HLFH | Chapter 26

“R-really, Ryu Sunghee came?! Hah… You idiot! You should’ve gotten her autograph!”

“Is she that famous?”

“Why are you even in this industry?”

“Gosh, that’s harsh…”

“Seriously, are you thinking of quitting?”

“Sniff.”

Amidst the lively chatter around the table, a large pot with various side dishes was placed. The red broth bubbled, releasing a spicy aroma.

“Wow, looks delicious!”

“Let’s eat and then fry some rice with it.”

“Auntie, thank you for the meal.”

“Let’s eat, except for the traitor who didn’t recognize Ryu Sunghee.”

“Not enough to kick him out of the industry…!!”

“Oh… This is the chicken Jaeeon hyung personally bought. I’m going to pass down the chicken bones for generations.”

“Wait, wait~! Hold on, stop!”

Just as the kids were about to dig in, the aunt stopped them, bringing out a bowl to scoop some meat from the bubbling chicken stew.

“For Jaeeon hyung?”

“Yep~.”

Ahn Seomyeong, who had been sitting quietly, picked up a delicious-looking drumstick and placed it in the bowl.

“One won’t be enough, right?”

Someone else added another drumstick to the bowl.

There were only four, and two were already gone? The aunt’s eyes widened. What’s gotten into them? Normally, they’d be arguing over who gets to eat what.

“Hmm, Jaeeon oppa doesn’t eat much… Should we just give it all to him? He might eat the drumsticks.”

“Should we? Is that okay, guys?”

The kids agreed without hesitation.

“Auntie, give it to me. I’ll serve it.”

Ahn Seomyeong took the bowl.

“Huh? But if you give it all to Jaeeon, what will you eat?”

“We’re fine.”

“If Jaeeon-nim eats, I can just eat potatoes.”

“I’m fine with leftovers.”

“Ah… That’s a bit.”

“Are you saying Jaeeon-nim is dirty?”

“I’m drooling. Stop assuming.”

“Shouldn’t we save some for Juwon hyung?”

“Right, right. We should take care of our oppa too.”

As they discussed, Kim Juwon appeared in a loose white T-shirt and black cargo pants. He spoke cynically.

“Forget it. Give it all to him.”

“Hyung, hi.”

“Yeah.”

He had just showered, with a damp towel on his head.

He greeted casually and sat down, only politely addressing the aunt, “Auntie, thank you for the meal.”

“Hyung, really give it all to Jaeeon hyung?”

“Yeah.”

“Eh.”

Instead of replying, Kim Juwon stabbed a steaming potato and swallowed it whole.

Watching him, Ahn Seomyeong tilted his head. Then he shrugged and put all four drumsticks in the bowl without hesitation. He had permission, after all.

“Oh, and potatoes too.”

“Hey, you.”

He quickly added the potato Kim Juwon was eyeing.

‘He instinctively finds the sweetest, tastiest things.’

Ahn Seomyeong handed the full bowl to the aunt, imagining Ki Jaeeon’s reaction when he saw it later. He could already picture Jaeeon’s surprised face at the bowl full of drumsticks.

‘He’ll probably eat it quietly by himself.’

…Cute.

Ahn Seomyeong smirked.

The next day.

Early in the morning, the aunt found a cleanly washed bowl.

[Thank you for the meal.]

A neatly written note accompanied it.

“Oh my.”

The food waste bin was just as empty as it had been left.

“He ate it all?”

He usually left some.

“Consistency pays off…”

The aunt smiled, pleased that the kids’ feelings seemed to have reached him.

She hummed a tune as she prepared breakfast, hoping they’d all eat together soon.

𓂃 ོ☼𓂃

Ki Jaeeon kept glancing at the clock, pacing around his small room.

Sigh… A deep shadow fell over his face. His anxious gaze repeatedly landed on the door, then vanished, until he finally sat down, covering his face.

“Ugh…”

If you asked why he was like this, the answer was simple. Today was his first psychological counseling session.

He had been quite negative about therapy, but the reason he decided to go could be traced back a few days.

