Chapter 151
Chapter 151
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Episode 49. Debate Topic: Stockholm Syndrome
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The fun trip had come to an end.
Nearly a month had passed since then.
The kids were huddled together on the sofa, staring at the TV. They'd decided to watch a movie together and had even prepared popcorn and cola. But Yeoreum was the one who picked the film. Filling the screen was a rating: 'Recommended for viewers 19 and over.' In other words, no one under 18 allowed.
At least it was a relief that it wasn't some sleazy flick, but an artistic one.
The movie was titled Beauty and the Beast in Chicago. A modern take on Beauty and the Beast.
"Play it?"
"You really wanna watch that?"
"Play it?"
"Ugh, nooo...! Don't play it...!"
Gaeul suddenly snatched the remote from Yeoreum. Then she wedged it between her chest and the chick.
"Why not? You said you were curious."
"I am curious...! But still...!"
"Yoo Gaeul, think about it. When else are we gonna watch this if not now?"
Yeoreum had her justification.
Ajusshi had just stepped out. It was rare for him to leave the kids alone, so this was a precious opportunity.
"Ugh, that poster looks weird from the start. Why's that guy sticking his tongue out...?"
Yeoreum smirked pityingly. Then mischief lit up her face. In a sultry voice, she said,
"My little sis. What do people do with their tongues?"
"Huh? Eat tasty stuff...?"
"Then why's that guy got his tongue out?"
"Uh, umm... To eat...?"
"Exactly♥"
Yeoreum flashed a decadent smile and licked her lips with her tongue. Startled, Gaeul pressed herself against Bom in horror. The surprised chick burrowed into Gaeul's arms.
"W-what, what're you gonna eat!? No! Don't tell me...! I'm not curious...! I don't wanna know...!"
"Jesus."
Yeoreum clicked her tongue in disdain.
They bickered back and forth about whether to watch the movie or not. Bom asked Winter if he wanted to go to his room. He shook his head no. If anything, he seemed more composed than Gaeul.
"You sure you're okay? It might be kinda weird."
"...What kind of weird?"
"Hmm..."
Bom pondered as she stroked Winter's blue hair. Explaining what was weird was weird in itself, so she had to carefully choose words suitable for a child.
"...Doing bad things?"
"It's not bad. It's natural. Necessary. Can be beautiful. Or messy. Some people hate it, some love it."
"...What's that?"
"Well, it's like..."
She whispered in his ear. Winter tilted his head, not quite getting it.
"...Should I not know?"
"You'll learn someday. Gotta know it right to think right."
"...Hard words."
"Wanna hold Unni's hand and watch? I'll share just the tame feelings. And if it gets too much, Unni'll cover your eyes."
"...Yeah. Thanks."
About then, the Guardian standing like a statue across the living room narrowed his eyes subtly. Old memories from his glory days bubbled up. His red eyes curved at the thought of watching an adult film.
"Hey, janitor."
"Yes, Second Miss."
"I'll set up a subspace, so go outside and keep watch for that guy."
"Watch if that person is coming? What's that mean?"
"Be a lookout."
"Ah..."
The Guardian suddenly found himself on lookout duty outside.
The movie started.
Bom and Yeoreum watched intently.
Gaeul covered her face with her hands while hugging the chick, peeking through her fingers. The moment skin appeared on screen, she'd snap them shut.
That's when Bom would cover Winter's eyes. And lower the volume with the remote.
"Why turn it down?"
"Sound's too explicit."
"Ruins the fun. Gimme the remote."
"No."
Yeoreum cocked her head defiantly at Bom's firm tone.
"Not giving it?"
"No, Yeoreum."
"Ugh, seriously."
Then Yeoreum seemed to remember something and grinned slyly.
Why's she like that? Bom tensed inwardly.
"Ahh...♥"
A breathy moan escaped Yeoreum's lips.
Gaeul freaked out.
"Unni, are you crazy? Why imitate that...!?"
"Ahh...♥ Hnng...♥"
"Stop it! You lunatic!"
Yeoreum rolled her eyes back at Gaeul's shout.
"Ah♥♥"
"Ewww! Gross! You're insane...! Lost your mind for real...!"
As Gaeul tried to flee the sofa in earnest, Yeoreum pinned her with both arms and cackled like a witch.
The rowdy chaos made the movie feel anything but sexy.
Surprisingly, minus the explicit parts, it was entertaining.
A spoiled, tyrannical chaebol heir. And his poor female secretary.
The heir treated people like dirt. When the fed-up secretary tried to run, he locked her in the office. At first, she hated him. But for some reason, she opened her heart. They fell in love. And in the end, she reformed him.
...A clichéd melodrama plot.
The movie ended.
The kids started chattering about their impressions.
"But but, something I don't get."
"You missed half, duh."
"No! I saw everything except the naughty bits...!"
Gaeul spoke up after some thought.
"In the middle, why did the locked-up girl open her heart to the guy? I don't get that."
"Why not?"
"Look, Unni. He didn't treat her super nice or anything. Just acted mean. Cursed her. Almost hit her. Locked her up? In the office."
"He's hot."
"Yeah...? Still!"
"Great body. Ass is just chef's kiss."
"Eww gross... Still! After all that meanness?"
"Rich though."
"Ugh...! Still weird. If it were me, no matter how hot, buff, or loaded, I'd never fall for someone that cruel."
"That's called Stockholm Syndrome."
Bom explained.
"Stockholm Syndrome?"
