Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 123. What Sincerity Means
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"...It's nothing special, but drink up."
Song Arin sat us down at the dining table and brought out some coffee.
"...Oh..."
Song Arin's place was an apartment. I'd naturally assumed it would be a house.
"I'm not on the Containment Team."
"Isn't it pretty much the same?"
"You're right about that. Still not."
She seemed to read my expression, replying coolly as she set down the coffee.
"Here, iced Americano for you."
Soon enough, coffee appeared in front of Jang Chaeyeon and Yoo Daon too.
"Warm vanilla latte, and warm cappuccino. Right?"
"...Yeah."
"That's right! How'd you know?"
"Messing with people's heads is my job. Gotta know their preferences at least."
Song Arin answered Yoo Daon's question like it was no big deal, then shot me a glance.
"...So."
"...Me?"
"Yeah, you."
"Why me?"
"...What do you think?"
"Oh, it's good? Nice balance of acidity."
"No, not the coffee!"
Ugh, no need to yell all of a sudden.
Song Arin let out a screech and jabbed a finger at her own place.
"My house!"
"Song Arin's house."
"What do you think!"
"Oh."
Only then did I start looking around, prompted by Song Arin.
Cozy little setup.
Dolls scattered here and there, giving the whole room a warm vibe.
Every door was open. Except one.
Unlike all the open rooms, just that single one stayed shut.
Other than that—
"It's nice, right?"
"Yeah. This is my place."
What had her in such a good mood? Song Arin tilted her head up proudly, beaming.
"Nothing special."
"It's the most normal one among ours, yeah?"
"The girl in the standalone house and the one living like a hobo are calling me normal now."
Song Arin shot Jang Chaeyeon and Yoo Daon dirty looks, her face full of irritation.
"Enough with the fighting already."
Three days in, and they still bickered nonstop. It was getting ridiculous.
"But now that we're in a place that's all set up like this..."
"Like what? Too nice?"
"Nah. Feels like there's nothing to do."
We'd spent all day boozing at Jang Chaeyeon's, assembling furniture nonstop at Yoo Daon's. But here, with everything ready to go, there was just... nothing.
"..."
Song Arin fixed me with her signature axe glare.
"Could be nothing to do."
"Haha..."
Jang Chaeyeon had to throw in her two cents, while Yoo Daon just forced a dry laugh without reining her in.
"..."
Song Arin alone sat there, face flushed with anger, silent.
"Come on, let's drop it."
Guess I had to play referee now.
With a sigh, I broke it up and turned to Song Arin.
"Song Arin."
"...What."
Sulking, maybe. Her voice came out curt.
"I like your place."
"...Well, I put some effort into it."
Her tone softened right up, mood lifting.
"..."
"..."
"Mind if I check out the rooms?"
"Sure. Not that one."
She pointed at the closed door.
"Why not that one?"
"...I said don't look, so don't."
"Got it."
Curiosity piqued, sure. But her call.
And with that, Song Arin's housewarming kicked off at last.
Honestly? Nothing happened.
Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin sniped at each other, Yoo Daon or I played peacemaker, sometimes we all ganged up to poke fun.
One surprise: Song Arin couldn't cook.
"...Eh, I can learn later."
Her take on it.
The day rolled by without incident.
Or so I'd thought.
*
"...Ugh."
Ended up crashing here again, no trip home.
Volunteering for the sofa as the lone guy—my back was killing me now, straight-up agony.
Maybe that's why. Woke up in the dead of night, checked the time: 3 a.m.
"..."
Blankly staring at the clock, drifting back to sleep.
"...Huh?"
That closed door Song Arin mentioned? Wide open.
"..."
I glanced at the room where all three slept.
Three semitransparent windows popped up, one by one.
All out cold.
"..."
Still half-asleep, maybe. Curiosity beat out reason—I wanted to peek inside.
Yawned my way over, shuffling in.
Grabbed the knob—zap, temple throbbed. Ignored it, pushed the door open.
Not much in there.
Just a few books, a painting or two on the wall.
"..."
What was worth hiding?
Picked up a book.
