Chapter 128: Yu Ha-neul (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 128: Yu Ha-neul (2)
“…Seung-ho.”
A hesitant voice called my name.
“…”
I turned my head toward the sound.
Aside from being a bit taller, she hadn't changed much. Her voice, the curve of her eyes, her hairstyle, and even the aura she radiated were almost exactly the same as the girl I used to know.
“…It really is you.”
The corners of Yu Ha-neul’s downturned eyes curved into a soft arc.
— “---------”
Bzzzzzzzt—
Her Mini-Me approached my feet, crackling with static.
The noise didn't feel like a negative emotion, such as anxiety or sadness. If anything, it sounded like the opposite.
— “----.”
The noise gradually grew quieter. As she calmed down, the static subsided. Her Mini-Me looked up at me with a gentle, eye-curving smile.
“…It’s been a long time.”
Yu Ha-neul’s own expression was much the same.
“Have you been doing well?”
“…”
My lips parted at the question.
How should I answer? I’ve been well. Or, I haven't. Or perhaps, How do you think I’ve been?
All sorts of sentences surfaced and vanished in my mind. Some were long, others were cynical.
“…Yeah.”
I spat out a short, clipped response. I just didn't want to give her an emotional reaction, nor did I have the energy to do so. I simply wanted this situation to pass as quickly as possible.
“…Right, I see.”
Yu Ha-neul nodded. No matter what I had said, she probably would have reacted the same way. She took a step forward, closing the distance between us.
“…You’ve grown so much, Seung-ho. You used to be about the same height as me.”
“…”
“I grew a bit too, but I guess boys really do shoot up all at once.”
“…”
“…Do you work out lately? Your build has become quite dependable.”
“…Hey. Yu Ha-neul.”
I let out a short, sharp breath, cutting off the one-sided conversation.
“Yes?”
Yu Ha-neul looked at me, her eyes wide like a startled rabbit's.
“Just stop.”
“…”
Yu Ha-neul’s lips came to a dead halt.
“…Huh? Stop what?”
She wore a look of utter incomprehension. I stated it clearly once more.
“We aren't on the kind of terms where we can have conversations like this anymore.”
“…”
The Mini-Me’s noise spiked sharply. Then—snap—it cut off.
A heavy silence followed, devoid of any sound. She lightly bit her lower lip. I looked away and pointed toward the front of the store.
“…You’re here to see Ha Seo-rim, right?”
“Yeah. That’s true, but right now…”
“Then wait by the main gate. She’ll be out soon.”
That was the only reason I could think of for her being here. With that, I started walking toward the store.
“Wait a minute.”
Yu Ha-neul’s slender fingers caught my wrist. A chill traveled up my skin. Involuntarily, I flinched and curled my hand into a fist.
“…Just for a moment. Let’s talk.”
“…”
“It’s been almost two years since we last saw each other.”
She looked up at me with pleading eyes.
“Can’t we even do that?”
To be honest...
“…No.”
I wasn't in the mood. Just running into her here was flustering enough.
— “Ugh…”
At my firm refusal, Yu Ha-neul’s gaze wandered aimlessly, lost. Her eyes shimmered with moisture. She looked as if she had been deeply wounded.
…She probably really was hurt. Yu Ha-neul—that was just the kind of person she was.
“…Sigh.”
I massaged the back of my neck as I watched her. This made it feel like I was the one in the wrong.
“What is it…” I asked, my tone darkening. “What are you so upset about?”
…Second year of middle school. That was the point when I had become close with Yu Ha-neul and started making friends with other kids as well.
Exactly at that point, malicious rumors about me began to spread.
“…”
Rumors like, “I heard he did this or that.” That I constantly changed my story. That I was a weirdo. That I was only acting nice for a reason. And many others.
They were trivial things, which made them all the harder to deal with. At the time, I was so stressed by it that I almost stopped going to school… if it hadn't been for Yu Ha-neul.
And yet—
“You were the one who spread all those rumors.”
I felt my fingers tighten against the back of my neck.
“And I didn't even know.”
While doing that, Yu Ha-neul had comforted me behind the scenes with a composed face, claiming that she was the only one on my side. She had offered me such absurd kindness.
The reason Yu Ha-neul did it was simple.
“…Then, was I supposed to just watch other kids get close to you?”
