Chapter 231: Rehabilitation-4
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 231: Rehabilitation-4
Dressed in casual clothes, Shin Jeong-ah approached Yun Si-a and me.
I took a step forward, meeting her halfway.
"What are you doing here?"
The words slipped out reflexively, causing Shin Jeong-ah’s brow to furrow fiercely.
"Why? Am I not allowed to be here?"
Her words shot back at me, sharp and stinging like carbonation.
Shin Jeong-ah’s gaze shifted past my shoulder, landing squarely on Yun Si-a.
Even someone completely oblivious would have realized that the look she was giving Si-a was anything but friendly.
"I asked who she is. That woman?"
"Hey, 'that woman' is a bit much..."
"Ah, I’m In-ho’s tutor. Are you a friend of his?"
Just as I took another step to restrain Shin Jeong-ah, whose tone was getting increasingly aggressive, Yun Si-a stepped forward from behind me.
"......"
At Yun Si-a’s self-introduction, Shin Jeong-ah fell silent, scanning her from head to toe.
"Is that true?"
She looked at me for confirmation. I simply nodded in response.
"I see."
Having seemingly grasped the situation, Shin Jeong-ah’s expression softened slightly as she looked between us.
"So, what are you two doing all the way out here?"
However, she was still full of questions and continued to pry.
"We were just heading the same way..."
As I tried to give a vague excuse, Yun Si-a moved closer to my back and cut me off.
"In-ho was walking me home because the streets are dark at night. He said he was heading to the convenience store anyway."
"Oh... is that so?"
The moment those calm words left Si-a’s mouth, Shin Jeong-ah’s face crumpled slightly.
"Anyway, thank you for walking me this far. Make sure you do your homework."
Yun Si-a stood beside me and looked at me.
She wore a gratified smile, like a teacher looking at a commendable student.
I appreciated the trust, but...
"......"
Seeing Shin Jeong-ah’s eyebrows inching higher and higher, I realized the timing couldn't have been worse.
"Well, I’ll be going now."
With that, Yun Si-a said her goodbyes and headed toward the bus stop.
The rhythmic click-clack of her low heels echoed through the night street as she walked away.
Shin Jeong-ah and I watched her figure recede before turning to face each other.
"What’s that?"
I pointed to the plastic bag in her hand.
"It’s nothing."
Shin Jeong-ah hid the bag behind her back.
Something heavy swung back and forth inside.
Well, it wasn't my business.
"Really? Fine then."
I needed to go buy a hot bar. I had a feeling a hot bar paired with some stir-fried ramen would make the perfect late-night snack.
"Hey, Kang In-ho."
As I turned to enter the convenience store, Shin Jeong-ah caught me.
Her mouth worked as if she had a million things she wanted to say.
When I leaned my face in closer, prompting her to speak, she was the one who pulled back.
What was she doing? It was confusing.
"What? Do you have something to say?"
Realizing this conversation wouldn't end with just non-verbal cues, I asked aloud.
"Can I... go to your house today?"
She asked with a hint of underlying expectation.
I shook my head immediately.
"No, you can't."
"Really? Not even for a bit?"
Shin Jeong-ah, who had backed away, closed the distance again.
This time, I was the one stepping back to maintain space.
— Meow.
The cats that had settled around the convenience store cried out as they watched us.
A bleak wind swept over us, and in the street illuminated only by the store's sign and the glow of the streetlights, Shin Jeong-ah and I stood facing each other.
She took one more step closer.
Then she asked.
"Are you sure I can't?"
Her voice was laced with disappointment.
"Yeah, I'm sure."
I crossed my arms and spoke firmly.
"Why?"
She was persistent, refusing to back down.
"I just don't like having people over at my place."
I blocked any further opening.
"......"
Perhaps seeing no way through, Shin Jeong-ah puffed out her cheeks slightly and turned around.
The plastic bag in her hand swung back and forth like a pendulum on a string.
Another gust of chilly wind blew past.
I zipped up my jacket against the cooling air and started shuffling back toward the convenience store.
"Fine, then. Contact me if you change your mind."
I expected her to be more stubborn, but Shin Jeong-ah gave me a bright smile and waved goodbye.
"Huh? Oh... sure."
Her reaction was so different from what I expected that I was a bit taken aback.
"Get home safe."
Shin Jeong-ah tossed the words over her shoulder as I walked into the convenience store.
— Meow.
The neighborhood cats added their own commentary to the awkward exchange.
*
"Oh..."
Because she had been delayed by the conversation, Yun Si-a missed her bus right before her eyes.
Since it was late, she sat on the bench at the stop to check her phone while waiting for the next one. Sensing a presence, she turned her head.
There stood In-ho’s friend, whom she had just met.
Holding her plastic bag, the girl entered the stop and sat down, leaving one empty seat between them.
"We meet again. You're... In-ho’s friend?"
