Sizzle―.
Listening to the sound of meat grilling, my mouth watered.
The place I arrived at with Min Seonwoo-ssi was a Korean restaurant that sold samgyeopsal and stew together, and it was bustling with people.
The smell was good, and above all, all the side dishes that came out were delicious. I took a spoonful of doenjang-jjigae and opened my eyes wide.
“It’s really delicious.”
“Right? I’ve come here often, and there hasn’t been anyone who disliked this place.”
Min Seonwoo-ssi smiled confidently, as if he’d been here with many people. So I smiled back at him too.
Bzzzz―.
That’s when it happened. Suddenly my phone vibrated.
Since there was no reason for my phone to ring except for spam, I tilted my head and checked the caller…… and wasn’t [Banye] clearly displayed?
“Banye?! Why?”
I was so surprised I immediately answered the phone. I thought something must have happened.
“Banye! Is something wrong?”
[……]
But Banye on the other end of the phone said nothing. Even when I asked again, they maintained their silence, then suddenly said this out of the blue.
[……Who are you with right now?]
“Huh?”
I thought Banye must have realized I secretly took the bicycle out, but Banye didn’t give me time to make excuses and asked again.
[You’re with Nanneokeo, right?]
“Huh? Uh…… how did you know?”
[How do you think I knew?]
“……”
Well…… You must have seen the bicycle was gone. I just thought of that, I must really be a fool.
In the end, I spoke to Banye as if begging for forgiveness.
“The thing is…… it, it was a bit awkward having the bicycle sitting there in the living room all the time, and Neokeo-ssi said I could learn in a day…… But, I really did learn to ride a bicycle in one day, you know? I can ride a two-wheeled bicycle now……”
At that moment, Nanneokeo, who was listening to my excuses from across the table, asked somewhat incredulously.
“Is something wrong?”
‘……Shh! Just a moment!’
I brought my index finger to my lips toward Nanneokeo, asking him to be quiet. I felt like Banye would somehow dislike it if they heard Nanneokeo’s voice.
However, despite my earnest request, Nanneokeo had a smile and looked amused. He rather asked me to switch the phone to Banye.
“If you’re troubled, I’ll speak for you.”
“Huh? Bu, but……”
Despite my expression of ‘this isn’t right……’, Nanneokeo ended up snatching the phone from me.
Then he took the call.
“Banye-nim?”
“……”
“Yes. This is Neokeo.”
I couldn’t hear Banye’s voice, but judging from Nanneokeo’s expression, it didn’t seem like Banye was saying anything harsh. Because he was smiling cheerfully.
“Haha. Today I only taught bicycle riding.”
And the two continued their conversation for quite a while.
At first I paid attention to their conversation, but as the conversation dragged on, I got bored. So while they were on the phone, I grilled the meat well so it wouldn’t burn.
I thought, rather than paying attention to a conversation I can’t hear, I’m hungry so let’s just eat…… And Nanneokeo occasionally looked at me like that and giggled.
I was slightly jealous about what conversation he was having so happily with Banye, but I held it down and endured. Of course, I planned to ask after the call ended.
But then Nanneokeo suddenly returned my phone to me.
“Huh? Banye?”
However, the call had already been disconnected.
“What?”
“Banye-nim said they’ll come here soon.”
“What? You told Banye the address here?”
“Yes. They seemed curious.”
“Is…… is that okay?”
“What wouldn’t be okay about it?”
Nanneokeo’s words are right but…… strangely I felt like I shouldn’t do that.
I came out here secretly too…… and from the way they were interrogating me so fiercely, I definitely don’t think they’ll be happy……
As I fidgeted restlessly, Nanneokeo took the tongs from my hand and said with a smile.
“Don’t worry too much and eat first.”
“Bu, but……”
“Why do you watch Banye-nim’s reaction so much? Don’t tell me, does Banye-nim bully you?”
“No! Bully, there’s no way Banye would do that……”
I denied it hastily, but Nanneokeo didn’t seem to quite believe me. Flipping the meat with the tongs, he said with a serious face.
“If they’re bullying you, tell me.”
“I-it’s not like that. Banye is kind.”
……Kind?
Apart from me liking Banye…… honestly I can’t say they’re kind. Honestly, they keep acting mischievously, and even today interrogating me for going out a bit…….
“But, are you going to keep calling them Banye?”
“Huh?”
“Don’t you call them by their name?”
“Uh……”
At Nanneokeo’s sudden point, I froze right there. It was a part I hadn’t thought about at all.
“Wasn’t Banye-nim younger?”
“Yes, that’s right……”
“Haven’t you two been meeting offline for quite a while?”
“It’s been a while.”
“Are you still uncomfortable with each other?”
“No! It’s just comfortable to call them Banye……”
Even though Nanneokeo’s tone wasn’t interrogating, I kept making excuses.
