Chapter 121: Late Rain (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 121: Late Rain (1)
“…….”
Ji Nuri blinked, staring blankly at the scene unfolding before her.
Lee Seung-ho and Lee Sol were standing side by side.
Did they come here together?
They had definitely stepped off the same bus. The odds of them catching the same one by pure coincidence were astronomical. That meant they had met up beforehand.
Ah, he let go.
Lee Seung-ho’s hand, which had been gripping Lee Sol’s wrist, dropped away. A moment later, the two of them began walking toward the main gate together.
“…….”
Ji Nuri followed a few paces behind, her steps slow and deliberate. Meanwhile, her mind was racing.
She couldn't help but notice how close their shoulders were. She kept replaying the way he had grabbed her.
…Normally, a guy wouldn't act like that if he already had a girl he liked, right?
At least, that was her understanding of how things worked. Generally, wouldn't a guy try to keep his distance from other girls to avoid any misunderstanding?
……Then again, Lee Sol isn't exactly a ‘normal’ girl.
She was just so damn cute. Any ordinary boy would fall for her in a heartbeat. It was an easy scenario to imagine: even if a guy had someone else on his mind, he’d probably turn into a bumbling mess the moment Lee Sol started acting sweet and affectionate toward him.
……Wait.
Was Lee Seung-ho being seduced by Lee Sol right now?
A reasonable suspicion took root. It wasn't that far-fetched. Lee Sol clearly liked Lee Seung-ho, so there was nothing she wouldn't try to get his attention.
“Hmm….”
Ji Nuri’s expression became unreadable and complex.
It was scary. If Sol’s plan was to weaponize her morning weakness and exploit Lee Seung-ho’s meddlesome nature just to get closer to him… then that was a terrifyingly foxy strategy.
Lee Sol was a surprisingly formidable girl.
*
“Uuugh…!”
Lee Sol let out a long, wide stretch. Perhaps because she had managed to catch some shut-eye on the bus, her face looked much more energetic than it had earlier.
Rattle—
When she slid open the back door and entered the classroom, Shin A-young was already sitting in her seat.
“You’re here?”
Shin A-young greeted me first as I walked in. Her gaze then shifted to my left—toward Lee Sol.
— […Sol is here too? Did they run into each other on the way?]
Shin A-young’s Mini-Me voiced its curiosity, but the real A-young didn't seem to care much beyond that.
“Is it PE today?” I asked.
Shin A-young was already wearing her gym clothes. I didn't recall having PE on the schedule for today.
“Yeah, they said the schedule changed. Apparently, the math teacher called in sick.”
She nodded. My face fell at the news.
“Ah… I didn't bring my gym clothes….”
“It’s fine. They said anyone who wants to do self-study can just stay in the classroom.”
“Really?”
That was a relief.
— [Nice.]
Lee Sol’s Mini-Me, who hated physical exertion, pumped its tiny fist in victory.
“Are you going to go out and run?” I asked A-young.
“No, this outfit is just more comfortable.”
Shin A-young shrugged. Since she had to wear them for PE class anyway to avoid a lecture from the teacher, it seemed she planned to just lounge in them all day.
Rattle—
While we were chatting, Ji Nuri walked in through the back door.
“You’re here?”
“…Yeah.”
Her greeting was more subdued than usual. Ji Nuri’s eyes swept across the floor aimlessly before she plopped down in her seat.
“…….”
I was puzzled for a moment but soon turned my attention away. It wasn't like her being weird was anything new. I figured she’d probably stayed up late again binge-watching anime or reading webtoons.
However, the thoughts that reached me were quite unexpected.
— […Sol is way more calculating than she looks.]
Ji Nuri’s Mini-Me crossed its short arms and legs, shaking its head slowly while looking at me.
— [And he’s just standing there, completely oblivious that he’s being played….]
“…….”
The thoughts were completely stripped of context. Hearing just that, I couldn't tell what she was actually worried about. But then again, I didn't feel like I needed to hear more. I figured her thoughts were just spiraling in some strange direction as usual.
*
The weekend arrived.
Since it was a workday, I arrived at the shop early. I changed into my uniform and began the morning routine of cleaning the hall.
“Oppa, is it true you’re only working for one more month?”
Choi Su-hyeon, another part-timer, asked me with her round eyes wide with shock.
“Huh?”
I pulled my hat down and turned around. Where did she hear that? I hadn't told the other kids on my shift yet.
“Who told you?”
“The manager told me.”
Well, that explained it. There was no other way she would have known. Since there was no point in hiding it anymore, I nodded.
“Yeah, that’s how it turned out.”
At my confirmation, Choi Su-hyeon’s eyebrows slanted downward in a pout.
“Wow… I’m seriously hurt. How could you not say a single word to us?”
She huffed. I tried to soothe her; I had intended to tell them eventually.
