Chapter 160
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Please Take Good Care of Seon-woo
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My mistake was believing that things would sort themselves out just because I was being cautious.
I had a decent commute to school.
That meant a long time spent going back and forth.
I'd run into classmates on the subway, and sometimes I'd chat with those heading the same way on the walk home.
Even that time seemed to bother Han Su-ah.
She buried her face against my chest and looked up at me, speaking casually.
"Move into my place. Let's live together."
"...Huh?"
I'd thought this would be tricky.
Her apartment was huge for one person and plenty big for two.
But I hadn't planned on shacking up back then.
"I bought an apartment."
"..."
"Six hundred meters from Korea University's north gate. Forty pyeong."
Her decisiveness was beyond anything I'd imagined.
She'd snapped up a forty-pyeong place right next to campus.
Han Su-ah came from money, and she earned a ton on her own too.
It must've felt like casual shopping to her.
In the end, refusing wasn't an option.
"...Okay."
"Hee hee."
She buried her face again, shoulders shaking as she pictured our life together.
"...How many are left?"
She mumbled the question.
I checked the small box by the bed.
"Two."
...What the hell? I swear I bought them just the other day.
Was this usage rate normal?
"Then let's use these two up first."
Han Su-ah reached out and snatched a silver packet.
- Rip.
The plastic tore, and we used up the last two without holding back.
After that day, my address changed to the forty-pyeong apartment in front of school.
Dreamy cohabitation with my lover...
Everyone would envy it...
But living together meant every move I made was under her watchful eye.
School was six hundred meters away. Her office was four hundred.
I'd thought the closeness would ease her clinginess. It only made it worse.
Conversations with female classmates? Forget it.
She even interfered with group projects, forcing me to stick to male teammates.
I quit my clubs.
I had to report my daily schedule and predicted routes every night in bed.
Resentment started building, but as it was my first relationship, I didn't realize it was abnormal.
I figured this was just how love worked.
I'd get mad. She'd apologize and cling to me.
As the cycle repeated and I started showing signs of exhaustion, she made a strange proposal.
"Give me your phone for a sec?"
"...Sure."
I handed it over without protest. No point refusing.
Nothing was on it anyway, but the moment I refused, her eyes would well up, and she'd whine about why I wouldn't show her. I'd learned that much.
Better than the emotional drain.
I wanted to check her location and have some peace of mind.
Han Su-ah installed something and smiled.
"...Installed a location-sharing app. Don't you worry about me doing something weird either?"
I wasn't worried at all.
"...Yeah, super worried."
In the end, my smartphone got some shady location-tracking app.
Not in any app store.
Considering her IT company job, it was probably made there.
A few days later.
It was a day I went for cafeteria food.
I was poking at it when...
"Seon-woo~"
Someone scooped food onto a plate and approached.
It was Jang Na-hyun.
"Mind if I sit here?"
She pulled out the chair opposite me and plopped down before I could answer.
Giggling from her friends at the back table reached my ears.
This felt awkward.
Just because Han Su-ah wasn't watching didn't mean I was off the hook.
"Eating alone sucks."
Jang Na-hyun pushed side dishes my way with a smile.
"This is good. Wanna share the donkatsu...?"
I slammed my spoon down loudly.
"Sorry."
"Huh?"
"Eat somewhere else. Or I can go."
"...What?"
Her eyes shook, caught off guard.
Gazes started turning our way.
"...I'll go."
I left just like that.
Threw out the food I'd barely touched.
Headed straight back to the lecture hall and sat down.
That's when it happened.
[Noona♥]: Love you Seon-woo so grateful always
"..."
What to say?
She didn't text like this often.
She'd whispered love plenty, but the timing...
I stared blankly at my phone.
No way.
I'm overthinking.
She said it was just a normal sharing app.
I shook my head.
[Me]: Me too.
I love you. Obviously.
After sending the message.
The back door burst open.
A male classmate I got along with came in.
He dropped his bag next to me.
One of the few safe guys who'd passed Han Su-ah's scrutiny.
"...Seon-woo, what laptop you using?"
He frowned and pointed at my desk.
Mine was a used one from freshman year.
It sounded like a plane taking off every boot-up.
It was on its last legs.
"Mine's ancient."
"Ugh... Mine broke yesterday."
He ruffled his hair with a sigh.
Me too, soon enough.
"Got assignments, driving me nuts."
"Mine's dying too. Gotta buy one."
"Dude, wanna get matching ones? Discount maybe?"
"Maybe."
We chatted specs and prices through class.
When it ended, we parted with a casual wave.
After a few more classes, I headed home.
Or rather, Han Su-ah's place.
The door opened.
A delicious smell hit me right away.
"You're back?"
Han Su-ah came to greet me at the entrance, apron on.
"Yeah."
She naturally wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me.
Mandatory greeting after I got back.
As our lips parted, she patted my butt and asked.
"Dinner first?"
"Yeah, sounds good."
I headed to the table to drop my bag.
That's when I saw it.
A massive box on the table.
A laptop.
Recognizable from the brand logo.
A high-end new model, too.
"...What's this?"
"Oh... yeah... Company had an extra, so I brought it."
She glanced away from my eyes and nudged the box.
"You want it? Total surplus. Barely used. Yours looks crappy."
"..."
The second I mentioned needing a laptop.
