You! Don’t Press that Button! - Chap 18

Doel entered the nearby inn located only a short walk from where we had met. Perhaps due to the traces I left behind, he raised his hand to cover his face. Without a word, he ascended the stairs, pulled a key from his pocket, and opened the door to a room.

Though not as spacious as the room Karhan and I had stayed in, it was a rather cozy place. As soon as we arrived, Doel took me out of his pocket and placed me on the bed.

“Cheep.”

I’m sorry.

I admitted my mistake. I lowered my head and apologized to him, but he left me be and went straight into the bathroom. From the sound of running water, it seemed he was washing away the traces I had left on his face. I let out a deep sigh.

“Peep peep.”

I would have had nothing to say even if he had come out and hit me. How could I have pooped on someone’s face, even if it wasn’t intentional? I closed my eyes tightly and felt miserable. As I sat on the bed with my eyes closed and waited, I heard the sound of the faucet being turned off, and soon after, the bathroom door swung open.

I slightly opened my eyes, which had been shut tight, and looked up at Doel, who had emerged from the bathroom. He was wiping his wet face with a towel. Afraid of making eye contact, I quickly closed my eyes again. As I sat there obediently, I heard him put the towel down somewhere, followed by the sound of his footsteps approaching me.

In that tense moment, my body trembled and shivered slightly. I was curious about what situation awaited me, but I couldn’t bring myself to open my eyes. In my mind, I could picture Doel staring at me with a frightening gaze the moment I opened my eyes.

With my eyes shut tight as if locked, something presumed to be Doel’s finger tapped on my head.

“You know you’re sorry too, right?”

“Cheep cheep.”

Yes, yes. I’m reflecting a lot.

As I nodded my head earnestly with a serious expression, there was a thud, and the floor swayed, followed by the sound of laughter. The feeling was pleasant, right? At the sound of his light laughter, I cautiously opened my eyes to a squint and looked ahead. Doel had his face buried in the bed, his body shaking with laughter. …What’s this, is he going dark? I watched him without letting my guard down. He kept laughing for a while, then suddenly lifted his head.

“Peep!”

As he raised his head, our eyes met. I, who had been secretly peeking with my eyes squinted, gasped and shut them tightly again. Doel burst into laughter once more. I could hear him gasping for breath as he laughed. As his laughter continued, my mood hit rock bottom. I felt like I was being mocked.

“Cheep…”

I became gloomy. It’s not like I did it on purpose either. I had tried to stop flying to avoid pooping on Doel. It’s Newton’s fault. From the fringes of my apologetic feelings, anger slowly rose. I opened my eyes, which had been closed the whole time, and glared at him, still laughing. Doel kept laughing as if he didn’t know how I felt. Fine. Keep laughing.

I turned my back on him, who was smirking annoyingly. Due to my sudden movement, Doel’s laughter slowly died down. With my back to him, I couldn’t see Doel’s expression, but at this point, I didn’t care about his expression or anything else. I was in a very bad mood.

Seeing my back turned, Doel started poking me again with his finger. It seemed like a signal to turn around, but I didn’t react to it. After he had laughed at me to his heart’s content…

“Peep.”

Don’t touch me.

My voice was sharp. I wiggled my bottom slightly as a sign for him not to touch me again. Doel must have finally grasped the situation, as he tickled my back with his finger and spoke.

“Are you upset?”

“Cheep!”

I’m not upset! I’m angry! Do you know what an angry person hates to hear the most? Being asked if they’re upset!

I was so frustrated that I exhaled heavily. Seeing me breathing with my back heaving, Doel made a humming sound and sat still for a moment before coming in front of me and sitting face to face with me. I didn’t back down and turned my back on him again. This time, Doel picked me up with one hand. I struggled, being picked up carelessly like a prize from a claw machine.

“Cheep!”

Let me go!

I cried out loudly. However, he didn’t let me go and held me up on his palm, forcing me to look at him. This insolent fellow. Having no choice but to meet his eyes, I glared at Doel. He smiled, raising his eyebrows as if he found it amusing to have an angry bird in front of him.

“Peep.”

Laughing?

I frowned, feeling extremely displeased. I was very hurt. To show how upset I was, I stood up on Doel’s palm and stomped one leg repeatedly. It was as if I were pounding the ground. At my actions, he tried to laugh but held it back and said, scratching his cheek with his hand.

“Sorry. I laughed because you were so cute.”

“Cheep!”

I’m not cute!I opened my eyes fiercely. Doel smiled awkwardly and opened his mouth to speak.

“Since we both made a mistake once… can we call it even?”

“Peep peep.”

I raised my head and looked at him.Is that really enough? Can you forgive my poop with just that?

