Episode 62. Doubt and Oath 17

Q: Hello, Director-nim. There was a question I didn't get to ask, so I'm leaving this message. This isn't about me but a friend's story - if someone does something that affects their mana core like meditation, could symptoms like certain body parts becoming sensitive appear? This really isn't about me, my friend said it happened. I'm a bit worried so I'm asking.

A: n

'......???'

The next morning.

I stood frozen, clutching my phone.

'n...?'

What is this?

My mind went blank at the response that defied all expectations.

'Does n mean no?'

Thinking that, I then shook my head.

'No matter what...'

Common sense dictated that someone wouldn't send such a brief response to a girl they just met yesterday who's like a daughter to them. Besides, maybe among guys, but girls don't respond like that even if they're super close. Just look at Seyeon-

"......"

My thoughts suddenly halted.

'Seyeon...'

The hand holding my phone stiffened.

Just a few weeks ago, thinking of Seyeon would only make me happy and joyful.

But now, some inexplicable anxiety makes my stomach churn.

The most intimate and close person gradually becoming an object of suspicion was much more disgusting than dealing with someone hateful from the beginning.

Like mixing refreshing mint into sweet chocolate until it becomes neither here nor there.

'...My thoughts wandered there again.'

I was thinking about the Research Institute Director-nim.

I guess that shows how deeply Seyeon has permeated my life.

Anyway... it's better to assume that strange response was just her pressing the wrong button because she's super busy.

I decided not to reply and turned off my phone screen. Believing she'd send a message later.

♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥

And ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so, school.

I arrived earlier than usual again today.

Since I can't do anything until Director-nim sends a reply, I plan to observe Seyeon a bit ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠starting today.

Of course, I've been watching Seyeon's actions closely since I started suspecting her last time, but this time, more stealthily.

'Pretending to turn my head while stealing glances, pretending not to eat together but secretly watching from afar, secretly following whenever she goes out...'

And if the opportunity arises, I'll try to record with my phone too.

Though it would be limited to capturing her doing suspicious things when there's no one around.

'...This makes me feel like some criminal.'

Or a detective chasing a criminal.

So it should be fine. This is just the process of turning circumstantial evidence into concrete proof.

If I'm lucky enough to capture Seyeon on video doing something terrifying like colluding with some shady villain.

Then I might gain some advantage.

'If I show Seyeon the video and demand what this is, she'll deny it at first but quickly give up and cling to my legs crying and begging, but I'll just smirk and not forgive her - that kind of feeling?'

I decided to keep that fantasy deep in my heart for now.

First, showing the evidence to the person involved is problematic itself.

Seyeon might (sad to say) reveal her true colors. Like I guessed last time, she seemed like the real deal (not fake).

If I complete the evidence collection, the best I can do would be to use my new connection from yesterday.

Someone at the Director-nim's level... might be able to do something. She's a Mercedes-Benz S-Class Owner after all, and seemed kind-hearted, so she'd definitely help.

"Hoo."

I let out a sigh as I reached the classroom.

Before entering, I carefully peeked my face through the window in the middle of the sliding door.

"......"

The classroom had a dim atmosphere. The morning sunlight was still faint and all the lights were off.

And inside was Seyeon, reading a book as usual.

'Why is she reading with all the lights off?'

She'll ruin her eyes.

Anyway, I continued observing Seyeon through the window.

'No suspicious signs visible.'

Seyeon was just reading her book. No one else was there, just the curtains fluttering softly from the wind coming through the window. Quiet without any noise.

"...Huh."

While silently watching Seyeon reading, suddenly a male student approached her.

'What?!'

I didn't see him until now!

Could it be teleportation???

Of course not.

Since I was observing through the window on the back door, he was probably sitting in a spot not visible from my angle and stealthily approached Seyeon.

"Hmm."

First, I know that face. Just know him.

Just an ordinary male student #1 who gets along moderately well with his group?

We've never exchanged words.

'But why did he suddenly go to Seyeon?'

