Maginot Line with you

Episode 23] Hidden Love

Was it something said with a blatant smile?

The atmosphere became tense in an instant.

Of course, I couldn't say anything in that situation either.

윤여주

....

이지오

..h,yes...?

이지오

Now... what...

Geo-ssi glanced at me, frowning slightly as if he thought it was quite rude to hear such words from a complete stranger.

There was a hint of prickle in his reply,

...It was a situation that could have been quite upsetting, but I also felt a certain discomfort at Geo's words, so I didn't say anything.

..maybe a little selfish...

전정혁

.....

Swish

Swish-

전정혁

....((Turns his head and looks at the female lead

윤여주

Surprise)) .......

전정혁

....he

전정혁

Oh, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. But...

전정혁

..I've heard that name a lot, and the job title is similar too.

윤여주

.....

전정혁

Somehow, in an ambiguous situation... I ended up revealing my name.

He rolled his eyes as if he was interested and looked around the inside of the cafe, then smiled and continued talking.

Geo-ssi, who was looking at him like that, had an emotion on his face that he couldn't hide and was holding back his expression.

I was honestly a little impressed by the way he continued the conversation with such skillful speaking skills even though he clearly saw that expression.

전정혁

.....

전정혁

My name is Jeon Jeong-hyeok. I used to be a prosecutor. Ah, now I'm really a prosecutor.

윤여주

.....

이지오

....

Ah,.. Jeonjeong.......

이지오

Would you like to order?

Perhaps it was a signal to get rid of his own distracting thoughts, but Geo-ssi seemed to respond to his words, but he seemed to be ready to take orders at the counter.

Only then did reality dawn on me. ...that this person was a guest.

전정혁

Ah, a warm cafe latte. Just a cup.

전정혁

I'll pay by card, haha

이지오

.....yes

이지오

Are you going to eat and go?

전정혁

Yes, the seats... well, you can sit anywhere, right?

윤여주

...yeah..it doesn't matter.

전정혁

Smile))

Amidst the slightly, no, very awkward atmosphere, the sound of Geo-ssi, who had handed him the coffee cup, packing his bag could be heard.

....I completely understand wanting to get out of this situation as soon as possible, but...

Personally, I feel a bit uncomfortable being left alone in this cafe like this...?

이지오

....

이지오

...I'll go in first.

윤여주

Yeah, uh... okay... okay, go ahead.

이지오

..Well then, that's it.....

Step by step,

He, who appears to be walking towards the store door with long strides,

The sound of the door suddenly rang, causing his steps to stop for a moment.

Dingling

Ddallang_

전정국

......

이지오

..., .....

전정국

......?

이지오

.....((He passes Jeongguk without saying anything and leaves the cafe.

전정국

Doori b))

전정국

.......

전정혁

.....

윤여주

...order, I'll help you..

전정국

Oh, ah.....

There was something strange about the way he left the store,

Jeongguk glanced at the place he had gone to with absentminded eyes and looked around the cafe.

....And the expression suddenly hardened... I guess it's because he found someone.

전정국

..a glass of iced Americano...and lots of ice. To-go

윤여주

.....

윤여주

3000 won, I'll help you pay. ...

I was curious about the sight of him leaving the cafe after receiving his coffee without saying anything to me.

Jeong-hyeok gets up from his seat soon after the closed cafe door rattles and the bell rings.

The female protagonist, who greeted me with a friendly smile and said she would enjoy a cup of coffee, gave me a strange sense of unease.

Jeobuk_

_Jeokbuk

Jeobuk_

_Jeokbuk

전정국

Whoosh))

Just as the sound of heels hitting the pavement felt unusually loud, Jungkook turned his head and looked behind him.

He frowns for a moment at the sight of Jeong-hyeok standing right behind him, as if he had followed him.

전정국

.....

전정국

Brother... I didn't know you'd come out so quickly.

전정혁

...Oh, that. There's a jewel. A jewel, heh.

전정국

.......

Jeongguk slowly closed his eyes as he smiled again, a friendly smile on his face.

Maybe, he's holding back his anger,

전정국

Then why did you come all the way here? All the way to the cafe in front of our company?

전정혁

I didn't come here to see you. Are you being self-indulgent? Haha

전정혁

..why did I come to see you, ah..

전정혁

How is your sister-in-law?

전정국

....ha.....

전정국

......

Jeongguk, who seemed to be angry or not, just brushed his hair back with a blank expression and quietly looked at Jeonghyeok.

Jeonghyeok opened his mouth as coffee dripped down his hand and fell to the floor, probably because he had been gripping the innocent disposable takeout cup too tightly.

전정혁

Hey... isn't it a waste to waste coffee? He made it for me.

전정국

....what,

전정혁

Why, there's the female protagonist. The cafe employee.

전정혁

Hey, that's the guy from your high school days, right?

전정국

......

전정국

What if it's true? Why, do you care?

전정혁

he....

전정혁

I think you're more concerned about that-

전정국

...

전정혁

Anyway, how come all these coincidences happen?

전정혁

You're so lucky, aren't you?

전정혁

...That's why Mom chose you over me.

전정국

.....If you're not going to take responsibility for what you said, then shut up.

