Chapter 46: Face-to-Face (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 46: Face-to-Face (4)
“...”
Lee Seung-ho’s expression was almost always the same. Only the slightest twitch of a facial muscle ever betrayed his joy, surprise, sadness, or embarrassment.
At most, he showed subtle shifts in mood. Dramatic changes in expression were simply not in his repertoire. While he wasn't exactly a statue, he never displayed major fluctuations.
...However, right now was a little different.
He wasn't looking out with his usual steady gaze. He looked weary, as if soaked in a deep, lingering fatigue. Lee Seung-ho narrowed his eyes slightly and fiddled with the earphone in his ear.
“......”
Shin A-young’s pupils constricted. First and foremost, she was startled by his sudden appearance.
“...W-what the?” she muttered involuntarily.
At that, Lee Seung-ho tilted his head, his expression a silent question mark. “? What?”
“No, I thought you went home to study...?”
She had assumed he was hunkered down at home. Instead, Lee Seung-ho had nonchalantly stepped out into the hallway. It felt completely out of the blue.
“I did it in the counseling office today. I just stepped out to take a break.”
“...Then what about the others?”
“Ji Nuri went out to practice, and the other two are away studying, so it’s fine.”
“Ah...” Shin A-young nodded.
So that was why he was still at school.
Lee Seung-ho asked in return, “Are you on your way home? Is your club finished?”
“Uh, y-yeah... that’s right.”
The words came out slowly. For some reason, dealing with Lee Seung-ho felt awkward. It wasn't that she wanted it to be that way, but Lee Sol’s confession kept flashing through her mind. It was grating on her nerves.
“...”
As if finding her behavior strange, Lee Seung-ho blinked and stared at her. Then, a subtle smile played on his lips. He asked in a playful tone, “Are you heading to the PC café now?”
She flinched. She hadn't intended to go, but she felt a sudden pang of guilt.
“...No?” she denied, if only for the sake of her pride. It felt strangely wounded. “Do you think I only ever go to the PC café?”
“? Don't you?”
“I do not.”
She felt unnecessarily cranky. Just what kind of image did he have of her? Her lips pouted slightly. “Even I wouldn't go during exam period.”
Shin A-young nodded to herself, emphasizing her point.
“Then, wanna hit the PC café now?”
“Huh? Really?” Shin A-young’s voice jumped an octave before she could stop it.
“...”
“...”
Lee Seung-ho blinked in silence. After staring at each other for a moment, she realized he was joking. The skin under her eyes trembled, and blood rushed to her face. She lightly punched his shoulder—a protest against his teasing.
“Guess you’re feeling okay now?” Lee Seung-ho said, brushing off his shoulder.
“...Better than before.”
“...”
Lee Seung-ho looked at Shin A-young and gave a small nod. “Yeah, you do look better.”
...Better in what way?
Shin A-young narrowed her eyes. She couldn't understand. Her reflection in the window looked... well, no matter how she looked at it...
“...I look the same as usual.”
“Wow.” Lee Seung-ho let out a huff of disbelief. “No one’s watching right now. Just be comfortable.”
He said that while glancing around the empty hallway. But it wasn't that no one was watching.
“...You’re watching.”
“We’ve already dropped the formalities and cursed at each other. What's there to hide?”
“That was...!”
Shin A-young looked around in a panic, her shoulders twitching. Did he still remember that? That had been a total mistake. Besides, she didn't even swear much these days.
“Then at least do it when it’s just the two of us. I really won't care what you do.”
“...”
She pressed her lips together and blinked. Choosing not to respond to that, she changed the subject.
“...What about Sol?”
“...She’s probably lying on the sofa in the counseling office. She was dozing off earlier.” Lee Seung-ho glanced toward the office at the end of the hallway.
At those words, Shin A-young let out a hollow laugh internally. Well, then.
“...Must be nice to be so relaxed.”
Here she was, feeling distraught because of someone else's actions. Anyone watching would think she was the one dating Lee Seung-ho.
“...I’m going now.” Shin A-young took a step back.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yeah.”
Her mind was a mess. She just wanted to go home and sleep.
“...”
Lee Seung-ho looked up, his face showing he was debating whether to say something. He let out a small breath and spoke.
“Hey, let’s go to the ice rink again after exams are over.”
Shin A-young froze. She rolled her eyes toward him. “Huh?”
“If you don't like that, the PC café is fine too.”
No, that wasn't it.
“We went during midterms, too. I think the others would like it.”
“Ah...”
What was I thinking? Shin A-young let out a quiet sigh.
“You’re coming, right?”
