episode_0602

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Approximately one week.

During that time, the ‘Sightings of Seol Da-bin’ that had been heard sporadically had lost much of their interest around this point.

Well, isn’t that how all news in the world is?

These days, anything that briefly becomes a hot topic on the internet is treated as old news in as little as a few hours.

Moreover, eyewitness accounts that are only shared among friends are more than enough to lose interest completely within a week.

Of course, if it wasn’t difficult news like a friend’s breakup, but instead, someone accidentally uploaded a risqué photo full of their own dark tastes where everyone could see it….

News of that sort would become a regular topic dragged out for years to come, or perhaps even until one’s final rest, whenever it was forgotten.

“Woo-jin. Do you have anything to do outside today?”

“No. Nothing in particular has come up.”

“Hmm~”

As interest in Seol Da-bin faded, the care her friends showed her also waned slightly.

However, this isn’t a negative thing, but rather a positive one.

Because the news that Seol Da-bin was doing much better, thanks to the help of a senior and Seo Woo-jin, had reached Lee Ha-yoon’s ears as well.

For example, it would be along the same lines as the doctor who had been diligently visiting the hospital room for several days now making fewer visits these days.

Either the symptoms have improved significantly, or there’s nothing more that can be done….

Fortunately, Seol Da-bin was the former.

“Then does that mean we can just stay like this for a change today?”

“…You wanted to do this?”

“Just~ because you’ve seemed busy lately.”

Therefore, Lee Ha-yoon intended to roll around aimlessly while hugging Seo Woo-jin from behind, like they used to do.

Unlike her, Seo Woo-jin was next to her younger sister, who was sound asleep without even properly wearing pajamas, while Lee Ha-yoon was covering her boyfriend with her scent.

“…Wait. Ha-yoon. KakaoTalk.”

“My phone?”

“Yeah.”

Trying to quietly ask Seo Woo-jin if they should move to another room for a bit so that Ji-yoon, who was still purring, wouldn’t wake up.

After a brief vibration sound, Seo Woo-jin picked up a smartphone from the head of the bed and handed it over.

Lee Ha-yoon, who had been clinging to Seo Woo-jin’s back until now, reached out and checked the contents.

[Seol Da-bin]

– Ha-yoon.

– Are you busy today?

“……Huh?”

602

Seol Da-bin and Lee Ha-yoon are friends.

It’s not strange for a friend to send a KakaoTalk message to another friend asking if they are busy.

In other words, it’s not strange for Seol Da-bin to send a KakaoTalk message to Lee Ha-yoon asking if she is busy.

“…Hmm.”

To use deductive reasoning in a clumsy way, this was a contact with no problems at all.

But could it be that emotions aren’t machines made only of logic?

Lee Ha-yoon, who was more bewildered than delighted, showed Seo Woo-jin the smartphone screen after a moment of hesitation and said.

“Hey, Woo-jin. …This, this is a message from Da-bin?”

“Seol Da-bin? Why all of a sudden?”

“I don’t know…? She just suddenly asked if I was busy today….”

Lee Ha-yoon leaned heavily on Seo Woo-jin, who was tilting his head, and let out a groan.

Actually, if she thought back, this wasn’t the first time this had happened.

Rather, it seemed to have happened frequently.

Seol Da-bin would contact various people to find a friend to meet on the weekend, and naturally reach Lee Ha-yoon. Just remembering it, there were at least three or four times this had happened.

However, the problem is that Seol Da-bin is currently in a state where she ‘needs to rest’, which is a common saying among doctors….

For now, the person who saw her most recently would know best.

“Woo-jin. Woo-jin. How was Da-bin when you saw her last time?”

“Outwardly, she doesn’t show anything anymore. But there’s no way to know if she’s suffering inside.”

It’s not much different from what she heard from Seo Woo-jin last night.

Now that she thinks about it, it couldn’t be helped.

Lee Ha-yoon, who had been staring at the smartphone with groans, sat up and continued.

“Then, is she doing this on purpose now to meet friends….”

“Maybe because everyone around her is uncomfortable, she’s trying to talk directly.”

“Hmm….”

Seo Woo-jin’s words make sense.

Looking at how only the group chat that includes Seol Da-bin has been unusually quiet recently, it’s definitely the case.

If they had only dated briefly and broken up, they would have teased her for a few days and then it would have been over, but they had been dating for over 10 years.

For Seol Da-bin, who is only 22 years old, that would be closer to a divorce than a breakup.

Therefore, everyone tried to avoid making mistakes out of consideration for Seol Da-bin, but that’s only from the perspective of those around her.

Seol Da-bin may have felt that she was causing trouble for her friends because of herself.

She may have felt some burden or guilt.

Thinking about it, this seemed to be 80% likely.

“…Right. Da-bin really hates causing trouble for people around her like this…. She must have thought about it a lot before asking….”

That’s why Lee Ha-yoon was tapping on the keypad, saying she was free anytime in the afternoon.

