Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: A New Beginning
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I'm going to lose my mind.
Was it a mistake to come out here all excited for no reason?
No, there's a bathroom in the room, so why did I have to come all the way out here and cause this mess...
...But was there something like this in the original story?
I don't remember the details that well, but at least there wasn't any commotion like this.
...Whatever.
I've already realized I don't need to nitpick the original story anymore.
Even if the original changes, it still flows toward the same end.
Anyway, Lee Seol threw up right in front of me.
I reflexively pulled back, so only a bit splashed onto the hem of my pants.
Of course, there wasn't that much vomit to begin with...
Why am I even analyzing the amount?
The moment my senses returned, time snapped back to its normal speed.
In front of me was Lee Seol, head bowed low, hands on my shoulder and her own knees.
Vomit on my pants and shoes.
And the friends who'd been drinking with us coming out behind her.
"Whoa."
"...Insane."
Woo Hana and Ji Hyunsu, who came out first, were stunned.
"Seol!"
And Seo Jaehyun following behind.
I instinctively said,
"Don't come out. Just stay."
"Huh?"
"I'll clean it up, so don't come out. You guys go back in too."
"Go... back in? What about this mess?"
Woo Hana was scanning me up and down, hand over her mouth.
"Just clean it up. If we make a racket here and the teachers come, what then?"
"Oh..."
I gestured for them to go back inside.
The only one left in the hallway was Lee Seol, still gripping my shoulder.
She stayed in that position, head down. Her breathing was a bit ragged, but she showed no sign of moving.
Cleaning up after someone pukes from drinking? I've done it before. Back in my previous life, in college.
In hindsight, it wasn't a big deal.
The clothes getting hit was a variable, though.
...Anyway.
I carefully pried her hand off. Then I moved her to lean against the wall, and she slumped there limply. Still with her head down.
I looked away from her and down at the hem of my pants.
Hmm, gotta wipe this first.
I went into Jeong Woo's room alone.
The hallway light was on, and I could feel a few kids who weren't asleep staring.
"Sorry. Just need the bathroom."
I headed to the bathroom and roughly wet-wiped my pants. I'd wash and change later anyway, so water stains were fine.
The shoes... I'd have to clean them separately since I'd wear them tomorrow.
I grabbed the towel I'd brought and headed back to the hallway.
After cleaning up all the vomit in the hall, I took the staggering Lee Seol to the bathroom.
...She got less on her than I did.
I washed off the spots on her roughly.
Her clothes got a bit wet, but Woo Hana could handle that.
Once everything visible was sorted, I brought Lee Seol out and knocked on the door to Seo Jaehyun's room.
He opened it immediately. Looked like he'd been waiting.
Perfect timing. It was Woo Hana.
"Minwoo."
"I think we need to take her to the girls' dorm first."
"Yeah."
Woo Hana stepped right out. She approached Lee Seol without hesitation and naturally supported her arm.
She glanced up at me and asked,
"You okay?"
"Yeah. It wasn't much."
"Tha... um. Should I say thanks? I'll tell Seol tomorrow anyway."
Woo Hana led Lee Seol down the stairs at the end of the hall.
...I'd planned to go for a walk.
Suddenly felt exhausted.
Guess I'll wash up and sleep too.
Still, the excited mood settling down wasn't so bad.
*
The next day. Early morning.
Before students gathered for the schedule.
Lee Seol stood in front of me.
"..."
"..."
I could guess why she was here. From what Woo Hana said yesterday. Probably to apologize.
But she couldn't look me straight in the face.
Lee Seol fumbling around like this was kinda cute.
"Wanna drink this at least?"
I pulled strawberry milk from the convenience store bag in my hand and offered it.
She didn't take it right away. Just stared, then suddenly bent at the waist at a right angle.
Her hands were neatly clasped in front of me.
An overly apologetic bow.
...That much?
I blinked for a second.
Would one strawberry milk really trigger this much guilt?
"Sorry!"
"You remember?"
"I do. Really sorry."
"It's fine."
"No, I committed a grave sin. How can I make it up to you? Just say it."
"I said it's fine."
Seeing her like that, I almost wanted to ask for dry cleaning fees, but I shook my head.
"Just drink this."
"Ah... Okay."
She peeked up and took the strawberry milk.
I handed her the whole bag since I'd given her one anyway.
"Bought these to share with the kids. You hand them out. You can do that much, right?"
"Huh? Yeah... I can."
"Good."
She seemed like she wanted to say more, but I didn't give her the chance.
*
Lee Seol got on the bus for the trip, took her seat, and immediately slammed her head into the seatback in front.
Thud.
Not once, but repeatedly.
"Idiot. Moron. Crazy bitch."
"Wh-what's wrong?"
Woo Hana, boarding late, saw it and sat beside her, eyes wide. She quickly grabbed her shoulder.
"Ah. Hana..."
Her eyes emerged from her scarlet hair.
Woo Hana froze.
