My Unrequited Love Is an Absolute Secret - Chapter 21

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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 21

“Jessie?”
“Jessie’s here!”
Robin, who had been picking at his food with a bored expression while the adults conversed, suddenly bolted from his seat.
“Did you come to see me? You came to see me, right?”
Jessie rushed over and scooped Robin into his arms, lifting him high into the air.
“Why are you just now coming? I hate you.”
“I’m sorry. Did you wait long for me?”
With a single radiant smile from Jessie, Robin’s irritation melted away instantly.
Jessie approached, cradling Robin like a baby koala clinging to him.
“Jessie, you’re here? It’s been a while.”
“Yes. I should have visited more often. I apologize.”
“Well, when you’re busy, these things happen.”
In the past, Harry’s parents would have greeted Jessie with warm embraces.
But today was different.
A subtle chill permeated the greetings they offered him.
Harry’s parents had not forgotten what had transpired at Homecoming, even if Harry herself had let it slide without concern.
They could readily spend vast sums for Jessie and his parents, but forgiving the slight their daughter had endured was far from easy.
Jessie had anticipated the cold reception from Harry’s parents, so it didn’t trouble him.
What he hadn’t foreseen, however, was this.
“Aemerus, I didn’t realize you were here too.”
Aemerus Huntington was seated naturally at the same table as Harry’s parents.
As if he were not a guest at all.
As if he belonged to Harry’s family.
As if Jessie were the uninvited one.
“Hey, JJ.”
Aemerus gave a casual wave in greeting.
“Aemerus came with Lili. Jessie, if you had such a wonderful friend, why didn’t you introduce him sooner?”
Harry’s Mother gently patted Jessie’s shoulder and made room for him at the table.
“I’ll bring you dinner, so sit here. You haven’t eaten yet, have you? What would you like to eat?”
“Would it be alright if I just had a kimbap roll?”
“Is that all you want?”
“That’s plenty.”
“Understood. Feel free to chat comfortably.”
Even Harry’s Father left the table.
Jessie glanced back and forth between Harry and Aemerus, who sat facing each other across the table.
There was no reason to deliberate over whose side to sit on.
He settled into the seat beside Harry without hesitation.
“Jessie, I didn’t expect you to come here.”
Jessie flicked Harry’s nose with his finger as she looked up at him with a reluctant gaze.
“I came because I knew you’d be here.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Since I was already out, I figured I’d grab dinner here and head home.”
Harry’s daily routine was predictable.
Whenever she had free time, she’d stop by the Restaurant to help her parents.
If she’d come alone today, she would have eaten dinner with her parents, worked for a while, and then left.
“You’re not busy today?”
“Nope. I cleared my schedule to hang out with you on Friday anyway. Though we did meet on Wednesday instead.”
At the mention of the two of them meeting on Wednesday, Aemerus lifted his gaze from where it had been directed downward.
Jessie, meeting his eyes, smiled and asked.
“You had a match today, right? How did it go?”
“We won.”
Aemerus’s answer was unnecessarily brief.
Unable to bear it, Harry spoke up.
“I didn’t realize until now, but Aemerus is really skilled at hockey. Today’s opponent was Minnesota, and he didn’t give an inch.”
“Minnesota? Atwood School?”
“Yeah. You remember, right? That thing from three years ago…?”
“How could I forget.”
Jessie let out a dry laugh.
Atwood was such a formidable team that people joked they must be cultivating secret weapons in the deep mountains of Minnesota.
Even the players from Riverside School, who had dominated the Youth Hockey League consecutively, were helpless against them.
For Aemerus to have beaten such a team was remarkable.
Three years had passed, so it seemed their roster had undergone significant changes.
“I’m glad our team is doing well without me. It must all be thanks to Aemerus.”
Aemerus, who had been so humble in front of Harry’s parents, remained quiet this time, not deflecting the praise as he usually would.
In the awkward atmosphere that settled between them, Harry quietly observed the two men.
‘They don’t seem particularly close…?’
I had suspected as much from Aemerus’s behavior.
Rather than Jessie’s one-sided friendship, he too seemed to be wary of Aemerus.
‘What’s going on?’
Jessie had asked Aemerus, someone he wasn’t even that close to, to look after me?
It didn’t make sense.
While Harry was confused, the two men continued their exchange.
“I never thought Aemerus would hide his claws like that. You really fooled me.”
“I guess I’m good at hiding them.”
At Aemerus’s response, the smile vanished from Jessie’s face.
“Now I’m curious what else you might be hiding.”
“Um…”
