episode_0026
by fnovelpiaEpisode 25: A Small Bruise Launched by Jung Ah-young (2)
A day passes without incident.
The next morning.
So, Thursday’s day dawned.
As usual, preparing breakfast for Han Se-yeon.
After seeing her off with care, it’s almost time to go to school.
After washing dishes, doing a quick clean-up, and showering, it’s 7:30.
Since it takes about 40 minutes to walk, she leaves at an earlier hour.
About 20 minutes into the walk, she sees a woman in the distance.
In one hand, a Daiso bag.
Turning her head this way and that, she resembled a meerkat.
Seemingly restless, occasionally checking the time on her smartphone.
“What are you doing there?”
“Oh, uh-haha! Good morning…”
“Yeah. But…”
Jung Ah-young’s eyes dart around.
Does she know that what she’s saying doesn’t make sense?
Words spill out of her mouth like a rap.
“Oh, it’s a coincidence! My dad asked me to run an errand. I can go after school… You know you can only get it here, right? It’s annoying. I might forget… But since there’s a Daiso here. While I’m here… Just in case… It’s so strange! Right!”
“….”
Trembling lips and cautious eyes.
Her expression looking down at me was full of worry.
Well, the distance between her and my house is quite considerable.
A distance that takes about 30 to 40 minutes to walk.
However, as she mentioned, there is a Daiso around here, so she wasn’t wrong.
I didn’t bother pointing out any errors.
It was clear from her demeanor why she had come this far.
“Really? Let’s go together.”
“Yes!”
Has her anxiety disappeared?
Jung Ah-young’s expression brightened significantly.
The pleasure that rose as much as the anxiety that had subsided seemed even greater.
In subtle joy, she wriggled her lips.
“Is something good happening?”
“Oh, no?! But I feel good.”
“I see.”
Though embarrassed, the smile on her face remained.
About 20 minutes left until school.
Even Jung Ah-young, who couldn’t contain her joy, started to engage in conversation without realizing it.
It was a short time, but a happy one.
***
Entering the classroom, Jung Ah-young.
Normally, she would have entered with cold glances and indifference.
But things changed after becoming close with Han Se-in.
She still didn’t look over or pay attention, but…
Glance, glance.
An instinct common among women.
Though not blatantly staring or making advances.
Within the dizzying gazes, she briefly captured Han Se-in.
Those jerks.
Jung Ah-young muttered curses under her breath.
Is Kim Hyung-min scary because he’s scary, or does Han Se-in just not realize he’s handsome?
Should she ignore him because he blew in her face?
The woman’s instinct towards him seemed unavoidable.
Though fleeting, her gaze kept catching Han Se-in.
Whether intentional or not.
It was certain that it didn’t look very graceful.
“Right.”
“Huh?”
“I was in so much pain yesterday.”
“Th-that’s true?”
Suddenly, the classroom fell silent.
All sounds focused on Han Se-in and Jung Ah-young at the back.
Unspecified words, yet a conversation between a man and a woman.
The provocative nature of their words drew everyone’s attention.
“Sorry… Was I too harsh?”
“Look at this. Got a bruise too, see?”
“Hey, hey…!”
Jung Ah-young’s voice grew louder.
With all eyes on her, naturally, Han Se-in’s actions were also visible.
Numerous gazes turned towards him.
As he lifted his uniform.
When his white shirt and undershirt lifted up, his abdomen was exposed.
Jung Ah-young’s frantic gestures.
Did she hit him too hard yesterday?
A mix of guilt and embarrassment washed over her.
Han Se-in may not have realized it, but the woman’s intuition was quite sharp.
Especially.
The gazes of competitors directed towards a receptive male were received even more sensitively.
Jung Ah-young’s gaze had sharpened.
Unlike her previously cloudy and cautious demeanor, she appeared rather resolute.
“Why are you acting like that?”
“Uh, come down quickly. This is the classroom.”
Nevertheless, her fawning behavior remained unchanged.
Momentarily feeling too unfamiliar with herself,
Jung Ah-young hurriedly grabbed his collar and pulled him down.
“Is it really that bad…”
“I-It’s not that bad…”
Gradually becoming more confused.
Even if the focus was different, it was too distinct.
Did she look pitiful? As Han Se-in looked crestfallen, Jung Ah-young seemed even more at a loss.
Confused, she was truly perplexed.
Even if he had told her to hit him, she had struck him strongly because it was herself.
Guilt flooded in, jealousy surged.
Another woman looking at Han Se-in’s stomach?
No. That couldn’t happen.
Jung Ah-young began to act as if she were his girlfriend.
“If a man does that, what should I do… It shouldn’t happen outside.”
“Is that so?”
Han Se-in tilted his head.
Jung Ah-young sighed even deeper.
Indeed, his views on gender were remarkably different.
To be precise, it was closer to being defenseless.
He seemed unaware of how he came across.
