Chapter 19. The Argument (2)
Everything about her—from one to ten—rubbed me the wrong way. She grated on my eyes and ears. Who the hell did she think she was, pouring out accusations at Dojin like he was some criminal?
I didn't know the full details, but Oppa seemed willing to talk it out. Yet she wouldn't even listen—what right did she have to scream and hurl those vicious words? And all this from a girlfriend he'd only see for a fleeting moment. A connection that wouldn't last more than two or three months, tops—just a passing fancy.
Who did she think she was? The mere fact that she'd raised her voice and berated him so carelessly made my blood boil, and the content itself was so absurd I wanted to call her out on it.
<If you keep acting like that, you'll end up living with your sister forever... Go on, prove me wrong.>
That was what Oppa's ex—someone he'd barely dated—had said before storming off. She hadn't named me directly, but she'd dragged me into it anyway. And what she'd said pissed me off to no end; it made my teeth grind.
Who the hell are you?
What gave some clueless outsider the right to spout that nonsense? So what if Oppa looked after his seven-years-younger sister? We'd finally mended our sibling bond to this extent. She couldn't possibly know everything we'd been through.
What's so wrong with living with family? Why mock it like that and even slap him across the face?
As one of the people she'd targeted with her venom, I felt it was only right to go after that woman walking off into the distance and make her pay.
I'll make her apologize.
Not to patch things up, of course. Just enough to make her realize how ignorant and rude she'd been. So she wouldn't wake up feeling all mopey at dawn and send some lame text like 'Whatcha up to?' So she'd reflect on it alone and quietly cheer for Dojin and Sea to live happily ever after from afar.
No more, no less—that would suffice.
"Hoo..."
Dozens of meters ahead, Dojin glanced up at the dark night sky with a small sigh before heading to the nearby smoking area. And I seriously pondered my next move.
How could I tail that woman without Oppa spotting me?
Going around the long way...
It was the first idea that came to mind, but it'd take too much time. I might lose her.
The second option was quicker and more effective.
If I jump up high, he won't see.
The smoking area was obscured by trees. If I leaped from a spot out of Dojin's sight, I wouldn't catch his eye.
With a plan in place, there was no reason to hesitate.
"Sorry, this is as far as I walk you."
"Huh?"
I didn't wait for Jin Yu-ri's reply. I kicked off the ground.
Taang!
The sound was faint. I soared over five meters up and more than ten forward in one bound, breezing past the smoking area.
The woman was already nearing the road, pretty far ahead. A beat later, Jin Yu-ri leaped after me the same way and asked,
"What're you planning?"
"...Dunno."
I meant it. I had no real plan. I was dead set on getting an apology, but I hadn't decided what to say. Face-to-face, something would come out.
Truth be told, I wasn't in a rational state to nitpick right now. Out of Dojin's line of sight, I didn't need to worry about getting caught. I closed in fast on the woman just as she rounded the corner.
And... I just went with the first words that came to mind.
"Hey."
Her steps halted abruptly. A couple seconds of silence followed. She didn't turn, so I called again.
"Hey, can we talk for a sec?"
"Huh?"
Only then did she turn around. Under the bright streetlight, two impressions hit me as I sized her up.
...She looks similar.
I'd sensed it vaguely from afar, but up close, the resemblance was striking. An eerie feeling, like staring into a mirror.
Dojin's ex-girlfriend looked a lot like me.
I thought he only dated total stunners...
Just once before, I'd glimpsed one of his girlfriends, and she definitely was. Not on Han Se-ra's level, sure—that was practically a law of physics. But on her own, she was stunning. Even the online sightings backed it up.
Not this time, though.
Guess he hasn't been showing his face much lately.
This woman was just... decent, at best. Give me a few years, and I'd match her easy. Unless his standards had dropped, it didn't add up.
And then the follow-up thought: From what I'd overheard and pieced together, Dojin seemed head over heels for this girlfriend. I'd been curious what made her so captivating.
But this? Looks were meh, and her personality, from what I'd seen today, sucked. Did she have some hidden charm you couldn't see on the surface? Something so irresistible that Dojin fell hard?
No need to dwell now. I said to her,
"You know who I am, right?"
It was phrased as a question, but really a loaded accusation. I had reason to be sure.
My second impression upon facing her:
She's freaking out.
She'd stopped at my voice alone, before even seeing my face. Panic lingered in her expression after turning. She must've known my face and voice from the start. Maybe Dojin showed her a photo; maybe she'd overheard a call when we were together.
Anyway, she looked visibly rattled as she asked back,
"Dojin's... little sister?"
"..."
My brows furrowed slightly. Out on the street yelling? It was "Oppa." Slapping him and breaking up? "You." Now, like it never happened, "Dojin-ssi."
Her terms of address flipped willy-nilly. Made me wonder if her head was just as messed up.
I answered curtly.
"Yeah, his sister."
And... right then, her expression shifted dramatically. The flustered look vanished, replaced by a steely resolve, like she'd made up her mind.
"Ah... I see?"
A cold reply from her, and suddenly—whoosh—a gust of wind whipped by. I didn't catch that it was a mana-infused SOS signal as I mentally sorted what to say and demand.
"Sorry, but I overheard you talking to Oppa."
"So?"
