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One of the most common rom-com clichés—trying to grab a book from a high shelf, only for the books to come tumbling down, and the protagonist heroically saving the heroine.
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In a famous Japanese manga, a certain boy detective encounters incidents every time he takes a step.
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People even joke that he’s actually the villain.
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Romance comedy protagonists are no different.
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If there’s a situation where a cliché could happen, it inevitably does.
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“See?”
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Just as expected.
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The books, precariously stacked on the shelf, wobbled and were about to fall on Choi Dabin.
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Since I had already foreseen this, I immediately got up from my seat.
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Right before the books came crashing down, I grabbed her arm and pulled her down.
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Rustle—
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In an awkward position that looked almost like an embrace, I raised my arm to shield her from the falling books.
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Dabin looked up at me, her expression startled.
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“Are you okay?”
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“Oh… yeah, I’m fine.”
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Her gaze, filled with guilt, met mine.
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Considering she had deliberately avoided me and acted cold ever since entering the library, it made sense that she felt bad now.
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The floor was a mess, covered in fallen books.
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“Let’s clean this up first.”
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I picked up one of the scattered books and shoved it roughly back into the shelf.
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“Okay…”
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Her voice trembled slightly.
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“Next time, just ask for help instead of trying to do it alone. No need to summon clichés.”
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Dabin tilted her head, puzzled.
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“Cliché?”
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She let out a small laugh and sat down beside me to help organize the books.
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“Thanks for helping me.”
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“Yeah.”
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After some effort, the library was finally back in order.
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I returned to my seat and collapsed onto the chair.
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Just as I was about to rest my arms on the desk and close my eyes, I felt someone watching me.
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When I turned my head, I saw Seo Yuna standing near the door, looking at us with an unreadable expression.
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The clock on the library wall signaled that club activities were ending soon.
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Yuna walked over to Dabin, who was putting away the last remaining book.
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“Did something happen?”
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Dabin answered, “Oh… I just dropped some books, and Dohyun helped me.”
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Yuna glanced between me and Dabin.
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“I see.”
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Her response was short, but something about her tone left an unsettling aftertaste.
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A brief silence followed.
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Dabin picked up her bag from the desk.
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“Thanks again for helping. I’ll get going now.”
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“Yeah, see you.”
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As they stepped out, Yuna didn’t say a single word to me.
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“She’s really mad.”
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As soon as the classroom door closed behind them, Yuna pressed her lips together tightly.
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***
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“Dabin.”
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“Hm?”
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Dabin turned her head with a slightly awkward smile, but she could sense the tension in Yuna’s expression.
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“Are library club activities fun?”
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“It’s just… quiet. I mostly just read books.”
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“And you’ve gotten close with Kim Dohyun?”
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At that, Dabin waved her hands in protest, looking flustered.
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“A little? I mean, we’re the only two members, so we ended up talking sometimes.”
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Yuna nodded.
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“Yeah, I guess that makes sense when there are only two of you.”
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Wanting to change the subject, Dabin asked cautiously, “So, why did you come to the library today?”
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Yuna replied shortly, “I was going to walk home with you.”
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Dabin blinked in surprise.
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“Oh? You should’ve just sent me a message.”
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“I wanted to surprise you. But you don’t seem too excited.”
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“What? No way, I’m really happy!”
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Yuna’s voice dropped slightly.
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“I should’ve joined the library club too. It would’ve been fun doing club activities together.”
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She sounded like she was joking, but there was a hint of something sharp in her words.
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Dabin let out an awkward laugh and nodded.
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“Yeah… that would’ve been fun.”
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Yuna, who had been walking ahead in the hallway, suddenly stopped and turned around.
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“Dabin.”
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“Yeah?”
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“What do you think of Kim Dohyun?”
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Dabin hesitated for a moment before answering.
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“…Just a friend.”
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Hearing her response, Yuna adjusted the strap of her bag and started walking again.
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“Yeah, I guess that makes sense. You’re the type to get along with everyone.”
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For some reason, Dabin felt a slight sting in her chest.
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“We just talk occasionally. He’s not even the talkative type to begin with.”
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Yuna didn’t reply and simply kept walking.
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In the silence, the two of them stepped out of the academy.
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When Dabin glanced up at the sky, she saw the long streaks of red sunset stretching over the school building.
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Yuna turned her head slightly to look at Dabin.
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“By the way.”
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“Hm?”
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“Next time, let me know if something happens. I wanted a waffle too…!”
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With a playful expression, Yuna mimicked holding an invisible waffle and pretended to take a bite.
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Dabin chuckled softly at the sight.
