Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Application
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No matter how heavy a sleeper I was, I wasn't the type to sleep through someone carrying me off while I was lying down.
I tended to snap awake the moment someone woke me, and in my years of working in society, I'd never faced any trouble because of sleep.
But...
I look at Yoo Daon, whose face has gone completely pale.
"..."
The moment our eyes meet, she hurriedly looks away.
Anyone could see she was radiating guilt.
"Daon."
"...Yes."
Yoo Daon answers in a voice that sounds like it's crawling into a hole.
At least she never says no to me outright, which is a relief.
"Can you tell me what happened?"
I glance at Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin.
The two of them are staring intently at me and Yoo Daon.
To be honest, if Yoo Daon and I were the type to be physically affectionate all the time, it might be different, but we weren't.
"Well, you see."
"Hold on."
Song Arin cuts her off and looks at both of us.
"...I mean, wait."
She lets out a big sigh and looks at us again.
"You two slept together?"
"Cough, cough!"
Yoo Daon starts coughing like she's choked at the words, and Song Arin's expression turns even icier.
"For real? You two slept together?"
"Song Arin, calm down a bit..."
"Just say it. Not the black hair. You."
Song Arin stares straight at me.
"..."
At this point, there was no dodging it.
"Well, yeah, we slept together."
"Wow, this guy's got nerves of steel."
"Hey now."
I barely pull my focus from the two chattering behind me and continue.
"But it's not what Song Arin thinks when she says 'slept together.'"
"When did it happen?"
"The day the incident ended, so a few days ago."
"While I was pulling an all-nighter with white-hair, you were having a great time at home with black hair."
Song Arin mutters while twirling her hair.
"...Sigh, fine. I'll let that slide."
"..."
Was there even anything to let slide?
This feels exactly like how a cheating boyfriend gets treated.
A bit unfair.
"No, but Song Arin."
"What."
I clear my throat at her prickly tone and steel myself to speak my mind.
"But doesn't Song Arin have no real right to get mad at me over something like that?"
"...What?"
Song Arin freezes like she's been shocked.
"Well, think about it... For starters, Song Arin and I aren't dating. Of course, neither am I with Daon or Chaeyeon."
I hurriedly add that before any misunderstandings spread.
"But no matter what I do with anyone, it doesn't seem like Song Arin has any reason to get angry."
Just stating facts, right?
"..."
Song Arin opens and closes her mouth a few times at my words, then drops her head.
"Wow, trash."
"What a jerk."
"Sorry, but could the two audience members quiet down?"
I force the noisy pair behind me to hush and continue.
"Anyway, nothing happened between us..."
"Really?"
Jang Chaeyeon, who had been quiet until then, steps in front of Song Arin and looks at me.
"..."
"Really?"
"Well, you see."
For some reason, saying to Jang Chaeyeon that we're nothing to each other felt awkward.
"..."
"I trust you."
Jang Chaeyeon looks at me with unwavering eyes.
"But."
"..."
"I don't trust her."
Her gaze shifts to Yoo Daon, who subtly avoids it.
"You two didn't do anything weird, right?"
"Chaeyeon. I didn't take sleeping pills or anything, and Daon isn't the type to do weird things while I'm asleep."
"..."
Yoo Daon, hearing all this, just rolls her eyes around without saying a word.
"Daon."
Ultimately, this whole mess gets resolved if Yoo Daon just opens her mouth.
"Tell me honestly."
"..."
"So, you see."
"..."
"Uh, um."
How do I even explain this?
While I'm fumbling for words, Jang Chaeyeon cuts in sharply.
"Did she play with your body?"
"Chaeyeon!"
There's a line you cross and one you don't.
What does "play with your body" even mean?
"...I swear, on heaven."
Finally, after a long silence, Yoo Daon speaks up.
"I was hugging you."
"You were hugging him."
Now even I couldn't get a word in.
The two carry on their conversation.
"S-since I have trouble sleeping normally. I thought if I slept next to Jaeheon, I-I might fall asleep easier."
"..."
Yoo Daon lowers her gaze.
"Next to Jaeheon, more than pulling an all-nighter with my eyes open... I wanted to look like someone who slept well."
"..."
"I didn't want to worry you."
"If that's the case, you shouldn't have done it."
Jang Chaeyeon speaks coldly, and Yoo Daon just nods without a word before continuing.
"So... I got greedy. I just hugged you and slept next to you."
"...Is that true?"
Jang Chaeyeon looks at me.
"How would I know? I was asleep."
"Don't you notice if someone hugs you in your sleep?"
"I'm not on night watch duty. How am I supposed to know everything..."
"..."
Yoo Daon looks at me with teary eyes.
"...I'm sorry, Jaeheon."
"...It's fine."
Seeing Yoo Daon on the verge of tears brings back the image of her from beyond that XX room.
Ever since that incident, I've probably been a bit more lenient with her.
But what can you do.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Huh?"
"Did you sleep well?"
"...Yes."
"Then it's fine."
