Chapter 483 (1/2)
“Uhm, Inho-hyung,” Haewon carefully called out to Inho.
Inho wondered why Haewon called out to him. Heewon, who sat next to them, also naturally looked towards Haewon.
“Please take this.”
Haewon handed him a stash of half-folded bills under the table. He was being careful to not be noticed by the others. Inho asked as he looked at the money.
“What’s this about?”
“When you said that we were going to eat meat, I thought you were going to buy some from the supermarket and eat at someone’s house. I didn’t know we’d be eating at your father’s store. I heard that it’s not right to eat for free in a newly opened store….”
“Hey, hey. It’s fine. My dad isn’t such a petty person.”
“Of course, I know that. But it just tugs at my mind. Please take it quickly. If the others notice, they might feel unpleasant.”
It’s just enough for the food - Haewon added before giving Inho the money. Inho refused at first saying that it was okay, but he had no choice but to accept it in the end.
Heewon looked at the two in an awkward position. He was just about to put a ssam into his mouth.
“I brought my wallet too though.”
“Don’t you do that to me too and just eat quietly. We don’t want the atmosphere turning weird after someone notices,” Inho said firmly.
Heewon nodded and put the ssam in his mouth. His younger brother did what he was supposed to do. Well, it wasn’t like this was the first or second time such a thing happened, so he didn’t mind it that much.
“Haewon, you should eat some as well. It’s really good.”
“Also… you can reduce this week’s allowance.”
“I was going to even if you didn’t tell me. We’ll have to eat at home all week.”
“I wasn’t serious though.”
“But I am serious, you know?” Haewon tensed his eyes as he spoke.
Although he was a kind younger brother who did most of the chores, he was very rational when it came to living expenses.
“Looks like I should eat a lot then.”
“You’ll upset your stomach again.”
Hearing that, Inho tried to give back the money, but it ended up going into his pocket because Haewon politely refused.
“Heewon, eat a lot, okay?”
He picked up an empty plate and went to the refrigerator to pick up some more meat. He picked up some skirt meat that was piled up like a mountain and reached out for the marinated ribs right next to it when,
“Please go ahead first.”
A rather chubby boy spoke as he retracted his hand. He was one of the students at the table diagonally opposite to them.
“Thank you.”
He nodded before picking up the tongs. While moving the meat to his plate, Heewon coughed awkwardly and glanced sideways. The chubby boy hurriedly looked away. He wondered what it was about.
‘There’s that girl from before too. Did I do something wrong?’
No matter how hard he thought about it, he couldn’t remember doing something that would make a complete stranger hate him.
“Excuse me,” he spoke up.
“Eh, yes?”
“The girl sitting at your table kept staring at me and teased me. Is there something I did wrong?”
“Ah, no! That’s just a mistake of a junior of ours. Sorry about that.”
He apologized politely. Heewon was also rather confused because he apologized so easily. He thought that he would try to pick a fight with him, but he turned out to be rather polite.
“You don’t have to apologize. I must have been a little s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e.”
“Not at all. My junior just wasn’t m.a.t.u.r.e with her actions. I’ll bring her here and have her apologize.”
“No! Don’t do that.”
Heewon grabbed the boy’s arm as he was about to turn around. He intended to stop him, but he was dragged instead because the boy was so strong. Maybe this was what it felt like to be dragged around by a bull.
“W-wait! Don’t.”
“No, if she did something wrong, it’s only right to apologize.”
Heewon shook his head. That girl seemed quite strong-willed. Also, she had a good build as well. He thought that he’d lose if he fought her, so he had absolutely no thoughts of meeting her face-to-face.
“Ah, okay.”
The chubby boy turned around. Heewon sighed in relief before letting go.
“Uhm.”
“Yes?”
“You are from Hwasoo High, right?”
“Yes, we are.”
“You do acting, right?”
“Yes.”
“But how did you know?”
“Things happened. And also, do you know about Woosung Engineering High?”
“Woosung Engineering High?”
Heewon pondered for a moment. He thought that he had heard that name somewhere before, but nothing lit up in his head.
“No, I don’t think so.”
Hearing that, the chubby boy said ‘I see’ by himself before smiling awkwardly.
“Aha, so you don’t know us.”
Heewon was startled when someone said that behind him. The chubby boy was also surprised and took a step back. When he turned around, the girl that teased him a while ago was standing there. She looked very sturdy - despite how weird it might sound for a girl - from up close.
“Aram,” the chubby boy said.
“Get out of the way so I can take some meat.”
“Ah, okay,” Heewon quickly replied before taking a step aside.
At that moment, the chubby boy tensed his eyes and said to her,
“Jeon Aram, don’t be rude.”
“But seonbae.”
“Aram.”
When said did, the girl apologized to him unwillingly before going back. As soon as the girl left, the chubby boy shrunk his shoulders and just sighed shakily. He looked stiff to the point that he was worried for him.