Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Waiting
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Kim Seon-ah was leaning against the corridor wall, gazing out the window. Being in the mountains away from the city, the stars were clearly visible.
She seemed to remember a few constellations thanks to an ex-girlfriend from long ago, but now they were hazy in her mind. Maybe it was because so much had happened lately.
Kim Seon-ah thought that as she stroked the rough bandages felt through her clothes.
Ha Yoon, who had stabbed both her and Teacher Choi, had ultimately been subdued by Teacher Choi and handed over to Teacher Gan. Kim Seon-ah recalled the sight of Ha Yoon passed out and restrained on the bed, letting out a sigh.
'Should I not have followed her?'
Kim Seon-ah had been thinking about it nonstop since returning until now.
If she hadn't followed, would Ha Yoon have stabbed Teacher Choi? Would she have gritted her teeth and stuck to her duty? Or even if she hadn't followed, would Ha Yoon have stabbed him anyway?
Before stabbing Teacher Choi, Ha Yoon had stabbed her and told her not to interfere anymore. No, it wasn't just not to interfere—it meant not to get involved. Being together raised the chances of suffering at the trainers' hands.
'I knew that and still...'
She had known from day one that hanging around with Ha Yoon would lead to rough treatment. The other trainees had urged her not to, and the trainers openly targeted Ha Yoon. Only an idiot wouldn't notice.
Yet Kim Seon-ah had insisted on sticking with her. If not her, Ha Yoon would truly be isolated.
She could spin tales about camaraderie or helping a fellow newbie, but deep down, it was simple pity. No different from the meddlesome busybody Ha Yoon had called her.
But was that wrong? Was it bad to reach out to someone pitiful and in distress?
Sure, the academy was a place where even taking care of yourself was tough. Still, being two instead of one made things feel easier on the heart.
Besides, ditching Ha Yoon to join a new group was impossible—they already had tight bonds among themselves.
The veteran line: Hong Ryeon, Ryu Jin-ah, and Baek So-ra.
The thug duo: Yoon Se-rin and Han Su-ah.
The couple: Jin Si-won and Shin So-hyeon.
And they were all guaranteed to leave before her, leaving only Ha Yoon behind. She could build ties with future newbies, but who knew when they'd arrive?
Sticking with Ha Yoon was better. Though Ha Yoon told her not to meddle, it was really a calculated approach based on self-interest.
"Hoo..."
Kim Seon-ah sighed again, gazing at the rising moon. She worried Ha Yoon wouldn't suffer too much at Teacher Gan's hands.
Stabbing a trainer meant punishment was certain, but she hoped it wouldn't be too severe.
"Kim Seon-ah?"
As she thought that, someone called out. Turning, she saw Jin Si-won strolling over, waving casually.
"What's up? Why aren't you sleeping?"
"Jin Si-won-ssi... Ah, no, Si-won."
"Yeah? Oh, a day's passed, huh?"
Recalling Jin Si-won's instruction to switch to casual speech starting tomorrow, Kim Seon-ah stammered. Jin Si-won let out a hearty laugh.
"If it's awkward, ease into it. I won't complain."
"No, it'll get natural soon enough... probably."
"So why are you out here? Not waiting for me, obviously... It's Ha Yoon, right?"
Kim Seon-ah nodded at Jin Si-won's words, then remembered she had been on Trainer Duty for Teacher Gan.
"Come to think of it, Si-won-ssi—no, Si-won—you were on duty for Teacher Gan, right? I didn't see you when I went for treatment earlier..."
"Yeah. I saw you, though."
She had hidden briefly when Kim Seon-ah came for treatment, still reeling from Teacher Gan's torment. Calling it instinct was embarrassing, so Jin Si-won laughed it off with a haha and scratched her head.
Of course, Kim Seon-ah had no interest in whatever she had endured.
"How was Ha Yoon?"
"Ha Yoon, huh..."
Should she tell everything? Jin Si-won pondered briefly, deciding to gloss it over. Being too honest would only worry the already anxious girl more.
"Just the usual torment. Even for Teacher Gan, it wasn't that bad, I guess."
"I see..."
"Yeah, well... Nothing to fret over. Last I saw, Teacher Gan even looked pleased."
At least that much was true. Unlike Ha Yoon's anxious gaze toward her, Teacher Gan's face had been full of satisfaction.
"So stop waiting for Ha Yoon and get some sleep. She's got at least two more hours."
Duty ended around 6 a.m. It wasn't even 4 yet when she left, so waiting meant a long haul.
But Kim Seon-ah shook her head.
"Still, if she's hurting and comes back to no one waiting, it'll make her even sadder."
"Yeah, yeah, your devotion's blinding me. Guess I'll crawl into bed with So-hyeon."
"...Jeez, it's not like that."
