# Chapter 28
The Devil gang members’ absurd “Protect Me Project” continued relentlessly, starting with stalking outside my home. This groundless stalking was truly just the beginning.
For example, despite my protests until my mouth was about to tear open, they ultimately reached the point of creating the awful spectacle of escorting me to and from school with gang members every day. Or, even though I could eat anything and still be healthy, they purposely! took it upon themselves to demand changes to the school menu by collectively protesting in the cafeteria for my nutrition. Or whenever there was anything that might use even a little physical strength during PE class, they threatened the teacher with fierce motherly rage, begging them not to make their Apex do strenuous exercise, forcibly ruining my PE performance assessments….
On top of that, during break times and lunch periods—basically all times I could move around at school except during class—they assigned bodyguards. Mainly, apart from the trio who stuck around the most, there was always one executive gang member trailing behind me. Like stalkers, they followed me wherever I went, tried to support me when I was perfectly fine, and even attempted to follow me into the private bathroom stall, which made me finally snap.
“You fucking rainbow popsicle, stop making me shit blood and get lost!”
…I mercilessly gave them the middle finger with a stream of curses.
Nevertheless, their consistent claim was:
‘To protect me from disrespectful forces.’
Bullshit.
Stress—the so-called source of all diseases, also known as mental illness. It truly wouldn’t be strange if I really got a terminal diagnosis and developed a nervous breakdown as they claimed.
Anyway, thanks to them, I was treated the same as the gang members who were stationed in front of my house every morning, and I was labeled as the all-time number one psycho nuisance resident by the officetel residents. On top of that, my dream of becoming ordinary was gloriously D-End as I returned to the image of the fearsome Apex among my classmates. This was nothing short of an incredibly harsh fate. My mental fortitude for enduring all this is impressive. Each day of my life feels so shitty that I seriously wonder if I should perform an exorcism ritual. Fuuuuck….
It’s been almost a month since I started living under this unfunny protection.
With the season changing to summer, uniforms had long since switched to summer versions. The gazes of passing students toward me were still full of pity and wistfulness because of the widely spread terminal diagnosis rumor, but since they wouldn’t believe me no matter how many times I explained, I was living with the mentality of ‘Fuck off. Do whatever you want. Shit.’
Now that I’ve somewhat reached enlightenment about the reality of this novel’s world,
I was sprawled out on my bed, leisurely enjoying a peaceful weekend.
Haha… Old habits die hard, they say. Even living as a high school student, my idle, unemployed lifestyle doesn’t change. I don’t care about being an Apex or whatever—since the terminal illness misunderstanding, Jung Ion handles most things—whether I’m possessed or not, weekends are always the same: reading manga, playing games, sleeping in, or using my phone. If anything, possessing Gu Haejin here made me an even truer homebody. Rather than going outside with my infamous face and hearing the pathetic “Apex” title, it was better to just stay home.
I reached out to the table and grabbed the vitamin supplement bottle that the health teacher had given me. I took one from the now almost empty bottle and crunched it down with a “nom.” Fuck. Come to think of it, wasn’t this the prime culprit in the terminal illness fiasco? This goddamn vitamin supplement!
But I’ll let it slide since it’s delicious.
Woooong- Woong- Wong-
What the hell. Who is it? Who’s disturbing my honey-sweet weekend?
I just moved my eyeballs to glare at the phone I had carelessly tossed next to my pillow while reading webtoons earlier. Ugh-! My bones ache. It’s definitely a teenage body, but why doesn’t it feel that way? Too much lounging around was also a problem. I reached out, fumbling around to answer the phone.
“Gu Haejin.”
Hmm? Who is it? Only then did I check the caller ID.
‘Oh Eundo.’
Whoa. I was surprised by two things.
First, it was surprising to get a call from Oh Eundo. Second, it was unexpected that the name was saved normally in Gu Haejin’s phone, considering he supposedly didn’t even treat other Apexes like humans.
While I was momentarily blank, I missed hearing Oh Eundo urgently calling my name several times from the other end of the phone.
“Uh, yeah. Speak. Why did you call?”
“Fuck. You scared me, you crazy bastard!!”
Argh. My ears!
I frowned. I was more startled. Why is this guy so excited and making a fuss?!
“I’m the one who was more surprised by your voice?”
“…Shit. I thought something happened to you in the meantime.”
What’s he saying? As his tone lowered as if relieved, I was thinking ‘what’s wrong with him…’ when one fact suddenly crossed my mind. Ah, damn. Now that I think about it, he’d obviously believe I have a terminal illness too. Ha. That damn terminal illness. Fuck! Then Kim Pyeonghwa and Jang Seoldam must think the same thing?
Aaaaargh…. I grabbed my head and wailed.
“This is fucking shit, for real.”
“Wow. Are you telling me I’m fucking shit right now?”
“No.”
“But you did! Fine. I guess it’s fucking shit that I called you.”
I didn’t mean that! Goddamnit. Looks like this guy called just to pick a fight.
“I’ll hang up if you talk nonsense.”
“Gu Haejin, wait!”
“What.”
“Come out.”
Oh Eundo’s words were truly random.