A brand-new one appeared.
"...You sure it's okay if I don't?"
"Huh? No... I mean..."
She fumbled for words, lips twitching.
Panicked Han Su-ah.
I looked at her frozen form and knew for sure.
"I'll take it. Thanks."
"Oh... good! It's a great one."
That turned suspicion into certainty.
Next morning.
I sought out the friend from yesterday's lecture hall chat.
Corner of the computer engineering lab.
"Weren't we buying together? What's this?"
He teased with a grin.
I pulled up a chair and sat right next to him without answering.
Glanced around, then slid my phone and laptop toward him.
"You can reverse-engineer apps, right?"
"Yeah? Shoot."
Reverse-engineering: tearing into an app to analyze its functions.
I turned the phone and laptop toward him.
"This."
I pointed to the app Han Su-ah installed.
"Analyze it."
"...Okay."
Time passed.
"So what's this?"
"Couple location-sharing app."
"...Ah."
He knew Han Su-ah by face.
He got the vibe and continued quietly.
But his expression hardened more and more.
Sweat beading on his forehead.
I waited patiently.
A bit later, he pushed his chair back and stretched.
His voice was overly cheerful.
"No big deal."
"Oh, really?"
But his face was deadly serious.
His eyes screamed no.
The lab PC's notepad opened.
[Your girlfriend gave you this? Just nod, don't speak.]
I nodded.
His fingers flew.
But his mouth said something else.
"Yeah, just a couple app? Why analyze?"
[Dude, it grabs location PLUS mic, camera, keyboard inputs. Everything.]
I played along casually.
"Battery drains fast."
"Battery? Yeah... could be. Nothing much."
[Didn't notice at first, but deeper I go, weirder it gets. Spyware level. Not normal.]
And the last line made my spine chill.
[Our convo right now? Being recorded live and sent to a server.]
Conversation ended.
I barely remember getting home.
I sat silently at the desk, waiting for her.
What more could I have done?
What?
Under the guise of love, I'd given up so much.
Relationships, freedom.
I endured it all.
I won't detail everything, but countless incidents.
Location sharing?
I even tried understanding that.
But this? No.
Wiretapping, cameras...
Way past the line.
Then.
- Ding.
[Noona♥]: Seon-woo, asleep?
[Noona♥]: Seon-woo
Audio off made her anxious?
Betrayal surged. I couldn't hold back.
"Noona. Come home after work."
I said it to the phone.
Directly. Out loud.
- Ring ring...
Phone call came instantly.
Messages flooded the screen.
[Noona♥]: Sorry Seon-woo
[Noona♥]: Not like that
[Noona♥]: Really sorry Seon-woo
I jammed the power button.
Hung up on her.
First time I'd ever cut off her contact myself.
That moment, I first thought.
We might break up.
Flashback over.
Back to reality.
She looked at me with pitiful eyes.
'Can you give me another chance?'
My answer was simple.
"I don't think so."
I loved her.
Madly, obsessively.
Probably still did, even at the breakup.
But now... I could say no.
Too much time had passed.
Too worn down to turn back.
"...I see."
Han Su-ah reacted opposite to what I expected.
I thought she'd cling. She just nodded calmly.
She gave a faint smile.
"Glad you're alive. That's enough. Happy to see your face again..."
I nodded.
Same here. Seeing her face made me happy too.
As long as she was alive.
Then.
- Creak.
The iron door opened.
"Explanation's done."
The team leader entered.
"Any pushback or unrest?"
"They all seem accepting. They've witnessed strange phenomena even before the dimensional transfer, so they bought it quick."
"Good."
I acknowledged briefly.
Had to check their true feelings anyway after a round.
Decide on accepting the Otherworlders later.
Time to head out.
"Lady Baekju. Heavenly Demon."
"Yes."
"Yes."
The two women responded to my call.
Jahwa-yeon approached with confident strides.
Yi Seo-ryeong bowed demurely and stuck close to my side.
Pressing against my arm, closer than usual.
According to Han Su-ah's intel, no survivor camps.
But definite enemies targeting us.
Time to scout with our own eyes.
"Shall we go together?"
"Yes. Anywhere."
"Of course."
I turned to Han Su-ah and spoke.
"...Noona."
She eyed Yi Seo-ryeong and Jahwa-yeon warily.
"Yeah."
"Guide us."
Han Su-ah peered deeply into my eyes, then nodded.
"Got it. I'll guide you."
She approached us slowly.
Then, to my right.
Toward Yi Seo-ryeong in white clothes.
Han Su-ah reached out carefully.
- Squeeze.
She gently clasped Yi Seo-ryeong's hand.
"Please take good care of Seon-woo."
"Y-Yes? Me?"
Yi Seo-ryeong's eyes went wide in surprise.
Her face flushed at the unexpected request.
Han Su-ah nodded with conviction.
"Felt like... he'd really like her. Was I wrong?"
She tilted her head.
Sharp as ever.
I was startled, but not now.
"Wait... not her..."
I jumped in, shaking my head frantically.
Had to clear the misunderstanding.
Then.
"Way off. It's me."
Jahwa-yeon snorted and stepped forward.
Arms crossed, chin up.
"Ah..."
Han Su-ah scanned her up and down...
"That... probably not..."
She said what she thought.
"What?"
Jahwa-yeon finally got mad.