Chapter 90
Chapter 90
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Because I Want To, Because I Care
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, Saturday.
Morning had already passed, and it was nearly noon. My whole body ached as I walked to the café where we were supposed to meet.
“I slept so much, but it doesn't even feel like I slept.”
The words escaped my lips, but my steps remained heavy.
It was the weekend, so I had woken up much later than usual. I must have slept for nearly ten hours.
Yet, the accumulated fatigue in my body didn’t feel like it had been fully relieved.
I’d felt the strain on my body yesterday, but the aftereffects seemed to hit me even harder today.
*This isn't good.*
I couldn't afford to be neglectful while dealing with Karite today.
And yet, my limbs felt heavy. It was as if my body was pleading with me, telling me that a short rest wasn't enough to recover.
That it needed more rest…
A sigh escaped me as I grew more alert to the feeling.
“Still, just hold on a little longer…”
Muttering the small wish, I lightly tapped my own cheek.
Besides, I couldn't meet Karite in this state of mind.
With a half-hearted attitude, I might make a mistake. As the one who needed to care for Karite, I absolutely could not show any weakness.
With that, I steeled my resolve as I opened the door to the café, which was now in sight.
*Jingle.*
With the faint ring of a bell, I saw the numerous students who had taken their seats in the café for the weekend.
Although this was a café that only this year’s entering students could use, the place was so packed it felt like it would burst.
*Step.*
As I walked between the tables, I naturally glanced around.
*Where could Karite be?*
I didn't have to walk far before I found her.
She just stood out.
It was truly… strange how a person alone could stand out more than a group of people. I didn't know if it was just me, but finding Karite was all too easy.
*A glance. A peek.*
The people around her seemed to be keeping their distance, staring at her as if she were a curiosity, which seemed to draw even more attention.
*Step.*
As I walked toward her, their gazes started to bother me.
*I guess they’re looking at her that way because of her aura.*
Even so, did they really have to stare like that?
Karite, who looked pitiful as she stared down at the table as if burdened by their gazes… made my own heart feel uneasy for some reason.
I couldn’t deny that Karite had a strange atmosphere about her, but there were reasons for it.
“Karite.”
As I called her name and naturally took the seat across from her, Karite blankly lifted her head.
“…Han Cheon-seong.”
She called my name as soon as she saw me, and for a moment, I flinched as our eyes met.
*She looks even worse.*
Karite’s condition seemed worse now than when I had run into her two days ago.
Her gloomy complexion, which marred her beauty, her completely sunken expression, and her lifeless eyes all made her appear even darker.
“So, have you ordered yet?”
Despite this, I spoke nonchalantly.
“No… not yet.”
“Really? Then I’ll order. What kind of dessert do you like, Karite?”
Last time was our first meeting, so we had awkwardly drunk kiwi lattes, but today, being our second meeting, I spoke to her a bit more warmly.
“…Anything.”
As she continued to respond in a subdued voice, I sighed inwardly and picked up the menu that was lying on the table.
I opened the menu and presented it to her so she could see it easily.
“Not just anything. Let’s look at the menu a bit more before we order. I like apple pie. Do you have a favorite fruit or anything? The fruit desserts here are quite good, so you can look forward to it.”
I forced myself to speak brightly.
My own physical condition wasn't great right now, but I couldn't let Karite's gloom drag down my mood as well. On the contrary, the darker she became, the more brightly I had to speak to lead the atmosphere.
“……”
Even as I continued to talk, Karite just stared at me blankly.
She wasn’t even looking at the menu I had presented to her so nicely. Instead, she looked more at me, her lips hesitating.
…I couldn't fully understand why she was acting this way.
*Is she really having a hard time?*
Compared to my current physical struggles, Karite was suffering from something akin to a chronic mental illness. One that she had been afflicted with for many years, without even knowing the cause.
So, I didn't rush Karite as she stared back at me.
I knew from experience that the less peace of mind one has, the more they need someone to wait by their side.
As I met her gaze without avoiding it, Karite spoke very cautiously.
“Then I’ll have the apple pie too…”
“Really? I guess we have similar tastes in dessert. What would you like to drink?”
As I smiled while responding, Karite finally turned her eyes to the menu.
When I flipped the menu to the drinks section, Karite blinked faintly.
“I’ll have the strawberry latte.”
“Then I’ll have the strawberry latte too. I’ll go order right away.”
As soon as we decided on the menu, I stood up again. I was about to go order, but—
“Han Cheon-seong.”
“Yes?”
At the unexpected call, I looked at her, wondering if there was something else she wanted to order.
“…Let’s go together.”
When Karite stood up to follow me, I simply accepted it.
As we walked to the counter with our different footsteps, I reviewed what I needed to do today.
*After chatting at the café, I should take her to a park or walk around various places to help lift her spirits.*
Until 9 o’clock, when I had training with Kalli, I planned to focus entirely on Karite.
“Are you… not bothered at all?”
“Not bothered? By what?”
At her question, I turned my head to see Karite looking at me with curiosity before shaking her head.
“It’s nothing.”
I wondered what she meant, but we quickly finished ordering at the counter.
