Chapter 12
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 12 – An Important Truth
—–CROW—–
After what felt like an incredibly long class, spent clutching my pounding heart,
“You’re really not going?”
“Yeah, I don’t need to go.”
We were on the bus home, having a deep(?) conversation about whether I should go to the hospital.
Han Seo-ah said, with a puzzled look on her face,
“You said you didn’t mind going earlier.”
“…I don’t feel like going now that class is over.”
“You weren’t feeling well yesterday either.”
“I’m fine now.”
“Are you going to wait until you suddenly feel worse and then tell me you can’t come to school because you’re sick?”
“…Again? When did I ever do that?”
“Anyway, that’s not important right now.”
If that wasn’t important, then what was, Professor Han Seo-ah?
As I stared at her, dumbfounded by her casual remark, she added belatedly,
“…I mean, there’s something more important than that trivial stuff.”
“Going to the hospital?”
“Yeah, that.”
[The most important thing to me is Si-woo’s health. Nothing else really matters.]
…Seriously?
Wouldn’t a normal person prioritize their own health?
Suddenly curious, I asked Han Seo-ah,
“Han Seo-ah.”
“Yes?”
“If you and I fell into the ocean, and there was only one life jacket, what would you do?”
“…Only one, for sure?”
“Yeah, let’s assume there’s only one.”
“…Of course, I’d use it! Do you think I’d die to save you?”
[Why is Si-woo asking such an obvious question?]
[Of course, I’d save Si-woo. I can’t live without him anyway.]
“…”
I’d expected something like this, but seeing it in reality was a fresh shock.
Han Seo-ah considered me more important than herself even in that situation.
And yet, she was saying that it was only natural for her to use the life jacket.
While inwardly thinking she’d save me without hesitation.
…I felt a tickling sensation in my chest.
How many times had I felt this today?
How many times had I felt this emotion, something I’d never felt from Han Seo-ah before, in just two days?
Lost in thought, I heard Han Seo-ah’s puzzled voice.
“Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”
“…Nothing, just curious.”
“What? Were you hoping I’d choose you? Don’t get your hopes up, that’ll never happen.”
[…I hope Si-woo isn’t hurt by what I said.]
[I’m too embarrassed to say it out loud, but you’re always my priority, Si-woo.]
“…Cough!”
I coughed because of Han Seo-ah’s heartfelt words.
And Han Seo-ah, thinking it was because of a cold, was startled.
It was a comical scene, no matter how you looked at it.
“No, something’s stuck in my throat. Cough.”
“…Do you want some water?”
“Do you have any?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Thanks.”
“Here.”
Han Seo-ah rummaged through her bag and handed me a water bottle.
Did she usually carry a water bottle?
I didn’t think she used to.
A fleeting question crossed my mind, but I quietly drank the water as I’d said I would.
“I’ll drink without touching the bottle.”
“…Of course. Did you think I’d let you put your mouth on my water bottle?”
[Aw, I bought this water bottle during lunch because I was hoping for a situation like this morning.]
[Si-woo is so unnecessarily cautious in these situations.]
As if to prove why she hesitated, Han Seo-ah’s inner thoughts reappeared.
I had a hunch, but…
She really did have an ulterior motive.
I couldn’t let my guard down for even a second.
I wasn’t even this focused during my college entrance exam preparations.
“By the way, Lee Si-woo.”
“…What?”
“What would you do?”
“What do you mean?”
“The life jacket question. What would you do?”
So that’s why she was quiet while I was drinking.
She must have been waiting to ask that question.
“There must be a reason why you asked that out of the blue.”
“I just suddenly thought abou…”
“If you say you just suddenly thought about it, I don’t know what I’ll do to you.”
“…Hmm.”
Interrupting me like that left me speechless.
I felt a slight sense of dread.
What should I answer?
Judging by the look in her eyes, I couldn’t just brush it off.
This was one of Han Seo-ah’s characteristics.
