Illusion Blind Date - Chapter 46

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#Episode 46

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“Oh, Han-bom?”
Ro-un’s eyes widened as he stepped out of the Convenience Store just before ten at night.
Han-bom, dressed in a pale pink tweed jacket and matching skirt, looked as though she’d just come back from a date.
Han-bom, walking toward the Convenience Store, spotted Ro-un a moment late and broke into a bright smile.
“Ro-un, you live here?”
Ro-un had stepped out to buy Beer after studying surgical procedures in videos—the stuffiness getting to him.
He’d bought the Beer and snacks to head back inside when he bumped into Han-bom by chance.
“Yeah. In the M Officetel across the street.”
“Ah, I see. Got everything?”
“Yeah. You need anything?”
“Whiskey.”
Han-bom coming out this late not for Beer but for strong Whiskey struck him as unusual.
“You’re going to drink that?”
“Yeah, I felt like drinking tonight.”
“Don’t do that. Let’s have Beer instead. I came out because I felt like drinking too.”
Ro-un took hold of Han-bom’s arm and led her to the table set up in front of the Convenience Store.
Whiskey would certainly lead to regrets tomorrow. Whatever had happened, he decided to willingly offer his Beer for his friend’s sake.
“Really? I’m already pretty full though.”
Han-bom looked at him with a bewildered expression, as if taken aback by his eager approach.
Now that he thought about it, Han-bom’s face was flushed. It seemed she’d already had a drink somewhere else first.
“If you’re working tomorrow, it’s better to drink moderately. Let’s keep it light.”
“Then, shall we?”
Han-bom hesitated for a moment, then readily agreed.
Ro-un sat across from Han-bom at the outdoor table.
The bright light from the Convenience Store spilled out, so it wasn’t particularly dark.
Few people passed through here, and it was a place Ro-un frequented often.
“Go on, drink.”
He opened a can of Beer and handed it to her.
“Thanks.”
Ro-un watched carefully as Han-bom sipped her Beer.
To be honest, Han-bom was something like an object of admiration for him—less a romantic feeling than an admiration he held for her as a colleague.
Lively and good-natured, Han-bom was loved by everyone.
Classmates, seniors, even professors adored her.
In contrast, Ro-un, who was often called gloomy, felt as though everyone avoided him.
That’s why he’d harbored for a long time the desire to grow closer to Han-bom and become better friends with her.
Unlike usual, Han-bom drank in silence.
And quite rapidly at that.
…What could have happened?
Her downcast expression, lost in thought beneath her long lashes, was unfamiliar and strange to him.
Ro-un, who wasn’t particularly glib, felt anxiety rising in him—unsure what to say or how to say it.
All he could do was watch Han-bom as she drank with bouncing legs, practically downing her drink.
After some time had passed, Han-bom drained the can in one go, crushing it in her grip.
Crunch.
He’d never seen her act so roughly before.
“Sigh… I really want to live well.”
Han-bom let out a sigh so deep it seemed the earth itself might collapse, then finally spoke.
“You—anyone looking at you would say you’re living well. How much better could it get?”
Ro-un spoke his true feelings honestly.
Then Han-bom lifted her head sharply and stared at him.
She’s drunk. Her eyes were half-lidded.
What was Han-bom’s alcohol tolerance anyway?
Now that he thought about it, Ro-un realized he didn’t know much about her.
“Haven’t you ever felt that it was all a facade?”
“A… facade?”
“Yeah. Right now I’m waiting for just one person to slip up. That’s what I’m doing.”
Bom’s eyes narrowed with mischief.
“……What if they catch on?”
“Catch on to what? Ha……, I won’t fall apart over something like that. They need to love me. Do you know how resilient I am? I’m incredibly strong too. Look at this arm. Isn’t it amazing?”
Rambling nonsense.
Bom, displaying a thin wrist that was less than half the thickness of his own, was definitely drunk.
‘If you can’t handle it, why did you grab onto me in the first place?’
Ro-un pulled out his phone and touched the screen.
Since Bom had mentioned living in the same place as Ji-mun, it seemed better to give Ji-mun a heads-up.
‘Should’ve just let her go home.’
“You have more beer, right?”
Bom pointed at the plastic bag and asked.
“Yeah. Want me to get you more?”
“Of course.”
Ro-un’s eyes began to dart around. Before he could even hand her one, Bom grabbed a 500ml beer can herself, cracked it open, and took a long swig.
“Ahhhh, that hits the spot.”
“Hey, Bom, it’s spilling.”
“It’s fine.”
She wiped the beer dribbling from her mouth with the back of her hand and resumed drinking.
Ro-un hurriedly texted Ji-mun. His fingers trembled as he typed.

