I am not a Yandere chapter 40

* * *

“I think Eungyeol has plans to meet someone else on Christmas.”

Jihoon’s eyes shifted sideways, as if gauging Yeongdeok’s reaction.

“Meaning… you’re not the one. I’m her childhood friend, remember? I can tell just by watching.”

Yeongdeok tilted his head slightly.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I mean, damn it!”

Startled by his own outburst, Jihoon stammered before blurting out, “You should just give up on Eungyeol. You were already rejected once.”

“What?”

“I know you have high self-esteem. It must be hard to believe Eungyeol rejected you. But someone like you could easily find someone else…”

Jihoon was rambling incoherently, and Yeongdeok thought to himself, ‘Is this idiot trying to compete with me for Eungyeol? He’s way off the mark.’

“I’m not looking at this for Eungyeol.”

“What? Then who is it for? Did you find someone else already?”

Jihoon exaggeratedly speculated in a ridiculous tone, causing Yeongdeok to frown.

“Is your brain only capable of such pitiful thoughts? The group I mentioned last time is doing a gift exchange, so I’m just browsing.”

“Oh, seriously? Damn, wait.”

Jihoon breathed a brief sigh of relief, then his eyes widened in shock as he took Yeongdeok’s phone.

One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand… wait, how many zeroes is that?

His eyes bulged at the price of the necklace.

“Dude, how long have you even known these people that you’re willing to spend that much?”

“Is that not okay?”

Since it wasn’t for someone important, he thought it wouldn’t be a big deal.

But Jihoon seemed to disagree.

“It’s not that it’s not okay, but most people would feel burdened. Sure, they might like it, but…”

Was that supposed to mean it’s too much or just enough?

Jihoon’s vague response didn’t help, so Yeongdeok took back his phone.

“Then, what kind of gift would you give?”

“How old are the people in this group? And are there more women or men?”

“There are mostly young women.”

Jihoon imagined them to be in their early twenties and thought back to what his college friends liked.

He remembered a conversation he once had with a female friend.

“Cash, maybe?”

“Not helpful.”

“Wait a sec, let me ask some people I know.”

Jihoon contacted his college friends and came back with several suggestions under 100,000 won.

He showed them to Yeongdeok.

“Hey, how about something like a mood lamp? It’s not too expensive, it’s nice for the atmosphere, and it’s pretty. Or, maybe some macarons or handmade cookies. They’re not bad options either.”

Yeongdeok took Jihoon’s phone and scrolled through the suggestions.

As he was browsing, a vibration shook his hand, and notifications began popping up at the top of the screen.

[Eungyeol: Seo Jihoon, what are you doing?]

[Eungyeol: If you’re free, let’s play ‘ROR’. We can rank up as soon as you join.]

Jihoon snatched his phone from Yeongdeok’s hand when he unexpectedly got a message from Eungyeol.

His face showed clear signs of confusion.

“Ah… What the heck is Eungyeol messaging me about this early?”

He glanced at Yeongdeok, then quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway, something like perfume or a small bag would be fine too.”

“I see.”

“Yeah…”

Jihoon fiddled with his fingers, feeling increasingly uneasy, and finally stood up.

“So, focus on looking for those kinds of things. I’m gonna head out now. Take your meds just in case.”

Jihoon hurriedly gathered his belongings and awkwardly rushed out of Yeongdeok’s house.

After recalling the recent chat, Yeongdeok briefly lost himself in thought before deciding that Eungyeol was no longer any of his concern.

He turned his attention back to his phone screen.

Right now, what mattered more to Yeongdeok was figuring out what gift to get to shut Baek Seonwoo’s annoying mouth rather than worrying about Eungyeol.

---

[December 24th, Weather: Clear]

A weather widget popped up on the top left corner of his phone.

As Yeongdeok stepped outside to meet the members of his café group, he looked up at the clear sky.

Not a single cloud was in sight, and there was no chance of rain or snow.

The café members were hoping for a white Christmas, but with weather like this, that seemed impossible.

