Chapter 53: I’ll fix it for you

I walked alongside Seo Yuna, sighing.

Somehow, I had gotten caught up in this situation again.

‘No matter how much I try to avoid it, I always end up getting dragged in like this.’

I was walking her home.

The dim glow of the streetlights cast long shadows on the road.

Seo Yuna walked beside me, occasionally checking her phone.

She seemed like she wanted to say something, but as I kept up my indifferent attitude, she eventually stayed silent.

‘She must think something is off.’

‘Of course, she would.’

On any other day, I would have thrown in a joke or engaged in some playful banter, but today, I kept my distance.

“Hey, you’re acting weird today.”

As expected, Seo Yuna spoke up first.

I turned my head away, feigning ignorance.

“What do you mean?”

“You just… feel different today.”

Seo Yuna narrowed her eyes, studying my reaction.

“It feels like you’re avoiding something. Like you’re deliberately trying to stay away from me.”

‘Her intuition is always spot on.’

I decided to brush it off.

“I’m just tired.”

“Liar.”

Seo Yuna chuckled and waved her hand dismissively.

“You’re not the type to just stay quiet because you’re tired. Even when you’re exhausted, you still talk.”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

“See? You’re doing it again—being vague.”

I silently turned my head forward and kept walking.

She really had an exhausting personality—always pressing the issue, never letting things slide.

Seo Yuna suddenly stepped in front of me, blocking my path.

“Be honest. Do you have a problem with me?”

I looked at her, laughing in disbelief.

“Why would I have a problem with you?”

“Then why are you acting like this? You’re being distant, dodging conversations, and your attitude is just… different.”

I let out a short sigh.

“Why do you care so much?”

“Because it’s weird. And also…”

Seo Yuna hesitated for a moment, watching me closely.

Then, she spoke again.

“Is there something bothering you?”

I averted my gaze slightly.

To be honest, there were too many things on my mind.

I was worried about how Kim Harin saw Seo Yuna.

I was worried about what exactly Kim Harin was plotting.

And most of all, I just didn’t want to be caught up in all of this.

“It’s nothing.”

I shook my head and started walking again.

“We’re here anyway. You should go in.”

Seo Yuna still seemed unconvinced.

She kept looking at me, as if trying to read my thoughts.

“You’re sure it’s nothing?”

“Yeah.”

I forced a casual wave.

“I’ll see you at school.”

Seo Yuna watched me for a moment longer, then sighed as if she had no choice.

“Alright. See you at school.”

She opened the door and stepped inside.

I waited until she closed it before sighing again.

“Seriously… this is exhausting.”

Once again, I had gotten caught up in something strange.

But it wasn’t over yet.

As I walked home, I thought to myself.

‘Kim Harin… what is she really thinking?’

It was hard to believe she was just a simple brocon (brother complex).

It wasn’t love she felt—it was an obsession.

‘How do you even deal with someone like that?’

I pondered over it as I made my way home.

***

When I reached my house, I saw the faint glow of lights seeping through the windows.

Taking a deep breath, I quietly opened the front door.

The living room was silent.

As I took off my shoes and looked around, I saw Kim Harin sitting at the dining table.

She gazed at me with a quiet expression.

Trying to act natural, I spoke.

“Seo Yuna got home safely.”

Kim Harin gave a small smile and nodded.

“That’s a relief.”

She seemed lost in thought.

I passed by her and headed to my room.

I was exhausted.

Throwing myself onto the bed, I stared at the ceiling.

‘How do I even deal with this…?’

Kim Harin.

‘How do I fix her yandere tendencies?’

‘Or… can they even be fixed?’

‘Maybe I should look it up.’

Lying here wasn’t going to solve anything.

I opened the search engine and started typing.

[Psychology of obsessive tendencies]

After hitting enter, a flood of search results appeared.

Psychology research articles, psychiatric consultations, personal experiences—various sources filled the screen.

I began reading through them one by one.

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What is obsession?
People with strong obsessive tendencies often see a specific person as their possession. They believe that person must maintain a certain relationship with them, and when that relationship is threatened, they experience intense anxiety. This anxiety can sometimes lead to extreme actions.

‘Hmm… intense anxiety, huh?’

‘Was that what Kim Harin was feeling?’

In the original story, Kim Harin always tried to monopolize the protagonist.

She hated seeing him with other people and wanted to keep him by her side at all times.

‘If her obsession wasn’t simply about affection but instead rooted in fear…?’

I continued reading.

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Causes of obsessive behavior:

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1. Past trauma.
If someone has experienced abandonment or lacked proper attention from parents or guardians, they may develop excessive dependency on a particular individual.

