SMFC | Chapter 34

In response to the playfully warm voice, Haeon quickly raised his head, gazing blankly at Lee Soo while trying to hide any serious concerns. Lee Soo, after making sure there was nothing wrong with Haeon, broke into a broad smile.

“Are you very tired? I was going to ask if you wanted to go out today… If you’re tired, should we go another time? When would be good for you? Once we make plans, we can’t back out… Of course, unless you’re not feeling well or something comes up.”

Though he started off firm, the way he ended was nothing but tender. Confused by memories he couldn’t place, Haeon eventually chuckled and rubbed his eyes a few times.

“It’s okay. Let’s go today. But you don’t have an appointment?”

“An appointment? No, I don’t.”

Lee Soo, not expecting such a response, widened his eyes in apparent surprise. After a moment, Haeon nodded and asked cautiously.

“Then why are you dressed up? You usually dress more casually. I thought it was because of an important appointment…”

“It’s because I’m going out with you, Healer Haeon.”

“What if I had said no?”

“I would’ve clung onto your leg.”

Lee Soo shrugged nonchalantly, then chuckled, adding that it was just a joke. Though it was truly meant in jest, for Haeon, who had already spent weeks playing a hide-and-seek of emotions with Lee Soo, jokes didn’t come across so lightly. Nonetheless, Lee Soo gave his outfit one last scan and smiled brightly.

“Does it look nice?”

“More than nice…”

“More than nice?”

“I mean…”

“I mean?”

“…It looks nice.”

Struggling to find the right words, Haeon ended up smiling helplessly and Lee Soo burst into laughter, slipping on his coat as he whispered.

“I’m glad. I dressed up hoping to look nice. Mission accomplished then.”

“You look nice even without dressing up.”

“…What?”

“I mean…”

The words slipped out lightly, as if just a casual remark, but both the speaker and the listener froze. Soon, Lee Soo laughed off his embarrassment, easing the mood, though Haeon still seemed puzzled why he had said that.

Maybe it was because they hadn’t talked in a while. His mouth felt uncontrollably loose, and it wasn’t a pleasant feeling. As Haeon was aimlessly tapping his lips, he suddenly stopped, startled by Lee Soo appearing beside him.

“…Why?”

“Huh? Aren’t we going? Let’s go have a meal and maybe do some sightseeing. You don’t need the Guild Leader’s permission. I’ve already talked it all through…”

It seemed like I was encouraged to reconcile whatever it was. Lee Soo muttered uncertainly, his voice filled with a sense of injustice, making Haeon momentarily twist his lips and then take the lead.

“There’s nothing to reconcile.”

“Right?”

Knowing this would be the response, Haeon’s eyebrows twitched slightly in annoyance before he calmly opened his mouth.

“That’s right. It was just me being upset on my own.”

“What? So, you’re saying I did something wrong.”

“When did I say that? I just said I got upset on my own.”

“That means the same thing.”

Muttering grumpily, Haeon walked ahead with a small laugh, Lee Soo watching his retreating figure before quickly catching up, as if there was nowhere else he’d rather be than by Haeon’s side.

Have you been happy being away for a few days? Ah, not really happy since you were upset. No, what were you upset about? That’s why you were upset, because you didn’t know. Why is this so hard? Lee Soo’s last words hung in the air, and Haeon, about to respond, finally spoke in a voice so quiet it wouldn’t carry beyond them.

“To me, Hunter Ryu Leesoo is just too complicated. I wonder why it has to be so hard. Anyway, that’s how it is.”

With that, Haeon clamped his mouth shut as if he had nothing more to say. Lee Soo, watching his tightly closed red lips, carefully reached out, took Haeon’s hand, and placed a snack in it.

From a pocket of his completely grayscale suit, Lee Soo produced a vinyl bag adorned with a cute fox, filled with colorful snacks — something one wouldn’t expect from his outfit. Staring blankly at the snack in his hand, Haeon let out a breath that was almost a laugh, then furiously rubbed his tearful eyes.

