My Unrequited Love Is an Absolute Secret - Chapter 8

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

Chapter 8

I was inwardly surprised by Aemerus’s ability to empathize as if my troubles were his own, listening with such genuine concern.
It was the first time since Jessie that I’d encountered a boy with such remarkable emotional intelligence.
So I approached our conversation with greater sincerity than I had initially intended when I’d started talking merely to save face.
“Are you thinking of going back to Korea too?”
“I didn’t mean I’d return to Korea right away. My parents have their business to manage, and besides, I’ve been studying for the SAT all this time. It would be difficult to switch to the Korean entrance exam system now.”
The SAT was the American college entrance exam, and it differed somewhat from Korea’s entrance examination.
After hearing her explanation, Aemerus finally relaxed his serious expression.
“You really startled me.”
At his genuinely shocked expression, I couldn’t help but laugh.
It seemed the thought that I might suddenly leave the United States had hit him hard.
‘So he does consider me a friend.’
That’s why he’d offered to help me choose a dress.
I should have realized it then.
Aemerus was friends with Jessie, and Jessie was my friend.
So there was nothing strange about Aemerus and me being friends too.
“Even if my family goes back to Korea, I think I’d stay here.”
“Because of JJ?”
Scratch that—we’re not friends.
His sudden, piercing question caught me off guard, and I nearly accidentally hit the brake.
“What are you talking about? Obviously it’s for college.”
“Right.”
Even after hearing his response, my mind wouldn’t settle.
I stole a sideways glance at Aemerus, whose expression had returned to its usual composure.
‘Did he figure out that I have a crush?’
Maybe he’d caught on when I was so excited seeing Jessie’s photo shoot at the Shopping Mall yesterday.
‘He’s not going to tell Jessie, is he?’
I could already picture Aemerus tattling to Jessie about my obvious crush.
As I shook my head, trying to dismiss the thought, Aemerus spoke.
“Why don’t you get your brother into sports?”
While I’d been suspicious of him, he’d apparently been thinking of advice to offer me.
“There’s nothing better than sports for boys. It’s easy to make other friends that way too.”
“Oh, sports, right.”
I felt both apologetic and embarrassed for misunderstanding him.
I replied in as casual a tone as I could manage, hoping my flushed face wouldn’t be noticed.
“We were thinking the same thing. Before Jessie got so busy.”
“Why is JJ so busy?”
“Jessie was originally supposed to teach my brother hockey. But as you know.”
Harry lifted her shoulders with a shrug.
“Jessie’s been busy lately.”
“Well, he certainly looks busy hanging around with girls.”
At his words, which had been subtly grating on her nerves, Harry turned to look at him.
He, however, stared straight ahead with a face so quiet it was almost eerie, as though nothing had happened.
‘Am I being too sensitive?’
Perhaps she was just being paranoid because of her unrequited feelings for Jessie—a position she couldn’t be proud of.
Just before she could look away from him, he suddenly turned his head, and their eyes met directly.
“I can take Jessie’s place.”
“What?”
“If you want.”
Harry had to strain her mind to accept his words at face value without misinterpreting them.
“You’re saying you’ll teach my brother hockey? You?”
Aemerus nodded, but Harry remained skeptical.
“Well… my brother is really shy around strangers.”
“If one-on-one lessons are uncomfortable, there’s also the option of lessons with other kids. The hockey coach teaches younger children on weekends.”
“Really? That would work?”
The hockey coach was a staff member at Riverside School, so she wondered if he could hold a second job.
Her question was resolved quite simply.
“Riverside is a private school. And they scout talented kids and bring them in. Some kids even learn hockey with that goal in mind from the start.”
“Ah, I see.”
If the reason was to discover talent, it made sense that the school would allow a second job.
“If your brother is aiming for a school under the Riverside Foundation, it could be a good opportunity.”
“At this point, I’d be grateful to any school willing to accept my brother…”
Riverside School was one of the top five prestigious private schools in New York.
Unless my brother had exceptional talent in hockey, that is.
Right now, I couldn’t even dare submit an application.
“Still, thanks for the advice. I’ll bring it up with my brother again.”
I couldn’t keep waiting for Jessie forever.
Both I and Robin had to get used to life without Jessie.
“I’m glad if I could help.”
And I suppose I’ll get used to this boy’s presence too.
Harry laughed weakly as she looked at Aemerus sitting beside her.
In the silence that followed, the car arrived safely at the School Parking Lot.
“Thanks for the ride.”
Aemerus, who had gotten out of the passenger seat, accompanied her to the lockers.
“See you later.”
He turned back after naturally confirming their next meeting, and pulled out his phone.
A message had just arrived.
“You filthy bastard.
Stop hitting on girls.”
He skimmed the message with indifferent eyes and turned off the screen without another thought.
He assumed it was just some bored person’s prank.

