Chapter 96
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Collective Punishment (1)
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Looking out at the Jeju night sea made me think of Yujeong.
'I wonder if she's doing okay.'
We'd video called that afternoon, but still.
I was curious what she was up to right now.
I dialed Yujeong.
She picked up almost immediately.
-Yes?
A short reply.
Somehow indifferent, even a bit snappy.
I froze for a second in surprise, and her voice continued.
-Insurance? No. We're fine.
Click.
The call ended.
What the hell?
I stared at my phone.
[Babe♥]
It was definitely to Yujeong.
Ah.
'She's with the girls.'
If so, the situation made perfect sense.
Sharp Sujin might say, 'Why's Kim Minwoo calling you this late?'
'Good job, Yujeong.'
They couldn't find out we were dating yet.
It wasn't just about enjoying the thrill of secret dating.
What if.
However slim the chance, if they found out Yujeong was with me,
'You're dating? Fine. Then I guess I can't be with you anymore.'
She might choose friendship over me.
I wanted all three for myself.
So I planned to make our free relationships with the three of them feel as natural as everyday life, then reveal we were dating.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason.
'You're dating? Then die.'
I sometimes imagined Ayoung grabbing a kitchen knife and charging at me, and it scared me.
'I've got to tame Ayoung as planned first.'
If I could do that, things would go smoothly.
A moment later, a text from Yujeong.
Ding.
[Babe♥] Sorryㅠ With the girls
Just as I thought.
[Me] It's fine. Alone now?
[Babe♥] Stepped out saying I'd throw out trash
[Me] Can't talk?
[Babe♥] Yeah, just in case. I'll call before bed
[Me] ㅇㅇ Drink a little
[Babe♥] ???
[Babe♥] I haven't had any booze
I chuckled.
[Me] ㅋㅋㅋㅋ You've gotten good at lying
Girls gathering at night? Obviously drinking.
[Babe♥] ㅡㅡ I didn't drink
[Me] Okay, got it
[Babe♥] What time tomorrow? Pick you up at the airport?
[Me] ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Family's all going, you gonna come greet us?
[Babe♥] Kinda weird?
[Me] I'll get home around when your shift ends
[Babe♥] Got it~
[Me] Talk later
[Babe♥] Yeah
I pocketed my phone and headed back to the hotel.
By the time I arrived,
Ding.
My phone buzzed.
Yujeong?
I checked.
[Babe♥] Miss you
My lips curled up.
[Me] Me too
I replied and entered the hotel.
*
The next day.
I arrived at the subway station near home around noon.
'Made good time.'
Dad had work, so we changed the 2 PM flight to morning.
Checked texts.
[Babe♥] Home around 3?
[Me] Yeah, a bit after
[Babe♥] Okay~
Texts with Yujeong before leaving Jeju.
No way she'd guess I was already here.
'Drop bags at home, then surprise her at the cafe?'
I headed home.
'Huh? What's this.'
At the house, I spotted a red foreign car in the parking lot.
'Ayoung didn't leave the office?'
I climbed the stairs.
On the third floor, noisy voices.
Coming from 303, door open down the hall.
'What the.'
A man's voice from Ayoung's place.
"Just borrow it, I'll bring it back safe."
"You sold the car Dad bought and now want to borrow mine."
Familiar voice.
I stopped heading to 303.
Ah.
'Fuck.'
Ayoung's brother.
I recalled the high school slap and turned away.
'Better not run into him.'
I went up to the fourth floor, unpacked, and showered.
'Feels good.'
Then I wondered if Ayoung's brother left, so I cracked the door.
"Just go already. Make sense. How am I supposed to get to work?"
"Take the bus. Hey? It's your anniversary with your girlfriend. Need a car to impress her. Right, sis?"
No.
'Why leave the door open?'
Probably heard down to the first floor.
'Ugh, seriously.'
A bit scared, but this was my building, so I mustered courage and went down to the third floor.
Scared or not, couldn't let them keep yelling.
Just then, a guy with fairly long hair for a man and fierce eyes emerged from 303.
A bit shorter than me.
Long time no see.
That face.
"Thanks~ Sis."
"Quit the bullshit and give back my keys. I need it for work."
Ayoung chased after him in slippers.
What was his name again.
Ah, right.
Lee Jinhyuk.
Jinhyuk spun the keys on his finger, acting cocky.
"Take the bus. Think of the environment."
