IDMPYU 16

Chapter 16. Don’t Avoid Me

Jihyun stared blankly at Hajun’s broad back before snapping back to her senses and bowing her head. She bit her lower lip desperately to keep her trembling lips from showing.

Thankfully, Hajun seemed not to have noticed her standing in the corner, distracted as he was greeting Seungho, who was sitting in the most visible spot from the second floor. But it was only a matter of time before he spotted her.

What should she say if they made eye contact?

“Hi, Hajun. Long time no see. Are you here to meet a friend? I’m currently serving your friend like a maid.”

The thought alone made her let out a dry laugh.

“I’d rather just knock myself out by hitting a wall.”

Seungho, who was watching Jihyun press herself closer to the wall as if trying to disappear, greeted Hajun with a relaxed smile.

“You’re Kim Hajun, right? I’ve heard a lot about you from Minwoo. Nice to meet you.”

Minwoo sighed in relief at Seungho’s unexpectedly warm reaction and cheerfully waved Hajun over. Hajun sat on the sofa opposite Seungho. His brows furrowed with concern as his eyes landed on the white bandage.

“Is your hand okay? I heard you were pretty badly hurt…”

Seungho gave a short laugh and lifted his right hand.

“This?”

His gracefully curved eyes automatically shifted from Hajun to Jihyun. Ever since Hajun appeared, Jihyun had gone completely pale and couldn’t even look in their direction.

“Do they know each other? Or are they friends?”

Since Hajun also attended Cheongmyeong High School, it wasn’t out of the question. But it didn’t really matter. What had been a boring day suddenly became unbearably entertaining…

Tapping the sofa leg with his uninjured left fingers—a habit that surfaced when he was in a good mood—Seungho fell into thought.

“What should I say? That it was serious and hurt a lot, or that it was nothing?”

Either way, something that made Jihyun uncomfortable would be ideal. With a slight smile tugging at his lips, Seungho spoke gently.

“It didn’t seem like a big deal, so I thought it’d heal quickly, but there’s been no improvement. I guess I’ll need someone to keep helping me for a while.”

“I see. I hope you recover soon.”

Even a polite remark like that felt sincere coming from Hajun—he was clearly well brought up. Seungho leaned back on the sofa, calmly watching Hajun, and his smile slowly returned to his place.

“So this punk got into Cheongmyeong, huh? I’m sure his parents were raising hell behind the scenes.”

Not that it mattered. The observing was over—it was time for the real show to begin.

“Oh no, I haven’t served our guest any drinks yet.”

Seungho slowly turned his head to look at Jihyun.

“Your cue, sweetheart.”

Startled by being addressed, Jihyun shook her head at Seungho, her face drained of color.

Her pleading eyes practically begged him not to make her do this. Seeing that desperation only made the situation more amusing. So amusing, it was infuriating.

“So they’re clearly not just acquaintances.”

Barely suppressing a laugh, Seungho brought his long fingers to his lips. Bora, who had been quietly observing Hajun from beside Minwoo, clapped her hands at Seungho’s signal. She had been waiting for this too.

“Oh right! How could we forget to serve our special guest?”

Acting as if she were the lady of the house, Bora lifted her chin haughtily and spoke in Seungho’s stead.

“You, over there. Don’t just stand around—go downstairs and bring us some drinks. What’s available in the kitchen?”

In that moment, all three seated people turned their gaze to Jihyun. It was the worst-case scenario.

“Ah…”

As her eyes met Hajun’s, Jihyun felt the blood drain from her body. Her cold fingers fidgeted, but no warmth returned, and her mind, stunned into silence, couldn’t produce a single word.

All she wanted was to faint and disappear…

Apparently liking the look of the handsome Hajun, Bora smiled and spoke sweetly.

“Hajun, what kind of drink do you like? The kitchen lady here makes really good drinks.”

“Uh, anything’s fine…”

Hajun was clearly flustered, but still in better shape than the ghostly pale Jihyun.

“You heard her, right? Bring us something good.”

Even before Bora finished her request, Jihyun turned and hurried down the stairs, head bowed. The only thing in her mind was the overwhelming desire to vanish.

Her legs moved on autopilot, and she was almost at the first floor when her vision suddenly swayed. She nearly collapsed but managed to grab the railing. It wasn’t the fall she feared—but the wave of humiliation that left her breathless.

She cursed her conscious mind for not passing out and, for the first time, regretted ever working at this house.

As her dizziness subsided and her breath calmed, she heard hurried footsteps descending behind her.

Jihyun didn’t want to face anyone. Without looking back to see who it was, she quickly resumed walking—but a familiar voice called out to stop her.

“Jihyun, wait.”

The one who had followed her down was Hajun, his face grim.

A week had passed without Jihyun showing up at school.

