HWAMB — Chapter 37

8. An Unlucky Day

It had been a week since the start of vacation when I finally went over to Hyun-woo’s house again.

While Hyun-woo was in the shower, I lay on his bed after washing up first, checking the official Love Pink community.

There was a post about how their new song had started attracting not just fans but also ordinary people, and that sales had surged.

Of course, an increase in sales was a good thing, but as always, when ordinary people mixed in with the fandom, it was hard to simply feel happy about it.

The bigger the influx of newcomers, the larger the fandom grew, but at the same time, there were always plenty of cases where troublemakers slipped in, and fights broke out more than once.

It was the perfect example of that contradictory feeling of, “It’s good that they’re becoming known, but I don’t like it if they get too popular.”

Besides, the whole idea of “digital idols” wasn’t common yet, so there were plenty of people who looked at fans strangely.

That’s why whenever coordinates were shared and hate spread, it became exhausting.

“If this gets even a little more attention, journalists will probably jump at the chance to write about it from every angle…”

Praying that wouldn’t happen, I scrolled down the screen.

That’s when it popped up. Just a few minutes ago, the official account had posted a surprise announcement.

I quickly clicked on it. It was a long, carefully written post, sharing upcoming content and schedules thanks to the overwhelming support from fans.

The worries from just moments ago faded, replaced with excitement that made my heart pound.

“You look happy. Something good happen?”

Hyun-woo came out with his hair towel-dried and fluffy, handed me a cola, and sat down beside me.

I naturally took it, smiling brightly as usual, and opened my mouth.

“Ah, well…”

But then I immediately shut my mouth.

It was such a sudden thought, but I realized I’d only ever babbled on about the things I liked.

Would I come off as thoughtless?

“We’re dating now… maybe I should tone it down a little?”

Everyone wants to look good in front of the person they like.

I wanted to show Hyun-woo something cool, something impressive, different from everyone else. But since he already knew everything about me inside and out, it felt meaningless.

Dating a childhood friend meant we fit together easily, but there were downsides too.

Seeing me stumble over a half-hearted excuse, Hyun-woo gave me a flat look, then downed the rest of his cola in one go.

Watching me purse my lips awkwardly, Hyun-woo told me, “Just be yourself,” and in the end I gave up and whispered that I would.

“By the way, did you change your room layout? It looks a bit different from last time… or maybe it just feels that way since it’s been a while.”

“Yeah. I moved the desk and bookshelf around.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off his hand tapping the desk.

No wonder the room looked bigger than before—it wasn’t just an illusion.

One side of Hyun-woo’s bookshelf was filled with the memories we’d built together since we were kids.

Framed photos, the seashell I’d given him as a present when we were little… and a wool felt doll that was once trendy, now worn out and shabby from use.

Back in middle school, I had made it badly and wanted to throw it away, but he snatched it up, saying, “If you’re going to toss it, give it to me,” so I gave it to him without much thought.

“Wow… you still have this.”

“Yeah. Funny, but Eun-jae, you really do have clumsy hands.”

“…? Didn’t you say you liked it, that’s why you asked for it?”

“Yeah. It’s ugly, but that’s what makes it charming.”

“…”

I pouted at his blunt judgment, my jaw tightening enough to show a walnut-sized bump.

Hyun-woo burst out laughing at the sight and rubbed my chin as if to soothe me.

But it was already too late for that.

As he gently tried to cheer me up, Hyun-woo said,

“There’s going to be a night market nearby soon. Want to go? In two days.”

The thought of snacking on street food outside was tempting to me, so I quickly agreed.

Hyun-woo smiled with his eyes, set aside the empty cola can, and asked,

“Are you planning on working this vacation too?”

“Mm… yeah, I think so.”

“Wait, don’t tell me at the same convenience store as before?”

“No. This time it’ll be somewhere else.”

Hyun-woo’s eyes narrowed for a moment, but then softened again.

Last winter, I had worked the day shift at a convenience store, but one evening, the person meant to take over the night shift overslept, so I had to wait until he came.

