episode_0057

Tap, tap.

A fire crackles to life.

An empty tent.

Yeonghee sits blankly, gazing into the flames.

“……”

In the quiet forest, nothing stirs.

Luckily, everyone from the team is away.

No one around to talk to her.

Thanks to that, she could be completely alone.

“Sigh.”

She knows it’s their consideration.

Normally, she wouldn’t have caused such trouble.

But now, she accepts that kindness.

Lately, she has been mentally overwhelmed.

Since when?

When did she start feeling most comfortable alone?

“I feel like something’s off these days.”

Yeonghee thinks as she buries her face in her knees.

As her sight is obscured, her mind calms a bit.

Just a little, but it feels like she can face herself as is.

Her emotions feel strange.

Yeonghee suddenly realizes this fact.

No, maybe she knew all along.

But the more she delves into it, the more her thoughts cloud over.

Like a fog in her mind.

“Why am I like this?”

She doesn’t know what’s wrong.

Her emotions feel entirely natural.

But something is clearly amiss.

A strong sense that this isn’t right creeps in.

“Ugh!”

Her head starts hurting again.

These incidents have been frequent lately.

Whenever she starts questioning something, a jolt runs through her head, blocking her thoughts.

“It’s weird. I don’t know what’s wrong, but something’s definitely off.”

As Yeonghee furrows her brow in thought,

“Yeonghee.”

A voice so familiar, calling her like a childhood friend.

A comforting voice, no matter when you hear it.

Was it because she was pondering amidst an odd feeling?

Yeonghee couldn’t hide a hint of joy and turned her head.

At that moment.

“Huh?”

Seeing Cheolsu’s face makes her heart flutter.

An inexplicable sense of disgust rises.

Dislike, hatred, a desire to hurt.

She would never have harbored such negative feelings before.

All sorts of negativity.

Those emotions surface regardless of her will.

“Oh, right. I hated Cheolsu.”

Instantly, those feelings take hold of her mind and heart.

She dislikes Cheolsu.

That’s incredibly ‘natural.’

Yeonghee smirks with a bitter smile.

In a flash, the innocent Yeonghee disappears.

In her place stands a villainess obsessed with causing pain to others by any means necessary.

“Yes, I must find a way to hurt Cheolsu. No matter what.”

She knows Cheolsu better than anyone else.

That means she knows how to inflict pain better than anyone else.

“Oh, what’s this? Thought you went running to the class president. Now you’re back to me? A spineless man. Or did I look that easy? ”

Just saying this much can cause hurt.

That’ll do it.

Now Cheolsu’s expression will contort with emotional wounds.

This is how she can keep Cheolsu in check.

Wait, keep him? Hurt him? But I dislike Cheolsu. Yet, he’s such a XX. So, I must hurt him. Huh? What am I saying? I dislike Cheolsu, so why am I thinking about protecting him? I dislike Cheolsu dearly…

“I’m sorry.”

Suddenly, Cheolsu bows his head.

His action halts Yeonghee’s thoughts.

…Huh?

“I failed to understand your feelings. I was hasty back then due to my own rush. I’ll make sure you don’t get hurt next time.”

What is he saying?

I just want to hurt you.

You don’t need to apologize.

Please don’t treat me so kindly.

Rather, hate me too and stay away.

The closer you come.

The more I must hurt you.

How painful is that?

Why are you pretending not to know!

“I’m really sorry.”

Stop it!

Why are you apologizing?!

You didn’t do anything wrong, so why are you making that face!

I didn’t want to see that side of you!

‘I don’t know. I don’t know why I’m like this. It hurts, it’s cold. It’s my heart, but it doesn’t go the way I want. Please… somehow help me.’

My head aches as if it’s going to split.

Suddenly, something surged from within.

This is all because of Cheolsu.

These are unpleasant emotions.

They are things that I would never have entertained under normal circumstances.

Those emotions were truly monstrous, completely beyond my control.

“Ha! Are you kidding me? Do you really think saying those kinds of things now will change anything?”

Don’t.

“I’m sorry, but it’s over. I’ve seen the bottom of who you are. I never meant much to you in the first place. It was just something that came out subconsciously in a desperate situation.”

Don’t say whatever you want.

“Do you think changing your words now will solve anything? Pathetic, really. If it were Yujin, she wouldn’t have made such absurd excuses.”

