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Chapter 18: Even Her Breath is Fragrance
"Do you live around here?" she asked.
Soo-hoo didn't answer. He just kept reading.
Ju-kyoung adjusted her glasses nervously. Why is he so calm? Say something, anything! Gosh, even his silence feels expensive.
"I'm not trying to pry. With your looks, you're quite an eye-catcher. But I don't think I've ever seen you around here before."
"If that's true, then I must not live around here," he replied, still not looking at her.
Ju-kyoung forced a smile. Oh great. Of course. Mr. Cool Genius has an answer for everything. Ju-kyoung, why did you even open your mouth? She turned back, pretending to read.
"Why crawl all the way out here then?" she muttered under her breath.
Soo-hoo looked up. "Crawl?"
Ju-kyoung's eyes widened. Did I just say that out loud?! She slapped her hand over her mouth.
"I started walking upright when I was eleven months old."
She blinked. "Oh… you did." What kind of comeback is that, Ju-kyoung? Brilliant. Ten points for stupidity.
"I'm eighteen."
Ju-kyoung almost choked. "Excuse me?"
He sat up straight, his calm expression unshaken. "You're probably my age. Your formality irks me."
Ju-kyoung stiffened. He thinks I'm his age?! Oh no, if he realizes I'm older than an eighth grader but uglier than one, I'm doomed.
She quickly forced a smile. "I'm fifteen. I'm an eighth grader."
Soo-hoo stared at her blankly. Abort mission! Abort! He doesn't buy it!
"I don't buy that you're younger than me, ma'am."
Her smile cracked like broken glass. Ma'am?! Did he just… ma'am me?! I'm officially ninety years old now. Just bury me here among the comics.
She burst into fake laughter, crossing her legs like some mature lady. "I was just joking. I'm twenty-five. Way older than you."
Soo-hoo didn't even blink. "So you're eighteen," he said firmly.
Ju-kyoung laughed again, high-pitched this time. He's like a human lie detector! Somebody unplug him before I die of embarrassment. She quickly turned away. "No wonder he's the top student," she thought bitterly.
She shoveled noodles into her mouth at lightning speed, hoping the food would swallow her instead. When she slammed the empty plate down, she tried to act casual. "Gosh, I'm full."
Grabbing the book, she flipped through it faster than a malfunctioning fan. "Wow, that was interesting."
She dropped it in front of him. "Here you go."
Soo-hoo looked at her. "So soon?"
"I read very fast," she said, flashing a shaky smile. Please, just believe me and let me escape alive!
"I didn't mean the book," he replied, pointing at the empty plate.
Ju-kyoung's eyes widened. Oh no, he saw me inhale those noodles like a starving raccoon! She snatched the plate. "It's my specialty," she said proudly, pretending it was totally normal. Then she ran for the door.
Just before escaping, her slipper flew off. She froze mid-run. Oh, of course. Perfect. Thank you, slipper, for betraying me in my darkest hour. She grabbed it, bolted outside, and only then shoved it back on.
"Why did I have to run into him right there and then!" she cried out, tugging at her hair.
When she got home, she stormed in and hurled a book at her brother.
He caught it, frowning. "What's with the attitude? This isn't a comic, it's a novel. Where's my comic book?"
Ju-kyoung collapsed onto the couch. "It's all because of you," she groaned dramatically.
Her brother squinted. "What? Did you run into some handsome guy from class without your makeup on?"
Ju-kyoung's soul almost left her body. HOW DOES HE KNOW? Is my life actually a reality show?!
He smirked. "Relax. Your life's not a TV drama. No way that actually happened."
But the way she glared at him told him everything. His jaw dropped. "Seriously? You did?"
He jumped up. "Your life as a goddess is over—even if I don't share your pictures."
"That's not it!" Ju-kyoung snapped. "He didn't recognize me."
Her brother tilted his head, clearly enjoying this. "But tomorrow, what if he looks at you and goes—'Aren't you the acne girl from the comic shop?'"
Ju-kyoung shuddered. Noooo, don't say it! That's nightmare fuel!
"That could happen," he teased, loving her suffering.
Ju-kyoung's brain scrambled through probabilities. Okay, let's be logical. If embarrassment equals death, then the chance of dying tomorrow is… 99.9%.
"What do I do?" she wailed.
Her brother shrugged. "Just be honest. You can't hide forever."
Ju-kyoung froze. Honesty? With my face? That's like walking into a battlefield unarmed.
But then she leaned close, whispering, "Hey, Ju-young."
He glanced at her. "What?"
"You know that girl you like?"
He narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, what about her?"
"She's too pretty. Her bare face won't be too different from mine."
Then she stormed off.
Ju-young sat frozen, horrified. "No way," he muttered. He clutched his chest like he'd been shot. "Even her breath is fragrance."
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