Yu Ha-neul tilted her head slightly. Her light brown hair brushed over her downturned eyes. Her long eyelashes blinked slowly. There was no guilt or embarrassment on her face. Only pure questioning.
To her, everything she did to monopolize someone’s interest was a justified response.
— “…I just wanted Seung-ho to only look at me.”
There was only one reason for her actions. She purely wanted to hog all of my attention. It was that simple.
‘If it weren't for the Mini-Me…’
I never would have realized Yu Ha-neul’s true nature if it weren't for that. No—even after I started seeing the Mini-Me, it took me a while to figure it out. Because the comfort she gave me was always sincere.
That was the kind of person Yu Ha-neul was. Her affection was twisted.
— “…You’re mean.”
Yu Ha-neul’s Mini-Me slumped its shoulders at my feet. Rather than reflecting on what she had done, it was dripping with hurt over my tone of voice.
“…”
She hadn't changed at all. It was beyond the realm of normal. Watching her, I felt a chill run down my spine. This was why I should have been even colder when I rejected her confession—
Creak.
Just then, the back door opened. Ha Seo-rim poked her head through the gap.
“Senior, the changing room is empty, so you can go in nooow…”
Her voice trailed off.
“…Ah.”
Ha Seo-rim’s eyes darted back and forth rapidly before she let out a short gasp. Meeting Yu Ha-neul’s eyes, her brow furrowed deeply.
— “This is why I told her not to come…!”
Her Mini-Me wiped its face as if washing it.
“…Sister, weren't we supposed to meet at the station?”
Ha Seo-rim hurried toward Yu Ha-neul.
“Well… I came secretly to surprise you…”
Which meant she had run into me by pure chance. Yu Ha-neul let out an awkward laugh.
“I’ll just grab my bag and come out. Let’s go right away.”
Ha Seo-rim pushed her back, clearly wanting to escape the uncomfortable atmosphere.
“…It was good to see you after so long.”
Yu Ha-neul gave a light wave. With that final goodbye, she disappeared with Ha Seo-rim.
“…”
The backyard was empty again. I was left standing there alone.
“…”
I tried to pull myself together, but a creeping dizziness kept me from moving for a while. My mind was a mess.
“Whew…”
A cold wind blew. Realizing I’d catch a cold if I stayed out here, I forced my feet to move.
“…Manager. I’m heading out now.”
“Oh, good work. You’re not in tomorrow, right?”
“Yes. I’ll be in on Monday.”
“Right, see you next week.”
I grabbed my bag and stepped out of the store.
“…Ah.”
I naturally started heading home, then stopped. Come to think of it, I had to go to the gym. I made a promise to Shin A-young.
“…Should I just skip today?”
Maybe because my head was so cluttered, I didn't want to do anything. Let’s just skip today. That should be fine. I should tell Shin A-young I can’t make it.
I immediately dialed her number.
Ring— Ring— Ring—
[“Hello?”]
The ringing stopped, and Shin A-young’s voice came through the speaker.
“…Hello? You’re still at home, right?”
If she was already at the gym, I’d feel bad, but I was going to tell her to just work out alone today. If we met in person, the quick-witted Shin A-young would notice something was off immediately—
[“—Did something happen?”]
“…Huh?”
[“No, your voice just sounds a bit dark…”]
She was even more perceptive than I expected. How could she possibly know? Since it wasn't something I felt like explaining, I gave a vague excuse.
“Nothing happened.”
[“…Really?”]
Shin A-young sounded suspicious but let it go.
[“I’m at the gym right now… why? What’s up?”]
“No, it’s just that I don’t think I can make it to the gym today.”
A brief silence followed.
[“…Something definitely happened, didn't it?”]
“I told you, no.”
I denied it quickly.
[“For real?”]
“Yeah.”
[“It’s not that you’re sick?”]
“No.”
I’m just a bit tired.
“Is Lee Seung-ah there? If she is, tell her she can go home today.”
[“…Seung-ah didn't come today. She said she had something really busy and skipped.”]
“…Really?”
She was definitely just slacking off. It was a periodic escape of hers. However, since I was also skipping, I wasn't in a position to say anything.
[“You just finished your part-time job, right?”]
“Yeah.”
[“Then you haven't gone home yet?”]
“…I guess?”
[“Where are you now?”]
Shin A-young spoke in a soft tone.
[“Then, should the two of us play hooky today?”]
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Yu Ha-neul Mini-Me