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2. Low self-esteem and lack of confidence.
These individuals tend to seek validation through others. If their chosen person leaves, they feel like they lose their sense of worth.

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3. Strong possessiveness and need for control.
They have a compulsive desire to completely control the person they love. If that person doesn’t act as they wish, they experience extreme emotions.

‘So…’

In the story, the protagonist and Kim Harin’s parents had remarried not long before they passed away in a car accident.

‘Could her obsessive behavior stem from point one?’

I stared at the screen, deep in thought.

‘Where did Kim Harin fit?’

…She strongly matched both points one and three.

[Ways to Alleviate Obsession]

One particular research paper caught my eye.

– Obsessive Attachment Style and Methods for Mitigation

I clicked on the paper and started reading.

How can you alleviate an obsessive person’s mindset?

• Consistently demonstrate a stable relationship.
  People with obsessive tendencies often feel insecure about the stability of their relationships. It is important to provide reassurance that the relationship will not change.
• Encourage them to focus on themselves.
  Obsessive individuals place all their attention and meaning in another person. Helping them cultivate their own interests and lead an independent life is crucial.
• Maintain both distance and trust at the same time.
  Simply pushing them away can actually intensify their obsession. Instead, it is necessary to build trust while gradually creating a more independent relationship.

I slowly set my phone down.

“…Can I even do this?”

Up until now, Kim Harin had reacted sensitively whenever I got close to someone else.

‘How could I make her understand what a “stable relationship” was?’

‘And how could I help her shift her focus onto herself?’

I sighed deeply, struggling to figure out how to approach this problem.

One thing was certain—distancing myself from her wouldn’t solve anything.

In fact, it might only make her obsession worse.

I placed my phone down and closed my eyes.

My mind was a mess.

‘…Is there really a way to fix this?’

***

The next morning.

I got up from bed and checked my phone.

7:30 AM.

Stretching, I stepped out into the living room.

The sound of activity came from the kitchen.

Kim Harin was preparing breakfast.

She turned upon hearing me and greeted me with a smile.

“Good morning, Orabeoni.”

I rolled my shoulders and replied.

“Yeah. It wasn’t bad.”

On the table, there was toast, scrambled eggs, and a glass of orange juice.

Yawning, I took a seat at the table.

I picked up the orange juice and took a sip as Kim Harin watched me closely.

Then, she spoke in a quiet voice.

“What are you planning to do today?”

I picked up a piece of toast and answered casually.

“Not sure. I was thinking of just staying home and resting.”

“Really?”

Kim Harin stared at me, her gaze carrying a subtle, unreadable emotion.

Keeping my tone neutral, I asked, “What about you? It’s Sunday. Aren’t you meeting up with your friends?”

For a split second, her fingers stiffened.

Still holding her glass, she slowly looked at me.

“…Friends?”

“Yeah, usually people make plans on Sundays. Don’t you?”

I deliberately kept my tone light.

I needed to encourage her to focus on things other than me.

But after a brief pause, she simply smiled.

“Not really.”

“Well, it’s not a must, but it’s nice to go out and have fun sometimes.”

“I suppose so.”

She tilted her head slightly, keeping her gaze on me.

“But I just like being with you, Orabeoni.”

I swallowed a sigh.

I had expected this response.

As I thought—she had no intention of focusing on anything or anyone else.

‘How do I turn this around…?’

Trying to keep things natural, I changed the topic.

“Still, socializing is important. Who are you closest with at school?”

Kim Harin slowly set her glass down.

Her fingers trembled ever so slightly.

“Mm… well… everyone’s busy.”

“Everyone?”

“Yeah. I get along with people at school, but I don’t really meet anyone outside of it.”

I was momentarily at a loss for words.

‘She doesn’t have friends?’

No, that wasn’t right.

At school, she was well-liked.

Quiet, polite, and sociable enough to interact with people.

‘And yet, she didn’t meet up with anyone outside of school?’

‘That meant she was deliberately keeping her distance.’

I exhaled lightly.

“Do you not like hanging out with friends?”

“It’s not that.”

Kim Harin smiled faintly.

But beneath that smile, there was something deeper—something complicated.

“I just don’t see the need.”

I couldn’t respond immediately.

“I just like being with you, Orabeoni.”

She repeated herself, this time with more conviction.

It was clear.

She had no intention of connecting with anyone else.

In fact, it felt like she was deliberately ensuring that I remained the only person in her world.

‘…Alright, you obsessive brat. I’ll figure out a way to pull you away from me.’

I made up my mind.