episode_0046

Early morning on the first day of the holiday. I set out along the trail where the fog had not yet cleared. The chilly air blew away any remaining fatigue.

Eventually, as I approached the main entrance of the cradle’s main building, I began to see someone standing under a huge decoration next to the iron gate.

“Hyuna, here!”

Yena also recognized me and jumped up from her seat to wave. Instead of her usual school uniform, she was wearing plain civilian clothes, but the shabby appearance seemed to highlight her natural cheerfulness.

“Did you wait a long time?”

“Heehee, no. I just got here too! Let’s go faster than that… !”

Yena stood next to him and hurried his steps.

Today is the day to honor the promise I made with Jena last time. As I walked out the main gate and along the passage, the number of people passing by began to increase.

I could still feel the glances of those passing by. But now I too am a known body.

Even if it had three heads instead of a mask, if you attend lectures and show up on campus every day, you will inevitably get used to it.

Suddenly, they only give me a look once in a while when something catches my eye, and I feel that the unpleasant and persistent gaze that seems to be digging into something like before has definitely lessened.

Rather, it’s strange that Yena is also receiving the same amount of attention as I am. Although Yena was a popular person in the first year, their gazes seemed to be filled with pity and pity rather than envy.

I wonder if it’s because he went with me…

“… Heung.”

Yena must have felt those gazes as well, puffing out her cheeks slightly as if she didn’t like them.

***

Eventually, we arrived at a commercial district where shops were lined up along the main street and alleys. A huge stone fountain in the center of the square spewed water in all directions. Above, a huge pinwheel rotated ceaselessly in all directions following the monsoon wind.

The buildings were entirely decorated with red bricks and white marble, giving off an exotic atmosphere. Colorful decorations and flags fluttered in the wind above the narrow alley.

The cradle site is said to be huge, comparable to a small city. Since all convenience facilities were provided, students were able to take care of necessary matters within the building without having to go all the way to the capital.

“Wow… !”

Yena’s eyes widened in an instant, as the atmosphere resembled a festival scene. Those sparkling eyes were full of excitement.

Soon, Yena started moving around busily, like someone who didn’t want to waste even a single second.

I stopped by a clothing store and tried on a bunch of different clothes, then sighed and put them down helplessly, saying I didn’t have time to wear them anyway.

At the bookstore, I bought a couple of books, saying there was one I wanted to read. For some reason, the title was not shown until the end.

The flower shop packed a small, plump cactus pot to change the dreary scenery of the dormitory.

A smiling smile never fell from Yena’s face the whole time.

Although we had made an appointment in the morning, it wasn’t until late afternoon that we were able to sit in the cafe and have a snack.

“Hi… I’m tired… ? Now that I think about it, I think I was the only one who was so excited… ”

Yena, who was running around excitedly, only then glanced at me. It’s almost like a rabbit alert to danger.

“Carry all your luggage… I only caused you trouble for no reason… ”

“It’s okay. It’s not that heavy. But is it that good?”

“Hehe, yes… ”

Yena lowered her head as if she was a little embarrassed.

“These are things I’ve always wanted to do in my life… I just go to school like a normal person… Playing with others, or even friends, like this… ”

Her voice was full of heartfelt happiness.

“Well, you… how was it… ?”

“Me? I was fine too.”

There was something about Jena that made people feel at ease. Since I felt like I needed a little mental rest from recent events, I also thought of today as a good opportunity to relieve my fatigue.

“… That’s all?”

“Why?”

“… Heh, no. But the reason I wanted to receive such a high ranking was because I wanted to nominate senior Yeon Myeong-ha as my mentor… ?”

“That’s right. I noticed it well… ”

“… Because I’m not stupid?”

Yena puffed out her cheeks slightly and pretended to be dissatisfied.

“That… I don’t know, but there are complicated circumstances… ? With your sponsor family… With Baek Seo-yeon’s family, and Yeon Myeong-ha’s family… ”

“That’s true, but actually, I don’t know much. I just happened to end up like this.”

“I see… But it’s really okay… ? Last time too… ”

“I heard it’s okay.”

“Really… ? It’s not like your senior is secretly harassing you or anything like that… ?”

Yena asked again in a worried tone. Although he seems fierce and naive, he sometimes strikes unexpectedly sharp points. They just have no idea who the subject of bullying is.

“It’s not really so you can stop worrying. What about you?”

“Me? I think I’m okay too… ! Please be good to me too, senior… Hi-Hi… I was worried, but I’m really glad… ”

Yena smiled brightly. It is said that she was chosen almost by force by a second-year female senior from the same outskirts as herself. Still, he had a kind personality, and perhaps because we came from similar backgrounds, he kindly told me about various things, which made me feel very at ease.

