Chapter 101
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 101 - How to Face Unexpected Situations (6)
Liberate the Tower? That’s ridiculous. I shook my head at the uncomfortable doctrine and said.
“That’s such a strange religion.”
“Right? But it was hard to refuse, so I received a flyer…”
“Huh?!”
“They even stole my number… They called to confirm.”
I spoke seriously to Min Jaeyoon, who was feeling embarrassed.
“Let’s block the number.”
Everyone agreed.
I kindly blocked the pseudo-cult’s number instead.
…Anyway, I don’t know if Min Jaeyoon is soft or firm.
***
[Story Fragment collected!]
[Currently collected Story Fragment: 9]
– Academy’s Genius Commander: 3
– ???? ??? ???? ?? (locked): 6
[Story Fragment/Unconfirmed]
Even if one is of the blood of an awakener, they don’t inherit 100% of the awakening aptitude. Although it’s highly likely that it will be inherited genetically, there were many children who were born without the qualities of an awakener.
That is why in the middle school near where many awakeners live, an environment is created where young awakeners and non-awakeners are mixed together.
In such an environment, the admiration and jealousy directed at the naturally isolated Na Yuri, who was exceptionally outstanding.
At that time, the person who approached her alone was Choi Gyuri. She instantly became Na Yuri’s only and most precious friend.
That’s why there is a memory that remains as regret.
If there is a moment that Na Yuri regrets the most in her life, it will definitely be that moment.
[This is your friend? Hmm… cute.]
The moment when Na Yuhan became interested in her friend, Choi Gyuri.
Na Yuri tried her best to avoid meeting Choi Gyuri with her prodigal older brother, Na Yuhan. However, it seemed that this point actually piqued Na Yuhan’s interest as he was quick-witted.
At a time when it couldn’t have been a coincidence, Na Yuhan appeared in front of Choi Gyuri as if it were a coincidence.
Na Yuri was wary of him, yet he ignored her and just looked at Choi Gyuri.
Choi Gyuri smiled brightly.
[Hello, I’m Choi Gyuri!]
It was during an exam period in April, when cherry blossoms were fluttering in the wind. She smiled innocently among the fluttering cherry blossoms, like an unstained cherry blossom.
Na Yuhan, who saw her smile, seemed slightly embarrassed and blushed.
[…I’m Na Yuhan.]
Of course, to Na Yuri, it seemed like he was pretending to be in love. It was so funny.
After that, Na Yuhan started hanging around them, or Choi Gyuri to be exact.
[What are you talking about? If you’re just trying to play with Gyuri—]
[That’s not true.]
Na Yuhan acted as if he was really, really in love. Surprisingly, he stopped all the shameless acts he had been committing.
He cut ties with his numerous lovers and the gangsters he used to hang out with.
As if it had been a moment of wandering, Choi Gyuri, who had been nervous at first and wary of Na Yuhan, gradually let her guard down.
[Your brother, he seems like a better person than I thought…!]
This may have been due to Na Yuhan’s dramatic change in attitude, who had been particularly friendly to Choi Gyuri.
[Do you really… like Miss Gyuri?]
[Yeah.]
She couldn’t believe it, but yes. It seemed like Na Yuhan, her older brother, really loved Choi Gyuri.
At least, at that moment, Na Yuri believed it.
“Yuhan!”
[Oh, Gyuri is here? How was your day?]
[I made plans to go to the movie theater with Yuri and some other friends! They’re the first people I’ve talked to, and they seem like good kids!]
[…Gyuri, I don’t think that’s a good choice.]
However, as Choi Gyuri became closer to Na Yuhan, Na Yuri felt an inexplicable anxiety.
Something indescribable intuition whispered to her.
[I worry about Gyuri, but does Gyuri hate me?]
[No, that’s not it…]
[Then you should listen to me. Don’t be friends with those guys. You too, Yuri.]
[…Why should we listen to you?]
[Yuri, don’t be like that. He’s worried about us, you know!]
Na Yuhan gradually narrowed down Choi Gyuri’s options.
He hated her meeting other people, having different opinions, and being too distant from him.
Na Yuhan eventually started acting like Choi Gyuri was his property.
On that note, his gaze towards her seemed to be the most lovable thing in the world, and Na Yuri was so confused.
[Gyuri, I don’t think that’s it.]
[Yes, yes!]
[Gyuri. You don’t like me? Is that why you acted like that?]
[No, that’s not it—]
[Then do as I say. It’s all for your own good.]
As time passed, Choi Gyuri began to check Na Yuhan’s mood more often.
She would blush in front of him, yet whenever a stranger greeted her, she would quickly turn pale and check Na Yuhan’s mood.
Na Yuri found that so… so strange.
[Miss Gyuri. Wouldn’t it be better to break up with Na Yuhan?]
[Why? Your brother has become a good person now.]
[But it seems like he keeps trying to control you.]
[What are you talking about?]
Choi Gyuri frowned at Na Yuri’s words as if she was offended. Her vision, clouded by love, was already blank.
[He doesn’t let you see other people, and he always demands that you be with him…]
[…You’re jealous because I took your brother away from you?]
[Huh?]
[But Yuhan is mine. So don’t try to separate me from my brother under the pretext of advice.]
Only then did Na Yuri realize that something was wrong. She had to stop Na Yuhan.
However, Na Yuri was an incredibly clumsy person compared to Na Yuhan.
[Stop harassing Miss Gyuri!]
[I don’t know what you’re talking about. We’re in love. Gyuri gives me everything, and I own Gyuri.]
[That’s… weird!]
[What’s weird? There are such forms of love in the world.]
[If you won’t stop, I’ll force you to stop!]
[Not sure… Ah, Gyuri. Come on.]
