Chapter 74

Chapter 74

Severed Traces (7)

Joo Ah-yoon has no dreams.

Like most modern people, she was the same.

When it’s even urgent just to make a living, what kind of talk is dreams or romance? It’s been over ten years since she held such cynicism.

The catalyst was nothing special. It was when she realized there was no Santa Claus. She opened her eyes in the morning with a throbbing heart, but there were no gift boxes anywhere in the house, and the precious memory that had kept her childlike innocence was shattered.

On that day, Joo Ah-yoon’s world collapsed....

Starting with such a trivial thing, people slowly begin to change. She was the same.

What made these thoughts more intense was when she started being bullied at school.

Since childhood, she was someone who cried a lot, was small in stature, and had severe mood swings, so she was a good plaything for her peers.

Even a little teasing would immediately get a reaction, giving them the satisfaction of picking a fight. She was also weak, so there was little chance of retaliation, making her an easy target. And she was always whining, which made her disliked.

At first, it was always small bullying, like loud gossip or throwing eraser dust during class.

“Ah, don’t do that!”

“What’s going on over there! We’re in class right now!”

Once the accumulated small bullying made her overreact, they had a good excuse. The teacher didn’t scold them, but reprimanded Joo Ah-yoon instead, and the third parties who weren’t involved in the pranks would glare at her with unpleasant looks for causing a disturbance. Of course, the bullying kids did too.

Countless gazes tightened around her like a noose. Instantly becoming the center of attention and labeled as a strange kid, Joo Ah-yoon fell silent. And she regretted it.Fôll0w current novÊls on n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(co/m)

‘I won’t do that next time.’

Of course, the bullying didn’t stop.

“Ah, fuck!”

“Joo Ah-yoon!”

She would hold it in, then explode again and become the strange kid again, then hold it in again and react again.

It was a vicious cycle.

As she gradually became isolated, Joo Ah-yoon thought,

‘I just want to live comfortably.’

She had no dreams. No grandiose goals. She just wanted to have fun. She wanted to live comfortably without worries. Rather than agonizing or falling into discomfort from chasing something, she just wanted to live comfortably right away.

It was enough of the dreams she had while sleeping. She didn’t want to place any greater meaning on them.

The young Joo Ah-yoon’s mind was filled with such thoughts.

Amid the growing anxiety and bullying, Joo Ah-yoon happened to help someone who had collapsed on the street.

She was in no position to help anyone, and she suddenly wondered what business it was of hers, worried that she might just get cursed out for helping. That was the usual perspective she lived with. It was highly unusual for her to lend a helping hand to someone.

She’s forgotten now why she helped that person that day.

It could have been a developed need for recognition and wanting to be praised, or she might have coveted some kind of reward for helping. It could have been because she felt uneasy at the thought that the person might die as a result of her ignoring them, or it could have just been because the sunlight was strong that day. It didn’t matter how it happened.

Joo Ah-yoon didn’t regret her meddling that day.

“Thank... you....”

The name of the person who received her unexpected help was Yoon Seol-hwa.

This small act of help became a turning point in her life.

“It’s you. Thank you for helping Seol-hwa.”

This encounter later led to meeting Han Jae-jung, who was famous as a handsome bully throughout the school.

Joo Ah-yoon considered her meddling that day a lifetime of good fortune.

“Brother.”

That thought hasn’t changed to this day.

“Hm? What is it?”

“Eat first, then talk. Eat first. It’s not that urgent.”

In addition to the thought that hadn’t changed from her childhood to now, there was one more thought Joo Ah-yoon had.

She let out a small laugh as she watched Han Jae-jung hurriedly stuff chicken down his throat late at night. She had urgently ordered the chicken because he said he hadn’t eaten yet that night. Apparently he was very hungry, as the chicken was quickly disappearing. There was still a childlike part of him remaining that was somehow endearing. Just looking at him made her feel full. Was this the sensation parents often described as ‘feeling full just from watching’?

“I’m curious why you made a contract with the stars, brother.”

“Ah, that... It’s nothing special.”

Han Jae-jung’s thick Adam’s apple bobbed once before he opened his mouth. His lips were delicate compared to his thick neck line. Naturally rosy lips that would make anyone think he was wearing makeup if they saw them. It was just one part of his features, but it was enough to earn him praise for being handsome. Up until recently, he had been walking around looking like a homeless person despite such good looks. As always, he didn’t know how to make use of his face.

“If it’s nothing special, then there’s no reason to hide it. Tell me so I can use it as a reference when guessing my dongsaeng’s goals.”

“Well, I guess there’s no reason I can’t say....”

Han Jae-jung smiled a little awkwardly and answered her question.

Worried about retaliation, a sense of guilt arose in Han Jae-jung’s heart.

‘I judged that kind girl who’s thinking about me... I’m sorry Awoon. I was an asshole.’

Regretting his narrow-mindedness and distrust, he silently apologized to Joo Ah-yoon.

Creak.

Joo Ah-yoon’s room door opened and she moved her body inside. From the dining table, it was a spot where he could naturally see. The door almost closed, leaving just enough of a gap for the eyes to be visible, and the movement stopped.

From behind the door, Joo Ah-yoon was staring at him intently. Her flickering pink eyes shone vividly like those of a nocturnal beast.

“You’re right, Brother. I should sleep early to grow taller. Just 22cm shorter than you.”

“...? What are you talking about?”

“Do you know what that means, Brother?”

Creak. The bedroom door started closing little by little again.

“The best height difference for chemistry between a man and woman is 22cm. Not just chemistry... You know, right?”

“Ugh!”

The beer he was drinking went down the wrong pipe. After a few agonizing coughs, he heard Joo Ah-yoon’s ridicule and teasing.

“That’s right. By the way brother, I’m not locking my room door today.”

“If the kid finds anything weird, you know how much porn you’ve watched?”

“Ah, how would I count that.”

“I knew you’d say that. Just go to bed already!”

“Okayyy~”

Joo Ah-yoon closed the door all the way after cutely responding.

“She’s really something...”

He drank his beer with mixed feelings.

***

Ippotranslation

***

The next morning.

Following Joo Ah-yoon’s advice, Han Jae-jung came to the hospital.

But it wasn’t to receive treatment.

It seemed obvious that the future would nag him to just get treated, asking how much the hospital bills would be, but the lump that had appeared on his head overnight had already been completely cured. The regenerative ability unique to those with starlight significantly reduced the need to go to the hospital.

So why did he come to the hospital?

It was none other than for a meeting. He used the hospital not as a place for treatment, but as a place for a meeting.

A familiar interior welcomed him. Recently and in the past, the hospital was such a familiar place. It would be better if the hospital was faraway, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for him. The hospital was a place of daily life.

Sitting on the hard chainz and waiting, time passed before he knew it.

Something that cannot be given up even if blamed.

What he had told Joo Ah-yoon last night lacked one condition.

That blame must exist solely for the individual.

If another being suffers because of me, then it can no longer be called a goal.

It is nothing more than a one-sided nuisance or tantrum.

How selfish and terrible it would be to ignore the suffering of others and only do what’s good for oneself.

Han Jae-jung surveyed with his eyes the person sitting next to him. A tall, long-haired beauty who suspiciously had her hat pulled down low.

“Long time no see.”

“...Yeah.”

Just uttering the name made his whole body feel like it was melting with happiness, and crumbling with pain.

“Seol-hwa.”

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/ippostranslations