Chapter 56: Reaching the Other Side of Earth

After that, we barely exchanged any messages.

So-yul would be busy with final practice and adjusting to the time difference. I couldn’t bear the thought of her not performing her best because of my interference. That’s why I held back from unnecessary contact.

Though So-yul usually complained if I didn’t message her, she’d been quiet these past few days.

That meant she must be taking the competition preparation very seriously.

[I’ll send you the competition livestream link tomorrow.]

This message from So-yul arrived several evenings later.

My eyes, half-closed from pulling an all-nighter studying, instantly snapped wide open.

Next to the attached link was the time when So-yul would perform.

11 AM local time, which meant 3 AM our time. Pretty early, but since I had to stay up studying anyway, at least I wouldn’t risk sleeping through it.

Tomorrow was already the competition, huh.

We were already in exam period. Just days away from summer break. She’d said she’d stop by school the day before graduation ceremony, so the time was approaching.

I wondered what emotions So-yul was feeling right now.

Was her heart racing with excitement to show her skills in front of others?

Or was she perhaps trembling with fear of failure?

The former would be fine, but the latter would be bad. She couldn’t show 100% of her ability while doubting herself.

I wanted to lift her spirits, even just a little.

There was only one way I could support So-yul on the other side of the earth.

I casually moved my fingers to make a voice call.

After several rings, a somewhat surprised voice came through the phone.

[H-hello?]

It was So-yul, of course.

[Hello? Is this Han So-yul? Sorry, but do you have a moment to talk?]

[U-um, sure.]

So-yul responded, clearly taken aback.

Well, it was understandable. After days of no contact, I suddenly called. It wasn’t strange for her to be suspicious of my motives.

[…I just got out of the shower and I’m only in my underwear.]

Seems that wasn’t the reason.

[You didn’t need to tell me that. It’s not like I can see you.]

[Think about my position, taking a call from a guy while in my underwear.]

So-yul pretended to be upset at my indifferent response.

Well. If I got a call from So-yul while in just my underwear after a shower… it probably wouldn’t matter much. I might feel slightly guilty, but that’s all.

Though I couldn’t see the underwear, I could tell she’d just showered.

From her slightly flushed voice to the occasional ticklish breaths in my ear. Just hearing it gave me a vague feeling.

Moreover, either possibility was strangely alluring, giving me indescribable feelings.

After a moment, So-yul continued:

[The clothes don’t matter since I can put them on, but… are you okay?]

[Yeah. I was thinking it wouldn’t matter if I took calls in my underwear either.]

[That’s not what I meant, dummy.]

She pointed out firmly while snickering, then:

[I meant are you okay talking to me during exam period?]

Ah… so that’s what she meant.

I let out an audible snort then:

[I wouldn’t have called if it wasn’t okay. I’ve studied enough, and I’ll study more later. Even if I’m busy studying, I can manage one phone call.]

[Hmm~ really?]

As if realizing something, So-yul made some meaningless sounds then:

[…Ahaha.]

She let out a small laugh into my ear.

Though nothing particularly funny was said, I wondered what amused her so much.

It was hard to grasp her true thoughts. Not understanding, I could only feel puzzled.

[What?]

[No, it’s just.]

When I asked shortly, So-yul immediately stopped laughing and:

[I remembered someone saying they’d ‘only participate as far as it doesn’t interfere with studying.’]

[….]

Who could have said such a useless thing? Whoever it was must have been quite careless. They should have anticipated falling for their fake dating partner.

[Do you remember who said that?]

[Shut up.]

As I kept my mouth shut, another attack quickly followed.

Even if I wanted to pretend not to know, So-yul’s playful teasing made it impossible. With no choice, I let out a deep sigh and answered:

[It’s fine if we talk within limits that won’t disturb studying. You know, I’ll only call for about 5 minutes. So I haven’t broken my word.]

[Is that so?]

[Yeah, it is.]

Then I added casually:

[Besides, I can take exams again later, but I can only cheer for your competition today.]

[…Hmm.]

So-yul had no response to that.

Well, I just hoped my feelings had gotten through properly.

This wasn’t the time to talk about study interference. I called to encourage So-yul but this was turning into idle chatter. She should be the focus, not me.

I changed the topic.

[So how is it? Feeling confident about the competition?]

The moment I asked, I heard So-yul’s shoulders jerk on the other end.

She probably felt her heart flutter at the sudden mention of the competition.

Soon a brief answer followed.