Yes, that’s right.

The day his mother, Ryu Sunghee, visited.

After that day, Kim Young and Ryu Sunghee’s persistent “let’s go to the hospital” finally made him surrender. Or rather, he couldn’t refuse his mother’s earnest request for the first time in his life.

‘I’ll just go once.’

He agreed, thinking one session would satisfy them… but as the day arrived, fears like ‘What if I really get better?’ overwhelmed him.

He didn’t want to meet “it” with a clear mind. Just thinking about it made his whole body tingle. No. Stop… Please! Under extreme stress and anxiety, Ki Jaeeon began biting his nails.

Crunch, crunch.

Blood seeped from his half-bitten nails, but he didn’t stop, even feeling the sharp pain. He didn’t seem to have any intention of stopping.

Then it happened.

“Ki Jaeeon the exorcist, are you there?”

A male voice with a peculiar accent came from outside the door.

Flinch.

Startled, Ki Jaeeon looked at the door. Knock, knock, knock. A knock followed, confirming it wasn’t a hallucination.

A-already…?

Pale, he grabbed the doorknob, trembling. Ah, ah… His fingers twitched, unable to do anything.

“Are you there?”

The voice urged. Clunk, clunk! The doorknob rattled roughly.

“Exorcist?”

Knock, knock, knock!

Clunk, clunk!

Feeling pressured, Ki Jaeeon reluctantly stammered, “O-open it.” He turned the doorknob.

…Creak. A hand caught the slowly opening door.

“There you are.”

Then it swung open. A beam of light stretched into the darkness, revealing an unfamiliar face.

“Hello. I’m Counselor Park Kicheol. You’re Ki Jaeeon the exorcist, right? Wow, you’re even more handsome than I heard.”

The man, who spoke rapidly, seemed quite ordinary at first glance. Even his friendly approach made him seem like a nice person.

“Ah, ah…”

“Can I come in?”

Overwhelmed, Ki Jaeeon stepped back, allowing the man’s entry. A subtle scent of cologne brushed past his nose.

“Hmm- the room’s small. What are you doing? Sit.”

Despite being the room’s owner, the man, who introduced himself as Park Kicheol, had already settled in, beckoning Ki Jaeeon with a finger. His demeanor was oddly assertive for a counselor.

“…Yes.”

Ki Jaeeon knelt opposite him, his gloomy face clearly showing his displeasure with the situation. Yet Park Kicheol, unfazed, began scrutinizing Ki Jaeeon’s entire body with a persistent gaze.

A white turtleneck under a black V-neck sweater, tousled wavy hair, shadowed eyes, a body that flinched at eye contact, cracked lips, an overall fragile atmosphere.

Park Kicheol’s gaze was quite blatant.

Meticulous if put nicely, intrusive if not.

“Your lips must hurt.”

Ki Jaeeon flinched away from the hand reaching out unconsciously.

A brief silence fell between them.

“Ah? Oh-. Uh, no-.”

Park Kicheol glanced at his rejected hand, his dark pupils narrowing before he smirked.

“Don’t touch without permission? Okay, got it.”

“…”

“You’re like a cat. I like cats.”

Muttering to himself, Park Kicheol suddenly smiled and asked.

“But why does someone who looks fine have mental issues?”

Huh? His voice was kind.

But.

‘Is this how it’s supposed to be…?’

It felt quite aggressive.

Like a well-honed blade hidden in softness?

Strangely uncomfortable, subtly unpleasant.

Ki Jaeeon lowered his head at the pointed words.

He just wanted to get this man out of his room quickly. He didn’t want to stay in the same space. For someone like Ki Jaeeon, who rarely had strong likes or dislikes for people, it was an unusual impression.

As he pondered how to make this man leave quickly…

“Ah…!”

Suddenly, a large hand grabbed his cheek.

Squeeze!

“Ke, ugh…”

The hand applied force as if trying to pry his mouth open.

“Seems like our Ki Jaeeon the exorcist doesn’t make eye contact when talking to people.”