The Visit (7) 

“Hyung?”

I already knew he was handsome.

But sometimes it felt as though someone this handsome shouldn’t even exist.

There certainly couldn’t be anyone else in the world capable of tossing my heart around so effortlessly every single time.

“…Ha-neul hyung?”

“Ah, yes.”

I had no idea what I had been thinking while leaving him standing there.

Touching my face—which was undoubtedly burning red—I answered as casually as possible.

“Hyung.”

“Yes, Se-hyun?”

The way he kept staring at me only made my face heat up even more.

I quietly tried to calm myself down.

“Answer my question honestly, okay?”

“Okay.”

I couldn’t imagine what he wanted to ask that required such a serious promise beforehand.

The moment I nodded, an unexpected question left his lips.

“A lot of people liked you, didn’t they?”

People who liked me?

I couldn’t remember ever hearing anything like that.

Not even among friends.

I shook my head.

“…No. There weren’t.”

“Liar!”

“I’m serious.”

He’d told me to answer honestly.

I had.

I just hadn’t expected that response to come back immediately.

“Then what about people you’ve dated?”

…

“Were there any?”

What was he trying to get at all of a sudden?

Especially with such a serious expression.

There hadn’t been anyone.

Still, seeing him ask the question made me feel strangely as though there should have been.

But lying felt wrong.

So I answered with silence.

“…Yeah. There’s no way people would’ve left someone like you alone.”

“Mm.”

I was glad I hadn’t answered.

I hadn’t technically lied, but at least I managed to hide the fact that I’d never dated anyone before.

I was quietly relieved when Se-hyun continued.

“Well, it’s fine. There won’t be anyone from now on anyway.”

“…What?”

Of all things he could have said, why did it sound like he was declaring I’d never date anyone again?

“Hyung?”

…

The fluttering feeling I’d had earlier disappeared instantly.

I remained silent.

“No way. You actually took it like that?”

…

“Ha, seriously. Hyung, can I come inside?”

“No.”

“Then can I do it here? Because I’m about to.”

“No.”

Whatever “it” was, the answer remained the same.

No.

I shook my head firmly.

Looking amused, a smile slowly spread across his face.

“That’s more like you, hyung.”

…

“Hyung, I don’t have much time. Just give me a cup of coffee.”

…

I couldn’t tell whether he genuinely wanted coffee or if he was trying to sneak his way inside.

And until he took back what he’d said earlier, I had no intention of granting any requests.

“Ah! I take it back! Happy now?”

“You’re going to meet someone amazing someday! The greatest man in the world, someone like that!”

It was almost as if he’d read my thoughts.

He immediately corrected himself.

I answered grumpily.

“Wait here.”

If he hadn’t taken it back, I wouldn’t have made him coffee no matter how much he complained about being short on time.

Returning inside, I placed the bouquet on the dining table and started preparing coffee.

His sudden visit had already surprised me.

The bouquet surprised me even more.

Compared to all the flower baskets and bouquets I’d received before, this one was especially large and luxurious.

My gaze kept drifting toward it while I worked.

Then a thought suddenly struck me.

“…Hm?”

Wait.

Wasn’t something Se-hyun said earlier a little strange?

Not just anything.

He’d specifically said I would meet the greatest man in the world.

…

These days, it wasn’t unusual for people to date or marry regardless of gender.

Still, I never expected to hear someone tell me I’d end up with the greatest man in the world instead of simply a good person.

Especially not from Kim Se-hyun.

“Come on.”

I shook my head.

I was definitely overthinking.

There was no way Se-hyun meant anything by it.

After all, he and I belonged to completely different worlds.

An S-Rank Hunter developing feelings for an ordinary government employee?

That was the kind of thing that only happened in fantasy romance novels.

Finishing the coffee, I carried it outside.

It seemed Se-hyun had been exploring the yard.

He was standing near the wall beside a streetlamp.

Watching his back, another reason came to mind for why he could never possibly like me.

People as perfect as him were always surrounded by equally extraordinary people.

Someone ordinary like me could never catch his eye.

…

It was only one small thought.

Yet for some reason, my throat felt dry.

My mood sank slightly as well.

After steadying myself, I called out to him.

“Se-hyun.”

“Ah, hyung.”

…

The moment he turned around, a bright smile bloomed across his face.

He approached immediately.

When he held out his hand, I passed him the coffee.

“Wow, this is good. Coffee made by Ha-neul hyung is the best.”

“It’s just instant coffee.”

“Sure, if you say so. Anyway, hyung.”

“Yes?”

After finishing the cup in one go, he stared at me.

Normally, this was where he’d ask for another cup.

There was still hot water left inside.

I could probably make one more if he wanted.

Preparing to head back inside, I shifted my weight.

“When you officially invite me, let’s grill meat out here.”

“Okay.”

“And spread out a picnic mat and lie down together while watching the sky.”

“Okay.”