“There’s still a whole month left. I was going to say something when there were about two weeks to go.”
What was the point of bringing it up so early? It would only make things awkward for the remaining weeks. I just hadn't expected the manager to have such a loose tongue.
“Still, it’s disappointing.”
— [It’s not like it’s hard to do. Couldn't he have told us in advance…?]
It seemed she was mostly upset that she had heard it from the manager instead of directly from me.
“Hello.”
Just then, the back door opened and Ha Seo-rim walked in.
“Seo-rim-ah!”
Choi Su-hyeon immediately ran over to her.
“Did you know about this too?”
At this rate, the rumor was going to spread like wildfire. I wouldn't even have to bother telling people I was quitting. Actually, that was probably for the better.
After hearing the news, Ha Seo-rim blinked at me.
“Senior, are you quitting the part-time job?”
“Yeah.”
“When?”
“There’s still time. I agreed to stay for one more month. The manager said they’re short-staffed and asked if I could stay just a bit longer.”
It had been a mess ever since all the third-years quit. The manager had practically pleaded with me to stay until they found replacements, so I had agreed.
“Well, that makes sense,” Ha Seo-rim said.
And that was it. There was no change in her expression—no surprise, no disappointment, and no joy. Ha Seo-rim tucked her bag into her locker and turned toward the changing room.
“Is anyone in there?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll use it.”
Ha Seo-rim went back to her business without another word. Seeing that, Choi Su-hyeon’s jaw dropped.
“Seriously, Seo-rim, are you a ‘T’?”
“…Why? He said there’s still a month left.”
Ha Seo-rim replied nonchalantly. However, her Mini-Me showed a completely different reaction.
— [Must be nice. I want to quit too….]
The Mini-Me smacked its lips longingly. Rather than being sad that I was leaving, she was actually envious.
— [……Work is going to be a nightmare once he's gone.]
On top of that, it let out a groan of pure agony at the thought of the upcoming workload.
It was unexpected, even to me. I thought she’d be the happiest of all to see me go, but her reaction was the opposite of what I’d anticipated. I suppose her opinion of me really had changed since our first meeting.
*
Finally, it was time to clock out.
“Good work today…!”
As the clock hit four, I heard Ha Seo-rim’s voice. She sounded exhausted, but I could tell she was trying her best to sound professional. I changed out of my uniform and back into my regular clothes.
“Manager, we’re heading out now.”
“Yeah, it’s raining outside, so be careful on your way home.”
“Okay.”
I walked toward the group huddled near the back door.
“How is it out there?”
“Whoa—it’s really coming down.”
Choi Su-hyeon remarked as she watched the rain lashing against the window.
Pitter-patter—
It wasn't exactly a torrential downpour, but it was definitely too heavy to walk through without an umbrella.
“Well, see you next week!”
Choi Su-hyeon popped open her umbrella and left first. No one else seemed flustered. Since the weather had been overcast since morning, it looked like everyone had remembered to bring gear.
“……?”
My attention was drawn to one person who seemed particularly restless. While everyone else was heading home, Ha Seo-rim was pacing around the break room. She was scurrying back and forth with hurried, anxious steps.
She looked like she was searching for something.
— […Ah, seriously, you’ve got to be kidding me.]
Her Mini-Me suddenly slapped its forehead.
— [I’m sure I left it right here…?]
The Mini-Me hopped up and down on top of the empty umbrella stand.
Had her umbrella been stolen? In this country, umbrellas and bicycles were the two things you had to guard with your life. It was obvious someone had walked off with it.
— [Dammit… who was it…?]
The Mini-Me’s voice wobbled, thick with unshed tears. She looked utterly wronged.
“…….”
I pulled a folding umbrella out of my bag and looked back at Ha Seo-rim.
“Aren't you going?”
“Well….”
“Did you not bring an umbrella?”
“…I did, but… it’s gone.”
I pointed toward the back.
“Then… what about the spare umbrellas in the staff storage? Just use one of those for now.”
“……Other people already took them.”
“……Oh, really?”
She must have checked already. I felt a bit embarrassed for suggesting it.
Pitter-patter…!
The sound of the rain outside grew louder.
— [Maybe it’ll be okay if I just run really fast….]
The Mini-Me reached out a hand to check the intensity of the rain. Even in a moment like this, she didn't ask for help. It wasn't that she hated asking me specifically; it seemed she was just used to solving everything on her own.
“Want some help?”
I opened my umbrella and looked back at her.
“…….”
Ha Seo-rim, who had been about to lift her bag over her head to use as a shield, froze. She looked faintly surprised, as if she hadn't expected the offer.
“…….”
She hesitantly shuffled over to my side.
“……Thank you.”
“…….”
Without a word, I began walking, matching my pace to hers. I didn't have to take her all the way home; I figured dropping her off at the convenience store would be enough.
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