Chapter 138
No matter how hard I try to sleep deeply, I’m not the kind of person who wouldn’t notice being carried away while lying down.
I tended to wake up promptly if someone called, and in my actual life, I never faced issues because of sleep.
But…
I look at Yu Da On, who has become as pale as a sheet.
“…”
As our eyes meet, she hurriedly averts her gaze.
It’s clear that she feels guilty about something.
“Da On.”
“…Yes.”
Yu Da On responds in a voice that seems to crawl out of her throat.
Still, I’m glad that Yu Da On isn’t one to easily refuse my requests.
“Can you tell me what’s going on?”
I glance over at Jang Chae Yeon and Song Ah Rin.
The two of them are staring at Yu Da On and me with wide eyes.
To be honest, unless Yu Da On had been super close to me, it’s not like we were often physically affectionate.
“Well, you see…”
“Hold on.”
Song Ah Rin interrupts and looks at both of us.
“…I, no. Hold on.”
She takes a deep breath and then looks at us again.
“Did you guys sleep together?”
Clears throat, cough cough!
Upon hearing that, Yu Da On seems to choke and cough, while Song Ah Rin’s expression grows even colder.
“Really? Did you guys sleep together?”
“Song Ah Rin, please calm down…”
“Speak! Not the black-haired one, you.”
Song Ah Rin stares at me intently.
“…”
At this point, I couldn’t just stay silent.
“Well, yes, we did sleep together.”
“Wow, that guy really has guts.”
“Oh ho.”
As I barely break free from the chatter of the two behind me, I continue.
“But when I say ‘slept together,’ it doesn’t mean what you think, Song Ah Rin.”
“When did you sleep?”
“It was a few days ago when the incident ended.”
“When I was working late with the white-haired guy, you were having a blast at the black-haired guy’s house.”
Song Ah Rin murmurs while twirling her hair.
“…Well, I can let that part slide.”
“…”
But is there really anything to let slide here?
Isn’t this like treating a boyfriend who’s cheating on his girlfriend?
I’m feeling a bit wronged.
“No, but Song Ah Rin.”
“What?”
After a cough, I clear my throat and decide to make my stance clear.
“But really, you don’t have any reason to blame me for this, do you?”
“…What?”
Song Ah Rin freezes as if shocked.
“Well, that’s fair… Anyway, you and I aren’t dating, right? Of course, neither are Da On and Chae Yeon, but still.”
I quickly interject before any misunderstandings spread.
“But really, no matter what I do with anyone, I don’t think you have any reason to be angry, Song Ah Rin.”
Isn’t that the truth?
“…”
After opening and closing her mouth several times, Song Ah Rin hangs her head low.
“Wow, scum.”
“Really nasty.”
“Excuse me, but could the two spectators please be quiet?”
I forcibly silence the two who are chatting at the back and continue.
“In any case, nothing happened with us…”
“Really?”
At that moment, Jang Chae Yeon, who had been silent until now, stands before Song Ah Rin and looks at me.
“…”
“Really?”
“Well, you see…”
I don’t know why saying “we’re nothing” feels a bit uncomfortable in front of Jang Chae Yeon.
“…”
“I believe you.”
Jang Chae Yeon looks at me with unwavering eyes.
“But…”
“…”
“She doesn’t believe you.”
Her gaze shifts towards Yu Da On, who instinctively avoids Jang Chae Yeon’s look.
“Did you guys do something weird?”
“Chae Yeon, it’s not like I took sleeping pills and drifted off. And Da On is not someone to do weird things while I’m asleep.”
“…”
Yu Da On just looks at the floor, casting her eyes here and there without saying anything.
“Da On.”
In the end, this issue hinges on her opening her mouth.
“Just tell the truth.”
“…”
“So, uhh.”
How on earth do I explain this?
While I’m stammering, Jang Chae Yeon interrupts sharply.
“Did you toy with her body?”
“Chae Yeon!”
There are lines a person should and shouldn’t cross.
What does it even mean to toy with someone’s body?
“…I swear, on the heavens.”
After a long silence, Yu Da On finally speaks up.
“I was holding her.”
“You were holding her.”
At this point, I have no room to chime in.
The two continue their dialogue.
“I, I can’t sleep well usually, so I thought if I slept next to Jae Heon, I could fall asleep better.”
“…”
Yu Da On lowers her gaze.
“I wanted to appear like I was sleeping well next to Jae Heon rather than staying awake with my eyes wide open.”
“…”
“I didn’t want to worry anyone.”
“If that’s the case, you shouldn’t have called me.”
Jang Chae Yeon says coldly, and Yu Da On nods silently in agreement as she carries on.
“So… I got greedy. I just held her and slept next to her.”
“…Is that true?”
Jang Chae Yeon looks at me.
“How would I know? I was asleep.”
“You don’t know when someone hugs you while you’re sleeping?”
“It’s not like it was my turn to be on watch; how could I know everything…”
“…”
Yu Da On looks at me with tear-filled eyes.
“…I’m sorry, Jae Heon.”
“…It’s fine.”
As I watch Yu Da On on the verge of tears, the image of her beyond the room comes back to my mind.
It seems that since that incident, I’ve become somewhat lenient towards Yu Da On.
But what can I do?
“Did you sleep well?”
“…Huh?”
“I’m asking if you slept well.”
“…Yes.”
“Then that’s good.”
It’s not like I’m losing anything, and if she slept well, it’s fine.
