80 – Love (4)
080.
“….”
On a warm summer day, Jinhyuk and Roksanne strolled through Union Academy’s courtyard, as agreed.
From Noble mtl dot com
Following the gentle breeze, they silently walked until they found themselves in a park bathed in a turquoise hue, adorned with beautifully cultivated flowers and lush foliage.
Couples and students reveled in the park, enjoying the sunny day.
Seated on a bench shaded by sunlight, Jinhyuk and Roksanne maintained a silent companionship.
A moment of quietness settled.
“…It’s a bit awkward.”
Jinhyuk glanced discreetly at Roksanne, seated next to him.
To be honest, they weren’t close enough to engage in lively conversations or laughter, so the two sitting quietly together created a subtle sense of awkwardness.
Unlike Jinhyuk, Roksanne, seemingly unaffected, gazed at the people around, absorbed in their activities.
“Hey.”
Suddenly, Roksanne spoke in a calm voice.
“Thank you.”
“Huh?”
Roksanne shifted her gaze subtly.
Her two eyes, reminiscent of a serene seaside, stared directly at Jinhyuk.
“Thanks to you, I could prevent Sung Yura’s wrongdoing. I’m really grateful. If I were alone, arresting Sung Yura would have been impossible.”
Roksanne bowed her head slightly, expressing sincere gratitude.
A strand of pale pink hair flowed down below, framing her fair face. Undoubtedly beautiful.
Jinhyuk silently observed Roksanne, scratching his chin.
“You don’t have to thank me. And we already exchanged thanks last time.”
Honestly, from Jinhyuk’s perspective, receiving thanks from Roksanne felt somewhat uncomfortable, almost as if burdened by a sense of conscience.
That was because Roksanne didn’t care about Sung Yura’s torment, regardless of whether she suffered or not.
In reality, he had considered abandoning Roksanne.
If Jinsoyeon hadn’t been kidnapped, he would have left Sung Yura alone, regardless of her actions.
He knew very well that leaving Sung Yura alone would plunge Roksanne into despair.
“At that time, there was no particular situation, so I couldn’t do it properly.”
Locksane, who touched his reddened forehead, met his eyes.
If he were looking at him with his clean and clear eyes, it would poke at Jinhyuk’s conscience.
Click. Don’t look at me with such pure eyes.
“And I wanted to repay you as well.”
“Repay?”
“Yes. Anything that I can do for you. Just let me know comfortably.”
“……”
Repay, repay…
Considering Locksane’s personality, it was not an exaggeration.
If it wasn’t a request that would harm others, there was a high possibility that Locksane would make an effort to fulfill Jinhyuk’s request.
Then what should he ask for?
After thinking for a moment, Jinhyuk smirked. Various things came to mind, but eventually Jinhyuk shook his head.
Yes, let’s look further than immediate benefits, further.
“Well then.”
“Yes.”
“Treat me to a meal sometime.”
“What?”
Locksane widened his eyes and tilted his head.
He had asked him to say anything as a repayment, but he never expected that Jinhyuk would ask him to buy him a meal.
“Do you mean a meal?”
“Yeah, that’ll do.”
“But even so, just a meal… seems a bit…”
Even at best, Locksane thought that asking for just a meal was too trivial.
Ah, as expected, Locksane’s reaction is like this.
It was as he expected.
“Then one more thing.”
“Oh, yes.”
“Shall we become close? Oh, of course, as friends.”
When Jinhyuk casually mentioned becoming close, it was as sincere as the thought of wanting to become close friends.
Roksan was the character who would appear as the main antagonist in the episode of the Fallen Saint.
In other words, it meant that he had the potential and ability to handle a crucial part of the later story.
Not only his abilities but also Roksan’s background was excellent.
He was responsible for the core of the church, where various supernatural ability users congregated under the blessing of God.
It was evident that Roksan’s faction would gather again after Seong Yura’s arrest.
Moreover, Roksan had made a significant contribution in arresting the formidable evil, Seong Yura.
Additionally, he secured several pieces of evidence stored in the safe, which allowed him to hold the corrupt clergy who had made a deal with Seong Yura at a disadvantage.
Due to her nature of suppressing corruption and wrongdoing, more and more people would support Roksan in the future.
Roksan possessed a compelling charm that attracted people of all ages and genders.
If Roksan became an ally, it would be of great help in the future.
Until now, he had disregarded Roksan due to Seong Yura.
But now, there was no need for that, right? Honestly, it seemed a bit shameless, but who cares.
“Friend, friend…”
Roksan muttered to himself, carefully pondering the word ‘friend’.
“Friend, do you mean…?”
With a cautious voice, Roksan glanced at Lee Jinhyeok, as if testing the waters.
Lee Jinhyeok blinked his eyes rapidly in response.
What’s up with that reaction?
“Why? Don’t you want to be friends with me?”
“Ah, no.It’s not like that.”
Roksan hesitated with a slightly awkward face, then flashed a shy smile and brushed his lips lightly.