At first, Hajun assumed she was sick, but as days dragged on, he began to fear she might never return. He and Miri even went to ask a teacher, but the answer was always the same:

“We’ve contacted her guardian. There’s no need to worry. She won’t be able to attend for a while due to personal family matters.”

Family matters—what kind of situation is that supposed to mean…?

Hajun was frustrated with himself. He wanted to ask Jihyun what was going on. He wanted to contact her—but he didn’t even have her number. Miri also searched everywhere for information but came up empty-handed.

It didn’t take long for the happy memories of running into Jihyun to turn into painful regrets.

He should’ve insisted on walking her home from the café. Even if she refused, he shouldn’t have listened. At least then, he might’ve known where she lived…

Then, one day, Minwoo came to see him. He said he was stopping by before heading out somewhere.

Minwoo and Hajun had known each other since they were little, their families being close. When Hajun refused to attend Seomun High School, Minwoo had been one of the most frustrated.

“So where are you off to?”

“Our family’s prince got hurt. I’m going to visit him.”

That could only mean Shin Seungho, the so-called “prince” of the Shin family.

Unlike easygoing Minwoo, Seungho was aristocratic to a fault. Hajun never felt any warmth toward him.

“Oh, the Duke of the North?”

When Hajun asked with a smirk, Minwoo blinked in confusion.

“What’s that?”

“It’s a thing.”

Hajun knew all about how Miri fawned over Seungho as the “Duke of the North.”

Even Hajun’s respected father had said he hoped to get closer to Seungho one day…

But Hajun didn’t like Seungho. A guy who collected butterflies and scared even his older brother? What kind of person was that?

Every time Miri praised Seungho, Hajun had to fight the urge to call him a slick-faced psychopath.

“Where did he get hurt? He’s too precious to even move recklessly.”

In response to Hajun’s polite sarcasm, Minwoo raised his fist like a boxer.

“Apparently he was upset about something and punched a picture frame, shattering it.”

“No way.”

Hajun raised his voice without realizing it. Self-harm like that? He really was insane.

“It’s true! One of the maids told me.”

Minwoo got along well with the Shin household staff, so his information was usually reliable.

“She said he was upset because Myeongho invited one of the part-time girls into his room.”

“Disgusting.”

Even Hajun, who didn’t mingle much with the upper class, knew about Shin Myeongho’s filthy reputation. His indiscriminate tastes were repulsive.

“The girl was in trouble, and Seungho just happened to smash the picture frame outside the room at the perfect moment. Saved the day. It seemed like coincidence, but it worked out well.”

So in the end, Seungho became a hero who saved the weak.

“Was he seriously hurt?”

“Luckily, no tendons were cut and nothing broke, but it’s his right hand, so he needs help to recover.”

“More like he just can’t do anything without a servant.”

Hajun scoffed at the laughable end to the so-called hero’s tale—but then Minwoo’s next words made his face freeze.

“Anyway, the part-timer helping Seungho can’t come to school right now. Oh, and her name’s Jihyun. Choi Jihyun. She goes to Cheongmyeong, so maybe you know her?”

“…What did you just say? Say that again.”

“Huh?”

From Hajun’s reaction, Minwoo immediately realized he’d said something he shouldn’t have.

But it didn’t matter—his goal was to bring Hajun and Seungho together. And it worked better than expected.

Hajun, who refused all other invitations, followed Minwoo the moment he heard Jihyun’s name. He needed to see if it was really her at Seungho’s house.

The moment he saw Jihyun standing there like a shadow, his mind went blank. But thinking fast, Hajun maintained his composure.

What shocked him was Seungho. He wasn’t at all like the fragile, pampered noble Hajun had imagined.

Despite being the same age, Seungho had an overwhelming presence that dominated others. That’s what made Hajun all the more worried for Jihyun.

After Jihyun went to the kitchen to get drinks, Hajun quickly followed under the excuse of using the bathroom. Seungho caught his sharp gaze but Hajun didn’t care.

“Jihyun.”

Catching up with her, he gently called her name—but Jihyun avoided his eyes at all costs.

“…”

Realizing his concern might’ve only added to her burden, Hajun felt a sharp pain in his chest.

“What should I do so you’ll stop being mad?”

Swallowing his dry throat, he spoke in a soft voice.

“I’m sorry for coming like this. But there’s nothing shameful about working. Please… don’t avoid me.”

At his earnest plea, Jihyun slowly turned her head and looked at him. Her face, full of shame and misery, made Hajun’s heart ache.

“…Ha.”

Seungho, who had silently followed them halfway down the stairs, let out a scoffing laugh as he watched Hajun’s pleading expression.

He couldn’t see Jihyun’s face, but the situation was funny enough.

He chuckled quietly to himself.

But once the laughter faded, Seungho’s eyes flickered with rage.

“How pathetic.”