Vol 7 Chapter 14

"Yeah. I'm fine."

Kapros felt grateful to Min-hoo who was deliberately avoiding the subject even though he seemed to know exactly what he wanted to ask about.

[ Did something else happen? ]

"No. Just... had something to say."

[ Something to say? What is it? ]

Kapros took a moment to gather his breath before speaking. Though it was something he had wanted to say ever since he left yesterday, actually saying it made him nervous.

"You were a big help."

[ Huh? What did you say? ]

"So, thank you."

How could just saying these words be so difficult? Min-hoo seemed to speak his mind so easily, but when Kapros tried, it was so embarrassing that he felt like every hair on his body would stand on end.

But without Min-hoo, he couldn't have resolved things so smoothly with Jin Je-hwan yesterday. That's why since waking up this morning, he had been thinking he should call Min-hoo to thank him.

Min-hoo's expression had been blank since hearing his words. When Kapros was about to suspect a connection error since there was absolutely no movement, Min-hoo blinked several times and asked again with a reddened face.

[ Uh... huh? Mu-heon, what did you say? Did I hear that right? ]

"I'm hanging up."

[ Wait! Don't hang up! ]

Min-hoo's flustered face as he tried to stop him was bright red all the way to his neck, looking like red water would come out if touched. Was being thanked by him really something to get so red about...? Though Kapros should have been the embarrassed one, seeing Min-hoo more flustered actually made him calmer.

[ No, thanking me. Ah, ahem. Why are you suddenly thanking me like this. Between us. Whew, haha. Right? Ah, but why, why is it so hot? Strange? ]

Though it was good that he said that... as Min-hoo spoke while fanning his face, his hair and clothes could be seen wildly fluttering as if in strong winds.

"...It's winter now."

[ Ah, aah. Right. That's true but I'm, I'm usually not sensitive to cold. Ah, it's really hot, so hot! ]

Watching the fierce winter wind that made his hair flip over even before he finished speaking, Kapros became a bit worried about him.

"Are you outside?"

[ Huh? Yeah. Outside. I had some business at school but it's nothing much... ]

[ -Min-hoo! Jung Min-hoo you bastard, where did you go as class president? Skipping out after saying you'd move stuff? ]

As if on cue, someone's shout from behind interrupted the call.

"Aren't they looking for you?"

Though he couldn't see well, there seemed to be quite a few people around Min-hoo, making Kapros think he might have called at a bad time. When he asked if he should hang up, Min-hoo hurriedly shook his head.

[ No, no. I must have heard wrong. ]

[ -Min-hoo oppa! Were you here? Sang-jin oppa is now... ]

But when the voice from behind finally confirmed it, Min-hoo's face rapidly stiffened.

[ Don't come! I'll go, so wait there first! ]

[ -Oh my, oppa, are you avoiding me right now? Oh my, oh my. How cute! But what are you looking at that you're hiding and talking like that? Could it be a lover? ]

[ ...I said go away! ]

The screen that had been shaking chaotically for a while as Min-hoo seemed busy hiding his mobile phone from the voice's owner finally stabilized. Min-hoo, who had turned his head and waved his hands as much as possible, tried to smile with a frowning face.

[ Haha... the department office location changed and everyone's in a fuss about moving stuff... ]

It felt strange watching this side of Min-hoo that Kapros didn't know. Though he was more familiar with him as Kran in MIST, in reality he was properly attending university and even serving as class president, and probably quite popular too - why did this proper person give him such an odd feeling? Though his mind told him it was natural for everyone to have a real life, somehow the Min-hoo smiling before him felt more unfamiliar than before.

'What foolish thoughts.'

"No. I seem to have called at a bad time. Sorry."

[ What do you have to be sorry for. Ugh... damn. I should have run straight to the bathroom when I saw the registered number... ]

"What?"

[ No, nothing. So... that... with that guy... no, person who was worrying you... um, did things get resolved well? ]

"Yeah."

To be honest, you know who that person is too... but Kapros kept those words inside since Jung Min-hoo seemed busy. There would be another chance anyway. Min-hoo heard his answer and smiled brightly.

[ That's good. I'm really glad I could help you. ]

Seeing his bright smile that made Kapros feel sorry for momentarily finding him unfamiliar, he hesitated a bit before briefly mentioning another purpose for today's call.

"But... if you have time later, could we meet outside?"

[ Really? I'd love to! When will we meet? ]

"That's not set yet. ...I'll contact you again later."

When he added to make sure to answer then, Jung Min-hoo grinned and showed an OK sign with his fingers.

[ Of course. Contact me anytime. I'll wait. ]

As if infected by his smile, Kapros said goodbye with a faint smile of his own and ended the call.

[ Call ended. Total call duration 06:59. ]

After the notification sound and the flickering screen disappeared, he got up from his seat. Since receiving Yoon Seok-ho's call in the afternoon, he had been so preoccupied that he'd forgotten to take his anti-inflammatory medicine and other medications prescribed by the hospital. If he remembered correctly, those medicines needed to be taken within 30 minutes after meals, so even if the current time was a bit awkward, he thought it would be better to go to the kitchen and have the computer start preparing food.

Was fried rice the fastest dish to prepare... As he was thinking this while dragging his leg around the dining table—

Beep beep, beep beep! Beep beep, beep beep!

The initial ringtone for calls from registered contacts sounded from behind.

'Hmm? Is Jung Min-hoo calling again?'

He turned around while briefly accepting the call.

"Computer, accept connection."

[ Is this Mu-heon? ]