Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Not Just a Dream
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Nightmare. A nightmare.
Yeah, that's right. It was a brutal nightmare. One I could never wake from.
Seeing me unable to respond, Han Seo-ah pushed me toward the living room with her slender hand, as if she'd known it all along.
"I knew it, you idiot... Did you think I'd thank you for sitting up in the living room all night guarding me like that, Jun-woo?"
Her eyes held a hurt look, like how can you still not get me? I had nothing to say.
But this was my atonement, my stubbornness, my love.
"Fine, let's stay together. Give me the blankets and pillows. I'll set them up."
"...! Okay!"
I let out a sigh of surrender and opened my mouth.
Her lips immediately curved into a bright smile, lighting up the dark night around her like midday sun.
What could make her so happy? Still, seeing it made my own lips twitch upward bit by bit.
I couldn't help it. Yeah, I really couldn't.
I spread out two blankets in the living room and set up the pillows. Han Seo-ah immediately slipped under the covers.
She stared at me intently and patted the spot next to her. It felt like if I didn't lie down soon, she'd launch a second round of battle.
In the end, I gave up my General Who Pacifies Heaven stance and crawled under the blankets too.
Lying there naturally brought our gazes together.
Normally, we'd tease each other about staring, then quickly turn away from the sudden shyness.
But today...
I didn't want to look away.
Was Han Seo-ah feeling the same?
In the quiet night, we silently stared into each other's eyes.
How much time passed?
We gazed into each other's pupils as if entranced for a moment, until Han Seo-ah quietly spoke up.
"...Why were you sitting there earlier with your arms crossed like some scary statue?"
"To look like the General Who Pacifies Heaven. That way, any evil spirits would see me and turn back."
"Pfft, what is that... Does that make me the Earth-Pacifying General next to the Heaven-Pacifying one?"
She giggled like it was ridiculous, then awkwardly crossed her arms while lying down, mimicking me.
Oh.
Ohhh...!
How is she so...!
"...Lee Jun-woo."
"Huh?"
"What are you doing?"
"Uh, I'm listening to you."
"What did I say?"
"Uh..."
Watermelon? No, that's not it.
As I racked my brain to remember, Han Seo-ah fixed me with an icy stare—totally different from before. Cold sweat trickled down my back.
"Ah! Earth-Pacifying General! Yeah, that's it, right!?"
"...Too late, Jun-woo."
"Sorry..."
"Sorry my foot... Tch."
This isn't working.
The cold glare lasted only a moment.
In the darkened, quiet living room, lying under the blankets and facing each other.
Starting from that little exchange, we began whispering back and forth until the night deepened to where we could barely make out each other's faces.
This should be okay now, right? A few hours had passed since the time of the original accident. My mind finally eased a bit.
Just as I was drifting off, thinking it was time to wake from the dream...
"Lee Jun-woo—no, Jun-woo."
Her voice broke the silence, right by my ear.
"Yeah?"
Unlike before, it carried a hint of shyness... or maybe resolve.
I wondered what she wanted to say to sound like that.
"Earlier... that thing you said in the morning about coming to protect me. Remember?"
"Of course. Why?"
"If... like today, I have another nightmare or something happens to me... will you protect me like this?"
"Obviously."
No need to hesitate. It was my honest truth.
"I'll protect you forever."
"...Forever?"
"Yeah, forever."
"...Why?"
Why, indeed.
I thought the night had grown so deep we couldn't see each other's faces anymore.
But somehow, now they seemed perfectly clear.
From the faint blush on her snow-white cheeks, to her flushed ears, to the way she nervously swallowed. Han Seo-ah's face filled my vision, plain as day.
It would've been easy to say, because we're childhood friends.
It wasn't wrong.
But...
It wasn't right either.
I didn't want to hide my feelings anymore, even in a dream.
"Because I love you."
"...Huh?"
"I love you, you dummy."
The moment the words left my mouth, Han Seo-ah's face turned beet red, perfectly mirroring her heart.
