Chapter 7
Chapter 7
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Pretending Not to Know
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Hey, you fucking bastard Han Woojin.”
“Didn’t I tell you not to call me ‘hey’ and tack on my name?”
“Cut the bullshit and come with me.”
“What’s with you today? You’re being all snappy. Think you’re hot shit now that you know you’re good-looking?”
“Ugh, can’t you just come along?”
He was the one who started calling me a bastard from the get-go.
I grumbled as I got up from my seat and followed behind Seo Jinhyuk.
I figured he was dragging me to the vending machine or something, but instead of heading downstairs, we went up.
And the spot where our footsteps finally stopped was, out of nowhere, the school rooftop.
“Why are we here?”
Was he about to confess to me or something?
The image of a gender-swapped TS Seo Jinhyuk from yesterday’s lunch flashed through my mind, making my stomach churn for a second.
“Hey, don’t you feel bad about anything you’ve done to me?”
“What would I have to feel bad about? If anything, you should be the one apologizing to me.”
“…Me?”
“You keep getting dragged off to confessions all the time, and it kills me every single one, but I stick by your side anyway. I’m loyal as hell, right? Admit it.”
“Hey, I hate getting dragged into that crap too? No, that’s not the point. Why the hell did you tell my little sister you saw me looking at porn? No, what the fuck did you even talk about with her for that to come up, you psycho?”
Oh.
“…She told you about that?”
Seo Yerim? While I was asking my little sister for a favor, she was over there assassinating my character?
“Yeah. Thanks a lot. I was mid-sip of water and nearly choked it all back up. I’ve been holding back the urge to kill you since last night, so explain yourself in a way I can buy.”
…This is bullshit. Total bullshit. I was just watching cat-vs-dog videos, that’s all.
Saying my little sister asked if I was into porn, and not wanting to die alone, I threw you under the bus as a set menu combo… Yeah, no way I could say that out loud.
Looking at Seo Jinhyuk glaring at me with fire in his eyes, I couldn’t even open my mouth.
“…Thanks to me, you won’t have to hide it anymore. Lucky you, huh.”
To my offhand remark, Seo Jinhyuk looked like he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.
His eyes went wide as he grabbed my shoulders.
“Hey, Han Woojin.”
“Yeah?”
“You feeling okay or something?”
Did I hit my head on the way home yesterday? He poked and prodded at my scalp like he was checking.
I seriously wanted to kill him right then.
“I’m fine, asshole. There were circumstances yesterday.”
“…Circumstances that make it okay to tell a 13-year-old little sister that her big bro watches porn?”
“……Shit happens in life.”
Hearing it out loud, even I had to admit it sounded off, but I stood by it.
“You psycho… Whatever. You free after school today?”
“Today? Yeah, why?”
“………Wanna come over to my place today too?”
What the hell was with this guy?
He was the one inviting me, yet Seo Jinhyuk squeezed his eyes shut like it pained him, his lips trembling.
Anyone overhearing would think I was the one begging to go.
…I mean, I did want to.
“Don’t you have academy today?”
I asked, recalling that his academy was four days a week.
“……………Yeah.”
“Huh? Then you want me to come after your class ends?”
“………………No, after school.”
“What bullshit is that? You said you’re going to academy.”
“…………………Just come. Please, man.”
What was this, some knockoff Hongchul team without Hongchul?
Inviting me to his place while he wouldn’t even be there—what kind of lunatic does that?
And the way he grit his teeth like he hated every word, it was like he’d been hypnotized or something.
“So… you want me to go to your house alone after school?”
“……………………Yeah.”
Watching him struggle through that long deliberation to squeeze out an answer, it hit me.
He’s a total psycho.
Wasted potential with that face.
Still.
I was grateful for this lunatic today, at least.
Because it meant I’d get to see Seo Yerim again.
“Got it. I’ll head over after school then. What time?”
“…8.”
“Roughly four hours… Perfect.”
What to do alone with Seo Yerim for four hours? Didn’t matter.
I’d figure it out when I got there.
“Hey, what’s perfect? What? What’s so great?”
“What the hell, why are you flipping out all of a sudden, you psycho…!”
“If you try anything weird, you’re dead for real, Han Woojin.”
