episode_0046

“Do you… like me?”

Huh?

What kind of sudden, out-of-the-blue question is this?

“That’s so random, I don’t even know how to answer. Why are you asking this all of a sudden?”

Tilting my head, I asked Serena in return. She shrugged slightly before answering.

“As you know, I’m an Eldraine. Sure, the family’s a bit shaky right now, but the name still carries weight.”

Her words might have sounded a little arrogant, but since it was Serena saying them—and there wasn’t anything particularly objectionable about it—I just nodded silently.

“In short, I may not be able to have everything in the world, but I can have most of it. Yet, you didn’t take gold or jewels from me—you took my time.”

Serena, who had been following behind me, quickened her pace and stepped up beside me.

“Not that I mind, since I’ve got time to spare. But if you don’t have those kinds of feelings for me, why bother taking my time at all?”

Only after hearing her out did I understand why she’d asked such a sudden question.

She was trying to rationalize why, out of all the things Eldraine’s power could provide, I had chosen her time as my reward.

Well, from her perspective, it made sense.

It’s like if a neighborhood noona asked a kid, “What kind of present do you want?” and the kid answered, “You.”

If I were Serena, I’d probably misunderstand too.

To cut to the chase—yes, I like Serena.

But if you asked whether I like her romantically… well, that’s harder to answer.

Sure, she’s my favorite character, but that doesn’t mean I’m itching to make her my girlfriend.

Yeah.

Right now, it’s just that I like her as a person.

It’s just that the degree is… a little excessive.

“You’ve gone quiet. Did I hit a nerve?”

Serena tilted her head slightly and smiled at me.

“Not really. It’s just… hard to put into words.”

I tapped my thigh with a finger, searching for the right expression, before finally speaking.

“Ah, right. It’s like… polishing a gemstone?”

Serena’s talent shines far brighter than any gem.

Even tarnished by the impurity of sloth, it outshines everyone else’s.

Jade untempered stays dull.

Just as uncut jade never reaches its full potential, her beautiful gemstone will remain rough if left unpolished.

I want to refine her gem into the most dazzling jewel the world has ever seen.

At that, Serena’s expression stiffened ever so slightly.

“Goodness, I don’t know where to put myself.”

Then, she smiled—a smile that seemed just a little bitter.

“Do you like me, Jeonghyeon?”

Serena had received plenty of romantic attention in her life.

The reasons varied.

Some were drawn to her unique aura.

Some were enchanted by her lovely face.

Others courted her not for herself, but for her family name.

Of course, she rejected them all.

Because she never found a good enough reason to say yes.

“That’s so sudden, I don’t even know how to answer. Why are you asking this all of a sudden?”

Serena had noticed the affection Park Jeonghyeon held for her.

She wasn’t sure what about her had drawn his interest, but—

“As you know, I’m an Eldraine. Sure, the family’s a bit shaky right now, but the name still carries weight.”

Honestly, by Serena’s standards, Park Jeonghyeon wasn’t a bad match.

He was a celebrity, handsome, quick-witted, and above all, an excellent cook.

Most girls would be grateful to be with him.

“In short, I may not be able to have everything in the world, but I can have most of it. Yet, you didn’t take gold or jewels from me—you took my time. Not that I mind, since I’ve got time to spare. But if you don’t have those kinds of feelings for me, why bother taking my time at all?”

But the truth was, Serena had no interest in romance.

No—in fact, she had no interest in anything in this world.

She had lost that long, long ago.

Such things…

“…”

As unpleasant memories surfaced, Serena steadied her breathing and changed the subject.

“You’ve gone quiet. Did I hit a nerve?”

At her question, Park Jeonghyeon stared into space for a moment before answering.

“Not really. It’s just… hard to put into words. Ah, right. It’s like… polishing a gemstone?”

A gemstone.

Whether he intended it or not, calling her a gemstone made it clear—he did like her.

Faced with such a blatant confession, Serena…

“…..”

Felt sorry for him.

Because this wasn’t a boy liking a girl his age—it was like loving a beautifully carved rock.

No matter how much you shout your love at a rock, it won’t answer.

This was why she hated being the object of someone’s affection.

It just weighed on her heart for no reason.

A damp, heavy emotion that pressed endlessly on her shoulders and dragged down the corners of her lips.

She’d felt it hundreds of times, yet somehow, it never got easier.

So, forcing a smile, she managed a single strained reply.

“Goodness, I don’t know where to put myself.”

Arriving at the training hall, we split up to change into workout clothes.

Five minutes later, I stepped out of the changing room—but Serena was nowhere in sight.

Still changing?

I’ll wait.

I killed time by idly scrolling through my phone.

“Sorry I’m late. I’m not used to these changing rooms.”

Ah, there she is.

Tucking my phone away, I glanced around until I spotted her.

Serena, dressed in utterly ordinary workout clothes.

But because it was her, it felt… different.

This was the same girl who always had her tie loose, her blazer slipping off her shoulders, and her shirt buttons undone.

Seeing her so neatly dressed was strangely unsettling.

“If you stare like that, even I’ll get embarrassed.”

With a teasing smile, Serena stepped closer.

Ah, was I staring too hard?

“Sorry. It’s just… new.”

“New?”

“I think this is the first time I’ve seen you dressed so neatly.”

At that, Serena pouted slightly.

“Is that your way of scolding me for usually being sloppy?”

“Why do you always take things the wrong way?”

“Of course, I’m joking. Now, lead the way. Shouldn’t a gentleman escort a lady?”

With a chuckle, I nodded and headed toward the exercise equipment.

Almost immediately, far more eyes than usual turned toward us.

Was it because Serena was pretty? Or simply because she was an Eldraine?

Either way, it proved she stood above the rest.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been somewhere this… energetic.”

Serena muttered as she glanced around.

I knew she never set foot in the training hall, but she didn’t know that I knew.

So I played along.

“You don’t come here often, do you?”

“Ahaha, sweating is just not my thing.”

Yeah, right—this was the same girl who’d stand in line for hours under the summer sun for a popular restaurant.

I smirked at her obvious lie.

“Don’t mind me. Pick whatever equipment you want.”

As usual, I headed straight for the mana-enhancing treadmill.

I’d tried all the other machines, but nothing beat this for building stamina and mana.

Of course, that also made it twice as exhausting.

Setting the treadmill slightly faster than usual, I started running.

Slowly, my mana drained away.

The growing fatigue was palpable.

My heart pounded, working hard to distribute oxygen.

Then, Serena’s voice came from beside me.

“I’ve never seen any of these machines before. If you’re using this one, it must be good, right?”

No time to answer—I just nodded.

Clearing my mind, I focused on keeping pace.

Losing rhythm would drain my stamina in an instant.

Lungs inhaling, heart pounding, legs moving mechanically.

An endless battle with myself.

……..

……

….

..

Then, after a grueling 30 minutes—

“…Ugh, I’m dead.”

I stopped the treadmill with trembling hands.

Even as my breath came in ragged gasps, I couldn’t help but smile.

30 minutes at this speed—a new record.

At this rate, I could say I’d reached the average first-year’s physical level.

To think I’d grown this much from that weak, pathetic starting point.

The process had been unbearably painful, but I’d done it.

I was proud of myself.

But the road ahead was long.

In other words, I’d only just reached the starting line.

No complacency—keep aiming higher.

With that thought, I turned to check on Serena.

She was—

-Tap-tap-tap-tap!

“Mmm~ The AC feels nice.”

Running on the treadmill at several times my speed.

Hands in her pockets.

Not a single drop of sweat.

“Heh.”

Talk about a wall.