전정국

To be honest, I'm enduring it because I hate to see it.

전정혁

Oh my...

The ice that had not yet melted felt rough and rough on the palm of my hand that was exerting strength.

As the feeling of the ice cubes colliding with each other in the crumpled plastic container grew dull to the cold, Jeongguk lifted his hand and shook off the coffee that had soaked his hand.

And it was the heroine who watched the scene through the broken glass window.

_

_That evening, in Jeongguk's car

Perhaps it was an extension of the awkwardness about what happened today, but the atmosphere was noticeably more subdued than usual.

The female protagonist, who had been quietly looking out the window, opened her mouth.

윤여주

......

윤여주

...That person...is your older brother...?

전정국

Huh...?

전정국

...You remembered..?

윤여주

Honestly, I almost didn't recognize you... if you hadn't told me your name

전정국

..don't think too much about it. ...there's nothing....good about it,

윤여주

.....

I am saddened by the awkwardness that shows no sign of getting better.

The heroine fiddled with the glass bottle in her bag.

And the sound of the phone ringing breaks the silence.

전정국

.......

전정국

....((Hang up the phone that came in.

윤여주

Phone... Shouldn't I be answering it..?

전정국

Even if I receive it, it will only be a waste of time,

윤여주

.....

윤여주

..When I got in the car today, the air was warm.

윤여주

You kicked me... Thanks, haha

전정국

......

Swish

Swish-

Jungkook turns his head and looks at the female protagonist, at her calmly delivered thanks.

...the blinking eyelashes were quite long.

전정국

Whoosh))

전정국

.......

How many minutes passed?

His car stops gently on the still awkward road.

The female protagonist opens her mouth quietly as if she is quite worried, as he glances at her, saying that they are all here now.

Jeongguk's eyes, which had always been the same, widened at the words that came out of his mouth.

No, it got a little bigger.

전정국

Wow... I've been invited to Yoon Yeo-ju's house every time I've lived.

윤여주

..don't be so excited, that's not what I called you to do....

전정국

lol

Jungkook sitting quietly at the artistic table in her house.

The female protagonist was sitting with her legs crossed and her chin resting on the table, and she was laughing hysterically.

윤여주

....I didn't have any coffee today,

전정국

..uh, ah...

전정국

I saw that...

윤여주

At this hour, tea would be better than coffee, right?

전정국

.....he..

전정국

Do as you please,

Yeo-ju comes out of the kitchen holding two cups, leaving Jeong-guk behind as he curiously touches the succulent plant placed on the table as a decoration.

The sweet scent of the flower petals floating on the teacup tickled my nose.

전정국

I only know chrysanthemum tea... What kind of tea is it?

윤여주

...Acacia, I received a gift today.

전정국

Ah.. haha, so this is my first time?

윤여주

...? Do you really have to give it that much meaning?

전정국

No.... That's okay, though... If it's like this...

Jungkook continued speaking, his gaze fixed on the steam rising slowly, wondering if it was hot.

I don't know what happened after that, but somehow they were reminiscing about their high school days.

윤여주

....

윤여주

..Do you remember when we were in high school, we used to memorize flower language and use it as a code?

전정국

Flower language?

전정국

...Ah... something like a birth flower?

윤여주

Haha, similar

윤여주

As I was drinking tea, I suddenly remembered that time...

전정국

...I told you I don't have any good memories of it.

윤여주

....umm...

윤여주

..it's not like there isn't any at all....

The answer, given with the corners of her lips gently curled up, seemed to occasionally contain a hint of loneliness in her voice.

I still miss the art room a little, he said, and as he reminisced, I too was reminded of those memories.

...our art room.....

The sun was shining brightly, and a tall telephone pole was visible outside the window.

..perhaps our first meeting, our first conversation, our first excitement....

First kiss,

전정국

......

전정국

Oh, then do you know what the acacia flower language is?

윤여주

....acacia..?

윤여주

uh......

윤여주

...Friendship..? I remember it as something like that..? ..A clean meeting... Was it? Anyway, it seems like there were a lot of really random things.

전정국

.....

윤여주

What is it, I don't remember...

전정국

....((snickers

A shadow approaches behind a playful smile,

At some point, his hand came closer and gently brushed through my hair.

전정국

What the hell are you wearing on your head?

윤여주

......

The identity of the thing that was thrust right in front of my eyes and confirmed was a small piece of fluff,

Thinking, "Why go this far?", I stamped my foot.

윤여주

Other than that, tell me quickly.

전정국

..what-hahahaha

윤여주

......

윤여주

Acacia flower language,

전정국

...um...

전정국

he,

전정국

It's a secret, from you

...

..

.

....

...I'm trying to do this for no reason, so here's a preview of the next episode.

윤여주

....((smile

윤여주

Merry Christmas, haha

전정국

I don't know...?

백시혜

....

백시혜

...Please. I know I shouldn't do this, but...

백시혜

I'm so anxious...

작가

Hehe... Thank you for reading this episode!!

작가

If you have any questions or don't understand anything about the work, please feel free to leave a comment!! Writers who enjoy communication are happy😊

작가

Lastly, a favor... please.

Sonting😊