episode_0070

“Woo, we’re friends with Hyeon, so why do you keep preventing us from going in…? !”

“Even if you say that… The instructions I received were… ”

“… What’s going on?”

There was a chill that seemed to run through Yeongyeonha’s tone of voice.

Her mood, which was so good that she hummed a tune, cooled down the moment she spotted three female students arguing with the security guard in front of the crib ward.

“Lady. Are you here? Well, the students here keep asking to come in… ”

The security guard’s face, which had been full of embarrassment, suddenly began to brighten at the sympathy.

It has been a long time since the people who rented the entire independent ward and guarded the surrounding area were boiled a long time ago.

The security guard began to list the difficulties he had experienced so far.

“… Tsk.”

I was able to understand roughly what had happened with compassion.

Seeing the sad, pitiful eyes looking back, the trespassers let out a single groan.

They are all familiar faces. He had already been rejected once last time, but he didn’t get tired of it and came back again.

The white jackets worn by the female students who claimed to be his close friends all had badges symbolizing first-year students attached to them.

“It seems like the level of freshmen this year is dropping a lot. You see, I can’t seem to understand what’s being said. Didn’t I tell you last time that outsiders are not allowed in?”

“I looked it up, but it wasn’t even in the school rules. Senior, it is your right to do whatever you want. How can it make sense to not even be able to visit a friend in the hospital? !”

Even though he was scared, one person came forward and confronted Yeon Myeong-ha. A nameplate with the name ‘Yusera’ written on it. A bleached ponytail and obscenely short skirt. Even the bad temper of confronting seniors.

In many ways, these are just shocking elements to have as his friend.

“That’s right. If you keep doing this, I will report it to the student council… !”

Next to him, a female student with the name “Joo Yeo-reum” added her words. He has medium-short hair and a scar on his right arm that looks like something was stamped on it.

I have heard her name only in passing. Did you say she was the granddaughter of the founder of a logistics chain in the capital?

Although he seemed calm at first glance, my experience showed that he was more likely to harbor sinister intentions.

“If you are bothering Hyeon-i… Even if you are a senior, I will never forgive you… ”

Lastly, a female student with brown hair who looked like I had seen her somewhere with a name tag that read ‘Hayena’ spoke while shaking.

It has a gentle impression, like a harmless squirrel. However, his eyes are wide and his complexion is dark, making him look like he has had trouble sleeping for several days due to worry.

The direct gaze was extremely embarrassing, but it gave me an uneasy feeling, as if something eerie and creepy was hiding behind it.

I sighed deeply in pity. He was bold and courageous, but he lacked delicacy, so I thought he definitely didn’t have an eye for people. All the bitches who came to me as friends seemed to be full of flaws.

He was clearly from a frontier settlement. In that case, I thought that I might definitely be lacking in that area. Although it is a hassle, this is something you can fully help yourself with.

“Can’t you hear? It’s definitely off… I would have told you to go back.”

The words I was trying to say according to my personality are reflexively purified by the thought that someone might hear them.

Even that was enough to make him feel intimidated.

“His condition is so serious that he needs to receive delicate and intensive treatment. This decision was made because we believed that the situation could worsen if outsiders wander around.”

“Don’t lie… ! I’m sure someone saw Hyeoni out for a walk on campus… !”

“Ha. I can’t understand. What are you doing? Don’t send it out right away.”

“Oh my, yes. Now, students. You can’t do this here. first of all… ”

Unable to bear it any longer and with a look of pity in their eyes, the security guard who had been silent began to drive away the uninvited guests.

In the end, they failed to achieve their goal and headed outside the main gate. It seemed to disappear in the direction of the annex where the student council was located, but I didn’t really know anything about it.

Only after feeling pity do I enter the ward with a slightly lighter heart. Then, when I open the door to the hospital room and enter, a familiar scene unfolds.

A masked male student sitting by the window. A cat purring tightly in its arms. Even his own cot installed next to his hospital bed.

“Are you here?”

“… Yes.”

I try my best to act arrogant, but my heart starts beating faster again after just a brief exchange of greetings.

“You came a little early today. Are you tired? I have somewhere to go for a while, so I think I’ll have to sleep a little later… ”

On the other hand, I feel a little envious of his nonchalant weakness towards me.

It seemed like he had no idea of the hardships he had just gone through.

