episode_0125

“….”

“….”

Yu Seolhyun had come.

She looked down at Jin Soyeon for a moment.

Jin Soyeon, sitting weakly on the sofa, looked up at Yu Seolhyun.

Her lifeless eyes and cold expression clearly reflected Jin Soyeon’s heart.

It was as if she was looking at a patient with depression.

No, maybe it was depression.

Silence settled in for a moment.

Yu Seolhyun glanced around the house, then sighed.

“Ah, Jin Soyeon.”

The state of the house in disarray was truly disgraceful.

Even if that’s the case, shouldn’t you at least do some cleaning?

“Why is the house like this? Clean up and live properly.”

“…Yu Seolhyun.”

Jin Soyeon asked dryly.

“What’s going on again?”

“Just.”

Yu Seolhyun shrugged her shoulders casually.

She let out a sigh.

“I wonder how long you’ll continue to be like the tragic heroine.”

“Huh.”

Jin Soyeon chuckled.

The tragic heroine.

Yu Seolhyun, do you think I have such a good personality as to make such a ridiculous joke?

“Don’t waste your time unnecessarily and just go. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Yu Seolhyun had always paid special attention to Jin Soyeon.

While other kids hesitated in the face of Jin Soyeon’s continued rejection, Yu Seolhyun would come without a care, not even bothering to pay attention to what Jin Soyeon said.

Honestly, she didn’t think they had such a close relationship.

Is it because of the short request Jinhyuk left before he died?

That brief request asking Jin Soyeon for a favor?

If that’s the case, Jin Soyeon would say this to Yu Seolhyun.

Stop being nosy.

“Jin Soyeon. How long are you going to be like this?”

“…?”

“You should at least attend the academy. If you keep this up, you might get expelled or suspended. If that’s the case, you might as well take a leave of absence.”

“…?”

No response.

Jin Soyeon didn’t say anything.

She seemed to have no interest in the academy anymore.

Seeing her like that, Yu Seolhyun couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

“Well. Fine, let’s forget about the academy. But are you going to keep staying holed up at home? Saying you’re being watched by some girl named Yudahee or something.”

Yu Seolhyun was frustrated.

That she was alone at home without a second thought.

Shouldn’t she at least take some precautions?

“That white-haired girl could suddenly attack you.”

“Attack?”

“Whether it’s the church or asking for help from our side, it’s better to entrust your safety to a secure place.”

“That’s enough.”

Yu Seolhyun interrupted.

Then she gently lifted her head.

A bitter and cold smile hung on Jin Soyeon’s lips.

Yu Seolhyun furrowed her brows at Jin Soyeon’s reaction.

What? What do you mean by ‘that’s enough’?

What is she talking about?

“If you come on your own, I’ll be grateful. If you’re coming, just come.”

“You?”

If Yu Dahee and her group were to attack, it would be practically impossible for the current Jin Soyeon to resist alone.

She would most likely face death.

She knew that better than anyone.

Despite that, to say such things…

“I hope you come quickly if you’re coming. Waiting is boring.”

“Jin Soyeon.”

Was it the desire for revenge?

Or was it half-hearted self-destruction due to sadness?

Or maybe she needed someone to vent her anger on.

…No, maybe it’s all of the above.

“My head hurts, really.”

I really don’t know what to do with her.

All throughout the month, Yoo Seolhyun had tried to comfort, encourage, and shake Jin Soyeon in various ways, but it was all in vain.

As Jin Soyeon, with her ears and eyes tightly shut, seemed unaffected by whatever words or actions Yoo Seolhyun tried.

So, what could be done about it?

As much as Yoo Seolhyun didn’t want to provoke Jin Soyeon, she couldn’t help but bring up these words.

“Listen, Jin Soyeon.”

After hesitating for a moment, Yoo Seolhyun finally blurted out.

“Do you think this is what Jinhyuk would want?”

“….”

For a moment, Jin Soyeon’s shoulders twitched.

