episode_0033

Episode 32: Korean-style Friendship Building Activities (7)

Drinking alcohol brings back memories of that night.

The time when I was still on the bridge before coming to this world.

There were numerous pains and painful memories, but…

As soon as I took a sip of soju, that moment came flooding back.

The chilly wind brushed past my body,

and all the wounds and scars stung in the wind.

I felt like I was at the edge of the world, ready to let go of everything.

I staggered outside, pulling my trembling body along.

It was a night illuminated by the softly shining moon.

Only traces of the barbecue remained,

and the empty field welcomed me with open arms.

Well,

Quite some time had passed, so it was clear everyone had gone to sleep.

We had rented a large area, and the place where Kim Hyung-min was located was privately rented, so maybe that’s why I wasn’t paying much attention.

The night was cold,

perhaps due to the loneliness of not having a single person around,

or maybe because of the haunting traces of the past that kept digging into my heart.

For some reason, my head was throbbing.

It felt a bit better once I stepped outside.

Getting like this after just one drink…

My body felt like it could break at any moment.

I need to control myself.

And then,

I felt a presence behind me.

Without even turning around, multiple hands enveloped my body.

“Ugh…!?”

I didn’t know who they were.

No, I knew, but not knowing their names was accurate.

Hadn’t we just seen each other recently?

They were the ones in Kim Hyung-min’s group who subtly created a sense of superiority.

Especially those individuals who were hard to remember for someone like me, who needed to get close to important souls.

They grabbed both of my arms and dragged me along.

One person covered my mouth, so even if I tried to speak, my voice would be muffled.

Ah.

I didn’t want to be treated like this.

If only I could resist somehow.

Perhaps it was because of the hike with Jung Ah-young, but my legs wouldn’t obey me.

Should I say I was overpowered?

I’m worried about how sore my ribs will be tomorrow when I wake up.

“Over there.”

“….”

Eyes filled with desire.

They resembled those of a beast rather than a human.

Disgust rose and settled heavily.

“Ha. Look at her eyes.”

Among them, a woman raised her fist.

Her eyes were tightly shut.

This time, it wasn’t Kang Hyun-ah’s painless fist; it was the sincere fist of a determined woman.

“Hey.”

“….”

Then, a voice echoed from behind the deserted building.

It wasn’t slurred from alcohol but clear-headed, belonging to a woman who was fully conscious.

Kang Hyun-ah.

She began walking towards this place, her face turned towards the moon.

***

It was unprecedented.

Not following Kim Hyung-min’s orders.

After spending ten years together as her servant,

to think she would make such a decision over just one man.

Kang Hyun-ah, who stepped outside, surprised herself.

Although she hadn’t had a drink, she was more anxious than ever before.

It wasn’t a time to feel anxious.

Ignoring Kim Hyung-min’s warning and coming out meant risking losing even Hansaeinma.

Coincidentally, she saw a crowd of people in the distance.

Inyoung was among them, a familiar face.

Their gathering seemed eerie, not just a casual get-together.

Three women were restraining one person.

They were moving towards the back of the building, where no one would come.

Kang Hyun-ah’s body moved swiftly.

Even though she was Kim Hyung-min’s bodyguard,

her body was superior to that of an ordinary woman.

Was it fortunate that she wasn’t too late?

Hansein’s tearful face appeared first.

The women, who had been thoughtless until now, turned into murderous women.

“Hey.”

A moment of silence.

No matter how drunk or consumed by desire they were,

they were still capable of thinking.

Of course, once they had decided to rape Hanse-in, there was a sense of straying beyond the boundaries.

They chose what they believed to be the best option.

“You, do you want to join too?”

“…No.”

With no hesitation,

Kang Hyun-ah let out a cold laugh.

However, one of her characteristics was the lack of tact.

The woman who mistook her forced laughter for genuine amusement began to mock her even more.

“For the first time! We’ll deal with you later…”

How about that? Intriguing, isn’t it?

Her face was filled with desire.

And Kang Hyun-ah’s response upon returning was chillingly indifferent.

“Crazy bastards.”

“….”

Approaching slowly, Kang Hyun-ah.

Though outnumbered, they all started to retreat hesitantly.

Anyone who had witnessed her reputation and fights couldn’t help but feel intimidated.

Even though they were just fellow students,

Kang Hyun-ah’s reputation stemmed not from her fighting skills, but from her misdeeds.

“The deadline has passed…”

“Geez…”

Hanse-in’s body relaxed.

The three fled as if escaping.

But what they had overlooked was…

There was no way out behind the building; it was a dead end.

Without saying a word,

Driven by a strong desire to eliminate those bastards rather than mere words,

Kang Hyun-ah raised her hand and struck the cheek of the nearest person.

Innate strength.

Her exceptional physical development and strength were more than enough to overpower a student.

