Predator Alert chapter 22

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“How did it go, Jeongseo?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t get calculus at all.”

Pyo Yoontae wrapped his arm around Jeongseo’s slumped shoulders.

“Math is tough to get good at in one go. But hey, it’s just the midterms. Let’s go eat. We’re third in line today.”

“My brain hurts. I’m starving.”

Jeongseo rubbed his stomach as they headed towards the stairs.

Since the class was split up by number for the exam, the students with higher numbers had to take their exams in the first-year classrooms, mixed with the first-year students.

“How did you do on the short-answer section?”

“I… just filled it all with -1. I couldn’t understand a single thing.”

“Oh! The answer to short-answer number two was -1! You got one right, Jeongseo. You might get partial credit!”

Jeongseo’s previously lifeless ears perked up.

He thought he’d missed all the short-answer questions!

“Really? Amazing! You’re seriously the best!”

Jeongseo laughed, hopping a bit, but when their eyes met, he felt a strange sensation.

Ever since realizing that he was Pyo Yoontae’s first love, things had felt off when he looked at him.

It felt… like his chest was tightening.

‘Is it guilt?’

Was it because he hadn’t said anything and was hiding it?

But Pyo Yoontae seemed determined to find his first love no matter what.

Jeongseo knew better than anyone how deeply Pyo Yoontae cared about that person.

But Jeongseo… liked Pyo Yoontae, though only as a friend.

He was special because he was Jeongseo’s first friend, but that was it.

‘What should I do? Should I tell him?’

As he was lost in thought, a new realization dawned on him.

…Would Pyo Yoontae even believe him if he said he was his first love?

After all, Pyo Yoontae had only seen his during his shedding phase, and it seemed like he had mistaken him for a white mouse because he was so young.

Jeongseo started to imagine how Pyo Yoontae might react if he told his the truth.

“I just thought it might look better with a lighter color.”

“Jeongseo’s my only friend.”

“There’s no way I can’t find them. I remember everything except their name and face. I’ll know when I see them.”

…。

All of Pyo Yoontae’s past words flashed through his mind.

‘If I tell his I’m his first love… would he be happy?’

Just as Jeongseo turned his head toward Pyo Yoontae, his mind filled with uncertainty, something happened.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, Pyo Yoontae stepped to the side and pulled Jeongseo close.

At the same time, a sharp scream came from right beside him.

Startled, Jeongseo looked to see Kim Woosik sprawled out on the stairs.

Kim Woosik, who had been frozen for a moment, slowly got up, his face bright red. Jeongseo was confused by the situation.

‘Why did he fall on his own?’

“Seriously, why are you glaring at me?!”

Having fallen by himself and then yelling angrily, Jeongseo frowned slightly.

“How pathetic.”

A cold voice echoed heavily. Kim Woosik glared menacingly at Pyo Yoontae but ultimately left without saying a word.

“…What was that about?”

“Don’t worry about it. Let’s go.”

Pyo Yoontae had pulled Jeongseo aside because it seemed like Kim Woosik might have bumped into him, but he didn’t expect Kim Woosik to fall so dramatically.

‘He must have used a lot of force.’

Pyo Yoontae clicked his tongue lightly.

Jeongseo found the situation a bit strange but quickly brushed it off.

After all, Kim Woosik wasn’t important to his at the moment.

“By the way, didn’t you say before that you wished the fur was lighter?”

Pyo Yoontae raised an eyebrow. After a short silence, he let out a soft “Ah.”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Was it because your first love’s fur was white? Do you like white fur? Not a fan of darker colors?”

…。

For some reason, the tone in which Jeongseo asked seemed oddly desperate.

Pyo Yoontae glanced at Jeongseo’s fidgeting fingers and smirked.

“Why, if I say I like white fur, are you going to bleach yours?”

“N-no! It’s not like that! I was just curious… I’m helping you look, remember!”

“Then why ask about white fur? Does it have anything to do with finding them?”

As he pressed, Jeongseo blinked rapidly, unable to respond.

His wide eyes darted nervously, making his look rather endearing.

“Jeongseo, you like me, don’t you?”

Jeongseo’s already big eyes widened even more.

He glanced back and saw his tail fur standing on end, stiff as a board.

His cheeks flushed red as he shouted.

“No, I don’t! I don’t like you…!”

“Hah, I knew it. If you bleach your fur, I might consider—ugh.”

Before he could finish his teasing, Jeongseo punched his in the chest.

This time, it must’ve been harder, because Pyo Yoontae coughed lightly.

Jeongseo’s face was now fully flushed with anger.

“I don’t like you! Why would I like you when you’re always so annoying!”

Jeongseo’s voice echoed through the hallway, catching the attention of a few students who glanced over.

Even more embarrassed, Jeongseo spun around and quickly walked towards the cafeteria, not forgetting to whack Pyo Yoontae’s thigh with his tail as he turned.

