Chapter 147: Winter (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 147: Winter (6)
“…….”
I stepped off the bus at the stop near Ji Nuri’s house.
Throughout the entire ride, a heavy, suffocating silence had hung between us. It seemed the stillness was just as unbearable for Ji Nuri as it was for me.
— “Ah, jeez… this is so awkward I could die….”
Ji Nuri’s Mini-Me struggled along on its tiny crutches, writhing in sheer discomfort.
“…….”
Only now was the Mini-Me’s frantic noise finally starting to subside. It seemed like the right time to ask.
“Ji Nuri,” I said, following slowly behind her.
“Huh? Yeah?”
Even at my low-voiced call, Ji Nuri flinched visibly. She whipped her head around, eyes wide and startled. I pursed my lips at her exaggerated reaction.
What would be the best way to start this? After a moment of deliberation, I decided to be direct.
“…Why have you been avoiding me lately?”
Ji Nuri’s expression clouded over instantly. “I-I haven’t?”
Like hell she hadn’t.
“…Honestly, you are. You just did it again.” I rubbed the back of my head, feeling a surge of frustration. “…Did I do something to make you uncomfortable?”
“…….”
“If I did, just tell me.”
Ji Nuri avoided my gaze, looking everywhere but at me. “…It’s not like that. It’s just….” she muttered, her voice trailing off into a crawl.
— “…….”
The Mini-Me remained silent as well. I couldn’t tell if she didn't know the reason herself or if she was agonizing over something she couldn't say. She just kept her eyes fixed firmly on the ground.
That was all.
While she let her words hang in the air, we arrived in front of her house before we knew it.
“…….”
I took a breath. It didn’t seem like I’d be getting a clear answer right this second.
“…Alright, see you tomorrow.”
Just as I was about to turn around after seeing her home safely—
“…Hey, Lee Seung-ho.”
“?”
When I turned back, I saw Ji Nuri’s lips trembling with hesitation.
“Um… today….”
— “…I should at least say this.”
The Mini-Me clenched its tiny hands.
“Than—”
“Oh my.”
Ji Nuri’s expression froze at the sudden interruption.
— “…!”
The Mini-Me jumped in surprise.
“Isn’t that Seung-ho?”
A woman who was the spitting image of Ji Nuri appeared. It was her mother. She walked toward us, the rhythmic click-clack of her low heels echoing on the pavement. Judging by the briefcase in her hand, she was just getting home from work.
“Hello,” I said, bowing my head politely despite being caught off guard.
“It’s been a long time! Have you grown even taller since I last saw you?”
While expressing her delight at seeing me, she simultaneously turned her gaze toward her daughter. Her eyebrows shot up. “Nuri, what happened to your foot?”
“Well….” Ji Nuri scratched her cheek awkwardly. “It’s nothing much. I just tripped while messing around at school.”
“…It’s not a serious injury?”
“They said I just strained a ligament. It’ll get better if I rest for a few days.”
“Goodness—always so restless. You should be more careful!”
Smack! Her mother lightly swatted Ji Nuri’s back. “You went to the hospital, right?”
“Just now.”
“Did Seung-ho take you?”
“…….”
Nuri nodded silently. At that, her mother gave me a warm, soft smile.
“Seung-ho, you haven’t had dinner yet, have you? Since you’re already here, why don’t you stay for a meal?”
“No, that’s okay,” I said, waving my hands dismissively.
“If you go home now, you’ll end up eating late. Don’t go hungry just because of Nuri.”
“No, it’s just…….”
I glanced at Ji Nuri. I wasn't sure if it was okay for me to just barge in like this. More than anything, Nuri was the type who valued her privacy and didn't like having people over.
“…….”
The mother looked back and forth between the two of us in the silence.
— “…Did they have a fight?”
Then, Nuri spoke up abruptly. “…If you want to eat before you go, then do whatever.”
— “…He skipped his part-time job because of me, and now he’s going home late.”
Is it really okay? I wondered.
“…Then, if you’ll excuse me for a moment.”
“Oh, don’t be silly. No need for formalities!” Her mother laughed and led the way inside.
I followed her into Ji Nuri’s house.
“Make yourself at home,” she said before disappearing into the kitchen.
“…….”
Come to think of it, this was my first time at Ji Nuri’s house. I never expected to enter under these circumstances.
“…Wait here for a second.”
While I was looking around the living room, Ji Nuri slipped into her room.
[I’m eating dinner before I head home.]
I took the opportunity to send a text to Lee Seung-ah. If I told her, she’d probably just order something for herself.
“Seung-ho, do you like pizza?” her mother called out from the kitchen.
“Yes, I’m not picky. I’ll eat anything.”
“Really? I’ll order some, so just wait a bit.”
“Okay.”
Just then, the bedroom door opened a crack. Ji Nuri peeked her head out through the gap.
“You can come in now.”
At her call, I cautiously stepped into her room.
“It’s more….”
“…More what?”
“It really feels like a musician’s room.”
The room was neatly organized. In one corner, a desk, a computer, and various instruments were tidily arranged.
“What, did you think it’d be piled high with merch?”
“…Honestly?”
“…….”
Ji Nuri whipped her head away. “…I’m not that bad.”
— “…It’s not like I don’t have any, though.”
So she does have some.