I thought he might have a hard time because of his gentle personality, but seeing him like him so much makes me feel at ease.

“Well, it’s really good, right… ? Or should I go there too… ? I’m still a little scared of senior Yeon Myeong-ha, but it’s still better than being alone… ”

“It’s really okay. If you get bullied later, you can just change groups. ”

I indirectly expressed my refusal. If I stay with Jena, my range of movement may become narrower.

And last time, he was so shaken just by receiving a brief moment of cruel gaze, but I don’t think Yena will be able to endure such pity by his side all the time…

“Huh?”

Red light poured in through the cafe’s large windows. When I suddenly checked outside, I noticed that the sun had already set halfway to the west, casting a glowing glow in all directions.

“But I think we should go in now, right? To prepare for a special class tomorrow morning… ”

“Already? Hehe, I don’t like it… Why only first year students… ”

Yena drooped her eyebrows and made a sullen expression.

“… Will it come again next time?”

“Huh? really? Really?”

Yena seemed to be feeling better again, jumping up and getting up.

“Hehe, really? I promised… ?”

We made up our seats to go back to the crib.

And while leaving the back door of a nearby cafe, Yena suddenly heard the sound of a bell and looked toward the front door.

“Huh? excuse me… Isn’t it Seo-yeon Baek? ?”

The moment I heard those words, I turned my head as if I was fascinated.

“Child, I told you not to do it… !”

“I’m embarrassed again… Don’t do that… ”

“Kya! Really!”

There, I saw someone entering the cafe, chatting with two female students with bright smiles.

“… ”

My head was as dizzy as water-soaked paper. It was a well-spent holiday, but it seems to have been ruined at the end.

Her long hair was beautiful in the glow of the sunset, but its beauty only made my heart sink.

“… Let’s go quickly.”

“Huh? uh! huh… ”

I immediately turned around and left the cafe, just in case I ran into him. Yena followed me with quick steps.

I was very glad that my face was covered with a mask, just for now.

Otherwise, everyone would have seen my obviously distorted expression.

I dropped Yena off first and walked down the path back to the dormitory. I wanted to organize my confused thoughts, but it didn’t work out as well as I wanted. Today the road back seems long.

At one time, I wished that person would hang out with others more. I wanted other people to realize her true value as well.

Should I feel fortunate that my wish has come true even now? No matter how she feels on the inside, she is in perfect harmony with others right now.

But now, it’s just lonely and painful that I don’t have a place there.

***

“Don’t even talk. Well, Woo-jin said he wants to designate Yeon-sang-ha as his mentor! So I told him I would never do it. In the end, I ended up being the mentor as well. ha… Does that guy have thoughts or not… ”

Choi I-re, a female student with her hair braided and wearing glasses, suddenly sighed.

“It’s okay… I should have just left it alone… ”

Across from her, a female student with hair as beautiful as the night sky smiled as if she were having trouble.

“How is that? There is a relationship between you and me. And in a larger sense, it is also the relationship between Dosan Tech and BS Heavy Industries. I should have broken the habit by beating a dog a long time ago… ”

In return, Ire shook her head in a stern manner. The companies owned by the two families had maintained a close cooperative relationship for more than a dozen years.

However, due to her immature younger brother’s unexpected behavior, she had to suffer greatly for a while. It’s fortunate that Baek Seo-yeon came out, otherwise it wouldn’t have been strange at all if several collaborative projects had collapsed.

“It’s really okay. Well, I’m sorry for no reason… ”

Seoyeon’s face was full of sincere regret.

“Ugh, that’s enough. Also, who did you say your mentee was?”

“Yeseo and Yeoul. They are both so cute and kind. Listen well. In fact, Yeseo is so passionate… ”

“He’s been like that since last year’s exchange meeting. I keep clinging to you. I’m glad I’m a woman… If it were a man… Wow.”

When Seoyeon looked slightly troubled, Ire had a playful smile on her face.

“But it’s still good. In any case, we have secured all the most important talents for this season. Right?”

Then, his expression changed and he sneered at someone who was not present.

“Yeonminha That bitch ended up settling with that crazy guy? Well, this isn’t like playing with each other. I heard there was some kind of duel going on, so I thought it had something to do with naming a mentor. But seeing as Ji continued to remain in the group even after winning, it didn’t seem like that was the case. What on earth is this plan? ”

“Child, let’s stop talking about that. Rather… ”

The three female students sitting in the cafe chatted for a while, changing topics.