[How Not to Care About Others' Opinions.]
[He Has Every Right to Hate You.]
Self-help stuff, every one.
"..."
Big deal.
Set it down, eyed the wall.
"..."
Sleep? Gone.
A painting hung there.
One I'd seen before.
"...This is..."
From the art gallery.
Did she swipe it? Nah.
Blinked hard at it a few times—no window.
And the vibe was off. No creepy aura like the gallery.
Looked closer.
Song Arin, smack in the middle of all those glowing figures. And—
"Crowd Psychology."
Cold voice from behind.
Turned slowly.
"...Song Arin."
Arms crossed, she stared me down.
"Told you not to come in here."
"..."
"Why'd you?"
"Door was open."
"Just 'cause the door's open doesn't mean barge... whatever."
Big sigh, hand to her forehead.
"Out."
"Hang on."
"Out, I said."
"Song Arin. You copy this from the gallery one?"
"..."
She froze at that.
"...Yeah."
Nodded slow.
"...Song Arin, what the hell..."
"..."
She eased the door shut.
Silence.
Zap—temple spiked again.
"...Why hit me with a mental attack all of a sudden—"
"Mental ability."
Cut me off, ice in her voice.
"You hear that—what's your first thought?"
"...Uh. Dangerous?"
Mind control's no different from body control, right?
"Spot on. Standard reaction to me."
Smirked, kept going.
"So, then what?"
"Huh?"
"No mental defenses on you. You see me—what now?"
"...I'd be careful."
"Exactly."
Self-mocking smile crossed her face.
"Not easy, drawing stares and suspicion right off the bat."
"..."
"Get doubted plenty too."
"..."
"Take when I buddy up with someone. Others chime in."
Kept on, casual as ever.
"'Oh, that psycho bitch brainwashed another "friend.'"
"No way..."
"People like that's the issue."
Smile stayed put.
"So what ends up happening?"
Grinned my way.
"I start doubting too. Wonder if their kindness is just me puppeteering them without realizing."
"...But we're all friends with you, Song Arin."
"...'Friends' might stretch it for those two."
Scratched her cheek, vague.
"Nah. Not being *too* buddy-buddy actually makes it believable."
Muttered something about hyenas.
"Anyway. They're different."
"...Hey, I exist."
Me. Immune to mental hits.
She halted, eyes boring into me.
"Yeah. You're not like the rest."
"..."
"You're special."
Not her usual glare.
"I trust what you say."
"What—"
"Your words, your looks—I know I didn't tweak 'em."
Smirked, swung the door open.
"That's why."
"Song Ari—"
"Out. Sleepy."
Dragged me by the sleeve, shoved me out.
"...Song Arin."
"Sleeping. Night."
Yawned, vanished inside.
"..."
Call after her? Nah. The throbbing said she didn't want company.
Wound up staring down the morning, wide awake.
*
"Sleep okay?"
"..."
"Kid comes back from housewarming looking *more* beat."
"You wanna go next time, Team Leader?"
"Spend the night at a lady team member's? Divorce papers waiting?"
Team Leader gawked at me, then clapped sharp.
All four sets of eyes on him.
"Listen up. We've got a guest intern joining the team."
"Guest intern?"
"You'll see. In!"
Bellowed it—door swung open, someone stepped in.
Black hair, signature pink glasses frames. Baby-faced, no denying it.
"Oppa, hi!"
"Team Leader. Not a fan of child labor."
Ignored Park Ye-eun's wave, eyed Team Leader. He sighed, met my gaze.
"Look, I tried talking her out. Insisted on *our* HR Team, wouldn't budge."
"..."
"Guest intern, though. Minimal field stuff. Only if *you* say you need her backup—we agreed."
"I can handle it!"
"Sigh."
Staring her down, no holding back the sigh—
Phone pinged.
[Ailin]
[Underground containment room. Now.]
That was it.
I'd asked Ailin about changes down there. Message meant...
"One sec."
Bursted the door, bolted down the hall.
"Hey, where you—!"
Team Leader yelled after. Fell on deaf ears.
Something went down.