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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: I'll Take Responsibility for You
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The next day arrived. Jeju Island's clear weather continued today as well, with the morning sunlight shining brightly and vibrantly.
The deep blue sky, unseen in the city, was matched by the iridescent, beautiful waves.
But a dark cloud hung over A-jin's seat.
It was like the rainy season, with downpours and crashing waves.
She felt completely detached from the Jeju scenery visible outside the window.
‘Did he get back okay? It's not serious, right? What if he can't use his arm? Why did he reach out like that?’
Why am I always like this...
A-jin piled on more extreme and pessimistic thoughts.
Her eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, unfocused like she'd lost her soul.
She had no appetite and hadn't even gone out with her friends who suggested breakfast.
Lying blankly on the bed, she finally headed to the cafeteria just in case.
Maybe Jun-woo was there.
She searched for him amid the noisy cafeteria.
But he wasn't there.
“Did he already eat and leave?”
“Kang A-jin? Why are you alone? Where's Cho-hee?”
At that moment, Jong-min, who had finished eating and was returning his dishes, asked her.
She thought it was perfect timing.
She figured Jong-min would know about Jun-woo.
“Huh? Well... Hey, Jong-min.”
“Yeah.”
“Where's Jun-woo? Did he come back to the dorm?”
“Park Jun-woo? Nah, he hasn't come back yet.”
“I see.”
How badly hurt is he that he still hasn't returned?
Worry made her eyebrows droop.
“You're the one who hit Park Jun-woo, right? How'd a little thing like you pack such a punch?”
“......”
“Man, I should've seen it. Missed Park Jun-woo eating dirt. That's not something you see every day.”
‘My friend's hurt, and that's funny? Not funny at all.’
A-jin grew even more sullen at Jong-min's words.
“Got any pictures?”
“Hey, who takes pictures! But did you hear from Jun-woo? Did he say treatment went okay? I'm too sorry to even ask.”
She'd spoken briefly with Kyung-hee, but without details, she felt frustrated.
She had no idea how to apologize or help.
A-jin bit her dry lips anxiously.
Jong-min watched her for a moment, then leaned in and whispered secretively.
“Actually, Jun-woo told me not to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
He hesitated, unsure if he should say it, but A-jin's expression urged him on.
“Jun-woo's in pretty bad shape right now. Can't use his arm... Eh, forget it. He said not to tell you 'cause you'd worry.”
“Why stop halfway? Keep going!”
He trailed off, and A-jin pressed him impatiently.
Jong-min covered his twitching lips, pretending to relent, and continued.
“He said he can't use his arm.”
“What!”
Her eyes and ears perked up, her mouth gaping wide.
She froze in shock.
“I only heard secondhand, so I don't know details, but comfort him well when he gets back.”
Jong-min furrowed his brow sadly, shook his head, and left the cafeteria.
Left alone, A-jin's legs wobbled, barely able to stand.
‘I... ruined someone's life! What do I do?’
* * *
Cho-hee came looking for A-jin, who refused to eat lunch too.
“You're really not eating?”
“Yeah.”
“Why? Something happen?”
“Well...”
“What? What happened?”
Cho-hee showed strong curiosity at A-jin's unusually serious expression.
“I messed up big time.”
“What mess?”
A-jin told Cho-hee about last night.
“What do I do now?”
How could she make up for ruining his life?
In despair, A-jin buried her face in her knees.
Cho-hee was secretly pleased by A-jin's mishap.
She feigned sympathy and comforted her friend caught in the awkward situation, but was glad Jun-woo got hurt.
She hoped the school trip—meant to be fun—would be ruined for A-jin, and that Jun-woo would resent her.
“No way it's really unusable, right? Feels like Jong-min was pranking you.”
Idiot.
How could she not realize Choi Jong-min was teasing her and take it so seriously?
“He said he can't use it. Said it's serious.”
“Come on, rolling around a bit doesn't make your arm unusable.”
“Right? It'll be fine, yeah?”
Like Cho-hee said, please be okay. A-jin clung to that sliver of hope.
“Ask him straight when he shows up. Though he might hate you getting close.”
“Probably.”
“Of all times, breaking his arm on a school trip. What a mess. And his personality's weird too, right?”
“Exactly. He's gotta be furious. He already doesn't like me much.”
“Then just avoid him. Don't make it worse by showing up.”
“But I have to apologize.”
“Apologizing won't fix a broken arm. Best to stay out of sight, I'd say.”
“You think...?”
‘Go back to being invisible like your old self. Stay huddled in a corner like you don't exist in front of Jun-woo.’
Cho-hee desperately hoped Jun-woo would hate A-jin after this.
* * *
Skipping breakfast and lunch left her stomach aching.
A-jin bought a milk from the convenience store and stepped out.
“Puppy.”
Then, a familiar voice called her.