After a short wait, we were able to return to our seats with a tray carrying our ordered desserts and drinks.
*Clink.*
I first handed the apple pie from the tray to Karite before taking my own portion.
I took a sip of my strawberry latte.
Even in that moment, I felt an intense gaze on me.
In fact, I had felt eyes on me when we were going to order, while we were ordering, and even now, as we sat together.
Other students were looking at me, but the main source of the gaze was Karite.
*Does she have something to say?*
Thinking so, I met her gaze, but she immediately looked away and picked up her strawberry latte, which also felt very strange.
*It doesn’t seem like she feels repulsed by me.*
Karite's attitude felt peculiar, even compared to two days ago.
“Karite. Are you still feeling a bit anxious right now?”
Thinking it was about time, I spoke up.
“Right now… it’s much better.”
“So you were anxious before then.”
“Yes. But… this much is pretty normal for me now.”
As she gently set down her straw and replied, I momentarily struggled with how to answer.
I knew that Karite was struggling mentally.
But the ways to help her right now were ambiguous. She tried to dismiss her current struggles as normal, but I couldn't treat her nonchalantly as she suggested.
Still, I wondered if I should take it lightly or show more concern. A needless worry arose.
However, after a brief moment of thought, I was able to speak.
“Even if it’s normal, what’s hard is still hard.”
The answer I chose was to show a little more concern.
That didn't mean I could treat her lightly. I couldn't claim to know how much she was suffering.
“…”
When Karite flinched for a moment, I calmly and naturally began to cut my apple pie with a knife.
*Munch.*
I picked up a small piece of apple pie with my fork and brought it to my mouth. The rich flavor of the fruit filling naturally brought a smile to my face.
“This is delicious.”
“…Is it good?”
“Yeah. It’s really good.”
But I had no intention of being overly serious with Karite either. While I was conscious of her, I planned to treat her as normally as possible.
I intended to be the one to extend a hand first, so she could treat me as comfortably as she would any other student in her class.
*Scrape.*
Then, I saw Karite pick up her knife.
She cut her apple pie just as I had and brought it to her mouth. After tasting it, she nodded.
“…It is good.”
“Right? The desserts here are quite tasty.”
As we continued our conversation like this, I felt more at ease than when I had first seen Karite today.
The more we talked, the more her face seemed to brighten, if only a little.
*She’s willing to talk to me.*
It wasn't that difficult to find common ground with her. So, if I needed to, I could certainly match her pace.
More than anything, it was a huge relief that Karite wasn't rejecting conversation with me.
…
Time passed as we exchanged light conversation and savored the apple pie.
*Scrape.*
Just as I was about to bring the last piece of apple pie to my mouth.
“Han Cheon-seong.”
At the unexpected call, I responded immediately.
“Yeah, Karite.”
“…How can you treat me so normally?”
At her words, I put down the piece of apple pie I was about to eat.
Her eyes were even cloudy as she asked me, and she looked utterly serious.
“…”
Her light blue hair was slightly disheveled, and through it, her reddish eyes stared at me.
Gently setting down my fork, I found myself giving a slightly different answer.
“Karite. Is it strange how I treat you?”
“To be honest, yes. Even students in my own class don’t try to approach me. But you’re from a different class, and you approached me the first time you saw me. I’ve thought about it for two days, but I still don’t know why. Why you’re so kind to me, and why you’re even meeting with me like this… all of it.”
Karite spoke calmly, but she didn’t hide the anxious tremor in her eyes.
And that gaze seemed to be searching for a proper answer.
“…”
So, rather than giving an immediate response, I met her eyes and thought again.
*She has a point.*
I understood what Karite was saying. But her words themselves sounded strange. As if there had to be a reason for me to approach her and be so kind.
In truth, I did have a reason for associating with Karite right now.
—*Because I can’t just let someone die right in front of me.*
That reason was essentially the entirety of why I was meeting Karite, but I couldn't reveal it just like that.
“Is it… difficult to answer?”
But as Karite’s eyes wavered, as if she had taken my hesitation in a different way, I stopped thinking and opened my mouth.
“Because I want to. Because I care about you.”
I spat out the words as if I had heard them from someone else. Coincidentally, in this moment, those were the only words that came to mind.
“…!”
Seeing Karite’s eyes widen… I belatedly realized I might have misspoken, but it was too late to take it back.
“Is that not enough?”
So, I pushed forward.
*Even if it causes a misunderstanding, it can’t be helped.*
Even if I seemed strange to her, I had to create a reason for my persistence.
I couldn’t just tell her she was going to die next week, and saying I was meeting her out of simple concern would also be strange. For now, to give Karite a reason she could accept… those were the only words I had.
“……”
Seeing Karite avert her gaze and hesitate with her lips, I sighed inwardly.
It seemed I had caused a major misunderstanding.
*But it can’t be helped.*
As I thought this, I found myself glancing around.
Surely, there wouldn't be a ridiculous repeat of last time, like running into Kalli.
“…Ah.”
I saw Luna, staring at me with a shocked expression.
…And if Luna was in the café, it meant that Millia was somewhere nearby.