“G-Get off… Stop…”

Swollen lips in an instant.

Grabbing the hair with one hand to immobilize, then repeatedly striking with the palm where the force concentrated on the jaw rather than the cheek, rendering any resistance futile.

“Oh, don’t come. I’ll kill you.”

“F***ing bastards.”

Kang Hyun-ah spoke.

Her steps did not falter.

Her approaching steps towards the remaining two and the raised right hand hinted at what action she would take.

However,

There was nowhere to run.

They awaited the impending violence, unable to resist.

Kang Hyun-ah spoke,

voicing their predicament.

“Cowardly bastards. Comfortable, aren’t you? You harass others, but when it comes back to you, there’s nowhere to hide.”

“Ugh…”

-Bam! Bam! Bam!

“Though you’ve hit others, you’ve never been hit, have you?”

Kang Hyun-ah gritted her teeth.

It wasn’t just something she said to them.

It was also a reminder to herself of the days when she meekly complied with reality and only thought of fleeing.

“Bastards.”

“S-Stop… I-I’m sorry…”

“Don’t bullsh*t.”

Only one remained.

Whether it was an instinct to survive or not, they immediately dropped to their knees.

However,

This time, they began to use their feet instead of their hands.

Even stronger force.

Though the number of strikes decreased, the damage inflicted was more powerful than the sum total.

A flying sidekick aimed at the face.

It was an action she couldn’t shirk responsibility for.

Was there no agreement fee?

No.

Were they afraid of the law?

Even less so.

“F***, the stench.”

In less than five minutes,

the women who had attacked Hanse-in lay unconscious, having wet themselves.

There was no lingering regret.

Kang Hyun-ah turned around,

gazing up at the cursed sky.

Not a cloud in sight, the moon bathed the world in blue light.

And she took a step forward.

Leaving behind the women collapsed against the wall,

she approached Hanse-in, who was now leaning against the wall.

He was engulfed in darkness.

The building’s shadow blocked even the blue moonlight.

If not for eyes accustomed to darkness, he might not have been found.

Kang Hyun-ah looked down at him.

In the darkness, his red eyes gleamed.

It was she who averted her gaze first.

He came running to save him, and he did.

She knew she was no different from those who lay fallen.

Yeah.

It was embarrassing.

And it was a sense of guilt.

The words that flowed from her mouth also meant herself.

There was no reason to face him anymore.

Under the name of consideration, ignoring him and passing by would be the best option.

Turning her body.

At the moment she was about to leave.

“I…”

“……”

Kang Hyun-ah’s steps halted.

She turned her head towards the source of the voice.

“Help me up. I can’t feel my legs…”

Though he was sincere,

Kang Hyun-ah found the current situation quite amusing.

Did he not even consider that I might harm myself like them?

With nothing else, he would have preferred more direct torment.

Why then extend a hand again asking for help?

As if mocking Kang Hyun-ah,

he knelt down, resting one knee.

The blue moonlight enveloping her illuminated the ground,

and Kang Hyun-ah met the gaze of Han Se-in in the darkness.

“Thank you…”

A word of gratitude.

It triggered a surge of emotions within Kang Hyun-ah.

Like a balloon popping.

Kang Hyun-ah’s sharp voice echoed in the darkness.

“Aren’t you afraid of me?”

“……”

“Damn it, there’s no difference between me and them.”

Han Se-in fell silent,

and Kang Hyun-ah began to vent her frustration.

“I’m the one who hit you, right? But you say thank you? Say something sensible. Rather hate me more than express gratitude. Are you in a position to say thanks?”

Sighs… sighs…

Excited breaths echoed faintly.

Having released her emotions, Kang Hyun-ah couldn’t look at him properly.

Bowing deeply, she only touched the cold earth.

Han Se-in remained silent.

However, he slowly moved his body.

His staggering legs seemed precarious.

Noticing this, Kang Hyun-ah involuntarily supported him.

Slowly rising to his feet.

Behind the building, in the shadow shrouded by darkness, Han Se-in emerged.

No longer illuminated by darkness but by the blue moonlight.

And a cautious hand gently touched Kang Hyun-ah’s cheek.

“You’re crying.”

“……”

This time, the closed lips belonged to Kang Hyun-ah.

Her tightly sealed lips.

In her eyes, Han Se-in was reflected.

Under the blue moonlight, she faced the radiant face of Han Se-in, adorned with a faint smile.

“When you hit me, when you yelled, cursed, and… even now.”

A breath paused for a moment.

The lips tinged with moonlight parted.

“Your… eyes are teary. Because you’re sad.”

Kang Hyun-ah’s eyes trembled.

Han Se-in’s words gripped her heart.

Reminding her of past actions she wanted to avoid but had to confront.

He whispered.

“So… I don’t hate you, Kang Hyun-ah.”