Do You Want to End Up Like That? (2)
By the time Han Min-ha hurried over to find Yoo Hee-won, the other girl was already leaning against a streetlamp, thoroughly pissed off. It wasn’t because Han Min-ha had been late due to clashing class schedules. No, Yoo Hee-won had spent the entire time waiting alone, her mind spiraling through every worst-case scenario until she’d worked herself into a rage. She needed an outlet for that anger, and right on cue, Han Min-ha came lumbering toward her, chest bouncing heavily with every clumsy step.
“Did you swallow a damn turtle or something?! Why the hell are you so late?!”
“Ah, sorry… Class just ended… What’s going on?”
“You. Do you know why Professor Kyo took the day off today, or not?”
“How would I know…? The professor didn’t tell me anything.”
Yoo Hee-won rubbed her forehead and asked with a sigh, “Are you done with all your classes?”
“Yeah, I’m finished…”
“When you go to physical training later, tell your TA you’re pulling out separately.”
“Huh? How am I supposed to skip physical training?”
“Just say you’re training separately with me!?”
When Yoo Hee-won snapped at her, Han Min-ha shrank her shoulders and nodded quickly. “O-okay… I got it… But where are we going…?”
“You don’t need to know that. Change into your gym clothes later and wait in front of the lecture building. We’re going somewhere together.”
“Lecture building… Okay… I understand… But why—”
“Professor Kyo is probably meeting a woman today.”
“That’s good, then. The professor should get out more and meet people. He’s always stuck at the academy… *cough cough*!”
Yoo Hee-won grabbed Han Min-ha by the collar and yanked her close, pressing her lips right next to the girl’s ear.
“You stupid bitch. Can’t you read the room?”
“Let go… *cough*…!”
“If our advisor gets a taste for women and starts running around outside, what do you think will happen to his students? Use your brain for once.”
Yoo Hee-won whispered so close that her lips nearly brushed Han Min-ha’s earlobe. “You won’t just fail to graduate—you won’t even make it to the next year. Got it?”
“I get it… I get it, so…”
Yoo Hee-won finally released her collar.
“We need to find out who Professor Kyo is meeting. I think it’s probably the Flight professor.”
“Professor Jin…? Why would she suddenly come up?”
“You really don’t know that Professor Jin likes Professor Kyo?”
“Is that so…? I had no idea…”
“Forget it. Talking to you is pointless…”
Yoo Hee-won had been about to hurl another insult but changed her mind and shook her head. “I’m going.”
“See you later, Hee-won…”
As soon as Yoo Hee-won walked away, Han Min-ha shuffled off in her own direction with quick little steps. Once both girls had disappeared from sight, Song Do-yun slowly rose from where she had been crouching behind the flowerbed.
She had watched the entire scene through the compact mirror she always carried. For a long time, Song Do-yun simply stood there without moving.
Yoo Hee-won… had grabbed Han Min-ha by the collar and pressed her lips to her cheek… and stayed like that for a very long time… Han Min-ha had looked completely flustered…
Crack—
Without realizing it, strength surged into her hand. The compact mirror shattered into pieces and fell to the ground. Blood began to drip from Song Do-yun’s fingers where the broken shards had cut her.
Yoo Hee-won is mine…
But Han Min-ha is trying to steal her.
Somehow, Yoo Hee-won has become completely enchanted by her.
I don’t want to lose Yoo Hee-won.
So Han Min-ha has to disappear.
How… can I make Han Min-ha disappear…?
Song Do-yun lifted her hand and slowly licked the blood from between her fingers, lost in thought.
* * * * *
The distance from the Hero Association headquarters in the capital to the academy was considerable. By the time Kyo Suhyeon passed through the academy’s main gate to pick up Chae Ga-yun—who still hadn’t finished work—it was already evening.
The kids are probably wrapping up physical training right about now.
He wanted to call Han Min-ha over immediately to talk, but it made more sense to handle Chae Ga-yun first. The administrative manager’s authority was quite significant, and if he could keep making use of it over a single meal, it was a profitable deal for him. He could always call Han Min-ha in for a counseling session next week.
When he parked in front of the administrative building, he saw that the office lights were still brightly lit.
> [Manager. I'm right outside.]
> [Just a moment I'll be right out just a moment]
Chae Ga-yun must have been busy; she’d even sent a reply with typos. Although several mid-level managers worked under the administrative department, Chae Ga-yun was unusually swamped. She was essentially acting as the deputy director, and the nature of the administrative office meant mountains of paperwork. On top of that, she had to deal with the stubbornly rigid Hero Association, so her stress levels had to be enormous. That was why Chae Ga-yun always looked worn out and had a mouth like a sailor. Her fiery personality was the only thing keeping her going—if she’d been any less tough, she would have quit and run away long ago.
After waiting in the car for a short while, Chae Ga-yun came rushing out, coat half-on. Instead of her usual drab clothes, she wore a short skirt and a sleeveless turtleneck, and she had even let her hair down in loose waves. It looked strangely out of character. Her usual broom-like hair seemed unusually lush today—she must have done something to it.
“Did you wait long? I’m sorry. That damn Hero Association… Never mind. Pretend you didn’t hear that.”
Chae Ga-yun spoke rapidly as she climbed into the car.
“You look a bit different today, Manager.”
“Do I?”
Chae Ga-yun’s face brightened at his words, and she subtly crossed her legs. “How do I look?”
“It suits you well.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes. Shall we get going?”
