IH Ch 69

Chapter 69

It felt like he had heard those words before. Back then, too, he insisted he wasn’t hungry and that it was just noise, but when offered food, he devoured it ravenously. Was he always this hungry? As Jae-i continued to stare, a thin crease formed between Dohwa’s brows, and he spoke again.

“I told you, it’s not like that.”

Though it was a rather sharp response, Jae-i felt the earlier awkwardness had eased a bit with this exchange and turned his head forward. Seeing a rest stop sign blinking in the distance, he said they should stop there for a bit.

These days, rest stops were entirely automated, with no staff in the shops. If you wanted something to eat, you simply ordered it at a kiosk, and your food would be ready in no time. Even things like ramen or hot soup, which required cooking, could be easily ordered and eaten.

“What are you going to eat?”

“……”

When no answer came, Jae-i glanced down. There was Dohwa, holding onto the front of a cap that he wore uncomfortably because it belonged to Jae-i.

Despite boldly claiming he wasn’t hungry, he was staring intensely at the screen. Then, without hesitation, he pointed to ramen, kimbap, and tteokbokki. After quickly selecting his food, he tried to act nonchalant and hid his hand behind his back. Letting out a faint chuckle, Jae-i took out his card.

He added ramen, kimbap, tteokbokki, and something for himself. After collecting the receipt and card, he looked up. Normally, he never had to lift a finger—everything was taken care of for him. But here, there was no one to do that, so he had to move himself. He couldn’t possibly ask Dohwa, who probably knew even less than he did.

He checked behind the kiosk where utensils, pickled radish, and kimchi were available and was about to head over when he turned his head slightly. His appearance-altering glasses had been destroyed, so like Dohwa, he had pulled his cap down low over his face. From beneath the brim, he noticed a group of shady-looking guys sitting in a corner, watching them with mocking eyes.

“……”

They didn’t seem threatening. But dealing with types like that would only be a hassle. Deciding to eat quickly and leave as soon as the food was ready, Jae-i went inside and grabbed a tray, utensils, pickled radish, and kimchi.

The one who had so confidently claimed not to be hungry ate with remarkable gusto. He even lifted the bowl and drank the last drop of ramen broth without realizing his cap had slipped backward. His face was completely exposed, yet he didn’t bother to cover it—instead, he licked his lips while staring at the empty bowl. Seeing this, Jae-i immediately stood up.

“Stop eating. Let’s go.”

“…That ramen was good.”

Sniffling, Dohwa drank some water and placed his empty bowl on the tray. Since Jae-i had brought the food, Dohwa seemed to think it was his turn to clean up. But Jae-i pushed his hand aside, picked up the tray with one hand, and took it to the return station. Just as he was about to move again, a small voice murmured, “Restroom.”

Dohwa pressed his cap down low and muttered, embarrassed.

“Since we’ll be driving again…”

“……”

Jae-i glanced toward the spot where those strange guys had been.

No one was there now—only a messy table left behind. Even during their meal, the guys had kept glancing over and snickering, and Jae-i had wondered if they were going to start something, but nothing had happened. Still, he had a feeling they wouldn’t just leave.

Just as he had predicted, they soon ran into them. The guys were gathered near the restroom by the building. As Dohwa and Jae-i approached, the ones leaning against the wall or squatting down suddenly fell silent. When four eyes turned to look their way, Jae-i raised one eyebrow. Realizing this could become a hassle, he gently pushed Dohwa toward a stall. Dohwa seemed to understand what Jae-i meant and went inside without a word.

Jae-i turned his head and crossed his arms. As long as they didn’t get involved, he wasn’t planning to make a move either. He waited for Dohwa, hoping the others would have the sense to stay out of trouble. But then, the sheer ridiculousness of standing guard in front of a restroom struck him.

“……”

Should he wait outside instead? But if those guys picked a fight while Dohwa was alone… No, wait—Dohwa said he was an Awakened. He had taken down that big guy in a single blow. With that kind of ability, what was there to worry about? Just as he thought that, Dohwa came out of the stall.

Heading straight for the sink, Dohwa washed his hands thoroughly and approached Jae-i while drying them.

“I’m rea—”

“Those two are totally dating, right?”

Just as Dohwa was about to suggest they leave, he closed his mouth.

The guys loitering in the corner swaggered over. Trying to appear threatening, they spat loudly on the floor. One licked the scar near his mouth in a grotesque way—none of it was even remotely funny.

