Date Me! - Chapter 14

“By the way… it seems like your cousin is really capable? What in the world did he say to get such an immediate effect?”

Ina said, trying to change the subject as she gently pulled her hand out.

Juwon quietly looked at Ina’s small hand that had slipped out of his grasp before answering.

“Well, since my elder brother is knowledgeable about these things, he probably knows how to make them back down. I did ask him to take care of it quickly, but I didn’t expect him to handle it this fast. He must be really busy too.”

“That’s what I’m saying. I’m grateful to you, but I’m also really thankful to your cousin. Can you arrange a get-together sometime? I think I should treat him to a meal.”

Juwon glanced at Ina.

“A meal? For my elder brother?”

“Yeah.”

“…Well, there’s no need for that. I’ll treat him to a meal later.”

“I’m the one who received the help, so I should be the one treating.”

“Does it matter who pays? Besides, my elder brother is really busy these days so he probably won’t have time.”

“Then should I buy some coffee and stop by his office? I want to at least express my gratitude…”

Juwon stared at Ina while gripping the steering wheel.

“Our Seo Ina is quite stubborn, huh?”

“What? No, that’s not it… I’m just really grateful.”

“Then, well, let’s stop by his office together later when he has time.”

“Okay. Make sure to let me know then.”

“Got it. Now, let’s go eat dinner. What do you want to eat?”

“Hmm, today is the monumental day Park Jeonghun got dropped, so let’s eat something really delicious.”

Juwon laughed.

“Wasn’t what we ate yesterday and the day before delicious?”

“What? It was delicious. But today we especially need to eat something even more delicious. Is there anything you want to eat?”

“Well, I think it’s better for the gourmet Seo Ina to choose rather than me.”

“Really? Then hmm…”

Ina pondered for a moment before turning her head and asking Juwon.

“Do you like things like pizza and spaghetti too?”

“Yeah. I like them.”

“Really? Then there’s a famous spaghetti place near here, do you want to go check it out?”

“Sure. Let’s go.”

Juwon inputted the address Ina told him into the navigation and started the car.

* * *

Some time later, they arrived at the spaghetti restaurant which proved its popularity by requiring them to take a waiting number.

Upon hearing they had to wait about 30 minutes to eat, Ina looked at Juwon with apologetic eyes.

“30 minutes is a bit long, right? Should we just go somewhere else?”

“No, it’s fine. We came all the way here so let’s wait and eat.”

“Really? That’s a relief then. Thank you.”

Ina said with a bright smile.

As they waited while chatting about this and that, Ina noticed the women in front and behind them stealing glances at Juwon.

Of course… why wouldn’t they be?

How could they not sneak peeks at the sculpture standing tall amidst their average height boyfriends?

Whether he was aware the women were looking at him or not, Juwon focused only on Ina’s words.

Then when Ina said something funny, Juwon smiled softly, his eyes crinkling.

The women who had been enraptured by that smile all turned their gazes towards Ina standing next to Juwon as if on cue. Then they scanned Ina up and down with eyes assessing whether she was worthy of standing next to the sculpture.

Under those sharp gazes, Ina felt like a live fish put up for auction.

‘Ah… being Juwon’s girlfriend is truly an extreme job…’

Feeling a strange sense of awe towards Juwon’s ex-girlfriends she had never met, Ina fiddled with her cheek.

Juwon’s popularity that she had felt when they were young hit her again.

After waiting 30 minutes, they were finally led to a table. Ina sighed and entered the restaurant.

But even inside, the gazes of women from various tables flew like arrows, piercing into Juwon.

‘Wow. Seriously… forced attention no matter where we go.’

Ina shook her head as she sat down at the table the server guided them to.

“What’s wrong?”

Juwon asked, looking at Ina as he sat down.

“Huh?”

“You’ve seemed a bit uncomfortable since earlier… Is something bothering you?”

“Oh, no, that’s not it…”

Ina hesitated for a moment before speaking in a whisper.

“Do you know there are a ton of women staring at you, both outside earlier and in here now?”

Instead of answering, Juwon propped his chin on his hand and looked at Ina.

“When they look at you, they have enraptured expressions, but when they look at me, it’s like ‘where did this ugly thing come from’?”

“Ugly thing?”

“Yeah. Ugly thing.”

Juwon removed his hand from his chin and laughed.

“I’m serious!”

“Hmm.”

Juwon leaned forward over the table and examined Ina’s face closely.

“There are ugly things this pretty in the world?”

“…What?”

Ina blinked and looked at Juwon.

“The ugly thing is so pretty it’ll disrupt the entire marine ecosystem?”

Ina’s cheeks that had been blinking nonstop turned red.

“Wh-what are you saying all of a sudden?”

Ina fanned herself with her hand and quickly turned her head.

Juwon looked at Ina with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

“Let’s order. Order.”

Ina hurriedly opened the menu with a flushed face.

“Do you want to choose since you’ve probably been here before?”

“Hmm. Should I? Then I’ll order something delicious.”

When the server came, Ina ordered a variety of dishes from the menu.

And just as she was about to take a sip of water, Ina’s phone rang. It was Hyunju.

“Juwon. I’m going to take this call, I’ll be right back.”

After excusing herself to Juwon, Ina took her phone and went to the restroom.