「Ji-mun, I’m at the convenience store across from M Officetel right now and I think Bom’s drunk. What do I do?」

Even in this moment, Ro-un found himself checking for typos, hating his own meticulousness. He squeezed his eyes shut carelessly and sent it anyway.
After hitting send, he waited anxiously for Ji-mun’s reply.
Restless and uneasy.
Ro-un sipped his beer absently, trying to calm his nerves.
“Hic, Big sister? Why do you sound like a big sister……? What? A good father? ……Ugh, this pisses me off.”
Bom’s tongue was already getting twisted as she rambled incoherently.
‘Ji-mun, get here already.’
Seeing this hidden side of Bom, Ro-un felt flustered.
He’d never imagined her looking like a complete drunk.
‘This isn’t right. This isn’t how it should be.’
He drummed his legs restlessly.
Beep-beep.
Finally, his phone rang.

「Damn it, got it. Don’t move from there.」
「Okay, hurry. I’m scared out of my mind.」

Ro-un kept glancing around, waiting for Ji-mun to appear.
“Ro-un! Do you think I’m cute?”
Seeing Bom’s completely unfocused eyes, he felt like crying.

***

Ji-mun
We’ve got a problem. Does anyone have time right now?
Su-ho
What’s going on?
Ji-mun
Ro-un just contacted me. I think Bom’s drunk.
He’s terrified and asking me to hurry over. Someone come with me if you can.
Su-ho
Seriously? Is she completely wasted?
Ji-mun
Looks like it.
She’s at the convenience store across from M Officetel. Get over there ASAP.
I can’t make it right now.
Su-ho
I’m in the hospital taking a crap right now
Ji-mun
Does this bastard shit all day long
Hang up and get here

Tae-mun, lounging loosely on the sofa as he read the messages from Ji-mun and Su-ho, tapped out a reply with his long fingers.

I’ll go.

Then he rose from his seat.
Tae-mun, who had been waiting for spring to arrive, shuttered his cool gaze and stepped out into the entryway.
Just how drunk could they be to sound so terrified?
Passing through the garden, where flower scent hung thick in the air, Tae-mun quickened his pace, lengthening his stride as he left through the gate.
He turned out of the alley onto the main road, climbed one more block, and the Convenience Store that Ji-mun had mentioned came into view.
So that’s where they are.
Still dressed in the black training suit he’d worn at home, Tae-mun thrust both hands into his pants pockets and closed the distance toward his target.
He could hear the murmur of conversation coming from an outdoor table in the corner.
“Bo, Bom, stop drinking.”
“I can hold my liquor, okay? And you said I was cute. So why won’t you let me drink?”
“It’s, it’s not that. God… Why isn’t anyone coming?”
“What? Who? Did someone say they’d come? Oh man, that’s exciting. Should we go to Kono?”
“Kono? Why would we go there?”
“Because I’m an amazing singer.”
“I know that.”
“Should I sing for you?”
“Bo, Bom. People are looking.”
Ro-un, fidgeting with anxiety, and Bom, drunk and slurring her words as she threatened to sing regardless of who was watching.
Tae-mun’s lips had been twitching with suppressed laughter, but he wiped the smile clean from his face before stepping into view.
“Oh, Pro, Professor!”
Ro-un’s small eyes gradually widened as he scrambled to his feet in alarm.
Bom, whose back had been to Tae-mun, continued humming her song, unaware of who had arrived.
When she noticed Ro-un standing and something seemed off, she stopped singing, then whipped her head around to look behind her.
Light was spilling through the Convenience Store’s glass window, but whoever was standing there wasn’t quite clear.
Tae-mun’s gaze swept past Bom and fixed on Ro-un.
“What’s going on? What are you two doing out here?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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