“It’s just that being friends is almost a first for me.” “Is that so?” Huh.
Did Roksan have a backstory of not having any friends? It was a bit uncertain.
He remembered almost all the necessary settings, but he couldn’t recall every single detail.
After all, Roksan wasn’t such a major character.
“But now that I think about it…
it could be possible.” Roksan was an orphan and had likely been tormented by Seong Yura since a young age, so it would have been difficult for him to make friends properly.
Didn’t he even experience isolation at Union Academy because of Seong Yura? Geez, poor guy.
He went through so much trouble because of that psycho woman.
It seemed like Seong Yura had a hidden possessiveness, and she probably couldn’t stand seeing Roksan getting close to anyone.
Ah, but what happened to Seong Yoo?
Seems she was quite busy during the trial.
No news, no news at all.
“Come to think of it, how’s life at the academy these days?”
“It’s been good. …Everyone was troubled because of Seong Yoo, though.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Could it be otherwise?
Some girls harassed you more out of jealousy for your looks.
In reality, the guys didn’t bother much with Roxanne, but it was the girls who made life unbearable for her.
Roxanne didn’t like attracting undue attention from all the boys in the class.
“Well, as long as it’s resolved.”
“Yes… Thank you for worrying.”
Roxanne gave a subtle smile.
Her innocent smile was reminiscent of a delicate flower.
In his mind, Lee Jin-hyuk imagined the events that would unfold in the future. Hey, guys from Class 3, the competition is going to be tough, isn’t it? You all must have fallen head over heels for Roxanne’s smile.
“Oh, come to think of it, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask for a while.”
“What is it?”
“When you rescued me at Yookseongsan, why were you there in the first place?”
“….”
Uh, um.
Jin-hyuk scratched his cheek awkwardly in response to Roxanne’s question.
Saying he randomly encountered her in a forest with monsters wouldn’t be believable at all. Yet, he couldn’t say he went there to find an artifact.
“Just, well, I had some business to attend to.”
“Business…?”
“Sorry, it’s a bit private, so it’s awkward to talk about.”
“Oh, I see. I’m sorry for asking something strange.”
“No, it might have bothered you, considering the situation.”
Could she find the situation a bit suspicious?
Jin-hyuk glanced at Roxanne’s expression, trying to fathom her thoughts.
While Jinhyuk and Roksan were engrossed in conversation, maintaining a lively exchange.
There was someone discreetly eavesdropping on their conversation from a slight distance, having absorbed their every word and gesture—none other than Jin Soyeon, Jin Soyeon.
Soyeon discreetly hid herself, stealing glances at the two on the swings.
It felt a bit self-conscious, as others might mistake her for a stalker, but now was not the time to dwell on such things.
After all, those two seemed to be getting along better than expected.
Of course, there was no hint of a pink aura between them, but Jinhyuk’s words and attitude were particularly unsettling.
“Wanna grab a meal? Want to be friends?”
Mulling over Jinhyuk’s words, Soyeon responded bluntly.
“No, seriously, what’s up with those words? Jinhyuk doesn’t have the personality to say such things to a girl.”
Jinhyuk, who had never shown unnecessary interest in girls before, suddenly unleashed a hunting remark fit for a playboy?
Getting openly friendly with such a pretty girl wasn’t just a casual gesture, right?
It might have been a bit of an overreaction, but seeing Jinhyuk express such interest in another girl was unsettling in many ways, as he had never shown such attention to any other girl before.
“Maybe Roksan isn’t the girl Jinhyuk likes?”
For a moment, Soyeon couldn’t hide her anxious feelings.
As if trying to erase her uneasy thoughts, Soyeon absentmindedly bit her fingernails.
She thought she had time to seduce Jinhyuk, but if he started pursuing a girl he liked in earnest, it could be dangerous.
Perhaps the situation was more urgent than Soyeon had anticipated.
Hesitating, she worried that Jinhyuk might be taken by another girl.
There might not be time to be leisurely.
“But… But, for now, there’s a way.”
“Ah, there.”
“Oops!”
Seems like she’s been caught!
Before she knew it, the gazes of Roksan and Jinhyuk were directed towards her.
Soyeon looked at the two awkwardly and nervously sweated. Oh, what should I say?
With a forced cough, Soyeon approached the swings.
“Soyeon?”
“Uh, um, hi!”
“What brings you here…”
“Just walking by and happened to see you two, hehe.”
With a slightly awkward excuse, Roksan nodded for a moment, but soon blinked as if conceding.
Although he was slightly suspicious, it seemed he didn’t want to pry.
“So-yeon, how’s your health?”
“I’m fine now. I’m completely recovered.”
“That’s a relief.”
Jin So-yeon also sat on the bench.
“But what were you two doing here? A date, perhaps? I didn’t interrupt, did I?”
“It’s not like that at all.”
Jin-hyuk just looked at him with a gaze that seemed to say, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Oh, time has flown by already.”
“Yeah, go in first, Roksan.”
“Yes. See you later, Jin-hyuk. So-yeon too. Goodbye.”
