Chapter 35: Luna's Date (1)
TL/Editor: Raei
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Song Soo-yeon returned to the bathroom once again.
She was overwhelmed by a realization she had only just come to.
Suppressing her cries, she vomited once more.
Her throat felt as if it were burning up.
"...Haah...ugh.."
After emptying her stomach until she felt better, she wiped her mouth with tissue.
Then, she sat on the bathroom floor, clutching her head.
The nausea was nothing compared to the immense turmoil that had found her.
What was she supposed to do now?
She had realized she was in love, but that was all.
She didn't know what she wanted to do.
It was her first time experiencing love, a strange and unknown emotion.
...Did she want to get closer to him?
Become his lover?
Share physical affection with him?
Become the most important person to him?
Her mind was in such chaos that she couldn't be sure of anything.
One thing was clear: she had said too many things in the past.
She had been too harsh with him.
Their relationship had become fixed, and it seemed unlikely to change easily.
She covered her face with her palms.
For now, she just wanted to go back to bed.
.....To lie down and watch Jung-gyeom a little longer.
She got up from the bathroom floor.
Rinsing her mouth and washing her hands. After splashing her face with cold water, she looked up into the mirror.
"...........Ah.."
And her heart sank.
The Song Soo-yeon in the mirror wore the same expression she had always found revolting in men.
Flushed cheeks.
Half-closed eyes.
Slightly rough breathing.
Eyes filled with lust.
"...Ugh..!"
Once again, she vomited into the toilet.
Tears streamed down her face.
Despair set in.
This couldn't go on.
With such an expression...
Just as she had felt about other men, Jung-gyeom would surely find her repulsive.
She was at a loss.
Should she not express these feelings?
Should she hide her love?
For Song Soo-yeon, who had always hidden her true feelings, love seemed like an emotion to be concealed.
The moment she expressed it, he would wear such a disgusting expression.
Besides, if she, who had built walls and labeled him a pervert, showed this face...
It wasn't hard to imagine how absurd he would find it.
But it seemed impossible not to do anything about it.
Otherwise, she would live like this forever.
He wouldn't love her, and he would grow closer to Solace.
Whether she wanted it or not, someone would become Jung-gyeom's partner, and it wouldn't be her.
She imagined Jung-gyeom, showing no interest in her.
Her hero, the first person she could trust, her first friend, her first love, with another woman.
She shook her head.
Everything was just too difficult.
---
---
I open my eyes.
"...Hmm?"
The blue dawn light streams through the window.
At first, I was confused.
I couldn't quite place the time.
As the sun set, I closed my eyes, intending to sleep for just an hour or two, but when I awoke, the world had changed.
I checked my phone.
It was 6 AM.
"......Had a good sleep."
I let out a wry laugh, feeling stiff all over.
It seemed I had been sitting in this position for too long.
Perhaps it was the alcohol after a long time, or maybe it was because I had finally let go of the burdens in my heart.
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I thought of Song Soo-yeon.
She wasn't in bed.
"....What?"
I wondered where she had gone, expecting her to be suffering from a hangover.
Could she have collapsed in the bathroom?
I tried to get up.
But then I felt something tangled at my feet.
Looking down, I saw Song Soo-yeon curled up like a cat, asleep at my feet.
".........."
Did she fall off the bed?
Why was she lying there like that?
Her expression, seemingly cold, wasnt good.
"....Soo-yeon, wake up."
I shook her gently.
"Wake up. You should sleep in the bed."
"....Mmm....."
She moved slightly.
I hadn't realized before, but she might be weak to sleep.
I hadn't seen her sleeping much, so I wasn't sure.
"...Soo-yeon, wake up."
I tapped her shoulder again.
She muttered something as if barely conscious.
"......Mister......"
"Yes. Wake up and lie down in bed."
"......I... feel sick...."
"........."
I had suspected as much.
She drank too much yesterday.
Three bottles of the red cap soju....
I pushed my chair back.
Then, standing up, I spoke to Song Soo-yeon.
"Soo-yeon, you should sleep in bed, okay?"
".....I can't move..."The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))
"....Thats why I told you to control your drinking."
".........."
I scratched my head and asked her one last time.
"......Should I carry you then?"
Her eyes fluttered open drowsily.
I couldnt help but think this, at the most random times....
She really was beautiful.
"........."
Song Soo-yeon's eyes widened gradually, showing a spark of life.
But I just felt frustrated with her silence.
"......Just answer me. Should I carry you? Its not good to sleep like this."
After looking at me for a while, she nodded with difficulty.
Without hesitation, I slid my arms behind her back and under her knees.
I carried her and laid her on the bed.
Immediately, Song Soo-yeon brought her hands to her chest and turned away from me, curling up.
Her movements seemed almost shy.
I covered her with a blanket.
"Sleep more. Youll feel better from the hangover if you rest."
".............Why...?"
Song Soo-yeon asked with difficulty.
She somewhat anticipated the answer, but didn't want to believe it.
Jung-gyeom laughed, as if embarrassed.
"......I told you the restaurant is struggling."
"............"
Song Soo-yeon felt her strength drain away.
-Thud.