I don’t want this.

I don’t want to say these things.

I don’t want to hurt Cheolsu.

“Or what? Did you even lust after the captain?”

But why do my lips keep moving on their own?

Why can’t I stand Cheolsu, why is it unbearable?

Why can’t I endure this emotion?

“Yeah, because I’ve been around you. Just looking at that body is enough to make anyone feel that way.”

In the end, Yeonghee was consumed by those emotions once again.

Once more, the hypnosis begins.

“Why is the captain being brought up here?”

Cheolsu reacted for the first time.

Yeonghee smiled as if she had found something amusing.

“Why? Don’t be embarrassed. The captain has a big chest and a nice figure. If he were a young man, it wouldn’t be strange to get aroused.”

“…I’ve never looked at the captain that way.”

“Really? Can you be sure? Can you guarantee that you’ve never harbored such feelings while sleeping in the same tent?”

Yeonghee took a step forward.

As mentioned before, Yeonghee knows Cheolsu well.

That’s why she understands his reactions better than anyone else.

Cheolsu can easily accept insults directed at himself.

He can even laugh off violence.

But he won’t tolerate anyone hurting someone dear to him.

Especially a precious friend like the captain.

“Come to think of it, we trained together every day. Where did your attention wander? You might have made a move at least once.”

It was a curse that the original Yeonghee would never have uttered.

She herself didn’t know why she was saying such things.

No, she didn’t even have the luxury of questioning why.

Only the power of hypnosis moves her.

She controls only her mouth as Yeonghee, lost in thought, wonders what shock and pain she will experience when she regains her senses.

“Being buried in those big breasts would definitely be enjoyable. Men go crazy over them, don’t they?”

“Yeonghee…”

“Or have you already made a move once? Is that why you’re trying to protect the captain first, unable to forget that pleasure?”

The air around Cheolsu changed.

Satisfied with this fact, Yeonghee shrugged her shoulders with a sense of superiority.

“Oh, I see~ Then I should understand. The captain is a much better woman than I am.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Isn’t it true? The captain has a good resume, helps with training, and is pretty. She’s a much better woman than me. I understand why your feelings might lean that way.”

“That’s ridiculous! How could I think of you that way! Why are you trying so hard to become stronger!”

Finally, Cheolsu shouted.

Yeonghee let out a mocking laugh.

Provoking her opponent, she wore a truly arrogant expression.

“You don’t need to deceive yourself like that. Cheolsu, you’ve always wanted to be a hero respected by everyone since you were young. Having the parents of a hero as your captain must have helped. It’s much better than an orphan like me.”

“Younghui!!”

“Why? Did I say something wrong?! Anyway, both you and I are parentless orphans! No, you’re better off! At least you don’t know who your parents are! Unlike me, who was abandoned in front of an orphanage like trash…..!”

Smack!

Cheolsu’s hand slapped Younghui’s cheek.

Their heads turned.

Younghui’s cheek flushed red.

Both of them momentarily wore dazed expressions.

The one who struck and the one who received the blow.

Neither could grasp the situation due to the shock.

Cheolsu, belatedly coming to his senses, hurriedly approached Younghui.

“I-I’m sorry. Younghui. That wasn’t what I meant…..”

“Remove your hand.”

Younghui swatted away Cheolsu’s hand.

That simple gesture.

It hurt Cheolsu more than any words before.

“Younghui….”

Younghui turned her head.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

The teardrops seemed ready to fall at any moment.

A pang hit Cheolsu’s heart.

The pain he had felt so far was nothing.

At that moment, seeing Younghui’s tears, Cheolsu realized it.

How painful someone’s tears could be.

He keenly felt it in his body.

With tears streaming down, sending a gaze mixed with resentment.

Younghui spoke.

“…I hate you, Cheolsu.”

“……..”

“I loathe you. I loathe you so much. I wish I were dead instead.”

Leaving those words behind, Younghui turned and ran off.

Cheolsu couldn’t bring himself to chase after her.

He just stood there, staring at his hand for a moment.

A cool breeze blew through the forest.

Several hours later.

The Academy Survival Quest came to an end.

The overwhelming 1st place belonged to Group A.

However, no one was celebrating this fact.

No, Cheolsu and Younghui never met again after that.

It was several days later that Cheolsu fell into critical condition and was taken to the hospital.