***

To me, Aemerus Huntington was a reminder of Jessie’s absence.
If I had to give it a name, I’d call him a friend.
But the female students of Riverside School thought very differently.
And for good reason—Aemerus Huntington was the most handsome boy in school, the ace of the Hockey Team, and currently single.
So it was only natural that there was much speculation about who would be Aemerus’s Homecoming partner.
“Aemerus, is it true you still haven’t found a Homecoming partner?”
Time had slipped away, and the Homecoming party was now just around the corner.
Even then, his partner remained a mystery.
‘I thought he’d taken my advice to heart—that if he had someone in mind, he should hurry.’
Had I been mistaken?
Aemerus answered my puzzled question with a gesture of his chin, his expression dripping with annoyance.
“There’s no girl I want to go with.”
“…There are more than a few girls who’ll be heartbroken by that.”
Well, truthfully, whether or not Aemerus had a partner was none of my concern.
Even if he didn’t attend the party at all.
There would be plenty of friends at the venue to welcome Jessie.
I silently offered my condolences to the female students of Riverside School.
Had they known the misfortune that would soon befall me, they could never have been so carefree.

***

Misfortune struck her like lightning without the slightest warning.
And it happened on the very day of the Homecoming Party.
“You can’t come today?”
-I’m really sorry, Liri. I had no idea something would come up so suddenly.
Jessie continued explaining his circumstances through the phone, but I couldn’t understand any of it.
Or rather, nothing was registering in my ears at all.
I barely managed to speak, holding back tears that threatened to spill over at any moment.
“Why couldn’t you have told me a little sooner…”
Excited about attending the party with Jessie after so long, I had completed all my preparations early.
I’d had a facial, gotten a massage, had my hair done, and finished my makeup.
I was even wearing the dress I’d shopped for with Aemerus, and all I had to do was step out the door—but Jessie couldn’t make it.
-I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.
He’d been looking for any opportunity to cancel, but when it became clear he couldn’t, he called me now. Jessie was genuinely apologetic.
Continuing to listen to his apologies felt unbearable.
I forced myself to smile.
“No, it’s fine. It’s not like there’s any other reason—it’s work, so there’s nothing we can do about it.”
-Really, I’m so sorry. Instead, I asked Aemerus to escort you. So…
“What?”
In that moment, I vividly understood what it meant for blood to run cold.
“Ask him to do what, exactly?”
-Liri. I did this for you…
“If you really cared about me, you wouldn’t do this. I’m not some coat you can just hand off to anyone!”
-You know that’s not what I meant.
I could hear Jessie pleading through the phone, but that didn’t erase the hurt he’d caused me.
“I can decide for myself who I spend time with and what I do. So I’m politely declining your suggestion.”
-Liri!
I hung up the phone.
It was the first time I’d ever ended a call with Jessie first, and my heart was pounding.
I stared at my phone, wondering if this was all just a dream.
But Jessie didn’t call back or send a message.
“This is too much…”
It was fine when Jessie broke his promises to me.
He was supporting himself alone right now, and this kind of thing had happened before, so I was used to it.
But handing me off to another man—that was something he should never, ever do.
In the end, the tears I’d been holding back came pouring out.
I was crying hard, forgetting all about the makeup I’d so carefully applied.
[Harry, is something wrong?]
My mother knocked on the door from outside, probably hearing the commotion from my phone call.
[Nothing’s wrong.]
Not wanting her to see me crying, I hurriedly wiped my tears away with a tissue.
[If you’re not busy, would you come out for a moment? Jessie’s friend has arrived. His name is Aemerus.]
Harry, who had been wiping away tears, froze like stone.
Aemerus was already here?

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