His eyes, already somewhat tearful, turned even redder, making Lee Soo gently pull down his hand while grinning mischievously.

“I’m not sure what I did wrong, so I can’t apologize properly… But I hope kind Healer Haeon can forgive me. This snack is a gift of apology. I’ll also buy you dinner. And anything else you want!”

“…You were really bad, really.”

“Yeah, I was bad.”

Despite the playful reproach, there was no trace of hurt as Haeon agreed, nodding his head, then turned away with a hollow laugh.

His heart tingled intermittently, and it was a strange feeling, like his breath was being taken away. If this was love… if this was love…

***

As they walked down the street after a satisfying meal at a restaurant recommended by one of their Hunter friends, Haeon suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Turning to see if something was wrong, Lee Soo couldn’t help but chuckle softly. It wasn’t anything serious—Haeon had stopped to stare at the desserts displayed in a shop’s showcase.

Through the transparent glass, the interior of the café looked bright and charming. The desserts inside, colorful and intricate, seemed so sweet that they could make one’s tongue tingle just by looking at them.

Lee Soo, knowing full well that Haeon had already eaten all the snacks he’d given him earlier, laughed quietly while observing him.

The thought that he could want to eat even more felt both ridiculous and endearing, creating a noisy clatter of emotions within Lee Soo. By the time these feelings mixed into one, Lee Soo sidled up next to Haeon and looked at his eyes intently.

His gaze was locked on the desserts sparkling in the light, reminiscent of a child captivated by a shiny toy while obediently following their guardian. Holding back his laughter, Lee Soo pressed the corners of his mouth with his fingertips a few times before finally speaking.

“Is there something catching your eye?”

His voice, still carrying traces of laughter, was as light and sweet as cotton candy, as if it could be scattered by the slightest breeze. At the sugary tone, Haeon gulped involuntarily before lowering his gaze and replying.

“…What if there is?”

“Then of course, I should buy it for you. If Healer Haeon wants to eat it—”

“Because this outing is for making up?”

Haeon’s slightly sulky but hopeful tone made Lee Soo chuckle and nod vigorously. “Yes, exactly that.” At his soft response, Haeon pursed his lips, blinking coyly.

“I don’t want it that badly… But if you’re buying, I’ll eat it happily. …As long as Hunter Ryu Leesoo eats with me.”

His initially prim tone softened as the sentence neared its end, something Lee Soo found so endearing that he broke into a wide smile and agreed.

“Then how about we buy some and walk a bit more before heading back to the lodging? You haven’t been back in a while. Can I assume you’ll return today?”

“…We can’t eat outside on such a cold day.”

“Right, we can’t eat outside on such a cold day.”

Nodding seriously at Haeon’s words, Lee Soo then burst into a quiet laugh. Both of them knew that a bit of cold wouldn’t make them sick or weaken them, but the banter was delightful nonetheless.

What made him happy was sharing these trivial conversations, standing face-to-face with Haeon, close enough to feel his breath.

Sometimes, when Lee Soo watched Haeon silently, a sharp, inexplicable ache would rise in his chest. That pain would melt away the moment he looked elsewhere, yet knowing this, he still found it difficult to tear his gaze away from Haeon.

Even now, pressing against the ache in his chest, Lee Soo stepped into the dessert shop. The door had opened quietly, but somehow the staff, immersed in the shop’s warm, sugary atmosphere, noticed them immediately. Turning with a bright smile, they greeted the two warmly.

The greeting, louder than the small song playing in the shop, made Lee Soo smile lightly as he tugged on Haeon’s sleeve.

“Pick whatever you want to eat.”

“Can I get a lot?”

“How much are you planning to buy that you need to ask? Whatever you want, as long as you can eat it all, it’s fine. Even if you ask me to buy the whole shop, I can do it. So don’t worry and choose whatever catches your eye.”