“I know it’s a little too late to ask, but what business did you have with Maru, Miss Hamin? You looked really urgent.”

Hamin put down the pasta she wrapped around her fork. It was a question that she wished wasn’t asked. She didn’t know what to say to it.

“Looks like I asked a difficult question. Sorry, I was just a little curious.”

Joohyun smiled while rinsing her mouth with some water. Hamin looked at Maru, who was next to her. Maru, who was dipping a slice of baguette into a gambas al ajillo, received the gaze and shrugged as though he was completely clueless.

“Should I give you two some space after all?” Joohyun asked.

“No, you don’t have to.”

“It bothers me that you two are exchanging glances like that. It makes me feel like I’m interrupting something.”

“It’s really nothing like that. Right, Mr. Maru?”

She did not want to put Joohyun in discomfort. She was a person that Hamin was grateful to for inviting her out to a meal and listening to her stories. She couldn’t bear to push out the host when she butted in midway.

“I told you. You shouldn’t get swept up by the atmosphere. She’s acting like that because you keep reacting to her, Miss Hamin,” Maru said...