귀여워
Instantly, dozens of thoughts flashed through my mind and vanished, only to repeat. At the same time, my body stiffened, and a slight cold sweat trickled down my back and forehead.
“Ha……”
A hollow laugh escaped me.
Despite having obtained a power that no one in the current world could rival, I felt bone-deep the extent of the horrific torment I had endured from that human named Song Yura, as my body's automatic reaction kicked in anew.
She would be a woman I'd never forget for the rest of my life, in the worst sense of the word.
Even until the moment I was buried in my grave in some distant future, the name Song Yura would undoubtedly remain etched in my mind.
Are you okay?
“Not at all. I'm completely fine.”
It was true.
My body had instinctively flinched, but that was only for a moment. The moment I realized I was far superior to that human named Song Yura, my body's rejection responses vanished in an instant.
Instead, my heart was pounding loudly.
'Already looking forward to it.'
Just imagining the expressions Song Yura would soon make as I take my revenge on her was enough to make the corners of my mouth twitch.
“Who is it?”
“I don't know. It must be Naengjeong's friend. She's pretty. Was the reason you rejected the phone number earlier her?”
It was an unpleasant misunderstanding, but it might not be entirely wrong.
It was true that I had given up a certain amount of normal love because of Song Yura.
“……”
I stopped what I was doing and looked toward the entrance. And since it was about to burst into laughter, I hurriedly covered my mouth with one hand.
'What the hell is this?'
It wasn't just anyone. It was Song Yura herself, and she was alone.
Although it had been six years since I last saw her, this was extremely rare. It was nothing short of a chance given by the gods.
“Hey, are you okay? You must have worked too hard. Should I buy you a coffee, noona?”
Seeing me cover my mouth with one hand, did Song Yura think I was in fear? She had already come right up next to me and gently stroked my back with a kind touch.
In reality, she was doing it because she was worried that I might say something strange.
At this, the good-natured Kim Jeongyeol opened his mouth.
“Aigoo, it seems Naengjeong is close to you. Coming all the way here even at this late hour after your shift ends. Nice to meet you, though I'm embarrassed, I'm the owner here.”
“Wow, the boss is really young! I'm pretty close to Naengjeong here? Not a girlfriend, though. More like childhood friends.”
With a giggle, saying "childhood friends" which used to disgust me in the past, now it was just amusing.
“Hey, can I go home now?”
“Of course. If we're talking about closing, the remaining staff can do it. More importantly, since Naengjeong works so well, I can always show this much consideration.”
“Naengjeong has a meticulous side, I know. I’ve been watching since middle school. Even though I didn’t have much time to study because of personal circumstances, I never dropped below the top 3 in the class.”
With this bland conversation, Song Yura naturally linked her arm with mine and we left the shop together.
The arm link was released at a point about 500 meters away from the Strawberry Pocha.
Precisely, in a dark, dreary alley where people wouldn't usually enter.
“Ah, damn. Tired.”
With a thud, Song Yura released my arm, but still glanced around just in case.
Of course, there was no one there.
I was also following her, so I didn't need to worry.
“Hey, are you deaf? Because you keep your mouth shut, I had to cover for you, damn it.”
“……”
What kind of crazy woman is this……!
Unlike Karina who was angry, I just looked at Song Yura with a blank expression. How is it that this woman can't change even after becoming an adult?
The saying "three-year habit until eighty" was not entirely wrong.
Since I had lived like this from childhood, there was no way I would change just because I became an adult.
“Huu.”
I took a small breath and ran my hand through my hair.
I needed to calm my mind.
Otherwise, I wouldn't have the resolve to snap the neck of the woman in front of me who made my stomach churn.
“Hey, if someone is speaking, you should answer. You idiot.”
Startled─
“Haa, even now.”
If I had been a little lax, I would have pulled out her tongue right then and there.
“Why did you come?”
I replied coldly, looking at Song Yura.
At school, she had dyed her hair brown, but now that she was a college student, she immediately dyed it blonde, which was noticeable.
But the cheap blonde suited her better than the brown.
It seemed to show Song Yura's rotten personality.
'Lin's blonde was so bright. Modern technology can't even reach natural blonde.'
Recalling Lin's blonde and the aquamarine that reminded me of clear eyes, the Song Yura in front of me looked even more pathetic.
“Why did I come? Because I wanted to borrow some money from noona, Naengjeong. Honestly, showing this kind of appearance to my friends is embarrassing, isn't it?”
This is such a funny woman! She can show this to me without any hesitation, but she can't show it to her friends?
She looks like a guy who got shot in the head.
“How much do you need?”
“Hmm, how much can you give?”
Song Yura's attitude, boldly extending her hand with an unhesitating expression, showed no hesitation. Rather, it seemed like this was the natural thing to do.
I nodded at that.
Perhaps I no longer needed to hold back.
“Ah, but first, shouldn't you return the money I lent you?”
“Eh? When did I borrow money from you again?”
