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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: I Like You Too
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Walking down the hallway, Jung-hwa asked.
"Did you fight with Han Cho-hee or something?"
A-jin flinched but masked her expression, acting like she had no idea what that was about.
"That's what the kids are saying. That you two fought. You haven't even been eating lunch together lately."
Even though they were in different classes, they always ate together, and they were stuck to each other even during those short breaks—there was no way rumors wouldn't spread.
Plus, some people had seen her arguing with Cho-hee.
She couldn't lie, so A-jin awkwardly lifted the corners of her mouth.
"How could things always be good?"
"So you really did fight?"
Jung-hwa's eyes sparkled with interest.
What was just upsetting to her was nothing more than gossip to others, which left a bitter taste.
"I'll stop by the bathroom. Go ahead inside."
A-jin dodged the answer in lieu of a response.
She sent Jung-hwa to the classroom first and headed to the bathroom.
She didn't really need to go, but she wanted to avoid the question, so she used it as an excuse.
She thought she should at least wash her hands, but someone was already doing so.
It was Cho-hee.
She had bent over to wash her hands and lifted her head at the sound of footsteps.
Their eyes met through the mirror.
A-jin's steps came to a screeching halt.
"……."
"……."
Neither of them spoke first.
One second felt like a minute.
Cho-hee looked down first, avoiding her gaze.
The sink next to her was empty, but A-jin deliberately headed for a stall.
In the meantime, Cho-hee finished washing her hands and shook them to flick off the water.
There were no paper towels, so she had no choice but to rub them on her uniform or shake them dry.
A-jin pushed open the stall door but changed her mind and turned back to the sink.
Then she asked Cho-hee.
"Don't you plan on apologizing to me?"
"Why should I?"
Cho-hee spoke with half-lowered eyelids.
There was no emotion in her lifeless eyes.
"You did wrong."
"I don't think I did."
"You're really shameless."
"I've always been like this. You just didn't know because you're oblivious."
Even if she apologized, she wasn't sure forgiveness was possible.
Still, she hoped she'd show even a little remorse.
Jealousy was fine, built-up resentment was fine, even no reason at all was fine—as long as Cho-hee felt a bit sorry, her own heart wouldn't ache this much.
But she remained shameless to the end.
There wasn't a hint of regret.
How could someone hide their hatred for so long?
"Have you hated me from the start?"
"……."
"From the first time we met?"
"I didn't hate you. It was just amusing."
Every word was a weapon that gutted her heart.
What kind of response had she been expecting?
It was her own fault for stupidly engaging after taking the hits.
* * *
The long-awaited oven finally arrived.
Silly as it was, just its arrival was comforting.
She baked at home for the first time in ages.
She layered butter sheet by sheet to make croissants.
She even made cream blending extreme flavors: mint and chocolate.
"Cho-hee would ask why I'd eat this if she saw it."
The words slipped out unconsciously.
Cho-hee would freak out at anything with mint, calling it utterly disgusting.
Her mood plummeted.
She set down the tools and let her arms drop limply.
Her shoulders felt weak.
"Let's just finish making it."
Worried stray thoughts would interfere again, she shook her head and took a deep breath.
She spread mint chocolate cream on the croissants and sprinkled toppings.
She opened her laptop and loaded her blog.
It had been a while since she'd posted.
"Should I sort through my photo album for once?"
She'd been meaning to move photos to free up phone storage.
But lately, she hadn't taken any, so she'd forgotten.
Since she was connecting her phone to the laptop for uploading, she decided to organize them too.
But there were more photos than expected.
Half were baking pics, half were with Cho-hee.
"We went here too."
Every place they went left traces, so she could tell exactly where they'd been.
They'd gone out together a lot.
In the photos, the two of them looked like they couldn't foresee how things were now.
So bright and cheerful.
"I should delete them."
To ease her heart even a little, deleting made sense, but it felt like losing all her memories at once, which scared her.
Her finger hovered for ages before she managed to delete three or four, then kept scrolling.
That's when she found a video she'd never seen.
"What's this video? Did I record something like this?"
The thumbnail showed a close-up of someone's upper body leaning in.
She played it.
The person leaning in pulled back, and the video started.
"Jun-woo?"
It was Jun-woo.
In what looked like his room, he pressed record and sat up straight at his desk.
Wondering why he'd filmed on her phone, A-jin decided to watch anyway.
[Hi. Uh, this feels awkward.]
He kept scratching his forehead, embarrassed.
[First off, sorry. I was just supposed to fix it and give it back, but I got curious and looked a bit. I could lie and say I didn't, but I don't want to lie to you, so I'm telling you. So don't get mad and watch.]
"It's fine. Whatever."
He'd fixed her phone, so she'd let that much slide—A-jin haughtily lowered her eyelids.
[But aren't the filters too much? It was almost fraudulent. I thought I'd grabbed the wrong phone.]
As expected, he couldn't resist teasing.
A-jin pouted and glared at him on the screen.
[You're pouting right now, aren't you?]
He read her expression.
A-jin startled—where was he watching from?—and glanced around warily.
[You don't think I'm watching right now, do you?]
He even read her thoughts.
Amazed, she blinked, then felt pathetic.
"That's why he teases me."
