Luche shouted loudly, and there were three people in the room: me, Esmeralda, and Luche. The heavy silence settled in the room.
Esmeralda entered the room late, and since she wasn’t aware of the atmosphere when it was just the two of us, she thought it wouldn’t be bad to talk about her business. However, Luche cut off her words hastily, which didn’t make sense given the situation.
It seemed like she had something important to say. Even I couldn’t understand the situation, and Esmeralda looked back and forth between me and Luche. Luche stared at Esmeralda with forceful eyes.
“What’s going on?”
“Are you going to the hospital with A tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I think I won’t have time if I prepare for the competition. Is A okay with that?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“Just wait a moment!”
She probably didn’t think she was involved in the ongoing story.
“Luche, if you have something to say, say it properly. If you just throw a tantrum without saying your own business, the conversation can’t progress.”
“I was going to suggest we go out for something delicious with A tomorrow.”
To soothe the angry Luche, I suggested going out for something delicious. Luche thought it could be done immediately the next day, but Esmeralda came in and said they were going to the hospital the next day.
“Was that it?”
Esmeralda seemed to roughly guess Luche’s current mood from her words. Only after hearing Luche’s words did I realize why she spoke so urgently. Esmeralda seemed to need more time to think and glanced at both Luche and me.
“I understand what you want to say, but going to the hospital is difficult during weekdays. Wouldn’t it be better to give me the chance tomorrow?”
Esmeralda’s words sounded like a request, but her tone was more like a declaration.
As she said, it was hard to visit the hospital on weekdays. While I was fine, as the Team Leader and one of the four central figures, it was difficult for Esmeralda to find extra time during work hours.
Klugger had lost consciousness, making the visitation time short, and considering travel time, scheduling properly before the match started would be best.
“During weekdays, I’ll be busy too.”
However, despite the logic of Esmeralda’s words, Luche refused to listen because she didn’t want to lose the initiative.
Luche wasn’t entirely unreasonable. After knowing A as Ati for ten years, I wanted to spend time alone with her. Memories of watching TV together in the past made me want to spend time with her again.
But if I had to choose right now, I agreed with Esmeralda. Even though I agreed, it was not easy to take her side.
Luche had already been upset when she heard I moved to SuA’s house without saying anything. If I told her I’d visit Kluger tomorrow, she would surely stay upset for about a month.
Especially since Esmeralda’s appointment was earlier, it made things more complicated.
I felt like leaving the room immediately, but I couldn’t leave the discussion between the two while surrounded by my problems.
“What does A want to do?”
Luche turned to look at me directly. I hoped she wouldn’t ask me, but the situation didn’t flow as I wished.
“Me?”
Esmeralda stood silently, and Luche sent me a direct gaze, urging me to choose her. Despite wanting to sigh, the tense atmosphere made me sweat.
“I…”
I tried to buy time by trailing off, but no suitable response came to mind in such a short time.
In such situations, help can only come from a third party. If the situation couldn’t be resolved here, I hoped someone would come.
With all my heart, I slowly shifted my gaze toward the door.
And did a miracle happen due to my earnestness? I heard a knock.
“Luche.”
Siera entered.
Why did Siera enter at this particular moment among many people?
“I already told you not to come in yet!”
Like Esmeralda, Siera knocked and then entered, causing Luche to raise her voice again.
“Okay. I wanted to discuss some changes…”
Siera, who had fixed her gaze on Luche and was aware of Esmeralda beside her, failed to notice me until our eyes met, and she stopped mid-sentence.
“What’s going on?”
Siera, noticing the unusual atmosphere, narrowed her eyes and glanced around the room.
While I was relieved not to be asked for an immediate answer, the new situation was even more difficult. Miracles are not reliable.
Especially, Siera entering the room made Luche’s expression worse, as she knew about my situation.
“Can’t we discuss this later? I’m a bit busy now.”
“Sure. Let’s talk later.”
Even though Siera’s reason for coming had been delayed, she didn’t plan to leave the room.
“Isn’t it time to talk later?”
“Okay, let’s continue.”
Esmeralda, feeling the tension, opened her mouth to calm down Luche and Siera, who were getting heated up.
“It seems like you two misunderstood each other.”
“A will be with me tomorrow!”
“What?!”
Thinking that backing down would mean not voicing her opinion, Luche didn’t budge. Siera, unaware of the situation, was surprised by Luche’s statement.
But Siera’s gaze turned toward Esmeralda, not Luche.
“Esmeralda, maybe…?”
“No, it’s not like that.”
Esmeralda, looking troubled, tried to calm Siera down who was staring at her intently.
“You’re talking as if it has nothing to do with you.”
“!!!”