“Let’s start the class.”
“T-That… No.”
“Hm?”
What should she say?
As the situation concluded, Jung Ah-young observed the female students going about their tasks.
Rumors about Han Se-in spread like wildfire, as if everyone had something to say.
But she knew.
More innocent, kind, and different from the typical man.
Truly a person akin to a prince charming.
Thus, a sense of superiority grew deep within her heart.
The women who were afraid of Kim Hyung-min did nothing.
Compared to them, she felt special.
Talking and playing by Han Se-in’s side.
She occupied a position that they would envy.
Regardless of this or that.
While Jung Ah-young felt a sense of superiority, time continued to pass.
While experiencing a twisted happiness among ordinary students.
Lunchtime arrived imperceptibly.
Once again, the time to endure approached.
It was the usual routine.
Where there is happiness, there is also misfortune.
Would today be the same as always?
Anxiously, Jung Ah-young moved closer to Han Se-in, who was glancing around nervously.
Kim Hyung-min’s group’s hideout.
Fourth-floor corridor.
Approaching Han Se-in huddled against the wall.
Kang Hyun-ah’s eyes were calmer than yesterday.
They say humans are creatures of adaptation.
Though the guilt still pricked her heart, it was a situation rationalized in its own way.
Han Se-in’s groans, pained expression, and unstable breathing.
His reactions were clear, yet Kang Hyun-ah knew.
She tried her best to ease his pain and ensure he wasn’t hurt.
If there was a slightly sad aspect,
Nonetheless, Han Se-in would have been hurt, and the fact that she was the perpetrator wouldn’t change.
Knowing this fact,
Kang Hyun-ah’s pupils sank deeper.
Her once sharp and lively eyes.
Slowly fading, suffering.
It was no different from yesterday.
The only difference today was that there were no mistakes?
That wasn’t an issue either.
For whatever reason.
You just have to make it.
“….”
Kang Hyun-ah gazed down at Han Se-in.
The gaze that met his soon averted, trembling with faint sounds of fear.
Naturally.
Being crowded like this, subjected to torment.
Who wouldn’t feel intimidated and uneasy?
Despite it being a natural fact, Kang Hyun-ah squinted her eyes shut and then opened them.
The fact that she had to make him suffer remained unchanged.
She steeled her resolve even further.
She is clearly the perpetrator.
There’s no such thing as hitting back when you’ve been hit.
But.
Kang Hyeon-ah was in more pain than ever before.
Please, please don’t look at me.
Don’t look at me with those eyes.
Hurting you, making things difficult.
Why. Why are you looking at me like that?
Terrified and eager to escape, you probably can’t even see me properly.
Why are you containing me?
Her actions were swift.
The more she hesitated, the more she would writhe in agony.
To satisfy Kim Hyeong-min, she ultimately had to act.
However.
“Aaargh…!”
She struck lightly.
Certainly, just as she had eased off yesterday.
She jabbed Han Se-in’s abdomen with her fist.
Kang Hyeon-ah’s pupils began to shake increasingly.
A reaction beyond imagination.
More intense than yesterday.
As evidence of this, Han Se-in’s body was crumbling.
Sinking down, starting to lean backward.
His face, filled with pain, was not just wrinkled but pitiful.
Moans escaping through clenched teeth entered Kang Hyeon-ah’s heart.
Why, why?
It should be the same as yesterday…
Kang Hyeon-ah was confused.
Seeing him trembling on the ground, he looked so fragile.
He was swimming between worry and doubt.
Just for a moment.
Han Se-in, who had fallen, saw his clothes gradually riding up.
Whether due to his posture or not, bruises peeked through his faintly revealed skin.
Kang Hyeon-ah’s eyes started to tremble.
Is he really this weak?
No, she knew it when she thought about it.
Even after sprinting that short distance, he had to catch his breath.
With feeble arms and legs, he seemed unable to handle anything heavy, let alone contain his own body.
And…
There was no guarantee he wouldn’t suffer even from a slight stimulus.
Inserting a fist into a frail body.
But since she hit lightly, it should be fine, right?
Where did this false sense of security come from?
Kang Hyeon-ah was gradually devouring herself.
Repulsive, and full of resentment.
Beyond the current situation, she found herself repulsive.
Her head slowly dropped.
Like a repentant sinner.
Though she bowed deeply, all she could see was the suffering Han Se-in.
“Se, Sein-ah. Sein-ah…!!”
And.
Even Jeong Ah-young, caught by Park Hyo-rin, spewing out pitiful words.
Is this… right?
For the first time, Kang Hyeon-ah questioned her own actions.
Over 10 years of loyalty.
Repeated learning and tasks that must be done.
While immense pain may not change the thoughts of a strong person.
It was enough to create a tiny crack.
Even if it doesn’t collapse immediately.
Surely, someday, that tiny crack will break down a huge dam.
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