Chapter 87 – Episode 87

「Puck!」

… The sound came from the convenience store counter. The moment she saw Ji Seon-hye’s name, her kick reflexively jumped out. This is a real knee-jerk. Damn.

“Ugh.”

Considering that it’s been quite a while since I went to her wedding, and that the incident with Ji Seon-hye happened even longer ago, I think it would be good if I started to develop some tolerance by now. I’m doing this because that doesn’t work.

In the past, when I heard that I was still in awe of that damn dark history, I would laugh at her and say that she was mentally weak, that she was a guinea pig, etc. This is why people should not speak carelessly about something that they have not personally experienced.

It wasn’t called black history for nothing. As time goes by, the more I think about it, the more I feel embarrassed in many ways.

‘What if I noticed Assistant Professor Ji Seon-hye’s interest at that time?’

From the moment you assume what would have happened if that were the case, the reality of not being able to do so comes back to you more vividly and drives you crazy. Because the past that has already passed can never be changed.

“Whoo!”

After calming down, I checked my contact information again and thought about it. The reason why my eyes stayed on this name.

‘Isn’t it a little similar?’

Although not completely. If I had to choose someone with similar tendencies to Han Ae-bom, it would be this person. In many ways, the world is dark, but it is also logical and straightforward. Yes, honestly, I wish Ji Sun-hye would have been a little more open about their relationship… That’s not true. It’s so ugly.

Let’s not blame others for our own shortcomings. I’ve been realizing several times recently that there’s nothing more pathetic than that.

[PM 11:13]

It was a pretty rude time to call someone. So, I started by sending a text message.

[Hyunwoo Kim: Hello. Researcher Ji Seon-hye. This is Hyunwoo Kim, whom I saw at a wedding before. I’m sorry for contacting you at such a late hour. I’d like to get some advice, so can I talk to you for a moment?]

“Wow, this message was written in a very polite way, but it had a very tingly feel to it…”

Even though other alpha males stay still, they receive messages from women first. They say that if the alpha male sends a text message in the early morning, she will immediately take a taxi and go. What kind of life do people like that lead?

It’s a life where a woman rushes in first even if she stays still. You must have had a lot of sex.

「Knock knock!」

It’s a surprise. The reply is quick.

[Teacher Seonhye Ji: You can walk.]

I thought about it again after seeing the answer, which was very business-like. Huh. They say she resembles Han Ae Bom.

And looking at it now, wouldn’t it be more interesting to know if this person’s attitude is that they are having a relationship? At that time, I was furious because I thought this person was just a piece of shit and was working me like a slave.

“Huh.”

Still, I feel nervous about phone calls.

“Turrr, thud!”

It sucks to receive it.

“Woman, researcher?”

-Hmm. Please just call me senior. I also call him junior.

“Ah. Okay!”

There is a natural tension and politeness in the voice. Can not help it. It’s like a habit engraved in your body.

“I think your voice is shaking a little.”

-I’m a researcher. Corridor. While I was on the phone, I came out for a quick coffee. There’s a vending machine here.

At this time?

“Aren’t you tired? Are all researchers like that? Normally, everyone stays up late.”

-No. I stayed voluntarily. Everyone else has left work. There is no such thing as looking down on someone just because they are young.

As expected, I’m not sure about this person.

“I guess you enjoy researching.”

-It’s fun. It’s fun to accept new knowledge and find that what you studied is actually helpful. Rather, could you tell me the reason for your call?

“Oh, that’s it.”

I explained in detail what the two women were fighting about.

-Hmm. I don’t understand either of them very well. Still, if I had to choose the one with the highest percentage of mistakes, I think it would be Han Ae-bom, and honestly, Hana also believes that accepting Ae-bom’s advice is for the sake of her future life…

This guy is 100% that. In MBTI or something else, T is a type that places importance on rational judgment. A type that places importance on the process one goes through when making a decision. There is no empathy at all.

-If you think about it in many ways, I think Aebom is on the rational side, and because of that, he is also on the sensitive side. After listening to it, it seems like he has some similarities to me. I also tend to get particularly sharp when something I’m researching doesn’t turn out as I expected.

I’ve seen it many times.

In the professor’s lab, the assistant professor had dark circles and looked like he was going to kill anyone who touched him.

-But if you are a rational person, it will be possible in the end if you just relieve the feeling to some extent.

“How should I solve it?”

-Hmm. I see. Please play a little.

“With you, senior?”

-… No. Aebom Han and her junior can play a little bit. Oh, wouldn’t it be okay to have Hana?

“I think it’ll be okay. “Because everyone wants to reconcile with Aebom somehow.”

-Really?

Ji Seon-hye said in an unexpected voice.

-If it were me, I think I would have hated it.

“…”

A moment of silence followed. Is this a sign that you still have feelings for me? Or am I overdoing it? Shit. I still don’t know?

-If it’s okay, just play lightly to clear your head. There must be something Aebom likes. In my case, I read papers at the library.

The people who like that kind of thing are probably teaching assistants, or rather, seniors. Rather, you don’t have to say anything about TMI like that.

“Is that okay?”

-Maybe? When your head is somewhat clear and your mood is relieved, you can think rationally and consider your mistakes, even if you are embarrassed. I came to admit my own mistakes.

“I guess you were like that too?”

