Chapter 88

Does Chahaya... like me?

Thud, my heart sank. I knew how dangerous it was to define someone else's feelings on a whim.

In high school, I secretly hoped that he might like me too, but as if to tell me not to delude myself, he got a girlfriend. I was devastated to realize that we were just a bit closer friends than others.

Seo-eun glanced back and looked at the seat where Chahaya was lying down. Handoonhee, Kangsan, and Yuchan were surrounding him. Suddenly, Handoonhee's eyes met mine, and he said something to Kangsan and Yuchan before coming closer.

"Are you okay?"

Handoonhee frowned as he saw Seo-eun's swollen lips.

"…Yeah."

"What the hell did that Chahaya do?"

Handoonhee seemed to want to say something but held back. Seo-eun just wanted him to leave it alone this time.

"What's going on? I've never seen him act like that before."

Me too, Seo-eun muttered almost inaudibly.

"If that guy had properly taken out the cosmos, the plane might have crashed. Is it okay for him to be in front of us?"

Seo-eun had been able to control Chahaya's eccentricities because of her presence. Of course, she couldn't stop him completely, but the leash she held was quite strong. Now that he had bitten the hand that fed him, it was natural to worry about what would happen next.

"Are you… going to leave the guild?"

Seo-eun looked up with a puzzled expression. Then she let out a soft exclamation.

If the top species in the guild doesn't listen to me, I'll quit, she recalled his declaration.

"No."

"What, what? Don't worry too much."

Handoonhee ruffled Seo-eun's hair. He looked complicated, as if he had a lot to say but didn't know how to filter it.

Seo-eun pushed his hand away from her head with a weak smile.

"Go back to your seat."

Boom! I had noticed dark clouds earlier, and turbulence hit again. Right now, Seo-eun was more focused on her complex feelings than on the fear of the turbulence.

"Damn, why is it so bumpy and chaotic? It's annoying to walk."

Handoonhee pretended to be nonchalant, but he looked a bit scared too. When Seo-eun walked past, she noticed his pupils were slightly shaking.

Seo-eun sighed deeply and leaned back in her seat. She just wanted to distract herself from the shock of the turbulence.

Hey! Hey! Grab that guy!

Was the earlier chaos echoing again? Seo-eun just sighed at the hallucination-like sounds.

Shit! Chahaya! You're awake!

Mr. Namgung! Can you put him back to sleep?!

It's no use repeating it! He's already under hypnosis!

It wasn't a hallucination. Seo-eun quickly got up at the sound of Chahaya waking up. Another commotion broke out in the already noisy cabin as the plane passed through the turbulence. Chahaya's eyes met mine as he woke up and looked around.

Chahaya, who had been expressionless, suddenly laughed and leaped over the seats to Seo-eun. The others hurried to stop him but were thrown off balance by the turbulence. By then, Chahaya had already plopped down next to Seo-eun.

Seo-eun couldn't run away and just stared blankly at Chahaya. His eyes were still drowsy, and he pushed Seo-eun's chest with his hand. She fell back from the force, and her heart raced, fearing he might do something strange again.

But Chahaya just loudly tore open the packaging and took out a blanket. I thought he was going to cover himself, but he placed it over Seo-eun's body. The other guild members, who had just arrived, were stunned by Chahaya's bizarre behavior. He looked almost half-asleep.

Seo-eun was frozen in place, watching as Chahaya pulled the blanket over her. The plane continued to jolt from the intense turbulence.

I'll save you even if we crash.

Chahaya mumbled, still half-asleep. He soon slumped onto Seo-eun's chest. His steady breathing spread over her chest.

***

The accommodation arranged in Indonesia was a 4-star hotel halfway between the airport and the Tanatoraja region. It was about a 4-hour drive from the international airport, and three private buses carried the Manseongjong and the control center staff.

The Manseongjong, selected as a special management target, could leave the airport more quickly than the general immigration process. During this time, Seo-eun avoided being alone with Chahaya as much as possible.

The awkwardness was indescribable, and the gazes of the Tacheon guild members, as well as Eomjigeon and Namgungjun, were bothersome. So she deliberately sat in the front seat of the bus, and Chahaya, understanding her intention, sat in the very back.

"Chahaya, you bastard."

Handoonhee, sitting one seat in front of the last row, turned to look at Chahaya. Chahaya was looking out the window at the scenery outside. After passing through the bustling area, the rural landscape stretched out like a copy.