Were they really going to start fighting?
A savior appeared before Harry in the form of her mother.
She had come to deliver the food Jessie had ordered.
“Jessie, enjoy your meal.”
“Thank you so much. I’ve been craving your cooking. Even though I had it just a few days ago.”
“You’re welcome.”
Harry’s Mother smiled at Jessie before turning to Aemerus.
“Aemerus, do you need anything else?”
“No, thank you. I’m quite full.”
She left with a satisfied expression at his response.
‘If only she’d stay a little longer.’
I watched my mother’s retreating figure with longing.
I didn’t have the confidence to handle the sharp tension between these two men alone.
‘This is suffocating, honestly.’
I’d never realized it before because I’d only met Jessie and Aemerus separately.
What would happen when I brought them together like this.
Desperate to break this stifling silence, I hastily changed the subject.
“Jessie, did you know your birthday is right after Halloween?”
“Oh. You’re right.”
Jessie looked surprised as he scooped up a piece of kimbap with his spoon.
How busy must he have been to forget his own birthday like that.
It was both pitiful and thrilling to think about surprising him.
“Do you have time that day? If you’re free, I’d love to have a simple meal together.”
“Hmm. Wait, let me check.”
Jessie checked his schedule on his phone while eating his kimbap.
Soon his expression darkened slightly.
My heart sank in sympathy as I waited with my hands folded.
“There is a magazine photoshoot that day, but it starts in the morning, so I should be able to make dinner.”
He couldn’t be completely certain since the shoot duration varied depending on how well he and the photographer worked together.
“I might be a bit late that day—is that okay? Or should we reschedule for another day?”
“Another day wouldn’t be bad, but…”
It only felt meaningful if he was celebrated on his actual birthday.
I swallowed the words I couldn’t quite bring myself to say.
I worried I was being too childish.
Fortunately, the thoughtful Jessie understood what I meant.
“Okay, I got it. I’ll try to wrap up the shoot as quickly as possible.”
“Thank you.”
Jessie laughed at my gratitude.
“I’m the one who should be thanking you. You’re the one celebrating my birthday.”
“Still….”
“What about me, Sis? You’re taking me that day too, right?”
Robin seized his moment the instant Jessie’s birthday was mentioned, having waited for an opening to join their conversation.
‘Can I bring Robin along?’
I glanced at Jessie to gauge his reaction.
I still remembered the last time I’d suggested bringing Robin to the picnic, only to be turned down.
I couldn’t say anything, just sat there anxiously, when Jessie’s eyes crinkled with amusement.
“Robin’s my assistant, so of course he has to come.”
“Hehe! That’s right.”
I watched Robin cling to Jessie without letting go, then let out a breath of relief before turning to Aemerus.
Since he was here, it was only polite to ask him too.
“Aemerus, what about you?”
“….”
“If you have other plans, you really don’t have to….”
“I’ll go.”
“Huh? You’re coming?”
“There’s no reason I can’t.”
Aemerus met Jessie’s gaze directly and gave a slight nod of his chin.
‘Anyone watching would think he was throwing down a gauntlet for a duel, not accepting a party invitation.’
The two of them were walking a precarious line between casual familiarity and outright rudeness.
‘Is this how men usually are with each other?’
Until now, the only men I knew were my father, Robin, and Jessie.
So how could I possibly understand what male friendship looked like….
‘Men really are complicated.’
I found myself missing Faye and Nina.
But the real crisis came after we’d finished eating.
“I’ll take care of the bill.”
That was what Aemerus said, and it was the spark that ignited everything.
“Sorry, but as far as I know, I’m the only one here who actually earns money.”
With that, Jessie pulled out his wallet.
“….”
Watching the two of them, I quietly rose from my seat.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
I slipped away under the pretense of going to the restroom, went to the register, entered the order myself, and completed the payment.
‘Besides, my parents never accept money from my friends anyway.’
But I’d had enough of watching these two men’s pride battle it out, so I’d made my move first.
Soon I returned to the table with the receipt in hand, walking back with the confidence of a triumphant general.
It looked like Jessie and Aemerus still hadn’t settled who would pay.
Whistle.
As I whistled, three pairs of eyes—Robin’s included—turned toward me in unison.
“The bill’s settled. Stop fighting and get up.”
Looking at the dazed expressions on Jessie’s and Aemerus’s faces, I couldn’t help but laugh.

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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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