My ignorance only fueled Siera’s misunderstanding. Seeing no improvement in the situation, Esmeralda sighed deeply.
“Everyone, calm down.”
Though I opened my mouth to stop the situation from worsening, the pressure of three people’s gazes on me closed my mouth.
The feeling was the same as receiving disapproving looks from all the girlfriends at once.
I just wanted the situation to not get any more chaotic.
At that moment, someone knocked, and the door opened right after.
“Esmeralda, I heard you’re here.”
Angelique entered the room. She noticed the unusual atmosphere and stood still at the door, blinking her eyes.
“Why aren’t you guys listening to me?”
Riled up by Esmeralda and Siera, who both entered without knocking, Luche raised her voice. But Angelique didn’t seem to care about Luche’s anger; she only stared at me.
“Help me.”
I sent her a desperate look, hoping she could help resolve the tense atmosphere.
“What’s going on?”
Hearing Angelique’s question, the three women who were distressed at the situation spoke simultaneously.
“Esmeralda is taking A away!”
“Luche isn’t listening to me at all.”
“They’re fighting over A!”
Despite the overlapping voices making it hard to hear clearly, Angelique understood their words and nodded, then slowly closed the door.
“Angelique, please help!”
Realizing the situation was more complex than expected, Angelique wanted to leave the room quickly. However, as the only person who could resolve the situation, I didn’t want to miss her help and grabbed the door she was trying to close, asking for assistance.
Eventually, Angelique entered Luche’s room. Luche remained seated, and we—Esmeralda, Siera, and Angelique—sat on the sofa.
“How did this happen?”
Esmeralda, going to visit Kluger with me.
Luche, planning to have dinner with me.
Siera, misunderstanding the situation.
Angelique, realizing it was a trivial matter, looked at the others with confusion.
“It’s because you two aren’t listening.”
Relieved that communication was finally possible, Esmeralda sighed in relief.
“Maybe it’s better to visit Kluger with Esmeralda first? He was under Esmeralda’s command before and is now important to Luche too.”
“That’s true…”
With Angelique’s mediation, Luche regained her composure and responded calmly.
“Everyone here has a connection with Kluger. Regardless of the schedule, it’s better to visit him and not leave him alone in the ward.”
“Okay. But we must definitely go out for a meal?”
The situation improved significantly with Angelique’s arrival. Luche realized she had been acting unnecessarily and promised to keep the promise.
“Of course.”
There was no reason to refuse the improved situation.
“I wish I could see A for a longer time. Maybe we can have a meal soon?”
Angelique suggested having a meal, smiling warmly. Though I had seen her briefly before, I welcomed the idea of having a meal together.
“Sure, anytime.”
As I answered cheerfully, my gaze turned to Seira, who was sitting silently.
I wasn’t sure what to say to her, given the events of the past week. Continuing the current atmosphere was not an option.
“Seira?”
“Why, why?”
When I called her cautiously, Seira seemed startled and opened her eyes wide.
“…Will you be free for a while?”
“Do what you want.”
While it wasn’t a completely positive response, Seira’s usual attitude meant she was suggesting I decide the schedule based on what I thought was convenient.
“Okay.”
Not knowing how my schedule would change due to the competition, I simply agreed.
“Then it’s settled? Esmeralda, I need to check some documents for submission.”
“Got it.”
With the situation settled, Angelique and Esmeralda left to attend to work.
“Seira, what did you mean by checking?”
“Oh, let’s go to my room first.”
Seira and Luche also left to work.
As everyone left, leaving me alone in the noisy office, the tension eased, and fatigue set in.
“…Let’s go home.”
Muttering to myself, I got up from the sofa, left Luche’s room, gathered my phone and wallet, and left headquarters without looking back.
Now, everything should be fine at home.
Today, Milky Way and Hayang were coming over for dinner. The thought of a relaxed dinner made me feel relieved.
I wondered what delicious food Hayang would prepare today. Milky Way seemed uneasy since I moved to SuA’s house. Would she be okay? SuA would probably complain about not being able to play games again.
Thinking about my girlfriends’ usual behavior, I walked out of the elevator with a light heart and pressed the door lock code.
“I’m home.”
I announced my return loudly as I entered the living room, where I found Milky Way, Hayang, SuA, and unexpectedly, Yura.
The atmosphere was unusual.
Upon entering the living room and seeing the four people, I sensed something was wrong. SuA and Yura both looked at me simultaneously.
“Wow! Yellow is here!”
“Hey! Pink is here!”
“…”
Seeing the two people raise their voices automatically made me sigh.
“There’s no peace in either work or home…”
Walking into the unusual atmosphere, I headed towards the living room.