[…I don’t know.]

Her voice was weak and deflated.

[Why? Nervous you might not do well?]

[Wouldn’t that be natural? This is a rare opportunity. Of course I’m nervous.]

So-yul complained as if letting out her frustrations.

Though I’d told her not to worry since she’d do well. Even so, it seemed impossible not to feel anxious the night before.

Even I got heart palpitations the night before exams. It wasn’t hard to understand.

In that case, I was glad I called.

[Is there anything I can do to help?]

[Anything you can do?]

So-yul asked back as if unsure what I meant.

I explained with a slight smile.

[Anything I can do to help ease your nerves.]

At the same time, a faint breath came through the phone.

This was also why I called today.

Because I wanted to support So-yul. Because I wanted to help ease her nerves if she was tense.

Even if I wasn’t sure what I could actually do, I wanted to help somehow.

Hadn’t I declared it that night during the school trip? That I’d do anything when it was hard for her to endure alone.

But So-yul’s response was somewhat unexpected.

[You don’t need to try doing anything.]

Her tone suggested anything I did would be useless as she firmly declined.

For just a moment, my heart felt like it stopped.

Well, what could I possibly do anyway? When I was feeling down at home, So-yul played piano for me. But I didn’t have any amazing abilities like that.

Seems I’d fallen into a useless delusion.

I’d forgotten that I was just a fake boyfriend.

[Oh, I see…]

I spoke while hiding my awkward feelings.

I wracked my brain trying to find another topic.

[Uh, what time is it there now?]

[Now? Almost 1 AM.]

[1 AM? Is it okay to stay up this late when your competition is tomorrow?]

[I showered because I was going to sleep. I was about to change and go straight to bed when you suddenly called.]

I see.

[Sorry if I disturbed you. I’ll hang up.]

[N-no, you don’t have to hang up just because of that…]

[Why? You said you were going to sleep?]

I didn’t want to waste her sleeping time with meaningless chatter.

I called to support So-yul after all. It would be contradictory if I just ended up getting in her way.

But seems that wasn’t quite right.

[Just hearing your voice… seems to help ease my nerves a bit.]

So-yul delivered these words clearly despite her hesitation.

Though her tone was uncertain, the message came through clearly.

Saying that hearing my voice made her feel more at ease.

Just this made me feel like I’d been at least a tiny bit helpful. I was also glad I decided to call.

‘You don’t need to try doing anything.’

Now I properly understood what So-yul had meant earlier.

There was no need to deliberately do anything – just letting her hear my voice was enough. That must have been what she wanted to say.

My face started burning with embarrassment. I felt hot blood rushing through my body. Worried my voice might shake, I deliberately steadied it.

[…That’s good then.]

[…Yeah.]

Seems So-yul had gotten equally embarrassed.

[Still, the more sleep the better. I said I’d only call for 5 minutes anyway. Should hang up soon.]

[Yeah. I’m starting to feel sleepy too…]

So-yul’s voice definitely carried traces of drowsiness. If we kept talking, she might fall asleep still holding her phone.

Though her soft sleeping breaths would surely be nice to hear, she’d probably snap at me angrily when she woke up.

I had one last thing to say.

[Sleep well. Just perform like you practiced tomorrow. That alone will be enough.]

[…Yeah. Okay.]

Did my encouragement make her more nervous? Her response carried a delicate trembling.

But I believed it also contained firm determination. I hoped she’d see this as her chance to show all her accumulated efforts.

[Even though you’re busy with exams, make sure to watch the competition.]

[Of course. I’ll definitely watch so don’t worry and focus on your performance.]

[I would focus even without you saying that.]

Of course you would.

As I just snorted, a barely audible small voice came through the phone.

[…Thank you.]

Then came the call end tone.

Seems So-yul had hung up after that shy word of thanks.

“…Really now.”

She’s so willful, I thought.

She could have said thank you more comfortably. Anyone could say that much, even if not a fake girlfriend.

What an unpredictable fake girlfriend she was.

Sometimes telling me everything openly, other times refusing to reveal anything.

Seeming to draw a line with me then suddenly closing the distance.

Approaching with a wagging tail but running away the moment I reach out.

Just what did So-yul think of me?

…I’ll put aside those thoughts for now.

That’s not what I need to focus on right now.

At tomorrow’s competition, I hoped So-yul could show her true abilities.

I prayed again and again in my heart for my sincere support to reach her on the other side of the earth.