Chapter 196
Chapter 196
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 196
Chapter Title: The Melodramatic Farewell
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As soon as we stepped into the bar, Hyorin shot me a quick glance and then bolted right back out.
I couldn't help but be utterly flustered by the sight.
'What the... what was that?'
Should I go after her?
Normally, I wouldn't, but...
Gulp.
The stares from the students right now were incredibly burdensome.
It felt like if I didn't chase after Hyorin, something catastrophic would happen.
Under their gazes, I scratched my forehead while standing at the entrance, then turned and pushed open the door to step outside.
I scanned the area around the shop, and there she was—Hyorin, standing in an alley just a short distance from the entrance.
Feeling like I'd done something wrong, I approached her awkwardly, and right at that moment...
She flashed a bright smile.
"How was I? Like a tragic heroine, right?"
"...What?"
I was thrown off by the sudden change in her expression, but only for a moment.
Hyorin let out a long sigh and said,
"Whew, I thought I was gonna suffocate in there. If you hadn't shown up at that exact timing, I would've bailed on my own."
She kept sighing, like she was venting all her frustration.
I asked her worriedly,
"You okay?"
"No, not at all. You'd know if you stuck around in there. I seriously thought I was gonna die from the stuffiness."
She said it casually, but right before she dashed out, her face had looked genuinely strained.
Seeing that made me feel guilty for arriving so late.
I crouched down next to her and asked,
"Want me to grab you some water?"
"Nah, I'll just go back in and drink in a bit."
"Or maybe get you some ice cream from the convenience store up ahead?"
"Ice cream?"
Her expression changed at the mention of ice cream.
"That sounds good. Wanna go together?"
"Uh, yeah. Sure."
Ever since hearing what Jungeun said, my attitude toward Hyorin had shifted a little.
Anyone in this situation would react the same way, though.
We stood up from where we were sitting and slowly walked toward the convenience store.
That's when Hyorin asked curiously,
"But this is unexpected."
"Huh? What is?"
"I figured you wouldn't come, for sure."
"You thought... I wouldn't come?"
"You hate gatherings like this."
I couldn't help but feel a huge question mark at her saying I hated them.
If she really thought I wouldn't show, then she shouldn't have come either.
It didn't make sense that someone who predicted that far wouldn't anticipate how our friends would react.
So I had to ask,
"Then why'd you come if you thought I wouldn't?"
Hyorin just smiled brightly, saying nothing more.
But I was too curious to let it go.
"No, really—why? You knew it'd be this kind of vibe."
"I did."
"Then why?"
"I was curious."
Of course she was.
That's why she asked, right?
Amused by my reaction, Hyorin laughed and explained.
She told me why she'd come to this graduation drinking party tonight.
"You showed up, didn't you?"
"What?"
"That's what I came to check."
What kind of nonsense was this?
She came to confirm if I'd show up like this?
If she wanted me to come, she could've just called.
I couldn't fathom what Hyorin was thinking, waiting without even texting.
Staring at her in disbelief at her utterly inscrutable behavior, she said,
"What're you doing? Aren't you gonna buy me ice cream?"
Ignoring my confusion entirely, she only talked about the ice cream.
I let out a small sigh and headed into the convenience store.
I grabbed her favorite chocolate Choco Zzang ice cream bar like it was second nature and rang it up at the counter.
And that's when I noticed Hyorin...
Gulp.
'Sh-she's wearing makeup.'
It was too dark to tell earlier.
Hyorin had come with full makeup on today.
Probably because it was graduation—she put in some extra effort.
It looked different from her usual bare-faced look.
Somehow... more...
"What?"
"Uh, nothing. What?"
"Aren't you gonna pay or what?"
"Oh, right. Yeah."
I quickly averted my eyes and finished paying.
I handed her the ice cream, and she took it with childlike glee.
"Thanks. I'll enjoy it."
We sat at a table out front of the convenience store, eating our ice cream while watching people pass by on the street.
In the soft glow of the store lights, I gazed at Hyorin's reflection.
"Why're you staring all weird?"
"What do you mean?"
"The makeup. I put some effort in for graduation, but I'm so used to going bare-faced that it feels awkward."
I shook my head.
"Nah, it suits you."
"Really?"
"Yeah, but don't get me wrong—that doesn't mean your usual look is bad or anything."
Hyorin paused mid-bite, staring intently at me.
Then she asked curiously,
"So what about my usual look?"
"...What?"
"If my usual self wasn't great, then what did you think of it?"
I had no idea what she wanted to hear from me.
I turned my head indifferently and said,
"No idea."
"Tch. You're so nice sometimes, then blunt as a brick the next. You really confuse people, you know."
"When have I ever confused you?"
