My Unrequited Love Is an Absolute Secret - Chapter 14

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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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Chapter 14

JJ
Cool
Jessie’s comment was surprisingly just that.
Cool—a single, brief word.
Deflated, I slumped into my chair.
“I was foolish to expect more.”
My appetite had vanished, but I chewed through the remaining food anyway.
Growing up under parents who ran a Restaurant, I had been taught strictly never to waste food.
“Jessie wouldn’t be the type to get jealous.”
Yet I had secretly hoped he would.
I wanted him to feel a twinge of envy that Aemerus and I had enjoyed ourselves without him.
“Sigh.”
I was mindlessly crunching on bell pepper, unable to even taste it, when my phone vibrated softly. A DM from Aemerus had arrived.
「Still alive?」
He was logged into SNS at the same moment.
I chuckled and typed back.
「Just resurrected from the dead」
The moment I sent the message, his reply came through instantly.
「Then we should reschedule Easter to today」
“What is he talking about.”
Aemerus’s joke drew a laugh from me.
My melancholy mood over Jessie lifted slightly.
I typed with a smile playing at my lips.
「Did you see the comments?
Everyone loves you」
I was in the middle of thanking him for letting me experience the feeling of becoming popular when a video arrived.
“Good heavens…”
Just from the thumbnail, I could tell what the video was.
Before I even pressed play, laughter burst out and I had to cover my mouth with my hand.
“No, seriously. Did I really dance like that?”
It was truly a video too good to keep to myself.
I understood exactly why Aemerus had sent it to me.
「My uncle just sent it to me
Looks like a Country Music Club staff member filmed us」
Yesterday, I had been consumed by a single thought: I had to win no matter what.
Yesterday, I was consumed by the thought that I had to win no matter what.
So they didn’t even know who was filming them.
「I laughed so hard watching the video
Tell my uncle I’m grateful」
「My uncle is the one who’s grateful to you
Thanks to the photo you posted yesterday, the club got promoted to the younger crowd」
Harry scratched her head.
“I don’t think it was really because of me….”
If Aemerus hadn’t reposted her message, it would have remained an issue only within Harry’s House and gone nowhere.
「By the way, could you give me your phone number?」
“Huh?”
Why was he suddenly asking for her number?
While I hesitated to respond, another message arrived from Aemerus.
「My uncle wants to thank you directly over the phone
but if it feels burdensome, you can refuse」
Ah, well then.
Understanding now, Harry handed over her phone number.
Then Aemerus gave her his number as well.
「This is my number
If my uncle bothers you, just tell me right away」
「Got it」
I never imagined that by the time school started, I’d become close enough with Aemerus to exchange numbers. It felt surreal.
After exchanging numbers, we were exchanging trivial messages about uploading the video to SNS when a call came through.
It was a number I’d never seen before, but I assumed it was Aemerus’s Uncle and answered.
The conversation itself ended quickly.
It was just thanks for posting on SNS, and an invitation to come back next time with my parents so he could give us special service.
‘Wouldn’t that be enough to just text about? It doesn’t seem like the kind of thing that requires exchanging numbers and calling about.’
Is it different from an adult’s perspective?
Or is there some other reason?
I was thinking such things while looking down at my phone, when another call came through.
This time it was Aemerus calling.
“Yeah. What’s up?”
-Nothing much. My uncle didn’t bother you too much, did he?
“No. The call didn’t even take a minute.”
-Good then. What are you doing this weekend?
The conversation shifted so naturally that Harry answered without any sense of awkwardness.
“Going to work. I have a part-time job at the Ice Cream Shop on weekends.”
-Really? Not at your parents’ restaurant?
Harry shrugged her shoulders.
“My parents said if I’m going to work, I should work somewhere else. They say they’d treat me like a Trojan horse otherwise.”
-No way.
Aemerus seemed to think I was joking, but I was serious.
My parents wanted me to observe how other shops operated and learn from them.
I felt a twinge of guilt, as if I’d become some kind of industrial spy.
I shook my head firmly.
“Actually, I’m saving up to buy Jessie a birthday gift.”
-Ah, I see.
“This is a secret, so don’t tell Jessie.”
-Got it. So weekdays are fine, then.
“Huh? What do you mean fine?”
What did I miss in the middle of this conversation?
As I tilted my head in confusion, Aemerus answered.
-There’s a hockey match next Friday. Since it’s not a weekend, you can come watch, right?
“I could go, but….”
Now that I thought about it, there was indeed a hockey match. The realization hit me anew.
Ever since Jessie graduated from High School early, my interest in hockey had plummeted.
‘What should I do?’
Truth be told, I wasn’t that passionate about hockey.
I’d only taken an interest because Jessie played it.
But I owed Aemerus enough that I couldn’t refuse his invitation.
Hadn’t he made yesterday—a day I’d nearly spent in gloom after being stood up by Jessie—genuinely enjoyable?
-Why are you overthinking it? Just come. Bring your brother if you want.
Pushed along by Aemerus’s urging, I found myself agreeing.
“Fine. I’ll go watch you lose and cry, then.”
At that, Aemerus let out a soft laugh.
His voice through the phone sounded somehow… different.
More personal and intimate, somehow.
-I should get going now. I need to practice. Good luck with your shift.
“Yeah. Bye.”
After hanging up, I checked the time and gasped in surprise.
“When did it get this late?”
I hurriedly finished the remaining food and rushed to prepare for my shift.
By then, Jessie had already vanished completely from my thoughts.

