My Unrequited Love Is an Absolute Secret - Chapter 13

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

Chapter 13

I was doomed.
Cold sweat trickled down my spine.
Of all people, I had to call Jessie by the wrong name.
‘Am I trying to broadcast to the entire neighborhood that I’m harboring an unrequited crush on Jessie?’
My face flushed crimson as I desperately scrambled to salvage the situation.
“No, I know you’re Aemerus. Of course I know that. I just happened to be thinking about Jessie for a moment… since he used to escort me frequently in the past.”
The more I tried to explain myself, the worse the damage became.
As I rambled incoherently, I wished I could simply die on the spot.
“…”
Aemerus’s silence only made matters worse.
While I nervously stole glances at his profile, we arrived at our destination.
I felt a momentary sense of relief at escaping this awkward moment, but then my eyes widened in shock.
“A food truck?”
I never would have imagined the restaurant Aemerus mentioned would be a food truck.
A wealthy young man from the Upper East Side eating street food—it was truly unexpected.
“Believe it or not, it’s genuinely delicious.”
Finally, Aemerus broke his silence.
I wasn’t doubting his palate. Besides, our tastes were remarkably similar anyway.
“Fine. I’ll take your word for it.”
I spoke with exaggerated enthusiasm to make up for my earlier blunder, and Aemerus let out a soft laugh.
That small gesture somehow put me at ease.
‘When I think about it, Aemerus has no reason to be upset.’
Of course, calling him by the wrong name was rude.
But realistically, Aemerus wasn’t my boyfriend.
There was absolutely no reason for him to take such a mistake seriously.
‘I was needlessly anxious.’
With a much lighter heart, I watched Aemerus exchange greetings with the Food Truck Owner.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Aemerus!”
“Hello.”
“It’s been a while. Did you come to see your uncle?”
“No. I came for your kebabs.”
Aemerus delivered the quip with a deadpan expression, his wit perfectly timed.
‘So this is how he acts around people he’s close to.’
Though I’d been spending time with him for about a month, I felt as though I was truly seeing his real self for the first time.
“And who’s this beside you? Your girlfriend?”
Why do people always assume that a man and woman standing side by side must be lovers?
I was beginning to grow tired of this.
Aemerus seemed to feel the same way, as he simply brushed past the Food Truck Owner’s question without answering.
“This is Harry. I wanted to introduce you to how delicious the owner’s kebab is.”
“Hello.”
“Lovely to meet you, beautiful lady. Do you like lamb?”
“Yes!”
“Then I’ll prepare the lamb for this beautiful lady, and what about you, Aemerus?”
“Beef for me, please.”
“Good choice. It’s always nice to sample a variety.”
The moment the order was placed, the food began assembling right before my eyes.
While waiting and inhaling the pungent aroma of exotic spices, I surveyed the interior of the food truck.
With my parents running a restaurant business, I’d developed a habit of scrutinizing other dining establishments whenever I visited.
‘It’s incredibly clean.’
Seeing all the cooking utensils gleaming with cleanliness only heightened my anticipation for the food.
“Your food is ready. Here’s the lamb.”
“Thank you.”
As I accepted the food first, Aemerus finished settling the bill.
That’s when the owner’s eyes widened in recognition.
“That hat looks so familiar! Did you compete in the Dance Competition?”
“Well, yes…”
“We won!”
At the news of our victory that I shared, the owner burst into hearty laughter.
“The day Aemerus wins the Dance Competition has finally come. Let me buy you both drinks to celebrate.”
“Wow, thank you so much!”
This is why regular customers are the best.
Thanks to Aemerus, I even got free drinks, and my mood lifted instantly—I’d completely forgotten about what happened earlier.
“We’ll be back soon.”
After saying goodbye to the owner, I asked with an elated expression.
“Where should we eat?”
“Let’s go back to the car.”
“Okay.”
Given the nature of a food truck, there were no proper seating areas available.
Returning to Aemerus’s car parked in the Parking Lot, I tasted the kebab and couldn’t help but marvel.
“This is really delicious…!”
My palate, refined by my parents’ exceptional culinary skills, was perfectly satisfied.
“What sauce is inside this?”
Watching me continue to exclaim in delight, Aemerus chuckled softly and answered.
“I asked him before, but he wouldn’t tell me. He said it’s his secret sauce.”
“I wouldn’t tell either if I were him. But I’m so curious how he makes it.”
I let out a wistful sigh.
My parents would probably be able to identify every ingredient in this sauce just by tasting it.
“I should bring them here before the year ends. I still have that $300 coupon I need to use.”
“It was worth introducing you to this place.”
There was something almost solemn in her words, and Aemerus laughed.
‘Looks like her mood has completely lifted now.’
I was glancing at Aemerus when he misread the look in my eyes and offered me his kebab.
“Want to try mine?”
I hadn’t been staring at his kebab because I particularly wanted it, but I was curious about the beef flavor, so I didn’t refuse.
I carefully took a bite of the kebab Aemerus offered.
It was pristine, untouched—he’d clearly intended to let me have it from the start.
“How is it?”
“Hmm…”
I made a pained expression as I savored it, my mouth working thoughtfully.
“Both are so delicious. I think I could eat nothing but this three times a day and be perfectly happy.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
The atmosphere between us wasn’t bad at all.
This was the perfect moment to make up for my mistake.
I glanced at Aemerus one more time and opened my mouth.
“Hey, Aemerus.”
“What? Want more?”
“No. That’s not it.”
I shook my head.
“I just wanted to say… thank you for everything today.”
I’d coldly turned him away without even looking at his face when he came all the way to my house looking for Jessie, yet I’d ended up having so much fun with him.
“Today was really enjoyable. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve been depressed all day.”
“I’m glad I could help. Even though I’m not Jessie.”
I thought he’d forgotten about that by now.
Despite his cool appearance, Aemerus held grudges for a long time.
At his words poking fun at my earlier slip-up, I writhed in distress.
“Ugh, please. Can we just forget about that now?”
I found myself whining without thinking, startled by my own words, but when I saw Aemerus laughing pleasantly, I couldn’t help but laugh along.
“Fine.”
He nodded readily, saying he’d forget my mistake, then added:
“I had fun today because of you too.”
Wasn’t this the kind of thing people say at the end of a date?
Aemerus probably meant nothing by it, but I found myself blushing alone.
‘Besides, he’s only doing this because Jessie asked him to spend time with me.’
With that thought, my elated heart turned cold.
‘Let’s just eat the kebab.’
At least the kebab was delicious—a small consolation.
As I devoured the kebab with gusto, Aemerus’s gaze brushed against my profile before quickly withdrawing.