Fish eyes. Probably the hangover...
"Don't stop me. I'm an idiot."
"Because of yesterday?"
"Ugh... Argh."
Woo Hana's words seemed to trigger the memory, and Lee Seol ignored her and headbutted the seat again.
Her scarlet bob hair shook violently.
"What'd Minwoo say? That he doesn't wanna see your ugly mug?"
"...No. He said it's fine."
"Really? Then why..."
"This goes beyond Minwoo saying it's fine."
Lee Seol gritted her teeth.
"It's something I can't forgive myself for."
Lee Seol finally calmed after a while of thrashing. Well, mostly because someone sat in the front seat, blocking her.
Anyway, she regained her senses.
That's when she noticed the bag in her hand.
Ah, she was supposed to hand these out before boarding, but forgot.
Her head was full of other thoughts.
...I'm such an idiot.
For now, she reached into the bag to give one to Woo Hana, pulling out whatever.
"...Huh?"
"What's up?"
It was chocolate milk.
Not strawberry. Chocolate.
Opening the bag, the rest were all chocolate too.
'He gave me the only strawberry one?'
...Did I ever tell him I hate chocolate milk?
Her thoughts veered off.
She quickly dismissed attaching meaning to something trivial.
I must've mentioned it sometime. Not directly to Lee Minwoo, but to Seo Jaehyun or Ji Hyunsu. So he'd know.
Lee Seol handed the chocolate milk to Woo Hana.
"Nice, thoughtful."
"Minwoo gave it."
"...Oh, really?"
Woo Hana looked down briefly. Her gaze lingered just a second.
Then she took it casually.
"Not for me. For you guys to share."
Lee Seol added, and Woo Hana replied nonchalantly.
"Bag kinda says that."
"Yeah."
The talk ended easily, but yesterday's memories invaded again...
Lee Seol grimaced once more.
Woo Hana saw and smirked slightly. Her expression said it all.
"He said it's fine, so just forget it. Pretend it never happened."
"If I could, I wouldn't be like this."
Lee Seol thought a bit and said,
"Ah, should I buy him something? I puked on his clothes, so maybe new ones..."
But honestly, Lee Minwoo wouldn't care much about clothes.
Cash might be better.
She pictured him taking it indifferently. He always seemed so stoic.
Then her thoughts drifted to another memory.
From yesterday too.
Not his usual blank face... but smiling brightly.
We talked about it at the party. Didn't know he could smile like that. It suits him better.
The other classmates were curious how rare it was.
It was that unfamiliar for Lee Minwoo.
But oddly, Lee Seol felt differently.
What was it... Not as unfamiliar as for others?
That smile. Feels like I've seen it before.
When I was really young. Like kindergarten.
Of course, his face would've been totally different then...
'No, not even sure if it was a dream or real.'
And even if real, it means nothing now.
As she thought that, Woo Hana suddenly said,
"...Minwoo said it's fine, what more do you want."
Woo Hana continued slyly.
"More importantly... Don't we need to worry about a gift for Jaehyun?"
"Seo Jaehyun?"
"Yeah. He saved you yesterday."
"Ah, saved... Well, kinda..."
Lee Seol's eyes wavered a bit.
...Right. How'd I forget that?
Too much hit me late.
"Focus on Jaehyun more than Minwoo."
"Again with the sneaky pairing."
The usual: Woo Hana teasing about Seo Jaehyun, Lee Seol grossed out.
Then Woo Hana laughing like it's hilarious.
Lee Seol expected that.
But Woo Hana just smirked faintly, no usual playful laugh.
*
The school trip flew by.
The odd thing? Lee Seol avoided my eyes whenever they met, even more than usual...
Makes sense. Puking on a guy you're not even close to? Hard to stay sane.
She needs time to recover mentally.
Back to normal school life.
"Anyone to help with performance assessment."
Seo Jaehyun mumbled, face buried in his desk.
"How am I supposed to do this..."
"What's hard?"
I asked, and he turned his head toward me, staring blankly. One cheek squished on the desk.
"Hmm..."
"Why stare like that."
"Can I be honest?"
"Shoot."
"I'm gonna turn gay."
"Piss off."
"Kidding... You've changed so much. Did I do something?"
"...That again."
He did nothing wrong.
If anything, he might think the old me was the problem.
Does he know he stole an important memory from me?
Of course, just the original story. Didn't actually happen... Just my imagination.
...Good to be free of those crazy thoughts now.
"Don't wanna? Fine."
"No. Please."
I guided Seo Jaehyun's performance assessment while thinking to myself.
No, actually, I'd been mulling it nonstop since the trip ended.
What should I do from now on? What do I want?
The answer came quicker than expected.
Acting.
Until now, that word was foggy, like lost in mist.
I'd avert my eyes, like I couldn't approach it.
Failure from my previous life. And the big one here after possession.
Those two piled up, leaving me listless for a while.
But now it's crystal clear.
What I want. What I wanted.
So vividly.