Pyo Yoontae rubbed the spot where he’d been hit, still wearing a playful grin, and immediately followed Jeongseo.

“I was just kidding, Jeongseo. Don’t get mad.”

“I’m not mad! Get your hand off me!”

Jeongseo irritably swatted away Pyo Yoontae’s hand as it landed on his shoulder.

Yet, Pyo Yoontae persisted, holding Jeongseo’s wrist and flashing his a playful smile.

“Jeongseo, what are you doing tomorrow? The exams are over.”

“I’m busy tomorrow. Super busy, all the way through Sunday!”

Jeongseo disappeared into the cafeteria.

Even after being rejected, Pyo Yoontae didn’t seem too upset.

His golden eyes glinted with an unreadable emotion.

°❀•°❀°•❀°

Even though it was Saturday, Jeongseo’s phone alarm went off at 7 AM.

A small weasel slowly crawled out from under the now-thin blanket, yawning widely.

The weasel instinctively licked its paw before suddenly pausing. Something had come to mind.

Making soft noises, the weasel shook its head from side to side before slamming its little paw onto the blanket.

Slowly, the weasel began to transform into a human.

With his tail tucked away, Jeongseo turned off the alarm and headed straight for the bathroom.

He was, in fact, very busy today.

Because it was now May.

May was the month with the most crops to plant, thanks to the warm weather, and it was also the time to plant Jeongseo’s favorite sweet potato seedlings.

Moreover, it was market day today, so Jeongseo hurried to wash and get ready.

Since there was a lot to buy, he prepared a small box and a metal shopping cart with wheels.

He wouldn’t bring too many seedlings since he was only buying for himself, but he still needed a cart to tie everything together.

Fully prepared, Jeongseo stepped out into the fresh air and headed towards the bus stop.

The clunky sound of the wheels rolling clashed against the crisp morning air.

After about an hour’s bus ride, Jeongseo finally arrived at the market.

It was crowded, as expected on market day.

He rummaged through his pocket to check his shopping list once more.

• Tomatoes (not cherry tomatoes) 6

• Green chili peppers 4

• Cheongyang chili peppers 3

• Corn 10

• Half a crate of sweet potatoes

• Half a crate of perilla

• Eggplant 3

• Two whole chickens

Last year, he had been too ambitious and planted too much, which made things hard to manage, so this year he decided to plant less.

There would still be some empty space in the field, but it would be better to take care of fewer crops.

With a light step, Jeongseo wandered through the market.

In front of an elderly woman sitting under a parasol, there was a black tray filled with seedlings.

“Grandma, do you have tomato seedlings? Not cherry tomatoes.”

The elderly woman, wearing a large sunhat, raised his head to look at him.

“You’ve got a good eye for plants, haven’t you? I only have one tray left. It’s over there by the eggplant seedlings.”

“Thank you, Grandma!”

Jeongseo hurried to the tray of tomato seedlings, grinning.

“Add the Cheongyang chili peppers too!”

Jeongseo carefully cleared a spot to place the seedlings, making sure not to damage them.

Fortunately, the seedlings fit comfortably into the shopping bags and boxes he had brought.

“Here’s the money. Please check if it’s correct.”

Jeongseo handed over the cash, and the elderly woman quickly counted it before nodding with a smile.

Jeongseo smiled back, bowed slightly, and moved along.

To buy some chicken, he needed to head to the small supermarket inside the market.

While the chickens at home laid eggs, Jeongseo had grown too fond of them to consider eating them.

So, buying chicken was the only option.

As he ventured deeper into the covered market, the number of people increased.

Jeongseo skillfully weaved through the crowd, making his way through the bustling market.

The savory smell of oil and the sizzling sound of food frying caught Jeongseo’s attention.

Turning toward the source of the smell, he spotted some buckwheat pancakes.

Seeing the pancakes cooking to a golden brown and exuding that delicious smell made Jeongseo’s stomach growl.

The original plan was to do the shopping quickly and eat at home.

There were plenty of side dishes at home… and there were still some that his older brother had brought over.

But Jeongseo’s eyes couldn’t tear away from the buckwheat pancakes.

Swallowing the saliva gathering under his tongue, Jeongseo hesitated.

°❀•°❀°•❀°

By the time Jeongseo stepped off the bus, both hands were full of black plastic bags.

Buckwheat pancakes, sundae, wind tteok, rice cakes, dumplings, and red fish cakes.

He had overspent, but it didn’t matter—Mom had given them plenty of allowance this month!

Feeling cheerful, Jeongseo began walking home.

Having bought a whole chicken, he needed to hurry back.

As he climbed the steepest hill, his mouth watered at the thought of the evening meal he would soon eat.

Beep!

A sudden honk startled Jeongseo, and he turned around to see a white truck had come to a stop.

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