"Are you ignoring me?"

Chahaya just glared at Handoonhee. Damn, if I mess with him, the bus might fly away. Handoonhee, who had some sense, didn't provoke Chahaya further.

"Do you know the atmosphere is completely ruined because of you? Why did you do that? If you make Seo-eun leave the guild, will you take responsibility?"

"Is he leaving?"

Chahaya asked, looking at the back of Seo-eun's head, which was slightly visible.

"I don't know, bastard. Did you see how swollen Seo-eun's lips were after that crazy guy sucked on them?"

Chahaya looked out the window again.

"Do you like Seo-eun?"

Chahaya's jaw tightened. Since it wasn't his own business, Handoonhee easily spoke about someone else's feelings. Of course, he didn't truly believe it. He expected Chahaya to laugh it off, but he remained silent.

Handoonhee was taken aback by his own words.

Damn, damn, he kept exclaiming in his mind, surprised. He knew Chahaya considered Seo-eun special, but did he have affectionate feelings for him? Handoonhee thought Chahaya might be messing with him. Why? Because all the people he had dated were women.

"This bastard is trying to fool me. I'm not falling for it."

Chahaya let out a sigh.

"Are you pretending to like Seo-eun to mess with me?"

"Shut up, you weirdo."

Chahaya was exasperated. He couldn't believe that liking Seo-eun was so unbelievable.

"Don't torment Seo-eun for no reason. He's just settled in, and if he goes into hiding again, what will you do?"

It sounded like he was telling him not to even confess.

"Even if you pretend, he's scared of you."

Chahaya, who had shown no reaction to the "crazy guy" comment, frowned.

"Wouldn't you be scared if someone your size pushed you? If you're going to kiss, you should approach gently. No, if you approach gently, it might be even worse. It's really disgusting, damn. Do you like women? Or are you suddenly curious about men, ugh!"

Chahaya reached out and grabbed Handoonhee's neck. Handoonhee, not to be outdone, firmly grabbed Chahaya's wrist.

"If you say that kind of thing about Seo-eun, I'll tear you apart."

Damn, I get it, I get it.

Handoonhee, admitting his mistake this time, answered in a choked voice. Chahaya released his grip, and Handoonhee rubbed his neck and coughed.

Does that bastard really like Seo-eun?

Actually, Handoonhee didn't believe what Kangsan and Yuchan were saying. When they mentioned that Chahaya might have feelings for the deputy guild leader, Handoonhee just laughed. They had been like that since high school.

'Did they kiss back then? What kind of friends are they?'

'Can you call it a kiss? Chahaya did it unilaterally.'

Yuchan grumbled at Kangsan's words. Handoonhee had nothing to say. Their relationship was close, but not to the point of kissing.

Handoonhee was confused. It was hard to imagine them becoming that kind of relationship. Chahaya was always a bit strange, so it might have been a punishment kiss after an argument. If he had hit her, Seo-eun might have been hurt, and they were on a plane...

Still, a kiss?!

"No! Why should I care!"

Handoonhee shouted impulsively. Why was he so bothered by their problems? Seo-eun, who was sitting in front, turned his head sharply at Handoonhee's shout.

Chahaya, who had been looking at the back of Seo-eun's head, met his eyes. Chahaya tried to force a smile, but Seo-eun turned his head back to the front.

"Damn."

A curse slipped from his lips as he tried to smile.

Seo-eun is scared of me...

Chahaya licked his lips, which Seo-eun had bitten. He admitted that he had acted like a madman. It was the first time he had lost control to this extent.

'You and I might not, but men can date each other.'

Why not with you?

'Frankly, I don't care if a man likes me.'

If Eomjigeon confesses, will you date him?

'I really want to meet the top Manseongjong.'

It might have been a bit distorted, but that's how it sounded to Chahaya.

When he said he wanted to meet the top Manseongjong but not date him, something snapped in his head. He didn't mean to do it. He should have properly confessed and kissed, but he had ruined that chance himself. Well, at least he had kissed him, so maybe it was a small victory?

"What a piece of trash."

Handoonhee, hearing the somber tone, glanced back and shuddered, thinking he shouldn't have looked. Chahaya's gaze on Seo-eun's back was no different from what it had been on the plane.

"Damn, Inee. If you go into hiding this time, I'll let it slide."

Handoonhee complained, making sure Chahaya could hear.