Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Then Can I Do It Too?
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***
A soft rustle.
When Glacia took hold of my head, I had no idea what she was about to do.
Even in that moment... I vaguely thought it couldn't be happening.
I might have expected her to say something a little cheesy, telling me it was okay.
So by the time I realized what was happening, it had already happened.
“Hey, Glacia. What are you doing…?”
“Oh, my.”
Along with their two distinct voices in my ear….
My vision was filled with the pristine white of a Class A uniform.
As Glacia gently pulled my head forward, I was already pressed against her.
“Han Cheon-seong. Don’t think about anything right now.”
“...”
Glacia’s soft voice in my ear literally made it impossible for me to think at all.
...The temperature of her voice had changed so suddenly.
As bewildering and sudden as it was, her incredibly warm voice seemed to hold a kind of magic.
Slowly, I began to feel a gentle warmth on my face.
A soft and cozy warmth spread across the front of my body.
...And only then did I realize.
I was being held in Glacia’s arms.
Gently.
With a hand softly stroking my hair, I realized Glacia was embracing me.
“Just stay like this, comfortably. It’s okay to let your heart rest. Breathe slowly.”
...Her soft voice, like she was soothing a child, made me follow her words without even realizing it.
"..."
Leaning into the warm embrace that held me, I exhaled blankly.
“This way, the past becomes nothing at all. The pain, the hardships—for now, you can let them all go and be at peace."
As if spoken by someone other than Glacia, her words were so gentle, they captivated me like a spell.
After that.
Even I didn't know how long I spent feeling her warmth.
Perhaps a minute, or maybe only a few seconds...
Slowly.
As Glacia’s hands gently pushed me away, my senses belatedly returned.
“...Whenever I was having a hard time, my sister would always tell me this. Back then, I used to say I was fine, just like you, but even when I really was fine, my sister would always hold me like this and speak to me warmly. And strangely, all the pain would really disappear. The worries in my heart, the anxieties, everything vanished, and my mind became peaceful.”
As Glacia calmly explained why she had hugged me, I nodded blankly... unsure of what to say.
...I had simply enjoyed that moment in her arms.
The feeling of Glacia holding me was completely different from when she had clung to me before.
Moreover, her gentle voice, filled with affection rather than her usual indifferent, cold tone, was utterly unfamiliar. It felt as if Glacia's unexpected change had completely stolen my wits.
“...”
Even now, looking into her blue eyes, I found myself hesitating to speak.
I had to say something, but what should I say?
“...Thank you.”
In the end, the words that came out... were just something to say when I had nothing else.
Glacia had done it out of pure goodwill, and I could feel through her actions and her gaze that she had spoken those gentle words truly for my sake.
I couldn't bring myself to question her sudden action.
“It’s nothing. To be honest, this is the first time I’ve done this for someone, so... it’s a bit embarrassing. But I did it because I wanted you to get better even a little faster, Han Cheon-seong.”
As Glacia slowly created some distance and smiled faintly, our eyes met, and I suddenly found myself looking around.
There was a problem.
Glacia and I were not the only ones in this space.
‘Then from their perspective…’
Thinking this, I looked over and saw Karite staring at me.
Her red eyes were wide and trembling, and seeing her, a wave of embarrassment washed over me.
Heat rose from within me and instantly spread throughout my body.
Embarrassment, shyness, shame... any of those words would fit. But despite it all, I had to speak first.
“Karite, this is... you see.”
“......Yes. Han Cheon-seong.”
Seeing Karite staring at me blankly even as she responded, I quickly continued.
“This was... a purely kind gesture from Glacia for a friend.”
I tried to sugarcoat it somehow, but in the end, I just described Glacia’s action as kind.
Honestly... as I was saying it, I didn't even know why I was making excuses.
I was the one who had it done to me.
But it wasn't just Karite's reaction; seeing Adelia smiling faintly from a short distance away, I felt an overwhelming need to explain myself.
“So. Um, I hope you don't get any... strange misunderstandings.”
As I finished, I glanced at Glacia, who was nodding nonchalantly.
“Han Cheon-seong is right. It was a bit embarrassing to do something like that for my first friend, but my sister always did it for me, and I loved it, so I just did the same. I thought it would be the best thing to do for a friend.”
She spoke without the slightest hesitation. For a moment, I felt utterly speechless.