-Yes. What. There have been a few times when I have been stubborn. I tend to push through to the end the answer that I think is correct. Then, after a big fight, I’m the type to lock myself in the lab and check things out again.

“Then you were usually right?”

-There were times when I was right, but there were also times when I was wrong. What should I do? No matter how hard you try, no matter how hard you live…

Ji Seon-hye spoke with some sense of relief and a little bit of regret.

-… Everyone makes mistakes. Junior. The important thing is to admit that mistake and move on. Oh, of course, I don’t like that, so I study and work much harder than others. I absolutely hate it when someone pouts at my words.

“Ah, haha, that’s right.”

As expected, the more I looked, the more there were similarities in personality with this human being, Han Ae Bom.

-In my own way, I think what I just said is the correct answer, but as I said before, I am not necessarily right. In any case, the final decision is up to you. It’s not like I’m taking responsibility. I don’t even want to do that.

“Yes. Of course.”

Not even a child.

-Are you done with your business?

“Yes! “No, just a moment.”

As I was about to end the call, I asked one more question.

“I want to know a little bit about that person’s inner story. What should I do?”

Now I really wanted to know what Han Ae Bom was hiding. Ji Seon-hye seemed to think about my question for a moment, and then she opened her mouth.

-How about showing a little of your weakness?

Appearing weak?

I tilted my head slightly. Really, is that okay?

*

Even worse, I heard there are people walking around outside wearing short sleeves. I am seriously considering whether I should take out the padding again.

In this narrow studio, a cold wave blows that feels like something you would only experience in the North Pole. This is the refrigerator, this is the house. I can’t tell the difference. Damn.

“Everyone eats breakfast. Unless it’s Sunday, we don’t all have breakfast together like this, right?”

In fact, we always ate dinner together pretty regularly. Because Yoon Su-ah cooks.

Anyone who has ever lived alone knows this, but cooking is actually more of a hassle than you might think. If you add dishwashing to it, it gets even more bothersome.

So, since I don’t want to bother Yoon Su-ah, we are eating dinner together. If there is a problem, I would say that the atmosphere at the dinner table has been off lately, and I am having trouble digesting food.

“Hana, can you please give me the chopsticks?”

“Yes. “Sister.”

Ohana, who was trying to set up the spoons and chopsticks as usual, intentionally left them empty in front of Han Ae-bom. Then she stabbed me in the side with a metal chopstick.

“Ugh!”

No matter how oblivious I was, I realized what he meant and placed the spoon and chopsticks in front of Han Ae-bom. Han Ae-bom quietly lifted her chopsticks.

In fact, since the fight with Ohana, the two haven’t really exchanged a single word. Should I say that they treat me like a person who doesn’t exist? But even if you want to treat someone like someone who doesn’t exist in this small studio, how much can you do?

Lately, I could almost see Han Ae-bom getting more and more upset.

[Let’s comfort Han Ae Bom and make her apology to O Hana first]

[0/1]

[Reward: 500,000 won, Agility +1, Lesser Lullaby skill]

There is a saying that the sooner you reconcile, the better, so this quest could not be carried out leisurely. Because today is Sunday.

Let’s solve it somehow today.

Like this, she is making a decision in her mind when Yoon Su-ah begins to bring her dishes one by one.

“It’s a little small today.”

The sweet yet savory smell that fills your nose will make all your complicated worries disappear for just a moment.

Although I said it was small.

Our small folding table is full of dishes.

In the middle are soybean paste stew, tteokgalbi, egg rolls, and stir-fried odeng. And when it comes to Koreans, kimchi is something that cannot be missed.

“Wow, today was really awesome! Thank you so much. Su-ah!”

“I’ll eat well, Su-ah.”

“Ha, this is awesome. Mr. Sua. Really.”

At this moment, the coldness of the Cold War disappears, and everyone raises their thumbs.

Compared to usual times, it can be said to be on the plain side.

However, considering that before Yoon Su-ah came, she had to eat frozen fried rice and discarded lunch boxes every day, she honestly doesn’t envy Surasang either.

“I will eat well.”

It’s even delicious. It’s not an exaggeration, but the food made by Suah Yoon was one of the most delicious foods I’ve ever eaten.

I felt it when I grilled meat before, but there are definitely people who are good at cooking. Even if you make it with the same recipe, the results are not necessarily the same. In that sense, Yoon Su-ah was so good at cooking that even a chef at a 5-star hotel she had never visited could outsmart her.

‘After Su-ah comes, I don’t have to worry about her real housework at all.’

It’s not something I often do, and I felt like cleaning and wiping it with a mop sometimes was a hassle. Suah Yoon does that every day. Alone.

I look forward to mealtime every day.

“Give me another bowl! Sister!”

“Okay. Give me a bowl of rice. “We all eat a lot.”

“Yami!”

I wonder if I will gain weight if I eat this much. There were no such worries. It’s not because she has sex often, but Yoon Su-ah’s food doesn’t make her fat.

However, she is in good health.

‘Regardless of the quest reward, her condition improved after eating Su-a’s food.’

She also had a reason to proudly take charge of one of the most essential elements of life: food, clothing, and shelter.
After finding peace of mind with soybean paste stew filled with tofu, I opened my mouth.

“Mr. Aebom.”

“Yes?”

“Have some fun with me today. Just the two of us.”

Wait for a sec. Did I talk too much?