I Returned, and Now I See Strange Things-Chapter 29: Drive-Thru

While thinking about what to eat, I figured the simplest, most basic option was probably the best.

I placed my order—and for Hyesung...

Since this wasn’t a broadcast, calling her “the civilian” felt weird, so I turned and looked toward the backseat.

There sat the civilian... SlenderManTameok, looking at me with a puzzled expression.

“You really don’t want anything?”

“I’m not hungry...”

She definitely looked like she had no appetite.

Next, I asked Hyesung in the driver’s seat.

“What about you?”

“Mm, I’ll just have a soda.”

“Suit yourself.”

“...But, I’m the one paying, aren’t I?”

Hearing his grumble made the corner of my lips curl up.

“Isn’t that only fair?”

“Well... I guess so.”

After placing the order, the car slowly moved forward.

Hyesung took out his card, paid, and moved up again.

A moment later, the employee handed us a paper bag and drinks.

I /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ passed one over to Hyesung, then placed the other into the cup holder in the center.

Rustle, rustle.

I carefully opened the warm paper bag.

Inside were freshly fried, steaming hot fries and a hamburger neatly wrapped in paper.

Fries first.

My small hand slipped easily into the bag.

‘...This is nice.’

A rare advantage of this otherwise worthless body.

‘...Can’t believe I’m calling that an advantage.’

I scoffed bitterly at myself and pulled out a warm fry, the coarse salt clinging rough against my fingers.

It was thicker than I expected.

Chomp!

The crispy outer layer gave way to soft, fluffy, savory potato.

‘Delicious.’

Freshly fried—no wonder it tasted so good.

One wasn’t enough, so I grabbed several at once and popped them into my mouth.

Hrrff—

Bundled fries gave a nice chewy bite, though they were a bit hot.

Still, it wasn’t unbearable—I kept chewing.

The satisfying texture of the soft, savory potato.

The salty flavor that spread like a hidden layer of taste.

“Hehe...”

A laugh escaped on its own.

Then I remembered: they usually give ketchup with the fries.

Even someone like me slips up sometimes.

I reached into the bag and pulled out the ketchup.

Fast food ketchup, something I hadn’t seen in a while.

It gave me a strange feeling.

Tearing the edge open slightly, I pulled out more fries.

Bundled them together again.

Squeezed a little ketchup on top and immediately popped them in my mouth.

The soft texture of the potato, its rich, savory flavor, followed by the salt’s bite and a hint of sour tang from the ketchup.

It was a complex taste—like eating a full-course meal.

Next to me, I heard someone swallow hard.

“Not giving you any...”

“...I’m not eating.”

Then the sound of someone sipping through a straw—sllrp.

Must’ve been drowning her disappointment with soda.

Honestly, after all that streaming and dealing with the police, there’s no way she wasn’t hungry.

Since I’d already asked if she wanted anything, I didn’t feel sorry.

In fact, I felt a little good about it.

Because now it was burger time.

I took a sip from the cup I’d placed in the holder, then pulled the burger from the bag.

It was still warm.

Big enough that I needed both hands to hold it.

Carefully unwrapping it so nothing spilled, its grand form revealed itself.

A sesame bun stacked with lettuce, tomato, and onion.

Pickles tucked in like a classic supporting role.

And finally, a thick patty.

Even just unwrapping it released the rich scent of grilled meat.

This time, it was my turn to swallow.

I opened my mouth to take a big bite—

—but my mouth was smaller than I thought.

Clicking my tongue in disappointment, I pressed down on the burger.

Carefully, so the sauce and tomato didn’t burst out.

Flattened just enough to fit into my mouth.

A little sad, but oh well.

Alright—this time for real.

With that thought, I took a big bite.

Chomp!

The first thing that hit me was the bread.

Then the crisp lettuce, juicy tomato, and onion soaked into the bun, followed by the thick, savory meat patty.

The sauces tying it all together left a strong impression.

Just when it was starting to feel a bit greasy, the pickle burst in—refreshing, cutting right through.

Add fries and a drink to that...

It felt like my tired body was coming back to life.

“Mmh.”

Just as I was spinning in the cycle of ultimate happiness, Hyesung spoke in an odd tone.

“Uh... Noona?”

“Hrmph! What?”

“...Just asking, but—”

“Nom nom, yeah?”

Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.

“Have you ever thought about doing a mukbang?”

