When I quit my job, my co-workers became obsessed with me

doubted my ears. I was so absurd that I forgot to answer and stood blankly, looking back on what I had heard a while ago, when I suddenly felt a cool sensation in my side.

Yu Ga-ryeon, who ran out so fast that the wind blew, stopped a long way from where I was and caught her breath.

“Are you pitiful?”

“Oh, don’t come!”

As I tried to follow her outside in bewilderment, a hoarse voice stopped me.

“Come over there, go over there.”

When I woke up under the strange pressure, I was unknowingly taking a step backwards.

“More, more and more⋯ Go further⋯⋯.”

Eventually, I was able to stop until I got to the front of the original elevator.

“Garyun, why are you doing this?”

I was almost screaming. It was because it was too far away.

“Poor!”

Then the phone in my pocket vibrated. It was a call from Yu Ga-ryun.

– You can tell me now.

“No, what?”

– As I said earlier. smell ⋯⋯.

“What does it smell like?”

Ga-ryun Yu stuttered out as if she didn’t want to answer my question.

― So⋯ do you smell ⋯ new ⋯ ⋯ from me ⋯ ⋯.

I wanted to ask the context and intention of why such a question suddenly came up, but I decided to answer it first. It was because Yu Ga-ryun’s voice over the receiver was very serious.

There must have been a reason for asking such a question.

In any case, in order to answer the question posed by Yu Ga-ryun, it was necessary to first understand the meaning of the word accurately.

smell.

The Standard Korean Dictionary published by the National Institute of the Korean Language describes ‘smell’ as a noun that means all kinds of energy that can be sniffed through the nose.

However, the verb ‘smell’ is described in a slightly more negative nuance than when it is a noun, saying that it refers to the release of bad energy from stale fish, dirty clothes, or the body.

Under that context, let’s interpret the question raised by Yu Ga-ryun a while ago.

However, I don’t know why, but she wondered if ‘bad energy’ was emanating from her body.

Second, I decided to leave that judgment to myself, who can objectively judge the presence or absence of smell as a third party.

Anyway, in this situation, if you ask if Yu Ga-ryun’s body is exuding ‘bad energy’⋯⋯.

― ⋯⋯Why aren’t you talking?

Yu Ga-ryun said in a trembling voice.

― Wait, to the point where I can’t even speak⋯⋯?

I hurriedly opened my mouth. It wasn’t a question worth thinking about in the first place.

“no!”

– Well, it’s not what.

“I say not. smell. None of me.”

― ⋯⋯Really?

“Uh, really.”

― It’s not that I can’t fly because I’m far away, is it?

“What?”

Yu Ga-ryun said as she took a step toward me.

– Isn’t it okay?

“uh.”

one more step.

― Even like this?

“yes.”

– Hey, even like this? even this way?

Finally returning to the officetel entrance, Ga-ryun Yu hid behind the glass door and opened her mouth with only her face sticking out.

― Even though I went so many times, I didn’t get it?

“Anna.”

– Lies⋯⋯.

Ga-ryun Yu approached with her body crouched and slowly opened her lips while looking up at me with eyes like the squirrels that had lost the acorns she was eating.

“Are you really not?”

“yes.”

“Really? The smell of puka chips, the smell of stockings lying on the dusty floor for a week, the smell of sweaty headsets, the smell of wet and fishy blankets, the smell of mold rising from the sink, You mean it doesn’t even smell like rancid milk?”

I was concerned about Yeh’s strangely detailed details, but I decided not to ask about it. I actually don’t even

“uh.”

“Prove it ⋯⋯.”

Yu Ga-ryun said while raising her arms wide like a flying squirrel.

“Prove it, how?”

“Take it.”

“What?”

“Take it here now!”

She was about to ascend beyond the ridiculous, but on the contrary, when she got to this point, she seemed to understand a little bit why she was doing this.

“Can’t you? Do you think it’s awful on the inside?”

Of course, I don’t know the specific reason. However, it was clear that Yu Ga-ryun had been traumatized by body odor over the past few days.

Although it is a fact that I learned on the island, most of Yu Ga-ryun’s stubbornness stems from the fear that lies deep inside her.

I don’t want to be rejected because I’m afraid of losing my only friend, because I think I’m inferior, because I’m afraid of being treated as a pervert by the people around me.

In order to hide that fear, she has tried countless times of coercion. He knew he was acting outrageously, but he didn’t know how to solve it, so he had no choice but to do it.

Alright, nothing more to think about.

To stop a crying child, you must first start with a hug. The next thing to think about is how to sleep.

“⋯⋯ Be still.”

I bent over and slowly poked my nose towards the nape of her neck.

“Ah⋯⋯.”

Yu Ga-ryun’s neck trembled slightly. It seems that she was tickling her neck, trying to catch her breath to calm her tensed mind.

“Whoa, whoo⋯⋯.”

This time, on the contrary, the breath that came out of Yu Ga-ryun’s mouth tickled my ears. I almost opened my mouth at that warm, lukewarm yet soft, subtle sensation, but I bit my tongue and held it in.

