-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Fact Assault
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Hey! I’m eating with Cho-hee later—who’s in? First come, first served, one spot.”
Choi Jong-min asked his friends, who were stacked up in the cabin playing games.
“Cho-hee? You mean Han Cho-hee? I’m in.”
One of them quickly raised his hand first.
“What? No way, not you.”
“Aw, why not?”
“You seem into Cho-hee.”
“Who isn’t into Han Cho-hee?”
Choi Jong-min singled out another friend and asked again.
“You’ve got a girlfriend, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then you come eat with me.”
“I just said I have a girlfriend.”
“Exactly. You just sit there and eat. Cho-hee said A-jin’s coming too. You mark A-jin, and I’ll have some cozy time with Cho-hee!”
“Why me?”
“Can’t you do that much for your friend?”
Choi Jong-min kept persuading his friend who had a girlfriend.
‘Kang A-jin?’
Park Jun-woo’s ears perked up at A-jin’s name as he listened to the conversation beside them.
“Come with me.”
At Park Jun-woo’s voice, Choi Jong-min and the friends’ gazes gathered.
This wasn’t like Park Jun-woo, who’d usually jump at something like this...
Normally, he’d refuse, saying he didn’t like eating with girls.
Choi Jong-min narrowed his small eyes suspiciously at him.
“What’s with you?”
“What?”
“You hate these kinds of things.”
“I still gotta eat.”
No matter how he looked at it, it was suspicious.
Choi Jong-min seemed to think for a moment, then shook his head.
“No way. Not you.”
“Why?”
“You’re just... no, not happening.”
He couldn’t pin down Park Jun-woo’s intentions for sure, but it was a meal with Cho-hee anyway.
Whenever he was around, the girls’ attention always went to Park Jun-woo.
He decided going out with Park Jun-woo was too risky.
* * *
“Is anything okay to eat?”
A-jin arrived at the restaurant, looked around, and asked Cho-hee.
There were few regular passengers, so the restaurant was mostly full of Seowon High School students.
“The teacher said to eat whatever we want.”
“Okay. You picked everything? Should I order?”
“No, not yet.”
“Why?”
“More people are coming.”
A-jin tilted her head, wondering who else.
“Oh... actually, Jong-min said he wants to eat together.”
“Jong-min? Choi Jong-min from our class?”
“Yeah.”
At Jong-min’s name, A-jin panicked.
Jong-min and Jun-woo were always together, just like her and Cho-hee.
No way was Park Jun-woo joining too?
She suddenly grew anxious.
She really didn’t want that...
“So, Jun-woo too...”
Just as she was about to ask Cho-hee in case, Jong-min appeared.
“Over here!”
A-jin looked worriedly beside Jong-min.
‘Please, don’t let it just be Park Jun-woo.’
Like a meerkat, she craned her neck toward the restaurant entrance, watching for anyone else.
Fortunately, no one followed him in.
A-jin let out a deep sigh of relief.
“Park Jun-woo! Over here!”
But at Jong-min’s shout, waving toward the entrance as he was about to sit, A-jin froze in shock.
Having just relaxed, she couldn’t control her expression at Jun-woo’s appearance.
* * *
Unfamiliar classical music was being performed right in front of them. It was a simple orchestra of violin, cello, and piano, but it felt fresh since she’d never experienced it before, and being on the ship added romance. The cool breeze from the open windows and soft lighting heightened the atmosphere.
Everything was perfect—except A-jin’s mood.
‘I don’t want to see his face.’
Park Jun-woo sitting brazenly in front of her made her want to kick back her chair and storm out, orchestra or not.
“Cho-hee, eat this.”
Jong-min personally cut the steak and swapped plates with Cho-hee.
“Thanks.”
Cho-hee took the plate with a sweet smile.
She was acting friendly with Jong-min to provoke his jealousy.
No matter that he’d rejected her, how could he not be jealous seeing the girl who confessed to him being affectionate with another guy right in front of him?
