Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Why Did You Help Me?
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What the hell kind of ghost story is this?
"I didn't save you."
"Don't lie. I remember your voice clear as day."
"What's your problem? Hey, let go!"
I quietly looked at the choreographer. My esteemed teacher, who had been watching the scene with great interest, finally swaggered over and intervened.
"Alright, Seungjun. Let go and talk."
The bear of a guy still wouldn't release my arm.
"You don't even know me."
"Of course I don't."
"How would an ambitious guy like you know anything about Seungjun? This kid's only been practicing dance for the first time today. He doesn't know a thing. If he knew you'd recently lost your sister and were so wrecked you tried to kill yourself, he'd probably be laying out a mat in Myeongdong right now..."
My face twisted involuntarily. That was some damn useful info I'd just learned. So useful to my daily life that I wanted to punch my teacher in the solar plexus.
"So why did you save me?"
Back to square one.
"I told you, I didn't save you."
Just then, the choreographer chimed in again.
"He's right. He probably didn't save you. First time I've seen you today, but this ambitious kid doesn't strike me as the type to rush in and rescue someone just because they're in danger. He's not bad, but he's not exactly a saint either. And yet he helped you out, Seungjun? Huh. Why's that? Fate?"
Ah, fuck. What the hell is he saying?
"What the hell are you talking about?"
The choreographer crossed his arms and grinned.
"Sentimental?"
Damn it. You watching a movie or something?
I barely held back from throwing a punch.
"Seungjun, come on. Suicide's too much. You think your dead sister wants that? Plus, you've got a nephew who's still alive. Your sister risked everything to bring that kid into the world. You've got a cute little nephew— you can't go killing yourself. You need to get your shit together. Debut with your group, make it big. That way, you can face your sister with your head held high, right?"
So she died giving birth. Ah, damn. Spouting off shit I didn't even want to know.
"Life gets better eventually, you know? Time heals all wounds. It'll fade someday. No matter how rough it gets, if you just eat and sleep, you'll pull through. Look at me. I tried to make it as a dance singer, crashed and burned, but I'm doing fine. Right?"
Like that's supposed to comfort me.
I let out a massive sigh. I'd ended up digging into the pathetic backstory of some stranger I didn't give a damn about.
"And besides..."
I glanced at my watch. The side effects were about to kick in soon.
I turned to my esteemed teacher.
"No more business here, right?"
"Huh? You're just gonna leave?"
What, you expect me to play mediator?
"I'll handle some urgent business first."
I shook off the guy's grip on my arm and headed for the bathroom. From behind, the choreographer called out.
"How urgent is it? Big one or small? Gotta wait long?"
I really wanted to curse him out.
"Think whatever you want."
I was stomping off in irritation when I suddenly heard footsteps behind me. I ignored it and kept walking, but then my arm got grabbed again.
"Damn it, what now."
I tried to shake him off hard, but he wouldn't budge. Scowling, I ended up dragging the guy toward the bathroom.
I slammed the door shut and yelled.
"What the hell do you want?"
"Why did you help me?"
"I didn't help you. I gave you a heart massage to mess with you. To make it hurt. You were holding onto that noose yourself back then. You weren't really trying to die."
His dark eyes wavered.
"Whether your sister lives or dies is none of my business, so why make a fuss? Ah, damn. Sister?"
I let out another huge sigh. An image of Madam Cha Sora floated up in my mind and sank back down.
"Damn it."
If my sister died giving birth, I'd probably want to die too. Not actually go through with it, though.
"Can't be helped if it's your sister."
The image of my exhausted sister from her nursing job popped into my head, and I realized my mistake.
"Shit."
The guy's dark eyes lit up like saucers in an instant. Like that stray dog I saw as a kid! No, wait— I'd just admitted to his story in a way.
I was about to deny it when suddenly my eyes started burning like I'd been waiting for it.
"Ah, fuck!"
Heat built under my eyes, and then tears started streaming down like a dam breaking. I quickly covered them with my free hand, but red liquid dripped onto my knuckles.
"You?"
"Damn it! Let go first!"
My arm finally came free. I staggered to the stall, locked the door.
"Ah, damn it."
What now.
Red blood streamed down my hand. I grabbed some tissue and staunched it as best I could, but the floor was already a bloody mess.
"Perfect horror movie setup."
No way to clean this up. What the hell is even happening?
I calmly assessed the situation.
First off, if that guy told the company, I'd be in deep shit.
"If he tells the company, that's a headache."
What if they send me home saying get better and come back?
Conclusion was obvious.
"I've gotta shut him up."
But how? Threats?
"Won't work."
I pulled out my smartphone. Too bad I couldn't use the cheat anymore.
In the end, only one option.
"Persuasion it is."
I desperately brainstormed something plausible.
A chronic condition? Yeah right. Who'd believe I have a disease that makes me cry blood? Not even an idiot.
"Just tell him the truth?"
I shook my head immediately.
"Ah, I leveled up Insight, so blood tears for 10 minutes? No big deal, ignore it."
Even in my head, I sounded like a total lunatic. Who'd buy that? They'd ship me straight to the psych ward.
Moving around made more blood drip. No matter how much tissue I wrapped, the blood tears wouldn't stop.