No, I can’t stand it. I put my nose in it with momentum, but when the time comes, I will die of shame.

I gulped and swallowed involuntarily to moisten my parched throat from tension.

“Uhhh⋯⋯.”

However, if you swallow saliva in a tense state, you will get sick. I couldn’t hold back the intense cough that was coming out of my throat and I began to vomit.

“Khehe, Kek, Heo Eok⋯⋯.”

I quickly turned my head to avoid spitting on Yu Ga-ryun’s neck. However, I wonder if the act was a misunderstanding, and Yu Ga-ryun’s face, who was staring blankly at me, soon began to turn blue.

“No, keheuk, sweetheart, this is⋯⋯.”

So, I tried to protest by suppressing the continuous coughing, but as I suppressed the cough forcibly, nausea came out.

“Ugh.”

“Ah, ah⋯⋯.”

A thin moan escaped from between her trembling lips. The figure of Yu Ga-ryun shaking her head as if she did not want to acknowledge the brutal reality unfolding before her eyes looked weak as if she would collapse at any moment.

“Heuk heuk, ugh, sleep, are you sleeping⋯⋯.”

“He, he, I’m sorry for all this time!”

Ga-ryun Yu, who pushed me away, went straight into the elevator and started hitting the close button repeatedly.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry I didn’t know the topic. I won’t contact you again, I won’t even get close.

“No, hey⋯⋯.”

The door closed while I caught my breath, and the elevator quickly started going up.

* * *

“⋯⋯I’m sorry.”

Yu Ga-ryun, who was sitting opposite her, bowed her head as if she had no face. Then, with only one eye slightly opened, he looked up at my face, and then bowed his head again in awe.

I stared at it without saying a word, then opened my mouth with an exaggerated moan.

“Summer seems to be coming to an end soon.”

“yes?”

“No, it was a little cold. outside.”

“Uh⋯⋯.”

Yu Ga-ryun’s shoulders shrank even more. If you play with it a little more, it might turn into a bean worm-like shape.

“I was wrong⋯⋯.”

After Yu Ga-ryun disappeared, I followed her up behind the scenes, but no matter how much I rang the doorbell, the door wouldn’t open.

There is even a degree of absurdity.

I went to the back of Yu Ga-ryun’s officetel to dissipate the slowly rising heat and praised her in a very loud voice.

Just as people appeared out of the window one by one, Yu Ga-ryun ran out and dragged me in.

“If you do it one more time, you can come with a loudspeaker and do it.”

“Oh, my brother!”

Yu Ga-ryun raised her head as if in protest, and immediately lowered her head as if a dog squealed and lowered her tail.

“Hey, aren’t you ashamed⋯⋯?”

“uh. You live here, not me. You are the one who runs into people in the elevator.”

Yu Ga-ryun’s face turned red. I’m going to have to take the elevator to work tomorrow, and it’s going to be very embarrassing.

It seemed a little pitiful when I thought about it, but I can’t help it. No matter how childish, if you do something wrong, you need appropriate discipline.

“What do you think.”

Upon hearing my words, Yu Ga-ryun tilted her head as if she did not understand the meaning.

“Aren’t you ashamed to think about taking the elevator tomorrow? It’s early in the morning, so there will be a lot of people riding it.”

“⋯⋯Yes.”

“That’s how I felt for you earlier.”

Another moan came out of Yu’s mouth.

“It doesn’t matter what you do, but at least tell me why. Depending on the content, the location is also covered.”

“Yes, yes⋯⋯.”

Yu Ga-ryun trembled as if she was ashamed of what she had done to me a while ago.

“And listen to what people say. Don’t judge yourself.”

“Yes⋯⋯.”

He seemed to be reflecting, so he decided to end the sermon at this point.

“Anyway.”

I let out a sigh without realizing it. Obviously, until a few dozen minutes ago, I thought I would not be able to see even a single face properly because I was embarrassed, but now I am okay. Of course, I still think it’s pretty.

Yes, this was originally Yuga-ryun.

A younger brother who pretends to be strong and does a lot of things, but is actually stubborn and likes to be foolish.

I must say that it felt like a lens that had been placed over my eyes had come off, but I felt so depressed that it made me feel so nervous about it.

If it hadn’t come today, I probably wouldn’t have realized it all my life.

In the worst case, he may have continued to be shy and walked away without being able to express his feelings properly.

It was a very fortunate story.

“So why did you do that?”

“yes? What, what?”

Yu Ga-ryun’s expression turned suspicious again.

“I asked if it smelled. Why did you ask such a question all of a sudden?”

“Oh, is it? That’s what you’re talking about.”

Yu Ga-ryun, who rolled her eyes for a moment without saying a word, opened her mouth with a sly smile.

“Do you have to tell me ⋯⋯?”

“No, you can’t do it if you don’t want to.”

I slowly opened my mouth as I watched Yu Ga-ryun relieved.

“It must have something to do with how clean this house is anyway.”

The smile disappeared from Yu Ga-ryun’s face.

“No⋯⋯Is it because of midsummer?”

And gradually it started to turn blue.