Chapter 111
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Farewell Party
A bird perched on a tree branch chirped noisily. Ha Yoon lay there with her eyes wide open, blinking vacantly at the ceiling.
Sunlight poured through the window, yet the dormitory remained quiet. On a weekday, that would have been impossible, but it was a mandatory holiday, making it feasible.
A few months ago, back when Yoon Se-rin was still around, they never skipped morning roll call even on mandatory holidays. But after Kim Seon-ah took over, she eliminated morning roll calls on those days.
Of course, that didn't mean they could skip reporting headcounts to the trainers—it was absurd to even think otherwise—so Kim Seon-ah still had to get up. Even so, thanks to her efforts, for the past few months, they could sleep soundly on holiday mornings without interruptions.
The result was this profound silence. Ha Yoon dragged her sluggish body upright, scratched her head, and glanced around the dormitory before letting out a deep sigh.
'Tomorrow's the day I leave, huh.'
It was a moment every trainee inevitably faced, but the day she'd never truly believed would come was now right in front of her. Ha Yoon trailed her hand from her head down her face.
Honestly, it didn't feel real at all. Half a year had already passed? It felt like there should be months left, so the idea of leaving tomorrow just didn't sink in.
As those thoughts swirled, Ha Yoon shuddered.
'Am I actually feeling nostalgic? About leaving this place?'
Am I insane? The thought hit her seriously.
She wasn't a trainer—she'd spent half a year as a trainee, getting fucked and beaten. There was no reason to feel anything but relief at leaving. It was the kind of thought only a madwoman would have.
As Ha Yoon seriously pondered her sanity, Kim Seon-ah entered the dormitory and jumped in surprise.
"Whoa? Up early on a holiday?"
"Just back from the admin office?"
"Yeah. Reporting roll call."
Instead of answering, Ha Yoon fired back a question. Kim Seon-ah nodded nonchalantly and sat beside her, as if it were the most natural thing. Equally naturally, Ha Yoon draped an arm around her waist and said,
"Tomorrow, huh."
"Yeah, tomorrow."
They hadn't specified what, but the two sat shoulder to shoulder, understanding perfectly. Feeling the warmth from her shoulder, Kim Seon-ah quietly added,
"I stopped by the admin office today, and Teacher Gan mentioned it. My owner's been decided."
"Not some creep, right?"
"He's fine. Someone I know. Remember I told you? Before coming here, I lived on the run for about a month. He helped me back then."
"Oh, that guy who took your virginity?"
"Don't put it like that..."
She playfully punched Ha Yoon's chest with a lightly clenched fist, as if embarrassed. At the cute gesture, Ha Yoon smirked and said,
"Guy's got some money, huh? Buying a TS victim isn't cheap."
"He worked it out with my family and got government support. It's usually only for immediate family, but... my parents know him well, so they approved."
Something wistful in her voice sparked a twinge of irritation in Ha Yoon. But she held back from ruining the mood.
If it were anyone else, she'd have lashed out with cutting words. But this was Kim Seon-ah.
'If I'd had a family, would I have gone back to them instead of Woo Shin-hyung?'
Ha Yoon mulled it over, then chuckled wryly.
Her parents had dumped her at an orphanage and fled without a second thought. No way they'd have helped.
"Good for you. Getting to see your family again."
Suppressing the jealousy bubbling in her chest, Ha Yoon kneaded her waist suggestively.
The ticklish touch made Kim Seon-ah burst into clear laughter—"Ahaha!"—wiping tears from her eyes as she nodded.
"Yeah. I'd half-given up, never dreamed I'd actually get to go back. Really... really..."
Her repeating words trailed off, lips slowly turning downward. The smiling face twisted bit by bit until it crumpled entirely, tears streaming freely.
In the end, Kim Seon-ah clamped a hand over her mouth and sobbed.
"I-I was so scared. Sniff! That I'd never see my family again... that I'd just vanish from the world..."
Instead of replying, Ha Yoon pulled her head into an embrace. Kim Seon-ah clung tightly and continued,
"Even talking to you and helping out, pretending to be okay all this time... I had to, or I wouldn't have made it...!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Ha Yoon patted the sobbing girl in her arms.