"Yeah. If the abuser shows gentlemanly sides sometimes, dependent victims might open up and sympathize."
Then Winter asked,
"...What's abuser?"
"Person who does bad things."
"...Sympathize?"
"Empathizing and relating to someone's feelings."
"...Oh."
"Way back, armed robbers held bank staff hostage for days in Stockholm. They were occasionally kind, so even after police rescued them, the hostages sided with the robbers."
"Ehhh? For real?"
"Yeah. Refused to testify, apparently."
"Whoa... Super weird. Humans are like that...?"
The kids fell into their own thoughts for a moment.
"Hmm... Come to think of it, are we like that?"
"Huh?"
"Suddenly kidnapped and locked in 301."
Bom said it half-jokingly.
But Gaeul, who'd been immersed in the movie, shook her head seriously.
"No? Definitely not?"
"Really?"
"I'm not some dumb girl like that...! Wasn't abused, so no syndrome!"
"Then?"
"Then... Not 'cause the macarons and sausage bread were tasty! I came on my own two feet?"
Not abused, so no Stockholm Syndrome—that was her logic.
Yeoreum shook her head too.
"Doesn't seem like it for me."
"Why?"
"Don't really like the guy."
"You follow him pretty well though?"
"Hmm. Best of the humans."
Doesn't like him, so no Stockholm Syndrome—her logic.
"You?"
"......?"
Winter didn't quite follow his sisters. But since they said no, probably not.
"...Probably not?"
"Yeah?"
Bom patted Winter's little head.
"Guess it's just me then..."
She said it casually.
Gaeul's eyes widened instantly.
'Just me then'?
"Anyway, wrap up. Ajusshi's due back."
Yeoreum and Winter seemed to brush off Bom's words.
They got up to clean the trash, after all.
But Gaeul was different. Hearing the same words, she felt unlike the other dragons.
Face flushed red, she started cleaning.
Her mind grew complicated.
Sis probably wasn't joking. It must tie to that expression she'd seen back then.
It had to.
About a month ago, since Peace City, Gaeul had felt intense curiosity.
Bom never showed that face when everyone was together.
But jumping to empathize felt scary.
That oblivious, pine-tree-like Bom had acted so strangely?
Must be some massive, monstrous emotion...!
So Gaeul decided to put off her curiosity.
Gold Dragon's deep empathy (immersion) was passive, but with mental prep, she could handle it actively.
Since returning from the trip, Gaeul had stealthily avoided Ji-tae. Now she could face him without fluster.
But hearing Bom's words just now, curiosity reared its head again.
The moment Ji-tae returned, Bom's feelings overlapped with Gaeul's view of his face.
'What is it. What's that. What...'
No, can't.
Gaeul shelved her curiosity again. Dangerous. Scary. Whatever, no way.
To avoid it, never be alone with him.
Never...!
"Guardian consultations today."
Oh god...!
Ji-tae said it over dinner.
Gaeul paled. A one-on-one in this climate? Just imagining it made her want to crawl into a hole. She barely knew if food went in her mouth or nose.
"Finish eating, then come to my room one by one."
"Yes."
After the meal.
While Bom and Yeoreum consulted with Ji-tae, Gaeul desperately brainstormed escape excuses.
"Yoo Gaeul. Come in."
"Ugh..."
But she couldn't think of any.
Cold sweat beaded. Heart like heading to slaughter, Gaeul entered Ji-tae's room. She deliberately left the door open.
"Alright, Gaeul."
"Y-yes...!"
Gaeul couldn't look at Ji-tae's face. She clasped her hands and stared at them.
"What's wrong."
"Huh? W-what...!?"
"Something bothering you? Why like that."
"N-no? I'm fine...?"
Ji-tae stared straight at her.
"How've you been."
"J-just fine?"
"Anything lacking."
"Nope, nothing...!"
*
Ji-tae thought Gaeul was acting weird again.
After the trip, she'd been like this for a while, then fine. Now suddenly again today.
Heart pounding. Avoiding eye contact. Seemed scared of him for some reason.
"Really nothing lacking?"
"Yes...! Nothing! All good, can I go?"
"Not yet. Anything uncomfortable."
"Nope...!"
Nothing uncomfortable, she said.
Was that true?
Scales Eye (SS)
So Ji-tae leaned in to look at her eyes again. Gaeul ducked lower to evade.
He got off the chair, leaned further to see her face.
Gaeul panicked and covered her face with her hands.
"Just let me see your face."
"N-no... Don't look...!"
Gaeul was stubborn. Dead set on not showing her face.
The guardian felt a bit frustrated. But if she didn't want it, he wouldn't force.
"Okay... Got it. No requests."
"Uh, umm..."
"Yoo Gaeul?"
"P-please end the consultation...!"
Really, who knew.
*
Gaeul fled Ji-tae's room and holed up in her corner for a long time. Even shooed the chick out.
That was close...!
Ji-tae's Adam's apple, the veins on his forearms, his broad shoulders still lingered in Gaeul's vision.
Wondering what Bom thought while looking at him honestly terrified her.
She didn't know what emotion it was.
But one thing was clear.
'My chest feels weird...'
It was driving her mad.
At this rate, staying in 301 would get uncomfortable. So Gaeul thought: Keep distance from Ji-tae for a while.
Then a thought struck: If Bom always harbored such massive thoughts and feelings.
'Huh...?'
How does she act so nonchalant around Ajusshi?