episode_0009

Episode 8: Love is a Law That Doesn’t Always Go as Planned.

Hyun-ah knew her place from a young age.

Not from the very beginning, but when she turned four years old.

It was around the time she began to form memories.

“Hyuna, you need to take care of yourself from now on. Understand?”

“Why?”

“Because Hyungmin is a boy, so you have to look out for him.”

She couldn’t understand it.

Before even learning about gender roles.

Wasn’t he just a friend she played with at kindergarten?

Then one day, when her father seemed to favor his friend Kim Hyungmin more than her.

Hyun-ah naturally realized.

Ah, he’s someone more important than me.

My parents who love me.

Taking care of him a bit more than me, even if momentarily.

That child is an important presence.

Realizing this fact, Hyun-ah’s heart found an astonishing calmness.

For over ten years.

Hyun-ah always stuck by Kim Hyungmin.

They became familiar with each other, yet surprisingly, Hyun-ah felt no emotions.

Instead, she was almost cold.

Perhaps due to the thought of having to take care of him since childhood.

Or maybe a kind of rebellious spirit that emerged as she grew older.

Stubborn as a mule.

A proverb that suited Hyun-ah well.

In essence, Kim Hyungmin was a person close to being a villain by nature.

Finding pleasure in genuinely hurting and tormenting others.

In that sense, Hyun-ah displayed qualities akin to a strategist.

By his side, doing as told, but not enjoying it.

Rather, she tended to remain neutral.

But nothing changed.

Directly or indirectly.

The fact that Kim Hyungmin played a part in tormenting someone remained unchanged.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Kim Hyungmin, Hyun-ah, and Park Hyorin gathered.

Only Park Hyorin’s gaze differed.

In Kim Hyungmin’s eyes, there was always Hyun-ah.

Healthy, good at studies.

Truly a gentle and pure existence.

Yet she didn’t reveal her interest in men.

Truly the closest to an ideal type.

As for the woman named Hyun-ah.

“What’s wrong? You seem down.”

“…Can you tell?”

On the other hand, Hyun-ah was as cool as a working professional.

Her words contained consideration that pleased him.

But her heart was routine, habit, or work-related feeling.

Adjusting to his tastes. Taking care of him.

Thus, her feelings did not reach Hyun-ah.

Is it because of adolescence?

The distance between Class 5 and Class 3 was quite far.

Classes 1, 2, 3 were on the first floor, while Classes 5, 6 were on the second floor.

In other words, they had to go down the stairs.

Hyun-ah’s steps were directed forward.

Whether she sensed Kim Hyungmin’s gaze or not.

She recalled the male lead from the novel she read earlier.

A strategic marriage.

A story that begins with a man who waited for his wife who ran away from a childhood arranged marriage with a prestigious family for over ten years.

An exciting novel to imagine.

Ironically, Kim Hyungmin seemed overshadowed by a novel character.

And they arrived at Class 3.

As she headed towards the door as if passing by, Hyun-ah’s eyes began to widen.

His hair was truly beautiful.

Dark hair resembling the night sky.

Eyes shining like rubies, dazzling.

Fair skin smooth as milk, lips tinted alluringly.

Unconsciously, Hyun-ah painted the opening of a novel.

A fictional creation.

Among various media, if we were to compare what she enjoyed the most, it would be novels.

Yes, she couldn’t believe that a character one might only see in novels existed in reality.

At first glance, as if falling for someone, she wore a vacant expression.

Love at first sight? Enchanted by beauty?

Like a metaphor in a novel.

She was captivated by a student she had never seen before.

So deeply smitten.

To the point where she couldn’t feel the cold, icy gaze that could freeze one’s eyes.

Kang Hyeon-ah had her sights set on Han Se-in.

***

[This is an important soul. Her name is Kang Hyeon-ah.]

“I thought so.”

It felt like an electric current flowing through her body.

Similar yet different from Jung Ah-young’s feeling.

Viewing her through the window… she seemed like a troublemaker.

Still, she was a unique soul, to put it differently.

A very pretty troublemaker?

Perhaps it was a prejudice born out of Jung Ah-young’s fear.

The first impression was just that.

Only her face, but her aura was striking.

Fox-like features and long, neatly arranged see-through bangs framed her face.

Black hair, black eyes. A typical Korean look.

However, she was beautiful. That was an undeniable fact.