Turning, she saw Jun-woo in front of her.
“Park Jun-woo.”
She wanted to ask how much it hurt, if it was really serious, but decided staying out of sight was better to avoid stoking his anger.
A-jin hurried ahead.
He called louder.
“Hey! Kang A-jin!”
She quickened her pace.
“What the!”
Ignoring him, he scowled deeply.
With his long legs, he bounded up and grabbed her nape.
Caught firmly, her trapezius tensed up, so he released her neck and blocked her path.
“You heard me calling, right?”
“D-Did you call me?”
A-jin feigned ignorance, but her unnatural acting made the lie obvious.
Realizing her fib failed, she lowered her eyes guiltily.
His gaze dropped to his casted right arm.
She was too sorry for words.
“You hurt someone and just run off?”
“It's not that. I thought seeing me would make you angrier.”
“You get it, huh.”
“......”
“Did it hurt a lot?”
“Yeah, it hurt a lot. But you didn't seem worried about me?”
She felt extremely wronged about that.
A-jin snapped her head up.
“What do you mean, not worried?”
“Then why no texts?”
“Well... I felt too bad...”
It seemed she had only one thing she could do.
A-jin took a deep breath and opened her mouth solemnly.
“Hey, Jun-woo.”
“Yeah.”
“It would've been great if I hadn't messed up, but it's done... So I'll make up for it for life.”
“For life?”
He looked at her like she was speaking nonsense.
“I'll take responsibility for you.”
“Huh?”
“I'll take responsibility for you.”
Suppressing her surging emotions, she pressed on.
“I'll help with your rehab and take care of you forever until you're better.”
“......”
“I'll do whatever you want. No matter what, I'll make sure your arm heals.”
Sniffling like some sob story character, babbling nonsense.
Jun-woo stared at her in bewilderment.
“Why would you do rehab for me? Why take responsibility?”
“They said you might never use your hand again. Sniff. All because of me...”
“Who said that? It's just a fracture.”
‘Fracture? Just a fracture?’
Thinking she'd misheard, A-jin doubted her ears.
The tears welling up vanished instantly at his words.
“Just keep the cast on for a month.”
“A month?”
She was still dazed.
It's really not permanent?
Tears reformed in her eyes.
Tears of relief.
But also indignation.
‘Choi Jong-min... that jerk.’
Friends stick together, huh.
A-jin huffed, then looked at his injured arm.
Still, relief.
Jokes aside, he wasn't seriously hurt.
Truly a relief.
“You crying?”
Jun-woo poked at A-jin, who stared at his arm with teary eyes.
“No, why! Did Choi Jong-min really prank like that?”
She burst out angrily.
Startled by the volume, he reflexively clutched his injured arm.
“What'd Jong-min say?”
“He said you might never use your hand again. And to comfort you when you got back.”
A-jin pouted, resenting Jong-min's prank.
Seeing her all worked up, Jun-woo chuckled.
“You fell for that?”
“Who wouldn't? He went to the hospital with a broken arm right in front of me!”
“Sigh. That's why I wanna tease you—your reactions are like this.”
Same as with his friends, A-jin shot him a pouty glare.
“Some of us couldn't sleep worrying.”
“Couldn't sleep?”
“No.”
She denied it, but the deep dark circles betrayed her.
Knowing she'd worried made him feel good.
Jun-woo slyly smiled faintly.
“So, really just a month in the cast and it'll heal?”
“That's what I said.”
“Phew, what a relief. Seriously, such a relief it's not serious.”
Only after double-checking could A-jin fully relax.
Relief brought a natural smile.
“You've been through it.”
She scrunched her brow in sympathy and gently stroked his arm.
Forgetting the prank shock, she beamed.
At her quirky action, Jun-woo laughed in amusement and exasperation.
“Hey! It's not like it doesn't hurt at all.”
“Ah! Sorry. It hurt a lot, right?”
A-jin grinned sheepishly.
Her extreme worry made the relief even sweeter.
A-jin kept beaming, while Jun-woo chuckled dryly, gazing at her fondly.
“Why so happy someone's hurt?”
“Happy? ...But why'd you come so late?”
“Went to Hallasan.”
“For real? In that condition?”
“Of course not.”
“Ugh! Thought you did.”
“Gotta be admitted to get insurance payout.”
“No way, liar.”
A-jin eyed him suspiciously, thinking another prank.
“For real. Teacher said school insurance requires an overnight stay.”
“Oh, that's a thing!”
“The bed was too comfy. Wanted to sleep till dinner.”
“Wanted to?”
He paused, his eyes softening meaningfully.
After a beat, he smiled and spoke.
“Felt like someone would be super worried. Even without texts.”
A-jin grinned embarrassedly once more.
He'd hit the nail on the head; she pressed her lips tight.
Sorry, but thankful too.
