My Unrequited Love Is an Absolute Secret - Chapter 23

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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 23

After finishing his ice cream, Robin grew suddenly quiet and began nodding off, his head drooping gently.
“Finally asleep.”
“Children really do look their prettiest when they’re sleeping, don’t they?”
Jessie and I exchanged knowing glances and laughed.
“Now that we’ve finished our ice cream, let’s head out. Lili, you have work tomorrow—you must be tired.”
“It’s okay since I’m working the afternoon shift.”
I turned to Aemerus with a bright smile.
“Aemerus, are you finished?”
“Yeah.”
Only after confirming Aemerus was done did I brush off my clothes and stand.
“Jessie, how are you getting home? Did you drive?”
“No. You have to give me a ride.”
At his childish plea—though he’d never admit it was one—I couldn’t help but laugh and shake my head in defeat.
“Fine. Let’s head to where I parked the car.”
“I’ll skip out here.”
Aemerus stepped back instead of joining us.
“Isn’t it quite far to walk home from here?”
“I’ll just run for exercise. Don’t worry.”
“Hmm.”
Dropping Aemerus off at home and then taking Jessie home would complicate my route.
Sensing my hesitation, Aemerus chuckled softly and took my hand.
Jessie’s eyes narrowed as he watched us.
“Thanks for coming to cheer me on today.”
“Oh, that’s nothing really…”
“I’ll be in touch.”
After saying goodbye, Aemerus gave Jessie a subtle nod and left without hesitation.
Unlike him, who departed without a backward glance, I awkwardly fidgeted with my hand.
‘What was that? Why did he suddenly grab my hand?’
I could easily misunderstand the situation.
That there was something between us.
Otherwise, why would he suddenly…
It was my right hand—the same one Jessie had held not long ago—which made the strange feeling even more pronounced.
“Lili, let’s go.”
“Huh? Oh! Yes, let’s go.”
Jessie’s voice snapped me back to reality.
The walk back with him was silent.
Just one person was missing.
‘Besides, Aemerus isn’t exactly talkative either.’
I was surprised to realize his presence carried such weight.
Silence settled between us with Robin sleeping in the middle, yet it didn’t feel awkward.
Jessie and I had never been uncomfortable with silence anyway, and the ambient noise of New York’s nighttime streets filled the void completely.
The moment I spotted the car I’d parked, Jessie finally opened his mouth that had been firmly shut.
“Can you open the back door so I can get Robin in?”
I opened the car door without hesitation.
He carefully settled Robin onto the seat without waking him, fastened the seatbelt, and headed toward the passenger side.
“Lili, let’s go to your place.”
“Huh? You want me to take you home?”
Watching me tilt my head in confusion, Jessie laughed softly.
“Of course I’m joking. As if I’d actually ask you to take me there.”
Jessie was reluctant to invite her to his new place.
He’d only reluctantly agreed when taking Jessie’s Mother to the Hospital.
According to him, the neighborhood wasn’t very safe….
I understood his reasons for avoiding the invitation, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed.
‘Things were better when we were young.’
Back then was different from now.
We were happy just being together, unconcerned with family circumstances or our surroundings.
‘I need to stop sulking and grow up.’
I shook my head and started the car.
Since I’d traveled between my parents’ Restaurant and home so many times, I didn’t need navigation.
Inside the car, a gentle silence flowed.
Jessie, who had been gazing out the window while leaning against the seat, suddenly broke the silence.
“Lili.”
“Yeah?”
“About Aemerus.”
Aemerus?
My ears perked up, curious about what he was going to say.
….
But no matter how long I waited, Jessie remained lost in thought, saying nothing.
“What is it? Why did you stop talking?”
When I laughed, Jessie laughed along with me.
But his smile seemed uncomfortable somehow.
“It was nothing important.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I was just asking when Aemerus’s next match is.”
“You agonized over that just to ask me that?”
“Tell me about it.”
Jessie let out a laugh that sounded like air escaping from a deflating balloon.
‘Don’t get too close to Aemerus. What good would it do to say something like this now?’
If he were in Harry’s position and heard such words, he’d find it utterly ridiculous.
Because it was none other than himself who had entrusted her to Aemerus in the first place.
“The next match is in two weeks, right? Seems like there’s plenty of time.”
“Are you going to cheer again then?”
“I don’t know. I heard the next match is being held in Texas.”
It was only a four-hour flight from New York, so it wasn’t impossible if I set my mind to it, but that far?
“I’m kind of curious to see what the Texas guys are like.”
Harry shrugged her shoulders and added with a joke.
“But those guys might report me to ICE.”
ICE was the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, and numerous controversies had arisen during the process of strengthening the crackdown on illegal immigrants.
Even Harry’s family, who were legal immigrants, had refrained from going out for a while.
Jessie couldn’t help but laugh awkwardly at the pointed joke Harry had thrown out.
Considering the very conservative nature of the people of Texas, what was meant as a joke could very well become reality.
“I really think it would be better if you didn’t go.”
Seeing Jessie’s serious face, Harry shook her head.
“Come to think of it, Aemerus didn’t even ask me to come to the next match.”
Was it his imagination that he detected a hint of disappointment in her voice?
“…Yeah. You can hang out with me instead.”
“With you?”
Jessie asked again, seeing her lukewarm expression.
“What? Am I not good enough anymore?”
“It’s not that…”
It wasn’t as though I didn’t know Jessie was busy. I was just grateful he hadn’t stood me up.
Just then, her phone vibrated with a buzzing sound.
She thought it might be a message from Aemerus, who had arrived home first, but the continuous vibrations suggested otherwise.
“I think that’s your phone?”
At Harry’s words, Jessie reluctantly pulled out his phone.
「Chloe」
She caught sight of the name displayed on the screen.
Harry cursed her unnecessarily sharp eyesight.
‘Julia leaves, and now Chloe shows up.’
Who was Chloe anyway, she wondered inwardly, but Jessie’s demeanor was strange.
He simply stared at the continuously vibrating phone.
His face showed the conflict of whether to answer or not.
“Aren’t you going to answer?”
“I should.”
He took a deep breath as if making a decision, then answered the call.
Harry stared straight ahead, determined not to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Whether fortunately or unfortunately, Chloe’s voice didn’t reach Harry’s ears clearly.
“Yes, I know where that is. Right now? …I understand. No, I’ll find my own way there.”
Jessie ended the brief call with a heavy sigh.
“Lili, drop me off here.”
“Huh? Here?”
“Something came up. I need to go take care of it.”
“At this hour?”
I was taken aback.
It wasn’t that I didn’t trust him, but even in the fashion industry, could work really pop up out of nowhere at 9 PM?
“Sorry. Right after I suggested we hang out together, this happens.”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Since I hadn’t harbored much hope to begin with, I felt no disappointment.
I pulled over at a suitable spot and let him out.
“You don’t have to wait for my Uber to arrive, right?”
“It’ll be here in five minutes. Don’t worry about me—just get inside safely.”
“Yeah….”
It wasn’t easy to drive away while watching Jessie wave goodbye.
I kept glancing back like someone who’d left something behind, but eventually I had no choice but to depart.
“What kind of work calls someone out on a Friday night, anyway?”
I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
Jessie was always straightforward about these things—magazine shoots, meetings with editors—so this vagueness was unlike him.
“No, I shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”
Hadn’t I just been making strange assumptions about Aemerus on my own?
I shook my head firmly, dispelling the suspicious thoughts.