"Breaking up with him is fine—"
"Why'd you slap someone who was just standing there?"
Jin Yu-ri jumped in accusingly from the side. I shot her a glare, and the woman responded in a tone dripping with disbelief.
"And who're you to ask me that, miss?"
"We're classmates—"
"Professor's student."
Our answers crossed, and she nodded like she got the gist. Feeling the conversation sway to her rhythm, I upped my guard and pressed on.
"Breaking up's your business... but still—"
"Sorry to upset you."
"...?"
I hadn't expected an apology so quick. Or one laced with zero remorse.
As I stood there baffled, she continued in a voice chill as frost.
"You're Lee Sea, right? Didn't think you'd overhear. It's between Dojin-ssi and me—my mistake. If you're upset, I apologize. Who knows if we'll meet again, but if we do, I'll make it formal then."
Every word grated from start to finish. A surface apology, but what she really meant was probably: Chasing me down like this is rude too.
Jin Yu-ri looked pissed beside me, so it wasn't just my imagination.
In that brief moment, I scrambled for a retort and shot back,
"What about to Oppa?"
"Slapping him—that was too much, right?"
Jin Yu-ri chimed in again. The woman, eyes off me now, replied icily.
"His sister aside... I don't need pointers from his students."
Her words were annoyingly logical, hard to refute. Then she counterattacked.
"But... if Dojin-ssi finds out his students chased me down like this, he won't be thrilled. What do you think?"
"...!"
She'd nailed my weak spot perfectly. Sure, as his sister, meddling after he got yelled at and slapped wasn't unreasonable—but Dojin wouldn't exactly welcome it. I hesitated...
And once more, Jin Yu-ri jumped in. With unexpected backup, no less.
"You're obviously a college student too. Why keep calling us 'students'?"
"..."
The unforeseen jab worked; the woman faltered. Seizing the moment, I pressed her.
"Apologize properly to Oppa. And let's never cross paths again."
"Whether we do or don't—that's for Dojin-ssi and me to decide—"
"Hmph, obvious we won't. Who're you kidding."
Who knew an ally could feel this solid? The woman clamped her mouth shut at Jin Yu-ri's timely jab. I figured one more line and I'd bail.
Apologize on your own. Say my piece and go.
But... an unwelcome variable arrived.
"Sea!"
The shout from behind made my heart drop. I turned to see Dojin standing there, face full of distress. He strode over briskly, and his first act wasn't scolding me or Yu-ri.
Had he grasped the situation in this short time? He apologized to the woman, genuinely sorry.
"Sorry. I'll handle these two, so you can go. Really, my bad."
"No, send the students away first. Let's talk properly—I feel unfinished too."
Now Dojin looked at his sister and student. In a slightly stern tone,
"Sorry, guys... but can you give us space?"
The victim himself was asking. No way to stubbornly refuse. Jin Yu-ri glanced cautiously, then bowed only to him.
"See you tomorrow, Professor..."
"Yeah. Sea, walk Yu-ri to the station, then head straight home. No detours."
"...Got it."
Retreating with Jin Yu-ri, I glanced back. Dojin and the woman sat side-by-side on a nearby bench, talking. Calmer than the fight earlier, but hardly friendly.
About ten minutes to the station. Neither of us spoke the whole way. Our heads were a mess, and we each had at least one gripe with the other.
I minded Yu-ri's timely but over-the-top meddling. She still harbored resentment from being duped—not fully over it. The group project clash was the baseline.
We finally exchanged brief goodbyes at the station entrance.
"Bye."
"Heading to Charlotte-sensei together tomorrow, right?"
"...Yeah."
After Friday classes, we'd train under Charlotte Tate. Sparring included. Knowing that, Jin Yu-ri and I silently vowed.
She pissed me off... so tomorrow's spar, I'd make her pay.
"...Sorry."
The third apology by now. Seo Yeon-hee replied calmly.
"It's fine. These things happen. Stormy youth phase, right? I get it. Yeah... happens."
"Seriously, I had no idea they'd chase you. I was watching from the smoking area on purpose... how'd they slip past?"
I only realized after her magic SOS. By the time I rushed over, things were already underway.
Seo Yeon-hee shook her head gently.
"I was surprised too. They popped up outta nowhere, rapid-fire grilling me... But hey, you got a common enemy outta it, so you're good, Dojin. And that enemy's gone for good now."
"Thanks... and sorry..."
She'd probably responded to provoke Sea and Yu-ri on purpose. Easier to clean up that way. She'd switch identities soon, leaving me as the poor victim who'd just taken slaps and insults. Grateful—super grateful... but still felt awful.
Seo Yeon-hee, watching me, smiled softly. Then joked,
"It's okay. This was... kinda fresh. Not bad."
"Noona... why are you such an angel?"
"'Cause it's you. Plus, I gained something from today, so I'm satisfied."
"Huh?"
She didn't explain what. Before parting, she teased,
"I'll collect big on this favor later."
"How big?"
"Dunno? Unconditionally do one thing I ask? That sounds fair."
"...I'll hold you to it."
I begged for something reasonable. She left with a meaningful look. After seeing her off, I trudged home.
Unlocking the door, the scene at the entrance greeted me.
"...You're back?"
Speak of the thief who feels guilty—the apron-clad Sea was diligently cleaning the house.