Come out? Come out where? I slightly furrowed my brow. Please, stop omitting the object.
“What did you say?”
“I’m in front of your house.”
Click.
The call ended, extremely rudely. Have I ever seen someone with such terrible phone etiquette? I remained frozen for a while in the position of holding the phone to my ear.
Really? In front of my house? My house? Hmm. I scratched my eyebrow. So…
What the hell, dude?
“You came out faster than I expected.”
Are you seriously saying that right now? Yes, you’re right. Right about getting punched!
In front of the officetel stood Oh Eundo, extremely relaxed and casually delivering his annoying line.
This isn’t dog training—calling and abruptly saying “I’m in front of your house” so come out. What kind of irresponsible bastard does that? Meanwhile, I unconsciously jumped out of bed in a hurry, threw on whatever, and rushed out, feeling like I’d really become a trained dog, which was truly awful.
“…You’re noisy.”
Feeling resentful about that, I snapped at him grumpily and pulled up the mask hanging on my chin to cover my nose too. Though I had washed up before lounging around, my bare face wasn’t in great condition to show, so I had pulled out a disposable mask I’d bought as a spare after getting sick with the flu last time, wondering what to cover with. Eundo, who had been chuckling, noticed the mask on my face and his expression darkened. Feeling an ominous sense that he might know all too well what it meant, I changed the subject first.
“Why are you ordering me around?”
That was genuine irritation.
I don’t understand why all these gang members, regardless of faction, know my house and show up unexpectedly like this. I don’t know anyone who knows my home, so it feels a bit unfair. Plus, it’s exactly noon right now. The sun is blazing, making it incredibly hot. I hate summer more than anything in this world! I’d rather freeze to death.
“What’s this, why are you acting like this. Hey. Oh Eundo, where are you going?!”
As I stood awkwardly, scrunching my face irritably, Oh Eundo, who had been quietly staring at my face, suddenly grabbed my wrist and started walking ahead. At his sudden action, I could only follow stupidly, bewildered. Eundo quickly turned around, met my eyes filled with disbelief, and smiled brightly.
“Let’s go. To eat sea bream steak.”
What?
I had to think for a moment about what he meant. I mean, why the sudden sea bream steak out of nowhere? While countless question marks were floating in my head, I remembered one thing. The first time I somehow ended up going with him to eat sea bream steak, but never got to taste it as it tragically met its fate thanks to Jang Seoldam—a sad memory that would easily make my top 10 life regrets… Ah.
So he’s saying we should go eat that now?
I stared blankly at Oh Eundo’s hand holding my wrist. A body temperature slightly colder than mine. And somehow, I felt like it was trembling slightly. When I raised my head, I could see the round back of his head with a hat on.
Come to think of it, this was the first time I’d seen Eundo in casual clothes outside.
The hat that neatly covered his shimmering lemon-colored hair was, ironically, a pale pink that seemed to suit him well despite him being a guy. Eundo, wearing a basic cotton short-sleeved T-shirt, light blue denim pants rolled up to the ankle bones, and light sandals, was like… well. Exactly the free-spirited style that suited him.
Hmm. I’m… just in a plain white T-shirt, plain beige cotton pants, and plain Converse. Wow. They say “face is fashion,” and it’s amazing how this ordinary fashion might look stylish due to the novel buff since I’m possessing 18-year-old Gu Haejin, but then I think about my original ordinary self….
Ah, I’m starting to feel inferior.
So I visited that restaurant once more, led by Eundo’s hand. While I was zoning out at a table that seemed to be reserved at the place still exuding luxury and presence, finally, the sea bream steak revealed its beautiful form once again.
Yes. I couldn’t eat this! Why couldn’t I eat it?! Feeling like I’d become literary character Kim Chom-ji’s wife, I swallowed hard, then stabbed a piece of the adequately sliced sea bream steak with my fork. Ah, I’m trembling. I could feel my heart pounding wildly for this simple thing.
“Is it delicious?”
Watching me slowly savoring the taste after putting it in my mouth, Eundo also looked tense.
Is it delicious? Ha. What kind of question is that.
“Yes…”
My lips started to curve into a smile.
“It’s reeeally… the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten!”
Wow… Wow. This is crazy.
Unconsciously, my facial muscles relaxed, and a bright smile kept bursting out. From then on, I think I ate like a madman. Savoring the taste and being moved by it again and again. The expression “food melting in your mouth” was made for this. No joke, this is the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten. I’m truly sorry that all I can express is “Fuck, it’s so good!”
Damn, this is so good. Hng hng… delicious. When I saw this dish tragically spilled before my eyes… Ah, I suddenly got so pissed off. Shit. Recruiting party members to beat up Jang Seoldam together!
Seeing my bright, radiant smile, Oh Eundo also looked satisfied that I enjoyed the dish he recommended. …This bastard. I wanted to beat him up when he suddenly told me to come out, but with this, well. Hmm… this big brother will forgive him with his wide and deep generosity.
“Well, I’m glad you like it.”
At times like this, he can’t be honest and just blurts things out, which makes him look quite cute like a child. Oh Eundo, who crossed his arms and turned his head to avoid looking at me, had slightly reddened earlobes as if embarrassed.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
