Chapter 50
Translator - Zofu
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"What?"
Gaslighting?
Why would you bring that up all of a sudden?
"Just what it sounds like."
Han Seok-ho's face goes pale.
"The reason I avoid my girlfriend. Why I'm trying to distance myself. It's all because—"
Han Seok-ho takes a deep breath. Our eyes meet.
"—I've been fucking 'gaslit' this whole time."
My expression shifts to shock. Wait, what?
I study Han Seok-ho's face. Right now, he's dead serious. My mind can't keep up.
This is something I never could've predicted.
Then a question flashes through my mind.
"But... weren't you two super close before the Academy?"
Even I heard the rumors.
They used to be attached at the hip all day, and when she got badly injured before, apparently he nursed her for an entire day... I just don't get it. Weren't they basically inseparable?
Since I knew they were overflowing with love like some inseparable couple, I didn't pay much attention to them growing distant at the Academy.
I figured they'd make up soon enough and go back to normal.
But... look at this mess now. Nothing's been resolved.
"Don't tell me... the gaslighting started after you came to the Academy?"
Han Seok-ho shakes his head.
"No."
Our eyes lock.
"It's been over four years."
"...Huh?"
Four years?
"Let me be honest."
Eyes meeting.
"I don't love her."
Cold, settled eyes. A hint of anger lingers in them.
"That's a relief. You look like you actually believe me."
Han Seok-ho lets out a short sigh and lowers his head.
"I've repeated the same thing to dozens of people. You're the first to take me seriously."
Han Seok-ho lets out a hollow laugh. A weary smile escapes him. He raises his head to meet my gaze.
"Why the gaslighting..."
"It's nothing major."
Han Seok-ho lowers his head.
"Just... a matter of preference."
"Huh?"
"Exactly what I said. My girlfriend likes 'weak men.'"
Han Seok-ho looks at me.
"At first, I tried to get stronger. Because I truly loved her back then."
"I'd get strong and protect my girl. Become a reliable man she could lean on—that's what I thought as I worked out, studied, did everything."
"But."
"It was all meaningless."
"My girlfriend didn't want me to get stronger. Not one bit."
"She just wanted me to lean on her like a pathetic invalid. She couldn't stand anything beyond that."
Our eyes meet. Han Seok-ho slowly lowers his gaze, scanning my body.
"But now."
"Seeing her cling to strong men..."
Han Seok-ho raises his head, meeting my gaze. His eyes are completely hollow.
"Kind of ridiculous."
"..."
"Ugh... forget it. Don't make that face."
An endless series of shocks. My pupils tremble slightly. A succession of incomprehensible, unbelievable revelations.
"I've already made my peace. I don't care if you take my girlfriend or date each other, so don't worry."
Han Seok-ho smiles faintly.
"Still... wouldn't it be okay? My girlfriend, I mean. Her personality is a bit much, but when she loves, she really goes all the way."
Um... that's...
"The problem is her love is so intense it becomes obsession, but other than that, isn't she great? Social climbing is a given, and she handles most things on her own..."
"Uh, um..."
"Huh?"
I take a deep breath.
"I... ...have a girlfriend."
Silence.
"Uh, hmm, umm..."
"Huh?"
*
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*
The air grows heavy.
Silence.
Endless silence.
For the first time,
confusion crosses Han Seok-ho's face.
"Ugh, what... did you say?"
Han Seok-ho's pupils dart around.
His body flinches in shock. He grabs his head, suddenly crosses his legs, looks out the window—he can't hide his panic at all.
"Haha, uh... you're joking, right?"
Han Seok-ho asks desperately. Um, well...
"...I'm serious."
"Ughhh... urgh... ha..."
Han Seok-ho suddenly starts yanking his hair out. He stamps his feet in panic.
"This... can't be...!"
Han Seok-ho mutters to himself.
He pulls out his hair strand by strand. Dry, brittle strands fall to the floor.
"Wait, then the reason you came to me all this time..."
Our eyes meet.
"Because you have a girlfriend—"
"Arghh!"
Han Seok-ho screams.
"Then I can't date my girlfriend!!"
"Hey, calm—"
"No, calm down? Ha, I'm going... crazy...!"
Han Seok-ho scratches his head furiously. Then stops. He looks up for a moment, then lowers his head and lets out a deep sigh.
"Well, what about... two-timing..."
Han Seok-ho looks at me. A tiny flicker of hope directed at me.
"No."
No.
"My girlfriend is incredibly pretty... maybe your type..."
"No."
My girlfriend is far prettier.
"B-but she's super rich?! Maybe..."