What kind of ghost-chasing nonsense was this now?

“What are you talking about?”

“...Ah, no... Never mind. Please enjoy your meal.”

“Ridiculous.”

As I finished the burger, I gave it some thought.

Mukbang... I’d seen one before.

Borrowing the neighbor’s Wi-Fi.

Sometimes I’d watch them when I was craving something and eat ramen.

I could sort of understand how people in old times would eat a spoonful of rice while staring at dried fish.

‘But still...’

I really didn’t have the stomach to eat like those people.

And food costs money.

I’d have to buy everything myself... and where would I get that kind of money?

I actually really liked my current lifestyle.

Occasionally appearing on Hyesung’s stream, doing a bit of work, and getting a meal out of it.

If things stayed this way, I’d be happy.

No need to stir things up any further.

Rent collection time was coming up soon, too—once that was settled, things would be even better.

As that thought ended, both my hands were empty.

‘...When did I finish?’

I shot Hyesung a glare out of pure spite.

He distracted me with his nonsense.

I didn’t get to savor it because I was thinking weird thoughts.

Eventually, I finished off the now watery, melted-sugar soda and felt full.

Somehow, I felt like I’d been shortchanged.

...But what’s eaten is eaten.

I wiped the salt and sauce off my hands, wrapped up the trash in the paper bag, and placed it in the holder.

Then I called out to the backseat.

“So... what’s your name?”

It might’ve been a bit late for introductions, but better late than never.

I’d taken a bit of a liking to SlenderManTameok.

When I turned around, SlTameok blinked blankly—then jumped and met my eyes.

She wiped her mouth with her forearm—looked like she’d dozed off.

Can’t blame her, I guess.

“Ah... My name?”

“Yeah. Let’s introduce ourselves properly. We might be seeing each other more often.”

“Th-That might be true...”

SlTameok gave an awkward smile, then said,

“My name is... Yoo Arin....”

“I’m...”

I hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“...Bo Ayun.”

Yoo Arin, who’d been watching me with a questioning look, nodded in understanding when she heard my name.

That look on her face—like she understood some shared pain—struck me somewhere deep.

For some reason, I felt a growing bond with Arin.

“And I’m Han Hyesung, nya~.”

“...?”

“What the...”

Thanks to Hyesung butting in out of nowhere, the gently warming atmosphere turned ice cold.

“...Neither of you know that one?”

“...Know what?”

“...”

I realized too late what he was trying to reference, but pretended not to know.

Hyesung looked genuinely hurt.

I smiled faintly and turned back to continue chatting with Yoo Arin.

Maybe because I’d scared her with Aslan earlier, she was being unusually obedient.

The conversation got longer... and of course, she started calling me “Unnie.”

There wasn’t much I could do about it, though I felt a bit bitter.

It’s not something I could change right now.

Before long, it was time for Arin to get dropped off, so the conversation had to end.

“W-Well, I’ll be heading in.”

“Get home safe.”

“Bye.”

With plans to meet again someday, Hyesung’s car started moving once more.

Then he suddenly spoke up.

“Noona.”

“What.”

“Would you stay over at Hyeyeon’s place tonight?”

“...Out of nowhere?”

Scratching his cheek awkwardly with one hand on the wheel, he explained.

“Actually, Hyeyeon asked me to definitely bring you over after the shoot...”

“...Aren’t your parents there?”

“Well, yeah... but they’re not the kind of people who hate visitors. If Hyeyeon says you’re her guest, they’ll probably be happy.”

I thought about it for a moment, but the answer was obvious.

A chance at a nice home-cooked meal, and I could thank them properly for last time.

“...Then let’s stop by the store first.”

“Huh? Why the store all of a sudden?”

“...I’m not going empty-handed to someone’s parents’ house.”

“Oh...”

He looked genuinely surprised.

My hand itched to smack him, but I held back—he was driving.

Before we got to Hyeyeon’s house, we stopped by a convenience store and bought a beverage set.

My wallet situation was tight... there wasn’t much I could choose from.

“You really didn’t have to buy anything.”

“I’d feel weird if I didn’t.”

When we arrived near Hyesung’s place and parked, Hyeyeon was already waiting outside.

As I got out of the car with the gift in hand, Hyeyeon approached, eyes narrowed and intense.

For some reason, her whole demeanor looked serious—so I tensed up.