episode_0023
by fnovelpia“Still coming to school, huh? Planning to bark fiercely against Yu Jin, the loser protagonist?”
Yeonghee smirked, raising the corner of her mouth.
Seeing this, Cheolsu made an indescribable expression.
Ignoring him, Yeonghee embraced Yu Jin even more tightly.
It seemed like she was flaunting her spoils.
“Oh, would you mind not talking to me even if we run into each other at school now? I’ve decided to become Yu Jin’s woman.”
It was a smile that the original Yeonghee would find hard to imagine.
Making fun of the other person, causing pain, looking at them as if they were insects.
It felt subtly alluring but unmistakably disdainful towards Cheolsu.
“Why is Yeonghee suddenly acting like this?”
Yu Jin chuckled while watching that.
The Yeonghee she knew was never like this.
She gave off the impression of being incredibly kind and innocent.
That was the same with other students.
Fundamentally, Yeonghee never initiated conversations with others.
But once engaged in a conversation, she responded kindly.
She could be considered the epitome of an insider.
She only acted coldly towards Cheolsu.
“Wasn’t Yeonghee fond of Cheolsu?”
Of course, it was just her speculation.
But there was some basis for it.
When Cheolsu was taken to the police station,
Wasn’t it Yeonghee who sincerely begged for his release, kneeling down to plead?
Whether it was romantic feelings or not,
It was clear that Cheolsu meant something to Yeonghee.
“But why this sudden change in attitude?”
What kind of change of heart led to this?
And why did it have to happen right beside her?
As Yu Jin pondered for a moment, one possibility crossed her mind.
“Could this be… playing hard to get…?”
She had seen it on the internet before.
Popular insiders engage in something called “some.”
During this “some,” they push and pull each other, enjoying the bittersweet youth.
“Hmm, come to think of it, I heard that during ‘some,’ deliberately acting uninterested makes the other person yearn for you.”
In other words, Yeonghee was currently playing hard to get with Cheolsu.
Pretending to be uninterested so that Cheolsu would confess first.
“Hah! Thinking this way, everything falls into place perfectly!”
As far as she knew, Cheolsu liked Yeonghee.
Yeonghee was somewhat aware of this and also had feelings for Cheolsu.
The current situation meant that if either confessed, their “some” would progress to a relationship!
However, Cheolsu showed no signs of confessing; he even skipped school.
How frustrating must it be for Yeonghee?
So, Yeonghee devised a plan.
Acting like Cheolsu’s friend while pretending to like him to trigger his jealousy!
All to make Cheolsu confess.
“Argh! Yeonghee is more cunning than I thought.”
Yu Jin admired her Holmesian deduction skills.
If someone else had seen this, they might have said, “Are you kidding me, you jerk?” and smacked the back of her head, but unfortunately, there was no one here who could read Yu Jin’s inner thoughts.
And with the worst judgment,
“I can’t just sit back and watch this!”
Yu Jin decided to help Yeonghee.
After all, it was her friend’s love business.
Supporting her was the right thing to do.
“Isn’t Yeonghee pretty?”
Of course, what difference would it make if an outsider helped?
It was all about showing off poor vocabulary skills and communication abilities while putting a hand on the shoulder.
However, in the current situation, this had a fatal effect.
“…Kim Yu Jin.”
“Oh, would you mind not casually calling out Yu Jin’s name in defeatist tones?”
Yeonghee stuck to him as if responding to Yu Jin.
Wrapping her arms around his waist, she snugly nestled into his broad chest.
“Sigh, why did I ever fall for a pathetic man like you? It gives me chills just thinking about it.”
With only the corners of her mouth lifted, she smirked like a villain.
“I must be so foolish. What’s good about you? You have no money, no impressive background. You’re not even particularly strong. Compared to Yujin, you lack in every aspect.”
Those were words she would never have uttered in her original state.
But the current Yeonghee didn’t care about such things.
She wanted him to hurt more.
To give up on women like herself.
Deliberately selecting words that would wound Chulsoo, she sharply spat them out.
“Still, I’m lucky. I was saved by Yujin. From a man like you.”
Then, she lifted her chin arrogantly.
A soft touch landed on Yujin’s cheek with a satisfying smile and eyes that seemed to gaze upon a beloved man.
The slightly blushed cheek completed the image of a girl in love.
“Yujin is truly a wonderful man. It’s not just about money or family background. From his power to his character, there’s no comparison between you and him.”
However, when those eyes turned towards Chulsoo, they instantly chilled.
Eyes that looked at him as if he were worthless filth.
Chulsoo accepted it all without a word.
“A man with a twisted mind like you may not realize it, but I do. No matter what you do, you can’t deceive Yujin.”
He didn’t argue back.
He didn’t show anger.
Nor did he display any signs of sadness or despair.