Today, of all days, he had to deal with punks like this. Jae-i, uninterested in engaging, grabbed Dohwa’s shoulder.

“Look at this. He’s shielding his bottom bitch? That’s kinda cool. Even though he’s a dude?”

“Fucking hell, acting all protective like that for his bottom bitch. Disgusting.”

Before he could say anything, the ones who had circled behind Dohwa whistled long and loud.

“But isn’t the size difference way off? He’s gotta be the one on the bottom, right? With an ass that small, wouldn’t it rip every ti—”

The guy who reached out with his hand faltered when Dohwa suddenly turned to look at him. As soon as their eyes met beneath the brim of Dohwa’s large cap, the man swallowed hard—and then took a kick to the gut.

“……!!”

With a thud, he flew back and slammed into the wall, crumpling to the floor with a loud smack.

“……”

A short silence fell over the scene, as no one had expected this. But it was broken by Dohwa’s second kick.

Without hesitation, Dohwa struck the ones standing to his left and right. One crashed into a sink, the other flew toward a stall. The last remaining guy, realizing what was happening, hastily pulled out his phone.

“I-I’m a civilian! If you touch me without cause—!”

Before he could finish, Dohwa launched himself into the air. His raised knee slammed into the phone, driving it into the guy’s face.

“……!”

The man’s eyes squeezed shut as he fell backward. Jae-i, watching Dohwa still suspended midair, rushed over and caught him around the waist. Without wasting a second, he bolted.

Even then, Dohwa continued to kick and lash out. He was so furious he started punching as well. Each time, his body jerked with the motion, and Jae-i nearly lost his grip. Tightening his hold, he hurried toward the car parked in the corner.

“Hey! Hey! Stop it!”

They only reached the car when Jae-i finally managed to speak. With effort, he opened the passenger side door and shoved Dohwa inside.

Worried that he might jump out again if let go, Jae-i pressed a hand to his chest and forced the door shut. Just before it closed completely, he saw Dohwa’s tiny, frozen face, full of a different kind of emotion—humiliation. Struck by guilt, Jae-i leaned his forehead against the closed door, hands resting on it.

“……”

Letting out a long breath, he looked toward the restroom again.

He considered contacting the guild to clean up the mess—but stopped. Those assholes had been the ones in the wrong. Still, they just had to say it like that. Then he remembered his own words—how he’d said something disturbingly similar.

“……”

Jae-i stared grimly at his feet, then slowly moved to the driver’s side. As soon as he got in, he pushed the seat back. Only after it reclined nearly all the way did he lift his head in comfort.

First, they needed to get out of here. Just as he was about to start the engine, he saw Dohwa sitting exactly as he had been placed—shoulders slumped, turned away from him. The energetic fire from earlier was nowhere to be seen. He looked completely drained, and that bothered Jae-i.

“…Put on your seatbelt.”

Or else I’ll start driving anyway. Swallowing those words, Jae-i lightly tapped the steering wheel with his fingers.

He was anxious. And the fact that he couldn’t understand the reason for that anxiety made it all the more uncomfortable. As he jittered one leg, a quiet mumble reached his ears.

“…I’ve never done anything with anyone either.”

“……”

“If someone tried to touch me, I always fought them off.”

Dohwa let out a long sigh. And upon hearing his words, Jae-i froze as though he’d just heard something incredibly shocking.

He thought back to when Dohwa had first arrived at his house. After a mishap, he had told him to shower—only to see Dohwa’s back and turn away in surprise. That back had been covered in scars. Had he gotten those because he refused to do what they told him?

He couldn’t claim to know everything about Dohwa, but one thing he could say—he was stubborn. He wouldn’t have done something he didn’t want to do. Remembering what he had said to Dohwa earlier, Jae-i slowly opened his mouth.

“……”

There were words you had to say when you made a mistake. You had to get them out before moving forward. But only shaky breaths escaped from between his parted lips.

In his entire life, he had never sincerely apologized to anyone. It wasn’t something to be proud of, of course.

Hwang Jae-i pressed his lips tightly together, then opened them again.

“I…”

Just close your eyes and say you’re sorry. Then they could get going. As for what came next, he could think about that later. He tried to drag the words up from the back of his throat. But it wasn’t easy. No matter how many times he tried, his lips merely twitched—and the words never came out. They just kept swirling on the tip of his tongue, driving him insane. Jae-i clenched his eyes shut.