It was truly a fantastic lie. Could there be another lie so perfect? Who could resist a lie that even fooled me, the person it was about?
‘Ah… I’m going crazy.’
My startled heart wouldn’t calm down. It felt like I had run a marathon; my heart ached. I lay in bed, wrapped tightly in my blanket, blinking my eyes several times.
“I like Guide Lim Haeyul.”
“This is insane.”
But no matter how tightly I wrapped myself in the blanket, Cha Jae-woo’s voice lingered in my mind, growing clearer by the moment.
I was captivated. No, I mean, he said I’m pretty! He said he likes me! In that moment, Cha Jae-woo’s face seemed more sincere than ever.
Of course, I was filtering it myself. The reactions of President Jang and the others present were less than enthusiastic.
“You expect us to believe that?”
Now that I think about it, his voice was filled with disbelief, but I was too focused on Cha Jae-woo’s face to notice.
“Why wouldn’t you believe it? Do I have a reason to lie?”
If Cha Jae-woo hadn’t been an Esper, he would have surely become an actor. With his good looks and acting skills, he could have been a great actor. His innocent expression, wondering why it was strange that he liked me, was convincing enough to fool anyone.
It was actually ridiculous. President Jang responded with a dumbstruck, “I see…” Everyone was fooled by Cha Jae-woo’s acting.
“Is it true?”
That’s why I fell for it too. I didn’t realize the obvious reason why Cha Jae-woo had covered my mouth.
So, as soon as I got into the driver’s car, which was waiting outside the building, I asked him. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t hopeful. I had forgotten that my feelings were fake.
Cha Jae-woo answered with his expression. That familiar look of pity shattered my hopes.
“Ugh, of course. That’s why it can’t be true!”
Embarrassment welled up, and I pounded the innocent mattress. It was a pointless move. But that didn’t erase the memory of asking him with hope in my heart.
Rationally, Cha Jae-woo shouldn’t like me. Because the side effects that Guides experience don’t affect Espers. I was experiencing side effects, so how could Cha Jae-woo genuinely like me? It made no sense.
Cha Jae-woo had simply offered the most plausible excuse in that situation. He provided a reason to support his declaration that he would stick with an inefficient D-rank Guide and refuse guidance from other Guides.
Of course, it was hard to accept. Everyone must have been too shocked to react properly. Honestly, who would believe him if he said he liked someone just because they were pretty?
“Pretty, my ass…”
Was I pretty because I was small and frail?
Even so, that was going too far. Everyone must have laughed after we left. Being called pretty suited someone like Kim Sol. I, on the other hand, had a rather vague impression.
‘This is so embarrassing.’
I was embarrassed in front of Cha Jae-woo and the people in the test room. Next time, I should ask him to say he likes me because I’m good at guiding. Though I’m not sure if there will be a next time. Hopefully not.
“Sigh…”
I rolled over, still wrapped in my blanket. The high ceiling and distant light fixtures made my eyes sting.
I squinted and sighed, a habit of mine. It wasn’t a big deal, so why was I overthinking it?
“What’s bothering you so much?”
“Ah!”
Just as my thoughts were spiraling out of control, I was forced to stop. Cha Jae-woo, who had left after dropping me off, suddenly appeared in front of me.
“Ah, um… Didn’t you go out…?”
I was still wrapped in my blanket as I abruptly sat up and asked Cha Jae-woo, bewildered.
I wondered when he had returned home, when he had entered my room, and how much of my muttering he had overheard. I had many questions, but I held them back.
“What’s bothering you?” he asked.
But Cha Jae-woo didn’t answer my carefully chosen question.
I shook my head. It didn’t matter when he started listening; it had all been nonsense anyway. Today had been exceptionally embarrassing, and I couldn’t help but sound sullen.
“Nothing’s bothering me,” I replied.
“…….”
“Really, nothing.”
Of course, as soon as I said it, I realized he wasn’t the right person to complain to.
Why was I always a step behind? That’s why these embarrassing situations kept happening.
“I’m just embarrassed…” I admitted.
“Embarrassed?” Cha Jae-woo’s eyebrows twitched. I quickly explained to avoid any misunderstanding.