Bringing up Jinhyuk seemed to elicit some kind of response, whether good or bad.

“Do you think Jinhyuk would want you moping around, lost in your thoughts like this?”

“….”

“If it were Jinhyuk, he would want you to stand up and move forward. Jin Soyeon, it’s been over a month already. How long are you going to keep this up? It’s time to start getting yourself together, don’t you think?”

“Hah!”

Suddenly, Jin Soyeon scoffed.

For a brief moment, she raised her shoulders, stifling a laugh.

Then, abruptly.

With a sharp gaze, she locked eyes with Yoo Seolhyun.

It was a look so sharp that it was hard to believe it was coming from the usual Jin Soyeon.

“Who do you think you are?”

“What?”

“What do you know about Jinhyuk to be going on about what he would or wouldn’t want?”

Indeed, bringing up Jinhyuk directly may not have been the best choice.

It seemed like she had inadvertently provoked Jin Soyeon more than necessary.

“Yoo Seolhyun. Do you talk about Jinhyuk’s death so easily? Of course you do. To you, Jinhyuk is just a business target, isn’t he? Isn’t that right?”

“Jin Soyeon, you… sigh.”

Though slightly touched by her words, Yoo Seolhyun quickly suppressed her irritation, considering Jin Soyeon’s current state of deep sorrow over the loss of her childhood friend.

Yoo Seolhyun herself had struggled greatly when her mother passed away, so she could somewhat understand Jin Soyeon’s words and actions.

To a certain extent, at least.

“If you were just pretending to be close because you were interested in Jinhyuk’s precognitive abilities.”

“….”

Interested in Jinhyuk’s precognitive abilities?

Well, it wasn’t entirely wrong.

At first, she had certainly valued the worth of precognitive abilities more highly.

But after going through various experiences throughout the semester, she had come to think of their relationship as somewhat like friends, if not friends.

She hadn’t expressed it in words, but it was enough to consider it a relationship that could be called friends.

Apart from Lee Siwoon, Jin Soyeon had rarely had a male friend who treated her as an equal.

He seemed to understand Yoo Seolhyun’s preferences, personality, likes, and dislikes, making conversation with him somewhat comfortable.

He was a decent person to talk to in his own way… yes, a friend.

That’s how she had thought of him.

But now, that friend was gone.

Leaving behind his last words in front of Yoo Seolhyun.

“What do you know about Jinhyuk to be talking about him like that?”

“….”

Of course, Jin Soyeon, you probably don’t know as much as I do.

You’ve been with him since kindergarten, but your relationship with Yoo Seolhyun has only lasted a few months.

But Jin Soyeon, haven’t you been distancing yourself from him since you entered the academy?

Because of your unusual male pheromones.

So, the Jinhyuk of the past may have been more known to you, but the current Jinhyuk might be better known to Yoo Seolhyun.

She even knows important secrets related to precognition that you didn’t know.

Without telling even her childhood friend, whom she considered almost like family, she had kept her secret tightly sealed.

“Are you disappointed? Thanks to Jinhuk’s abilities, we’ve gained a lot of benefits so far, but now that Jinhuk is gone…”

“…Jin Soyeon.”

Although Jin Soyeon’s mocking words sparked a hint of irritation, she forced herself to calm down.

There was no need to pay attention to those words.

Because Jin Soyeon was just venting her frustration.

Yuseolhyun knew better than anyone that Jin Soyeon was simply letting out her festering and decaying emotions.

But.

“You don’t really care about Jinhuk’s death, do you?

As Jin Soyeon’s relentless accusations continued, Yuseolhyun’s patience was wearing thin.

“You’re just indifferent, right? You’re just disappointed that you’ve lost a useful ability user, aren’t you? Isn’t that right, Yuseolhyun?”

Indifferent?

Me?

Yes, I might appear that way.

People always judge based on what is outwardly displayed.