“Weird how?”
“How am I supposed to say that shit out loud, you bastard…!”
If he was that worried, why invite me? His freakout was ridiculous.
But just thinking about seeing Seo Yerim again had me grinning—even as he put me in a headlock. Ow, fuck, that really hurts…!
“Ow ow… That shit hurt for real…”
“…You deserve it.”
“Victim-blaming much?”
I touched my neck, which had been sleepy just moments ago, and felt the hot sting. This asshole really went for it.
Then, a fact I’d learned yesterday popped into my head.
“Hey, Jinhyuk.”
“…What.”
“Your little sister…”
“What? No, fuck off.”
“Psycho, I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“Hoo… So what.”
Every time I brought up Seo Yerim, he went full freakout mode. Total siscon confirmed.
Sigh, I’d never end up like that.
“Those pink eyes… are they from being embarrassed?”
“Pink eyes? Oh, that…”
Seo Jinhyuk paused mid-sentence.
He hesitated, like he was wondering if he should say, then spoke up after a moment.
“Ask Yerim herself about it.”
If I spill, I might die—he shivered like it creeped him out and kept going.
“Just keep this in mind. Emotions are complicated.”
“…Complicated?”
“Yeah. Sure, it could be embarrassment like you said. But pink eyes don’t always mean that. Human emotions aren’t something you can pin down with one word.”
He said it so matter-of-factly, like it was simple.
But how much effort had he put into understanding his sister to get there?
It felt like he was telling me to really get to know her, not just skim the surface.
“…You know your stuff.”
“She’s family.”
His smile said it was obvious—and for the first time, he actually looked like a real big brother.
The long school day finally ended today too.
The after-school bell I’d been dying for rang out.
I jumped up excitedly, but for some reason, Seo Jinhyuk stared at me with dead eyes.
Whatever—he was the one who kept telling me to come over. I headed to Jinhyuk-less Jinhyuk house with light steps.
I’d worried about forgetting the way, but that was for nothing—whether my memory sharpened up or for some other reason, the path was crystal clear.
I followed it and arrived at Jinhyuk-less Jinhyuk house without issue.
“Whew…”
I took a quick deep breath before ringing the bell.
♪♬
“…Who is it?”
Maybe because it’d been exactly 24 hours.
Even her voice through the intercom made my heart race for no reason.
“Hey, it’s Han Woojin from yesterday.”
“…Oppa’s at academy today, so he’s not home.”
“……Huh? Jinhyuk told me to come ahead…”
Fuck.
Seo Jinhyuk, you crazy bastard.
Was this payback for the porn thing? Is that it?
I thought he’d told Seo Yerim too since he said to go ahead, but her puzzled reaction had my face burning with shame.
From her side, it must look like: Some friend of my brother’s showing up saying bro invited him over when bro’s not even home…?
I want to die.
Clinging to my fraying sanity, I forced my mouth open.
“Uh, looks like there was a misunderstanding in the convo. I’ll come back when Jinhyuk’s around. Sorry.”
I vowed to kill that guy tomorrow as I turned to leave—then a panicked voice hit my ears.
“W-Wait! Hold on…! It’s fine, come in and wait! I’ll open the door right now…!”
Click. Footsteps dashed toward me from behind the door.
♪♬
The door swung open with a cheerful chime, revealing her bangs swept to the side from rushing—exposing her pale forehead and crimson eyes greeting me.
“…Come in, quick.”
“H-Hey? You didn’t have to rush.”
“You were about to leave…”
That’s why she ran?
She said it like she blamed me, but it felt like she’d wanted to see me too.
I barely held back the grin tugging at my lips.
“Sorry. Felt weird showing up out of the blue, so I was gonna come back later. After Jinhyuk gets here, y’know.”
“…You were gonna come back?”
“Yeah. I said I’d come again, remember?”
I brought up yesterday’s promise, and luckily, it seemed to please her.
Her crimson eyes slowly shifted to yellow.
Watching Seo Yerim’s eyes change with my actions felt like I’d become a painter.
“…Hurry up and come in.”
She grabbed my uniform sleeve with her small hand, tugging insistently like she couldn’t wait.
Coming here was the right call.
I wouldn’t be bored for those four hours, that’s for sure.