I’m Not Doing This With A Friend

✧✧✧✧✧

"Ah, really!"

I kicked up the blanket that was covering me.

Then Carsion, who was reading a book with his back leaning on the sofa where I was laying, looked at me in a hurry.

Whether he was surprised or worried, his eyes grew wide.

"Leen, what happened?"

"…my legs suddenly hurt."

In fact, I suddenly remembered the attitude the team members showed after I won as the team leader, that's why I kicked the blanket out of the blue.

The team members burst out with joy while clenching their fists.

Someone would have thought that they had already finished the assignment.

Or maybe they thought that the group assignment was just a bet, rather than choosing a leader by ladder.

Even the talking potato, who was screaming like a whale, laughed at me as if she's enjoying herself.

I can't help it.

I'm going to cook potatoes for dinner tonight.

When I decided to set the dinner menu as a potato dish, I heard the voice of Carsion, who seemed restless

"Oh, my. Does it hurt a lot? Do you want me to massage your legs?"

"What?"

I stared at him, wondering if I misheard it.

Only then did Carsion covered his mouth with both hands as if he realized what he had said.

In an instant, his whole body, including his face, turns red.

"Sorry, I didn't mean any impure intention. I'm just worried!"

"I'm going to puke…"

For fear of misunderstanding, it was Fjord, not me, who swore that nasty curse…

He was staring at Carsion like he was looking at a wiggling worm.

It means that he looked extremely disgusting.

It's not like once or twice that I heard them exchange harsh words and curses.

I pretended not to hear Fjord and made a mischievous smile.

"What? You're going to massage my legs? Wow, how good are you, Caon? It was so natural that I almost nodded without realizing it."

"What?! It's not like that.."

"What were you trying to do while pretending to massage my legs? Could you tell me in detail about the sixth principles?"

(N: 육하원칙-6 W's principle, who, when, where, what, how, why.)

"No, not the sixth principles, I just….!"

"Caon. I thought you were innocent, but you're completely insidious inside, aren't you…?"

"No, I'm…"

"Oh, I'll have to be careful about what I say in the future. I don't know when Caon's gonna pull a stunt."

He eventually cried and buried his face in his hands again.

"Leen…"

I teased Carsion who became shy for a long time. Now it felt like a routine, I was used to making fun of him every time.

After teasing him to my satisfaction, I brought another subject to let him breathe.

"More than that, there's a weird rumor going around these days."

In my exhausted words, Carsion showed a surprisingly quick change of expression. It was a serious face that one couldn't even imagine that he was blushing earlier.

"What rumor?"

"A rumor that you like me."

There was a moment of silence.

"Leen, I…"

Carsion blinked slowly.

"Do you feel bad about the rumor?"

The cautious tone, somehow, felt like he was being wary.

It wasn't as bad as he said. But because of the rumors, I was already tired of just thinking about what would happen in the future because of those rumors.

I wouldn't have been worried if the rumor that spread was that I liked Carsion.

I unconsciously touched my lips to tell him honestly what I was thinking.

I would have said it without a hitch. If I hadn't found Carsion's moist eyes.

I was particularly vulnerable to a crying person.

It looks so miserable and weak. I feel like he was about to crumble any moment.

Maybe it was because I remembered the past when I left my parents and spent every day in despair and tears.

So I started talking again and said something that I didn't even want. It was purely to stop him from crying.

"I'm more worried that you'd be stuck in the middle of your marriage rather than feeling bad about those rumors."

His path to marriage, something I completely know.

He would marry a pretty noble lady from a good family and live well.

Whether he knows my intentions, Carsion brightened up. He gave a big smile and wiped his chest.

"I'm glad you're not offended. And don't worry about it. I'll be with you later anyway…"

Knock, knock

As Carsion continued his words with a big smile, there was a knock at the door.

Carsion's eyes and mine naturally turned to Fjord. Then Fjord flinched and pouted his lips.

"Why are you both staring at me?"

"Of course it's obvious that someone came for you, Fjord."

"Why do you always make someone knock on the door? Wasn't it twice already that Leen woke up because of you?"

Leen and Carsion simultaneously beat Fjord.

Fjord was very popular regardless of age or gender because of his kind personality. His popularity was unlike anyone else.

So it was natural that many people came to see him.

"Haha, Fjord. Remember what I said before, what I would do if your friend visits again during club time?"

"What? I've already warned them not to come to the club many times! And maybe they came here for Leen. Why do you always blame it on me?"

Carsion only smiled at Fjord's cry of injustice.

"Well if you're so confident, it seems that our Fjord must have listened to my warning. Yes, if it's such a dream, I'll let you know."

knock, knock

"…Hey. I came to find Leen."

As soon as Carsion's words were over, someone's voice was heard from outside the door with another knock.