I am not a Yandere chapter 48

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After a moment, he showed the group the results of his search.

“How about this one? It’s spacious, and they have a good variety of games.”

“Sounds good. Everyone okay with that?”

“Do what you want.”

Yeongdeok was the first to stand, pulling out his wallet.

“Wait, are you really going to pay? Why would you pay?”

Jihoon quickly grabbed Yeongdeok’s arm, stopping him just before he could go and pay.

Yeongdeok, who hadn’t planned on treating them, was puzzled by his reaction.

“What are you talking about? We’ll split the bill.”

With that, Yeongdeok squeezed past Jihoon and paid for just the children’s set with his not-so-imposing but cute check card.

“Yeongdeok splitting the bill…,” Eungyeol murmured, his voice sounding like someone who had just woken up from a dream.

Yeongdeok hadn’t known about splitting bills for very long.

He’d learned the concept after a customer at his store once requested to split the payment.

Now, with the transaction complete, he tucked his card back into his wallet and stepped outside.

With the others—Jihoon, Seonwoo, and Eungyeol—momentarily out of sight, Yeongdeok had a brief moment of solitude to reflect.

Watching the people walking by, he wondered how this scene would have been described in that trashy novel ‘PetitRolang’.

“I was going to pay for your share… But I got totally blocked,” Jihoon muttered in frustration, joining Yeongdeok after finishing his payment.

“How were you planning to pay when you’re broke?”

“Never mind that. What’s with you today? You’re acting really weird.”

It wasn’t like Yeongdeok acting strangely was anything new, but today Jihoon found it especially odd.

“When have I ever acted weird?”

“Ever since we sat with those people, you’ve been acting off. Don’t tell me… it’s because of Eungyeol?”

Yeongdeok looked at Jihoon, a bit surprised by his perceptiveness.

Normally clueless, how had he caught on to this?

Since Yeongdeok didn’t deny it, Jihoon realized he was right.

So that’s why he’s been acting weird today—because of Eungyeol?

Finally, Jihoon understood why Yeongdeok hadn’t rejected Seonwoo’s proposal.

It was because of Eungyeol.

“Wow, since when do you care so much about what other people think?”

Jihoon meant to ask the question playfully, or at least casually.

But he knew his tone came out accusatory, and he couldn’t seem to change it.

What’s going on with me?

He furrowed his brow, confused by his own emotions.

Just as Yeongdeok was about to ask Jihoon what the hell he was talking about, Seonwoo and Eungyeol finished paying and approached them.

Yeongdeok turned to look at them.

“We need to take exit 8 from the subway station to get to the board game café. It’s cold out, so we should go through the station and take that exit,” Seonwoo suggested.

“Wow, you even think about stuff like that. Eungyeol, you’re so considerate, unlike someone.”

“Thanks… Let’s head to the station.”

As Eungyeol led the way, Seonwoo stuck close by, even draping an arm over his shoulder.

When Seonwoo turned to glance at Yeongdeok, there was a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Yeongdeok, however, showed no reaction. Jihoon, on the other hand, let out an annoyed chuckle.

“Hey, that guy keeps provoking you, and you’re not saying anything? Is this also because of Eungyeol?”

With his feelings for Eungyeol having faded, Yeongdeok didn’t feel the need to react to Seonwoo’s obvious provocations.

Besides, he didn’t want to create a situation where it seemed like he was competing with Seonwoo over Eungyeol, which would only delight PetitRolang.

For a moment, Yeongdeok imagined PetitRolang, smiling wickedly at him, and felt something snap inside.

A vein throbbed visibly on his temple.

As if I’d give you what you want, you lousy writer.

Jihoon, watching Yeongdeok’s cold, murderous smile, felt certain that, though Yeongdeok hadn’t reacted outwardly, he was furious with Seonwoo.

Despite his aloof and abrasive nature, Jihoon believed that Yeongdeok had some redeeming qualities, and that he would go out of his way to be kind to those he cared about.

As Jihoon observed this softer side of Yeongdeok, playing dumb to avoid making Eungyeol uncomfortable and holding back from fighting Seonwoo, he was overcome by a strange feeling.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t pleasant.

