Chapter 132: Autocorrect and the Awkward Confession

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Now that I thought about it, there were quite a few things that had been bothering me all this time.

Once I became aware of them, those parts that I had purposely avoided thinking deeply about started to surface one by one.

But I couldn’t just jump to conclusions based solely on what Mom said.

If it turned out both of them were just treating me as a friend, it would be like drinking a whole bowl of kimchi soup prematurely.

“Sahin. I have something to ask you.”

I called Sahin over and told him everything that had happened with Ban Eunhyeol and Doi Hyun, then asked for his opinion.

Sahin listened seriously, resting his chin on his hand, pondering deeply before tilting his head with a smirk.

[You didn’t know that? I thought you’d obviously be aware.]

He didn’t focus on whether the two liked me or not.

He was more surprised that I didn’t realize they already liked me.

“You’ve been thinking like that all this time, watching us? That they like me?”

[It was so obvious that I couldn’t pretend not to notice.]

Did it really show that much to an outsider?

Why was I the only one who just now realized it?

‘Maybe it’s because nothing like this happened before I got possessed.’

Since no men ever approached me—most of them either feared or found me intimidating—my perception in this area was nearly zero.

Of course, I also assumed that the protagonists I was possessed by would never like me, and maybe everyone who gets possessed by an extra thinks the same way I do.

“…Then what am I supposed to do?”

It was a stupid question, but nothing else came to mind.

Not just one, but two people liked me?

Then that meant I had to choose, didn’t I?

I was tearing my hair out in distress when Sahin looked at me with a puzzled expression, as if he couldn’t understand what was so difficult to worry about.

[Follow your heart. For now, don’t worry about their feelings.]

His calm advice seemed to soothe my tangled thoughts a little.

‘Follow my heart?’

That night, I had a dream.

The dream where Ban Eunhyeol, covered in blood, had come looking for me the day I was forcibly transported to that other dimension.

It was a dream that allowed me to reflect once again on the feelings I had when Ban Eunhyeol crossed dimensions to bring me away.

***

The next day, since I had plans, I went to the Hyeolhyang Guild and talked with the Yeon siblings about the schedule for the next dungeon raid.

“You didn’t sleep well? You have dark circles under your eyes.”

Yeon Ha-yeon pulled out a large yogurt from the yogurt-exclusive fridge and handed it to me.

“Noona, is something wrong?”

Yeon Hyung-gwang looked at me with concern.

After having a dream about Ban Eunhyeol and waking up in the middle of the night, I had trouble sleeping.

But had it really shown that much?

“No, nothing special.”

Even as I said that, my eyes kept glancing at Yeon Ha-yeon.

Seeing I seemed like I had something to say, Yeon Hyung-gwang discreetly left the room.

I was a little embarrassed to talk about this topic in front of Yeon Hyung-gwang, so I was grateful for the opportunity to speak privately.

As soon as I confirmed the guildmaster’s office door had closed, Yeon Ha-yeon’s eyes narrowed.

It was as if she was trying to guess what kind of story I was about to tell, taking her time.

“Listen, this is really just hypothetical, not real. Don’t misunderstand, just hear me out.”

“Okay, so just tell me what’s going on.”

“Suppose there are two people who like you, but you only just realized it. Then what do you think you would do?”

“…Me?”

Yeon Ha-yeon paused briefly, like she had to buffer her thoughts, then responded a little late.

Pointing at herself with her index finger, she crossed her arms and thought deeply.

“Well, my feelings would be the most important.”

It was an answer similar to an apology.

“Yeah, that makes sense.”

“If it were me, I’d just ask if they like me. It’s better to confirm feelings quickly.”

That was a very Yeon Ha-yeon kind of answer.

“Have you ever tried that?”

Somehow, I thought Yeon Ha-yeon might have such experience.

Being the female lead of a possessed novel, she must have been quite popular.

“No. But I did find someone I want to ask.”

“What? Who?!”

She spoke so calmly that I almost just nodded and moved on with a simple ‘I see.’

Could it be that the original plot was finally moving toward the female and male leads realizing their feelings?

‘Then that means she’s linked with Ban Eunhyeol?’

I froze, not knowing how to take this. Yeon Ha-yeon chuckled softly and said,

“It’s not him. I’m not interested in chaebols. You couldn’t even imagine who it is.”

“You’re not going to say who it is, are you?”

“Nope. I don’t think the timing’s right yet.”

I couldn’t believe Yeon Ha-yeon had been filming a romance subplot on the side without me knowing.