Her expressions and thoughts were so obvious; being surprised by that made her feel naive, and she pouted.
[That's why I like you. You said you hate your gullible personality, but I like how you're so pure and untainted. I know you hate when I tease you—sorry—but I can't stop. You're too cute. I keep wanting to see your pouty face. I didn't know I was such a kid.]
Cute. She blushed.
To hide it, A-jin grumbled on purpose.
"You know you're being childish."
[This isn't why I filmed this...]
He scratched his forehead again.
He seemed hesitant to say something embarrassing, clearing his throat first.
[I really like you. I said I wouldn't pressure you, but that was a lie. I want to pressure you. Beg you. I really like you.]
She'd heard his confession before and knew he liked her, but this nail-in-the-coffin version made her heart stop.
It was more nerve-wracking and embarrassing than the first time.
Her cheeks flushed red.
Her breath hitched irregularly, her heart pounding like it would burst out.
His sincere confession,
His love fully conveyed, heating her body.
Tears welled up.
Who was she to receive such overflowing love?
A-jin's eyes brimmed as the Jun-woo on screen continued.
[A-jin. I know you're a good person. So I get it's hard to accept me while ignoring everyone around. I know all that... But I wish you'd be selfish just once. Think only of your feelings. It seems like you like me too...]
Like.
She liked him a lot too.
A-jin fought back tears.
Even as they blurred her vision, she desperately held them until the video ended.
But...
[I like you so much. Kang A-jin.]
Tears finally spilled.
* * *
She filled the tub with hot water and had been stewing for 30 minutes.
Tablet PC on, soccer match playing, staring blankly.
"Son, you showering?"
Sung-hoon called from outside the bathroom.
"Yeah."
"I keep hearing vibrations from your room. Incoming calls maybe?"
"I'll check when I get out."
"Okay. Don't stay in the tub too long. Prolonged soaking dries your skin and reduces blood flow to your brain and heart..."
Of course the doctor would lecture with medical facts.
"Yeah, I know. It can cause dizziness from reduced blood flow?"
"You know it well."
"I'll be out soon."
"Alright."
Sung-hoon chuckled.
He knew it was unnecessary worry but added one more line anyway.
Once Sung-hoon headed downstairs, Jun-woo started showering.
After a hot rinse, his face was pale turning red.
Languid, he flopped spread-eagle on the bed.
Wanted to cool off before moving.
'Phone.'
Sung-hoon's words came to mind.
Constant vibrations from the room.
Phone was within reach if he bent over, but even that felt bothersome, so he ignored it.
Figured checking after cooling, drying hair, changing wouldn't be too late.
But today, it nagged at him unusually.
Jun-woo bolted up and grabbed his phone.
"Oh, crap!"
His face twisted seriously upon checking.
* * *
"Kang A-jin!"
From the entrance to the front gate—no, from her room to the front gate—she'd sprinted full tilt.
Hadn't even breathed until opening the gate.
Jun-woo panted heavily.
"You scared me."
A-jin, who had been squatting in front of his house, startled at his shout and stood up.
Still, her face lit up happily.
"If you're here, you should call."
"I did."
Several times, but he'd been showering and missed them.
He knew that.
"Yeah, but if I don't pick up, at least call Mom. Why wait a whole hour?"
"It's too late. What if she was asleep?"
"Yeah, it is late. But why come all the way here this late? Alone."
"Who else would I come with?"
He was mad she'd come alone so late, mad she'd waited an hour.
Yelling at her, but really mad at himself.
It wasn't even his fault.
"I told you not to go out late."
"It's not even past midnight."
"You really..."
He looked exasperated at her fearlessness.
"Then call me."
"I wanted to come."
Breathless and worried, his tone stayed irritated throughout.
But she knew it all stemmed from affection for her.
One hour, two hours—she'd have waited.
Anyway, he came out, and she was glad.
She kept smiling.
Only then did Jun-woo notice her smile.
He looked at her like, what's so funny?
"Something happen?"
"No."
"Then why'd you come? Not that I don't want you here. It's just so late."
"I have something I have to say today."
His expression turned serious.
Was it something needing mental prep? His eyes asked.
Negative thoughts made his gaze tremble faintly.
She signaled with her eyes to prepare his heart.
A smile hinted it was positive.
Though it didn't seem to reach him.
"Wh-what is it? Don't come anymore starting tomorrow?"
"No."
"Then what? Lately, have I been a burden...?"
"I like you."
She said it straight.
No fancy words needed.
Her sudden confession turned him to a wax doll.
Not a twitch.
"I like you too."
"……."
The second nail, and he moved.
Probably too surreal; his brain had frozen.
It was the answer he'd desperately hoped for.
But shooting Cupid's arrow at bare flesh was foul play.
He wore the most flustered look of his life.
Wrinkle between brows, hand through hair, biting lips.
A-jin got scared.
Had he changed his mind?
"Why aren't you saying anything? I've been wearing the necklace you gave me every day."
A-jin pulled out the necklace he'd gifted from inside her T-shirt to show.
But Jun-woo still said nothing.
Had he really changed his mind?
Her lips drooped sadly.
"What... You don't like me anymore?"
Was it too late?
She sighed and cast her eyes down.