Na Yuhan greeted Choi Gyuri as if he had been waiting for her during the argument. And she slapped Na Yuri’s cheek in anger.
[What are you doing!]
[…Miss Gyuri, this is for your—]
[If you do this again, I’ll cut you off! Got it?!]
[…[
When Na Yuri heard those words, she became scared. Choi Gyuri, who had changed so much, and this situation.
But what she feared the most was that Choi Gyuri’s words might actually come true.
Choi Gyuri was Na Yuri’s only friend whom she cherished. She was the first affectionate child who approached her at the school she entered with a pounding heart.
She was afraid of losing her, so she kept her mouth shut.
Na Yuri regretted that moment for the second time in her life.
She hated herself for making such a weak decision.
[You haven’t been coming to school lately. The teacher is worried. Of course, I am too.]
Choi Gyuri became quieter and quieter, interacted less with Na Yuri, and even came to school less often.
Despite that, Na Yuri wanted to continue her relationship with Choi Gyuri, so she kept sending messages.
Over and over.
[Your brother told me not to contact you anymore.]
[Stop sending messages.]
Until Choi Gyuri cut the thread of their relationship first.
And that night. Choi Gyuri committed suicide.
“Did you hear? Choi Gyuri committed suicide at school.”
“Poor thing… Why did she commit suicide all of a sudden?”
“Isn’t it because of Na Yuhan? She became a little strange after meeting that kid.”
The students’ chatter was loud.
Na Yuri felt that all those moments were unrealistic.
The white chrysanthemums on Choi Gyuri’s desk, the teacher’s words announcing her death, and the picture of her memorial tablet at the funeral home where she finally arrived.
None of it felt real.
She came to her senses only after her hated brother put a hand on her shoulder.
He whispered.
[Are you hurt?]
At that moment, Na Yuri felt her eyes go blank.
When she came to her senses, Na Yuhan was rolling around in front of her, covered in blood. He was still laughing loudly.
[No matter how much you hate me, no matter how much you try to kill me, this one thing won’t change.]
He lovingly caressed the wounds he got because he tried to die with Choi Gyuri.
[Gyuri chose me. She finally gave me everything. Even death! This is the completion of our love.]
Since that day, Na Yuri has hated Na Yuhan the most in the world.
***
Na Yuri frowned at the dream she had from the past that she hadn’t had in a long time and sat up.
Whenever she had this dream, she would wake up at dawn and stay up all night.
She brushed the hair stuck to Kang Nahyun’s cheek, who was lying next to her and sleeping with her.
“…I will never let that happen this time.”
She will never, this time, fail to protect her friend.
Na Yuri knows that Kang Nahyun is hiding a secret.
However, I wish you didn’t hide anything from me.
I wish you could rely on me completely, trust me, and lean on me.
“So… please trust me.”
Na Yuri gently stroked Kang Nahyun’s cheek with such a wish.
In a room beautifully bathed in moonlight, she stroked her as if she was touching a precious treasure, and carefully moved her body, putting on her slippers, and went out of the room, as if she didn’t want to wake everyone up.
And the moment she left, Kang Nahyun’s eyes carefully opened.
***
…Did she wake up in the middle of the night?
I tossed and turned for no reason, recalling Na Yuri’s earnest voice and gentle stroking that I had somehow heard.
Trust her, she says. I already trust her.
But Na Yuri might think that I, who has many secrets, can’t trust her.
…Because I’m acting in front of Na Yuri.
Maybe it was because my thoughts were complicated, but I couldn’t sleep.
I quietly got up from my seat and put on my slippers, thinking that she might go out to the hallway to catch fresh air.
The well-maintained white door opened gently.
I opened the window in the hallway and took a breath of the cold outside air.
Then I felt like I was coming to my senses a little.
“…Miss Nahyun?”
Na Yuri’s voice was heard from below, as if she had noticed me.
“Yuri?”
She looked up at me through a hole hidden by well-maintained green trees, as she had been walking in the garden.
She looked at me and asked,
“Are you having trouble sleeping?”
“Yeah. Can I walk with you for a bit?”
“Of course! I’ll go up.”
She soon came up to where I was.
Na Yuri and I walked slowly through the quiet night garden together.
Perhaps it was because of the magic of the night, but unlike during the day, there wasn’t much conversation between us.
I could only vaguely hear the sound of the warm wind shaking the leaves.
“…There’s a bench if you walk a bit. Would you like to rest there?”
“Yeah. I’d love to.”
We walked in silence and sat down side by side on a neatly maintained bench.
Still, no words were exchanged between us.
I was just blankly looking at the scenery of the night garden, and Na Yuri was following me, looking ahead and remaining silent.
We were calm and quiet.
She was the one who broke that silence.
“…Miss Nahyun, do you remember the promise we made before?”
“Yeah. you said you’d watch to see if Yuhan was really a bad person or not, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
Na Yuri was silent for a moment and then carefully opened her mouth.
“After examining him, I decided that the current Na Yuhan could improve. I decided to watch.”
“Really? That’s a relief.”
“Yes.”
I smiled at her.
She smiled gently, following me.
Perhaps Na Yuri would never tell me that Na Yuhan was a possessed person.
There was a thin lie flowing between us toward each other.
Suddenly, I thought that it was very sad.
Was that why?
“Yuri.”
“Yes?”
“What if I… am not as kind and affectionate as you think?”
The reason I asked her that question somewhat impulsively was because.
“Don’t worry. The Miss Nahyun I’ve seen is a really affectionate person.”
I felt suffocated by those words
.
No. The me you see is me, wearing a fake shell called sunshine character.
That’s why I’m afraid that you’ll turn away from me when I show you my true self.
Because you’ve already become my precious person.
But,
“…What if that’s not all?”
“…?”
“What if I… was pretending to be good and deceiving you?”