Chapter 139: Busan (9)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 139: Busan (9)
“…….”
Ha Seo-rim studied Yu Ha-neul.
The girl’s gaze was fixed intently on a single point. Following her line of sight, Seo-rim spotted Lee Seung-ho’s back as he walked away into the distance.
“Unnie, about that…”
How was she supposed to explain this?
Ha Seo-rim struggled to find the words, her lips trembling. She couldn't hide how flustered she was.
“…….”
Yu Ha-neul remained silent, simply staring blankly at the retreating figure. Finally, her tightly shut lips slowly parted.
“…When you said you were going out to have fun, was it with Seung-ho?”
“Well…” Ha Seo-rim scratched her forehead. “…It wasn’t intentional.”
She meant it.
“There were some extra tickets, so it just kind of happened.”
“…….”
“The reason I didn’t tell you… I thought it might be awkward if I did…” Ha Seo-rim’s eyes darted around before she added one more thing. “…But still, I’m sorry.”
At those words, Yu Ha-neul waved her hands dismissively.
“No, don’t worry about it. It’s fine. It’s fine, but…”
Her voice trailed off. Though she claimed she was fine, her downturned eyes were clouded with hurt. She didn't look fine at all.
“…….”
Ha Seo-rim began to walk on eggshells. She had no idea how to handle a situation like this.
‘No, it’s okay.’
It wasn't the worst-case scenario yet. Lee Seung-ho was already far away. As long as they didn't run into each other—
“Ha Seo-rim. What are you doing here instead of—”
Ah.
Before she could even finish her thought, Lee Seung-ho appeared. His voice slowed to a crawl, and he stopped in his tracks, his mouth snapping shut.
“…….”
“…….”
Lee Seung-ho and Yu Ha-neul’s gazes locked.
“…….”
Watching this, Ha Seo-rim’s eyes shook with anxiety. What now?
*
I caught my breath the moment I saw Yu Ha-neul standing before me.
“…Yu Ha-neul.”
What was she doing here?
“…….”
I narrowed my eyes, looking back and forth between Ha Seo-rim and Yu Ha-neul. I had come looking for Ha Seo-rim because she had suddenly disappeared, but I never expected to run into Yu Ha-neul here.
“…Hi. It’s been a while, Seung-ho.”
Yu Ha-neul gave a hesitant, awkward wave.
“…….”
I didn't respond. I just kept wondering why she was here.
‘…Did she follow me?’
With anyone else, that thought would be self-absorbed, but this was Yu Ha-neul. No matter the method, it was exactly the kind of thing she would do. I had no physical evidence, but I was certain of it.
“…What are you doing here?” I threw the question out, hoping to hear her Mini-Me’s thoughts on the matter.
“Oh. I come here to have fun sometimes.”
“…?”
“…Why? Do you think it doesn’t suit me?”
“…….”
Obviously. Yu Ha-neul had never been interested in games. It made no sense for her to suddenly show up at an event like this.
‘I can read her, but…’
There was no noise, and I could read her thoughts clearly. However, I couldn't find anything related to why she was here.
— “…Do I look okay right now? What if I look weird?”
The Mini-Me adjusted its bangs, fussing over its appearance.
— “His clothes are different from the ones I saw last time. These look good on him, too.”
It nodded while inspecting my outfit.
— “Did someone else pick them out for him?”
It tapped the collar.
— “…Just who picked these out?”
It muttered gloomily.
That was all.
“…Tsk.”
I felt a wave of revulsion watching that. Fine. I didn't feel the need to stay here any longer. I signaled to Ha Seo-rim.
“Let’s go.”
“Ah, well…”
Ha Seo-rim looked back and forth between me and Yu Ha-neul, clearly uncomfortable. She seemed worried.
I turned my back first.
“…S-Seung-ho. Wait a second.”
Yu Ha-neul hurriedly blocked my path.
“Let’s talk.”
— “If it’s not now, I don’t know when I’ll see him again.”
She was desperate.
“It’ll only take a moment. Please?”
My answer was already decided. Naturally.
……Wait.
I was about to refuse, but then I changed my mind. If Yu Ha-neul really had followed me here, then even if I avoided her now, there was a high probability she would pull something like this again later.
‘In that case… it’s better to settle this now.’
“It’ll only take a moment, right?”
“…!”
Yu Ha-neul’s eyes widened. She looked like she hadn't expected me to actually agree. She nodded frantically.
“Y-yes. Just a moment is all I need…!”
I signaled to Ha Seo-rim, deciding to send her back to the others first.
“You go on ahead. I’ll be there soon. Tell the others to buy my food in advance.”
“…….”