He says he doesn’t remember it, but how could this man be so shameless after committing such a shameless act?

Treating someone with respect the whole time, but then shaking their heart by saying informal language at a critical moment is not a common skill.

Then he wiped his mouth as if nothing had happened.

Well, there’s no way you can die just because you’re ugly. Rather, the obsession with making up for his shortcomings and using him as a weapon feels even more frightening. Without going too far, aren’t you the victim?

“Do you think I am some kind of sleeping bug? And I asked you to avoid going outside for a while, but why do you keep wandering around? And what if it happens again… ”

“Now that I am healed, there are no additional wounds. And if you stay still, recovery will be slower. You have to move it around a bit.”

The feeling of his wide, firm arms and gentle fingers seemed to come back to me again, so I shook my sympathetic head and argued with him.

“… Where are you going?”

“I just wanted to go for a walk and exercise. It was nice that there wasn’t a single person in the ward. I guess it’s because it’s a corner… ”

“That… they say? Then it’s not urgent. Can you talk to me for a moment… ?”

Hearing Yeon Gyeong-ha’s words, the male student stops getting ready to leave and sits down again.

“You… I heard that Haewol-hwa asked me to put my name on the list as a recipient of the Gold Star Military Merit Medal… ?”

“That’s right. I guess you heard? Just in case, you don’t have the right to veto. Unfortunately, I have no sense of pride… ”

“I know. I didn’t even intend to do that in the first place. Anyway, I have to follow your orders… ”

“Is that so… ”

Perhaps because he thought the answer was surprisingly docile, the male student nodded slightly in a rare embarrassed manner.

“… Then what do you want to say?”

Finally, at the main point, Yeon Myeong-ha took a deep breath and barely uttered a word.

“… Face.”

“Yes?”

“Your face… Show me.”

***

Lately, I’ve noticed a bit of a strange change in Yeon Myeong-ha’s attitude. To be precise, it started when I woke up in the ward after returning from the South.

At one time, she was as depressed as withered grass, but these days, it seems like her characteristic arrogance and assertiveness have returned.

However, I didn’t feel as much resistance and rejection as before. It’s not that she uses excessively uncomfortable words or tone and makes a fuss, but if you think that this is her original personality, I think she treats me more comfortably.

If you were dissatisfied in the first place, you wouldn’t be going in and out of the ward on your own like this.

It is a relationship created through a coercive approach as there is no clear solution, but if you think about it from a long-term perspective, wouldn’t it be a good change?

But even though I was thinking that way, the sudden request from Yeon-yang Ha felt so embarrassing.

He wasn’t interested in that all this time, but suddenly he asked me to show his face.

I thought she might be telling a joke, but her determined expression told me that it was definitely not a joke.

“I want you to show me your face. Even if you suddenly say something like that… ”

“… I decided to trust you.”

“Yes?”

“I decided to trust you. To be honest, there are still many things I don’t understand, and thinking about the past shame makes me grind my teeth… Still, I decided to believe it.”

“… ”

“We need each other. Right? You do this for your own benefit and that of your sponsor… To overcome mental pollution… Then the only way is to believe.”

“But why is the face… ”

“Ah, no matter what, this is someone I will always have by my side from now on… You don’t need to know the face… ! I think I can make this kind of request… to do… ”

At best, he opens his mouth with great vigor and then trails off, showing pity.

“To be honest, I thought you had already seen it when I lost my mind.”

“No, I didn’t see it… ! Why do you think of me and say things like that… Well, I was curious, but I can’t just go into it as much as I want… ”

“… ”

And I am lost in worry.

This is a very welcome change in attitude for me, who had to try to improve my relationship with her.

And actually, I don’t see anything wrong with that request. There is no reason not to show it as much.

The reason I cover my face is purely out of personal discomfort.

but…

“… No.”

“Why, why… ! Just that much… ”

“It’s ugly.”

“Uh… ?”

A small, helpless exclamation came out from the mouth of Yeon Myeong-ha, who was trying to argue.

“So… I don’t really recommend it. There is no other reason. There’s nothing to hide. There’s nothing I can’t show you, but if that’s the reason… ”

“What is it? I… again… ”

However, I feel pity and brush off my worries as if they are no big deal.

There was an inexplicable feeling of relief on his face.