Cho-hee was kinder and laughed more flirtatiously at Jong-min than usual.
Her plan seemed to be working.
Either offended or upset, Jun-woo kept his head down, just eating his steak.
She’d gone to the bathroom and sent Jong-min ahead.
Coming into the restaurant late, her eyes met A-jin’s.
She still seemed angry, avoiding his gaze with a twisted expression.
‘How do I make it up to her?’
He wanted to talk but couldn’t, thought about texting but gave up.
Then something familiar caught his eye.
Under A-jin’s phone was the pale pink charger he’d given her.
‘She’s carrying it around.’
He felt quietly proud and pleased.
‘But seriously, how do I fix this?’
While pondering, he cut half his steak and handed it to A-jin, who’d ordered pasta.
“Try this. You only got pasta.”
A-jin was slurping her pasta, planning to head back to the cabin.
In her rush, a piece of the steak he offered got stuck in her throat.
“Gahk, gahk.”
Jun-woo poured her some cola and handed it over.
Coughing, A-jin hesitated on whether to take his cola.
Then Cho-hee poured some cider into a cup and gave it to A-jin.
“A-jin likes cider. Eat slower. Here, drink this.”
A-jin glanced at Jun-woo’s cola, then took Cho-hee’s cider.
He’d offered first.
If she wasn’t mad at him, she would’ve taken his cola.
Embarrassed by his outstretched hand, Jun-woo gulped down the cola from the cup.
Amid the exchanged glances, dinner proceeded smoothly yet awkwardly.
To break the silence, Jong-min brought up a hot topic.
“You guys hear? Kim Sang-hyun from Class 2 got beaten up by girls in front of the school gate?”
“Yeah, I heard.”
Cho-hee nodded, already knowing the rumor.
“Didn’t see it?”
“Nope.”
“Me neither. Should’ve seen that hilarious scene.”
“But why’d he get beat?”
A-jin set her pasta down and twisted her fork in it, pausing.
“Why? For playing with girls. Dated three at once. Impressive, right?”
“Three? Is that even possible?”
“He’s always been known for liking girls. Kinda slutty. But three at once... true player.”
“Player? Is that a skill?”
A-jin tilted her head, unable to understand Jong-min’s words.
“What skill? He’s just a jerk.”
Cho-hee agreed with A-jin and chimed in.
At that, Jong-min hurriedly backpedaled, worried she’d lump him with Sang-hyun as a player.
“Cho-hee’s right. Not a player, just pathetic. Unmanly. Eyes wandering while he’s got a girl. Kim Sang-hyun’s always been a jerk. All show, pretends to be a player. Mediocre guys do the fish tank thing. Real catches like me stick to one girl.”
“Yeah. You seem like a really good guy, Jong-min.”
“Good?”
At Cho-hee’s praise, Jong-min’s mouth split into a grin.
He shrugged, shy but puffed up.
“I hate people who play with others most. How hurt would you be finding out you were betrayed?”
“Don’t worry! I’d never betray you.”
“Then you hate yourself most.”
Jun-woo cut into Cho-hee and Jong-min’s conversation.
He found Cho-hee’s fake act repulsive.
She said she hated players, yet tossed Jong-min’s bread and milk in the trash without touching them, and suggested eating together despite not liking him.
And her obvious maneuvers.
He couldn’t watch her use his friend anymore.
His words instantly chilled the mood.
“Wh-what do you mean?”
Cho-hee tensed, wondering if he meant her.
“Why’d you ask to eat dinner together tonight?”
“Well...”
Whether he’d caught on or was probing, his question had barbs.
Cho-hee stammered, unable to answer right away.
“I asked her to eat once before. So earlier at the pier, Cho-hee said to eat together.”
Jong-min jumped in to help the flustered Cho-hee.
Jun-woo looked at Jong-min pitifully.