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“Alright. You must’ve been really bored over the weekend, huh?”
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“Yeah. A lot!”
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Stretching her arms with a satisfied smile, Yuna let out a small yawn.
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“Alright. Since class is over, how about we go to a karaoke room?”
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“Sounds good!”
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Their shadows stretched long along the path bathed in the golden glow of the sunset.
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***
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As soon as I opened the door to my house, a sweet aroma tickled my nose.
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It was still a bit early to be preparing dinner.
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Walking past the hallway into the kitchen, I saw Kim Harin wearing a pink apron with a rabbit design, busy preparing something.
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“What are you doing?”
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“Oh, you’re home, brother?”
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She moved briskly in front of a large pot, organizing ingredients.
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Carrots, chestnuts, radish, shiitake mushrooms.
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And even glossy, well-marbled meat.
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Stirring the pot with a ladle, Harin turned her head and grinned.
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“I’m making a special dish today.”
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“What kind of dish?”
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“Braised short ribs!”
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“Why all of a sudden?”
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“Well… you got me that Mochikun plushie, so I wanted to repay you.”
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So my effort wasn’t in vain after all.
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The dinner menu had just been significantly upgraded.
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I didn’t expect my gift to have such a powerful effect.
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“Need any help?”
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I asked, glancing around the kitchen while pretending to be concerned.
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“Nope! I just need to put everything in the pot now.”
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Of course.
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At least pretending to help would make her feel better.
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Harin added the prepared ingredients and meat into the boiling pot.
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“Alright then, I’ll go rest.”
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“Okay!”
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I put down my bag and lay on my bed, lost in thought.
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“Did I go too far with Yuna?”
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She was definitely upset.
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‘But isn’t it strange for her to interfere when we’re not even dating?’
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‘Ugh, this is so complicated.’
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‘As it is, Harin already bombards me with questions every time I go out, giving me a headache.’
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‘If Yuna starts doing the same, I might actually go bald.’
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Just as I was deep in contemplation, Harin’s voice called from outside my room.
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“Brother, dinner’s ready!”
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The sweet yet savory aroma of the dish wafted through the door, making my mouth water.
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Drawn by the scent, I got up and headed to the kitchen.
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“Wow…”
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A large plate sat in the center of the dining table.
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Braised short ribs, glistening with sauce.
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Harin’s eyes sparkled as she looked at me expectantly, clearly waiting for my reaction.
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She wanted a taste test, and she wanted it now.
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Picking up my chopsticks, I placed a piece into my mouth.
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“Mimi!”
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The tenderness of the meat and the perfect balance of the sweet sauce swirled together in my mouth.
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As expected of Kim Harin.
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Her cooking skills were unmatched.
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A perfect 10 out of 10.
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“Delicious.”
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Her eyes widened.
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“Really?”
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“Yeah.”
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“Phew… I’m so relieved.”
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“Why?”
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“I was worried it might not suit your taste.”
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“It’s seriously good.”
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Satisfied with my praise, she shrugged her shoulders proudly.
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At times like this, she really did seem like an adorable little sister.
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As we quietly continued eating, Harin suddenly asked, “How’s life at the academy?”
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I paused, chopsticks in mid-air, and looked at her.
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“It’s alright.”
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Her face was filled with curiosity.
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“Have you made a lot of friends?”
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“More or less.”
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Harin set down her spoon on the table.
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“What about female friends?”
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“Cough—”
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I nearly choked on my food at the sudden question.
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Yandere heroines are always devoted to the protagonist.
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But the moment another woman enters the picture, they snap.
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Which means… this question is extremely dangerous.
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I needed to choose my words carefully.
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A response that wouldn’t provoke her.
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A delicate mix of truth and vagueness.
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“Just a few classmates.”
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“Hmm… I see. Well, social connections are important.”
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Judging by her reaction, my answer wasn’t bad.
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I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
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But then, resting her chin on her hand, she stared straight at me and asked, “Is there someone you like? Someone pretty, or with a nice personality?”
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Great. Now I was really losing my appetite.
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This was a trap.
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Even if there was someone, the answer was no.
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And if there wasn’t, the answer was still no.
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There was only one possible response.
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“Nope.”
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“Really?”
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She gazed at me for a moment before smiling mysteriously.
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“You’re not hiding anything, right? Maybe you’re embarrassed because it’s about romance?”
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A chill ran down my spine.
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I focused on my food, pretending not to notice her piercing stare.
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“No. There’s nothing to hide.”
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“I was just joking.”
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The braised short ribs on the table looked delicious, but the deep knife cuts on the meat made my palms sweat.
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“At this rate, I might actually lose my sanity.”
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