"No."
Doesn't matter.
"Ugh... ha..."
Han Seok-ho lowers his head again.
Right now, Han Seok-ho is more desperate than ever. I can feel it through my skin. No, just how badly must he have been hurt...
"Forget it. Ha..."
Han Seok-ho waves his hand.
"Sorry. For saying unnecessary things. Damn... didn't know you had a girlfriend..."
Han Seok-ho raises his head.
"What do I do now..."
Han Seok-ho gazes out the window forlornly. Against the deep orange sky, the sun is slowly setting toward the west.
Han Seok-ho's hope is also sinking below the horizon. Seeing that, I feel a flicker of... pity.
What? He was gaslit?
And I'm forced to cheat...
"Are you okay?"
I slowly approach Han Seok-ho.
"Yeah... I'm fi— No, actually I'm not fine, but more importantly."
Our eyes meet.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fi—"
The words die. Should I say I'm fine? Am I... fine right now?
"I'm not fine at all."
I'm not fine at all.
I miss my girlfriend.
"Ha..."
"Hoo..."
Inside the empty classroom.
Sighs overlap.
Silence.
"Um..."
"Umm, uh..."
Words overlap.
Silence.
The air grows slightly awkward.
"...I'm sorry."
Han Seok-ho lowers his head. Without thinking, I respond.
"Huh? No no, I'm the one who should be sorry."
I apologize.
What he said about two-timing was a bit shameless, but... after being gaslit for four years. He said it in the heat of the moment.
Our eyes meet.
"... ..."
Silence.
"Was it... hard for you?"
I speak first. It's awkward. We need to clear the air.
Han Seok-ho awkwardly avoids eye contact.
"Are you..."
Our eyes meet again.
"...curious?"
Han Seok-ho tests the waters.
*
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Stars fall from the sky.
The risen moon illuminates two figures on a bench.
"Ha... this is everything."
"..."
Damn.
Fuck.
It's beyond imagination.
I rub my forehead in frustration. Lee Ah-rin is... a crazy bitch.
And I mean seriously crazy.
I scratch my forehead furiously.
Han Ye-rin is a crazy bitch too, but Lee Ah-rin is no slouch. She's absolutely comparable. It's frustrating. After hearing everything, I understand why Han Seok-ho was so desperate.
Before 'love,' a suffocating 'obsession' destroyed him.
Fuck...
"Does my girlfriend... cling to you a lot?"
Seok-ho looks at me worriedly. I nod slightly.
"I'd like to separate you two if I could, but ha..."
Seok-ho lowers his head. My mood automatically sinks.
I know it. I know that separating them is virtually impossible.
My vision goes dark. If the obsession is that strong, I have neither the strength nor anything else to pry them apart.
"So... will you really break up with her later?"
I look at Seok-ho. Seok-ho's eyes become determined.
"Eventually, one way or another. I'll distance myself..."
Seok-ho sighs.
"I've already given up on her, so it's pretty much decided."
Seok-ho slowly nods.
"It's just a matter of time now."
Seok-ho stands up from the bench. Then he bows his head toward me.
"Sorry. Thanks for listening to my rambling story."
Seok-ho slowly walks away from the bench. Midway, he turns his head to look at me.
"And... if my girlfriend crosses the line too much, tell me."
I'll help as much as I can, at least until we break up.
Seok-ho gradually disappears. Eventually, completely from view.
"Ha..."
Silence.
Only silence remains.
It complicates my feelings.
Lee Ah-rin.
Ha.
Fuck.
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The next day. Friday. Lunchtime.
"Get closer. Puppy."
What the fuck... is this situation?
"If you keep letting other people get close, this happens. Do you have a problem with this? We're not even having sex today... or..."
Is my bento not to your liking?
A sigh escapes automatically.
"Ha... ugh."
Han Ye-rin shoves meat into my mouth.
"How is it? Delicious?"
Han Ye-rin grins unpleasantly. It's embarrassing. No, before that, it's so frustrating I could go crazy.
"...Is it not good?"
"...!"
I shake my head desperately.
It's fucking disgusting. But I say it's delicious anyway. My sense of taste feels like it's disappeared. No, fuck. Why are you doing this to me. Cold sweat won't stop. I sense it instinctively.
I have to say it's delicious no matter what. If I say otherwise, it won't end with just a laugh.
"Right? It's delicious? Phew... what a relief."
I made it.
I can't breathe.
Fuck... what did you say?
"I even had our head chef try it. He said it was absolutely divine—so delicious. Heh heh. I'm glad it suits your taste."