They were the three strongest axes of the second year of Cradle. They were also daughters of prestigious families that owned prestigious companies.

Their consistently beautiful off-white color caught the attention of passers-by, but no one had the guts to talk to them.

“Seoyeon. So the student council is really not going to join? Even gave a speech as a representative of the second grade?”

“Are you going to keep doing that? I’m really busy… ”

In response to Ire’s continued encouragement, Seoyeon shook her head with a smile.

“Ugh, stop talking about boring things. Rather, Seoyeon. When are you going to introduce your fiancé? Are you going to keep hiding it between us like this? Huh?”

Kwon Yuri, a female student with a refreshing appearance and impressive tear spots, joined the conversation. Her mouth was full of a sinister smile.

“You said it was a secret… I’ll tell you later… !”

Seoyeon bowed her head with a shy smile.

“Hey. That was already a year ago! When is later? I’m really dying of curiosity… ”

“But that doesn’t work. Absolutely not.”

Kwon Yuri sighed as she still faced strong rejection today. This time, Ire, who was sitting across from her, had sparkling eyes.

“Good. I’ll endure it. Then just tell me how far you went. kiss? Or maybe… ?”

“Kya! You must be crazy!”

Yuri slapped Ire’s wrist and made a fuss. After hearing the question, Seoyeon suddenly lowered her head timidly. Her soft cheeks were suddenly filled with a deep blush.

“Not yet… Nothing but a kiss on the cheek… ”

“I’m going crazy… ”

Ire muttered as if possessed. I couldn’t understand her fiancé. If I were a man, I wouldn’t have been able to just pass by when I saw that.

“Hehe… It’s hot… ”

Seoyeon looked away and continued to fan herself.

On the fourth finger of her left hand was a ring that looked old and unsightly.

Although wearing jewelry was prohibited in the cradle, Seoyeon always wore the same two pieces of jewelry whenever she went outside. One is a necklace made of a light chain. Another is the ring I am currently wearing on my finger.

At her level, no one would say anything even if she wore rings made of the highest quality gems on all ten fingers.

However, since Seo-yeon only kept the ring that was her first matching ring with her fiancé, such frugality also became another object of praise.

“Ah, I’m really curious though… What a great person he is… ”

“So… Who is the man who captured it? ”

“Kya! Ham, the fall… !”

Seoyeon shook her head as if she was embarrassed with a very red face.

“If we meet, won’t we fall in love at first sight?”

“That may be enough… sorry… I apologize in advance… ”

“What? no way… ! You guys just do it! I really broke off ties… !”

Seoyeon stamped her feet and made a very embarrassed expression. The other two people covered their mouths and laughed as if they were having fun. The air was filled with a friendly atmosphere.

-Kwaak

However, under the table where no one could see, Seoyeon’s left hand, which had been put down, was squeezed so hard that drops of blood formed.

She was acting again today.

The most ideal image that someone once dreamed of.

***

The spacious dormitory was filled with silence. Seoyeon, who was taking off her shoes at the entrance, suddenly looked at the floor and furrowed her eyebrows.

There, the clothes and socks that Peanut had taken off were lying around haphazardly. These days, the child goes out particularly often. Sometimes he didn’t come back until late at night.

“Phew… ”

Although he thought about saying something later, he soon quit and sighed. When did Peanut ever listen to himself?

She simply folded the small clothes neatly, placed them on the shelf, and headed to the bedroom.

The bedroom was bleak and devoid of decoration, with only a bed and a metal desk.

Seoyeon, sitting in front of the desk, opened the drawer at the bottom and suddenly fixed her eyes on something and stared at it for a while.

“… ”

What was there was a small jewelry box and a half-burned portrait of someone.

Although it was a time when she was sick and weak, the girl at that time was smiling brightly with a face that looked several times happier than now.

Seoyeon carefully removed the ring from her finger. And I carefully placed it on the cushion of the jewelry box to avoid any scratches.

He then separated the buckle of the necklace and took it off his neck, and soon something hidden under his clothes was revealed.

Hanging at the end of the chain was an old, unsightly ring with what looked like scorch marks.

On the one hand, it looked like a ring that had been worn on a finger the whole time.

Seo-yeon hesitated to put the necklace in the jewelry box and held it tightly with both hands.

Her face was just a shadow, with not a single ray of light coming through. That expressionless paleness was comparable to that of a corpse.

The smile from just now when I was shyly laughing and chatting with my friends didn’t even leave a trace.

“… ”

Holding the ring tightly in her hand, she ponders it again today.

The biggest, most fatal, and irreversible mistake you’ve ever made.

I also hoped.

The day will soon come when all suffering can end.