Chapter 142: Winter (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 142: Winter (1)
"W-what did you just say?" Ji Nuri stammered.
His words hadn't quite registered yet.
"I said, he’s not into you."
It was the killing blow. A visible crack formed in Ji Nuri’s composure.
"F-for real?"
"…That’s how it looked to me, anyway," Ji Woo-hyuk replied with a nod. "At first, I thought you two had something going on, too… but after talking to him, I realized that wasn't it at all."
"……."
Ji Nuri’s face went blank. She absentmindedly ran a finger down her chin.
"…Maybe," she muttered. It was just a hypothesis, but she had to ask. "Is it because… I didn't give him any openings to make a move?"
If that was why Lee Seung-ho’s heart had wandered—
"No, that’s not it."
Ji Woo-hyuk’s rebuttal was short and firm. He gave her a flat, dead-eyed stare, as if telling her to quit talking nonsense.
"……."
Ji Nuri pouted. Was he really being that blunt? Her guess could have been right.
"…Why are you so sure?"
"…I could just tell by looking at him."
His reasoning was pure intuition—a simple, subjective judgment. Ji Woo-hyuk continued calmly.
"It’s true you guys are close… but the way he looks at you doesn't seem like romantic interest."
"No, but…."
Ji Nuri’s eyebrows knitted together. That made it even stranger. At least, that wasn't how she felt.
"Then why does he look out for me so much? He’s always being so nice to me."
"…Doesn't he treat everyone else well, too?"
"That’s…."
She had no rebuttal for that.
Ji Woo-hyuk scratched his head nonchalantly. "…Isn't he just a naturally considerate guy?"
"S-still……."
The way he’s considerate toward me is a bit…
Just as she was about to argue that it felt different, he cut her off.
"If you help an old lady across the street with her bags, does that mean you're in love with her?"
"…What kind of shitty analogy is that?" Ji Nuri furrowed her brow. She understood the point instantly, but it felt strangely offensive—as if he were calling her an old lady.
"I’m saying his kindness felt exactly like that. I didn't see a hint of an ulterior motive." Ji Woo-hyuk added that guys could just tell when it came to other guys.
"Hmm…."
To sum it up, what Ji Woo-hyuk wanted to say was this:
"You probably just had it wrong from the start, Nuri."
"……."
Ji Nuri felt a sudden surge of annoyance.
"S-stop talking nonsense and just go home. You have to work tomorrow."
"?" Ji Woo-hyuk looked down at her, incredulous. "Wait, you're the one who—"
"That’s all you had to say, right? Cut back on the smoking. I’m leaving now!"
Ji Nuri cut him off and fled the spot as if running away. She kept walking without looking back, giving a slight, dismissive wave of her hand. That was her final goodbye.
"……."
Watching her retreat, Ji Woo-hyuk pulled the cigarette he had just put away back out of his pocket. She was his sister, but she really was a peculiar kid.
……Well, she’ll figure it out.
Ji Woo-hyuk soon stopped worrying about her. To be honest, he wasn't even that curious about his sister’s love life.
*
We reached the train station after the bus ride. Perhaps because it was dinner time, the station was bustling with people coming and going.
I narrowed my eyes slightly as I walked behind the group.
What’s up with her?
From my perspective, Ji Nuri was acting very strange.
— "……."
Her Mini-Me looked just as dazed. It wasn't emitting any Noise, nor was it muttering to itself; it was just… silent. And it stayed that way. Her eyes were out of focus, like someone whose mind was in another world.
"……."
I studied her closely. Seriously, what was it? She had been having so much fun, but now that it was time to go home, she was like this. It didn't seem like she was just sad the trip was ending.
"…Did something happen?"
Unable to contain my curiosity, I sidled up to her.
— "Hiek!"
Ji Nuri’s Mini-Me leaped in surprise at my voice. She was startled to an unusual degree.
"Huh? No? What?" Ji Nuri shook her head vigorously, her face a mask of awkwardness. Then she quickly scurried away.
"……."
I stared after her, dumbfounded. There was definitely something going on.
— "…Is it true?"
I caught a faint glimpse of the Mini-Me’s voice, but as the distance between us grew, it faded away. I couldn't make it out properly.
"Seung-ho, Seung-ho."
Apparently, her behavior looked strange to others as well. Shin A-young whispered to me, "…Why is Nuri acting like that all of a sudden?"
"I don't know either."
"Really?"
— I thought Seung-ho would know….