It's not like it costs me anything, and if she slept well, that's good enough.
"...You're forgiving me?"
"Forgiveness? If you slept well, that's that."
"...You're forgiving me?"
"...Do you need my forgiveness?"
"..."
At my question, Yoo Daon clutches her collar and slowly nods.
She's oddly fixated on the word "forgiveness."
"...I forgive you."
"...!"
Yoo Daon's face lights up.
"Thank you, thank you!"
"It's okay. It happens."
"..."
I look at Jang Chaeyeon, who stares at me with an unreadable expression.
"Chaeyeon."
"You think it's something that can just happen?"
"...Well, yeah."
"Fine. Then I'll think it can happen too."
Jang Chaeyeon whips around, then turns back to me.
"But if someday I have a time when I 'have no choice' but to do it."
"Yeah."
"Accept me then too."
"..."
Her intensity leaves me no choice but to nod.
"That's how it went, Arin."
"..."
"Arin?"
Song Arin is still hanging her head.
"Arin."
"...It can happen."
"Huh?"
Song Arin lifts her head and looks at me.
"It can happen."
"What can?"
"That you can feel nothing for me."
"..."
Song Arin mutters while looking at me.
Her expression is quite different from usual.
Like she's repeating something to herself, she keeps murmuring.
"It can happen, because it can."
"Arin."
"I have to accept that too—"
[Give her a knuckle rap.]
I swing my hand on instinct at the phrase that pops into my head.
Target: Song Arin's head.
-Smack!
"Ow!"
A crisp sound echoes, and Song Arin clutches her head while glaring at me.
"Damn it, why'd you hit me!"
"Get a grip and let's play the game."
"..."
She stares at me.
"Why'd you hit me?"
"Because you're not in your right mind."
We're not first-time friends or anything. Why is she so fragile?
"But you—"
"Are you dating me, Song Arin?"
"..."
Song Arin shuts her mouth.
"Exactly."
"..."
She stares at me.
At least the dark look from before is gone.
"Yeah, I get what you're saying."
"Exactly."
"..."
She fiddles with the corner of her mouth,
then forces it up.
One side of her mouth twists up awkwardly as she looks at me.
"How's this."
"What are you doing."
"Nothing. Let's roll the dice."
It's Yoo Daon's turn again, and she rolls.
"Six spaces."
[Rest space.]
"Ah..."
She mutters like anyone can see she's disappointed.
"So close to the goal. Too bad."
"What's to be disappointed about? Dodged a penalty, right?"
Next, Park Ye-eun rolls the dice and reads the card.
"Pick your ideal type."
She squints and reads the card.
"...Let's see. Ideal type..."
She rests her chin on her hand, thinks, then looks at us like it's obvious.
"A handsome guy?"
"Not wrong."
Park Ye-eun grins and hands the dice to Jang Chaeyeon.
"Here, uncomfortable sister's turn."
Jang Chaeyeon takes the dice expressionlessly and rolls.
-Roll...
"Five spaces."
Jang Chaeyeon moves her piece and draws a card.
"...Hold hands with whoever you want until your next turn."
No sooner does she finish than Jang Chaeyeon comes to my side and grabs my hand.
"..."
"..."
How is there zero hesitation?
She intertwines her fingers with mine.
"...Uncomfortable?"
"...No, well. It's just one hand."
Her hand is cool, so it actually feels nice to hold.
"I'll roll."
Song Arin rolls the dice.
"Whisper in the ear of someone you like."
"Arin really only hits the weird ones."
"Pervert."
"It's the card...!"
Blushing at our teasing, Song Arin shakes her fist, then
"...F-fine, doing it."
"Yeah, go ahead."
She hesitates, then blows into my ear.
"Eek."
Gives me chills.
"...Your reaction's too tame."
"What kind of reaction were you expecting?"
Song Arin grumbles in dissatisfaction.
"Four spaces."
The Team Leader mutters gravely, moves his piece, and draws a card.
"Name the person around you you'd most want to spend a night with."
"..."
Tension rises again.
"...My wife!"
The Team Leader squeezes his eyes shut and yells, and I can't help but applaud once more.
"But Team Leader?"
"Yeah."
Park Ye-eun, watching, looks at him curiously.
"Wife isn't a person's name."
"..."
The Team Leader avoids Park Ye-eun's gaze.
"Team Leader?"
"Jaeheon. I'm feeling tired."
"Team Leader?"
"Game's almost over anyway. I'll head out first."
"Team Leader!"
And with that, the Team Leader heads off into the distance.
Finally, my turn.
I roll the dice.
"Six spaces."
I move six spaces and draw a card.
[Find the person you're most fated with and ask them out on a date.]
The others' reactions are dramatic too.
Yoo Daon gulps.
Jang Chaeyeon grips my hand tight.
Song Arin glances at me furtively.
And Park Ye-eun just watching in spectator mode.
"...What the..."
Before I can finish, my legs start moving slowly.
I take slow steps.
Finally, my feet stop.