“If we lie there long enough, we’ll probably fall asleep too, right?”

“Probably.”

Anyone would get sleepy after eating a full meal and lying down.

“And when that happens, we’ll take a nap, then exercise afterward to help digest. I’ll show you the best exercises for quick digestion.”

“Sounds good.”

I wasn’t sure what kind of exercise could digest food that quickly, but it couldn’t hurt to learn.

As I nodded, Se-hyun held out his hand.

He looked as though he still had countless things he wanted to say.

My gaze dropped toward his hand.

“Promise.”

Of all things, he’d extended his pinky finger.

I couldn’t believe a grown man was asking for a pinky promise.

Unable to suppress a laugh, I hooked my finger around his.

“No backing out later.”

“Okay.”

“Phew. Then I should get going. Oh, and I won’t be able to visit the office for a while. I have some schedules to take care of.”

“…Alright.”

That was probably for the best.

Prince Edward would be visiting the Hunter Department starting Monday anyway.

Then another thought occurred to me.

Maybe I should tell him.

If Se-hyun happened to visit the department, there was a good chance he’d run into Prince Edward again.

And if that happened…

The prince might try recruiting him.

Right in front of us.

“Se-hyun.”

“Yes, hyung?”

“Prince Edward is coming to our office starting Monday.”

“…What?”

“Apparently he wants to observe how the Hunter Department works. So…”

Se-hyun folded his arms and sank into thought.

After a moment, he looked back at me and smiled.

“Do you not want me meeting Prince Edward?”

“…No.”

“Well, if that’s how you feel, then I won’t meet him.”

…

I hadn’t expected him to answer so quickly.

Or so easily.

Caught off guard, I stared at him.

“Then make me a promise too.”

“A promise?”

“Even if Prince Edward starts sticking close to you, don’t give him your heart.”

“…I won’t.”

The words sounded strangely possessive.

And once again, the feelings I’d barely managed to settle started stirring.

I remembered his earlier comment about the greatest man in the world and found myself staring at him.

“Then let me know when Prince Edward leaves. If I don’t have any schedules, I’ll wait at the Association.”

“And if you text first, I’ll check it as soon as I can.”

“Okay. I’ll do that.”

That was exactly what I wanted too.

I accepted immediately.

Satisfied, Se-hyun finally announced that he was leaving and headed for the gate.

I followed him outside.

“Get home safely.”

“You be careful too. Always be careful.”

“I will.”

“And don’t let just anyone into your house!”

“Okay.”

“And if someone asks for help, don’t go running off to help them!”

…

“Do you know how dangerous the world is these days? You could end up getting your organs stolen!”

“I’ll… try my best.”

I couldn’t believe he was taking urban legends that seriously.

Apparently dissatisfied with my answer, he stomped one foot against the ground.

Laughing, I reassured him again.

“Haha. Okay. I will.”

“…I’ll video call more often.”

“And I’ll send more messages too, so make sure you read them.”

There was no way he meant even more messages than he already sent.

I nodded.

After hesitating for a while, Se-hyun finally turned and started walking away.

“Ha, seriously. Hyung!”

“Yes?”

After only a few steps, he suddenly turned back and returned.

Stopping right in front of me again.

Breathing heavily.

As if he still had something important to say.

I waited.

“Hyung, how about exercising together right now?”

“No.”

I had no intention of exercising today.

Besides, he’d said he was busy.

There was no reason to keep him here longer.

…

At my firm refusal, Se-hyun froze.

His eyes overflowed with disappointment and reluctance.

I pushed him toward the exit again.

“Go on. You said you had somewhere to be.”

He hesitated.

Then looked at me with an even stronger expression of longing.

But I pretended not to notice.

“…Alright. I’ll go.”

“Drive safely.”

“I’m really leaving.”

“Okay.”

“Really, really leaving.”

“Go already.”

“…I’m going.”

His drooping shoulders, lowered eyes, and faint pout made it seem as though I was forcing him away against his will.

Still, schedules were schedules.

“Go before you’re late.”

“I’ll call you later.”

“Okay.”

This time he finally started walking.

His pace was somehow even slower than before.

I watched him disappear down the alley.

…

I had wondered how long it would take for him to vanish from sight.

In reality, it wasn’t very long at all.

Even after he was completely gone, I remained standing there for a while.

Eventually, I let out a quiet sigh and turned around.

…

His visit had caught me completely off guard.

I wasn’t sure whether I’d handled it well.

Still, seeing Kim Se-hyun again after several days had left me surprisingly happy.

Back inside, I reheated the leftover water from earlier and made myself another cup of coffee.

Adding ice at the end, I carried it to my room.

“Nice and cold.”

Maybe it was because of everything Se-hyun had said.

But despite being the exact same instant coffee, it tasted unusually good today.

Sipping it contentedly, I turned on the variety show I had been watching.

And spent the rest of the day enjoying one of the happiest weekends I’d had in a very long time.