WW | Chapter 41

Seomun Yul took out a pain relief patch from the bag and said to him, “Turn around.”

“Why?”

“You got hit in the back earlier. Stick this on for now and go to the hospital tomorrow.”

She had been worried about him ever since she saw him get injured. Knowing he would claim to be fine even when he’s not, she couldn’t just leave him be. It wasn’t exactly comfortable for her to be so close to a man’s bare back, but she decided it was better than sending him off awkwardly.

Kang Yoonjo looked at the patch Yul was holding, then smirked back at her, his expression reminiscent of someone watching a child play house.

“Forget it.”

“What do you mean, forget it? I saw you got hurt badly.”

“Don’t make it a test, just come here instead.”

Yoonjo pulled on Yul’s arm, turning her body towards him, then grabbed her chin with one hand and lit up his phone screen with the other, bringing it close to her face—probably to check the cheek that was hit. She realized his intention just as he brought his face close enough to startle her. His dark eyes, lit by the phone’s light, scanned her face. Yul, feeling embarrassed, looked away and asked, “When did I make it a test?”

“If a woman starts stripping a man and touching him, that’s a test. You’re fearless, Seomun Yul.”

“Hey, that’s… If that’s how you take it, you’re the pervert.”

“If that makes me a pervert, I accept.”

Ha! His nonchalant digestion of the situation drew a laugh out of her. Though his words were blunt, his thoughts seemed refined, but that wasn’t the case. It was absurd how he kept his focus solely on her face while stirring bewildering thoughts inside her. As he gently stroked her bruised cheek with a finger, he commented, “This must hurt.”

“…A little.”

It wasn’t until he showed such detailed care that she felt the pain intensify.

“I should have killed them.”

“Who?”

“Those bastards earlier.”

His calmness made the statement chillingly eerie. She recalled how adeptly he had fought them. Even to her untrained eye, he seemed extremely skilled in combat. Luckily, he wasn’t hurt, but remembering how brutally he had struck down his opponents with a book made her shiver. Grateful yet conflicted emotions surged within her, mixed with slight estrangement and fear, but overshadowed by greater worries about Yul’s situation.

“Why did you even get involved?”

“What, should I have just watched you get hit?”

“Just breaking it up would have been enough. Now that you’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest, what are you going to do?”

“I’ll stick with you 24/7.”

“Not me, you. You got marked too.”

Yoonjo’s insistence on thinking from Yul’s perspective made her emotions well up even more. His involvement meant more than just getting hurt; it also meant being marked by those persistent thugs. There was no guarantee they wouldn’t come after Yoonjo for revenge. Even if Yoonjo’s family could protect him, she couldn’t help but feel sorry and humiliated. She didn’t want to expose even this sordid part of her life to him. No matter how much Yoonjo might guess her circumstances or seem unconcerned, there were aspects she didn’t want to reveal as a woman.

“Ah, don’t worry about me.”

“Those guys are gangsters. They make a living off digging into people’s lives and hunting them down. Do you know how utterly detestable that is?”

As she spoke of them, her complaint turned into a rant. While she was serious, he seemed to take it lightly, which worried and frustrated her. He must have heard the conversation she had with the police, so he knew what kind of people they were dealing with.

“Yeah, it must have been tough.”

“…”

“You did well.”

After finishing his words, Yoonjo lowered his face towards hers, blew a breath on her frozen cheek, and pulled away.

Yul, speechless, stared blankly at him. A hot lump rose to her throat. How could Kang Yoonjo take in her words and spin them to his liking? She had warned him about the danger, yet he responded with understanding towards her instead. What was she supposed to say to that? He didn’t care about the useless individuals; he only cared about her bruised face.

“But how did you come here? Weren’t you supposed to have left?”

Trying to change the sinking mood, Yul asked a question that should have been her first. They had parted ways in front of the convenience store, and he had agreed to leave alone. She had assumed he went back, but his presence suggested he had been watching over her.