— “……I just don’t want to show him.”
Normally, she would have been busy bragging about her collection. She was exceptionally subdued today. It was hard to tell what kind of change of heart she was having. I even wondered if her moods were swinging because of that time of the month.
“…….”
Ji Nuri fell back into an awkward silence. Usually, she’d be chattering away on her own, filling every gap in the conversation. This really wasn't like her.
— “Kids, the pizza’s here!”
Right on cue, her mother’s voice drifted in from the living room. The timing was perfect. At the call, Ji Nuri bolted upright.
“I-it’s here. Let’s go.”
“…….”
I nodded and followed her out.
*
“Haaaah….”
Ji Nuri slumped onto her bed, letting out a long, weary sigh.
Dinner had ended quickly. Lee Seung-ho had headed home not long after they finished eating. They had chatted for a bit in her room afterward, but it didn't last long.
The problem lay entirely with her.
It was because Lee Seung-ho felt strangely awkward to be around. The conversation kept cutting off abruptly, leaving her grasping for words.
“…….”
She wasn't acting like her usual self at all. She had only managed a few slices of the pizza she loved so much, finding herself picking at her food without realizing it.
Normally, she wouldn't have been like this. She would have talked to Lee Seung-ho as if nothing were wrong. She would have bragged about her merch collection and shown him her favorite pieces. They would have just had fun.
Just like they always did….
— “Aren’t you already interested in him?”
The words Ha Seo-rim had tossed out earlier kept ringing in her ears.
There it went again. This was the reason.
— “They say you’re usually the last one to know about those things.”
“…….”
And naturally, the events of the day followed. Lee Seung-ho catching her as she fell. Him carrying her on his back all the way to the hospital. The warmth she felt through their touching hands—
‘I’ve lost my mind.’
Ji Nuri jumped up from her seat. Just thinking about it made her room feel stiflingly hot again.
“…….”
Ji Nuri paced around her room with an anxious expression.
— Aren’t you already interested in him…?
— Already interested….
— Interested….
…… Gulp.
“…….”
Is it true? Do I… like… Lee Seung-ho…?
“……Wait. Wait a minute.”
Ji Nuri’s eyes shook like there was an earthquake inside her head. Her arms naturally pulled her knees to her chest.
Think. Let’s think about this. Whether this is actually… you know… feelings.
Ji Nuri pictured Lee Seung-ho’s face.
“…….”
Heat instantly flooded her entire face.
“……Ugh.”
Ji Nuri pulled the blanket up to her chin, hiding. Furthermore, when she was on his back, her heart had been racing so fast it was a problem. At first, she thought it was just because it was an unfamiliar situation.
But thinking about it again… that was already….
“Ah….”
Faced with the natural conclusion, she couldn't run anymore.
“……Holy crap.”
Ji Nuri couldn't help but mutter a short curse.
“…….”
— …How much does he like me?
— I guess I am pretty cute.
— He definitely likes me…!
At the same time, images of her past self flashed through her mind. Her triumphant, arrogant face and her past assumptions played out like a panorama of embarrassment. Tears of shame started to well up.
“Heeing.”
Since she couldn't use her legs, she pounded the blanket with her fists in a fit of frustration.
“…Cough, cough!”
Her throat hurt from the dust flying up from the bed.
*
“Whew…….”
Ha Seo-rim let out an exhausted breath. Checking the clock on the wall, she saw her part-time shift had finally ended. Despite it being winter, her back was damp with sweat. She had been moving non-stop all day.
“Ugggh….”
Kim Su-young, a fellow part-timer of the same age, approached her, looking ready to collapse. “Seo-rim, good job today….”
“Yeah, you too.”
Ha Seo-rim tilted her neck from side to side, trying to work out the kinks. The stiffness seemed to fade a little.
“…Today was really not easy,” Kim Su-young said, stretching her aching body. “Seo-rim, are you okay? You spent the whole day cleaning up after everyone.”
“…….”
Ha Seo-rim gave a vague nod. It couldn't be helped. The new part-timer made frequent mistakes.
“That older girl who just started… she’s almost too much. Was she always like that?”
It wasn't that she caused major accidents. It was just that there were so many small, ambiguous mistakes. Moreover, she only moved when told to. She worked like a robot, doing only the bare minimum of the tasks assigned to her.
“……I guess so.”
She hadn't realized it until now, but all this time, Lee Seung-ho had been fixing things before they turned into accidents. It was a significant contribution. His absence felt much larger than she had expected.
“…Look at that, look.” Kim Su-young gestured with her chin.
The new girl had vanished instantly, saying she was leaving first. She had already changed her clothes and was making a sharp exit.
“Sigh—let’s go too.”
“Yeah.”
Ha Seo-rim took off her apron. She changed her clothes in the locker room and stepped out into the cool air.
“Haa.”
A sigh escaped her lips as she grabbed her bag. Startled by the sound of her own breath, she clamped her mouth shut.
“……I wish he’d stayed a bit longer.”
That was her honest feeling. She wished Lee Seung-ho had stayed a little longer. Not for any other reason, but because things were just easier when he was around.
That was all. It was a wish that wouldn't come true, but she allowed herself the thought.
…That much was fine, wasn't it?
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Nuri Mini-Me
Seo-rim after work