Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Hurt Feelings
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***
“Karite. This is…”
*Grasp!*
Karite grabbed Han Cheon-seong’s hand as he was speaking, but she couldn’t bring herself to do anything more.
"..."
As Han Cheon-seong fell silent, staring at his captured hand, Karite’s body momentarily froze as well.
Their eyes met awkwardly. Karite cautiously let go of his hand and gave a strained smile.
“Han Cheon-seong. I… I’m your friend now, too. It’s hard for me to act like Glacia just did, but I wanted to be just as helpful…”
As if to cover up her sudden action, Karite’s cheeks reddened, and Han Cheon-seong couldn't help but nod awkwardly in response.
...And in that moment, seeing Karite like this, Han Cheon-seong felt it again.
The way she was blushing and feeling embarrassed in front of him was the reaction of a perfectly ordinary girl.
In contrast, Glacia, who would casually grab his hand or hug him just because they were friends, was the strange one.
“Just hearing you say that is more than enough, Karite. I’m truly grateful.”
When Han Cheon-seong replied in a slightly softer tone, Karite nodded, her face still flushed.
“…Yeah.”
She ducked her head completely, avoiding his gaze. Han Cheon-seong, in turn, looked over at Glacia.
He conveyed his thoughts with just a look.
*Don’t you feel anything seeing Karite act like this?* In response to his questioning gaze, Glacia met his eyes nonchalantly and narrowed hers.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
She replied as if she didn't like his stare, prompting Han Cheon-seong to let out a small laugh and shake his head.
“It’s nothing, really. I just thought you might learn something from watching Karite… That in a proper friendship, her behavior is the right way to act.”
As Han Cheon-seong subtly hinted at his meaning, Glacia blinked a few times before suddenly speaking.
“Han Cheon-seong.”
“…Yeah.”
Glacia’s cold tone made Han Cheon-seong flinch.
“Do you think I just hugged you out of the blue?”
Her completely direct question left Han Cheon-seong momentarily speechless, blinking his eyes.
Even after spending a fair amount of time with her, Glacia’s straightforward way of speaking was a constant surprise.
And if it surprised even him, her words must have been an even greater shock to those watching.
“No…”
“Cadets these days are certainly bold.”
Karite and Adelia, mouths agape, were in a state of continuous astonishment.
Belatedly aware of their gazes, Han Cheon-seong spoke very carefully.
“H-Hey, Glacia. I know you hugged me with good intentions. I’m definitely grateful for that. I don’t want to say what you did was wrong.”
“…Then why did you just say that to me?”
At the hint of disappointment in Glacia’s voice, Han Cheon-seong hesitated for a moment.
Countless replies came to mind.
*It’s weird for friends to act like that. Friends of the opposite sex need to be careful with their actions.* And so on…
Many other thoughts surfaced, but Han Cheon-seong focused on Glacia’s face as she looked at him.
‘She sounds this hurt just from what I said a moment ago.’
He instinctively knew that if he spoke as directly as she did, she would be deeply hurt.
So, thinking about how to phrase his words so she would accept them better, Han Cheon-seong began to speak slowly.
“Glacia. You and I… before we’re friends, we’re a man and a woman, right?”
He explained it simply so anyone could understand.
“Yes. What about it?”
“Then there are different kinds of relationships, even between friends. The most common type of friendship is between people of the same gender. Even then, it can be broken down further. The friendship between two men is quite different from one between two women. For example, even simple jokes are different between men and between women, right? You understand this, don't you?”
As he explained slowly, Han Cheon-seong inwardly thought his own words were somewhat ridiculous.
...How often would a day come when he’d have to explain the concept of friendship in such detail to someone? In fact, Glacia was the first person he ever felt the need to explain it to.
Right now, he was absurdly explaining the very concept of friendship to a friend.
“I know that. I understand that friendships between men and friendships between women are different.”
“Ri…ght. I see you know that well, Glacia.”
Replying calmly, Han Cheon-seong almost let another comment slip out.
*Do you really understand the concept of a friend?*
But with others present, he thought it might embarrass Glacia, so he carefully rephrased his words.
“In that case, I think a friendship between people of opposite sexes, like ours, is different from a typical friendship. The words and actions we should take are different, too. Of course, in the grand scheme of things, we’re still friends, but I think we need to be a little more careful about our actions. Again, I don’t think what you did was wrong, Glacia. It’s just that, with how others might see it, they could get the wrong idea about us.”
As Han Cheon-seong explained the situation in detail with the most tactful expression he could manage, Glacia pressed her lips together and said nothing.
"..."
She simply stared at him with an inscrutable expression.
From their exchange, the other two could grasp the nature of their relationship.
—Friends.
They were just friends who were still awkward with each other.
Karite let out a sigh of relief, realizing their relationship wasn't as serious as she had imagined. Adelia, on the other hand, watched them with a faint smile.
It was a bright smile, as if she found the cadets and their conversation rather cute.