I force a smile.
I desperately move my twitching facial muscles. This is a matter of life and death. The head chef survived. Fuck... my tongue is in agony.
"It's good, right? Ah, I'll keep making it for you from now on, so keep that in mind."
Han Ye-rin's face turns red. Her fingers fidget slightly.
...What?
"...What did you say?"
Han Ye-rin looks at me, smiling.
"Ah, I said I'll keep making it for you."
My eyes fill with shock.
I have to keep eating this garbage... from now on?
"Heh heh. Ugh, I guess I have some talent for cooking? This is my first time making it, actually."
Her cheeks flushed bright red, Han Ye-rin giggles.
"Ac-actually, I was going to give the first one to my boyfriend... but never mind. I'll just give it to my puppy from now on."
"Sh—"
Seok-hyun!
You fucking bastard!
"Here, now eat the res—"
At that moment.
Beside me, a pure white light bursts out with a *pop*.
"Found you... hmm?"
I turn my head to the side and there...
"...Han Ye-rin?"
It's Seol-ah.
"Huh? Wha?"
I turn my head. Han Ye-rin makes a strange sound, flustered.
"Why... are you here...?"
Seol-ah quietly looks at Han Ye-rin. Unable to hide her panic, Han Ye-rin quickly runs away.
"What is this...?"
Seol-ah looks at the bench.
She spots the bento left behind.
"Don't tell me... Han Ye-rin made this for you...?"
Seol-ah and I lock eyes.
I quietly nod.
"... ..."
Silence.
"Umm, uh... that's strange..."
Seol-ah tilts her head.
"Han Ye-rin... didn't you hate her...?"
I nod.
Silence.
"Umm..."
"Hmm..."
I don't... know either.
No, fuck.
Why is she suddenly acting like this?
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At the same time.
Han Ye-rin.
"Ugh... urrgh...!"
I'm really going to go crazy!
I know it.
No, I don't know. Why am I acting like this? At first, it was just because I was anxious. Instead of a 'whip,' I tried a 'carrot'... to get closer to my puppy.
That's why I started.
So I wondered what to do... and remembered a video I saw before.
A video of an owner carefully making dog food for their puppy. They put in every healthy ingredient imaginable—making a meal so nutritious you couldn't tell if it was dog food or a health supplement. Watching that,
it hit me.
Ah! If I make food, he'll like it!
"Shit... ugh..."
She leaps over the bench and runs across the flowerbed.
Recently, my puppy's been playing well and doing lots of things that make me happy, so my evaluation of him has... risen slightly.
That 'Master' play or 'Coach' play... all of it was good.
I tried various things.
I stuffed him full of healthy foods. Bananas, celery, asparagus, cabbage, oysters, walnuts, eel, ginkgo berries, black raspberries, ginger...
I was pretty confident.
When I fed the head chef, he went wild. Said it was so delicious. Said he wanted to keep eating it. Anyway, that's what he said. But... when I actually fed it to my puppy...
He didn't like it much.
He nodded his head, but his face was stiff. Even an idiot could see it. My food tastes bad.
My face turned red with embarrassment. My fingers fidgeted. Fuck you, head chef. I'll deal with you later. My face is bright red.
"Huff... hoo..."
She places her hands on the flowerbed wall, breathing heavily. Her heart pounds.
I hid my panic and stupidly said I'd make it for him again later.
I'm such an idiot. Why did I say that? I hit my head with my fist.
"Idiot... idiot, shit, idiot!"
When Han Seol-ah appeared midway, I saw her expression. Like she was looking at someone pathetic... an indifferent look.
My heart pounds. I ran away. Right now, Han Seol-ah is next to my puppy. I'm going crazy. At this rate...
The witch will steal my puppy.
"No..."
No.
I can't lose my puppy. If I fight Han Seol-ah? Absolutely not. If Han Seol-ah decides to protect the puppy, there's no answer. I need to improve my constitution.
Until now, it was lots of 'whip' and a little 'carrot.' But now...
It's time to increase the 'carrot' ratio.
We've already gotten closer physically.
Now we need to get closer emotionally.
I steel my resolve.
At the same time.
Lee Ah-rin.
Today, I brought the eavesdropping artifact after a long time.
Since I hadn't listened in for a while, I was just curious what Kim Seok-hyun was up to... so I tried it once.
'Do you have a problem with this? We're not even having sex today...'
I heard good news.
"Hehehe."
You're not having sex with Han Ye-rin today?
Then I should do 'that.'
A smile forms on my lips.
Today after school...
Let's have sex in the 'classroom'!
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