to see your place, WooSeok. And say hi to your sister.”

“We have plenty of time…”

Now that I was in this different world, I wanted to look around a little more.
On my first day, I had been dragged around by Yena, only playing games.
Of course, the game itself was a bit of a novel experience.

“Ah!!”

“Why are you shouting?”

“Ah, didn’t I say earlier? I’m supposed to stream today.”

“You said you weren’t going to…”

“How can I break a promise with my viewers? Let’s hurry, we don’t have time. Right?”

It all seemed forced, but I decided to get up, putting my desire to explore aside, as it seemed like she’d sulk if I refused any further.
There would be other chances to look around.

“Alright. Let me just wipe my mouth.”

“Okay! Let’s go. I’ll wait outside.”

As I wiped the sauce from my lips and stood up, I couldn’t help but notice the pudding that was about to be served.
The manager had seemed confident that I would like it.
Since the main course was so delicious, I couldn’t help but feel anticipation.

“Yena, what about the pudding?”

When I returned to the dining area to grab the pudding, I saw Yena putting the napkin I had used to wipe my mouth into her pocket.

“Oh, I’m so sorry…”

“It’s okay!!”

“Did you tell me to go out first because of this…?”

“WooSeok, you need to calm down. In times like these, you need to…”

Did criminals caught stealing at a police station feel like this? Yena froze, stuck in the pose she was in.
Even if you freeze, why are you still clutching that napkin?
Suddenly, she ran over, grabbed my shoulders, and started shaking me.

My head was spinning. She definitely wasn’t in her right mind.
Had she been in her right mind at all today?

“Yena, you’re agitated. I’m okay, so calm down.”

“No!! Do I, do I really look like the kind of girl who drools over a napkin her friend used, thinking ‘Yes! I got it!’?”

“I didn’t say anything like that…”

The timing was so perfect that an awkward atmosphere formed between Yena and me.
As if surprised by herself, she let go of my shoulders and started fidgeting with her hands.

Since she didn’t seem like she would move if I stayed still, I took her hand and led her outside.
I really wanted that pudding.

“Oh, are you leaving already?”

“Yes, we enjoyed the meal. Would it be possible to take the pudding with us?”

Just as we were leaving, we ran into the manager.
That on the cart, that’s the pudding she was bragging about, right?

Was it truly worthy of being a dessert in a high-class restaurant? Its jiggly form made me forget the current situation and focus on it.
Poor Yena didn’t seem to care about the pudding at all.

“Of course. You’re welcome to come and get it anytime.”

Thankfully, Naeun’s interruption helped change the mood.
Yena, as if knowing it was inappropriate to continue here, conspicuously whistled and looked away.

How did things get this awkward…?

“Did you enjoy your meal?”

“It was wonderful. I haven’t had such a satisfying meal in a long time.”

“I didn’t. I probably won’t come back.”

Where did the girl who stuffed her cheeks with food and kept exclaiming how delicious it was go? Only the most cynical person in existence remained.
You were licking the sauce off the plate! You even said you didn’t want to wipe your fingers with a napkin because it was a waste.

Scoffing and saying you won’t return isn’t polite, Yena.
People at the front desk are staring because you’re being loud.
Oh, they’re staring at me.

“I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I eagerly await our next encounter.”

“I said I didn’t like it! Why would I come back here?!”

Ignoring Yena’s outburst next to me, Naeun took my hand and spoke.
It seemed like she had been ignoring Yena from the start.

“I don’t think such a low-class woman suits someone as noble as you. If you look around, you might find someone more fitting… like, say, the owner of this establishment…”

“What’s wrong with this lady?! WooSeok, I told you to hire a bodyguard! All sorts of weirdos are coming after you!”

“Heehee. I have a feeling we’ll meet again.”

Yena stopped responding altogether and started leading me towards the parking lot, making sure to mention one more time that she wouldn’t be coming back.

But if it’s free, it’s definitely good enough to come back for.
It was so delicious, even though I was here with Yena.

* * *

“Yena, that hurts. Be gentler.”

“Ah, sorry…”

Yena hadn’t said a word while leading me to the parking lot.
The trembling of her hand, even as she held mine, spoke volumes about how she was feeling.
Yena stopped, looked at me, and began to speak.

“I’m being pathetic, right? Getting jealous when I’m not even your girlfriend. I was so excited because I made the reservation today…”

“It’s alright. I know you’re just worried about me.”

Although her energy level had been high since the stream, it wasn’t unpleasant.
That’s how I knew her, as Choi Yena.
My friend, unchanged even in a different world.

If you reversed the genders, she’d be like a nerdy guy with all sorts of misunderstandings, but with her looks, she’d still win in the end.
Her silly charm and her dorky side are what I love about Choi Yena.

“There were other reasons too… I’m sorry. If it’s too much, just drop me off and go. Ah, don’t worry about the stream. I’ll help you out as much as I can. I’ll even have all my viewers stream to you if I have to… Again! Again! What am I even saying…?”

In the deserted parking lot, devoid of people, Yena clenched her fists, lowered her head, and sobbed.
Since it was an awkward time between lunch and dinner, the empty space made Yena’s sudden tears seem even louder.

Although she was always bright and cheerful, Yena had this vulnerable side.
It seemed the same in this world, her face full of guilt.

“I shouldn’t have invited you to the stream. You were my friend, and I thought it was okay just being friends…”

“Yena.”

I had already noticed Yena’s feelings.
But I knew this world was vastly different from mine, and I didn’t know when I would be able to return, so I pretended not to know.

Since I had arrived here so suddenly, for reasons unknown, I didn’t know when I might disappear.
The Yena of this world had memories with the ‘me’ who lived here, not with the current me.

The Yena who laughed, saying she would never play games with me because I was bad at them, no longer existed.

“Sorry, I can’t control my emotions. I’m so pathetic… as a woman. I should always be strong in front of a man… WooSeok, this is just for today. I’ll be back to my usual self tomorrow.”

Even after spending just one day together, her feelings were unmistakable.
But even though I knew, I couldn’t reciprocate.

The Yena of this world didn’t share the memories I had with the Yena of my world.
She had fallen for the ‘me’ who originally belonged to this world.

“I’m sorry.”

“Heehee… I got rejected?”

“I’m sorry for pretending not to know.”

“No, it’s okay. That’s what a man should do. A woman also needs to act cool.”

Yena muttered, “And it’s even better if I can score some points,” and then got into her car and started the engine.

“Let’s go.”

The car ride home was quiet.
We both had a lot on our minds, maintaining a slightly awkward silence as we returned to my place.

I looked out the window at the still unfamiliar advertisements and people.
And you, still shining among them.

“I’ll get going then.”

“Yeah, I’ll definitely watch your stream. Should I let you know when it is?”

“Thanks for everything.”

“Then fall for me. Heehee.”

After saying goodbye to her, I realized I had left the pudding in the car.
With the mood being what it was, I had completely forgotten about it.

“Yena, sorry, but that pudding next to you…”

“Ah…”

Had she not thrown away the napkin from earlier? The moment our eyes met, it fell from her lips.
Her mouth was covered in sauce.

“…See you on stream.”

That’s kind of embarrassing, isn’t it…?

With Yena’s mortified shriek, my first day in this new world came to an end.
Of course, Yena didn’t stream that day.

The promise she made to her viewers must have lost to her pride.