“Han Cheon-seong. I think… I can understand, to some extent.”
When Glacia finally spoke after a moment of thought, Han Cheon-seong beamed.
“Really? That’s a relief. Thank you so much for taking my words well.”
It was a smile of relief, thinking there would be no more embarrassing situations like the one before, but that smile didn't last long.
Glacia looked at Han Cheon-seong and immediately continued in a peculiar tone.
“But Han Cheon-seong. You told me it was okay.”
“…Huh?”
Han Cheon-seong’s blank question at her unexpected words startled the two onlookers as well.
...They had assumed Glacia would simply accept his explanation, but her tone suggested otherwise.
It was as if she had more to say. Seeing their expressions, Glacia let out a rare, soft sigh.
“Haa…”
At the sudden sigh, Han Cheon-seong gulped.
He had thought he’d handled it well with the right words and a good approach, but the situation felt like it was taking an even stranger turn.
And once again, a strange alarm bell rang in his chest.
*Something, I don't know what, but something is going terribly wrong.*
A conversation he thought would end amicably was now filled with a strange sense of crisis.
Han Cheon-seong quickly spoke, his tone more urgent than before.
“W-Wait a minute! Glacia.”
“…What.”
When Glacia replied with a face that was, to anyone, clearly cold, Han Cheon-seong immediately shot up from his seat.
“Can we talk outside for a moment? I think having this kind of private conversation with other people around is awkward for both of us.”
He was obviously conscious of Karite and Adelia. Glacia’s eyes clouded over slightly before she nodded.
“Fine. I think that’s for the best.”
As their opinions aligned for once, Han Cheon-seong quickly looked at the other two.
“Instructor Adelia, I’ll be right back after a quick talk with Glacia.”
“You can just talk in here.”
Adelia shamelessly suggested they continue their conversation, but Han Cheon-seong just smiled awkwardly and shook his head.
“We’ll just be talking right outside the door. You don’t need to worry.”
“Well… alright, then.”
As she reluctantly nodded, Han Cheon-seong turned to Karite.
“I’ll wait here, Han Cheon-seong.”
“…Thanks, Karite.”
With Han Cheon-seong’s reply, Glacia nonchalantly started walking.
*Click.*
*Thud…*
Han Cheon-seong followed her out of the infirmary and immediately closed the door behind him.
*Screech!*
With the door shut, the two stood facing each other. Han Cheon-seong looked at Glacia with an anxious gaze.
“Glacia. What did you mean when you said I told you it was okay?”
“What do you think I meant? It means exactly what I said.”
Glacia’s expression grew even colder after hearing his question.
Her indifferent eyes became icier, and she even averted her gaze slightly, as if his questioning displeased her.
Clearly sensing the ominous atmosphere, Han Cheon-seong had no choice but to ask even more cautiously.
“…Glacia, by any chance, did I misspeak?”
“No, it wasn't a slip of the tongue.”
Her attitude screamed that she was sulking. Han Cheon-seong briefly wracked his brain, but nothing immediately came to mind.
Yet the alarm in his chest grew louder.
*There’s definitely a reason Glacia is acting like this.* He knew that much, but he felt like he had no idea what the reason was.
“Glacia, I’m really sorry, but… could you just tell me directly? About why I said it was okay.”
At his direct question, Glacia glanced at him as if glaring, then nodded reluctantly.
“Fine. But you… you really don’t remember, do you?”
Her disappointed tone sounded peculiar to Han Cheon-seong’s ears.
‘What is it…?’
What could he have possibly said to make Glacia act so strangely?
The more he looked at her, the more confused he felt.
Facing him, Glacia slowly parted her lips.
“…Don’t do it to others.”
“Huh…?”
Despite Han Cheon-seong’s bewildered expression at her unexpected words, Glacia continued without hesitation.
“It’s okay for you to be like this with me. But I hope you don’t do it to others.”
Hearing her words, Han Cheon-seong flinched. In contrast to her cold voice, the content of her words was strangely familiar.
Yet he wore a puzzled expression, as if the memory was just out of reach. Glacia’s face hardened even more as she continued.
“Because I can accept you, but others can’t.”
And as she finished speaking, Han Cheon-seong unknowingly realized.
…He knew what those words were. It was impossible for him not to know.
Because those were his own words. Words he had said to her.
Words he had spoken while looking directly at Glacia.
And now, as if she remembered every last syllable, Glacia had recited them back to him without a single mistake.
Seeing Han Cheon-seong’s dazed expression, Glacia let out a small breath and spoke.
“Han Cheon-seong. Do you understand now?”
“…Yeah. I get it.”
As Han Cheon-seong replied awkwardly, Glacia stared intently at him.
“I remember everything you said to me. The words that it was okay. And the words that it was okay for me to act that way only with you.”
At her following words, Han Cheon-seong was momentarily speechless.
"That's why I… acted that way towards you."
*Thump.*
The single phrase Glacia uttered was filled with hurt.