Shin A-young naturally assumed I was involved. It felt a bit unfair; I hadn't done anything to Ji Nuri. If I had to guess, she probably had a spat with her brother. She’d been like this ever since she went to say goodbye to him.
"……."
There was no need to rush. We had plenty of time on the way back, and I could figure it out slowly. It wasn't Noise, anyway. I figured if I just kept listening, she’d eventually spill her inner thoughts.
*
Ji Nuri arrived home.
Beep-beep-beep-beep— Click.
As she opened the door and stepped inside, a wave of warm air hit her skin.
"I’m hoooome~" she announced, kicking off her shoes.
"You're back? Did you have fun?" her mother called out from the living room, where she was watching TV.
"Yes."
"You have school tomorrow, so wash up and get to bed early."
"Okaaaay."
Ji Nuri tossed her bag into her room and headed straight for the bathroom. Her body was exhausted from the travel; all she wanted was to wash up and lie down.
After a quick shower, she returned to her room with a much fresher face.
"Hwaaa……."
Ji Nuri shook out her wet hair and flopped onto her bed. As the tension left her body, drowsiness rushed in. She found herself blankly reflecting on the day.
"……."
Naturally, a certain thought surfaced: the relationship between Lee Seung-ho and herself. Her brother’s words—claiming her feelings were based on a delusion—echoed in her head.
"……."
Ji Nuri’s expression stiffened. "…Ji Woo-hyuk must have been mistaken, right?"
She started with denial. After all, it wasn't like her brother was that quick on the uptake. He wasn't oblivious, but he wasn't as sharp as her older sister, Ji Hyori. It was plausible that he had simply misread the situation.
"……Or not?"
Just as a woman knows a woman’s heart best, a man knows a man’s heart, don't they? Does Lee Seung-ho really not like me? If that’s really the case…….
"……."
Ji Nuri’s eyes began to tremble. Vivid memories of her past actions flashed by: acting all triumphant over trivial things, worrying about the distance between them, agonizing over how to respond if he ever confessed…
All of those moments played through her mind like a panoramic film.
"……!"
Suddenly, Ji Nuri began thrashing around on the bed in a fit of agony.
Thud, thud, thud!
In her sheer embarrassment, she pummeled the blanket with both fists.
"Aaaaargh…!"
It was embarrassing. So incredibly embarrassing. Ji Nuri curled into a ball and buried her face in the blanket, letting out a hot, heavy breath against the fabric.
"Hwaaaaa……!"
Her face grew so hot she couldn't stand it. Tears actually welled up in her eyes.
— "Is something wrong?" her mother’s voice called from outside the door.
Ji Nuri answered frantically, "I-it’s nothing!"
— "You didn't fall or anything, did you?"
"I-I’m just doing some cleaning…!"
Whether she was convinced or just lost interest, her mother didn't say anything more.
"Phew……."
Ji Nuri slowly caught her breath. Calm down. Let’s just calm down for a second.
"……."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. …Wait, but still.
She stood up with a sullen look and examined herself in the mirror, checking her pajamas from various angles. She twisted her body; her slender waistline was clearly visible.
…I’m pretty decent, aren't I?
Even objectively speaking, that should be the case.
"Hmm."
Honestly, wasn't it true? Her face was fine, her body was good, and her personality wasn't bad. No matter how you looked at it, there was no reason not to like her.
For some reason, she felt a spark of anger.
"……I mean, whatever."
Fine, he might not like her. That happens. When she thought of Lee Sol or Shin A-young, it was easy to understand. But…….
He’s the one who made me misunderstand by being so nice!
Ji Nuri grumbled, feeling a sense of grievance. He was the one who treated her so well that she couldn't help but get the wrong idea. Taking care of things the moment she needed them, remembering her food preferences perfectly, being considerate in the smallest details…
That was the problem. It was all Lee Seung-ho’s fault.
"Whatever. Fine."
Ji Nuri flopped back onto the bed. The dampness from her wet hair began to soak into the blanket, but she didn't care.
"…Yeah, well, it’s better for the other girls."
Both Lee Sol and Shin A-young liked Lee Seung-ho.
I’ve been feeling awkward with them lately anyway.
She had been worrying about what to do if she had to compete with them. Now, there was no need for that. Thinking about it that way, wasn't this a good outcome?
Yes, yes. Of course it was.
"……."
Ji Nuri’s body went limp. It was a good thing. It was definitely a good thing, but… an inexplicable gloom seemed to weigh her down.
"……Seriously, what is wrong with me?"
Now, she didn't even understand herself.
=========
(!Signpost!)
(Scroll down for illustration!)
=========