As I struggled, instead of saying more, Nanneokeo placed the well-cooked meat in front of me.
“Eat up.”
“Thank you……”
“It’s all mostly cooked, so pick and eat.”
I started eating meat with Nanneokeo. Maybe because I exhausted myself riding the bicycle, the meat went down more smoothly than usual.
When I was inhaling the meat so fast that Nanneokeo said “Eat slowly, you’ll get indigestion.”
“So you were here.”
Banye appeared.
As soon as Banye arrived, they gave me a look. When I hastily moved aside, Banye sat in that spot.
Nanneokeo greeted Banye first.
“Hello, Banye-nim.”
“Hello.”
Banye accepted the greeting with a sullen attitude, as if reluctantly greeting. Nanneokeo didn’t care about Banye’s attitude and smiled quite cheerfully.
“Wow, it’s nice meeting like this. Let’s have a guild meetup later.”
“What’s the point of a meetup when we all meet in the game anyway?”
“Aw, games and offline meetings are different. Right, Hanyoung-ssi?”
At Nanneokeo’s words, Banye glared at me. Not knowing why they were glaring, I smiled awkwardly.
“They are…… different. Because Banye is very different from when I saw you in the game and now……”
I answered while pouring water for Banye and placing down a spoon and chopsticks. Instead of saying anything, Banye drank a cup of water. I refilled the empty water cup.
Looking at me like that, Nanneokeo said.
“I’m glad you two at least seem comfortable with each other.”
“Is there a reason we wouldn’t be?”
“When you were on the phone, it seemed like you were fighting. I’m glad that’s not the case. Right, Hanyoung-ssi?”
“Of course…… Banye is kind, I’m telling you.”
Nanneokeo glanced at Banye then smiled at me.
“What about me?”
“Huh?”
“Am I not kind?”
At the question that seemed like an answer-is-already-determined one, I nodded.
“Of course Neokeo-ssi is kind too……”
“You can call me Seonwoo-ssi like before.”
“……Ah, yes. Seonwoo-ssi.”
When I called him by name since it seemed like he was asking me to, he smiled brightly, happy about something.
Then he looked at Banye.
“Banye-nim can also call me comfortably.”
“Seonwoo-ya.”
Banye called him by name immediately without declining.
However, it was too radical a form of address for Nanneokeo who was older than us. My eyes widened, and fortunately Nanneokeo laughed out loud, seemingly not offended.
“Okay, Hyunjung-ah.”
“……”
Hyunjung-ah……
Hearing him naturally call the name made my heart race for no reason. Hyunjung, when I’m calling them Banye…… Nanneokeo’s affability is amazing. Honestly, I was impressed.
“Banye-ya, want to drink beer?”
Of course, even if I can’t call them familiarly by name, I can ask familiarly.
Then Banye glanced at me strangely but soon nodded. I pressed the bell, and Nanneokeo ordered for me since I have a small voice.
After Banye came, we ordered two more servings of meat. Banye acted like they wouldn’t eat much but actually ate quite well.
Since I was almost full from eating, I diligently placed meat in front of Banye every time they ate, and instead of being annoyed, Banye munched away well. That was quite cute.
After finishing the meal, when we went out to pay, Nanneokeo, who had said he was going to the bathroom, had already finished paying.
When I looked at him with eyes full of betrayal, Nanneokeo laughed.
“Hey, I should treat. So are you going home now?”
“Ah, yes.”
If Banye hadn’t come, I would have ridden the bicycle more, but I can’t just leave Banye standing there blankly.
Nanneokeo nodded as if he understood.
“Then I’ll drive you home.”
“It’s okay.”
I was about to say please drive us, but Banye beat me to it. Even though it’s the neighborhood, it’s quite a distance, isn’t it?
When I looked at Banye, Banye also looked at me.
“Let’s walk to digest our food.”
“Huh? U…… yeah.”
It was something I never said, but I nodded inadvertently. Then Nanneokeo shrugged as if he had no choice.
“Alright. Then let’s go riding next time.”
“Yes.”
“See you next time, Hyunjung.”
Nanneokeo greeted and got in his car. We saw Nanneokeo off as he left, and only then headed to the park where my bicycle was parked.
“Can you ride a bicycle well?”
Although difficult, the bicycle was quite fun. Riding with Nanneokeo would be good, but I was looking forward to it since riding bicycles with Banye in a nearby park seemed like it would be a small date.
However, Banye’s following words shattered my expectations into pieces.
“No. I hate people who ride bicycles the most.”
“Why…… why?”
“I hate it because they shake their butts.”
“……”
I don’t think people usually ride bicycles shaking their butts like that……
But I couldn’t deny or affirm Banye’s words. Normally I would have said Banye was completely right, but this time Nanneokeo’s kind face lingered, making it hard to do that…….
In the end, I couldn’t persuade any further and returned home following Banye with my mouth shut, pulling the bicycle.
