episode_0020

When I came out exhausted after singing along to the karaoke bar, the sunset was falling outside.

A time when people appear as black silhouettes and the blue sky glows red for the last time.

In other words, it is also called the time of dogs and wolves.

“Ah… my neck hurts…”

Jeong Ye-eun said with a cracked voice.

“Me too. How long have we been together?”

“It’s been a few hours… but I’m not sure.”

We were on our way back to our respective homes.

At a glance, I felt Moon Jeong-woo’s eyes looking at me.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Oh, no…”

Every time I looked down at him, he avoided my gaze and didn’t have much to say, but I could tell that he was displeased with me.

If you read his gaze, it was not at all emotionless or friendly.

It’s a good sign.

Because indirectly provoking him at the karaoke bar was clearly having an effect.

He will slowly start trying to push me away from them and get back to his old routine.

However… it won’t be easy.

I’ve already built a bond with Jeong Ye-eun, and due to her personality, she doesn’t tend to throw away her friends.

Besides, her goodness would make her uncomfortable with him saying bad things about me.

When Moon Jeong-woo is blinded by his emotions, he cannot look at his surroundings.

That unique sense of tactlessness or stupidity will work in a way that benefits me.

He looked at Moon Jeong-woo and let out a cold sneer.

“Hey, Kara is pierced here.”

Then, he placed his hand on the collar of her white shirt.

Near the collarbone and neck, locations that may be more sensitive than the top of the head.

Of course, Moon Jeong-woo looked at me with surprised eyes,

“Yes, thank you.”

Jeong Ye-eun accepted it without any hesitation.

“Uh, uhh..”

His eyes are jealous –

No, it contained anger.

‘what?’

I think the reaction has changed a bit.

I don’t know if there was a change of heart, but it’s actually good.

The more intense his emotions become, the more and bigger mistakes he makes –

‘In the end, I benefit.’

“Ah, we’re all here. I’ll go.”

The crosswalk around the cafe that sells Jeong Ye-eun’s favorite cakes, where we always part ways.

The road that divides the slum I need to go to and Jeong Ye-eun and Moon Jeong-woo’s apartment.

I had to go back into the dark.

But it’s okay. Because the seed I planted will create a gap between us while I sleep.

**

Moon Jeong-woo walked with Jeong Ye-eun.

Not much was said between them.

However, there was a great difference inside them.

While Jeong Ye-eun was enjoying the evening scenery without much thought, Moon Jeong-woo was choosing what to say to Jeong Ye-eun.

‘Now… I have to say it now…!’

What did Choi Do-hyun do?

I needed to know why he was threatening me.

She was humming and taking brisk steps, as if trying not to show that she was sad.

Even that appearance aroused Moon Jeong-woo’s enthusiasm.

‘How dare you… to my Yeeun…’

How dare you, how dare you.

To Ye-eun, who is like a pure white dove.

To our Ye-eun, who is purer and more precious than the dew that only forms on the trees around the mysterious place with purple ponds and sky-blue leaves deep in the mountains –

‘I will help you..!’

He looked full of determination.

“Hey, Ye-eun…”

“Huh? Why?”

She looked back with a bright smile.

“Perhaps… What did Choi Do-hyun do…?”

“Huh? Huh?”

Jeong Ye-eun looked visibly shaken.

Both eyes opened wide, and both cheeks turned red.

When she thought of the keyword ‘Choi Do-hyun’s actions’, what came to her mind was his smile and his warm hand stroking her hair.

It was the thrilling feeling of spring and the burning feeling of summer.

And, Moon Jeong-woo, who looked at that scene, had a completely different thought.

One’s own confidence and stubbornness.

A futile internal combustion engine that burns its own circuit fiercely.

It was a wheel spinning feverishly while held in the air, and a thief running away from the police on a treadmill.

‘also…!’

Seeing her like that added to his confidence.

Choi Do-hyun must have done something.

Something unpleasant must have happened.

“Ye-eun… Didn’t Choi Do-hyun threaten you or anything?”

I implicitly asked her.

“Huh? What kind of threat…?”

She answered with a puzzled expression.

“Well, if you are being friendly with me on the condition that you stop bullying me, then you can stop – ”

“Jungwoo.”

For a moment, her expression hardened.

It was not a face I had never seen before.

A face that was often seen by the bullies who bullied him.

Her face was filled with cold contempt and disgust, and her signature smile had disappeared.

Fortunately, the contempt was much weaker than that directed at the group, and so was the disappointment…

‘Why do you make that face to me…’

It was my first time seeing him make such an expression.

“It’s not like that. I’m playing with you because I want to be friendly, but what? Threats?”

“Ah, no, I…”

“Ha…”

She tried to understand what she had just heard.

As he is a friend whom I have known for a long time, I believed that he had intention in saying such words.