As she leaned slightly on Seo Woo-jin, who was also sitting up, and pressed the send button, a reply came back in less than a few seconds.

[Seol Da-bin]

– Then shall we have dinner together for the first time in a while?

– I asked a few other friends, but they all said they were busy and apologized….

– It’s a bit much to ask in the group chat…. I’m being mindful.

…Ah.

The reason why all the other friends said they were busy. I think I know why.

Maybe none of the friends are actually busy.

The truth is, they probably refused indirectly because they were uncomfortable meeting Da-bin.

But even so, isn’t it a bit much for everyone to refuse?

If I look, shouldn’t I be able to find one or two more people to go with me?

[Lee Ha-yoon]

– Wait a minute. I’ll ask a few more people.

– Wait for me?

[Seol Da-bin]

– Huh?

– Uh oh….

– There’s no need to do that….

For a moment, she wriggled and sat on Seo Woo-jin’s lap.

Now, Lee Ha-yoon, who had started using Seo Woo-jin as a backrest, sent KakaoTalk messages to two of her friends who ‘always come out when called’, asking if they had been contacted by Da-bin to have dinner together today.

However, by coincidence, both of them unfortunately already had dinner plans.

Even though they were friends who hadn’t received a message from Da-bin yet.

Well, today is Saturday.

There are cases where you make plans on the same day, but there are also many people who have plans that were made in advance on weekdays.

[Lee Ha-yoon]

– What should I do?

– The people I asked all said they had dinner plans….

– It would be better to have more than just the two of us.

[Seol Da-bin]

– It’s okay. If you’re busy, you can’t help it.

– I can see the other friends next time.

– Our practicum is almost over, right?

[Lee Ha-yoon]

– Still….

But right then.

Another idea flashed through Lee Ha-yoon’s mind.

Someone who knows Da-bin’s situation well, who Da-bin can treat comfortably, who is close to Lee Ha-yoon, and who doesn’t have anything particularly busy to do this evening.

Although the purpose of this meeting will change a bit, there are two people who come to mind.

[Lee Ha-yoon]

– Hey, Da-bin?

[Seol Da-bin]

– Huh?

[Lee Ha-yoon]

– If it’s okay with you….

Seo Woo-jin, who has been called out frequently recently and has become somewhat close,

And Lee Ji-yoon, who is still curled up next to him, continuing to sleep in.

As she wrote and sent their names, a reply came back instantly.

*****

“…Hey, Seo Woo-jin.”

“Yeah.”

“What is it? Was that what my sister was talking about while eating lunch just now?”

“It was about going to see Seol Da-bin together.”

“I’m asking why that came up. …Don’t tell me my sister found out?”

“It’s a long story to explain. She hasn’t found out yet.”

“Heo…. Then is that it from before…? About whether to tell my sister honestly or not….”

“That’s right. Actually, this isn’t the plan that I originally set up with Seol Da-bin….”

“It’s not?”

“Because your sister wants to take you with her. There’s no choice but to go naturally.”

“Were you originally planning to go alone?”

“Yeah.”

“…Then should I say I don’t want to go, even now?”

“No. The more I think about it, the more comfortable it will be if you’re by my side.”

“Really?”

“If you look at Ha-yoon, she always seems to be dragged around by you.”

“Puhah. Well~ my sister is like that. She’s so innocent.”

The chatter that was about to stray slightly to the side was cut short.

Tuh, Lee Ji-yoon, who grabbed her hair with one hand, spat out white toothpaste towards the sink.

Swaaa- While constantly running the pouring tap water. Quietly, so that Lee Ha-yoon outside wouldn’t hear.

The bathroom is a space that is somewhat isolated from the outside, but this was only half true here.

Even if you can visually hide it, the sounds from inside the bathroom of this old, dilapidated house all leak out.

Because of that, Lee Ji-yoon, who has already had her secret sex with me exposed to Lee Ha-yoon about 3 times, lowered her voice even more quietly based on her experiences at that time and started talking.

“Anyway, I was really surprised because of that…. Sigh…. I almost choked while eating the rolled omelet….”

“I’m sorry. I was going to give you a heads up in advance, but since the three of us have been together since this morning, I didn’t get a chance.”

“Well, my sister has been very active since this morning…. Even though we did it a lot last night.”

“……”

“Anyway, what do you want me to do when I meet my senior?”

“Hmm….”

“As long as it’s not something weird…. I can help you.”

Ji-yoon, who was brushing her molars one more time, asked.

After I finished brushing my teeth before her and rinsed my mouth, I answered after a moment of consideration.

That’s why.

“Da-bin!”

“…Ah, wait…. Ji-yoon?”

“I missed you….”

“…Hey, don’t hug me too tight because it tickles….”

“Why? We always do this, right?”

Someone around them looked around and disappeared into the crowd.

In order to tie Lee Ha-yoon and Seol Da-bin together more tightly.

Showing her that she’s close with her younger sister.

It will be moderately helpful.