Even a Lonely Squirrel Has Its Burrow - Chapter 41

Chapter 41

 

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Someone poked Garam in the back as he sat in the library, writing something intently. When Garam took out his earphones and turned around, he saw a familiar face.

 

“Hyung.”

 

Minjae’s voice was very soft. Garam smiled and moved his lips. Without making a sound, he greeted Minjae with a silent “hello,” and Minjae pointed toward the entrance of the reading room.

 

Nodding, Garam closed the book he was reading. After packing the notebook and books he had spread out into his bag, Garam stood up, and Minjae began walking ahead.

 

“What should we eat?”

 

“Well, I’m fine with anything. Is there something you want to eat?”

 

As soon as they stepped out of the library building, Minjae asked what Garam wanted to eat. Since Garam didn’t have any particular cravings and wasn’t picky about food, he left the choice to Minjae. After thinking for a long while, Minjae led Garam toward the back gate.

 

“I didn’t know it would be this hard to have a meal with you, hyung.”

 

“Haha…”

 

Hearing the sigh in Minjae’s words, Garam just laughed.

 

They had run into each other during the first week of classes, and already, two weeks had passed since then.

 

People who hadn’t heard anything when Garam suddenly took a leave of absence had worried that something serious had happened. But when Garam returned safely—and quickly, at that—those who were close to him were delighted.

 

Spending time with friends and getting caught up in the busy days after the semester started, Garam had gradually forgotten about his promise with Minjae.

 

However, Minjae, who hadn’t forgotten their promise, reached out first, making today’s meeting happen.

 

“This is a place I visit often. The owner is a hyung I’m close to.”

 

“What are we eating?”

 

“Naengmyeon.”

 

Garam nodded. Since Minjae, a cat-human hybrid, couldn’t handle hot food well, naengmyeon was the perfect choice for him.

 

Minjae praised the place so highly that Garam’s expectations grew. He was already a little hungry, so anything would have tasted good, but hearing Minjae’s compliments made him look forward to the meal even more.

 

When they entered the restaurant, which wasn’t far from the back gate, the person at the counter greeted Minjae warmly.

 

“Oh, what brings you here? No call or anything.”

 

“Just came for a meal. I had plans with my senior.”

 

Minjae introduced Garam, who walked in behind him.

 

“He’s a senior I’m close to.”

 

“Ah, I heard about you before. Hello.”

 

“Hello.”

 

Garam bowed slightly to greet the person who seemed to already know him. The man appeared older than Garam.

 

Minjae seemed very close to the man, chatting with him easily. The man responded warmly and then led them to a private room inside.

 

“What will you have?”

 

“Naengmyeon.”

 

“Should I bring the same for you?”

 

“Uh… sure.”

 

After a moment of hesitation, Garam nodded. The man left after taking their order, leaving the two of them alone. Garam cautiously called Minjae.

 

“Minjae.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Garam glanced around once more before speaking.

 

“…Isn’t pasta the main dish here?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Then why…?”

 

When Garam mumbled in confusion, Minjae confidently answered.

 

“I can’t eat hot food very well, right? So that hyung told me to stop by anytime for a meal.”

 

“Oh, I see…”

 

Still, was it really okay to go this far? Even as Garam nodded, he couldn’t shake off the lingering sense of oddity.

 

Soon, the man returned with their food and set it down in front of them. When Garam bowed slightly in thanks, the man asked curiously.

 

“Do you also have trouble eating hot food?”

 

“No.”

 

“Oh, I see. I just thought so since you ordered the same thing. I figured you might be a cat-human too.”

 

“Haha…”

 

Garam let out an awkward laugh. Minjae, who had been calmly cutting his noodles, answered for him.

 

“I told him the naengmyeon here is really good.”

 

“Do you think this place is a naengmyeon restaurant?”

 

“The naengmyeon he makes is the best, though.”

 

Minjae blinked innocently as if he had only stated a fact. The man lightly tapped Minjae’s head and told them to enjoy their meal before leaving the room.

 

“…Next time, I should try something different.”

 

“It’s fine. He’s really good at cooking.”

 

“Mm…”

 

Garam nodded and picked up his chopsticks. Just as Minjae had said, the naengmyeon was delicious. Still, Garam couldn’t shake the feeling that they might have been a bit of a bother.

 

While they were quietly eating, Minjae suddenly seemed to remember something and spoke up.