‘Really... she did that just because she thinks of me as a friend?’
...Honestly, I had thought Glacia might have other feelings for me, but her expression right now was unbelievably calm.
As if she truly meant what she said.
“...”
“...”
Even now, as she met my eyes, and as she looked at Karite and Adelia, Glacia seemed embarrassed but didn't change her story, acting as if she genuinely believed it.
“I see. So, Glacia, you did that because you think of Han Cheon-seong as a friend... is that it?”
When Karite spoke in a daze, I nodded awkwardly.
Frankly, I could guess how others saw us, and even I found the situation absurd.
‘But what can I say in this situation?’
I myself had just said that Glacia did it because she thought of me as a friend, and she was acting so composed.
Then I, too... had no choice but to show a corresponding attitude.
“Right. Glacia did it for a friend. Karite, I hope you don't get the wrong idea. And Glacia is... just a little peculiar.”
“Han Cheon-seong. Why am I peculiar?”
“Glacia. Your way of expressing yourself is, really. Peculiar. Please don't deny this.”
When Glacia shot back a reply, I answered with conviction, and she looked at me with a hint of dissatisfaction.
She seemed displeased with my words, but seeing her expression, I was truly dumbfounded.
‘How can she do something like that so casually?’
And then to spin it so nonchalantly under the guise of friendship. At this point, even my own feelings were in turmoil.
Yet, the funniest thing was that the Glacia I saw before me didn't seem to be lying.
She acted as if she genuinely hadn't considered how her actions would make the other person feel, as if she truly did it just because she thought of me as a friend.
“...”
As much as I found that side of Glacia a little vexing, ironically, I didn't dislike it.
Even though she had acted so suddenly, the feeling of being held by her just moments ago had left a strong impression on me.
Softness, warmth, tenderness, comfort... it was as if she had wholly embraced me just as I was.
...Then a thought suddenly occurred to me.
‘It’s a good thing I’m Glacia’s first friend. If it had been someone else…’
I unconsciously shook my head at the thought.
I didn't really want to imagine that.
“Hmm…. So students these days just hug each other and act like that between friends?”
When Adelia spoke with a wide grin, I didn't answer.
‘If I answer, she’ll definitely pick it apart.’
The mischief in Adelia’s eyes. I was now familiar enough with her playful smile to know that not responding was the best option.
“But I... I’m not so sure.”
When Karite spoke up, I forced an awkward smile.
“To be honest, Karite, I was quite flustered too. It’s really rare for someone to express friendly affection so directly, so I’m a little grateful to Glacia. And frankly, I’m quite embarrassed myself.”
As I honestly conveyed some of what I felt, Karite suddenly lifted her head and looked at me intently.
"..."
Her eyes, shining like red rubies, were fixed clearly on me.
I faltered under her unexpectedly intense gaze.
“Um, so, in that case... Han Cheon-seong.”
“Yeah. What is it?”
At her cautious tone, I did my best to feign composure. Karite looked at me again, her gaze unwavering.
Then, as if she had made a great decision, she nodded….
“Then can I do it too?”
“Huh…?”
I couldn’t comprehend what Karite was saying after hearing her next words.
“You said what Glacia did was an expression of affection between friends... right? So, can I do it too?”
Karite asked again with a very serious expression, and for a moment, my mind went blank.
...What Karite was saying right now was just too strange.
‘An expression of affection between friends…?’
No, I had certainly described it that way myself, but who in the world would express affection between friends like Glacia did?
And even the word "affection" seemed wrong now that I thought about it.
One could argue that friends of the opposite sex might hug playfully, but the way Glacia had just held me wasn't playful; she had embraced me as if to tenderly shelter me.
That was less affection and more... perhaps an overly expressive manifestation of Glacia's concern for a friend.
“Han Cheon-seong. You just said it. That it was an expression of affection between friends. So I want to... express it directly too, like Glacia.”
“Oh, my, my!”
At Adelia’s exaggerated reaction, I turned stiffly to look at Glacia.
‘Why on earth…’
Did I have to deal with the aftermath of all this? I couldn't understand it, nor did I want to.
I was merely the one who had it done to me.
A surprise attack.
No, I was just the victim of an unforeseen act.
As I looked at Glacia, her eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
“Huuu…”
I opened my mouth to answer, but a sigh escaped first, and I had to start again.
“Karite. This is about….”
With a sudden grab