If you cry and whine as pitifully as Jin Soyeon, saying ‘I’m sad, I’m heartbroken,’ then people will take notice.

But Jin Soyeon.

I understand everything, I do…

Why do you think you’re the only one who is sad, struggling, heartbroken?

Helping with Jinhuk’s funeral, dealing with the aftermath of the stolen goods, and taking care of you for a whole month, did I seem unaffected to you?

Are you the only tragic heroine, the only one who is sad? Is that so?

“What? It’s been a month already, how long are you going to keep this up? It’s not just a month, it’s only been a month!”

For a month, you’ve been a garbage dump for your emotions.

You just need to vent your frustration and stay holed up in the house, but I’ve been busy dealing with the aftermath of the Busan Great Crack disaster.

And yet, despite everything, I’m not doing this because you’re a capable aspiring hero or a scout candidate.

– Soyeon… I… I have a favor to ask… for Soyeon.

I wanted to grant Jinhuk’s dying wish.

But Jin Soyeon, you don’t know how to ask like that.

“You wouldn’t understand! You grew up without lacking anything in a wealthy household!”

Yuseolhyun bit her lower lip.

She, too, knew the sorrow of loss.

Although she seemed to have grown up without lacking anything, she was a rotten mess from competing with her siblings since childhood.

Her only sanctuary was her mother.

But her mother eventually succumbed to illness and passed away.

And then Yuseolhyun was alone.

She endured and persevered through it all, without anyone to comfort, care, or sympathize with her.

“Jinhuk was like family to me! He was family I spent my whole life with! And now that Jinhuk is gone! You want me to snap out of it now?”

I want to fulfill Jinhuk’s last request.

“Fine, Yuseolhyun. I’ll handle my own affairs, so don’t come here and blabber nonsense.”

I want to help, but…

“If you’re only caring because of Jinhuk’s last wishes, then I’ll decline from my end.”

“Hmph.”

Yuseolhyun took a slow breath in and out.

“So?”

In truth, Yuseolhyun also harbored deeply buried emotions.

But the situation was unfavorable, and she wanted to fulfill Jinhuk’s last wishes, so she endured and held back.

But if you keep talking like that…

“Yes, that’s right.”

Yuseolhyun tilted her head slightly and let out a bitter laugh.

Do I need to listen to Jinhyuk’s last words?

Ah, yes. Jinsuyeon.

So that’s how you’re going to play it.

“Suyeon, it’s me.”

I know better than to bring up such words.

The current Jinsuyeon was nothing more than a child filled with anger.

Lost and angry, wandering around in the current situation, bursting into tears like a child who didn’t know what to do.

That was exactly the scene.

If it had been the usual Yuseolhyun, she would have been able to control her emotions and calmly deal with Jinsuyeon’s anger.

But today’s Yuseolhyun couldn’t do that.

No, she didn’t want to.

“In fact, I already knew from the clan members.”

Because she had been angry ever since Jinhyuk died. If asked who she was angry at, Yuseolhyun would answer like this.

“Because Jinhyuk died.”

She was angry at Jinsuyeon.

“Because of you?”

“…!”

Because Jinsuyeon felt a lot of guilt about Jinhyuk’s death.

“Oh, don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying this because Jinhyuk sacrificed himself for you.”

So she wanted to express her anger to Jinsuyeon, but Yuseolhyun, who had been suppressing her anger for a long time due to Jinsuyeon’s condition, couldn’t.

“As for the Ouroboros raid, it wasn’t part of our plan, right?”

But Jinsuyeon, if you keep talking like that, Yuseolhyun won’t hold back any longer.

“Because you were so stubborn, Jinhyuk had no choice but to go on the Ouroboros extermination mission, right?”

“T-that’s…”

“In that case, Suyeon.”

Yuseolhyun smiles at the corners of her mouth, but her eyes are cold, with no hint of a smile.

“In the end, wouldn’t Jinhyuk end up being killed by you?”