Ha Seo-rim didn't answer for a moment, but eventually, she nodded.
“…Alright.”
She looked uneasy about leaving the two of us alone, like a parent leaving a child by the water.
“…See you later, Unnie.”
“Yeah. See you later, Seo-rim.”
After that final goodbye, Ha Seo-rim looked back several times as she walked away.
“…….”
Once she had completely disappeared, I led the way without a word, walking with long strides. Startled by the sudden movement, Yu Ha-neul hurried to catch up.
“But… I didn’t know you were so close with Seo-rim. Going on a trip together and all…”
I didn't answer. Yu Ha-neul scratched her cheek awkwardly.
“Do you want to talk while we eat something? My treat.”
“…….”
“…I-is that a bad idea?” Yu Ha-neul glanced around. “Uh… then how about a drink? They sell drinks over there. Coffee, too…”
“…….”
“……Or, since we can’t just keep standing, should we sit over there and talk?”
“…….”
I stopped walking at the sound of her endless rambling. We were under a pedestrian bridge before reaching the main road. There weren't many people here, making it a good spot for a short conversation before heading to the food trucks.
“So, what do you want to say?” I got straight to the point.
“…….”
Her eyes scanned the floor aimlessly. A heavy silence followed.
— “…Should I say it now?”
Yu Ha-neul’s thoughts deepened. Should she speak? Or should she wait for next time? She was constantly weighing which was the better choice. It seemed that coming all the way here had been an impulsive decision to begin with.
However, I had no intention of waiting for her. I lifted my foot as if to walk away.
“If you have nothing to say—”
“—I.”
Yu Ha-neul’s voice cracked. In her desperation, she blurted out a sentence.
“…It was all my fault.”
Those were her first words. I furrowed my brows. Yu Ha-neul continued, rambling.
“Everything… I was wrong about everything.”
— “I shouldn't have done that…”
It was regret, but the direction was off. It wasn't repentance for her actions; it was regret over a failed plan. A lamentation over not making a better choice. It was a desperate struggle to restore a broken relationship.
“…….”
I nodded indifferently. It didn't matter. To begin with.
“…You said that before.”
I had received Yu Ha-neul’s apology a long time ago. I heard it two years ago. I think she said the same thing back then. Yu Ha-neul hadn't changed much since then.
“Oh, yeah. Right. I did.”
Yu Ha-neul gave a clumsy nod. She continued, fidgeting with her fingers.
“But I thought it was right to say it one more time…”
“Then you must remember the last thing I said.”
At my calm question, Yu Ha-neul’s pupils trembled.
“…….”
Her lips pressed firmly together. She didn't move an inch, showing her resolve not to speak. But I could hear it clearly.
— “…Let’s end it here.”
The Mini-Me spat out that thought without a filter. Yu Ha-neul remembered it perfectly. That had been my response to her apology, and the last words we had exchanged.
“So…” I looked at her blankly. “Is that all you have to say?”
It was the same sequence of events as two years ago. Yu Ha-neul’s shoulders flinched.
“…I’m really sorry.”
It was a repetition of what she had already said. However, her voice was more emotional than before. She was desperate and lost.
“…I’ll never do anything you hate again. I promise.”
Yu Ha-neul took a step closer.
“If you tell me not to talk to you, I won’t. I won’t even contact you for a while.”
I almost pulled back in surprise.
“I-I can do anything you want.”
Yu Ha-neul’s eyes wavered, filling with moisture. But her gaze was somehow out of focus.
“…….”
My expression hardened as I watched her. No matter how much someone likes another person, they don't usually go this far. It was strange. Her affection was clearly twisted.
“I’ll do anything you want. If there’s something you want to eat or buy, just tell me.”
The words poured out of her.
“So…”
So.
— “Just look at me.”
A whisper in my ear. The Mini-Me stared down at me blankly from my shoulder. Our eyes met. And in those pupils, I seemed to be reflected with eerie clarity.
“…….”
A chill ran down my neck.
“…Yu Ha-neul.”
This really wasn't right. I narrowed my eyes as I called her name.
“Let’s stop this now.”
“Wh-what?”
Yu Ha-neul blinked as if she didn't understand. Or perhaps she just didn't want to understand. So, I said it even more clearly.
“I’m done being involved with you.”
The words came out quieter than expected, but that single sentence was the end. I drew a clear line between us.
“…….”
Yu Ha-neul remained frozen for a long time. Her lips parted as if to say something, but no words came out.
“……Ah.”
The only thing that escaped her parted lips was a single, hollow sound.
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(!Signpost!)
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A fluffy Nuri Mini-Me I made because I couldn't think of what else to draw.