Sowing Discord
Jihyeok met Silvia at a coffee shop far from her house. He should have been back already, tangled up with the Doctor in their usual games of give and take… Why had she suddenly demanded to see him? If it turned out to be nothing important, he would pin her down and schedule an electric torture session. Not that she would ever be caught.
“What seems to be the matter?”
Silvia, who had been sitting with her arms crossed, raised her eyes at his smiling inquiry.
“Sit.”
“Of course. Where is Adele?”
“Resting at home.”
Two iced Americanos sat on the table. Jihyeok casually brought the straw to his lips and took a long sip. Silvia watched him for a moment, glanced around, then leaned in and spoke in a low voice.
“You… You’re not actually stripping Adele bare and devouring her, are you?”
From the sound of it, Adele had told Silvia everything. Still, he hadn’t expected her to be so blunt. The answer was yes. He was in the middle of stripping Adele bare and devouring her. So Silvia had better keep her mouth shut. He was almost finished, after all.
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Drop the act.”
“I don’t understand why you’re suddenly speaking so aggressively and saying such absurd things.”
When he put on a genuinely wronged expression, Silvia stared straight into his eyes before letting out a sigh.
“Haah… Sorry for jumping straight into this. Adele and I had a deep conversation. A very honest one.”
“I see.”
“I heard what happened between you and Adele on Jeju Island.”
“Adele told you that…? It was a very private matter…”
Jihyeok’s mouth fell slightly open in feigned shock. Silvia smirked, her expression softening.
“Yes. Our relationship is close enough that we share even those private things with each other.”
“I feel rather exposed. You two are as close as sisters, so I suppose that’s only natural.”
“Thank you for understanding. Getting back to the point—Adele is far purer and kinder than you think. Excessively so. She’s always reading other people’s moods, overly cautious, and too timid to say what she really wants.”
Given what Adele has been doing to me lately, I doubt you could call her that.
“It seems you’re under a misconception. Adele isn’t as young as you seem to believe. I think you’re being overly protective.”
“That was… a slip of the tongue. You’re right. Adele isn’t a child. I only said it because I cherish her more than my own life.”
“How touching. So, you’re asking whether I deceived that pure Adele into doing those things with me?”
“Exactly. It might offend you, but it’s a reasonable suspicion. You haven’t known each other very long, have you?”
“I understand. To be clear, I swear on everything I have—I have no intention of deceiving Adele, nor any reason to. My feelings are genuine.”
At his firm reply, Silvia’s gaze softened slightly.
“Really…?”
“Yes. Do you sense any sincerity in my answer?”
“A little…”
Only a little… How disappointing.
Wearing a bitter smile, Jihyeok tapped his fingers on the table before speaking to Silvia, who now looked apologetic.
“If you have nothing else to say, I’ll be going.”
“All right. Sorry for calling you out so suddenly.”
“It’s fine. Suspicion is natural. Would you like a ride home?”
“I’ll go alone.”
“Understood.”
Jihyeok rose, gave Silvia a brief nod, and turned to leave the café. Then he paused and looked back.
“By the way, do you believe two people shouldn’t fall in love if they haven’t known each other long?”
Silvia flinched. She quickly shook her head.
“…No, that’s not what I meant.”
“I see. That’s a relief.”
“A relief? What do you mean?”
“I simply hope you’ll experience those fresh feelings yourself someday. I meant it as a wish that you meet someone good. I’ll see you next time.”
“Ah… Right. Get home safely.”
Once Jihyeok was in his car, he slammed the accelerator and sank into thought. Silvia… That leech clinging to Adele’s side. It was time to start dismantling their relationship. He needed to act before Adele fell for Silvia’s sly tongue. And the “good person” Silvia should meet… had to be him. An idea was already forming. It felt promising.
* * *
Jihyeok stared blankly at the open Bible, not turning a single page. Adele called to him cautiously.
“Jihyeok.”
“……”
“Jihyeok!”
He flinched, shook his head several times, and looked at her.
“Yes?”
“What on earth were you thinking about that you couldn’t concentrate?”
“Ah, my apologies. I had something on my mind…”
“Having other thoughts during sacred Bible study… I can’t allow it! Your attitude as a believer is lacking!”
“It’s something important. Please understand.”
“More important than studying the Bible with me!?”
Adele flared up. Jihyeok lowered his gaze, pretending to be cowed, then brought up the story he had prepared.
“Of course not. It’s just… it concerns you, Adele…”
“Concerns me…? What is it?”
“This is Bible study time. I’ll focus now.”
“I’ll give you a break.”
A break? He hadn’t expected that. She could be surprisingly cunning when she wanted to be. Jihyeok shot her a quick glance, making her even more impatient. When the tension had built sufficiently, he spoke.
“On my way home yesterday, I received a call from Silvia and met her at a café… Did you know about this?”
“What…? Yesterday?”
She doesn’t know yet. Excellent. This would make things much easier. Silvia had made two mistakes: meeting him secretly to probe him without telling Adele, and then keeping it from her. She had boasted that there were no secrets between them, yet she had created one herself. Of course, Silvia had probably intended to tell Adele eventually. If Jihyeok had stayed quiet, she would have spoken with Adele today or soon after. If she had confessed everything first, Adele would have been only mildly upset—or perhaps even grateful. But if he struck first and twisted their conversation just enough to cast Silvia in a negative light…
Adele’s reaction would be the complete opposite.