“...”
Shin A-young felt a bit spiteful at his nonchalant expression. Unlike her, he was saying everything he wanted to say without a second thought. The feeling that this was unfair rose up like creeping smoke.
“Are you serious about what you just said?”
“...Huh? Which part?”
“You just said it. That I can be however I want when it’s just the two of us.”
That it was okay not to act. Did he even know how his words—that he wouldn't care—affected her? She was the one holding back. Surely, Lee Seung-ho didn't mean it that way, but...
Shin A-young wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt.
“...I’m really going to do it, then?” she squeezed out in a trembling voice.
*
“...I’m really going to do it, then?”
At Shin A-young’s odd question, Lee Seung-ho furrowed his brows. It was a strange thing to ask. He didn't think friends needed permission to be themselves. However, since Shin A-young was someone who cared deeply about her public image...
It was the same this time.
The "noise" that had relapsed was the same as before. Since Shin A-young’s way of relieving stress was playing games, he figured she was stressed because she thought they wouldn't be able to hang out anymore. There was also her relationship with Lee Sol; perhaps being close to him weighed on her conscience.
“Yeah.” I nodded as if it were no big deal.
Start with one person. Gradually reduce the weight of others' gazes. If that comfort expanded, her stress would likely decrease as well. Thinking about it that way, it wasn't a difficult thing to promise.
“I don't mind.”
At the very least, didn't Shin A-young need one or two people she could feel comfortable around? I hoped that the people in the counseling office would become those people for her.
At my words...
— “-----------!”
The Mini-Me’s noise spiked all at once, then plummeted with eerie speed. And at the very end...
— “......You’re the one who said it.”
That murmur was barely audible.
“Got it.”
The corners of Shin A-young’s mouth lifted. It was a faint smile, one that seemed somewhat relieved.
“See you tomorrow.”
She immediately turned around and walked away at a brisk pace, almost as if she were running.
“...Yeah.”
I watched her retreating back with a dumbfounded expression. The noise had completely disappeared, but because of that final spike... I couldn't be sure if this had actually turned out well.
*
After seeing Shin A-young off, I returned to the counseling office. When I opened the door, a strange silence greeted me.
I looked around and found her on the sofa. It was Lee Sol, lying there with her eyes closed.
“Lee Sol?”
No answer.
“Whew... whew......”
— “...”
Her breaths were shallow. Her Mini-Me was lying on its stomach, dozing peacefully.
“...She’s really sleeping.”
I found the sight absurd, but I was stuck in a dilemma. Should I wake her up? Or should I let her sleep for a bit?
Since we were almost done with the study material anyway, I quietly sat on the opposite sofa and picked up my phone. I figured I’d wake her up in a little while.
It was then.
“Mmm...”
Whether she felt my presence or not, Lee Sol stirred.
— “Ugh...”
Lee Sol’s Mini-Me blinked its eyes and woke up.
“......”
At the same time, her physical eyes slowly opened. She stared at the ceiling for a moment and then closed them again. Her brow twitched.
— “...Ah.”
A short exclamation escaped her inner self. The Mini-Me slowly looked around, assessing the situation.
— “Wait... Ah, I really fell asleep...! I was only going to close my eyes for a second...!”
The Mini-Me’s small limbs thrashed against the floor in frustration.
— “I think Seung-ho is next to me, too...!”
The Mini-Me’s face turned bright red. She seemed incredibly embarrassed.
“......”
The tips of the "sleeping" Lee Sol’s ears were crimson. Her fingertips twitched slightly. I watched her secretly, pretending not to notice. Seeing her state, it felt a bit cruel to demand she wake up immediately. I was curious to see what she would do.
— “It doesn't look like he’s realized I’m awake yet.”
...I definitely realized it.
— “Should I wait for him to wake me up...?”
The Mini-Me nodded nonchalantly.
— “He’ll wake me up if he thinks I’m still sleeping.”
“...”
I guess I have to play along.
I stood up from the sofa and slowly approached her. Without touching her, I lightly tapped the frame of the sofa.
“Hey, Lee Sol. Wake up.”
— “It’s a bit of a shame... If he calls me one more time, then...”
Man, she’s high maintenance.
“...Lee Sol!”
When I raised my voice, she finally "reacted."
“......Mm? Yeah?”
Only then did Lee Sol slowly open her eyes. She shamelessly acted as if she had just woken up, smoothly extending her arms to stretch. The Mini-Me’s eyes were curved in a satisfied arc.
— “Good. That was natural.”
...Hah.
Watching her little performance, I let out a silent chuckle.