“Who said anything about your appearance? What I meant was just build a trusting relationship. I wouldn’t give a damn even if you were the most hideously ugly guy in the world.”

“… ”

“If you don’t even know the face, it’s a bit… That’s right… Even if you save my life, it’s barely even that much… ?”

The voice seemed to be filled with desperation, and I couldn’t find anything to refute.

Finally, after a moment of silence, I had no choice but to open my mouth.

“… I said it clearly.”

“Uh, yes… ”

Swallowing his saliva, Yeon Myeong-ha nodded.

I reached for the mask’s lock and began to unlock it.

Yeon Myeong-ha, who had been begging to be shown the other side, was also silent.

As the clicking sounds continue, anxiety fills me, as if my defenses are falling one by one.

My heart is pounding violently. Cold sweat pours down like rain.

My older sisters were the ones who would only say good things about me. But is that really true even if I feel pity?

Maybe the choice I made was the worst choice.

Should I have just handed over the contract and refused to the end?

‘Still don’t understand? You are neither strong nor trustworthy. At least one face was worth seeing, but even that is now useless. you… You don’t deserve to be around me.’

I closed my eyes tightly as the voice of someone from the past echoed without my knowledge.

“… what. It’s not bad.”

However, the next moment, Yeon-sik’s grave voice is heard, shattering the auditory hallucination like a glass window.

“… Boy. If I close my eyes like that, there’s no way I can see properly.”

“… ”

When I slightly lift my eyelids in response to Yeon Myeong-ha’s request, I see Yeon Yeon-ha in front of me, still wearing a gloomy expression.

“… Oh my.”

When our eyes met, Yeon Myeong-ha raised her eyebrows as if she was slightly surprised, but even that quickly reverted back to her usual self.

“Hmm. It’s okay. I… again… ”

“It’s okay… ?”

“Yes. To be honest, it’s not bad, right? It’s really not bad.”

“There is no need to force yourself to say that… ”

“Do you think I’m the type of person who would force myself to say something like this? When it comes to aesthetic standards, I am a person who will not compromise even if a knife is put to my throat.”

“Is that so… ”

“That’s right. Me indeed. I did something else… ”

After being silent for a moment out of pity, he glanced at my face and asked.

“… Isn’t it frustrating?”

“At first, there were some aspects of it that were a bit like that.”

“That… Since when did you start using it? ?”

“I think it’s been about 2 years. But now I’m used to it so it’s okay.”

“Still, I think it might be frustrating… ”

After thinking for a moment, Yeon Myeong-ha looks up at me again and asks.

“… Yes. From now on, why don’t you take off your mask when you’re alone with me? ?”

“Yes?”

“But you still need to have some time to catch your breath. Again, I don’t care what you look like. therefore… ”

“… Is that so. Let me think about it.”

-Ding dong~

As soon as he finished speaking, a preliminary ringtone signaling a curfew rang through the amplifier in the hospital room.

“… It looks like there will be a curfew in a little while. Seniors. I think I need to go out for a bit before that.”

“Yes. Come back. Think about my suggestion positively… ”

“Okay. then… ”

Leaving Yeon Myeong-ha nodding, I put my mask back on and left the hospital room.

In the dark night sky outside, I could see stars and the moon twinkling.

Under that soft light, I repeated for a long time what Yeon Myeong-ha said.

It’s not bad… Called.

***

Trug-trug.

While the sound of his footsteps getting farther away.

I stood there in silence for a long while feeling sorry for myself.

Finally, when I couldn’t hear it, I started to walk steadily towards the wall.

And then he stumbled there, leaned back, and slumped down.

He spread his palms out in sympathy and covered his face. Then, raise your knees and bury your upper body.

“Ha… ”

His ears were bright red, like ripe strawberries, and rough, unorganized breathing came out of his mouth.

After some time had passed, her face, which she finally lifted, was completely red with a deep blush the same color as her ears.

“I don’t know anymore… ”

Yeon Myeong-ha let out a helpless declaration of surrender, letting go of everything.

And at the same time, a small ripple that was previously overlooked gradually causes a ripple.

“But… Who on earth is Yeon… ”

It was the name of someone who asked for forgiveness and forgiveness for his mistakes with endless tears while he was asleep.

A sticky, unpleasant seed of doubt began to burrow into her mind.