Although it didn’t happen often, when she was fixated on something, she wouldn’t give up until she got it.
Once, she stayed up for three days straight playing a game because she wanted to reach the Master rank.
Both our families were in an uproar back then.
Han Seo-ah’s parents cried, thinking their daughter had gone crazy.
And my parents just told me to try and stop her.
And then, three days later.
I still remembered the moment Han Seo-ah finally achieved Master rank and smiled proudly.
I thought she’d finally lost it, but…
I also thought it was cool that she achieved her goal.
Anyway, this meant that once Han Seo-ah became fixated on something, it became very tiring.
I had to find a way out of this situation.
“Lee Si-woo? Why can’t you answer?”
“…I didn’t think I’d have to.”
“Just answer. I’m curious.”
“Well, I think I’d give you the life jacket.”
“…Really? Why?”
Han Seo-ah’s expression was filled with surprise, as if she hadn’t expected this answer at all.
“Because you want to save me?”
“…Huh?”
“Do I need a reason? I want to save you.”
It was an amusing situation.
How long had it been since I’d seen Han Seo-ah make such a funny face?
I think the last time was when I brought home a perfect score on my final exam.
After a while, Han Seo-ah, who had been dumbfounded, seemed to snap out of it and yelled,
“What are you talking about! Why would you save me?”
“I told you, do I need a reason?”
“…Ha, in a real situation, you’d use it yourself.”
[Is this a dream? Si-woo chose me over himself?]
[My heart is pounding so hard.]
Han Seo-ah’s inner thoughts still contradicted her words.
But I’m sorry to say, my plan wasn’t over yet.
“What are you talking about? I’d give it to you even in a real situation.”
“…Really?”
“Of course. So we can both survive.”
“I never thought Lee Si-woo would say such a thing… Wait, what?”
Han Seo-ah asked back with a dumbfounded expression, as if she’d finally noticed something strange about my words.
She probably realized it now.
But it was too late.
I gave her a mischievous smile and said casually,
“Of course, I’d give you the life jacket. I can swim.”
“…”
“It’s basic common sense to give the life jacket to someone who can’t swim. You know that, right?”
“…So, to summarize, you’d give me the life jacket because you can swim, and I can’t.”
“Yeah, because you’re a landlubber who can’t swim.”
It was a matter of course.
Anyone would choose Han Seo-ah over me in that situation, since I could swim, and she couldn’t.
Han Seo-ah sighed deeply and said,
“…Sigh. Is that it? I thought you were going to confess or something.”
“What? You were talking about expectations earlier. Were you expecting something?”
“No way. If you confessed, I’d reject you immediately.”
[For a moment, I thought Si-woo cherished me that much.]
[Stupid Si-woo. Just confess already. If you did, I’d cry tears of joy and accept.]
It seemed like I would never get used to those unfamiliar sentences.
Just hearing those heartfelt words made my face flush again.
Han Seo-ah, completely oblivious to my feelings, smiled brightly, seemingly relieved.
“Too bad. I thought another embarrassing story about Lee Si-woo was about to be born.”
“…I’d never let that happen. Who knows what you’d do to me.”
“Hey, what did I do?”
“You’d do something if it happened.”
“That’s true, but…”
“…”
“Whatever, get ready to get off. One stop left.”
[But it’s not like I gained nothing. At least it’s true that Si-woo would give me the life jacket in that situation.]
[That’s enough for me. I can build on that from now on.]
Han Seo-ah’s future plans, completely disregarding my feelings.
I almost made a dumbfounded expression, but I managed to hold it back.
I was more surprised by something else.
‘…She’s smart.’
I thought she might miss it because of everything else she said.
But Han Seo-ah easily surpassed my expectations and grasped the most important fact.
That in that situation, Lee Si-woo would give the life jacket to Han Seo-ah.
It was a shy, heartfelt truth that was too embarrassing to admit directly.
—–CROW—–
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