Part 2. Unrequited Love, Concealed

“…!”
My eyes snapped open at the vibration of my phone, jolting me awake.
I bolted upright and immediately realized it was Saturday morning, my heart settling with relief.
“I thought I’d overslept for school….”
I stretched languidly with a long yawn.
Despite having showered and gone to bed early upon arriving home last night, every muscle in my body was screaming in protest.
“Ugh, I’m dying….”
All that enthusiastic dancing was to blame.
I cast a deliberate glance at the cowboy hat and Aemerus’s jacket resting on my desk before heading to the bathroom.
Aemerus’s jacket had gotten kebab sauce on it, so I’d decided to have it cleaned before returning it.
After a quick shower, I headed to the kitchen and spotted a note on the dining table—in my mother’s handwriting.
「You were sleeping so soundly that I didn’t wake you.
Robin will take me to play therapy, so eat breakfast when you wake up and head to work.」
“Got it.”
I set the note down and opened the refrigerator, lost in thought.
“What should I eat?”
Since I’d eaten kebab as a late-night snack yesterday, I still wasn’t particularly hungry.
After deliberating, I pulled out eggs and bell peppers.
I boiled the eggs and washed the peppers clean before slicing them into convenient pieces.
While eating my light breakfast, I checked my phone.
Notifications and messages had accumulated throughout the night.
“What’s going on?”
Confused, I logged into social media and finally understood the reason.
It was because of the post I’d uploaded.
After the couple’s Dance Competition ended last night, a short video of Aemerus and me wearing cowboy hats side by side, our heads bumping together as we tried to take a photo.
There was also a blurry photo of us laughing after the collision, and two properly taken selfies of us together.
“As expected, Aemerus really is popular.”
Thanks to Aemerus reposting it, my post—which usually only received modest comments from family and Jessie—had become a trending hotspot.

(Photo)
AmosH
and several others liked this
moonmoonmoon
Where is this? Why am I just finding out about it now?
View all 305 comments
gojames
Yesterday’s homecoming was seriously boring. Why are you going alone? You could’ve taken me somewhere nice
@AmosH
You selfish bastard
VioleT @gojames
Why would Aemerus have any reason to take you?
BIGHarry
I know this place! It’s the Country Club Aemerus’s uncle runs!

“Not a single mention of me. How disappointing.”
Yet there was something oddly entertaining about reading through each comment one by one.
I was halfway through the comments, barely touching my meal, when a familiar username suddenly jumped out at me.
JJ. It was Jessie’s account.
‘Jessie saw it!’
I bolted up from my seat in excitement.
‘I posted this photo specifically for Jessie to see, but….’
I was curious about his reaction.
With trembling eyes, I read the comment Jessie had left.
Harry read the comment Jessie had left with trembling eyes.

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