"Sure it isn't~"
Jin Si-won waved as she sauntered back to the dorm.
Kim Seon-ah watched her retreating figure with a faint blush, then turned back to the end of the corridor—the direction of the infirmary.
The infirmary wasn't far, maybe 200 meters at most. But she had no intention of going.
Even if she did, there was nothing she could do, and unlike Teacher Choi, Teacher Gan's temperament meant neither would fare well.
In the end, waiting like this was the only thing Kim Seon-ah could do.
The wait felt endlessly long and boring, but time marched on at its own pace. The dim sky began to brighten.
Now watching the twilight landscape instead of the black sky, she heard footsteps approaching from somewhere.
Thud, thud—the heavy steps echoed from the end of the corridor. Ha Yoon? No, too loud.
Trainees' shoes were cushioned indoor slippers that made no such noise.
More likely the sneakers or dress shoes trainers wore, definitely the latter—clearly dress shoe steps.
Should she hide if it was a trainer? There was no rule against wandering at night unsleeping.
Rule or not, a trainer would punish a trainee on sight.
Maybe slip away briefly? Common sense said yes.
No need to hold post and take punishment just to wait for Ha Yoon. Duck out till the trainer passed.
But, but... For some reason, Kim Seon-ah focused on the approaching steps. Faint breathing mixed in.
Suppressed, or pained, breathing.
"No way..."
As Kim Seon-ah muttered, a figure emerged in the window light far ahead: disheveled hair, a man—Teacher Gan.
Unlike Kim Seon-ah who spotted him, Teacher Gan stared at the floor, walking leisurely without noticing her.
Passing windows, he vanished into shadow, reappearing in light, drawing nearer bit by bit until he halted, seemingly spotting her. Conveniently in shadow, his expression hidden.
"Kim Seon-ah? Why aren't you sleeping out here?"
"Oh, uh, couldn't sleep..."
She desperately wanted to. She was one of the sleepiest people around; her eyes were drooping now.
Despite the obvious lie, Teacher Gan replied earnestly.
"Couldn't sleep... Insomnia? I could prescribe sleeping pills."
"It's not that... Um, Teacher Gan?"
"Yes, speak."
"Where's Ha Yoon...?"
"Ha Yoon... You mean Ha Yoon."
She saw his silhouette stroke his chin in the dark. What expression hid there?
Kim Seon-ah was dying to know but wouldn't step into the shadows.
"More importantly, I'm walking my pet right now. Can't answer, unfortunately."
"Pet... animal?"
Only then did Kim Seon-ah notice the long leash trailing from his silhouette—and the small huddled shape at its end.
Spotting it, she gasped involuntarily.
"Yes, awfully cute, isn't it? Want to pet it? Very docile, but it gets rowdy sometimes, so it's muzzled—no biting."
Panting breaths came—dog-like discomfort or human voice, ambiguous.
But Kim Seon-ah knew instantly what made that sound.
No, she had to know. As she thought that, Teacher Gan moved. Step by step from shadow to window light.
A leash dangled from his hand, like for walking pets. The other end stayed in shadow.
Teacher Gan chuckled heartily at it.
"Haha, it's shy. Come here..."
Coaxing like a beast, the huddled form stirred slowly.
Grunts and heavy thuds as it bore weight on limbs.
When it fully emerged into light, Kim Seon-ah let out a groan of a sigh.
"Ha Yoon..."
"Heok, hek..."
A wretched sight. Limbs bound tight, crawling on elbows and knees like a quadruped; a bar gag in her mouth allowed only breaths.
Animal ears on head, tail attached—no need to mention.
The rest was shock enough. As Kim Seon-ah froze, Teacher Gan spoke again.
"Want to pet it? It loves that."
"...Yes."
She answered in a subdued voice. No answer meant punishment from him, certainly.
Wearing an indescribable expression, Kim Seon-ah knelt before the beast-like Ha Yoon.
Ha Yoon, ashamed, squeezed eyes shut, trembling.
Poor thing, Kim Seon-ah thought, gently stroking her head. Soft pink hair slipped between fingers.
"Sorry."
"Keung, kung..."
"Should've just waited like Si-won said."
At least she wouldn't suffer this humiliation.
Kim Seon-ah murmured, pulling Ha Yoon's head into an embrace, hoping it comforted.
"That's enough petting."
Teacher Gan grabbed Kim Seon-ah's nape, pulling her away with a smile.
"Got something to explain to everyone tomorrow. You should sleep too."
"...And you, sir?"
"My walk isn't over. Later."
Teacher Gan tugged the leash, passing Kim Seon-ah.
Ha Yoon glanced at her, then bowed her head, following the lead.
Kim Seon-ah stood frozen until they vanished down the corridor.
Until morning broke.