***

Jessie went to work Friday night and remained unreachable throughout the weekend, seemingly occupied with other matters.
Instead, I exchanged trivial messages with Aemerus as a new week dawned.
Jessie’s birthday was drawing near.
My heart raced as though it were my own birthday.
I hoped the gift I’d prepared would please him.
I’d already collected the pre-ordered present and finished wrapping it beautifully.
All that remained was to hand it over to Jessie.
I found myself smiling as I imagined him wearing what I’d chosen for him, though the happiness was fleeting.
The thought of Jessie’s silence dampened my mood.
What if something urgent came up on his birthday?
I absolutely refused to celebrate his birthday without him present.
At least I wouldn’t be alone.
Knowing Robin and Aemerus would be there too gave me a sense of reassurance.
“What’s on your mind that you didn’t even notice someone arriving?”
“Oh, Aemerus.”
I no longer startled as easily when Aemerus suddenly sat across from me.
Instead, as if I’d been expecting him, I retrieved a lunch container and slid it toward him.
“What’s this?”
“My mother packed it for us to share.”
“Is that why you told me not to buy a sandwich today?”
“Yes.”
Aemerus smiled warmly.
“I feel bad always receiving kindness without giving back.”
“Then don’t waste it—eat with gratitude.”
I was startled to realize how easily I exchanged banter with Aemerus now.

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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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