“I was at a nearby coffee shop.”

“Why?”

“Drinking coffee.”

“…”

“While thinking about what Seomun Yul might be hiding.”

His simple reply felt like an anticlimax, especially given how perceptive Kang Yoonjo was. No amount of pretending to manage her expressions could fool him during their time together. He must have caught the moments when her mask slipped. That’s why he had come running after seeing her rush out of the coffee shop.

It was all laid bare; no more pondering was needed.

“Are you going to study abroad?”

“Where did you hear that?”

As if he had guessed already, Yoonjo asked dryly.

“I asked first. Are you going to study abroad?”

Her voice grew stern just from the question alone, indicating that Yoo Kahi’s words were indeed true. His offer to stay by her side implied he would remain where he was. Yet he had been preparing to disappear one day without a word. If there had been a situation, he could have at least spoken up. It wasn’t just the instability of school life without him; it was the betrayal that hurt.

As she turned her face away in dislike, Yoonjo cupped her cheek again.

“I’m not going.”

His voice flowed low and firm. As Yul hesitated and then met his eyes, he smirked and added, “I’m not going abroad.”

“Why?”

Yul blinked rapidly. She had been angry at the thought of betrayal, but hearing he wasn’t going didn’t ease her heart. Instead, it heightened the discomfort brought by other implications. As she watched him silently, she felt like she knew the answer.

“Because of me?”

“Drop it.”

“Is it because of that promise?”

A memory suddenly surfaced.

“I’ll make sure you graduate no matter what.”

Although it was said in jest, it carried a heartfelt plea. It essentially meant asking him to stay by her side until she graduated.

“Yeah, I’ll make sure you graduate.”

He had thought long and hard before finally fulfilling her wish. It was the only promise he, who claimed never to make promises, had made with her. Could it be because of that? No, that couldn’t be it. Missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity over a promise would be foolish. Even if the promise was sincere, one should know when to let go at crucial moments. She would have done so.

“It isn’t, right?”

Yul sought confirmation, locking her gaze with his. She hated the idea of Yoonjo leaving, but she also disliked the notion of him staying because of her. Either way, she realized there was nothing beneficial for him in staying with her.

His eyes, as dark and tranquil as the night sky, captured her. A flicker of light shimmered in his eyes, as if he understood the turmoil she felt.

“No. I just don’t feel like it.”

The answer she hoped for came, reassuring her as though he had read her heart. But just as he had sensed her feelings, she too realized his answer wasn’t entirely honest. He was staying because of their promise. It was an absurd notion, but Kang Yoonjo could make it possible.

Really, what a bear of a man, Kang Yoonjo.

“Good. I’m relieved.”

Yul smiled faintly and turned her head away from Yoonjo. She now clearly understood what she had to do next.

Stubbornly sending Yoonjo off first, Yul only turned around after he disappeared into the darkness. She didn’t head home but returned to their previous spot and pulled out her phone. She pressed the call button on a number that had called numerous times but she had never answered before.

“Seomun Yul is calling, and tomorrow’s the end of the world, right?”

Jung-woo expressed surprise and joy as he answered the call. Listening to his innocent voice made her feel momentarily guilty, but Yul steadied her emotions and spoke.

“Jung-woo, do you still have that suitcase I left with you?”

“Of course. I’ve kept it under my bed like a treasure chest. Why do you ask?”

“I’ll come get it tomorrow. Can you make some time to give it back?”

“Ah… Of course, I can, but is something wrong? You left it with me because those debt collectors shouldn’t see it.”

“It’s okay now.”

Yul calmly replied, then looked up at the starless sky, smiling faintly. She had held onto it for too long out of a sense of injustice. She had never intended to open Pandora’s box, but if opening it meant unleashing evils, she had hoped it would be at Jung-woo’s house. Now, however, she had no such desire. She had resolved to become even more wicked than anything that box could contain.