No matter how I racked my brain, I couldn't come up with a believable excuse. I picked the least bad one.
"Just say I got sad."
Say hearing about his sister crushed me so hard I burst into tears...
"Ah, damn it!"
Even I thought it was ridiculous. Would he buy it?
But it was the best I had. I muttered to myself desperately.
"I'm an actor."
This is the stage.
"The bathroom stage."
Nothing's helping. Damn. I just kept sighing.
After 10 minutes, the blood tears finally stopped honestly. I tossed the tissue wad, washed up at the sink. My black clothes hid the stains, but my hands were a bloody mess.
I scrubbed them raw and stepped out. Sure enough, the bear was leaning against the wall in the hallway like he'd been waiting.
"Death itself."
Would he buy that excuse?
"Not even an idiot would."
I caught my breath and stood in front of him. He quietly opened his eyes.
His gaze sharpened.
"Like a beast opening its eyes."
I wiped all expression from my face. No idea why, but it felt necessary.
"Too late. If I was acting, I should've smiled when we locked eyes."
I just stared at him. An odd silence settled.
The bear broke it first.
"Why were you crying?"
Simple question. At least he wasn't asking about the blood tears. Small mercy.
I started carefully.
"You might not believe it, but..."
Of course he wouldn't.
"I've only got a sister too."
I shrugged lightly.
"Guess I empathized or something."
I kept my face neutral even now.
"Gotta be shameless."
My gut told me this would work better. If not, oh well.
"You... you've only got a sister too?"
Huh? Is it working?
"Ah..."
It was sudden, but this called for acting chops. I glanced away slightly.
"My mom's passed away."
"When?"
"Hm, less than a month ago?"
No lies. It's true. Feels like ten years since regression, but real timeline's this.
He yanked my arm again. I accidentally met the bear's eyes and flinched.
"Why are his eyes sparkling again?"
Those glossy black marbles were shining intensely. Something felt off, and I almost backed away, but stopped myself.
"No way this actually worked perfectly?"
This can't be.
"You're so precious to your sister that you cried blood tears for her."
No.
"My sister died giving birth."
I know. But I don't wanna know. Please. Too much.
"And I couldn't do a damn thing."
Ah, seriously. No, but this is weird. What were you supposed to do?
"Of course not."
His pupils shook.
"What could you have done? It was an accident, right? Sudden shit happens."
I patted his shoulder.
"Even God or God's grandpa couldn't fix that."
I tilted my head.
"Is this kid still a minor?"
Big body, but not even an adult yet— can he handle accidents? Especially death in childbirth.
"You really think that?"
"Not my opinion. Just facts. Who said it's your fault?"
His body twitched hard. I stayed cool despite the surprise.
"Not your fault."
I shook my head.
"If some asshole says otherwise, punch 'em in the solar plexus. What happens after's on you. Live how you want. Anyway, I'm out."
Wasted time. Could've learned another dance move.
I tried to slip my arm free gently, but his grip tightened.
"What the hell."
Why won't he let go now?
Glancing back, there he was, tears streaming down.
"Driving me crazy."
Why are you crying, damn it? Hey! Cry all you want, just let me go!
"I wanted to save my sister."
Yeah, sure.
"If I had trillions, I'd have saved her."
Like you could earn trillions. You.
Whether he read my mind or not, he sniffled.
"I see. What happened to your sister..."
He pulled my arm. I resisted but ended up stepping closer.
"Was unavoidable."
Water droplets kept hitting the floor. Why the waterworks? I sighed automatically.
"Hang in there. Even if you can't."
"How?"
"No clue. How should I know?"
He suddenly chuckled.
"How'd you hang in there?"
I blinked in disbelief.
"Didn't. Too busy with my own shit."
He wiped his tears with his sleeve.
"Time marches on anyway. Stuff you can only do now is everywhere— why cling to the unavoidable and stay sad?"
By the way, for that reason, time with this guy was insanely precious.
"You joined this company to be an idol, so you know. Idols have it rough when they age."
So do it while young.
"So let me go already."
I tugged my arm again, but he still wouldn't release.
"Will my sister forgive me?"
Ah, for real.
Told you to let go and he won't listen. Damn. And what's with that question? Am I some shaman from Seongnam who reads the dead?
"You'd know her answer better. What do you think she'd say?"
"Don't do stupid shit, just debut..."
"You know it."
So do that then.
This time I finally freed my arm. He'd calmed; it slipped away easy as nothing.
Yeah. Bear boy. Let's go our separate ways.
"Hey."
"What now!"
"I'll keep your secret. You cried blood tears."
My steps halted. I turned and looked at him.
"Th-thanks?"
"If they find out, the company's shipping you to the hospital."
Yeah, probably.
"But on one condition. Be friends with me..."
He hesitated uncharacteristically. I glared at the bear. What do you want.
"Not asking for hush money, is he?"
Broke, and not paying anyway.
"Let's be friends."
My brow furrowed hard. What!
"Do kids these days all pull this?"
Friends my ass!
His eyes sparkled. Like a scene from a teen drama— I scratched my arm. Whole body itched.
"Be my friend!"
"We met at the company! What friends?"
"Friends only from school? Fine, be my colleague then."
Damn. Creeping me out.