Ayoung spotted me at the end of the hall and her eyes widened.
"Huh? Minwoo. Thought you were coming afternoon."
Her brother narrowed his eyes at me.
I approached them.
"Ended up early."
Jinhyuk pointed at me with his chin, asking Ayoung.
"Who's this? Boyfriend?"
I bowed slightly.
"Hello. Kim Minwoo. Ayoung's friend."
He looked me up and down and grinned.
"Not boyfriend?"
"No."
He eyed me head to toe, flicking his tongue like a snake.
His habit.
"Wait. Kim Minwoo?"
He turned to Ayoung.
"High school, your massage shuttle was a Minwoo too. Him?"
Ayoung looked apologetic, dodging.
"Quit it and give me the keys."
She lunged, but he was faster.
He dodged her hand and stepped toward me.
"Long time. Doing well? Remember me?"
He tapped my cheek.
"Yes. I remember."
Jinhyuk glanced around the hall and asked.
"You live here too?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
"Stalking Ayoung?"
Ayoung cut in.
"No, idiot. He lived here first."
"So you followed for massages?"
"Shut up. He got me this place cheap through a connection."
Ayoung tried for the keys again.
Jinhyuk snickered, pocketing them.
He glared at me.
"Touch my sister again, won't end with a slap. Got it?"
I smiled and nodded.
"Yes."
He tilted his head.
"You fuck. That attitude pisses me off."
I grinned and mirrored him.
"Huh? What?"
He stepped closer.
"Wanna die?"
"Huh? No?"
"You fucker!"
Lee Jinhyuk grabbed my collar, Ayoung jumped between us.
"What're you doing? Why pick a fight? Stop."
I told Ayoung.
"Let him. Wants another slap maybe."
"You bastard."
He swung at me.
I looked up at the hall ceiling.
He paused, following my gaze.
CCTV pointed at us.
"Grabbing my collar's already assault. I'll report it."
I pulled out my phone and dialed 112 in front of him.
He snatched it and hung up quick.
"Don't call cops lightly. They're busy."
Handed it back.
Jinhyuk grabbed my shoulder.
"Let off this time. Don't see you outside. Live well. Sis. I'm out~"
As Jinhyuk turned to go, Ayoung held out her hand.
"Keys. Seriously. Use Mom's car."
"Hey, big bro just wants one ride."
I blocked Jinhyuk.
"Give the keys and go."
He laughed in disbelief at me blocking his way.
"Hah- Damn. Lost your mind while I wasn't looking?"
"No bus to Ayoung's office. Taxi it."
"You fuck. Tried to let it slide nice."
He wound up for the familiar slap, I blocked with my left arm.
Thwack.
Countless mental sims since then, body reacted on instinct.
Extended the blocking arm, grabbed his long hair.
Easy grip.
Swung my free arm.
Crack.
A clear sound echoed in the hall.
'Crazy.'
Hit clean.
Then things veered from my plan.
One wasn't enough, I went for another slap.
Jinhyuk instinctively guarded his face.
I yanked his hair down, knuckled his forehead like a flick but harder.
"Fucker. Give. Back. The. Keys."
"Stop. Stop it. Minwoo. Enough."
Ayoung tried to intervene.
That just fueled me more.
Jinhyuk had no time to react, blocking punches desperately.
First hit rocked him bad.
Stance broken, slumped on the floor.
Punched his head repeatedly.
"Stop. Ack. Enough."
He begged, I released his hair.
'What. This guy's a total punk.'
I panted, looking down at him.
Scared of this loser?
Well, back then he had his gang.
Jinhyuk rubbed his head, looking pitiful.
"Shit... Hngh..."
He glanced up, then averted eyes.
I squatted, hand out.
"Keys."
He fumbled in his pocket, pulled them out.
Placed them in my hand.
"Don't show your face around here again."
Pride kept him from nodding, he just stood avoiding my eyes.
I tossed the keys to Ayoung, grabbed his collar, hauled him up.
"Get lost."
He glanced at Ayoung and bolted down the stairs.
The building quieted.
Ayoung glared.
"Didn't have to hit him that much."
Even trash family, normal to dislike seeing them beat in front of you.
"Your bro always this weak?"
"..."
Ayoung bit her lower lip silently.
I grabbed her wrist and pulled.
We headed up the stairs to the fourth floor.
"Hey. What're you doing?"
Ayoung struggled but followed me up.
"What a sex slave does."