“Yeah, if I add up all the money I took from middle school, it's at least over ten million easily. Give that first. Then I'll lend you money.”
At that moment, Song Yura's face twisted as if she was threatening.
“Hey, Han Naengjeong. You really went crazy this time? Because I came alone, you think I'm easy to deal with?”
“Actually, I'm easy. Even if I wasn't alone, it would have been a little troublesome, but there wouldn't have been any problem.”
“……What?”
With a swish, low thud─
Unlike Song Yura, I approached her with one step, still with a blank face.
「Startled!」
At this, Song Yura jumped in surprise and took three steps back.
“Hey! Damn, you really went crazy!”
“Is this desperation to overcome fear? Keep shouting. I'll show you exactly who will regret it.”
「Kugugugugugung!」
The suppressed killing aura exploded.
It was a killing aura different in sincerity and intensity from when dealing with traitors. It was one that even a normal person like Song Yura couldn't endure.
“Hi, hiiik!”
Thud─
With all strength gone, Song Yura sat on the ground, trembling. Looking at her like this, it suited her perfectly to be on her knees before a bug.
I bent down and whispered into her ear.
“Still, don't you remember?”
“Th, that…… heuk, heugh, kku, kkuruk……”
Unable to speak properly due to the killing aura, Song Yura's face was filled with fear, and her trembling hand frantically touched her neck.
I gently stroked her neck and said.
“Then I should remind you. Being kind to a fool who can't even remember after repeatedly borrowing money from me under the pretext of borrowing.”
“W, wrong……”
“『Lend me some money, I'll definitely pay back next time.』 When exactly is that next time?”
Tremble, tremble tremble─
“No, you don't remember? 『When did I borrow your money? I thought you were a bum like me, you orphan bastard.』”
“Ah, aaaaa……!”
Song Yura was on the verge of going insane. Seeing her bite her lip with a bit of foam, I withdrew the killing aura.
Master……
I wasn't being lenient.
If I killed her right now, it would be too much of a waste. After tormenting her for so long, Song Yura should also taste more pain.
“How is it? Have you calmed down now?”
Still, I had some expectation.
Even among human trash like Song Yura, there was room for redemption, and besides, she was not a mere child who couldn't distinguish right from wrong, but a proper adult with a driver's license.
“Ku, kurlak, kurlak kurlak!”
Song Yura, having escaped the killing aura, backed away on all fours with her trembling hand, then suddenly raised her phone.
“D, don't come closer! You, you damn! Do you think you'll be safe after doing this to me?”
“……”
“I, I have everything. Your embarrassing photos. And all the stories that could get you buried in society. Yeah, I did make you steal, but in the end, you were the one who stole, right?”
How, this……
Don't worry, Karina.
I did steal, but according to my parents' teachings, I acknowledged my fault late and repaid it with the money I earned myself.
I also knew I was not perfect and could be a nuisance to someone.
But there was one thing I was firm about.
I would act according to my beliefs, even if everyone declared it taboo.
It was something I did because I thought it was right.
“I appreciate your consistency, Song Yura.”
“D, don't come closer! Don't come closer! You damn, do you think all that data is only on this phone? I saved it all on my computer too. Saved it all, hwaaeng! So get out right now.”
It was really amusing.
She who had first taken my money, who had first tormented me, who had brought me to this dark place today, suddenly became the victim the moment the roles reversed.
If someone who didn't know the full story saw it, I would look like a criminal persecuting a frail woman.
But I didn't care about such gazes at all.
“If you want to spill it, spill it. You can spill the videos related to the theft too. It ended a long time ago without you knowing. Ah, and……”
I snatched Song Yura's phone and entered her gallery, checking my embarrassing videos one by one.
It was nearly three digits.
Some of them showed me in women's clothing, entering the women's restroom and being stepped on by them.
「Puhahahahaha! So funny, you bastard. Hey, crying? Wow, a guy like you crying over something like this. I am much braver than you.」
“It seems you were really enjoying it.”
I returned the phone to Song Yura and raised my own phone at the same time and said.
“I wish I could enjoy it like you.”
“W, wait……”
“Huh?”
“……I, I was wrong. I did wrong. From now on, I'll live well, so please forgive me just this once. I, I'll pay back the money too. Somehow, even if I sell my body, I'll pay!”
Song Yura was like a caterpillar, head down on the ground, trembling.
I looked at such Song Yura and said.
“I have a favorite saying. Do you know what it is? Well, you wouldn't know. After all, if you said such things in front of you, what torment would you have endured?”
“Hic, hui……”
“Spilled water can't be scooped up again. Even if you apologize now, it won't change the experiences and past I went through at all. Ah, there is one way, though.”
“……W, what is it. No, what is it! I'll do anything, anything!”
I smiled and said.
“Turning back time and starting over, simple, isn't it?”
At my words, Song Yura made a desperate expression and slammed her face on the ground and burst into tears.