TSCEIAB Ch. 36

 

Hugo looked at me, stopping about three or four paces away.

 

“…….”

 

“…….”

 

There was a moment of silence.

Hugo’s eyes shone sharply as he looked at me, like a beast in front of its prey.

Then his gaze suddenly shifted.

 

He grimaced disapprovingly, noticing my wet shoulders and the water dripping from my hair.

I hesitated in awkwardness before speaking, but just as I did, Hugo’s question flew at me.

 

“Uh…….”

 

“What’s going on?”

 

My shoulders shrunk at the cold, questioning voice.

Hugo looked at me, let out a soft sigh, and washed his face dryly.

Then, in a slightly softened voice, he asked again.

 

“You look cold. Why aren’t you heading home?”

 

“…… I couldn’t go, my car broke down.”

 

“Your car broke down?”

 

His eyebrows twitched. It seemed he was doubting my words, so I hastily added.

 

“It won’t start. I don’t know what’s wrong……..”

 

“So you were checking the car?”

 

“Yes, I thought I might see what’s wrong if I open the hood.”

 

“Do you know how to check cars?”

 

“…… No.”

 

My voice came out sullenly. Hugo paused for a moment and cleared his throat.

 

“I think it’s best to call someone to help. I don’t know what the problem is, but it’ll be hard to fix it right away. It’s raining now.”

 

His voice softened even more. It was just as kind as it was before we parted ways.

I tried to calm my pounding heart and lowered the corners of my eyes.

 

“My phone is off. I think the battery is dead.”

 

“I see…….”

 

He muttered in a low voice and looked back and forth between me and my car. Meanwhile, a cold wind blew in and made my body shiver.

As I hugged my arms and sniffled, Hugo nodded and pointed to one side.

 

“Should I give you a ride?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“You’re freezing. Even if someone else comes to pick you up, it’ll take a while. What if you catch a cold again and collapse?”

 

Hugo looked a little nervous as he said that.

I was biting my lip as was my habit, and then I noticed something strange and tilted my head.

Did he just say ‘again’?

 

‘Did he know I had a cold and collapsed?’

 

Once again, I remembered a scene that I didn’t know if it was a dream or not. Something blue that caught my eye.

I glanced up and saw Hugo’s blue eyes resembling a lake.

Perhaps he thought I was hesitating; he pursed his lips and spoke.

 

“…… I know I make you uncomfortable. But bear with me just once, I’ll just take you home. I won’t even talk to you if you want.”

 

“No, it’s not that…….”

 

“Huh? Haley.”

 

Even though I was the one who needed help, he pleaded with me.

I couldn’t refuse him.

 

“Well, then, please.”

 

As I nodded, Hugo’s face lit up.

It would be a hassle to drive me home. What’s so good about it?

 

“Okay. Let’s go to my car.”

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

With me in the passenger seat, Hugo immediately started the engine and turned on the heater.

Then he pulled a Boston bag from the back seat, rummaged through it, and pulled something out, and handed it to me.

 

“What is it?”

 

“A jacket. You look cold.”

 

He gave me a black jacket with no pattern on it. I looked at the jacket now draped on my lap and hesitated.

 

“It’ll get wet…….”

 

“It’s fine. Just wear it.”

 

“…….”

 

“Will you put it on?”

 

Hugo asked, tilting his head. I flailed and threaded my arm into his jacket.

The sleeves were too long that I couldn’t get my hands out. After folding the loose sleeves a couple of times, I glanced at Hugo and asked:

 

“What’s that bag?”

 

“Things I packed just in case I have to get in the gate suddenly .”

 

There are change of clothes inside, he added.

As I nodded, he grabbed the steering wheel, turned it, and drove out of the parking lot.

Perhaps to keep his promise not to speak to me, Hugo remained silent after that, not saying a word.

I felt like I was going to suffocate in that awkward silence.

 

Tap, Tap-

 

The rain again grew and hit against the window and slid down. I stared blankly at it and suddenly remembered to ask.

 

“Do you know where I live?”

 

Hugo’s car was on a familiar road. It was the way to my house.

 

“…… No.”

 

But as if by coincidence, Hugo immediately slowed down and glanced at me.

He looked like he was ready to turn the car around at any moment.

I thought about it for a moment and then explained the location of our house. Hugo muttered that he was on the right track and picked up speed again.

 

Vroom-

 

The low vibration and warm heater calmed me down a little.

As the cold subsided, I mustered up courage.