The hand that was holding Jung-gyeom dropped onto the table.
She knew the restaurant was in trouble, but she had no idea it was to this extent.
His 'work' away from the restaurant wasn't just a day or two.
It meant he had been doing this loading job for quite some time.
Even in such circumstances, he had fed her, given her a place to sleep, and paid her for her part-time work.
Ignorant of his situation, she had been angry with him, demanding to stay at his place and refusing to leave.
The more she knew about him, the more she realized how terrible she had been.
Had he been enduring all this for her, someone he didn't even love?
Even then, Jung-gyeom, looking at her arm that had fallen lifelessly onto the table, said,
"What are you so surprised about? It's okay. I'm doing it because I want to."
Song Soo-yeon was once again struck by how mature he was as a person, realizing just how good of a person he was.
She let out a bitter laugh.
She thought about all the walls she had put up against him.
Pushing away someone like him.
What had she done?
If he ever got tired of her and left, she would have no words to say.
.......And that thought instilled an unprecedented fear in her.
".......Mister."
"....Hmm?"
".....I'll go with you tomorrow."
"Huh?"
Jung-gyeom was startled.
He frowned and shook his head.
"Why would you go? It will be tough for you, Soo-yeon."
"No. I'm going too."
"........."
"I'll also help... support the restaurant."
Jung-gyeom had a reluctant expression, but Song Soo-yeon ignored it this time.
If she just listened to him, he would take all the burden upon himself.
"....And..."
Song Soo-yeon spoke again, with difficulty.
She didn't like it.
She didn't want to do this.
But there was no other way.
She couldn't let Jung-gyeom sacrifice more for her.
"......Is it true... that if Solace stays with you, we get sponsorship?"
".........If Solace said so.... it must be true."
She bit her lip.
".....Then let it be...."
".....You mean it's okay for Solace to come to the restaurant?"
Song Soo-yeonnodded with difficulty.
The situation was now reversed.
Jung-gyeom began to worry.
"....Are you sure it's okay?"
"......I didn't know... you were struggling like this.....!"
".........."
"......Mister, I haven't spent almost any of the part-time pay you gave me. I'll give it back to you."
"What are you talking about? It's already given. I want to see you stand on your own as an adult."
"............"
"I want you to find your own place first. Keep it until you save up enough for a deposit."
Song Soo-yeon didn't respond to that.
She glanced at Jung-gyeom and asked.
".....Are you hiding anything else from me?"
".....No. That's everything."
".........Really?"
"Really."
Song Soo-yeon nodded.
Only then did she feel a bit relieved.
She still felt a strong aversion to Solace coming, but the fact that he would have an easier time and that there were no more secrets gave her some relief.
How many people would go to such lengths for someone they didnt even like?
And how much more would he do for someone he loved?
Song Soo-yeon shook her head.
Each time these thoughts continued, her heart ached.
She asked.
"....But how will you tell Solace about this? Do you have her contact?"
"I dont have her contact, but theres a way to get in touch."
"....Huh?"
"Solace is a hero."
Jung-gyeom stood up.
He opened the small window in the apartment.
Then, he began to shout.
"Solace!!"
Song Soo-yeon watched him from behind.
Her heart ached again at the sight of Jung-gyeom calling another woman's name with a strong smile.
"Solaaaace!!"
There was a flash of light outside the window.
Someone appeared in the sky in an instant, floating.
It was Solace, in her hero costume, her hair and eyes shining.
"Need help? Gyeom oppa?"
"Hi, Bom. Did you sleep well?"
"You surprised me. I slept well. How about you, oppa?"
They exchanged light greetings.
Jung-gyeom spoke.
"Are you working? I wont take up much of your time. Actually, Soo-yeon said shes okay with it."
"....Soo-yeon?"
Solace looked inside the house through the window.
"Oh, Soo-yeon is here too.....?"
"......."
"Did you sleep well?"
"....Yes."
Jung-gyeom smiled slightly.
"Shes struggling with a hangover."
"I see. So? What is Soo-yeon okay with... Ah! Teaching?"
"Yes. Though Im not sure what I can teach you."
Song Soo-yeon also stood up.
She moved close to Solaces side.
"....Unni. The sponsorship is confirmed, right?"
".....Huh?"
"....Im accepting you here despite disliking heroes... because of the sponsorship. I hope youre aware of that."
Solaces eyes darted back and forth between Soo-yeon and Jung-gyeom.
Then, she exaggeratedly nodded.
"Ah, of course, of course! Naturally...! It's a restaurant doing good deeds, so sponsorship should come...! Even if it doesn't, Ill sponsor out of my own pocket!
Dont worry. Okay?"
"......."
Song Soo-yeon nodded.
Solace's eyes then fixed on Jung-gyeom.
She seemed to have realized that she had achieved her goal.
Her eyes curved into half-moons.
...So, Gyeom oppa, please take care of me!
Solace stretched out her hand.
Alright, take care of me too, Bom.
Jung-gyeom also reached out and held Solaces hand.
Song Soo-yeons eyes fixed on their clasped hands.
She silently waited for the handshake to end.
Suppressing the urge to tear their hands apart.