 

“Oh, right, hyung.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

When Garam looked up, Minjae lowered his voice as if sharing a secret.

 

“That… the person we saw last time.”

 

“The person we saw last time?”

 

“The one who came to school with you.”

 

“Oh.”

 

Realizing that Minjae was talking about Sa Muheon, Garam nodded.

 

“Why?”

 

“That person… are you really close to him?”

 

“Hmm…”

 

Minjae’s eyes were filled with concern as he asked. It didn’t seem like he was asking with any ill intent. After a moment of hesitation, Garam nodded. He didn’t want to cause Minjae more worry by saying he didn’t actually know the person very well.

 

Minjae’s expression brightened at Garam’s answer. Garam found the reaction puzzling, but Minjae quickly sighed and spoke.

 

“Whew… That’s a relief. I thought maybe you couldn’t say anything because you were with him that day.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“That person—isn’t he Sa Muheon?”

 

“What?”

 

Garam blinked, unable to say anything. Seeing his reaction, Minjae looked startled and spoke cautiously.

 

“Oh, no? He’s not? But… he really seemed like it…”

 

Minjae looked anxious, and Garam quickly waved his hands.

 

“No, it’s not that.”

 

Minjae quietly waited for Garam’s answer. Garam was momentarily confused, wondering how Minjae knew Sa Muheon’s name. After calming his thoughts, Garam spoke.

 

“How do you know him, Minjae?”

 

“He’s famous.”

 

“He is?”

 

Minjae nodded as if it were obvious, even looking at Garam like he was the strange one.

 

“You didn’t know?”

 

“Uh…”

 

“…You said you knew him well.”

 

Minjae frowned at Garam’s uncertain answer. Realizing his lie had been caught, Garam let out a small sigh.

 

“…Sorry. Honestly, I don’t know him very well.”

 

“I thought so…”

 

When Garam admitted the truth, Minjae murmured as he set his chopsticks down. Looking at his nearly empty bowl, Garam felt relieved and waited for Minjae to continue.

 

“He’s pretty famous among snake hybrids.”

 

“Snake hybrids…?”

 

“You didn’t know that either? He’s a snake hybrid.”

 

At Minjae’s exclamation, Garam dropped his chopsticks. Seeing Garam’s reaction, Minjae muttered quietly.

 

“You really didn’t know…”

 

“…I had no idea.”

 

“So how do you know him?”

 

Garam hesitated, unable to answer. How could he explain it?

 

That he had been staying in the park as a squirrel, ran into Sa Muheon while being chased by a cat, fainted in his palm, and woke up at his house after being practically kidnapped?

 

…There was no way he could say that. After some thought, Garam gave a brief answer.

 

“We just met by chance.”

 

“That’s unusual… Anyway, he’s known for being involved in dangerous stuff. That’s why I was surprised to see you with him that day.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Garam nodded slightly.

 

“You told me before, didn’t you? About debt collectors coming to your house. That guy’s famous for doing that kind of work.”

 

“…I had no idea.”

 

“Snake hybrids usually don’t do that kind of work. They prefer winning arguments with words.”

 

“That’s true…”

 

“That’s why he’s famous. Most snake hybrids work in law, and he even graduated from our school’s law department but ended up doing that kind of work.”

 

As Garam listened to Minjae, he recalled the conversation he had with Sa Muheon that day.

 

“It’s the family business… I guess you could call it that. A lot of us work in law.”

 

A family business—it wasn’t entirely wrong. As Minjae said, many snake hybrids were involved in law.

 

“His mother runs a very famous law firm.”

 

“What?”

 

“She’s the CEO of Seunghwa.”

 

“W-what…?”

 

Garam’s mouth slowly fell open. Seunghwa was a law firm even he had heard of.

 

“Really?”

 

When Garam asked again in disbelief, Minjae’s answer didn’t change.

 

“Yes.”

 

“But why…?”

 

Minjae quickly caught on to what Garam’s question implied. Shrugging his shoulders, Minjae continued.

 

“His father isn’t a hybrid. So I guess he’s been somewhat ostracized by the snake clan. No matter how successful his mother is, his father is just an ordinary human who does shady work.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Another piece of Sa Muheon’s words suddenly made sense.

 

“It’s no big deal. It’s the family business.”

 

So that’s what he meant. Garam finally understood the meaning behind what had seemed like a cryptic statement.