 

‘Maybe now is the chance.’

 

A chance to apologize to Hugo.

Even when I think of him, his blue eyes distorted with hurt still linger.

And yet, instead of passing me by in trouble, he reached out first.

He didn’t forget to keep silent, thinking that I might feel uncomfortable.

 

“…… Hey.”

 

Hesitating, I glanced at Hugo before continuing. He was concentrating on driving, and in a low, subdued voice, he replied, “Yeah?.”

 

“About back then…… I’m sorry. I said something way out of line.”

 

“…… What are you talking about?”

 

“…… When I said I wanted us to act like strangers.”

 

“…….”

 

A crack appeared between Hugo’s brows.

I don’t know if he’s reminiscing about what happened back then, or if he was annoyed that I tried to apologize so shamelessly now.

I pushed him away because I was uncomfortable. I wouldn’t blame him if he thought I was using him now because I needed help.

My voice echoed faintly in the quiet car.

 

“…… It’s hard to understand, but I feel uncomfortable when people are looking at me. You’re attracting attention everywhere you go. When you’re next to me, people’s eyes shift to me too. That’s what made me uncomfortable.”

 

“…….”

 

“Of course, it’s not your fault. It’s just that…… I’m timid and foolish. It’s my fault.”

 

“Why is that your fault?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Hugo suddenly pulled over to the shoulder of the road. Then he looked at me and pursed his lips.

He seemed anxious to contradict what I had said.

He took a moment to catch his breath, perhaps thinking of what he was going to say, and then spoke:

 

“You’re not timid and foolish, Haley.”

 

“…… I appreciate you seeing that way, but honestly, I am timid and foolish.”

 

“I don’t understand why you’re being so self-deprecating.”

 

“I’m not being self-deprecating……!”

 

“Haley.”

 

The calm voice soothed my raging emotions.

He met my gaze with deep eyes. He spoke clearly as if he were trying to console a child.

 

“You’re a caring and loving person. Meticulous and delicate.”

 

“…… Am I?”

 

“Yes. The fact that you care about what other people think is because you’re delicate.”

 

“That’s usually called being sensitive.”

 

“Well. Maybe. But is that a bad thing?”

 

The corners of Hugo’s mouth lifted slightly. With a gentle laugh, he reached out to me.

A large hand stood tall next to my cheek. He hesitated for a moment before asking in a whisper.

 

“…… Can I fix your hair?”

 

“…… yes.”

 

His thick-knuckled fingers brushed over my wet and clumped hair.

I could feel him being careful not to touch my skin.

He fiddled with the hair behind my ear as if he didn’t want to take his hands off and sighed.

Lowering his hand, he spoke.

 

“You said you were sorry, right?”

 

I nodded silently at the sudden question.

 

“Yes.”

 

“You said you wanted us to act like strangers. Is it because of the other kids?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Then, is it okay for me to talk to you when no one else is around?”

 

“…….”

 

Seriously?

I managed to swallow the words that almost came out of my mouth. But Hugo shrugged as if my expression said it all.

 

“I mean it when I said I wanted to get closer to you.”

 

“…… I don’t get it.”

 

“What?”

 

“I told you then. I’m not fun. You wouldn’t get anything out of being friends with me.”

 

“Haley. I don’t calculate profit and loss when I make friends. And you’re fun.”

 

“…….”

 

I couldn’t agree with him.

I stubbornly kept my mouth shut, and Hugo burst out laughing.

Tapping the steering wheel with his fingertips, he started the car again.

After a short silence, I spoke again.

 

“You know. I was wondering..”

 

“Huh?”

 

Turning the steering wheel, he glanced at me. I kept my eyes fixed on the front and asked the question in a cautious voice.

 

“…… Why do you want to be friends with me, is it because I’m Asian?”

 

“What?”

 

Hugo’s eyes widened. I couldn’t tell if he was shocked or caught off guard.

 

“Hah.”

 

Judging by his snort, he was dumbfounded.

 

“I don’t care if you’re white, black, or yellow. Honestly, I wouldn’t care even if you weren’t human.”

 

“Even if you weren’t human? So you’re saying you wouldn’t care if I were a monster?”

 

“Yeah. I want to be close to you simply because you’re ‘you’, Haley Baek.”

 

If that’s the case, I really don’t understand.

While I wasn’t saying anything, Hugo’s car drove past a familiar road.

Soon, the pace of the scenery outside the window slowed down.

The car arrived in front of our house and slid to a stop.