Chapter 42

Paranoid Love Affair

Episode 42

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“Yoon-woo, thank you so much for the earrings! I will wear it every day from now on!”

“You don’t have to…”

“Why? Do you think it’s bad to see it again?”

“I really think it suits you very well. However… just don’t feel pressured to do that. Just wear it when you want to… ”

“No! I want to wear it every day!”

“Uh…Then, I’m happy.”

“Thank you, Yoon-woo! I will definitely repay you.”

“Nope. It’s okay.You don’t have to…”

“It is not okay! I’ll definitely do it… Be careful and go safely to your house.”

“Huh. Noona you too.”

While Hye-rim was burying her face in her pillow, Ji-eun was sharing her greetings with Yoon-woo at the crossroads.

And the smile did not disappear from Ji-eun’s face as she walked to her house for a long time.

Yoon-woo’s praises were still ringing in her ears.

After arriving home, washing up, and lying in bed, Ji-eun’s excitement subsided.

And when I reflected on what happened today, it was only then that Hye-rim’s detached attitude came to my mind.

Thinking about it, it was very strange.

She said that the man she had loved for 10 years gave another woman a gift, and even though that woman is Ji-eun, who is her best friend, how can she stay with such an innocent face?

Is she someone who can do that? Wouldn’t it be more possible for Confucius to come alive from the dead?

When she saw that Yoon-woo gave the earrings to Hye-rim as a gift, she became jealous and she was very upset…

So Hye-rim must be upset with her too… 

Nevertheless, Hye-rim did not express such feelings toward me or Yun-woo.

She had a completely different attitude from the way she was angry at the day I ate lamb skewers with Yoon-woo.

But it wasn’t Hye-rim’s fault.

If you think about it, it was more like Hye-rim.

In fact, it wasn’t because of jealousy that Hye-rim was angry last time with lamb skewers.

Of course, there must have been such feelings, but I thought that Hye-rim wasn’t the kind of person who got angry without good reason.

That day, the reason Hye-rim got angry with Ji-eun on the phone was because she lied that Yoon-woo went home well, even though she brought Yoon-woo to her house.

And the next morning, Ji-eun and Yoon-woo were in bed, so even the excuse Ji-eun made on the phone the day before felt like a lie.

And the arm pillow…

Presumably from Hye-rim’s words and actions, maybe she thought that Yoon-woo was unreasonably discriminating against only herself?

Hye-rim has been like that before.

She was only furious when she saw things that seemed inconceivable and absurd, and she didn’t particularly dislike situations that others saw as angry and annoyed.

For example, at a festival, when she decided how to decorate her booth, how to promote the club, how to spend the money, and when her manager arbitrarily decided, I heard Hye-rim angrily arguing.

In fact, the manager was usually self-righteous and did not listen to others, so there were many club members who were secretly dissatisfied and waiting for the manager to graduate.

However, this point was pointed out by Hye-rim, who is a freshman and has just joined the club.

But the manager was a narrow-minded man.

It seems that the members of the club trust and like Hye-rim more than him, so the manager, who was sullen, continued to push odd jobs to her.

For example, telling Hye-rim to move the refrigerator necessary for the booth operation from the club room to the booth by herself…

It was a small refrigerator, and although there was an elevator, there was still a considerable distance to carry.

Even though Hye-rim didn’t have to do it alone, the manager said, ‘Isn’t Hye-rim the strongest here? We’re all not free…’ He dared to hand over his work to Hye-rim.

Even though it was unfair and upsetting enough to look at her from the sidelines, she said that she would have to move anyway and she could do it herself, and after that, she worked silently.

Hye-rim’s criteria for determining what’s unfair and what isn’t is based on her views on the subjects, so sometimes I don’t understand it well, but every criteria she set while I continued to watch next to her was consistent.

Considering Hye-rim’s personality, isn’t Hye-rim following her own standards again this time?

The reason Hye-rim got angry last time was because of my lies and Yoon-woo’s unfair discrimination, but this time I didn’t lie and Yoon-woo didn’t unfairly discriminate her either.

In Hye-rim’s opinion, even if she didn’t like me, there was no reason for her to be angry with anyone.

So maybe she was keeping her emotions in check?

She’s scary when she’s angry, but Hye-rim often says that things don’t always go her way, and that’s why she’s not a person who gets angry with anyone…

Looking back, it seems that Hye-rim spoke less than usual this evening.