By the way, how did she not realize I had Ban Eunhyeol in mind as a candidate?

Judging from her saying she wasn’t interested in chaebols, she probably meant Ban Eunhyeol but just didn’t say it outright.

‘Someone I couldn’t even imagine?’

The original story had been off for a while, so I hadn’t even thought about it, but it was strange to realize Yeon Ha-yeon was thinking about someone other than the male lead.

After finishing my consultation with Yeon Ha-yeon, I headed home.

I took out my phone after much deliberation, wanting to ‘follow my heart’ as both Sahin and Yeon Ha-yeon had advised.

And I sent a message.

***

On a Saturday afternoon in an alley.

Ban Eunhyeol, who had been wandering the alley since early morning, thought about the bothersome Doi Hyun who had been at Dana’s house, clenching his feet tighter.

“Ahhh!”

A scream of pain came from below, and only then did Ban Eunhyeol lift his foot slightly.

The moment his foot lifted, a thug who had been trapped beneath hastily pulled back his hand, clutching it while tearing up.

“Damn it!”

It was the same thug who had been too bold to grope Dana without recognizing her and had gotten a serious scolding.

“I won’t do it again, I swear. From now on, I’ll live quietly like I’m dead. I promise I won’t come around here or act like a thug anymore.”

His voice was desperate.

Before Ban Eunhyeol came looking for him, Doi Hyun had already found the thug last night and given him a beating, leaving his whole body aching.

But Ban Eunhyeol coming after him too?

‘What the hell is going on for the number one and two ranked to be causing such a fuss!’

Though he never voiced this out loud, as if reading his thoughts, Ban Eunhyeol’s eyes became fierce.

“If I catch you again, you’re dead.”

“Yeah, I won’t ever be seen again. I’ll live quietly!”

As soon as Ban Eunhyeol released him, the thug sprinted out of the alley.

He should’ve just stayed unawakened.

If he were unawakened, he wouldn’t have gotten beaten this badly.

Watching the fleeing thug’s back with this thought, Ban Eunhyeol took another step forward.

He was currently on a rampage sweeping away all the thugs that were inevitably found in every alley.

Thinking about the bouquet in Dana’s hands and Doi Hyun sitting in Dana’s living room made his teeth grind.

It was both to clear his mind and to deal with those who had touched Dana and anyone who might in the future.

He had come out for multiple reasons, and even as the sun began to set, he continued to roam through the alleys.

“Don’t even think about showing up here again. Don’t bother the girls or act like a creep.”

He exhaled, swept his hair back, and glared fiercely at the male student pinned beneath him.

“Answer me.”

“Ah, okay! Okay! I swear I’ll never do that again!”

Though he had rummaged through every alley, his mood remained unsettled.

‘What is the little one up to?’

Is Yeon Ha-yeon probably playing around now?

She said she was going to the guild, so that was likely.

I debated whether to contact her as I stared at my phone screen.

[What are you doing tomorrow? — Little One]

Seeing the message pop up, he blinked, released the thug’s collar, and turned his back.

Was asking what I’m doing tomorrow a way of saying “let’s meet”?

Was it an invitation to hang out?

A date proposal, maybe?

As he hesitated over how to reply, he hastily started typing a message.

“Hey, what do you think you’re doing!”

One of the thugs passing by happened to witness the scene and, not realizing Ban Eunhyeol had turned around, attacked him.

Thwack

But Ban Eunhyeol sensed the attack and immediately twisted his body, easily grabbing the wooden bat.

Only then did the thug’s face turn pale upon recognizing him.

Something was off.

If he grabbed the bat, he should have taken it away or counterattacked, but Ban Eunhyeol just stood there, dazed, staring blankly at his phone screen.

His presence radiated something ominous.

The thug silently released the bat and took a few steps back.

‘Ah…’

Ignoring the thug’s actions, Ban Eunhyeol couldn’t take his eyes off the phone screen.

[So what now.]

He couldn’t believe what he’d sent.

‘Damn autocorrect…’

I meant to send ‘nothing,’ but I accidentally hit ‘a’ because that stupid thug attacked right then.

I tried to send another message saying it was the autocorrect and that I wasn’t going to do anything, but then a reply came.

[I don’t want to hang out, say no then ㅠ_ㅠ — Little One]

His grip tightened on the bat.

“Eek!”

The bat in his hand snapped in two, and the thug watching was shocked and sat down abruptly.

Ban Eunhyeol silently beckoned with his hand.

For a long time, the alley echoed with the thug’s screams.