I was probably the same. But I didn't want to look away.
"...And you?"
"Wha—hngh, uh, y-yeah?"
She bit her tongue in her fluster, answering in a panic. It was so adorably ridiculous that I burst out laughing.
"Wh-why are you laughing...?"
"Sorry, you're just too cute."
"C-cu... cute...?"
"So, your answer?"
"...I l... "
"You l...?"
"I like you too..."
Like, for now.
But even with the blanket pulled over her face, her cute little ears burned bright red.
They spoke her true feelings.
It probably wouldn't take long for it to turn into love.
Just like with me, she just needed a tiny bit more time—or at least, that's how I decided to interpret it for my own sake.
After all, I'd spent a little more time with dream-Han Seo-ah than this one.
She'd reached her limit, it seemed. The blanket stayed up as she turned away, curling up.
...Too bad.
Though it was a dream, I was satisfied we'd confirmed each other's feelings.
Now it was time to wake up.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ One thing I hadn't anticipated, though:
Even after waking from that night and spending a few more days...
I still didn't wake from the dream.
No, was it even a dream to begin with?
Pinching my cheeks, asking my parents to hit me—it wouldn't wake. Is that what a dream does?
No way. What if, just what if...
This wasn't a dream. What if I'd miraculously gone back in time?
Damn it, God. This isn't right. If you're sending me to a save point, at least give me a heads-up.
I can't even look Han Seo-ah in the eye since that night, and now you're saying this is real?
I'm losing my mind.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Don't overthink it.
There was nowhere left to retreat anyway.
Early morning, I put on my uniform and called Han Seo-ah.
"...Hello?"
"Han Seo-ah."
No, calling her that felt off now.
"Seo-ah."
"Y-yeah...?"
"Let's go to school together. Not just today—every day from now on."
We'd always done it before, sure.
But I hoped she'd catch the hint. No, I believed Seo-ah would definitely get it.
This signal that I wanted to start our new relationship today.
"...Just going?"
"Huh?"
A playful lilt colored her voice.
"Just together on the way there?"
"No way. Coming back too, obviously. I won't let you go alone even if you beg."
"You went off to the PC bang with those other guys more often than with me, though..."
Oof. Shouldn't have added that.
Of course, she wasn't seriously upset—just teasing.
But it put me on the defensive, so I desperately changed the subject.
"...We were just childhood friends back then."
"Heh, so now...?"
"Now?"
"Yeah, what are we... now...?"
Her voice brimmed with excitement and tension at the question of what we were.
What were we now?
"Pick one."
"Huh?"
"Couple, lovers, girlfriend-boyfriend, first love, future spouses. Which do you like?"
"Heh..."
Relief and regret hit me at once that we were just on the phone.
Relief that she couldn't see my face burning up like it was about to explode.
Regret that I couldn't see her satisfied little expression on the other end.
It had to be utterly lovable.
"A-all of them. But just one thing..."
"One thing?"
I replayed the words I'd listed as she pinpointed one.
Couple, lovers, girlfriend-boyfriend, first love, future spouses...
Then she spoke.
"No 'future' in it... okay?"
Whoa.
Was she allowed to be this lovable?
Laughter bubbled up at my childhood friend—no, now girlfriend—Seo's unexpected cuteness.
"Wh-why are you laughing...?"
"Heh, sorry... This is on you. You're too cute."
No reply to my honest feelings.
But I could picture her expression perfectly, making my heart tickle.
"Seo-ah. Should I come over now?"
"...Y-yeah, hurry."
Was it my imagination?
I could've sworn I heard I miss you tacked on.
"And, Jun-woo-ya."
"Yeah, Seo-ah."
"...I l-love you. F-for—hngh—please take care of me from now on...!"
The call cut off right after. I stared at the screen for a while.
Was she even human? Or some fox spirit here to devour my liver? Random thoughts like that.
I prayed to God.
God, I forgive you for sending me back without a word.
Thank you so much. Amen.