ALL NOVEL chapter 20
20 – 8. Memories stuck deep like thorns -1
There was a heavy silence.
Where we are now was a small room in a restaurant. Various dishes were brought to where we were.
Jjambbong, sweet and sour pork, and other expensive foods like kkanpunggi and palbochae are available at the same time.
The reason we are here is simple.
“Noah! It’s been a while since I last saw you, so eat a lot!”
“…Thank you.”
“hahahahaha! Our Noah is all grown up! He even brought a boyfriend like this!”
I spoke to the bald boss who smiled cheerfully.
“Not my boyfriend-“
“That’s right, boyfriend.”
“…Noah?”
“A kind and wonderful boyfriend.”
The boss bursts into laughter again at Noah’s words.
“hahahahaha!! That’s right. Eat a lot and take care of Noah! I was sad that I hadn’t seen him once since I moved the store… But I was with such a wonderful person.”
“Ah…Yes…hahahaha…”
Did the boss see it?
The way Noah looks at his daughter, Lee Tae-hwa.
You don’t have anything like this at home, right? I wonder if Jeomsuni’s eyes were like that.
Her partner, Lee Tae-hwa, was just quietly nibbling at her food.
“Then let’s go cook something. It’s fun. Have fun, Noah!”
“Yes. Thank you.”
The boss left and there was silence.
It was only then that I had the opportunity to sort out the situation.
The story of how things came to be like this was simple.
‘To quietly observe the situation before laying down the boards.’
I was just watching to find out how bad the relationship between Noah and Taehwa was.
The unstable climate of the two children.
Noah and Lee Tae-hwa, who recognized each other, exchanged glances for a long time, and the wife, who came to see what was going on, discovered it.
This is Noah, the childhood friend of his daughter Lee Tae-hwa.
After that, it was an instant. We were kidnapped to the VIP room and were treated lavishly.
This probably means that the boss and his wife were looking at Noah with great regard. All we had to do was accept the favor, enjoy her food, and be thankful.
…I should have done that.
“…”
“…”
“…Uncle.”
“Uh…Noah.”
“Do you like it?”
“Boss, your skills are good.”
We continued our uncomfortable meal with endless silence. The reason was because of those two, Noah and Lee Tae-hwa.
A cold air circulated between the two. To be precise, it was a situation where Noah unilaterally ignored Lee Tae-hwa, and Lee Tae-hwa watched her.
As soon as Lee Tae-hwa tries to open her mouth for something.
“Mister, try this.”
“Uh…Yeah…”
“Ah~”
“Ah…”
Repetition of Noah talking to me and smoothing over the situation. To be honest.
‘I feel like I’m going to pretend.’
I don’t know if the food goes into my mouth or my nose. The heavy air weighed heavily on my shoulders.
‘The relationship between these guys is so bad.’
I took a quick look at Lee Tae-hwa’s behavior and it didn’t look right. Taehwa Lee senses my gaze and looks at me.
It was a look that was asking for help. Since I kept the secret, you too will keep your promise. Is that so?
But that kind of exchange of glances.
“…Why are you being so mean?”
“No, I…”
“He’s my boyfriend?”
I was blocked by Noah’s words.
More than that, a boyfriend. No matter how much it is done to stimulate Lee Tae-hwa, isn’t this too much?
“…Ha.”
I sighed and stroked Noah’s head.
“Noah.”
“Yes?”
“That kid…Is his name Taehwa? Isn’t he your friend?”
Glance.
Noah looks at Lee Tae-hwa and answers without hesitation.
“We were friends.”
“It was… Right?”
“Yes. Don’t you have a few people like that? People who were friends but you lost touch with, people who were friends but became neglectful.”
Noah gave her a cold look as he spat out the next words.
“A person who was a friend, but betrayed his friend.”
“Oh, oh! That’s…!”
“Who was the person who told me to go away? I think it was Taehwa or something, who lives somewhere.”
“That’s…But…There’s a reason-“
“I don’t want to hear it.”
‘…Wow.’
They say that if a woman harbors resentment, there will be frost even in May. At that level, wouldn’t it be surprising if there was a cold spell instead of frost?
Lee Tae-hwa, who hesitated for a while, lowered his head.
“…I’m sorry.”
After that, Lee Tae-hwa did not open his mouth.
And so, the uncomfortable meal continued.
How long had passed, I was slowly feeling full. Lee Tae-hwa’s cell phone rang, and at the same time, Noah’s cell phone rang.
“I’ll take a phone call in a moment.”
“Um…Me too.”
There was a moment of peace in the room where the two girls disappeared at the same time.
“…Ugh…I’m dying.”
Her waist made a plopping sound. Why bother coming here?
‘I’m scared…’
‘I’m scared too.’
‘What on earth happened? That student named Lee Tae-hwa doesn’t seem like a bad kid.’
It was difficult for me to answer Kkomul’s question. Because I don’t know either. All I know is that Lee Tae-hwa is just as good a guy as Noah.
Can we reconcile?
Stella will definitely be a reliable helper.
“…”
“…”
While I was thinking about that, the two girls came in without saying a word. The expression looks dark. Did something happen?
I asked Noah a question with a worried voice.