It seemed like something interesting might happen, so I decided to keep watching.

"What book..."

"Demon-..."

Hmm...

They're saying something, but probably because there's a door between us, I can't hear well. Their voices sound muffled like they're underwater.

But their attitudes were clearly visible.

The reactions between the male student and Seyeon were as different ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as heaven and earth.

The male student was fidgeting like he couldn't sit still, secretly scratching his thigh, his face bright red as his lips trembled. The faintly audible voice was shaking like there was an earthquake. It was pitiful to watch.

Meanwhile, Seyeon maintained her usual calm demeanor. With a very subtle smile, she kept her gaze fixed on the book, nodding in response to the male student's words. Somehow it felt like she was reluctantly responding. The male student wouldn't see it, but under the desk, she was slowly moving her ankle. It didn't look like an attitude of respecting the person she was talking to at all.

Their conversation continued for quite a while.

No, can I even call this continuing?

The male student always started the conversation, and Seyeon always ended it. The male student would throw out a topic, Seyeon would give a short answer cutting it off, the male student would desperately think of another topic to throw out, Seyeon would cut it off again... This process seemed to repeat infinitely.

'Wow, fuck...'

Huh.

Why are my hands trembling?

Is it PTSD?

Then Seyeon, as if annoyed, slightly bowed her head, tightly closed then ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠opened her eyes, said something, and suddenly stood up from her seat.

"Gasp...!"

Is she coming out?

Startled, I hurriedly opened the sliding door and pretended I had just arrived.

"Oh, Yubin-ah!"

Seyeon immediately ran over and tightly grabbed my hand.

"Ah, hello."

"You came early again today?"

"Uh, yeah."

Seyeon smiled brightly at my response. Unlike the mechanical smile from before, this was a genuine smile full of emotion.

'The temperature difference is insane.'

Seyeon tightly gripped my wrist and led me back to her seat.

"Se, Seyeon-ah."

"Hmm?"

"Weren't you about to go out?"

"No, why?"

"......"

I stared at Seyeon dumbfounded. Seyeon just looked at me with a genuinely innocent smile.

'No, if you say that, what does that make that male student from before?'

I felt like arguing, but that would mean admitting I've been voyeuristically observing her like a stalker, plus it would completely crush that male student's self-esteem, so I held back my words.

"Aish..."

Instead, I took a deep breath and thought about it.

'I thought Seyeon was kind to everyone.'

That didn't seem to be the case.

Does she only act warmly to people who meet her standards?

That time some male student was annoyingly pestering her and she obediently accepted it was probably because I was watching from beside her.

"Hmm."

So Seyeon has another side too.

Maintains an icy, formal attitude toward annoying loser male students she doesn't like, but becomes infinitely gentle with close friends like me and Eunbyeol.

'Scary.'

Actually, that's mostly how social life works.

But since Seyeon was just at the level of an angel descended to earth, this aspect felt quite unexpected along with the suspicions that started last time.

'I'll remember this.'

Conditions when Seyeon becomes cold.

1. The other person is trash.

2. No one is watching.

"Hmm hmm..."

Seems pretty accurate.

♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥

"Then see you later."

"Yes~"

The homeroom teacher finished morning assembly and trudged out.

"Aah..."

I interlocked my fingers and stretched my arms forward.

Then, though unbecoming of a beautiful girl like me, a crack-! sound came out.

"What was that sound."

Seyeon laughed as if it was ridiculous and poked my shoulder.

I laughed too and reached into my book bag to pull out the Korean textbook for first period.

"Hoo."

Now I'll seriously start investigating Seyeon's secret.

With the intention of uncovering whatever shady things she's doing behind my back, I need to work hard and carefully.

Given Seyeon's characteristically meticulous nature, she'll hide any clues in an instant.

So I need to spy on everything, even minor things like her taking notes in class next to me.

She might be writing down suspicious plans or enemies.

'And... while preparing for midterms too.'

I gripped my mechanical pencil with determination.