He simply watched her quietly, almost provocatively.
“How about you give up already, like a dog?? You know you stand no chance against Yujin, right?”
With her arm linked with Yujin’s, she tapped her chin.
It was a simple gesture, yet it seemed like she was stating a fact.
Still, Chulsoo remained unresponsive.
Seeing his indifference, Yeonghee abruptly turned her head.
“Let’s go, Yujin. Men like him aren’t even worth our time. How about we go on a date like last time?”
As Yeonghee passed by Chulsoo, he spoke quietly.
“Yeonghee, can I tell you something?”
“When you lie, you always twist your hair with your hand.”
Startled by his words, Yeonghee quickly removed her hand.
Clearly flustered, she looked at Chulsoo with a mix of annoyance and slight sadness.
“…How silly. There’s no way I still have such an old habit.”
With that said, she moved on.
Yes, this will do.
It’s better than continuing to suffer.
As long as he doesn’t get involved, Chulsoo won’t get hurt.
Surely, it had to be this way.
“Oh, Chulsoo, would you like to spar with me if you’re up for it?”
Walking by, Yujin suddenly asked.
In a casual tone, as if suggesting studying together.
Chulsoo couldn’t just let that slide.
No, he couldn’t ignore it.
Running away now would mean giving up on Yeonghee.
Chulsoo knew that much.
…Of course, Yujin remembered Suhyun’s words from earlier, “I hope our protagonist Chulsoo becomes stronger!”
But no one else knew that.
“What’s on your mind all of a sudden?”
“It’s nothing significant. I just wish you were a bit stronger. If you’re okay with it, let’s have a light sparring session after school. Granting the loser’s wish, how does that sound?”
Chulsoo closed his eyes briefly.
Then he nodded slowly.
At the unexpected positive response, Yujin beamed widely.
“Great, I’ll take you up on that. But it’ll be different from last time.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be different too.”
Well, no matter what, I won’t break my arm again~
He prides himself on learning from failure.
He won’t make the same mistake twice.
“Alright.”
Cheolsoo said that and then turned around, moving his steps away.
Yujin suddenly remembered something and asked Younghee who was beside her,
“Oh, Younghee, would you like to come watch too? It could be quite fun.”
If she takes care of the sweating Cheolsoo, wouldn’t his favorability rise sharply?
I’ll help you guys with your love business diligently.
She laughs while having such a ridiculous thought.
Younghee, who didn’t expect it to turn out this way, couldn’t help but respond,
“Yes! I’m looking forward to it!”
She had no choice but to answer with a big smile.
****
Water flows from the sink.
Younghee stares blankly at the gushing water.
Lately, she has been lost in thought like this more often.
“…”
When she lifts her head, there is a mirror.
It reflects herself, yet at the same time, it’s not really herself.
Her once proud long hair has been cut short, and her skin is rough.
Due to lack of sleep, dark circles have formed under her eyes.
She tried to cover them with makeup, but there are limits to that too.
She can’t smile like she used to anymore.
She has forgotten how to genuinely laugh.
Even after going to such lengths, she still can’t protect Cheolsoo.
“Why, why are you still like this?”
I don’t know. I really don’t know.
Why are you doing this? I’m doing well, aren’t I?
Is this what it means to become a woman like you’re shouting with your whole body?
I’ve never done this even for Cheolsoo.
Are you so desperate to please him by adjusting to his tastes?
Then why are you still trying to torment Cheolsoo?
Please stop now. Please don’t hurt that girl.
As the redness spreads in her eyes, the face of Cheolsoo who silently listened to her words came to her mind.
“Ugh!”
Feeling nauseous, she hurried back to the bathroom.
She vomited everything she had inside.
But all that comes out is stomach acid.
She hasn’t been able to eat properly recently.
She has no appetite, and every time she eats, Cheolsoo’s face comes to mind.
After struggling like this for a while, tears finally burst from her eyes.
“Ugh, sniff…”
Cheolsoo seemed fine at first glance.
But she knows.
How much pain that person has endured,
How terrifying her words have become as a sharp weapon embedded in that person’s heart.
That’s what she wished for.
If she didn’t do that, Cheolsoo would try to protect himself.
He would keep fighting with Yujin.
“Please stop, Cheolsoo. Don’t stand up against Yujin because of me. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
But Younghee didn’t know.
The excruciating fact of hurting someone dear to you.
The guilt that feels like stabbing your heart with a spear,
is unbearable for her kind heart.
It hurts. It hurts too much.
Knowing she has to endure this further only makes her heart ache more.
“I miss you. I miss you so much, Cheolsoo….”
She sheds tears calling out the name she misses dearly.
If she leaves here, she must wear a mask again and act.
Otherwise, she can’t escape from Yujin.
Feeling self-loathing,
Younghee let out a quiet cry that no one would hear.
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