Chapter 138

Chapter 138

My Home Has Disappeared

Han Jae-jung doesn’t like the smell of hospitals. The distinctive air mixed with medication makes him feel dizzy whenever it enters his nose. He can’t help but dislike it when visiting to heal his body actually makes him feel worse.

In fact, this aversion might be learned rather than instinctive.

Because hospitals have always been places where bad things happen.

Even now, it was the same.

While continuously stroking Ah-yoon’s head as she trembled in his arms, Han Jae-jung swallowed dryly.

Yoon Seol-hwa’s gaze toward Han Jae-jung was abnormally warm. She showed no displeasure at his actions. Her look suggested that he had done nothing wrong and that whoever made him act this way was at fault.

Her tilting her head in confusion after telling a crying person to leave, while looking lovely due to her beautiful appearance, gave off a slightly eerie feeling.

“She’s crying right now, Seol-hwa.”

This isn’t right no matter what. Han Jae-jung opened his mouth to answer her question. At that, Joo Ah-yoon’s shoulders in his arms slightly flinched.

“Uu... *hiccup*, I-I’m not crying....”

To maintain her pride even in this situation, Han Jae-jung went beyond being dumbfounded to feeling impressed.

“Hmm....”

Yoon Seol-hwa stared at him quietly before breaking into a gentle smile. Her soft head movement was an expression of humble acknowledgment.

“Ahaha, right. I guess I was too hasty. I didn’t properly observe my surroundings.”

“...?”

She backed down faster than expected. Han Jae-jung, who had been prepared for an argument, felt his tension dissolve.

“I’m sorry, Ah-yoon. You must have been as shocked as I was. I wasn’t considerate enough.”

Soon her hand gently stroked Joo Ah-yoon’s head. Though her body temperature might be cold, her touch was nothing but warm.

“...It’s fine.”

Though Joo Ah-yoon accepted the touch without much issue, having heard something, she showed a sharp reaction due to her pride.

Usually, she would have awkwardly smiled and moved aside, but now she couldn’t do that because she had too many grievances.

‘She clearly saw me crying but told me to move aside...?!’

There was definitely a moment of anger. Her already hurt feelings from Han Jae-jung became even more wounded.

‘Finally became a man-obsessed woman...!’

To neglect her sister because of a man, how thoroughly disappointing. Next time she comes to the cafe, she’ll feed her concentrated bitter espresso.

While pledging such revenge, she hugged Han Jae-jung’s back even tighter.

‘H-how about that! Are you jealous?!’

Glance. Joo Ah-yoon swallowed her tears while side-eyeing Yoon Seol-hwa. A jealousy-inducing strategy she would never have attempted normally.

Though it was even childish, the hurt Joo Ah-yoon didn’t care about her dignity anymore.

However, contrary to her intention, Yoon Seol-hwa’s reaction was indifferent.

“...Huh?”

“What’s wrong, Ah-yoon?”

“N-no, just... Wish brother would lose some muscle. Unnecessarily big and hard.”

“Hey, that’s my pride, can’t get rid of that.”

Joo Ah-yoon was perplexed. Yoon Seol-hwa had always envied when she and Han Jae-jung were close.

‘That Yoon Seol-hwa who held hands well enough before dating but trembled while holding them after starting to date?!’

There’s no way she wouldn’t be envious of the hug. Isn’t she the one who even drank alcohol and came running just to get a single hug just a few days ago?

However, no matter how much she looked, Yoon Seol-hwa’s expression showed no discord between her inner thoughts and outer appearance. Her eyes, like a quietly frozen lake, showed not even a single ripple of disturbance.

“Then just comfort her and she’ll contact you.”

“Of course.”

“Wait a minute, are you treating me like a three-year-old kid...?!”

“Well, you’re pretty similar.”

“Coochie coo, our little Ah-yoon. Should big sister give you milk?”

“Get out!”

Just as she said, Yoon Seol-hwa left.

Leaning against the door outside the hospital room, she slowly caught her breath. Unlike her quiet breathing, her heart was beating wildly. In her mind, she could still see Joo Ah-yoon being held in Han Jae-jung’s arms.

‘I’m jealous... Jealous... Jealous... Jealous... Jealous... Jealous... Jealous... Jealous... Jealous... Jealous....’

Although she could act composed on the outside, her inside was different. Even now, she felt like she would go crazy with jealousy.

As she kept dwelling on her jealousy, she fantasized about being in his arms instead of Joo Ah-yoon.

“Hehehe....”

She made a tearful face and quickly rushed down the corridor again. Of course, with quick steps.

***

Ippotranslation

***

“AAAGH! Bokuno iega (My house)...!”

Haru fell to her knees at the construction recovery site, letting out a roar.

“Just now?”

“Just now...? JUST NOW???!!!!!”

“Ah, you startled me.”

“Do you people have no blood or tears! You devils!”

“De...vils...?”

“How does it matter WHEN someone gets shocked about their house collapsing!”

When Baek Ah-hee and Ara expressed doubt, Haru became angry instead. Ara felt wronged.

‘So is it normal to cry about a collapsed house only now?’

She was here doing rescue work during the incident, so isn’t it strange to suddenly shed tears now?

There’s a limit to missing the timing. It felt like watching someone suddenly burst into tears three days after watching a sad movie.

“Time isn’t important... What’s important is the fact that I’m shocked... If I were to compare my pain! Ah soo (Ah right). It feels like I’m bungee jumping with an endless fall!”

“Your vocabulary has improved. Though the metaphor is somewhat strange.”

Haru gathered concrete dust in her hands while trembling.

“Khuhuheuk... My sweet home sweet home...!”

“Why are you acting like this when you’re rich? Oh right, I heard the association is giving support money because your house collapsed.”

“UWAAAAAH! Tonight is YAKINIKUUUU!!!”

At the news of support money, Haru suddenly bent backwards and started cheering.

“Living like that must never be boring.”

At least every day would be interesting. Ara shook her head at the mood swings that even inspired awe.

“But Haru, where will you live while you’re looking for a house?”

“Hmph.”

At Baek Ah-hee’s question, Haru rummaged through her clothes for something.

“Look at this! I’m going to live luxuriously now! Ah, what a celeb life! Is this what being an influencer means?!”

What she showed was a brochure for a luxury hotel. Baek Ah-hee just laughed ‘haha’ seeing it. She too was overwhelmed by these mood swings.

“O-oh? That’s great, Haru.”

“If Jiknyo looks favorably on me, I might let her stay for a night! How about trying to call me Haru-chan this time?!”

“Ah right... I’m good....”

Even though Baek Ah-hee politely declined, Haru continued to flirt, begging her to add ‘chan’ after her name.

Ara watched their banter and thought.

‘Huh? Why did someone with such wealth live in a place like this?’

Thinking about it, it was strange. This was a place where lower-class people who had no money but didn’t want to be homeless gathered to live. It was vulnerable to attacks from villains, and far from the association, so even if reported, it would take a long time for magical girls to arrive.

It was an unsuitable place for a magical girl who amassed enormous wealth by risking her life.

But until now, no one had questioned it.

‘...Well, she must have her own circumstances.’

Ara didn’t think too deeply about it. Being a magical girl, she figured she must have her own complicated story and let it go. Instead, she thought of someone else.

“Even if Haru’s living situation is solved... Then, what about Mr. Han Jae-jung?”

“Ah.”

“What?”

It wasn’t just her living in this rundown apartment, there was also Han Jae-jung.

“I mean Mr. Han Jae-jung. Where should he preserve his noble self?”

Right now, the person who would be most troubled by having no house wasn’t Haru but him.

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