He glanced at the shopping bag he was holding. Inside was a Christmas gift that he had agonized over for a long time.

Honestly, Yeongdeok hadn’t put much thought into the gift at first.

He had picked out something that seemed decent and didn’t give it a second thought.

But thanks to Jihoon constantly texting him with suggestions, he ended up spending far more time reconsidering his choice than he had intended.

As he recalled those moments, he thought it was pathetic how Jihoon poured so much effort into trivial things.

While descending the stairs, he found himself wishing that Jihoon would direct that energy toward something more meaningful. Just then, his phone vibrated.

[Seo Jihoon: Have a good time.]

Yeongdeok checked the message from Jihoon.

How did he know he had left the house?

Did he hear the front door close?

He glanced at the house next door and shoved his phone into his coat pocket as he continued down the stairs.

---

[Rose: Beat Coin Karaoke XXX-XX]

[Rose: Please come here today! I’ve reserved room 8!]

Following the map sent by Choa in the group chat, Yeongdeok arrived at a karaoke bar.

The place was located in the basement, and an ominous vibe seemed to rise from the stairs leading down.

Just as he was staring at the steps without the intention of going in, an irritating voice reached his ears.

“Cha Yeongdeok, what are you doing up here?”

“Yeongdeok chicken! Hello!”

Seonwoo and Choa appeared behind him. Choa immediately waved excitedly at Yeongdeok, but Seonwoo was busy sizing him up with a critical gaze.

Feeling uncomfortable under Seonwoo’s scrutiny, Yeongdeok straightened his posture.

“How rude. Were you taught to stare at people like that?”

“I was just surprised you didn’t show up in a suit today. I thought that’s all you owned.”

“……”

“I’m kidding. No one only owns suits. Right?”

Until just before his “reset,” Yeongdeok’s closet had indeed been full of nothing but suits.

Seonwoo’s snide remark seemed to suggest he knew that, and the tension between the two flared up within a minute of their meeting.

As Choa sighed inwardly, thinking “here we go again,” their phones chimed with notifications.

[Natsuyama Soseki: When is everyone coming…? I’m here alone ㅠㅠㅠㅠ Hurry upㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

[Gwakdupal: Ahhh! I’m on my way ㅠㅠㅠㅠ I just got off the subway with DaerimdongFist.]

[Earth destroyer: I’m almost there…]

“It seems Soseki is waiting alone. Let’s hurry.”

Choa quickly descended the stairs after seeing the message.

Seonwoo casually followed behind his sister, but then stopped and turned to Yeongdeok, who was still standing there.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”

“I’ll go. Stop rushing me.”

Finally, Yeongdeok forced himself to move.

As he descended into the karaoke bar’s dimly lit hallway, strange noises began to echo from all directions.

Faint sounds of people singing drifted through the doors.

“Raaajinqua!!! Protect us!!!”

“I am a pure-hearted Goyaaaang!!!”

The shrieking voices, sounding as if they came from the depths of hell, made Yeongdeok squint.

His drowsy eyes noticed a sign behind the counter reading “2 songs for 1,000 won, 8,000 won per hour.”

He thought it was ridiculous to pay money to come to such a noisy, chaotic place.

Clearly, these people had nothing better to do.

Even though he thought it was a waste of time and money, he still followed Choa to room 8.

The dark room and soft lighting greeted him.

Why did they have to make it so unnecessarily dark here? As he was looking around, Soseki ran up to Choa.

“Rose, why were you so late?”

Soseki complained about feeling awkward waiting alone.

Choa awkwardly smiled and handed the karaoke remote to her.

“Since you were the first to arrive, why don’t you choose the first song, Soseki?”

“I’m a bit nervous about singing first…”

Soseki glanced between Seonwoo and Yeongdeok.

Her droopy eyebrows showed just how uncomfortable she was feeling.

“Should I sing first then?”

“Yes, please!”

Soseki nodded eagerly, relieved. Choa scrolled through the popular charts, trying to decide what to sing.

* * *