Just don't lie
Daughter.-
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"Are you here?"
Lee Sang-hyeok, who was sitting at a table inside the cafe, raised his hand toward me. I approached the table where he was sitting. There was an empty sofa seat. Lee Sang-hyeok sat down on a hard wooden chair again. Throughout our three-year relationship, Lee Sang-hyeok always gave me his soft sofa seat. And today too.
"Did you say you had an appointment today?"
"Yeah, I'm meeting a friend tonight."
"...Jiyoung?"
"huh"
Lee Sang-hyeok knows the people around me well. He even remembers the stories I tell about my acquaintances in passing. If I think about it carefully, I get the feeling that he knows my acquaintances better than I do.
“Oh, did you sleep well yesterday? I was worried because I didn’t hear from you.”
“Oh, then! I guess I was too tired yesterday. I passed out as soon as I got home.”
What, after breaking up with Lee Sang-hyeok after our date yesterday, I went drinking with my boyfriend who asked me to have a drink. Of course, it was a drinking party with my boyfriend. And the reason I lie to Lee Sang-hyeok is simply so that I don't make him worry. Ever since before, whenever I drink, I always end up getting hurt somewhere, so Lee Sang-hyeok has had a hard time. It's like Lee Sang-hyeok always has band-aids in his pocket because of me getting hurt. That's why Lee Sang-hyeok doesn't like me going to drinking parties. In the first place, Lee Sang-hyeok doesn't enjoy drinking, unlike me. Before I met Lee Sang-hyeok, I enjoyed drinking and dancing... But that was three years ago. At the beginning of our relationship, I lived a life cut off from the world like a monk cultivating the Way, but these days, I sometimes sneak out to drinking parties when he calls me. And last night was like that.
"The phone was turned off too."
"Oh, uhm... I forgot to charge it."
"Oh, really?"
Lee Sang-hyeok nodded his head in agreement with an unexpectedly polite expression. Instead, I was so nervous that I just sucked on the straw in the cup in front of me. I felt strangely sensitive towards the calm Lee Sang-hyeok. Could it be that he had been caught? I glanced at Lee Sang-hyeok’s expression. However, Lee Sang-hyeok was as affectionate as usual.
"Have you eaten? If not, should we go get some pasta? You like pasta, honey."
"Oh, no, I ate..!"
Pasta for a hangover? What's the big deal? I shook my head internally. I hadn't even eaten breakfast, but I lied that I had. Why does it seem like the number of lies keeps increasing? I piled on another lie as if I was trying to cover up a lie I had already told.
"Is oppa free now?" I turned the conversation to Lee Sang-hyeok. Right now, that affection felt threatening to me. I thought I might get caught.
"Yeah, I have to go soon. Ugh. I don't want to go-"
Sanghyuk stretched both his arms forward and grabbed my hands. And naturally, Sanghyuk interlocked his fingers and sulked. It was a cute habit for an older brother. He would sulk like this sometimes. I started to feel a little relieved from that moment. I thought that Sanghyuk hadn't realized that I was lying yet.
But was that a huge mistake on my part?
"But, honey"
"huh?"
"Did you hurt the back of your hand?"
Sanghyuk's gaze stopped on the back of my hand. It was only then that I remembered. Last night, while drinking, I overdid it and burned the back of my hand while grilling pork belly. But then, of all people, I got caught by Lee Sanghyuk.
"It was fine when I came in yesterday."
"Oh... Ramen! I burned myself while eating it!"
"...Oh my, be careful"
"That's why.. haha last time I was eating ramen alone and I made a sea of water. I told you I would do this.. really.. haha"
I was flustered by Sanghyuk's sharp question and continued to talk. My words became faster and more urgent than usual. It seemed like I couldn't even keep a poker face. Meanwhile, Sanghyuk silently listened to my rambling and just twirled the ring on his ring finger. His lips were showing a small smile, but his eyes were a little cold.
"..."
From then on, ah. I thought that maybe Lee Sang-hyeok had already noticed my lie from the beginning. Yes, Lee Sang-hyeok was that kind of person. He was the kind of person who didn't show his anger on the outside. He was the kind of person who would become rational and calm when he got angry, I just remembered.
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"But didn't you say you passed out as soon as you got in? When did you last eat ramen?"
This time, Lee Sang-hyeok's expression was definitely different. He was going to watch me until the end. Cold sweat ran down my back as Lee Sang-hyeok skillfully tightened his grip on me. Now, I had no choice but to give up.
"that is..."
"Hey, if you're honest, I'll let it slide."
When I was struggling, Sanghyuk smiled kindly. It was a kind smile, but there was a lot of meaning behind it.
"Did you drink yesterday or not?"
"...I ate."
"Did I do something wrong or not?"
"I was wrong..."
In the end, I got scolded unilaterally by Lee Sang-hyeok. He asked me if I was some kind of kindergarten teacher. I felt a little wronged. He knew that I liked drinking. Even so, I had been abstinent from alcohol while meeting you, Lee Sang-hyeok. Do I really have to get scolded like this just because I let my guard down last night? I’m not a kid. On the other hand, Lee Sang-hyeok must have noticed that I was feeling wronged.
Tack-kong.-
" ah! "
He hit me on the forehead. I looked at Lee Sang-hyeok in disbelief, making a sound. “Why are you hitting me?”
"You still don't know what you did wrong?"
"... what?"
"Think about it carefully"
"Have you had any drinks..?"
"Do you think that's what I'm doing?"
"Then what, don't beat around the bush.."
I was annoyed by Lee Sang-hyeok's beating around the bush riddle.
"Honey, I don't like drinking."
"It's okay to go drinking. I don't like it, but I don't have the right to touch that kind of thing. If you're lying, it's a different story."
"...ah"
I understood Lee Sang-hyeok's attitude. It wasn't because of the alcohol, but because he didn't like my lies.
"Next time, call me when you go out drinking late at night. I'll pick you up afterward."
It was Lee Sang-hyeok who surprisingly readily allowed me to drink. I asked back with wide eyes in surprise. "...What, really?"
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"So, just don't lie."