Poor, complacent Silvia. The one who moved faster has seized the advantage. The early bird catches the worm, after all.
“Yes. Around eight in the evening.”
“At that time, I had just gotten home and was in the shower… Sister definitely said she was going to exercise.”
“No. She met me. I’m not sure if I should say this, but…”
“J-Just say it! That’s an order!”
Adele looked as though she couldn’t believe Silvia had met him behind her back. Jihyeok clicked his tongue and reluctantly continued.
“Adele, you told Silvia what happened on Jeju Island, didn’t you?”
Adele’s face went pale with shock. Her large eyes blinked rapidly as her mouth slowly opened. Shocking, isn’t it? She had mustered the courage to tell Silvia everything, yet Silvia had gone out and brought it up with him while lying to her. It must be confusing. Disappointing, even. Jihyeok offered her a bitter smile and went on.
“I’m not scolding you. The reason I’m telling you this is because Silvia asked me yesterday whether I was stripping you bare and devouring you.”
“What…? What do you mean…”
“It seems she mistakenly believed I was deceiving the innocent Adele.”
“Th-That’s ridiculous…!”
Adele shook her head repeatedly, trying to deny it. Jihyeok let out a deep sigh.
“She said it was a reasonable suspicion because we haven’t known each other long.”
“Sister… really said that…?”
“Yes. I managed to convince her, but… honestly, it hurt a little. It felt like Silvia didn’t understand my feelings. And after thinking it over at home, I realized she might have had a point. We did meet rather quickly…”
Adele slammed her hand on the table, cutting him off. She shot to her feet, ignoring the cheap study-café chair that toppled behind her, and shouted.
“No! I know better than anyone that you love me! Don’t waver!”
This was the most intense reaction yet. Perfect. Thrilling. Suppressing a gleeful laugh inside, Jihyeok quickly apologized.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why…! Why would Sister meet you behind my back and say such things? I can’t understand it at all!”
“She said she was worried because you’re excessively naive. That you’re always reading other people’s moods, overly cautious, and too timid to speak your mind…”
“Wh-What…?”
Seeing Adele’s horrified expression, Jihyeok knew the plan was working beautifully. How does it feel? Betrayed? She had interfered in their adult relationship and even hurled negative remarks—behind Adele’s back, no less. He could almost hear it: the sound of a crack forming in their once-solid bond.
“Adele, calm down. I’ve already cleared up the misunderstanding.”
“How am I supposed to calm down!? Sister said something so shameless…!”
“She said she cherishes you more than her own life. That’s why she was worried…”
“Are you defending Sister now? Well, I suppose that makes sense!”
“What…?”
“The last time I went to church, you two were watching a movie together so intimately! The sofa was huge, yet you were practically glued together! You like Sister, don’t you? That’s why you’re defending her!”
She even came up with that fantasy? Her reaction was far more heated than expected. Jihyeok looked at her seriously.
“Is that really what you want to say right now? If I had feelings for Silvia, I wouldn’t have brought this up yesterday.”
Adele seemed to realize her mistake and covered her mouth. She bit her lower lip and apologized.
“I’m sorry… I got too worked up…”
Jihyeok approached Adele, who was still struggling to contain her anger, and pulled her into a gentle embrace. His voice was soft.
“I don’t want things to go badly between you two. It feels like this is my fault for making you so upset. I was only trying to smooth things over… I’m the one who should be sorry.”
“…I understand how you feel… It was my mistake…”
“Adele, can you promise me one thing?”
“What is it…?”
“If Silvia brings this up, listen to her as calmly as possible. Judge for yourself with a cool head. You’re considerate and thoughtful, so I know you’ll come to the right conclusion.”
Adele, still pressed against him, looked up.
“I’m thoughtful…? Considerate too…?”
“Of course.”
“But Sister said I’m just a timid girl who only reads other people’s moods…”
“No. Silvia probably thinks the same as I do. You know how straightforward she can be. She was angry and misunderstood me at the time, so she spoke without thinking. When I confronted her about it, she admitted it was a slip of the tongue.”
“……”
“I think you know Silvia better than I do.”
Given their relationship, the misunderstanding would surely be resolved. But the hurt feelings would remain. And from today onward, they would no longer be completely honest with each other. Distrust. Suspicion. Planting these emotions was more important than anything else. Once they accumulated, human relationships would collapse.
“I promise… If Sister brings it up, I’ll listen calmly. Thank you, Jihyeok…”
Adele seemed moved by his generosity. My naive Adele… I’ll work hard to treat your mental state, so don’t worry and fight all you want.
“I’m glad you understand.”
“Today has been truly shocking… Bible study is canceled. Start the car. We’re stopping by the nail salon, then going to the drive-in theater.”
“What about the escape room?”
“I need to cool my head without thinking.”
Of course. Cool your head. Think carefully during the date and afterward—who cares about you more, me or Silvia?
“Then I’ll cancel the reservation.”
“Yes…”
“Shall we go? Or stay like this a little longer?”
“Stay like this. Hold me still for twenty minutes. If you move even one step, I’ll add five minutes each time.”
What a little dictator. Jihyeok agreed and wrapped his arms tightly around Adele’s small frame, already sketching out his next plan. It was time to create a secret space just for him and Silvia—one that would deepen Adele’s distrust even further.