Roksan lightly bid farewell and moved her steps into the distance.
While endlessly watching her receding figure, Jin-hyuk subtly began to moisten his lips.
Chin in hand, he nonchalantly uttered, “Did you, by any chance, follow her?”
“Huh? Oh, no, not at all.”
Embarrassed!
But since she couldn’t confess willingly, Jin So-yeon busily extended her duck’s feet. If she admitted to following, Jin-hyuk might think strangely.
… But, come to think of it, following is really strange.
“It seemed like you were hiding. I didn’t feel your presence well.”
“Well, the two of them were secretly having a rendezvous in the park, so I was a little curious…”
“Rendezvous? You’re talking nonsense again.”
“Uh, uh~ There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Jin-hyuk, you mentioned a girl you liked last time, could it be Roksan, by any chance?”
She sneakily glanced at Jin-hyuk.
What would Jin-hyuk say?
He probably wouldn’t straightforwardly admit it, right? If you think about Jin-hyuk’s usual self, it’s a video, undoubtedly a video.
“…Um. We got caught.”
“?”
What did he just say?
“Actually, it’s Roxanne.”
“W-What?! M-Me, really?”
Jin So-yeon couldn’t hide her dismay with wide-open eyes.
Not only had she never imagined he would answer so bluntly, but she couldn’t believe that the girl Jinhuk liked was Roxanne.
“Why, why Roxanne?”
“No, she’s pretty.”
“….”
I’m pretty too.
Not any less than Roxanne.
No, even more.
“And she has a good personality.”
“That, that’s true?”
I think I have a good personality too.
Honestly, I’ve never heard anyone say I have a bad personality.
But compared to the virtuous Roxanne, maybe I’m relatively lacking…
“…So, you liked Roxanne. It’s a bit surprising.”
He knew Jinhuk had feelings for someone, but hearing it directly was a bit shocking.
No, honestly, it wasn’t just a bit. It was a lot.
An unexpectedly emotional wave hit her upon realizing that in his heart, it wasn’t So-yeon but Roxanne.
Because she didn’t want to see him smiling at another girl, not her.
For a moment, her expression turned sour.
Unexplainably disappointed, bitter, and angry.
“Roxanne… she’s a good girl… yeah, a good girl.”
Talented, wealthy, and with a pretty decent background.
Moreover, unlike Yuseol-hyun, her personality seemed very agreeable, making her seem like a qualified girlfriend for Jinhuk.
Of course, even if she got approval, it didn’t mean she’d ever accept Roxanne.
“Well, it’s a lie, though.”
“Huh?”
“Saying I like Roxanne is a lie.”
“No, what do you mean?”
“Do you really believe those words? Haha, how could he possibly like me so much after knowing Rock Sannyu for so long?”
I’m annoyed.
I, I really thought he liked me. Ahh, really!
“So, who is the person you like?”
“Why are you so interested in other people’s love lives?”
“Just curious. What are you hiding?”
“It’s a secret, a secret. I’ll tell you when we start dating.”
“….”
It’s Jinhoek.
I’m starting to doubt whether he’s hiding that he actually likes Rock Sannyu or not.
Did he change the subject suddenly because he realized? He could have done that.
“…If I tell you when we start dating? I can’t wait until then. No, I won’t wait.”
Jinhoek’s popularity is rapidly rising.
His friendship with girls like Yuseolhyeon, Rock Sannyu, and Seonari.
Jinsoyeon observes Jinhoek, who tries to hide his affection for her as if he’s already someone she knows.
After seeing Jinhoek’s conversation today and his appearance with Rock Sannyu, Jinsoyeon has made up her mind.
She can’t waste any more time idly.
Whether it ends in success or failure, she has to confront him once.
“Jinhoek, can I visit your house after such a long time?”
“My house? Why all of a sudden?”
“Well, it feels like it’s been a while since I’ve been there. Is that okay?”
“Um… It’s not that it’s not okay.”
“Well, I want to see the interior you bragged about last time. I’m curious.”
“Well, okay. I don’t have anything urgent today, and there’s still some time until the ranking match.”
When Jinhoek accepted her visit, Jinsoyeon clenched her fists tightly.
“In fact, I was planning to tell Jinhoek that I like him again, but since the situation has changed, I have no choice but to do it first.”
I can make him feel conscious of me as a woman if I confess first!
Jinhoek will be surprised, but Jinsoyeon can’t afford to be foolishly relaxed right now. There are too many girls around Jinhoek, and they’re all pretty.
“Confession, yes, I’ll confess. There’s a high chance of rejection and it might be awkward for a while, but it’s okay… just by confessing, Jinhoek will start paying more attention to me.”
So, let’s do it, confess!
It’s a bit audacious, but I’ll give it a try.
I can’t just let Jinho be taken away right in front of me. By a woman whose face I don’t even know.
“…And, just maybe, there’s a possibility that Jinho might reciprocate.”
Of course, the chances of that happening were very low, but you never know what might happen in life, right?
