My Unrequited Love Is an Absolute Secret - Chapter 22

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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 22

“Lili, if you tell me how much the total came to, I can—”
Jessie hurried out with Robin in tow and grabbed my arm.
“Forget it. Since Aemerus is treating, I’ll buy yours too.”
Something about my answer clearly bothered Jessie, and he frowned.
“You’re buying dinner for Aemerus? Have you always been paying before?”
Faced with his question, I couldn’t help but feel bewildered.
Who was the person arguing with Aemerus about splitting the bill just moments ago?
If Aemerus had truly been the type to freeload off me, I wouldn’t have bothered with that verbal sparring match.
“Whenever there’s something to pay for, Aemerus always handles it. So tonight’s dinner is me repaying that debt.”
“Ah.”
Only then did Jessie seem satisfied, taking a step back.
As I left the Restaurant, I ran into my parents and spoke to them.
“Mom, I’m going to take Robin home first. I’ve already settled the table.”
“Already leaving? Why don’t you stay a bit longer?”
My parents followed us to the entrance of the Restaurant with reluctant expressions, seeing us off.
“Robin, don’t give Jessie a hard time. Come down now.”
“Okay.”
“Are you heading to work, Jessie? Or going home?”
Jessie set Robin down on the ground and glanced at me.
“I’m going to take Lili and Robin home, then head back myself.”
“All right. I’m counting on you.”
My parents then took turns greeting Aemerus.
“Aemerus, it was wonderful seeing you again today.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
“Things were a bit hectic earlier, weren’t they? Next time, let’s have a more relaxed meal together.”
“Yes. Come visit our home. I’ll cook something delicious for you.”
They were inviting him to a separate dinner.
My parents clearly adored Aemerus.
“That would be an honor, but I’d hate to trouble you both with the cooking. Are you really sure it’s all right?”
“What a thoughtful young man.”
“I thought he was just good with chopsticks, but his heart is beautiful too.”
Jessie watched with a strange expression as Aemerus exchanged warm hugs with my parents.
“Aemerus is good with chopsticks?”
He whispered the question, and I nodded.
“Surprising, right? He learned by watching videos.”
“…I’m discovering so many new sides of Aemerus today.”
Jessie murmured to himself, his gaze fixed on Aemerus.
Aemerus was treating Harry’s parents with unprecedented courtesy and warmth.
And Harry’s parents found him so endearing that they seemed reluctant to let him go.
‘That’s my place.’
As Harry’s friend, it was Jessie who should receive the affection and attention of Harry’s parents. Not Aemerus.
‘I only asked him to look after Harry, not to steal my position.’
It was while Jessie was quietly grinding his teeth over this.
Robin grabbed his hand and swung it playfully.
“Can’t we get ice cream before heading home?”
Jessie’s rigid expression softened as he smiled at Robin.
It was a relief. There was still something Aemerus hadn’t taken from him.
Robin, who was extremely shy around strangers, still followed only Jessie.
“Why not? Lili bought dinner, so I’ll get the ice cream.”
“Yay! Sister, did you hear? Brother’s going to buy us ice cream!”
At Robin’s excited shout, Harry’s parents and Aemerus turned their heads toward them.
“Isn’t it too late for ice cream? Young children should go to bed early.”
“One night won’t hurt.”
Aemerus and Jessie clashed once more.
Caught between them, Robin looked like a child caught in conflict between a biological father seen once a month after divorce and a new stepfather.
‘What am I even thinking.’
Harry shuddered and shook off the thought.
It was an inappropriate comparison to make about her friend and younger brother.
“Let’s just grab ice cream and go.”
Harry took Jessie’s hand.
Strictly speaking, it was more like she was siding with Robin rather than Jessie.
Robin, whom she hadn’t seen in a while, was gazing at her with such desperate eyes.
“Yes. Don’t stay out too late, and get home early.”
“Okay. See you at home later.”
Harry said goodbye to her parents and took Robin’s right hand.
The Ice Cream Shop they frequented was nearby, so it was definitely walkable.
“Lili, have you decided what to dress up as for Halloween?”
Jessie asked while holding Robin’s left hand.
Aemerus followed behind the three of them walking in a line.
“Hmm, the Riddler?”
“What? If that’s the case, wouldn’t Poison Ivy be better?”
The Riddler and Poison Ivy were both famous villains from Batman.
They shared the commonality of wearing green clothes, but the female character Poison Ivy would be better than the male character the Riddler, wouldn’t it?
“If I dress up as Poison Ivy, I’ll probably catch a cold…”