“Noah, what happened?”
“I got a call from the association. Please check the team members who will be working together.”
“Now… Just wait a moment, Noah.”
“…”
“It’s better not to tell that guy-“
“It’s funny. Who are you, telling me to do this or that? After all, this guy knows that I’m a magical girl, right?”
Lee Tae-hwa lowered his head for a moment under the glare. The guy thought about it and then raised his voice.
“I never thought. No way, Noah, I would have thought you were Iris.”
“I hope you don’t use that name in your current form, Stella?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Noah explained it to me who couldn’t understand the situation.
“I sent a file containing information and actual appearances of team members.”
“Aha.”
“That’s how I found out. I’m Iris…And she’s Stella.”
Where did the friendly attitude we had when dealing with Bagh a while ago go? Noah was still anxious because he couldn’t eat it.
“…Anyway, please take care of me in the future-“
“Ha, should I hit the magical girl?”
“…Noah?”
“I’m on a team with someone I don’t really want to be with.”
“…”
“If I knew you were Stella, I wouldn’t have helped you.”
Even for Noah, it was an unusually harsh remark. The guy said that and stood up.
He meant that he had nothing more to say.
“Noah, talk to me for a second-“
“I have nothing to say.”
“…Ugh…”
“You may still see me as a friend, but…You are there for me.”
“…”
“It’s just a thorn that you want to quickly pull out and forget about.”
“Noah…”
“…I’m leaving. Let’s never see each other again. No…Even if you do, don’t act like you know each other. Just a co-worker, okay?”
As she opened the door and went out, she ran into the owner who was bringing food. He seemed embarrassed to see Noah leaving even though all the food had not been served yet.
“Noah? Are you leaving already?”
“Yes, mister. Please pay.”
“Calculation? Hey, how do I get money from Noah-“
“Mister. I’m really uncomfortable if you do this. Please calculate the bill.”
The boss must have read the cold atmosphere and hesitated before accepting the card.
The boss calculates with a grumpy expression. Noah’s face darkened when he saw that.
“Goodbye.”
Noah opened the door to the restaurant, and I hurriedly followed him. The guy’s mood was unusual.
+++++
Sure enough, Noah started wandering aimlessly.
Her face was bathed in black light.
If it were Noah in normal times, he wouldn’t have made that kind of atmosphere. Regardless of their defensive appearance, they do not show any overt hostility.
The girl named Noah was more used to defense than attack, and what she did earlier was unusual even for her.
And its reaction is probably this.
Noah sat down on a bench in the park.
“Ugh…Ugh…”
“…”
“Just…Keep ignoring me…Why all of a sudden…”
The guy’s eyes began to water.
As the tension eased, her tears flowed, and as the mask of anger she forced on herself broke, she seemed to have relaxed.
Feeling sorry for her, I wrapped my arms around Noah’s shoulders. Noah muttered, pressing his body against hers.
“It hurts…”
“Noah, are you okay?”
“Black…It hurts…”
“Do you want to go to the hospital?”
Noah grabbed her breasts.
“Man… I’m in so much pain…”
“…I can’t do it. I’ll call 119.”
“Not that…”
Kwaak.
Noah grabbed my arm.
He speaks to me in a voice slightly wet with tears.
“I just…Want to rest for a bit.”
“…Okay.”
I helped him up and stood him up.
The waiting time after calling a taxi. He buried his face in my clothes and said.
“Can’t I go to uncle’s house?”
“At my house?”
“Yes. I want to use the bed.”
After some thought, I said, “Okay.” I gave her a nod. Anyway, since that happened today, school will be closed tomorrow.
You’ve had a hard time physically and mentally, so I think I should let you get some rest.
The taxi arrived, and Noah clung to me the whole time inside the taxi and didn’t let go. As if I had become a piece of gum.
A little while later, Noah arrived at my house and blankly headed to bed and laid down his exhausted body.
“Noah. Take off your socks and rest.”
“…Take it off.”
“I want…”
“I’m sorry…”
I took off my socks and covered him with a blanket.
What should I do about this? As I stood there holding the socks, I felt Noah’s eyes on me.
“You can’t smell it.”
“No!”
“hehehe…Leave it here. I’ll get it later.”
“Okay, take a quick rest. I’ll be in the living room.”
“Yes…”
I closed the bedroom door and came out to gather my thoughts.
‘The relationship between the two is not very good.’
The relationship between Noah and Lee Tae-hwa was not good. Even more than I thought.
Then what should I do here?
‘Hearing exactly what happened to Noah.’
Let me rest for a bit and then I’ll ask.
While I was thinking that, my phone rang. They say even tigers will come if you tell them.
It was a text message from Noah, who had just laid down in bed.
[Uncle]
[ㅇ?]
[Turn off the lights]
“…Ugh, okay…I understand.”
I went back into the room and tried to turn off the light.
“Why do you look at me like that?”
“…Uncle.”
“Huh?”
“Can’t you just stay with me until I fall asleep?”
Noah was staring at me again.
Please just stay with me until I fall asleep… There is nothing I can’t do for you.
I brought a chair and tried to sit there. But Noah made a loud noise again.
“No, not there…”
Then she patted the seat next to her.
“Here.”