"I'm Shin Jeong-ah."
"Shin Jeong-ah. That's a very pretty name."
Yun Si-a complimented her sincerely, but Shin Jeong-ah only gave a derisive snort.
Yun Si-a felt a bit slighted by the younger girl's insolent attitude, but she didn't let it show.
"Which bus are you taking, Unni?"
Surprisingly, it was Shin Jeong-ah who broke the uncomfortable silence.
Yun Si-a looked at her again to make sure the question was directed at her, and Shin Jeong-ah met her eyes, repeating herself.
"I asked which bus you're taking."
"Me? Oh... the 320."
"That's the same one I'm taking."
After saying that, Shin Jeong-ah pulled out her phone.
Whether she was watching YouTube or texting a friend, she didn't say another word until the bus arrived.
She's a strange one.
Yun Si-a compared the girl's current behavior with how she had acted in front of the convenience store.
Since it was an awkward situation to start a conversation, Yun Si-a just stared blankly at the tips of her shoes while waiting.
Fortunately, the bus arrived quickly, and Yun Si-a boarded ahead of Shin Jeong-ah.
Stepping into the nearly empty bus, Yun Si-a took a seat near the exit.
"?"
Then, using the aisle as a boundary, Shin Jeong-ah sat directly across from her.
The bus doors closed, and with a loud roar of the engine, it began to speed through the streets.
The road had many turns, causing their bodies to sway from side to side.
Surrendering her body to the bus as it jolted up, down, left, and right, Yun Si-a thought about tomorrow.
What was on my schedule for tomorrow?
Living a hectic daily life, she never wasted even these short moments on her way home.
She pulled out a notebook and began organizing her schedule for the next day.
Done with this, need to do that, have to be here by this time, handle this matter like this...
Yun Si-a designed her tomorrow, jotting things down with a cheap Monami ballpoint pen.
And Shin Jeong-ah watched her intently.
"Are you close with In-ho?"
Shin Jeong-ah asked abruptly.
"We've been talking a lot lately, but I wouldn't say we're close."
Startled by the sudden question, Yun Si-a considered its meaning for a moment before turning her gaze back to her notebook and replying.
"Right? It's not like he wanted the tutoring anyway."
Shin Jeong-ah put a sharp emphasis on her words.
"But he's been doing his homework and his attitude in class is great. He said he's found an interest in studying?"
Si-a spoke while recalling In-ho’s recent change in behavior.
"An interest?"
Shin Jeong-ah double-checked, sounding incredulous.
"Yes, an interest. Anyway, it's good for me. I was feeling guilty about getting paid without actually teaching anything, but if he's going to study hard now..."
"He's only doing that out of curiosity, so don't get your hopes up."
Shin Jeong-ah cut her off, speaking with finality.
At the student's words—a mix of worry, irritation, and distrust—Yun Si-a looked away from her notebook and turned to the side.
The girl's face was heavily contorted, as if she were deeply angry.
Shin Jeong-ah’s stiff, twisted expression greeted Yun Si-a.
Ah, she's upset because she's afraid of losing her friend.
Only then did Yun Si-a understand the situation.
She had momentarily forgotten that In-ho wasn't exactly a model student.
Since a student with poor conduct would likely be surrounded by similar people.
This girl must be a problem child too.
Once her thoughts reached that point, Yun Si-a felt a sudden urge to meddle.
"You're right. He might just be interested for a moment out of curiosity."
"Exactly. So..."
When Yun Si-a readily agreed, Shin Jeong-ah was quick to follow up.
But this time, Yun Si-a cut her off.
"But if I work hard, don't you think I can make that curiosity last longer?"
"...What did you say?"
"For example... if he studies hard and gets good grades, I could give him some kind of reward."
Yun Si-a trailed off, wondering what kind of reward would be effective for a kid from a rich family.
"A reward? What kind of reward?"
Yun Si-a’s attitude clearly rubbed Shin Jeong-ah the wrong way.
Shin Jeong-ah dropped her polite tone entirely, her aura turning ice-cold.
"Well... I haven't thought about it deeply yet... maybe something a student his age would like?"
As Yun Si-a shrugged her shoulders, a grinding sound came from Shin Jeong-ah’s jaw.
"I see..."
Shin Jeong-ah forced her lips into a smile, struggling to maintain it, while Yun Si-a pressed the stop button.
— Beep.
As the bus approached her stop, Yun Si-a stood up.
"Um... Jeong-ah, was it? I'm getting off here. Get home safe."
As the bus slowed down, Yun Si-a tapped her card and said goodbye to Shin Jeong-ah.
"Unni."
Just as she was about to step off the bus, Shin Jeong-ah called out to her.
"Yes?"
"You get home safe too, Unni."
Shin Jeong-ah gave her a wide, beaming smile.
"I hear there's been a lot of pickpocketing lately."