“No, I mean, in the test room. When you said you liked me… Of course, I’m not saying it’s embarrassing that you said it, just that I believed it so easily. You understand, right…?”
I sought his agreement, but Cha Jae-woo’s expression remained unchanged. He clearly didn’t empathize, which frustrated me, but I managed to keep my lips from pouting.
“It’s embarrassing,” I insisted.
“Is it?” he asked.
“Yes,” I confirmed.
“Why?” he pressed.
His questions were relentless today. I hesitated before sighing. If he wanted to hear it, I had plenty to say.
“It’s just… it was a good excuse to get out of that situation, but I wish you had discussed it with me first. And you didn’t have to add unnecessary details. It was such an obvious lie. I’ll be so embarrassed the next time I see those people…”
Cha Jae-woo listened silently as I rambled on. I thought I had nothing to hide, but as he listened, I felt increasingly awkward.
‘This isn’t something he needs to hear.’
I was acting childish, throwing a tantrum.
“But this isn’t a big deal. I just want to hide because I’m embarrassed right now…” I clarified.
Whether it was in front of Cha Jae-woo or the people in the test room, I felt the same way.
“So, don’t worry about it too much…” I added.
Those people must have realized by now that Cha Jae-woo was lying. It made no sense for him to like me. What did he lack? It would be more believable if Espers also experienced side effects.
I wasn’t particularly attractive. No one had ever liked me in that way. In high school, I realized I wasn’t appealing at all—short, scrawny, and plain-looking.
Admittedly, Kim Geon-ung, Jo Ha-eon, and Park Yeon-ho were quite handsome, which made the contrast even starker.
Anyway, what I wanted to say was that Cha Jae-woo’s lie was obvious, and I was embarrassed for believing it and for how others might interpret it.
“Well, since you said you like me… you should come up with a more believable reason,” I suggested.
“I already told you,” Cha Jae-woo replied dismissively.
Did he really think that was a valid reason? I sighed deeply. Did I have to spell it out? We both knew the truth, and saying it out loud would only hurt my pride.
“Everyone will realize it’s a lie soon enough,” I muttered.
Oh, never mind. Pride wouldn’t fill my stomach. The incredulous expressions of those who heard him say I was pretty were still vivid in my mind.
Even if they were initially fooled, they would soon start doubting again. We needed a different reason, one that would make Cha Jae-woo’s supposed affection for me seem plausible.
“Maybe say I’m better at guiding than expected—no, that I try hard… Would that work?” I pondered.
“…….”
“I can’t think of anything else…” I admitted.
Setting aside my embarrassment, I racked my brain for a way to convince President Jang. But I couldn’t find a reason why Cha Jae-woo would like me.
“Why do we need a reason?” Cha Jae-woo asked casually.
No one would believe it, so why was he asking the obvious? I was already frustrated, and his question only added to it. I opened my mouth to respond, but Cha Jae-woo was quicker, cupping my chin in his hand.
“Ah…”
My thoughts vanished, and my mind went blank. Cha Jae-woo turned my face from side to side before nodding slightly.
“It was perfectly believable.”
His firm words made my eyes blink slowly.
“You’re the only one who thinks it’s not,” he said.
“But…” I started to protest.
“So, stop overthinking and keep quiet. You’re being loud,” he ordered.
“Oh… okay,” I replied, taken aback.
Cha Jae-woo released his grip on me and turned away, leaving me to stare at his back.
My mouth remained shut, but I could feel my face flushing with heat. I curled up on the bed, unsure of what to do.
It took me a while to come to my senses. I blinked a few times before twisting my body in a sudden realization.
So, Cha Jae-woo really meant it when he said I was pretty that day? In his eyes, the excuse he gave made sense?
‘He thinks I’m pretty!’
Even if he was a man, being called pretty felt incredibly good. Love-struck, I quickly let the compliment go to my head, my mind turning into a field of flowers.
My legs, which had been shaking with embarrassment, now moved excitedly. Even though I found myself pathetic, I couldn’t stop my legs from fidgeting with joy.