***

“Welcome!”
The bell chimed cheerfully at the entrance, and Harry greeted the customer with a bright smile.
For some reason, her mood was exceptionally good today.
The Ice Cream Shop Owner had even asked first if something wonderful had happened to her.
‘Nothing particularly good had occurred, though.’
Harry herself found it puzzling as she took her place at the counter.
Her steps felt unusually light as her shift drew to a close.
“Which ice cream would you like?”
“Dancing Queen.”
“We don’t have an ice cream called that—Jessie?”
The voice seemed oddly familiar.
As Harry looked up from clearing the previous customer’s receipt, her face brightened with recognition.
“What brings you here? Do you need to hide your face?”
“I’m not famous enough for that yet, so it’s fine.”
Jessie laughed awkwardly, as if embarrassed by the celebrity treatment.
“You’re clocking out soon, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll wait until you’re done. Let’s go home together.”
“Got it. The usual flavor for you?”
“The usual.”
They knew each other’s tastes well enough to recite them from memory.
After ringing up the purchase, Harry scooped a generous portion of lemon-flavored ice cream.
The fact that she’d added slightly more than the standard serving was her secret from the Ice Cream Shop Owner.
“Make yourself comfortable and wait.”
“Okay.”
Harry handed Jessie the ice cream and returned to her duties.
Whenever their eyes met while she worked, she couldn’t help but smile.
Ten minutes before closing time.
The Ice Cream Shop Owner called Harry aside.
“Liri, you worked hard today. Your boyfriend’s waiting, so head out early.”
“What? No, it’s really okay!”
“You worked diligently today and treated the customers well. Think of it as a bonus from me.”
“Thank you so much. I’ll work even harder tomorrow!”
“That’s the spirit.”
What kind of day was this, really?
Harry stepped outside with Jessie, still dazed by this streak of good fortune.
“Jessie, did you drive here?”
“No. For some reason, I had a feeling you’d brought your car today.”
“You’re right.”
Usually, when heading to her part-time job, Harry took public transportation, as the Ice Cream Shop wasn’t far from her house.
But today, she had been on the phone with Aemerus until late, leaving her house without a choice but to drive.
“Give me the keys. I’ll drive.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
Jessie stared intently at Harry as she hummed a song she’d heard while working and climbed into the passenger seat.
Even after fastening her seatbelt, his gaze persisted, prompting Harry to widen her eyes and ask.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I thought you’d still be mad at me.”
“Oh….”
Only after hearing Jessie’s words did Harry recall that she had been angry with him yesterday.
She had forgotten that fact until he brought it up.
‘How could I have forgotten that?’
Harry was surprised at herself.
Especially since it involved Jessie.
“Well, it’s not like you did it on purpose. It happened because you were trying to be considerate. Besides, I ended up having fun with Aemerus, so it’s fine.”
“I see.”
Jessie felt deflated.
He had come prepared to console a sulking Harry.
As he drove in silence, he opened his mouth again.
“Still, the fact that I was wrong doesn’t change. I want to make it up to you.”
“How?”
Jessie smiled gently upon seeing Harry’s eyes sparkle with curiosity.
“How about next Friday? Let’s hang out together for once.”
Jessie had no doubt that Harry would agree.
Her time had always been his, after all. It was only natural.
But for some reason, Harry’s expression turned troubled.
“Friday won’t work. I have a prior commitment.”
“A prior commitment? With whom?”
“Aemerus. He asked me to come watch his hockey match.”
Jessie nearly slammed on the brakes right then and there.

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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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