She'd known Kim Seon-ah was forcing composure. She'd cried her eyes out on the bus here and even failed Teacher Gan's simple test, earning a beating.
Yet within days, she'd adapted, even pleading with Teacher Gan for Ha Yoon when she got punished.
It defied logic. The fragile girl who bawled on the bus and couldn't grasp basic instructions—how could she pull that off so soon?
No matter how kind, in a cutthroat place like this, survival came first. She'd been on the brink; no room to help others. Truth was, she'd cracked and worn a mask to hold it together.
Only now, with her worries lifted, could she unload and break down.
Ha Yoon stroked the sniffling girl's hair.
"Congrats, Kim Seon-ah. You get to go home."
"Y-Yeah..."
"Don't forget me once you're back, got it?"
"Of course not!"
She lifted her head, shouting as if she'd never been crying.
Her teary eyes held an ambiguous expression on that foolish face. Ha Yoon smirked crookedly. The ambiguity soured into a pout.
Damn, shoulda just stayed quiet. Muttering inwardly, Ha Yoon kissed the still-tearing Kim Seon-ah. When in doubt, kissing worked like a charm.
"Those two are at it again from morning..."
Someone muttered, but Ha Yoon ignored it.
-
After their morning romp, the day flowed ordinarily. Even after lunch, Ha Yoon stuck close to Kim Seon-ah until she dozed off, then stepped out to the parade ground for a light stroll.
Walking, she replayed the morning.
'When'd Seon-ah get so chummy with the others?'
Everyone in the dormitory knew Ha Yoon and Kim Seon-ah were leaving tomorrow. After breakfast, they swarmed Kim Seon-ah with words—envy about her discharge, worries about not being sold to a weirdo, thanks for past help. No surprise; every girl here owed her big or small favors.
Well, maybe Joo Yeon-hwa excepted. Ha Yoon had claimed her right away. While the others crowded Kim Seon-ah, Joo Yeon-hwa groveled at her feet.
Regret at parting? Or distress at losing her dominant owner? Didn't matter—she was out of Ha Yoon's interest, so she kicked her away.
The girl yelped and fled like she'd forgotten human speech, but whatever.
Why care about those left behind when leaving tomorrow? Ha Yoon strolled the grounds, thinking that.
Four years as a trainer, half a year as a trainee—nearly five years at Hope Education Academy.
Tomorrow, she'd never return. No reason to. From the parade ground, a bit removed, she took in the full view.
'Getting all sentimental now that it's time to go.'
Ha Yoon clicked her tongue at herself. Still, she kept drinking in the scenery. As her gaze swept slowly,
"Hey—! Ha Yoon!"
"...Teacher Park?"
Teacher Park waved from afar. A bad feeling stirred. Grimacing like she'd tasted shit, Ha Yoon approached anyway—no running from a trainer.
Even on her last day, she was still a trainee. Orders were absolute.
Her grumpiness lingered, so she snapped as soon as she was close,
"What? Trying to quietly wrap up my last day here."
"Whoa? That attitude? Not a great idea."
"Cut the crap and get to the point."
"No fun."
Teacher Park grumbled, then grinned.
"Nothing big—just thought we'd have a little farewell party, us alone."
"Farewell party? Out of nowhere?"
"You're a trainee now, but you were a colleague once. Back then, we had to let you go quietly, but not anymore."
Back then—when she'd accidentally killed a trainee? Yeah, school booted her before any goodbye bash.
Still, jumping into it felt off. As Ha Yoon hesitated, Teacher Park grinned wider and pulled something out.
A chilled can of beer, droplets beading on it, and Ha Yoon's favored smokes (Golds).
"Come now, and these are unlimited..."
"Your room's on the second floor, right?"
"Haha! That's my Ha Yoon—straight to the point."
Teacher Park laughed heartily at her sudden eagerness.
Of course, Ha Yoon wasn't some fool baited by booze and cigs. A "farewell party" meant sleazy antics galore.
But so what? She'd fucked Teacher Park plenty. Ending trainee life with drinks, smokes, and sex? Practically wholesome for a send-off.
"Hurry up, Teacher Park! Beer's gonna warm up!"
With booze and smokes waiting, Ha Yoon couldn't hold back. She hurried him along.