Chapter 60: Weight Class Difference (4)

Chapter 60: Weight Class Difference (4)

TL/Editor: Raei

Schedule: 5/week, Mon-Fri

Illustrations: Here

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With her eyes wide open, Song Soo-yeon stared at Min-Bom.

Min-Bom, with a flushed face, scratched her cheek and gauged Song Soo-yeon's reaction.

"I know it's sudden... but, well, it happened."

Even without reading minds, it was clear.

This was genuine.

That she had fallen for Jung-gyeom.

Song Soo-yeon took another look at Min-Bom, who was all dressed up.

She wore earrings and a necklace on purpose.

Even asking Jung-gyeom to cook steak and bringing wine were all intentional.

She had a vague feeling, but knowing the truth made the shock double.

The intent behind these actions seemed even more detestable.

She wanted to flip over all the food.

Seeing Song Soo-yeon silent, Min-Bom continued.

"...It's shocking, isn't it? I never thought I'd like someone-"

"-Why?"

Song Soo-yeon, frozen, asked without realizing.

It was an implicit question that encompassed hundreds of questions.

Min-Bom paused upon hearing Song Soo-yeon's question, then asked.

"Why did I fall for oppa?"

"..."

"Or why him?"

"..."

"...Hmm.."

Min-Bom pondered for a moment.

She then looked over Song Soo-yeon's shoulder at Jung-gyeom in the kitchen.

A faint smile appeared on her face.

Min-Bom answered both questions at once.

...Because when I'm with oppa, I can be myself.

Sweet honey seemed to fall from her eyes, showing her happiness just by looking at him.

The more Song Soo-yeon confirmed Min-Bom's sincerity, the heavier her heart sank.

She could name that emotion.

It wasn't the usual anger or jealousy.

It was fear.

Fear enough to make her hands tremble.

She might have instinctively known.

That she was no match for Min-Bom.

That Min-Bom had the power to take Jung-gyeom away from her.

And that Jung-gyeom could come to love Min-Bom.

Between them, there was no wall Song Soo-yeon had built around Jung-gyeom.

Unlike Song Soo-yeon, who still called him 'mister,' their names for each other were already intimate.

From the beginning, they treated each other kindly and gently, like old friends.

In contrast, even after getting close to him, Song Soo-yeon called him names like loser, nerd, idiot, and pervert for months.

These subtle differences might have led to the current changes.

The very fact that Min-bom was a hero would appeal to Jung-gyeom's heart.

Given his desire to help the vulnerable, he would like someone like Min-bom.

Min-Bom was also wealthy.

Different from Song Soo-yeon, who struggled with financial difficulties from the start.

Given his own modest circumstances, Min-Bom's wealth would be a tremendous help.

Even Song Soo-yeon could list reasons to choose Min-Bom.

So there was no reason Jung-gyeom couldn't.

"...."

Song Soo-yeon opened and closed her mouth repeatedly.

But in the end, she couldn't find any words to say.

She didn't know what to say.

"Let's get along well, okay? Please."

Saying that, Min-Bom adjusted her posture.

Her gaze still directed over Song Soo-yeon's shoulder.

Min-Bom even smiled brightly in that direction.

She could tell Jung-gyeom was approaching from behind.

"Are you two getting along?"

Jung-gyeom gently placed his hand on Song Soo-yeon's shoulder and set down the steak in front of her.

"..."

His kindness today was painfully heartwarming.

Imagining this warmth becoming Min-Bom's alone, jealousy almost drove her mad.

This couldn't continue.

A change was needed.

Song Soo-yeon closed her eyes tightly, pushing away her thoughts and emotions.

She couldn't just sit in silence when Jung-gyeom had cooked for her.

With difficulty, she lifted the corners of her mouth and expressed her gratitude.

"...mister, thank you."

"It's nothing, I'll always do it for you."

Song Soo-yeon hoped his casual promise was true.

She extended her wine glass to Jung-gyeom.

She wanted to get a little drunk today.

"Could you pour me just one more glass, please?"

Jung-gyeom smiled.

"Just don't get too drunk."

---

---

As the meal was coming to an end.

As expected, Song Soo-yeon was dozing off, drunk.

It made sense after a tiring part-time job and drinking.