Even as Harry conversed with Jessie, her attention was fixed on the back of her head.
On Aemerus, who was quietly following behind them.
‘Isn’t this a bit much? It’s not like we’re singling out Aemerus or anything.’
But walking four abreast down the street felt awkward too.
Wouldn’t that be inconsiderate to people coming from the opposite direction?
“Robin, hold on a moment.”
After a brief moment of deliberation, I pretended to check my phone and released Robin’s hand, falling back.
Completely smitten with Jessie, Robin didn’t even notice me dropping back and continued chattering away.
‘Sigh.’
I couldn’t tell if my younger brother’s infatuation with Jessie was a blessing or a curse.
Exhaling softly, I struck up a conversation with Aemerus.
“Sorry, Aemerus. You must be exhausted after the match today.”
“That can’t be right. If I were tired, I would’ve taken a taxi home by now.”
“Fair point.”
From here in Midtown to Aemerus’s house was just a straight shot forward.
Reassured by his response, I let out a soft laugh.
“What flavor of ice cream do you like?”
“Strawberry pistachio.”
“Really? Me too! I love that flavor.”
Aemerus and I even had the same ice cream preferences.
It was truly remarkable.
‘Don’t most guys think ordering something like that is unmanly?’
That’s why Jessie, when around other boys, typically ordered simple flavors like vanilla or chocolate.
Only when it was just the two of us would he comfortably order without hesitation flavors like lemon or strawberry sorbet.
Anyway, setting that aside.
“Our tastes really do seem similar.”
First sandwiches and drinks, now ice cream preferences too.
I marveled at the coincidence.
‘Come to think of it, he even ate the side dishes that came with the meal earlier.’
Looking at Aemerus’s profile, I spoke.
“You should really come over to our house for dinner sometime. I think you’d get along great with my parents’ cooking.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Huh? What is?”
Seeing me tilt my head in confusion, Aemerus chuckled softly.
“I was worried your parents were just being polite with the invitation, and I’d be that tactless person who showed up uninvited.”
“Come on, no way.”
Of course, Koreans do use the phrase ‘let’s grab a meal sometime’ as a common greeting.
But my parents had already invited him to our house, hadn’t they?
That meant it wasn’t just something said in passing—it was sincere.
“They seemed to appreciate how well you use chopsticks. Jessie’s still clumsy with them, actually.”
“Not that surprising. I saw JJ using a spoon earlier.”
Aemerus nodded as if he’d anticipated as much.
Gazing at his profile, I suddenly found myself wondering about something.
A man whose tastes aligned with mine—sandwiches, beverages, even ice cream.
Could it really be mere coincidence that a man raised in the United States wielded chopsticks so skillfully?
Especially when Jessie still struggled with them?
‘Maybe I’m just reading too much into trivial things on my own.’
But if someone asked what my conclusion was… I honestly had nothing to say.
‘Is Aemerus actually my destined man?’
The moment anyone discovered I’d entertained such a thought, even briefly, I’d be socially buried without question.
‘That can’t be it.’
Both Aemerus and Jessie were far too good for someone like me.
I gazed bitterly at Jessie’s back as he walked ahead, but he suddenly turned around, startling me.
“What were you two talking about so animatedly?”
“Oh, nothing really.”
“It doesn’t seem like nothing.”
Jessie playfully interrogated us both before holding the shop door open.
We’d already arrived at the Ice Cream Shop.
“Ice cream!”
Robin rushed in first, followed by me.
Aemerus and Jessie, stepping in last, found themselves face to face.
“I didn’t expect you to follow us here.”
Jessie whispered in a low voice.
His displeasure was evident, making no attempt to hide it.
Aemerus glanced at me.
I was struggling to lift Robin, who was fussing about wanting to see the ice cream displayed inside the freezer.
“Same here.”
At Aemerus’s response, Jessie raised his eyebrows.
“I didn’t expect you to come either.”
“Ha.”
Aemerus gave Jessie’s shoulder a light tap before approaching me.
“Here, let me take him. I’ll hold him.”
He lifted Robin up without giving Jessie a chance to intervene.
Robin, who would normally throw a fit if it wasn’t Jessie, was too distracted by the ice cream to protest.
“I want this one too.”
“Then I’ll order that for you. Robin and I can share.”
“Really? Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
At the exchange between Aemerus and Robin, Jessie silently clenched his fists.

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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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