“So, after hearing everything… it sounds like Gyeon-woo really was in the wrong. How could you just blurt out, ‘Wanna come over for some ramen?’ to someone you just met? Even kidnappers these days wouldn’t be that direct.”
“Sorry, it was too sudden, wasn’t it? He’s not usually like this, but sometimes he does these things. I’ll apologise on his behalf.”
“No, really, it’s okay. You don’t have to apologise. And please don’t be too hard on him either. I think he was just trying to help since I didn’t know how to cook it myself…”
“I swear, my intentions were pure—”
“Gyeon. Woo. Yah?”
“It’s totally Gyeon-woo’s fault!”
“…”
I had assumed it would be fine since Yeon-ha-neul would be eating with us in the room… but clearly, I was wrong.
Yeah. I admit it now.
I got carried away with the idea of getting closer to Risa and rushed things way too much.
She must’ve been caught off guard by my sudden offer and probably felt uncomfortable.
Still, thankfully, things didn’t blow up.
And I owed that entirely to Go Eun-bi.
“Wow, your hair’s so pretty! You didn’t dye it, right?”
“Oh, I inherited it from my royal mother.”
“Your what now?”
“Ah, um… that’s…”
Go Eun-bi expertly steered the conversation, smoothing over the awkwardness.
And she didn’t stop there—she guided things exactly where I’d hoped they would go.
“It’s kinda awkward just standing around here, and I’m starving. Why don’t we eat and talk at the same time? Didn’t Gyeon-woo suggest ramen in his room? I’m all for it!”
“Oh, um…”
“You already had plans to eat with someone else?”
“No, nothing like that… It just seems like you three already know each other. I’d hate to intrude and ruin the mood.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“What do you think, Ha-neul?”
“I… yeah, it’s fine. Let’s eat together.”
“Yay! So, what should we eat?”
“He said earlier he wanted jjapaguri.”
“Oh, I’m okay with anything!”
“Jjapaguri? That trend from a while back? I haven’t had that in forever. Now I’m craving it. Shall we go with that?”
“Make sure to add striploin.”
“Wow, rich boy’s got a refined palate, huh?”
“As if you’d ever skip out on meat. I think I saw it over there earlier—let’s go grab it.”
Yeon-ha-neul, who had been glaring daggers at me the entire time, sighed as if giving up.
She clearly had a lot to say, but with Eun-bi and Risa around, she seemed to let it go for now.
Which was a massive relief.
I let out a sigh of my own.
‘She’s scary when she gets mad…’
Especially when I don’t know what I did wrong but feel like I did. That’s the worst.
And when I try to defuse things by apologising only to be hit with, ‘What exactly are you sorry for?’
That’s when the vicious cycle starts.
‘Thanks, Eun-bi.’
I was genuinely grateful to Go Eun-bi for breaking that cycle before it could begin.
So, I quietly followed behind the girls, only grabbing a few light snacks for later.
One by one, we loaded snacks and ingredients into the shopping cart I pushed along.
And just like that, our grocery mission was done.
“Looks like we’ve got everything! Shall we head to Gyeon-woo’s room now? I’ve actually been curious about what a Suite Room looks like. Oh, should we do introductions over dinner?”
Leaving the makeshift pantry behind, we made our way to the elevators.
I volunteered to carry the bags.
And right around then, Yeon-ha-neul’s mood finally seemed to lighten up.
“Why are you trying to carry everything yourself? It looks heavy. Give me one.”
“I can handle it. It’s fine.”
“I said, give me one. Now.”
“Okay, okay. Take the lightest one.”
Ha-neul, standing in the elevator with a mock stern face, extended her hand.
I pretended to resist but gave her one of the bags.
The others chimed in right after.
“Hey, you’re making us look bad here. We’ll carry something too!”
“Exactly! I was feeling guilty watching you do everything. Let me take something.”
“You don’t have to… but I won’t say no. Eun-bi, take the heaviest one. Risa, you can take this.”
“Wait—Gyeon-woo? Why are you treating me differently? Not fair!”
“Relax, I’m just kidding. Here, take this one.”
The elevator came to a stop, and the doors slid open.
We stepped into my room.
“Whoa! This room is huge! It doesn’t even compare to mine. It’s amazing!”
“Excuse us.”
“We can eat in the lounge area inside. As for the ramen…”
“Hand me the bag. I’ll cook it.”
“Yours always tastes the best anyway. I’ll leave it to you. Just let me know if you need a hand.”
“Just set the table, please.”
Go Eun-bi looked around my suite in awe while Risa examined it politely and quietly.
Ha-neul, tying a pink apron around her waist, began pulling utensils and cookware from the cabinets.
We set the table and waited for her to finish cooking.
Then, Risa spoke up.
“Now that I look… this room has a portrait hanging too.”
“A portrait? There’s one in my room as well. But the one in Gyeon-woo’s room looks kinda scary. I wouldn’t be able to sleep with that staring at me.”
“You’ve got one too?”
“There’s a kind-looking woman in mine.”
“I had a deer!”
Risa had booked a Premier Room.
Go Eun-bi was staying in a Deluxe Room.
It seemed each of our rooms had a portrait hanging opposite the bed.
“There was one in mine too. A scary-looking old lady. It bothered me so much I just took it down. Gyeon-woo, you should do the same.”
Ha-neul poked her head out from the kitchen as she stirred the pot.
I started to wonder—‘Is it not based on room grade? Is each room decorated differently?’
But I had to stop overthinking.
The cooking was done.
“Dinner’s ready. I added striploin, too.”
“Waaah! That smells amazing! And it looks incredible too! Ha-neul, you’re so good at this!”
“It really looks delicious. But… this isn’t the ramen I know? Is this… jajangmyeon?”
“Not quite. It’s Jjapagetti.”
“Oh, right! Jjapagetti.”
“Jjapaguri is what you get when you mix Jjapagetti and Neoguri.”
“This is so good!”
“Here, Ha-neul.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Go Eun-bi was the first to reach out for some jjapaguri.
I filled my plate, then passed a serving to Yeon-ha-neul, who brightened immediately.
Risa, meanwhile, stared at the setup, as if unsure how to proceed.
She probably never ate this casually before coming to the Academy City.
Understandable.
I reached out to her.
“Give me your plate. I’ll serve you.”
“Ah… thank you.”
Risa smiled gratefully and handed over her plate.
I gave her a portion, then filled mine.
‘It’s really good. Ha-neul’s got serious skills.’
We all had different ways of eating.
I stuffed my cheeks like a chipmunk.
“Mm! This is so good…”
Go Eun-bi expressed her joy with her whole body.
“If anyone wants more, just say so. I can make more.”
Yeon-ha-neul chewed carefully, savouring each bite.
“This is my first time trying this… and it’s really delicious.”
Risa, her braid swept back over one shoulder, ate slowly, making sure nothing stained her lips.
She even covered her mouth when slurping noodles.
And then, as if realizing something—
“We got so into eating, that we didn’t even introduce ourselves properly. Let’s fix that. I’ll start. I’m Go Eun-bi. I live in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul…”
Introductions began with Go Eun-bi leading the way.
Then me, then Yeon-ha-neul, and finally, Risa.
When it was her turn…
“Sorry for the late intro. I’m Risa Evangel….”
“…”
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