That was when, unlucky as ever, I encountered a drunk and troublesome customer.

He reeked of alcohol and slurred something I couldn’t make out.

Frustrated, he smashed the bottle he was holding against the counter, glass shattering everywhere with a loud crash. Shards flew, and I nearly suffered a serious eye injury.

Thankfully, it only left a small cut on my forehead. The owner, shocked, chased down the fleeing man and settled it by making him pay for my treatment.

At the time, I had barely managed to stop my brother from killing the man and Hyun-woo from glaring daggers at him like he was ready to tear him apart.

The owner felt awful that it had happened while he was gone and apologized repeatedly until my last day working there.

He was a good man.

But after that incident, my brother started opposing me working during vacations.

Even before then, he hadn’t been happy about me getting a part-time job, but he let it go because I was so stubborn.

Hyun-woo too, after that incident, waited in front of the store every night until I finished work and always walked me home.

With a sigh, Hyun-woo told me,

“Can’t you just not work?”

“My brother already works hard enough on his own. I should at least help a little. Ah, and don’t tell him I said that.”

“…”

“And besides, I want to earn my own pocket money.”

If I spent my allowance on fandom stuff, I’d feel guilty taking it from my brother.

He always told me not to, but when I wouldn’t listen, he eventually gave up.

I watched Hyun-woo let out a small sigh and shut his mouth right away, finding it a little surprising.

In the past, after he’d once said, “I’ll just buy it for you,” and saw me recoil in horror, he never said that again.

Last year, when we were walking home after I quit my part-time job, he had said, “How about I just give you work instead so you don’t have to get a job?” and when I asked, “What kind of work?” he thought for a long time before answering, “Tutor me.”

For someone who hated studying so much he even skipped cram school, the fact that he forced himself to say that made me burst into laughter.

Back then, I politely turned him down, saying that it would feel like I was just getting allowance from him, and I’d feel bad about it.

As I stared at him intently, Hyun-woo rolled his eyes and asked,

“What.”

“Ah… nothing. I just thought it was surprising you’re staying so quiet. Normally, you’d already be nagging me to death by now.”

“Why, do you want me to?”

“No!”

I shot back immediately at the sight of Hyun-woo smirking.

I knew he only said those things because he worried about me, but once Hyun-woo started nagging, he never stopped.

“Ugh, I don’t know anymore.”

Hyun-woo, sitting beside me, suddenly pulled me back into his arms and flopped down onto the bed, dragging me down neatly with him.

As I lay still, wide-eyed, Hyun-woo hugged me tighter.

My gaze was forced toward his chair, unable to move an inch.

I could hear his heart pounding hard against my back. What was he thinking, staring at the back of my head like this?

With a gloomy voice, Hyun-woo said,

“You never listen to me.”

“Wh-when did I ever…”

“So many times I stopped counting.”

“Damn it… I said I didn’t.”

Even when I tried to play dumb, Hyun-woo quietly patted my head.

His arms around me were still warm.

That drowsy voice and comforting body heat… no wonder little kids would love him.

“You know, when I think about it, you’ve always had this weird way of getting caught up in unlucky situations.”

“Really? I don’t think so…”

“You’re too clueless. You don’t push people away, and you even accept shady assholes. That’s why. Next time, filter them out.”

“I’ll just keep living cluelessly, since I know I can’t do that anyway…”

At that, Hyun-woo muttered, “You just have to have the last word,” and pinched my nose.

I counterattacked with my legs, but he quickly overpowered me.

After struggling for a while and wearing myself out, I decided to stay still.

Maybe because I’d fussed around too much, my eyelids grew heavy.

It was warm, cozy, and my body was tired…

Hyun-woo watched me blink slowly, then whispered,

“…Don’t push yourself too hard.”

I smiled with my eyes closed.

That single sentence carried all the thoughts Hyun-woo had been struggling with all this time.

I hugged the arm wrapped around me and nodded.

Even though it was midsummer, the night air had grown quite chilly. Just yesterday, it had been so hot I needed the fan to sleep…