Chapter Text
To be honest, I am not dense. Even though it takes me quite some time to figure out Jin-Woo's weird behaviour which he developed. Doesn't know when it started, though aware of how it had become so. . . overbearing. At first I wasn't that attentive. With his innocent facial which smiles warmly just like he used to display it to everyone. How his big eyes shine like a sunflower and his clumsy nature which received a lot of scolding. How his small frame always lowers his back with lack of confidence. Even so, he wanted to be part of the group and have this aura which created a magnet to everyone around him. There's nothing special in his behaviour or the change causes his physique to turn drastically. Jin-Woo remains the same E-rank hunter which I recognise no matter how strong he had become.
" Jin-Woo always becomes a big dog whenever he's around you, doesn't he?" Joohee suddenly mentioned, earning a confused look from me. She drowned a small sip of cocktail before glancing at me with playful glint." You don't know? Geez, you really are so oblivious. I feel so bad for our Jin-Woo. Hahaha." She laughed sweetly and the sugary scent of alcohol exhaled from her mouth." You're drunk, Joohee." I said with lack of interest as I gulped another mouthful of bitter whiskey, allowed the burning texture descend down my throat. I glance up at the television above the ceiling, showcasing the recent news regarding Jin-Woo closing an A-rank gate alone.
His nonchalant expression reveals boredom as if the high-level dungeon is nothing but a playground. The light from the camera continues to flash onto his face, yet no angle can capture his full attention other than his gaze looking somewhere else that is not directed on the recording device shoving their way to get a good capture and video of him.
My mind is blank, maybe due to alcohol already corrupt my exhausted system. Rotating my head to the side to discover Joohee laying her head above her arms. I sighed, knowing it is my job again to take her back home safe." Hey waiter, here's the tip." I simply place the payment and also a few little tip for the bartender before I gently scoop the drunken ginger-haired female into my arms." Oof." I exhaled at the weigh pressuring my left-side shoulder when supporting her, simultaneously trying not to cause discomfort on her half-conscious state.
" His eyes always follow you, hehehe. . . You need to watch his eyes. . ." She mumbled as I tried to avoid crashing ourselves onto the edge of the tables in the bar where many customers were seated. Soon I found the entrance and carefully sauntered toward the door, slightly adjusting her in my arms as I took the steps. The chilly air of winter attacks my face as soon as my feet step onto the pavement. A silent curse escaped my lips as I glare at the weather." He also speaks very softly when it comes to you. . . Our Jin-Woo is soooo adorable. So helplessly in love~"
" What is this woman saying?" I asked myself and is half-listening due to the fact that I am trying to haul a taxi." Buuuuutttttt you are too stupid to realise his sincerity. Bleh!" A flash of disgust crosses my face at the sound of her threatening to puke." Yeah, yeah, I am a stupid man. But please don't vomit on me. You have no tolerance to alcohol, so why do you decided to get waste tonight?" I lightly scolded, discerning a cap immediately stop in front of me. I swiftly open the door, setting her body inside and is conscious to adjust the seat belt over her delicate frame. Then I squeezed myself inside the car through another side. Informing the driver where to go and also paying a great sum just for a ride. Damn the price raise.
It was after night where I rethink Joohee's description regarding Jin-Woo. My buddy when we first started as an E-rank. However, after that double dungeon accident, I quit being a hunter due to the traumatic experience which our party members experienced. Instead of quitting, Jin-Woo is the only member who continues to strive further and is also brought up successfully. Yet the secret behind his improvement were never shown on social media, neither his tight-sealed lip reveal them to his close family and friends.
" Hey (M/N)." Turning my attention to my name being called by a recognisable voice, noting a familiar figure blocking the sun out from my reach." Hey Jin-Woo." I return, locking our gaze together.
" His eyes always followed you, hehehe. . . You need to watch his eyes. . ."
Joohee's sentence from the previous night lingers in my mind and this encourages me to watch his optics closely. Those irises politely meet mine, nothing wrong with that when people greet one another. Until they slide down from my eyes to my body. It briefly observed my figure as if scanning through my clothes. That is when I feel an anonymous chills like I am being stripped just from his roaming peer. A new sensation which welcomes itself into my nerves and is foreign on my skin." Hu-uh, what are you doing in town? Aren't you busy with dungeons and organising your guild?" I instantly start up a conversation and shift toward a random direction in order to speed walk.
No surprise when his long ass legs easily catch-up to my speed and shortly pairing up with my stride." I take a day off today." He simply said." Wow, a S-rank hunter is neglecting his guild? That will make good news on social media." I joked, earning a tiny smile from him. It is nice to see him loosen up, especially since he always appeared stiff on the media." Jinho can manage it while I'm gone."
Suddenly, an inattentive person who had their concentration on their phone and head down, bumps onto Jin-Woo accidentally. The harmless impact caused Jin-Woo to inch closer into my personal space, colliding our shoulders in the process." Hey, watch where you're going." I frown at the rude person who ignored me." Young people these days." I distastefully said.
" Don't be so harsh on them, (Y/N). New generation is different." I cranked my neck up and detected his overbuilt physique hovering above me. The regular occurrence where he cast shadow above me and refuses to let the ray kiss my skin. In the past, I usually descend my views on Jin-Woo, but now it is the opposite. Even my neck is uncomfortable whenever I need to ascend just to find his face. Being looked down like a little child is never a problem to me, nonetheless, in front of Jin-Woo is comparable to being corner.
This new discovery where I began to heed over Jin-Woo's mystery demeanor.