He felt sorry for his clueless, foolish friend being used.
The mood was off.
The meal with Jun-woo was already uncomfortable, and now the three exchanged strange looks like there was some backstory she didn’t know.
A-jin wanted to escape.
Glancing around, she stood.
“I gotta go first. Jung-hwa asked for help.”
“You haven’t finished.”
Jun-woo grabbed her with a regretful look.
He hadn’t made up yet.
“I’m basically done. You guys take your time.”
Worried he’d stop her again, A-jin hurried out, and Jun-woo couldn’t tear his eyes from her back.
Cho-hee disliked how he stared at A-jin.
She was also curious about what he’d meant earlier.
Their gazes crossed differently.
* * *
“What’d you mean earlier?”
After the meal ended awkwardly, Cho-hee sought out Jun-woo alone.
“What?”
“Saying I hate myself most.”
At her question, his dark eyes darkened further.
The meaning in his gaze made her tense up.
“Do you like Choi Jong-min?”
“What? I told you, I like you.”
“Then why ask Jong-min instead of me?”
“That’s...”
“...”
“I wanted to eat with you, but you wouldn’t come if I asked.”
“So you used him.”
“What?”
“You hate playing with people’s hearts, but you used Choi Jong-min, who you don’t even like.”
He was right, but she wanted to explain her justified reason.
“Used? I clearly rejected Jong-min, and I thought friends could help that much.”
“Then your actions should’ve matched.”
Had her plan worked?
Was he jealous? A vague hope flickered.
“Did I upset you? Me and Jong-min...”
“Why would I be upset?”
“Huh?”
“Choi Jong-min would be.”
“What’s that mean?”
“If he’s a friend like you say, why toss the bread? No need to throw it out.”
“The bread?”
‘How’d he know I threw it away?’
Flustered for a second, Cho-hee feigned innocence like it was news to her.
“Pretending not to know? The bread in the recycling bin. If you were tossing it, why not ditch the note separately?”
Then he wouldn’t have known she threw it away, and even if he did, he wouldn’t think she was just toying with his friend.
‘How’d he see? How do I get out?’
Overwhelmed by his pressing gaze, no excuse came quickly.
Under his cold stare, every cell shrank.
Still acting innocent with her eyes, she racked her brain fast.
“Oh! That bread? It was thrown away?”
“...”
He was stunned by her persistent denial.
“Why’d A-jin throw it?”
Cho-hee blamed A-jin, and at the sudden name, Jun-woo’s brow furrowed more.
“I said my stomach hurt and I couldn’t eat it, so A-jin said she’d eat it instead and took it. But why throw it? If she was gonna toss it, don’t take it. Puts people in a spot.”
“You gave it to Kang A-jin?”
He wasn’t easily convinced.
‘I’ll drive it home.’
Cho-hee filled her lungs.
Then exhaled slowly like a sob, filling her big eyes with tears.
Her voice trembled like she couldn’t bear the injustice.
“How do you see me? I’ve had a crush too, so I know how hard it is liking someone alone. How could I ignore Jong-min’s feelings? I’m not that heartless.”
Tears seemed ready to fall from her eyes, and people were starting to come out of cabins.
Maybe he’d really misunderstood—Jun-woo eased his suspicious look.
“Fine. Guess I’ll ask Kang A-jin.”
‘Ask what?’
She’d thought her teary eyes would fool him, but his stubborn intent to verify irked her.
“What?”
“Why she threw bread she didn’t eat.”
“Don’t ask... well, ask if you want, but what answer are you expecting? What if it embarrasses us?”
‘What now? He’s really gonna ask? Damn! It’s just some bread—why so obsessive?’
Jun-woo turned toward A-jin’s cabin, and Cho-hee chased his back anxiously, fearing her lie would unravel.
She had to stop him. He already looked at her with icy eyes—if he learned she lied, he might freeze her out for real. Or worse, not even glance her way. She needed a quick plan.
