Between A and B C13

Chapter 13

As I pondered deeply, the car suddenly stopped. Watching children raising their hands to cross a pedestrian crossing, I asked,

“By the way, where are we going?”

Conversation had started the moment we got in the car, so I didn’t even know our destination. Jung Woojin turned to look at me. Feeling his gaze, I turned and looked too, but he said nothing.

Wondering if something was on my face, I touched my cheek. Was my sunscreen not applied well? I rubbed the area near my jaw that Yunoel mentioned earlier having missed sunscreen. Then Jung Woojin spoke,

“I want to go somewhere to eat something. Is that okay?”

“Sure. What do you want to eat?”

“Walnut pie. I heard there’s a famous place near here.”

My eyes widened.

“Walnut pie? You like walnut pie too? I do as well.”

“…”

I’m not a big dessert person, but I really like walnut pie, so I asked happily. Jung Woojin fell silent again, staring quietly. Eventually, I asked,

“…Is something on my face?”

I turned on the phone camera and moved my head from side to side to check. There was no trace of sunscreen or anything else, so I wondered why he kept staring. Then, I noticed a pale spot near my neck. Surprised, I rubbed my neck and said,

“Oh, I put on sunscreen before coming out… Hey, tell me if you’re staring like that and not saying anything.”

I had thoroughly applied sunscreen with Yunoel’s help earlier, so why was I so patchy now? Just in case, I lifted the collar of my T-shirt and rubbed down to my shoulder. A small voice spoke beside me.

“I like it.”

“Huh?”

“I like it too.”

It was very soft, like a feather touching my ear. Jung Woojin lowered his head, and his black hair swayed slightly.

Just then, a loud honk blared behind us. Surprised, I turned around involuntarily. Jung Woojin didn’t move.

Another honk sounded.

I reached out and tapped Jung Woojin’s shoulder.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

At last, the car started moving slowly. I straightened up, sat properly with my hands on my knees, and face serious, said,

“Jung Woojin, you…”

“Can you call me Woojin?”

“Okay, Woojin.”

Trying not to show nervousness, I asked naturally,

“How long have you had your driver’s license?”

“License? About two or three years, I think.”

Two or three years wasn’t very recent, but it could be a trap. Jung Woojin usually traveled with a manager, so he probably rarely drove himself.

“Why do you ask?”

“No reason. Do you drive often? I like driving too.”

What? I didn’t understand why driving came up, but it sounded like he drove often.

“I drive sometimes when I have no schedule. Do you want to come along?”

I kept quiet. I had barely driven in my life. While working, I did ride in cars a lot for events, so I didn’t particularly like driving.

“Don’t you like driving?”

Why bring up driving suddenly? Did he misunderstand me? I didn’t want to say no in front of someone who liked driving, so I just nodded vaguely.

“Not that I love it. Just sometimes…”

“Sometimes? How often?”

“Not on fixed dates, just when stressed. I like it when friends drive, so occasionally I go with them.”

We were chatting when the surroundings began to look familiar.

“So next time, ride with me…”

“Is the place we’re going the walnut factory?”

“Yes. You know it too?”

“Oh, that place…”

Feeling uneasy, I took out my phone and looked up recent posts on Instagram about the walnut factory.

“Closed today due to personal reasons.”

“…”

“Why?”

It was posted this morning. The walnut factory was famous for its walnut pies but irregularly opened and closed at the owner’s discretion. We had often made wasted trips.

“They’re closed today?”

“Yes.”

“You have to check before visiting because the place often closes.”

“…”

Jung Woojin looked surprised and slowly pulled the car over to the side. He stared at me with a look of utter shock. His disappointment was clear, so I gently said,

“I know another place. Do you want to try that? Their walnut pie is good too.”

“…”

“They only offer takeout…”

“…”

He seemed to love the walnut pie at the factory a lot. I liked it best too but wondered if he could be so disappointed. It was amusing, like a kid upset for not winning a prize they wanted.

“Let’s go there. You like driving anyway. We can buy the walnut pie to go and eat in the car.”

Trying not to laugh, I said, and Jung Woojin looked at me. I fiddled with the navigation and said,

“It’s not far. It’s my second-favorite place, a hidden shop in a small alley.”

“Are you talking about Forest?”

“Huh? You know that place too?”

“Yes.”

Unlike the walnut factory, Forest was a small shop hidden in a neighborhood alley, known only to insiders. I first found the place by chance. It was the first time I’d met someone who knew it.

“That’s surprising, since it’s in a residential area and hard to find unless you have business there. Why’d you go there?”

I asked casually, but Jung Woojin looked uneasy and kept silent. Suddenly, it struck me like lightning I had been insensitive. I quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway, let’s go there. Is that okay?”

“Yes, anywhere is fine.”

His gloomy face lightened. He really seemed simple.

“What if it’s closed there too?”

“That place probably isn’t closed. If it is… we’ll just find somewhere else. I know a lot of walnut pie spots, don’t worry.”

“Yes.”

Jung Woojin nodded shyly. The car started moving again, and I looked quietly at his profile as he drove.

I realized he must’ve been seeing someone since there had never been any scandals before. Our agency forbade dating—did they not? Or were they secretive?

I kept this personal thought to myself and we soon arrived at Forest. The alley wasn’t deserted, so I unbuckled my seatbelt.

“I’ll go in and check. You stay here.”

“Can’t I come too?”

“No, you can’t. Stay in the car.”

After the convenience store incident, I was firm so we wouldn’t attract attention. Jung Woojin looked at me with big innocent eyes like Puss in Boots. His gaze startled me, and I shivered.

“…Did you bring a mask?”

“No.”

Sighing, I handed him the mask Jinhyuk prepared.

“Wear this.”

Jung Woojin took the mask with both hands but just looked at it without moving. I was puzzled, then surprised.

“This is new. Don’t worry.”

“Huh?”

“I just opened it. It’s never been used.”

“Oh… okay.”

His hesitant expression made me embarrassed, so I quickly said,

“Hey, why would I give you something I used? It’s really new.”

“Okay, but it’s fine even if not new.”

“It is new. Really. Put on the mask quickly.”

I urged him, and he slowly put it on. It looked too big, so I poked his ear and said,

“If it’s too big, twist the strap before putting it over your ear.”

“Huh?”

“Twist it once… just one full twist.”

He took off the mask and twisted it like wringing a rag. Watching that in disbelief, I snatched the mask and said,

“Twist the strap like this so it fits snug, not loose.”

I demonstrated twisting the strap once and handed the mask back. His movements were awkward and expression blank, so I sighed and took the mask back again. Then I fit the mask on him and twisted the strap once more.

“Like this.”

“…”

“Anyway, if you think people recognize you, get back in the car right away.”

“…Okay.”

Hearing his quiet response, I looked at him with concern, then got out of the car.