She stared deeply into my eyes.
Then she turned away and muttered,
"You're doing it right now."
It felt like she kept saying these cryptic things I couldn't quite grasp.
Just then, I spotted two people running toward us from the direction of the bar.
"Kanghyeok!"
"Hyorin!"
It was Jungeun and Minji.
"Hey! There you guys are—we've been looking everywhere!"
Panting hard, they plopped down across from us.
Once they caught their breath, they asked,
"You can't just up and leave without saying anything!"
"I thought you two had a huge fight or something!"
Hyorin laughed at Minji's words.
"Fight? Why would we fight? We're not kids."
"But you just stormed out like that—how could we not worry?"
Recalling the earlier scene, Hyorin grinned and asked,
"Why? Did I look like a tragic heroine?"
"What?! You mean that was all an act?!"
"How was my performance? Fooled you all, huh?"
Jungeun shook his head in disbelief at Hyorin's reveal.
"Man, Hyorin, you're something else. You have no idea the chaos after you left. It was insane—total pandemonium."
"Well, then mission accomplished."
"Mission?"
"Yeah, that's the scene they wanted. I just gave 'em a memorable breakup moment for their last gathering."
Memorable, my foot.
I really wanted to peek into her head just once.
"I have no clue what goes on in that mind of yours."
"What do you mean? I'm just bummed, that's all."
"Bummed about what?"
"That our college days are ending like this."
She looked up at the dark night sky.
"So I wanted to do something memorable. You know, since it's the end. To make a few more memories before it's over."
Minji followed her gaze up to the sky.
Then Jungeun did too, but...
I kept my eyes on Hyorin.
On Hyorin as she gazed at the sky.
That's when she said,
"So, everyone... live well."
Whoosh!
Minji whipped her head toward Hyorin.
"You're not going somewhere, are you?"
Hyorin smiled.
"Yeah, I'm going abroad to study."
Stu... dy abroad?
Minji, looking like she couldn't believe it, said,
"You're lying again. Studying abroad? That's gotta be a joke."
I hoped it was a joke like Minji said, but...
Sadly, Hyorin just smiled at us without another word.
She quietly looked up at the sky again.
"Stu-study abroad?"
"You're really going?"
"Oh... what do we do..."
My words made the students' expressions shift dramatically.
Even though they knew it ultimately led to marriage, they looked heartbroken.
"So what'd you say?"
"Did you beg her not to go?"
"What about confessing?"
Amid the barrage of questions, I just smiled like Hyorin had back then.
That's when Minji jumped in.
"Oh, but what now? Lunchtime's over."
"Ah! TA!"
"Nooo! Please! If I don't hear the end, I won't sleep tonight!"
"Pleeease, just once! I'll draw super hard! So tell us what happened next!"
Minji stayed firm despite the students' pleas.
And for good reason—the events after were something she'd be embarrassed about forever.
"No. Time to go."
"Ah! Teacher!"
"Please tell us, Painter! I'll be your biggest fan—just spill!"
I glanced at Minji and asked,
"They wanna keep listening. What do we do?"
Her face darkened considerably.
She was probably reliving it vividly.
The mood had already tipped toward telling, but she looked like she didn't want to believe it.
"Ha..."
She finally let out a long sigh and gave in.
"Fine, whatever."
I grinned and asked,
"So I can tell it?"
"You brought up study abroad just to lead into this. You're so unpredictable sometimes."
Her words suddenly reminded me of what Hyorin had once said while looking at me.
Back then, I had no idea what she meant.
But now I knew.
Exactly what Hyorin had been thinking when she said it.
With the atmosphere set for storytelling, I smiled and apologized first.
"Sorry about this. Wasn't planned, so don't take it personally."
"I know. Just get on with it. The kids are dying here."
I chuckled and continued.
"So, after Hyorin said she was going abroad, here's what Minji did."
We'd finished lunch, but my story with Hyorin went on.
Minji shot up from her seat at Hyorin's words.
She yelled at Hyorin, who was staring at the sky.
"Hey!"
Startled by Minji's sudden outburst, Hyorin asked,
"Wh-what? Why yell? You scared me!"
And then what Minji did next shocked us all.
The ever-confident Minji, who even had the nickname "Conviction Minji" for her strong principles...
"If you just leave like that... sob."
Huh?
Tears streamed down her face as she said to Hyorin,
"Waaah! Don't go! Don't leave! Why are you going?! Don't go! Waaah!"
And with alcohol fueling him, Jungeun joined in...
"Why... sob. Why are you crying... ugh! D-don't cry... Don't cry, okay... huuuh!"
Wailing just as loudly.
Hyorin and I could only blink and stare at the two of them.
Kids... these kids...