The children, especially girls, were showing great interest in Rashanin, who was more handsome than any decent handsome actor. Even now they were secretly taking pictures with their phones from afar.
Indifferent to such surrounding circumstances, Rashanin deliberately put on an expression as if very wronged.
“You speak as if I’ll commit some incident.”
“Even if Rashanin-ssi doesn’t want to, other people won’t leave Rashanin-ssi alone. Should I say butterflies fly to beautiful flowers?”
I just made a light joke, but Rashanin burst into loud laughter. It wasn’t an exaggeration; he really laughed out loud, “Ha ha ha.”
“Did you just compliment me?”
“Precisely, it’s Rashanin-ssi’s appearance.”
I told the truth to Rashanin, who was too pleased. Because it was true that he was handsome enough to capture people’s gazes.
Moreover, as if emboldened by Rashanin’s laughter, the female students who had been looking this way approached and spoke.
“Excuse me.”
“Can we take a picture together?”
“The person next to you is so handsome.”
“Can we take a picture together?”
With flowing straight hair, light makeup, short skirts. Though high school students, the girls who looked no different from adults if they took off their uniforms sparkled their eyes. Kids these days were both pretty and brave.
“What are they saying?”
Rashanin wasn’t surprised and asked what this was. I became curious how he would take the fact that the high school girls were asking to take a picture together. A normal man would like it.
“They’re asking if they can take a picture together.”
“A picture?”
“Yes. It seems to be because Rashanin-ssi is handsome.”
“Is that a camera? It looks like a wireless telephone?”
“You can also take pictures with a cell phone.”
“Has science and technology advanced that much? How interesting.”
Surely he doesn’t not know you can take pictures with a cell phone. I held back asking where he’d been living.
“What’s he saying? Is it okay? Is it not okay?”
The impatient kids urged me to answer quickly. When I asked with my eyes what he would do, Rashanin looked the girls over and slightly frowned.
“Tell them they smell bad, so don’t come close.”
“…!!”
Rashanin, who spewed the abusive language carelessly, ignored the kids as is. Smell bad. My thinking it was fortunate the kids didn’t understand the abusive language was my miscalculation.
“Girls. He says no.”
“We know without you saying. What smell?”
“How unlucky.”
“Does being handsome mean everything?”
The high school girls glared and left.
“What smell do you mean from those kids?”
“Cosmetics, cigarettes.”
Since I could see with my eyes that they wore makeup, I let it be. But I found it hard to agree with the statement that they smelled of cigarettes. It’s outdoors and the other party was prim high school girls. Unless they were heavy smokers, there’s no way they’d smell strongly of cigarettes. A dog’s sense of smell?
“Past and present, I don’t know why they like smoking something harmful to the body.”
“You must be sensitive to cigarette smell.”
“It’s toxic and paralyzes the nose. Would you give me your hand?”
Rashanin, sitting on the bench, held out his hand. It seemed to mean to place my hand on his hand. This is like giving a dog the command ‘Paw!’
I looked back and forth between Rashanin’s white hand and Rashanin’s face, which was confident I would hold his hand. The situation was very subtle not to hold it, so I ended up placing my hand on his.
“I like that you don’t smell of cigarettes.”
“Is that the reason you chose me?”
“It’s one of the reasons.”
I didn’t know a moment would come to regret quitting smoking with the intention of at least reducing cigarette costs.
“So don’t smoke.”
Even though the object was missing, I understood what Rashanin was trying to say. And that meant if I smoked cigarettes, I might stop being his guide.
「Even though I’ve requested this much, if you end up reeking of cigarette smoke, you can look forward to it.」
As if reading my mind, Rashanin gave a meaningful warning. Additionally, though he was smiling playfully, his purple eyes glinted sharply. I got slight goosebumps, and Rashanin put strength into the hand holding mine.
「I did scare you. But I’m not saying I’ll do anything right now, so don’t be too on guard.」
His personality is really bad. Saying outright while grinning that he scared me, and confirming again that he’ll do something later if I break the warning—these aren’t things someone with an ordinary personality could do.
「You have a nice fragrance.」
「…!」
Saying I had a nice fragrance, Rashanin bent his waist slightly and smelled my hand that he was holding. At this completely unexpected action, I was so surprised I tried to pull my hand away, but Rashanin wouldn’t let go. When you hear from a vampire that you have a nice fragrance, you can’t help but misunderstand even if you don’t want to.
「Wh-what… What are you doing?」
「I said you have a nice fragrance.」
While repeating what he just said, Rashanin lightly licked my fingertips. This time, goosebumps rose to the top of my head, my spine stiffened, and my mind went white.
What is this vampire doing in broad daylight!!
「What on earth are you doing?」
I bared my teeth and growled lowly while trying to pull my hand out. Rashanin held my hand tightly, then grinned and looked up at me.
「Were you surprised? I just tasted it for a moment. I won’t devour you, so don’t worry. Lee Unhyuk.」
Rashanin, who perfectly pronounced my name which was difficult for a foreigner to say, gently let go of my hand.
He tasted it. Is there really such a shameless person, no, vampire?
「Excessive physical contact is unpleasant, so please don’t treat me this way in the future.」
I spoke seriously with a smiling face. With someone who has this kind of personality, it was better to clearly express likes and dislikes. Even to my own ears, it was a voice so cold it killed the mood, but Rashanin just grinned it off.
「I understand. I’ll be careful.」
It was obvious why the words “be careful” didn’t sound sincere. He truly had an unbearable personality. I let out a mental sigh. It had only been half a day, but my emotions were fluctuating wildly as if riding a rollercoaster.
「But what are you planning to do here that you’re telling me to spend time on my own?」
「Hm? Ah. People-watching.」
「Pardon?」
「Because it would be boring to wait.」
Rashanin explained as if it were nothing, but I was a bit shocked. People-watching?
「You said people-watching?」
「Yes. That’s my hobby.」
「You’re saying… it’s a hobby?」
「Why are you so surprised?」
「It’s a bit unexpected.」
Actually, it wasn’t a bit but very unexpected. I too carefully observed people’s words and actions because of my job and personality, but I had never thought that could become a hobby. To think this accomplished vampire’s hobby was people-watching. Surely he didn’t misspeak “people-hunting.”
「Believe me. It’s true. It’s a time-consuming hobby, so if you get bored, you can go somewhere else. There are plenty of watchers besides you anyway, and I also have no intention of going elsewhere, so feel free.」
「I’ll just stay by your side.」
「I’m telling you it’ll be boring.」
「I don’t feel comfortable.」
「Am I that worrying?」
「To be honest, it’s not Rashanin-ssi I’m worried about but myself.」
When there are plenty of watchers, what nerve would it take for me to leave Rashanin and go elsewhere? If the fact that I left my post reached the department head’s ears, I’d get an earful.
「You do take care of yourself.」
Rashanin laughed pleasantly. I tensed my face to manage my expression.
「Then keep me company with conversation from time to time.」
With such a smooth face, he sure talks like an old man. Fine. I’ll keep you company. I nodded my head having no choice, not knowing this. I couldn’t even imagine that Rashanin would stay glued to a bench for 5 hours without even eating lunch.
I resented Rashanin the entire 5 hours while enduring boredom and hunger.
*
Trrrrring!