“Oh. Hyunju. Are you still in Yeosu? How is your grandmother?”

Hyunju had gone down to Yeosu two days ago after hearing her grandmother was injured.

-She was discharged from the hospital yesterday and we brought her back home. I’m at the terminal now. I’m planning to take the 8 o’clock bus back up.

“Really? She can be discharged?”

-Yeah. She’ll be a bit uncomfortable for a while because of the cast, but it’s fortunate it’s just this much.

“Right. That’s really fortunate. You worked hard too.”

-What hard work. Ah! That’s right! I called to ask you about this!

Hyunju raised her voice as if she suddenly remembered something.

-How is that jerk Park Jeonghun? He didn’t come cause trouble at your home or work, did he?

Ina let out a small sigh.

“Hyunju. Let’s talk about that later when we meet. I don’t want to talk about that bastard right now.”

-Okay. Got it. Then… I’m going to tell you some shocking news.

“Huh?”

-Do you… remember Kim Siwoo?

“Who?”

-Kim Siwoo. The kid who was our class president in 1st year! Smiley angel Kim Siwoo!

“Ah… Kim Siwoo? I remember.”

At that name that popped up suddenly, Siwoo’s face flashed before her eyes for a brief moment before disappearing.

-You know, I went to meet some school friends for a bit yesterday and Siwoo showed up there! I was totally shocked.

“Siwoo did?”

-Yeah. It was the first time seeing him in 11 years after he transferred to Busan, I think? He graduated from veterinary school in Busan and worked there, then came up to Seoul this spring. So now he works at an animal hospital in Songpa. Isn’t that amazing? He was popular even when we were in school, but he got even more handsome. Became a perfect dandy man! Since we both live in Seoul, he said the three of us should meet up soon.

“Oh… really?”

-Yeah. So let’s have a drink, the three of us. Do you have plans this Saturday?

“Huh? No, I don’t have plans, but…”

-Really? Then let’s meet on Saturday, the three of us. Got it?

“Huh? Oh. Okay. Got it.”

-Hey. My bus is here. Then see you on Saturday. Bye bye.

Hyunju said goodbye in a lively voice and hung up.

Ina washed her hands, dried them, and returned to the table.

The piping hot dishes they had ordered earlier were waiting on the table.

“Oh? It’s out already? You should have started eating first.”

“I’m not that uncultured of a person.”

At Juwon’s words, Ina laughed and sat down.

“Wow. Looks delicious. Let’s dig in.”

Ina twirled a heaping spoonful of vongole pasta, put it in her mouth, savored the taste while chewing, and smiled the happiest smile in the world.

“Wow. It’s really delicious. Juwon. You hurry and try it too. Quickly!”

“Okay. Got it.”

As Juwon put some spaghetti in his mouth, Ina picked up a slice of gorgonzola pizza and placed it on Juwon’s plate.

“Juwon. Try some of this too. The pizza here is really good.”

“Okay. You eat quickly too.”

Juwon also picked up a slice of pizza and placed it on Ina’s plate.

Ina reached for the pizza with a happy expression.

An hour later, the two finished their meal and left the restaurant, getting back in the car.

“Juwon. I don’t think I’ll run into Park Jeonghun anymore, so you don’t have to drop me off starting tomorrow.”

At Ina’s words, Juwon turned his head and looked at her.

“We still need to be careful for a while. I’ll drop you off until Friday as promised.”

“No, it’s okay. You must have been really busy with work, but you had a hard time leaving early because of me, right?”

“No, who said it was hard?”

“I have a friend who works at a trading company too and she said she works a lot of overtime. You coming to pick me up didn’t interfere with your work?”

“No. This week isn’t that busy so it’s fine. So I’ll drop you off until Friday.”

“Still… I feel bad…”

“No need to feel bad. Our places are close anyway.”

Juwon said it was no big deal and started the car.

* * *

A short while later, in front of a large intersection.

Juwon’s car was stopped at a red light. Ina, who had been looking out the window, pointed somewhere and said “Oh?”

“Oh? That movie is opening this week?”

Juwon looked to where Ina was pointing and saw a movie trailer playing on the theater’s electronic display board.

It was a zombie movie that was topping the box office in the US.

It was famous for featuring top Hollywood actors, but even more famous for being filled with gory scenes.

“Wow. I was really counting down the days until that movie opened, and it’s finally releasing?”

“You’re still the same. Liking zombies.”

Juwon said, leaning his arm against the window and looking at the display.

“You liked them too. Don’t you remember? We watched that zombie drama together.”

“…We did.”

Juwon replied, gazing at the brightly flashing display.

‘How could I forget…’

Juwon muttered to himself, recalling the memory.

13 years ago when he first met Ina, an American broadcasting station aired a zombie drama and it was a huge hit from the first episode, riding a wave of popularity.

As a zombie maniac, Juwon started watching it without missing an episode from the beginning, and at some point, Ina started watching it with him.

Then that winter, Ina’s father suddenly passed away and the next year, Ina went down to Yeosu with her mother. After contact was completely cut off after that, whenever Juwon watched that drama alone, he would think of Ina.

Ina, who suddenly appeared one day and suddenly disappeared one day…

Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman

When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…

One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.

Synopsis

During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.

Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.

Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”

Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.

Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”

With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.

Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?

He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”

_____

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