He found himself glaring at the back of Eungyeol’s head.

Misinterpreting Jihoon’s intense stare, Yeongdeok assumed Jihoon had fallen for Seonwoo’s provocation and was jealous of Eungyeol.

“Why do you keep bringing up Eungyeol to me? Are you that hung up on him?”

“What?”

“I asked if you’re jealous.”

“W-What are you even talking about?!”

Jihoon, his face flushed with anger, fiercely denied it.

But his vehement reaction only made Yeongdeok more suspicious.

Isn’t there a saying that strong denial is really an admission of truth?

Jihoon’s feelings for Eungyeol would become clearer to him later, perhaps when he watched Eungyeol suffer at the hands of Cha Dowon.

Even though nothing had happened yet… even though Cha Dowon’s character arc had been changed… it seemed like Jihoon’s feelings for Eungyeol were still following the original storyline, and that made Yeongdeok uneasy.

No matter how much he twisted the novel’s events, it seemed like nothing could truly change.

Suddenly, a large truck passed by, blaring its horn loudly.

Jihoon cursed, covering his ears, while Seonwoo laughed coldly.

“What’s there to honk at? It’s so damn loud.”

But the noise made Yeongdeok stop in his tracks.

“Cha Yeongdeok?”

Noticing that Yeongdeok had frozen in place, Jihoon hurried over to him, crouching down to meet his gaze.

“What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

Seeing Jihoon so flustered over something trivial, Yeongdeok suddenly regained his composure, realizing he had been caught up in an unfitting thought.

Straightening his shoulders, he replied with an air of indifference.

“It’s nothing.”

“Cha Yeongdeok, what are you doing? Hurry up, both of you,” called Eungyeol from ahead.

Yeongdeok, seeing Seonwoo wave him over in front of the station, finally started walking again.

Following Eungyeol’s lead, the four of them entered the station and exited through Exit 8.

They walked a bit further, then turned left at the second block, where a five-story building came into view.

The board game café was located on the fourth floor of that building.

While everyone else waited for the elevator that had stopped on the third floor, Yeongdeok was the only one to walk toward the stairs.

“I’ll just walk up.”

“The café’s on the fourth floor though?”

Seonwoo looked at him, puzzled.

Yeongdeok, who normally despised wasting energy inefficiently, was now voluntarily doing just that.

Curious, Seonwoo couldn’t help but wonder how long this peculiar behavior would continue.

“If you’re walking, I’ll join you.”

Jihoon followed Yeongdeok up the stairs.

Yeongdeok found it strange that Jihoon, leaving the convenient elevator behind, chose to follow him.

“Why are you coming with me?”

“I just feel like getting some exercise. Helps with digestion too.”

“Quite a cheap way to exercise.”

“Damn… Sorry for exercising cheaply, then.”

Jihoon grumbled, taking two steps at a time and quickly disappearing from Yeongdeok’s view.

But moments later, he popped his head out from the railing above, as if to remind Yeongdeok of his presence.

“Hurry up.”

With that, Jihoon resumed his rapid ascent, making a noisy clatter as he went.

Yeongdeok, in no rush, leisurely climbed the stairs.

By the time Yeongdeok reached the fourth-floor board game café, Jihoon, Seonwoo, and Eungyeol had already arrived and were standing by the counter.

Walking over to them, Seonwoo greeted him first.

“You’re here? If you were going to be late, you should’ve just waited for the elevator.”

“Hey, go ahead and order something. Drinks are mandatory.”

Scanning the menu, Yeongdeok looked for a strawberry latte.

It seemed like the perfect drink, something a possessive, domineering character wouldn’t touch.

However, unable to find it, he settled for a chocolate latte instead.

With everyone’s orders placed, the four of them found a suitable table and sat down.

“What game should we play?” Seonwoo asked.

“Anything’s fine,” Jihoon replied.

Having no knowledge of board games, Yeongdeok agreed with Jihoon.

He told them to do as they pleased, prompting Seonwoo and Eungyeol to get up, saying they’d choose something appropriate.

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