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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Up Close, She's Really Pretty
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[Why aren't you coming up?]
At Jun-woo's text, A-jin pouted her lips listlessly.
"Chit! What kind of beef is he picking now! Wait all you want. Like I'm going out."
She had definitely been thinking that just ten minutes ago.
Even after boldly vowing not to answer his call, her resolve weakened, and she ended up coming out onto the deck where he was waiting.
"The weather's way too cold for spring."
She couldn't just leave him standing there alone in the chilly spring breeze.
Knowing someone was waiting for her made it impossible to relax lying down, and even fun videos didn't catch her eye.
A-jin let out a sigh, lamenting her own soft-hearted nature.
Jun-woo had sent her one more text since A-jin still hadn't shown up despite his wait.
But even though the "1" disappeared, there was no reply.
He seemed more upset than she'd thought.
"He's more sensitive than he looks."
She let out a long, anxious breath toward the sea.
Just then, she heard footsteps from below the deck.
The small footsteps going pit-pat-pit-pat sounded like A-jin was finally coming.
For some reason, tension built, and her heart started pounding in time with the steps: thump-thump-thump.
Jun-woo focused his gaze intently on the railing.
Then, below it, lustrous black hair came into view.
It was A-jin, after all.
His mouth curved into a smile without him realizing.
"Why not just tomorrow?"
Not wanting to reveal his anxious wait, the words came out curtly.
He knew he needed to soothe her hurt feelings and avoid any more mistakes, but his mouth wouldn't obey, throwing a tantrum instead.
"I'll head back."
As expected, her already pouty face swelled up even more, like she'd been stung by a bee.
"Ah, got it."
Worried she might really leave, he coaxed her with a voice as gentle as he could manage.
Only then did she resume the steps she'd halted at the stairs.
Thud, flop, smack.
"Mommy! Ouch!"
But she hadn't gone far before her leg caught on a taut rope, her body lifting into the air before crashing straight down onto the deck.
She'd fallen so hard that the sound echoed loudly across the deck with a thud.
"Ow!"
Everything hurt, but her knee felt especially like it had shattered.
But more than the pain, she was mortified at having fallen so spectacularly in front of Jun-woo.
She'd shown him a ridiculous flying squirrel impression—what would he tease her about endlessly now?
A-jin hoped he'd pretend not to notice and just leave.
"You okay?"
But startled by her fall, he didn't vanish—instead, he rushed over in one bound.
"......"
Too embarrassed to lift her head at his question.
*Just go.*
"You okay?!"
With no response, he shook her arm.
"Uh, uh......"
*Why does he keep asking? It's embarrassing.*
If he wasn't going to disappear, then she needed to get away fast.
She tried to hurry and stand, but her knee hurt more than expected.
And her glasses had flown off too, making it hard to see.
"My glasses......"
A-jin groped the floor, reaching out to find her glasses.
Her vision was so poor, and with night deepening, the darkness scattered reflected light everywhere, leaving all objects hazy and indistinct like they'd been sprayed with fog.
"Where are they?"
No matter how much she reached, she couldn't find them—it was frustrating.
"Here."
He handed her the glasses instead.
"Ah....... Thanks."
"But you probably can't see with these anyway."
"Huh?"
A-jin brought the glasses right up to her eyes and squinted.
No way......
Both lenses were cracked.
Parts had shattered and were gone.
"They're broken?"
"Yeah."
"What do I do....... I didn't bring spares......"
A-jin's eyebrows drooped endlessly in dismay.
"Let's hit an optician's the second we arrive. First, let's treat you."
"Treat what? I'm fine."
"Doesn't look fine....... Hold on, let me see."
He rolled up her sweatpants to her knee.
"Hey! What are you doing!"
Startled by his action, A-jin tried to pull her leg away, but the stinging wound made quick movement impossible.
"Look at this. Your knee's scraped. And there's a scratch around your eye too."
"Around my eye? It does sting a bit."
"That's why we need to treat it first."
He lifted her arm to help her stand.
Her leg could move, so it didn't seem fractured or broken.
Still, the pain made it impossible to walk straight.
As she limped, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, supporting her so she could lean securely against him.
"I-I can go by myself."
Her arm was pressed against his chest.
So close she could feel his heartbeat—her face flushed for no reason.
Embarrassed, A-jin pushed him away.
"Just lean."
Worried she'd fall again, Jun-woo eyed A-jin's insistence on going alone with disapproval.
"Mommy."
Sure enough, she barely took a step before snagging on an obstacle and nearly tumbling once more.
"How long's it gonna take like this?"
"Well......"
Without his help, she might not reach her cabin before tonight was over.
A-jin gave an awkward smile and offered her hand to him.
* * *
In Jun-woo's cabin, A-jin sat on the bed and glanced around his room.