“…Are you forgiving me?”
“Forgive? If you slept well, that’s all that matters.”
“…Are you forgiving me?”
“…Do you need my forgiveness?”
“…”
To my question, Yu Da On slowly nods, clutching her collar.
This fixation on the word “forgiveness” is strange.
“…I forgive you.”
“…!”
Yu Da On’s expression brightens.
“Thank you, thank you!”
“It’s okay. It happens.”
“…”
I gaze at Jang Chae Yeon, who looks lost in thought, unable to decipher her thoughts.
“Chae Yeon.”
“Can you really think that way?”
“…Well, I suppose so.”
“Okay, then I’ll think that way too.”
Jang Chae Yeon sharply turns away, only to look back at me.
“But, if the time comes when I can’t help it—”
“Yes.”
“Promise me you’ll accept me then.”
“…”
Her intensity makes it impossible for me to do anything but nod.
“This is how it is. A-Rin.”
“…”
“A-Rin?”
Song Ah Rin is still staring at the ground.
“A-Rin.”
“…It’s possible.”
“Huh?”
Song Ah Rin lifts her head to look at me.
“It’s possible.”
“What do you mean?”
“You can have the feeling of being nothing to me.”
“…”
Song Ah Rin murmurs and gazes at me.
Her expression is quite different from usual.
As if she’s repeating something to herself, she keeps murmuring something.
“It’s possible, because it’s possible.”
“A-Rin.”
“I should be able to accept that—”
[Please give a honey punch.]
Following a phrase that spontaneously pops into my head, I swing my hand.
The target is A-Rin’s head.
Thwack!
“Ouch!”
A crisp sound echoes, and A-Rin hugs her head while glaring at me.
“Why did you hit me?!”
“Get your head straight; let’s play the game.”
“…”
She glares at me.
“Why did you hit me?”
“Because you were out of your mind.”
It’s not like she’s someone I met for the first time; why is she so weak?
“But you—”
“Are A-Rin and I dating?”
“…”
A-Rin falls silent.
“So that’s it.”
“…”
She gazes intensely at me, but there’s no longer that dark expression from earlier.
“Okay, I get your point.”
“So that’s it.”
“…”
After toying with the corners of her mouth, she tenses it up.
One side raises awkwardly as she looks at me.
“How’s this?”
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing much. Let’s roll the dice.”
It’s Yu Da On’s turn again, and she rolls the dice.
“Six spaces.”
<It’s a rest space.>
“Oh…”
She mutters as if feeling a tad disappointed.
“I’m so close to the goal, what a shame.”
“What’s there to regret? It’s good to avoid penalties, right?”
Then, Park Ye Eun rolls the die and reads the card.
“Choose your ideal type.”
She narrows her eyes as she reads the card.
“…Let’s see. Ideal type, huh…”
She rests her chin in thought and looks at us as if it’s obvious.
“A good-looking person?”
“That’s not incorrect.”
Park Ye Eun grins and hands the die to Jang Chae Yeon.
“Okay, it’s the discomforting sister’s turn.”
Jang Chae Yeon expressionlessly accepts the die and rolls it.
Clatter…
“Five spaces.”
Jang Chae Yeon moves her piece and draws a card.
“…Hold hands with someone you want to until your turn comes back.”
Before the words even finish, Jang Chae Yeon comes over and holds my hand.
“…”
“…”
How does she do it without any hesitation at all?
She grabs my hand and interlocks her fingers.
“…Is this uncomfortable?”
“…No, well, it’s just one hand.”
Her hand is cool, so it at least feels good to hold.
“I’m rolling.”
Then A-Rin rolls the dice.
“Kiss the ear of someone you like.”
“Really, A-Rin only picks the most fan-service-y options, huh?”
“Pervert.”
“Hey, the card said it…!”
Amid my and Jang Chae Yeon’s teasing, A-Rin shakes her fist with a flushed face as she mutters,
“…Ugh, I’ll do it.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
She hesitates and then blows air into my ear.
“Ugh.”
That gave me chills.
“Your reaction is too shallow.”
“What reaction did you expect me to have?”
A-Rin grumbles discontentedly.
“It’s six spaces.”
The Team Leader mumbles dramatically and moves her piece forward before drawing a card.
“Name the person among those around you you’d most want to spend the night with.”
“…”
Tension rises again.
“…Wife!”
The Team Leader shuts his eyes tight and shouts, and I can’t help but give another round of applause.
“But Team Leader?”
“Huh?”
Then, Park Ye Eun, watching from the sidelines, looks at the Team Leader with curiosity.
“That’s not a person’s name, is it?”
“…”
The Team Leader awkwardly avoids Park Ye Eun’s gaze.
“Team Leader?”
“Jae Heon, I think I’m a bit tired.”
“Team Leader?”
“The game seems like it’s almost over, so I’m heading out first.”
“Team Leader!”
And off he goes, far away.
Finally, it’s my turn.
I roll the die.
“Six spaces.”
I move my piece forward six spaces and draw a card.
<Go find the person you have the closest connection with and ask them out.>
The other people’s reactions are dramatic.
Yu Da On gulps.
Jang Chae Yeon grabs my hand tightly.
And A-Rin gives me side glances, while Park Ye Eun just enjoys watching.
“…What the heck…”
Before I finish my words, my legs start moving slowly.
Slowly, I take a step.
Finally, my feet come to a stop.