Also, unlike when she drank soju, it seemed she liked the wine as she instantly raised her eyebrows in surprise.

Looks like she enjoyed alcohol, after all.

In fact, our tastes in alcohol seemed to match well.

Both the first impression of soju and this wine.

It was a wine I liked back when I was a villain, so recalling old memories wasn't too bad.

I realize anew how precious this moment is.

The atmosphere today had been different, but now it was clear.

She had feelings for me.

"...Huh."

I remained motionless for a while, needing time to calm my complex thoughts and racing heart.

My goal was to make friends after regression, and having a lover was a hope.

But I couldn't believe that Solace might be that person.

Is there really such a thing as fate?

How far is she willing to go to save me?

I lost track of time.

As the warmth of the kiss faded and the winter chill seeped in, I began to smile.

Smiling to myself, I touched my cheek for a long while, then turned around.

Going back into the cafe.

-Ding.

"...?"

As I took a deep breath and looked inside, I noticed something different.

Song Soo-yeon had woken up, leaning her forehead on her hand, supporting her weight on the table.

Her body was trembling slightly.

"...Soo-yeon? Are you awake?"

"..."

She didn't respond.

I began to sense the seriousness of the situation.

Slowly, I approached her.

"...Soo-yeon?"

Upon calling her a second time, she turned her head to look at me.

Her clear eyes were brimming with tears.

A single tear trailed down her cheek, leaving a long path.

But I forgot to comfort her.

I was too shocked by the look in her eyes.

It was the same gaze I had always seen in Luna before regression.

Her eyes seemed conflicted, or perhaps resolved, as they bore into me.

"..."

I quickly shook my head.

It seemed I had gotten too caught up in the past, influenced by the nostalgic wine and the help from Solace.

Song Soo-yeon is no longer Luna.

She relies solely on me, so I must never doubt her.

Reacting as slowly as I did, I quickly approached her.

I moved the chair I was sitting on and knelt beside her, embracing her.

"Why are you crying, Soo-yeon? What happened, what's wrong?"

I continued to pat her on the shoulder.

Song Soo-yeon's eyes softened.

Another tear rolled down her cheek.

"...I can't fight anymore... it's not working..."

She murmured.

"...What do you mean? Soo-yeon, what happened?"

She turned her head away from me.

And then she wiped her eyes.

Song Soo-yeon stood up.

I too stood up to meet her gaze.

I persisted with my questions.

"Soo-yeon, you have to talk to me-"

"-Hug me, mister."

".......What?"

She continued wiping her eyes and said,

"...I had a tough day."

"...Did you meet someone strange...?"

"...I met someone I wanted to kill."

...She must have had a tough time today.

She had been hiding it all this time.

It had been a long time since I saw her this angry.

A feeling of concern surged unbelievably fast.

The fact that she, who rarely cries, was shedding tears spoke volumes about the gravity of the situation.

"...But I think I'd feel comforted if mister hugged me."

She confessed with difficulty.

Naturally, I opened my arms and gently embraced her.

Patting her back, I said,

"...Soo-yeon, just talking about it can make you feel better. Tell me what happened. I'm on your side."

Song Soo-yeon shook her head in my embrace.

"...Not like this, mister. Not just a hug."

She began to push me.

I let myself be pushed back until I fell into the chair I had set aside earlier.

-Thud.

"...Soo-yeon?"

Song Soo-yeon didn't stop coming towards me.

Perhaps it was the alcohol.

She climbed onto my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me into her embrace.

"..."

I was surprised by her aggressive request for physical contact; she had never done this before.

It wasn't incomprehensible.

Various things must have combined to make her act this way.

But regardless of my surprise, she didn't stop.

She held me tightly, as if she was determined not to let me go.

She buried her face in my neck.

I could feel her tears, making her breathing uneven.

Occasionally, she trembled in my embrace.

I thought she had a certain aversion to men... but perhaps she needed comfort more.

What could have hurt her so much?

What made her so sad that she cried like this?

My heart was racing.

Was it because of Solace's kiss earlier, or shock, or the action itself, I didn't know.

I just moved my awkwardly stiff arms to embrace her.

Comfort came first.

With that action, Song Soo-yeon began to cry even more violently.

It was a kind of weeping that conveyed her sorrow just by listening.