Uncomfortable with where the conversation was heading, he changed the subject and started the car.
“You really are no fun. You took the day off today—where did you go?”
“I had business at the Hero Association. Nothing major.”
“Ah, I see. Was it about that thing from the archives last time?”
“Well… maybe. Anyway, what do you want to eat today?”
“Oh, right, right. Just a second. I’ll set the navigation for you. Hehe. I know a place that’s seriously delicious, okay?”
What Chae Ga-yun had entered into the navigation with a gleeful giggle was…
“It’s grilled pork intestines. This place is fucking amazing. Especially with soju… Ugh… Since tomorrow’s Saturday anyway, let’s go all the way and get wrecked, Professor Kyo!”
“Ah… Yes…”
He wondered if some forgotten sin from his erased past still lingered. Maybe this was his punishment—to be forced to eat grilled intestines every single time.
“Haa… How long has it been since I had a proper meal out or drank like this…? Fucking love it…”
Completely unaware of his inner turmoil, Chae Ga-yun hummed cheerfully, clearly in high spirits.
Why does she swear so much…
* * * * *
After hiding behind the flowerbed near the research building for an entire hour, Han Min-ha’s legs finally gave out and she plopped down onto the pavement. Yoo Hee-won, on the other hand, stood ramrod straight, glaring at the research building’s entrance with sharp eyes.
“Hee-won… It looks like the professor isn’t meeting Professor Jin Se-yeong. He’s probably seeing someone from outside the academy. It’s already evening and he still hasn’t come back.”
Han Min-ha said as she massaged her thighs.
“Let’s just go back. The professor has a private life too… He wouldn’t abandon us just because he went on one blind date. And today’s Friday with late-night study hours… Want to watch a movie in my room? I have snacks…”
“I let you talk to me a little and now you think we’re equals?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Ugh…”
After thinking for a moment, Yoo Hee-won lightly kicked Han Min-ha’s backside. “Hey. Get up.”
“Are we going back to the dorm?”
“No. Follow me.”
Yoo Hee-won led Han Min-ha at a light jog toward the main gate guard post. The female soldiers standing guard with rifles tensed at the sudden approach of unidentified personnel, but relaxed once they realized they were ordinary academy students and lowered their hands from their weapons.
“Hellooo~”
Yoo Hee-won greeted them with a sweet smile and gentle tone that would have been unimaginable coming from her on any other day. Han Min-ha was so shocked she clapped both hands over her mouth.
“Hi. Are you in the middle of physical training?”
“Sorry to bother you, but could you tell us if Professor Kyo Suhyeon went out through the main gate?”
At Yoo Hee-won’s request, the soldiers exchanged awkward glances.
“Hmm… We’re not really supposed to give out that kind of information.”
“Really…? Hng… What should I do…?”
Yoo Hee-won twisted her body coyly and tapped her lips with her index finger. With her naturally beautiful face, there wasn’t a man alive who wouldn’t fall for such coquettish behavior. Of course, the sight was so shocking to Han Min-ha that she began breathing roughly and irregularly.
“What’s the matter? If I can help, I will.”
“We’re Professor Kyo Suhyeon’s mentees. He promised to treat us to chicken during our guidance meeting today, but we’ve been waiting for two hours already… He’s not picking up his phone… I’m so hungry I could dieee…”
“R-really…? Just wait a second.”
Completely taken in by Yoo Hee-won’s cuteness, the soldiers hurried back into the guard post. They soon returned with Professor Kyo’s entry and exit records.
“He left with the administrative manager? Thank you so much, oppa!”
When Yoo Hee-won waved her hand delicately, the soldiers grinned like idiots and waved back happily.
Once they were far enough from the guard post, Han Min-ha spoke cautiously.
“Well… that’s a relief. If it’s the administrative manager, they’re probably just colleagues grabbing a meal together…”
“Did all your brains migrate to your tits?”
Yoo Hee-won cut her off with an icy expression.
“With Professor Kyo’s personality, you think he’d eat alone with a female coworker? And on his day off, no less—he came back to the academy just to pick her up in his car? You don’t find any of that suspicious?”
Han Min-ha wasn’t actually stupid. She simply had a tendency to interpret things in the most harmless, rationalizable way possible.
“Anyway… they’ve already left in the car, so there’s nothing we can do now. Let’s just go back to the dorm. I’m hungry too…”
“We’re following them.”
Han Min-ha’s eyes widened in shock at Yoo Hee-won’s declaration. “Do we really have to go that far?”
“You think a man and woman going out together on a Friday night are just going to eat and call it a day? Huh?”
“W-well… I guess not, but… what are we even going to do if we follow them…”
In truth, even Yoo Hee-won wasn’t entirely sure. She didn’t know why she had to follow them, whether she should interfere once they arrived, or if she would simply tail them and then return. Still, the thought of going back without doing anything made her blood boil. The important thing was that she was angry.
“Besides… how are we supposed to follow them? Students aren’t allowed to leave campus, and we don’t even have a car…”
“Are you some liberal arts student from a regular high school?”
“Huh…?”
“How far have you gotten in your flight classes?”
“Um… up to low-altitude, low-speed flight…”
“Haa… You really are the biggest blockhead I’ve ever seen… Still… Never mind.”
Yoo Hee-won let out a long sigh and wrapped her arms tightly around Han Min-ha’s waist.
“Hold on tight.”
“What are you—EAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!”
Yoo Hee-won exploded with golden aura and shot into the sky.