When I woke up again, the other three from a different room, including Geonu, were nowhere to be seen. They hadn't received a vacation, so they must have gone out early for their duties.
Despite priding myself on being a light sleeper, I hadn't heard Seowoo or the others leaving. It should have been quite noisy, not just getting out of bed but also unlocking and opening the door. It was an unprecedented occurrence, making Kang Sihyun realize his own exhaustion.
The battle against Caris had taken a significant toll on both my mental and physical stamina, still affecting me now.
By the time the sun was high in the sky, and I finally got up, Haru, who seemed to have just finished showering, spotted me near the bathroom and gave me a light smile.
His expression shifted from slightly awkward to one of amusement, piquing my curiosity. Soon, he approached and reached out above my head.
“Bird’s nest.”
“Ah…”
Hearing his voice, laced with laughter, I realized why he was smiling. Even wielding a sword and shedding blood, Haru's delicate hands were now tidying my tangled hair.
“Hmm.”
With one hand, Haru briskly straightened my hair, then put down the towel he was holding and used both hands to help. Pressing down on the protruding hairs, I quietly endured Haru's ministrations, which didn't seem to end even after three minutes.
“Um.”
What had started as a faint playfulness now turned into a genuinely troubled expression on Haru's face. It was clear he was struggling more than expected to tame the unruly locks.
Anyway.
Watching the boy wrestle with my hair, I chuckled and got out of bed. Haru looked disappointed as I moved away from his reach.
“It’s not that I dislike it. It’s just faster to wash and come back if it won’t settle down.”
“Ah.”
“No one’s using the bathroom, right? I’ll use it for a bit. Is Hamin around?”
“Hmm, he went out to buy lunch.”
“Isn’t there some pre-bought food?”
“He said he’d rather go to the convenience store than fill up on boxed lunches.”
Haru and my gaze simultaneously turned towards the fridge. Walking over, I opened it to see about four boxed lunches remaining.
We could each have one, and give an extra one to Hamin, the big eater.
Didn’t he see them?
Tilting my head, I closed the fridge door.
“Did Hamin check the fridge before leaving?”
“Yeah.”
“……”
He saw them but still chose to go out, claiming it wasn’t enough.
For some reason, I felt solemn. Looking over at Hamin's bed, I shook my head in resignation.
It seemed he was using eating as a way to cope with the fatigue from battle; best to let him do as he pleases.
I decided to put a boxed lunch in the microwave to heat up before heading to the bathroom. Meanwhile, Haru was clattering about, preparing lunch.
After showering and changing into comfortable long pants and a white tee for a relaxed outfit, I glanced at the battle uniform I had washed and hung to dry. Comfortable though they were, they felt constricting when worn. Taking them off for the first time in a while brought a refreshing sense of relief.
“It really is a vacation.”
Feeling the reality of the vacation after washing and hanging up all five sets of battle uniforms, I had two whole days off, so I planned to rest fully today and maybe do something tomorrow. Then I remembered the promise I had made with Haru.
Perfect timing.
If we miss this chance, we'll be looking at the spring sea instead of the winter sea next time. Thinking we wouldn't get another vacation until around April, I checked the calendar and looked up today's weather on my phone.
It was still cold outside. It wasn’t just a late spring chill; even now, it felt enough like winter.
We’ll have to go tomorrow.
Resolved, I dried my hair. By then, Haru had already started eating the lunch I had warmed up for him.
“When’s Hamin coming back?”
“Hmm, he didn’t say.”
“Then let’s eat without him. It won’t taste good if it gets cold.”
Even though the boxed lunches were decent, they wouldn’t taste as good cold. Tapping the container with my chopsticks and glancing at the door, Haru hesitated.
Being too kind can sometimes be a fault.
If we were to pick the kindest souls in Class A, it would be Haru, Geonu, and Jihye, with Haru undoubtedly being the gentlest. Watching him worry about Hamin, who hadn't arrived yet, I tapped the container again.
“The latecomer is in the wrong. If we wait here, dinner will be late too.”
Persuaded, Haru finally picked up his
chopsticks. I began with the salad, observing Haru's face.
He looked less tired than yesterday.
“What are you planning for today and tomorrow?”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“...Probably with you?”
After a pause and a curious tilt of his head, his answer seemed to indicate he hadn’t planned anything specific. Seizing the moment, I smiled and, pretending my chopsticks were a knife, sliced a piece of meat while speaking up.
“How about going out with me tomorrow?”
“Eh?”
“We agreed to see the sea, remember? If we don’t go now, it seems like we’ll have to wait until next winter to see the winter sea.”
“Ah…”
“How about it?”
“...Just the two of us?”
“Yes.”
Ah, he must be pleased.
I was worried it might be too late, but Haru's face slightly flushed with a rosy hue. Watching his eyes soften, I teased him with a hmm, drawing out the moment.
“Should we go another time if you don’t like it?”
“Eh?”
“You didn’t answer, so…”
“No, it’s not that I didn’t want to answer.”
I was just happy….
He blurted out, then bit his lip as if holding back tears. Not wanting to push him to tears, I moved a piece of meat from my boxed lunch to his.
“It was a joke.”
“……”
“You’re not upset, right?”
“I didn’t cry. But... are we really going?”
“To the sea?”
“Yeah.”
“Then we’re really going. Why would we pretend?”
