Vows and Bullets
Chapter 86: "That" Man

Chapter 86: "That" Man

"I think it looks great," Eun-Woo finally said. "This kind of art is pleasing to the eyes and would be best suited for 3d to 5d animations. The details, lighting, shading, colors, and the subject were drawn perfectly in a way that they complement each other. At first glance, it looks like it applies ’Realism’ to the art since the subject is made to look exactly like how a person would look. But the details that could have made it equal to realism or hyper-realism were omitted—like the pores on the skin, blemishes, or freckles, if the subject had any. Thus, it is probably why it looked dreamy and fictional, as Ye-Ji’ya said. And yes, it does look like a prince—not a dark prince just because the hair and eyes were black, but more like... hmm... a sad prince, maybe?"

Yoon-Ah’s eyes sparkled when she heard that.

"Oh my goodness! Finally! Someone who understands!" she exclaimed out in her joy. "Yes! That’s exactly what I intended it to be."

Ohh, I see. So that’s the kind of thing she wanted to hear. Too bad, I wouldn’t have any idea about those. How would I know art? The only thing I could draw was a stickman.

"But why a sad prince? He’s smiling," I asked.

"His smile is distant," they chorused.

I peeked into the sketchbook again, but I couldn’t see how the smile looked distant. If the person itself were with me, I would have been able to tell, but looking at the sketch, it looked like a normal smiling face to me.

"It’s the eyes," Eun-Woo pointed to me. "These lines here, the strength of the shade in the pupils, and the eyebrows."

"Woah! Now that you pointed it out, I can see it."

’How could he be THAT observant? Ugghh... This can’t be. I have to be as good as him or better than him if I ever want to be the Top 1 agent. Even simple things like this, he’s so good at it! So unfair!’

"Anyway, this only means that your customer earlier was a little sad, isn’t he?"

"Yeah, it does look like it. But of course, I can’t ask why right? I’m just a random stranger for him."

I nodded in agreement.

"Well, enough of this customer of yours unless you secretly have a crush on him?" I teased her.

"What? No! I simply appreciated his handsomeness and thought I needed to draw it. That’s all."

"Okay, if you say so."

After that, we chatted some more until evening came, and we all ate dinner together. Yoon-Ah kept on saying she missed me and asked if I could sleep over. I didn’t mind it—in fact, I wanted to. The same goes for mom, but the problem was Eun-Woo. Would it be alright for this rich heir to sleep in a humble home? Well, he did sleep in our house, so I guess it was fine?

I asked him just to be sure, and he agreed as long as I slept beside him. Hah! How clever of him to drag me, huh?

Because of that, after much random chatting, all three of us—me, Yoon-Ah, and Eun-Woo, decided to sleep in Yoon-Ah’s room. There was only one bed, so I had to sleep in between, with the two of them hugging me like a pillow—one on each of my arms. Ugh. Seriously, these two. Now, I feel like a mother with two children.

’Oh well, at least I enjoyed the day. I really missed Yoon-Ah and her family. They truly are the nicest people in the whole wide world.’

There was only one thing that kept bothering me until we laid down to sleep. Yoon-Ah... she was a bit pushy today, and a little over the place. I wonder what happened? Was there something she wanted to tell me, but she couldn’t since Eun-Woo was with me? Or was it simply my imagination running wild?

’Hmm... I hope nothing is wrong.’

Praying that over and over, I soon fell asleep.

***

[Yoon-Ah POV]

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

The usually unheard sound of the clock in my room rang loud in my ears, thanks to the dead silence of the night.

Despite lying in bed with my beloved best friend, I couldn’t sleep.

There was something I had wanted to ask her ever since their wedding day... but I wasn’t able to bring it up.

’Ye-Ji’ya... at that time you...

"W-Who touched this?" you asked me in a trembling voice while holding on to my shawl and gripping it tightly.

"T-There was a man who helped me earlier. The wind blew my shawl, and it got caught up in a flower arch, and then—"

I tried to answer you, but you snapped.

"Where?!"

Scared of seeing you like that—desperate and out of yourself, I pointed outside. And then you ran away looking for someone. Someone I don’t know.

’Why did you suddenly run at that time?’ I wanted to ask so badly.

When you grabbed into my shawl and asked me who touched it, I figured it would have been because of the scent since you’ve seen me with that shawl all day and you didn’t say anything until that time. When you came back, I wanted to ask more, but you looked so broken. If I say more, I’m afraid you might turn worse... so I kept my silence until the wedding was over.

But then, weeks passed, and I didn’t get the chance to talk to you again about it. Even now, when you visited us, seeing you back smiling with your husband... how could I dare ask something that might trigger a bad memory?

Especially when... that scent...

I think I encountered it again today.

That man that I drew earlier... I think it was him.

He smelled the same as that man who helped me get my shawl from the flower arch on your wedding day. Only, I didn’t recognize who it was because he was wearing a mask and dark eyeglasses in his eyes. There were also other people in black suits with him.

And the reason why I bothered him—asking for a picture, though he declined, and a drawing which luckily he agreed on—was because I thought... maybe, just maybe...

What if... they were the same person?

I know that perfumes could be bought anywhere, and maybe they just happen to have the same scent, or it was a brand that most men use, but... I don’t know. My instincts kept on giving me bad vibes.

Maybe I just badly wanted to help you out since you’ve been searching for "that" person, right? That’s why I tried to draw it as realistically as I could, but I failed. I’m so sorry for that. If only I could draw better.’

Haaah... I should sleep. I won’t get answers in my mind anyway. I wonder when I could talk to her again, with just the two of us. Maybe I can ask her tomorrow or ask Eun-Woo to give us some girl-bonding time. He seemed nice, so he would agree, right?

Thinking that, I soon fell asleep, hugging my dearest friend. I really missed her. I pray that she keeps on having happy days from now on.

However, morning came, and Ye-Ji’ya had to leave with her husband. Aishhh... I couldn’t ask it again. They said they had somewhere important they needed to go. And I couldn’t just call her anytime I please—Mythos rules and whatnot.

Oh well, I guess we could just discuss it next time. After all, I could be overthinking. I should investigate it first before I tell her anything, right? That way, she won’t feel sad unnecessarily.

Thus, I waved my hand goodbye to my friend, and went back to the shop. Ugh... that part-timer needs to learn how to be on time! My mother asked me to take care of the counter again today! I’m supposed to be drawing my next masterpiece! Wraaaaa...

Cling! Clang!

The door to our coffee shop sounded for the first time that morning, signifying my first customer. Why do you people come so early in the morning? I still feel sleepy.

Rubbing my eyes and yawning, I asked the customer my usual spiel.

"What are you having today, sir?"

"One large strawberry frappuccino, please."

Hearing his voice, it sounded familiar so I opened my eyes.

It was "him"... again.

__________________________

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