As she cast meaningless gazes at the hazy shapes, Jun-woo entered with a first-aid kit.
She'd guessed it was him from the familiar silhouette but asked anyway, just in case.
"You?"
"Yeah."
He answered curtly and dragged a small table right up to her, using it as a chair to sit.
Then he set the first-aid kit on his knee.
She promptly leaned in close over it.
Like she was curious what he'd brought.
Feeling burdened by her shoving her head into his thigh, Jun-woo flicked her forehead with a thwack.
"Move. It's a first-aid kit."
"Shoot......"
Sulking at the flick, A-jin stuck out her lower lip and sat up straight.
She sure knew how to sulk.
At her openly expressive face, Jun-woo let a faint smile slip.
"But where'd everyone else go?"
"Arcade, probably."
"But why didn't you go?"
"It's not that I didn't—couldn't."
"Because of me?"
"......"
She had no interest in the arcade, but soothing her feelings took priority over hanging out with friends.
Hearing he'd skipped playing with friends to apologize to her melted her heart.
Well, maybe it was the chaos of the fall, or gratitude for his help getting her here—who knew—but her anger had long since faded.
"Put your leg up."
He set the first-aid kit on the floor and patted her thigh.
"Where?"
"Here, like this."
When she hesitated without understanding, he grabbed her leg and placed it directly on his thigh.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
Startled by her leg being hoisted up, A-jin motioned to pull it down.
"Stay still."
But he secured her leg between his armpit and elbow so she couldn't move it.
"Hey......"
Embarrassed at his grip on her bare leg, she squirmed, but his careful disinfecting soon settled her down.
He wiped the bloody wound with alcohol swabs, applied red ointment, and blew gently hoo-hoo on the stinging spot for her.
Drawn into his thoughtful care, she found herself gazing at him.
*He smells nice. Like fabric softener, but kinda like cologne. His eyebrows are pretty too.*
Admiring his face made even the stinging pain fade away.
"Down."
His curt tone snapped her out of it.
Her eyes widened round, like she'd been caught peeking.
Without glasses, her eyes were surprisingly large.
Wondering why she looked so shocked, Jun-woo stared at her oddly.
"Huh?"
"Lower your leg."
"Oh, right."
Again! That was close. She'd nearly fallen for Park Jun-woo's devilish kindness once more.
A-jin hurriedly lowered her leg.
"Close your eyes."
"Why?"
"Your eye's hurt too."
"Right."
Better to just close them.
A-jin obediently shut her eyes at his words.
Only after confirming her eyes were closed did Jun-woo scoop a bit of translucent ointment onto his finger.
As he went to apply it to the wound, her unfamiliar face drew his gaze.
Hidden by her glasses, he hadn't noticed.
He had no idea she had such thick, lush lashes.
The soft, beautifully curled arcs like they'd been perfectly curled made her eyes look even deeper.
Her skin was so fair it was almost transparent.
Not a pore in sight, with baby-soft fuzz visible.
Under the cabin's orange light, her skin seemed to glow even more.
And her lips......
He dropped his gaze.
Better not to look more.
"What're you doing?"
It felt like forever with her eyes closed and no touch, so A-jin peeked open.
He had his eyes cast down, finger hovering before her wound.
*Not applying it—what's he doing?*
At her question, he startled and unwittingly pressed her wound hard.
"Ah! It hurts."
"Huh? S-sorry."
He panicked, and she winced, touching the spot.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
"You're not a total airhead, huh."
Worried she'd notice he'd been spacing out staring at her, he spoke even more gruffly.
"What?"
He always phrased things so nicely!
His tone was annoying, but she was grateful for the treatment.
"Thanks anyway."
"What about these?"
He handed her the broken glasses.
Her mouth turned down again.
They were beyond repair—not something she could just wear like this.
"I'll tell the teacher and hit an optician first. Thanks for today. I'm heading out."
A-jin rose from the bed and slowly made for the door.
Poor vision slowed her movements.
"Ow!"
Then her foot caught on Jong-min's carelessly tossed suitcase, nearly sending her tumbling again.
At this rate, she'd reach her cabin by the time they arrived in Jeju.
Just then, Jun-woo grabbed her wrist.
"I'll walk you."
"I'm fine......"
Embarrassed at his grip on her wrist, but she had no choice.
Despite saying she was fine, A-jin meekly followed him.
And someone was watching them.
It was Cho-hee.
Blood surged to her eyes as she glared at A-jin.
Afraid her lie would be exposed, she'd set a trap.
Taking advantage of the nearby rope, she'd yanked it hard the moment A-jin climbed onto the deck.
She'd hoped an injured person wouldn't press her on the truth of the lie, but it was just a shallow scheme.
Her miscalculation only brought the two closer.
Her face twisted with self-reproach toward herself and jealousy toward A-jin.