“Jungwoo, I understand that you have a bad opinion of Dohyun. Still, I don’t think that’s right. Threats…”

She maintained her composure and spoke calmly.

I was angry, but I tried to talk rationally.

“Why did you think that way in the first place?”

“Well, that.. Choi Do-hyun is a leader – ”

“It’s a story from the past.”

Jeong Ye-eun interrupted Moon Jeong-woo.

“After you became friends with us, did you ever see anyone harassing you?”

“It’s not like that, but… He even touched your head carelessly…”

“Jungwoo. What I don’t like, I say it. That’s why you even brought up the word ‘threat’?”

Jeong Ye-eun’s expression became even colder.

‘This isn’t it…’

He couldn’t hide his embarrassment at the situation going so differently than he imagined.

“Ha… Jungwoo, for now… let’s talk again later. If I keep talking now, I think I’ll just get angry at you. Today… I’m really disappointed.”

“Now, wait a minute! I’m just for you – ”

“I’ll go first.”

Whick, she turned her back and walked away.

“…Yeeun……”

He looked back and muttered in despair.

.

.

.

Jeong Ye-eun returned home.

“Yeeun, welcome… What, what happened?”

Her older sister welcomed her.

“..It’s nothing. I’m just a little tired.”

“Okay…? Go in and rest. Shall I bring you something? Fruit or something.”

“It’s okay, sister. Thank you.”

She entered the room, leaving behind Jeong Ye-rin, who was worried about her expression.

‘Jungwoo… why did he do that…’

The cute Jungwoo he usually knew wasn’t the same.

Did I feel a little strange today, or was it a side of me that I didn’t know about?

Wow, I saw a necklace on the closed door.

A necklace that I bought at the night market, although crude, was full of memories.

However, today I was not happy with that necklace.

After a moment she looked away and looked at the bed.

I saw the doll I picked with Moon Jeong-woo. The doll wasn’t happy either.

Is it because I fought with him?

Moon Jeong-woo would also have gone home by now.

She turned on her phone and spent about 30 minutes on it.

“..sigh.”

Even as time passed, my disturbed mind did not calm down.

‘Should I call Jungwoo and make up with him…? no. ‘Jungwoo needs to reflect a little.’

What should I do to calm this mind?

When I was lying in bed and tossing and turning.

-Wooow.

A vibration rang.

When I checked, it was Choi Do-hyeon.

The call came at perfect timing, as if he had read her mind.

In an instant, the events that happened earlier came to mind.

A song we sang together. The laughter we shared with each other.

The head I stroked.

For no reason, my heart felt itchy.

“Big, big!”

She cleared her throat once and answered the phone.

“Yes, Dohyeon!”

-What were you doing?

“I was just lying in bed. Dohyun, who are you?”

-Just lying down. You’re up. I’m getting fat.

“I didn’t gain weight!”

-So, sit down. Every time you eat a snack, you worry about gaining weight.

“Ugh…”

A smile came naturally.

The whirlpool that had been blowing in my mind just moments ago was everywhere.

After talking for a while, Dohyun Choi spoke.

-hey. Do you want to make a video call?

“Uh, huh?”

It was a sudden offer, but honestly, it was attractive.

I was curious about the house he lived in, and I also wanted to see him in a private space at least once.

“Wait a minute!”

Although she hadn’t even removed her makeup yet, she took a quick look at the mirror on her desk.

After tidying up my bangs, I finished preparing at an angle that looked as pretty as possible.

After a while, the video call was connected.

-uh. Can you see it?

“Yes! I can see it well.”

His face appeared on the screen.

-Please show me around the room. Give it a whirl.

She obeyed him.

-What is that doll? Where did you get it?

As he was going around on the bed, the doll on it seemed to have caught his eye.

“Ah, it was chosen by Jeongwoo a long time ago.”

-Ah… I said I was a childhood friend.

Choi Do-hyeon’s expression as he said those words was somewhat downcast.

When she saw that expression, she also seemed to feel uncomfortable somehow.

“Well, by the way! Jungwoo and I are just childhood friends. It’s absolutely not more than that.”

An explanation of unknown reason and purpose followed.

-Is that so?

There was a polite smile on his face as he answered like that.

The smile you see when you are alone, in a private space.

My heart pounded.

My heart was pounding. The window was closed, but I could feel the spring breeze.

The wind was filled with the sweet and refreshing scent of flowers.

“Dohyeon, do you want to come over sometime later?”

-Where, at your house?

“Yes! Jungwoo also comes to visit often. Come and have dinner together. My mom is really good at cooking.”

-okay. I’ll go there later.

“How are you this weekend?”

I didn’t want to end with a cliche greeting like, “Let’s have a meal together.”

-..okay. I’ll go then.

“…Yes!”

At his answer, her mouth was torn apart.

There was pure anticipation in her eyes.