She seemed to have a worse expression than usual.

Yesterday, Hye-rim even called to explain to Ji-eun that the gift she received was not from Yoon-woo’s pure favor, but Ji-eun was just excited and didn’t even think about Hye-rim’s heart today.

I felt guilty.

What is Hye-rim doing now?

I came home yesterday and took out the bacardi by myself and drank it, wouldn’t Hye-rim feel the same way?

I even made the riot yesterday, so why didn’t I think about Hye-rim’s position today at all?

Looking back on my own actions, I was overly excited.

My excitement was blinding me.

In fact, Yoon-woo’s praise was the very light that caused this.

Even if it’s not empty words, how much kindness is there for me?

Yoon-woo said that all he wants is someone who wants to accept him.

So, he is saying that he is not as good as to receive acceptance.

But I was the only one who heard this from drunk Yoon-woo.

Hye-rim doesn’t know Yoon-woo well. Then, the perception of Yoon-woo’s behavior now may be completely different from that of me.

Thinking like that, looking back, Hye-rim’s voice, who said that the earrings I received were the earrings Yoon-woo had been staring at for a long time, somehow seemed to be full of interest.

What would happen if I kept my mouth shut here?

The relationship between Hye-rim and Yoon-woo may become distant.

Hye-rim said that if Yoon-woo liked me, she would have no choice but to accept it.

Because Yoon-woo is so used to being alone, I may be the only person he meets.

If that happens, Hye-rim and Yoon-woo will be hurt, and only my greed will be satisfied.

Then, I have to live by myself, like garbage, who fills the greed at the cost of other hearts.

Do I deserve to be loved by others?

When she was in high school, she learned Seodong poems from textbooks, and she thought about him.

Seodong is such a trash bastard.

Is it his love to share his testament about his crush and take it away when she is in misfortune?

It’s just his possessiveness.

He treated his lover as an object.

In order to satisfy his greed, he waged a looting war. 

[ T/N: It’s from “The ballad of Seodong”. It’s a movie and a tale. In this tale, seodong was a commoner while the one he has a crush on is a princess. He knew that he couldn’t obtain her. So, he sang songs describing his love with her name and the princess get demoted to commoner when the king heard that song by misunderstanding. ]

He is no different from the head of any country that has scoured other countries for oil.

If I also do that, my love will also turn into an oil war where Yoon-woo would be the oil.

I’m destroying myself, my heart, and the value of the person I like!

Thinking like that, Ji-eun’s heart sped up.

She looked for her cell phone right away as she thought she should call Hye-rim.

As for Hye-rim, Ji-eun called her, and she didn’t answer the phone until after a while.

[… Uh, Ji-eun, why? What did you leave behind?]

Hye-rim’s voice croaked.

She was also right with her prediction. But she pretended not to know.

“No, you know, Hye-rim… … . I should have told you right earlier… … .”

[Huh? … … What?]

“I have earrings. It’s true that Yoon-woo gave it… … . It’s not like Yoon-woo just wanted to give it to me.”

[… … Then?]

“Hey… … . The truth is, I was reluctant to talk about it because it would even make me feel ashamed if I explained this. However… … Still, I don’t think it’s reasonable to just skip it. Yoon-woo is really… … He has no interest in me.”

[Uh… … No way… … If he’s not interested, why is he giving you a present?]

“Eww… … . The truth is… … . Yesterday I… … I’m so envious that Yoon-woo bought you earrings… … . I drank a little too much… … So much so that I lost my mind… … .”

[Uh? Did you say this was embarrassing? Didn’t I say that I forcibly took it by stabbing him in the corner as a debt?]

“Ah… … . I didn’t want to say this, so I hid it… … .”

[What the hell? What do you have to envy? It’s not that Yoon-woo liked me, and he didn’t give me a present because of that… … .]

“No, I was envious of you thinking that earrings suit you.”

[Huh? What are you talking about?]

“For me… … . Earrings like that wouldn’t suit me.”

[No, noona you… … .]

“I’m really embarrassed… … . So I asked Yoon-woo on the way out. How would an earring like that look on me? … .”

[So what? Didn’t he say that those earrings just didn’t suit your personality… … .]

“He didn’t say that… … . That’s what I heard.”