Checking for any signs of tears and giving up another piece of meat, Haru began to eat.
I thought he’d be more excited or unsure what to do, but to my surprise, the meal proceeded quietly. Given we weren’t leaving immediately and had only broached the topic, there was no need for a big fuss.
My mind understood, but my body, accustomed to Haru's prolonged presence, refused to accept the pace of my chewing slowed as I thought he'd be happier.
"Kang Sihyun."
"Yes?"
"Should I go buy some shrimp?"
"...Pardon?"
"Why shrimp, all of a sudden?" I blinked, puzzled by the abrupt shift in topic. As I met his gaze, the boy turned away, his ears tinted a shade redder than usual.
"...Because you like shrimp."
"Ah..."
I let out a small sigh and observed Haru's expression, then chuckled lightly.
So, this was his way of saying thanks.
Instead of expressing it in words, he had pondered over our meal and concluded that suggesting shrimp was the best way to convey his gratitude. Recalling the early days of the semester, a time now distant and hazy from so many shared experiences, when I had eagerly eaten the shrimp served at a restaurant, I felt a mix of pride and warmth.
His proposal, devoid of any ulterior motive, was a gesture of pure gratitude, and it felt incredibly naive, almost precious.
This is why I can't stay mad at him.
Haru seemed like he'd absorb any color he's dipped in, prompting me to take extra care around him.
"It's okay, we can have shrimp some other time. Or maybe we could have it when we go to the sea."
"If there's a place that serves it." I swallowed the additional comment and asked, leading to an awkward but faintly smiling nod from the boy.
Around halfway through our meal, the door burst open, and Hamin entered, arms laden with bags from the convenience store. He'd said he was just stepping out, but it looked as though he'd cleared out the entire store.
"...You didn't make a store close down, did you?"
My half-joking inquiry seemed plausible, considering the thud of Hamin's heavy load. Catching his breath, he looked up at my comment and frowned.
"What, you guys were eating without me?"
"You took too long."
"Still, there should be some decency."
He seemed genuinely upset. I nonchalantly handed him two of the boxed lunches we'd saved for him.
"What did you bring?"
"Stuff to eat during the vacation."
"...For the vacation?"
"Yes."
"Which is?"
"Yes."
Better not to ask.
Giving Hamin a meaningful glance, I turned away. What would aliens think if they didn't use Hamin for stomach size research?
His appetite had grown remarkably.
It was becoming almost unbearable.
As I organized the groceries and stored them in the fridge, allowing everyone to finish their lunches, Haru stood to help. With Hamin's contribution, the once-empty fridge was now fully stocked. Thanks to him, we wouldn't starve even if we were stuck in the lodging for a while.
"You really bought a lot. How much did it cost?"
"I didn't check."
His nonchalant answer left me dumbfounded. Hamin's occasional lack of financial awareness, perhaps a trait of his affluent background, seemed to flare up again.
Considering the cost for myself, Haru, and the room's original occupant, Geonu, I calculated a fair share per person and suggested sending about 80,000 won. Hamin brushed it off, insisting it was fine.
Prioritizing food over money, he dug into the boxed lunches we handed him, adding a couple of cup noodles and a soup to the mix.
"...This is quite the feast."
My incredulous murmur was met with Hamin's casual invitation to join if I wanted. Declining, I waited with Haru for him to finish, eventually indulging in a spoonful of soup.
The convenience store fare was surprisingly tasty.
"Aren't you going back to your room?"
Lounging on the sofa after a hearty meal, Hamin suddenly broached the subject. Haru, who had been awkwardly flipping through TV channels, blinked in response.
"...Should I?"
He hesitated, then set down the remote. Observing Hamin gesture towards the door, I frowned and smacked his leg.
"Why are you trying to send Haru hyung away when he's just sitting there quietly?"
My voice rose in reproach, leaving Hamin visibly frustrated.
"It's my room, isn't it?"
"It's my room too. And Haru hyung said he'd be lonely if he went back to his room alone."
"Lonely?"
Hamin squinted at me. Haru pondered for a moment before nodding affirmatively.
"Yes."
Caught off guard by the unexpected answer, Hamin's expression soured. I sighed and passed a packet of snacks to Haru, offering a solution.
"If it bothers you that much, I'll go to that room with Haru hyung."
"Why does it have to be you?"
"Because you're hinting around. Haru hyung wants to be with me, and you're fine
on your own."
"Why would you go, though?"
"Because Haru hyung said he'd be lonely without company. You're good at entertaining yourself."
I rationalized neatly, presenting a calm argument. Hamin's face twisted in annoyance.
"So you're going?"
"If the temple doesn't suit you, it's the monks who must leave. If you insist on being the temple, then it's us who should go."
"Ah, did he only say he wanted to be with you?"
As the conversation dragged on, Hamin's temper flared. At his outburst, the snack fell from my hand. Surprised, I stared at him, and silence fell.
Embarrassed, Haru and I exchanged glances as Hamin realized what he'd said and blushed deeply.
"Shit..."
Blushing to his neck, he glanced between Haru and me before storming out of the room.
Bang!
The door slammed shut, leaving a hot flush on my face.
"Ah, seriously…"
When will his teenage years end?
Feeling embarrassed and heated, I watched the door Hamin had exited through.
"It's all his fault for yelling that he wants to be with me, and now I'm the one feeling embarrassed."
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