I was in a pretty bad mood after being laughed at so much, but comparing myself, who had pooped on Doel’s face, and Doel, who laughed at it, anyone could see that I was the worse one. Yet, Doel just kindly squinted his eyes, showed a smile, and didn’t take back his words.

Why is he so nice? Is it because he’s a character from a novel?

Doel gently stroked me as I sat on his hand, looking down at me. The light tapping of his fingers on my head, using minimal force, showed that he was adequately considerate of a small creature. I narrowed my eyes as I received his petting. Ever since I became a bird, it felt good when someone stroked my head. Perhaps it was the same even before I became one.

“Peep.”

Okay.

I nodded. At my actions, he burst into laughter again. He seems like a kid who laughs a lot. I can’t remember the original story well, but I wonder if he always laughed this much. He sat on the bed and stroked me for a while. Then, as if something had occurred to him, he asked me.

“But why are you out here all alone? Where’s your owner? Are you lost?”

At those words, I could come to my senses. Ah, right. Karhan!

“Cheep!”

I had forgotten about it in the midst of the embarrassing situation that occurred while meeting Doel. I woke up at the inn and couldn’t find Karhan, so I was looking for him. When I saw Doel outside the window, I ran out without thinking. I had to return to the inn. Of course, with Doel.

I brushed off Doel’s hand and flew above his head. Sensing that something was unusual due to my sudden action, he raised his hand to catch me above his head, but my beak was faster in biting his hair.

I bit his hair and didn’t let go. Then, like before, I pulled hard. Doel got up from the bed due to the mild but undeniable stinging sensation.

“Wait, just a moment.”

“Cheep.”

Just a moment? There’s no time for that!I didn’t let go of Doel’s hair until we were outside the inn. He obediently followed my commands, probably because of his precious hair roots. Fortunately, the inn where Karhan was staying wasn’t far from here. It was a distance that could be reached with just a short walk. Are they destined to become a couple?!

As I held onto Doel’s hair, acting as a navigator, I could spot Karhan running around among the people in the distance, thanks to my high vantage point. He seemed to be in a hurry. Why is he so busy? I blinked my eyes and watched him looking around here and there.

Is there an urgent matter he needs to take care of in this town? Seeing his uncharacteristic behavior, as if something big had happened, I contemplated whether I should call him later. However, since I had brought Doel this far, I decided to arrange their meeting first and help them together. So, I cried out loudly.

“Peep! Peep!”

Karhan! Karhan!

Look who I brought! I was so excited that I loosened my grip on Doel’s hair and hopped up and down. Despite the noise from the passersby, Karhan must have heard my voice because he turned towards where I was. Finally, as I entered his silvery-gray eyes, Karhan let out a deep sigh. He approached me in one stride and reached out his hand to grab me.

“Cheep!”

How is it? Did I do well?I looked up at him with hopeful eyes. He held my small body close to his chest and said,

“I was worried. I was afraid you had gone far away.”

“Peep?”

Where would I go? You’re the one who feeds me!

I looked up at Karhan, who said he was afraid I had gone far away. Being held in his arms, I couldn’t see his expression, but I could clearly feel his startled heartbeat transmitted to my body. His heart was beating rapidly and intensely, as if it was tickling my own heart.

“Cheep?”

Were you worried?

I felt like a pet that had gone out on its own and made its owner worry, so I stayed obediently in his arms. Somehow, I felt that if I left his embrace now, something big might happen. Karhan held me with both hands as if I were a precious treasure and faced Doel.

“Why were you with him?”

“…I found him wandering outside alone. I happened to see him and was taking care of him.”

Doel answered Karhan’s question in a stiff voice. Karhan and Doel didn’t avoid each other’s gaze. For some reason, I felt the tension in the precarious atmosphere. With only my head peeking out of Karhan’s hands, I looked back and forth between the two. I noticed Doel’s Adam’s apple moving significantly.

“Cheep. Peep.”

What’s this? Did I bring him for nothing?

The two stood in the middle of the street, exchanging glances for a long time, and I let out a small cry, feeling that I wanted them to at least go inside the room. My thin cry, cutting through the tense atmosphere, was easy for both of them to hear. The situation, filled with taut tension, naturally loosened the moment their gazes turned towards me.

“Peep!”

I was in Karhan’s arms, but I flapped my wings and went up to his head. The chilly atmosphere didn’t suit me at all. I settled on the warm and fluffy crown of the duke’s head, which had now become my designated seat. As I perched on top of his head, I found peace of mind. I let out a “cheep” with my eyes narrowed.

Only then did Karhan open his mouth, which he had kept tightly shut.

“Follow me.”

Karhan invited Doel to his room. Although I didn’t fully grasp the situation, I couldn’t hide my satisfied smile at the thought that things were progressing smoothly according to my plan. I was so happy that I wiggled my bottom on the duke’s crown.