More beautiful than the woman who had come to pick up Jung Ah-young before.

“Are you okay?”

Minutes that felt longer than they were passed by.

Kang Hyeon-ah also seemed to snap out of it and entered the classroom.

Jung Ah-young lowered her head deeply with fearful eyes.

Even when asked if she was okay, no response came.

“Ah-young~ Hyorin unnie is here! Aren’t you going to say hi?”

“….”

Tap, tap.

A woman speaking lightly while patting her head with her palm.

She was the same woman seen before.

Was her name Hyorin?

The classroom atmosphere quickly turned chilly.

The girls who were chatting are now busy with their own tasks.

Since this was Seoul, there would be no shortage of people willing to defend Kim Hyeong-min’s group.

The estimate came quicker than expected.

Jung Ah-young, Kang Hyeon-ah. With important souls gathered in one place.

They began to devise ways to take advantage of the situation.

The answer came quickly.

A Hansei with a background close to an orphan, having nothing to lose.

Being a beggar, how could he not make a mistake in front of a king who knows nothing about style?

Especially if he’s a naive young beggar who doesn’t know the ways of the world.

“Get up, let’s go have some fun?”

“No.”

“…?”

What expression is that?

Seeing desire flickering in her eyes, she appeared honest.

The hand about to hit Jung Ah-young’s back of the head stopped.

A quiet voice echoing in the classroom.

Though students’ gazes were on the floor, their attention was directed towards me.

“I told you to help me with math problems.”

“I know.”

But I was looking beyond Hyorin.

It was a message to Kim Hyeong-min who controlled her.

Not explicitly stated.

Rather than harassing her, asking what she was doing, I approached Jung Ah-young as a friend.

And that seemed to leave quite an impression.

Amidst conflicting gazes, Kang Hyeon-ah and my eyes met.

Trembling yet filled with a confused heart.

Then, without a word, Kim Hyeong-min, who had been observing the situation, spoke up.

It started with laughter.

“Hahaha! Interesting, right? You don’t even know me?”

“You’re in a different class, how would I know.”

Clack, clack.

In a somewhat irritating manner, I replied to Kim Hyeong-min.

The moment I finished speaking, both Jung Ah-young and Kang Hyeon-ah flinched simultaneously.

In essence, it was like David standing against Goliath.

The height difference was barely 10 centimeters.

“I’m Kim Hyeong-min.”

“Oh, I’m Hansei.”

“Interesting kid, huh?”

Without a response, I shrugged my shoulders.

Kim Hyeong-min’s eye twitched subtly, then he turned on his heel.

Gently patting Kang Hyun’s shoulder, she brushed off the dust as if flicking it away.

“Let’s go.”

“Me, really?”

“I have to help with math problems. Can’t be disturbed. We get along well.”

Silence followed, swallowed like a bitter pill.

The lingering unease wasn’t just in her head.

Not knowing what storm might come next.

Having successfully marked souls and received eye stamps.

It was a rather pleasing situation.

And so, Kim Hyung-min’s group left the classroom as it was.

The first to break the silence was Jung Ah-young.

“Why did you…?”

“Hmm?”

It wasn’t gratitude.

Nor was it silence.

It was a resentful word.

[You have gained 6 points!]

There seemed to be a shift in emotions.

As I smirked, Jung Ah-young bit her lip tightly.

What should she say?

Understand, even I don’t know.

“You’re my partner.”

“…Partner?”

“Clearly struggling. I need to help.”

Jung Ah-young fell silent.

In truth, it was an excuse.

If bothering a friend bothered her, helping from the start would have been right.

But she wasn’t relaxed enough to make such deductions.

As evidence,

Even now, the points were rising.

[Anxiety, worry.]

‘I know. Shut up.’

She spat out a hologram laced with annoyance.

Math class was approaching soon.

Studying made her head hurt.

***

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. It’s delicious.”

Should I call it fortunate?

Contrary to worries, until we reached home, Kim Hyung-min’s group didn’t do anything to me.

We had dinner with my sister and shared quiet conversations.

Normally, I wouldn’t have said a word.

But slowly, things were changing since that day.

The pace of change was faster than expected, bringing relief.

She was also one of the important souls.

And a few days later.

The price for embracing Jung Ah-young was slowly but powerfully approaching.

…?

The male students who used to approach me and chat as usual.

They began to ignore me as if I had become invisible.