[What did he say?]

“He said he thought something other than that would suit me… … .”

[Ah, I think I know about what noona is saying now.]

“Yeah, looking at it now, it seems like that, because I didn’t listen to it anymore and cut it off… … Because I don’t want to talk. But when I came home in the evening and thought about it, I was so sad… … .”

[Uh… … . Is that that much?]

“That… … . The truth is, I’ve always been envious of you. You’re tall and have a nice body…”

[You are pretty and cute too!]

“But, I’m not told that I’m mature and sophisticated like you… … .”

[No, everyone has different strengths! Noona is fine as you are now, and when you start decorating, I’m sure… … .]

“Ugh, I heard that from Yoon-woo too, so listen to me first… … .”

[Uh? From Yoon-woo? What happened… … .]

“I was lying at home… … . I was so depressed, I couldn’t stand it, so I took out the bacardi I had and drank it, but I immediately lost my mind… … . I drank alcohol endlessly in that state… … .”

[What is Bacardi? You’re okay even if you drink 40-degree vodka, right?]

“That… … It is a little strong liquor.”

[How strong is it? How is the frequency?]

“It’s a little over 70 degrees… … .”

[No, crazy! Is that a little strong? Why are you at home by yourself drinking something like that?]

“It’s not just drinking. I also mix it up. I also drank it with Coke at first.”

[Not later?]

“Huh… … .”

[Don’t drink the leftovers. Post it on the online bulletin board of the Gogopas market.]

[T/N: You can sell it ]

“That… … . I almost drank it all… … .”

[Ah… … . noona… … .]

“Anyway, I got drunk and told the truth to Yoon-woo… … . So, he bought it in the morning and”

[… What did you do?]

“That… … . Can’t you say that? I’m so ashamed that I think I’m going to die. Anyway, I want to receive earrings as a gift… … . and messed up a bit. So, I’m so … … .”

[Ah… … Then, so… … .]

“Okay, that’s why he bought it. This… … .”

[ … If you’ve been thinking about it like that, tell me first… … . Whether it’s earrings or clothes, I can choose everything… … . Well, though I wouldn’t have been able to get it from Yoon-woo.]

“I would have done that too if I could. Then I wouldn’t have made such a fuss… … .”

[Even though noona drinks, you don’t talk like that very well… … . I had no idea. Sorry. I shouldn’t have forced noona to attend classes today.]

“No, no. It’s okay… This earring is enough. Yoon-woo’s look is a bit embarrassing, but…”

[Still, Yoon-woo won’t take it to heart. He’s not that kind of kid.]

“It’s true, but every time we meet, my heart continues to feel uncomfortable… … ”

[Then buy Yoon-woo rice again. Don’t drink alcohol this time.]

“I will. Now you know, it wasn’t something serious that happened between me and Yoon-woo.”

[Did you call to explain that?]

“You did too.”

[… Thanks, Noona.]

“Uh… … . I felt guilty for not telling you, but I will die of shame if I did. I’m one year older than you guys, what the hell… … .”

[Don’t stress too much. Let’s go buy some clothes on the weekend to relieve stress. I’ll pick a cute one.]

“That… … I’m more than cute… … .”

[Ah… … . right. Let’s just see everything as it is then. See you early in the morning… … . Uh? But wait?]

“Huh?”

[Did you drink last night?]

“Yes, it is.”

[And you didn’t feel well today, so you couldn’t eat lunch with us?]

“Ah, it’s actually because of the hangover… Sorry for lying.”

[Lies aren’t the problem… Noona said you listened to 5th and 6th classes and you came over to my house for dinner right away, and you were already wearing earrings at the time, didn’t you?]

“Right? What are you going to ask… … Ah.”

Also, Hyerim is quick-witted. As Ji-eun spoke, she realized what Hye-rim was about to ask.

[Yoon-woo was with me from the 2nd period to the 5th period… When the hell did he buy the earrings for you, Noona?]

“That… … In the morning… … He would have bought… … .”

[Would he have bought it? Does noona even know when he bought it?]

“No, I was sleeping then… … .”

[That means…noona…Did you take Yoon-woo to your house again?]

“… … No.”

[Uh? Then… No way… ]

“I’m sorry, Hye-rim. I didn’t even know, really…”

[Noona… Did you sleep at Yoon-woo’s house?

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