12 – What was that sound?
“…Kang Jihun? Are you talking about the Kang Jihun that I know?”
“Yeah… That’s probably true. Kang Ji-hoon, who graduated from the same high school as us.”
Jin-hee could tell why Yoo-jeong’s face contorted as if it held all the world’s questions.
It was something she wouldn’t have believed if she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes.
A student from the 11th class, and even the representative failure of the academy among them, was Ji-hoon.
The idea that such a Ji-hoon, who was at the bottom of the 11th class, made Chang-hoon, a C-grade hunter from the 6th class, look like that wasn’t an easy story to believe.
“For a few days now, Kang Ji-hoon has been a bit strange. It’s like he’s become a completely different person from before…”
Jin-hee’s expression hardened as she recalled her experiences with Ji-hoon once again.
He was like a loyal subordinate, willing to do anything for her, be it trivial or significant.
Jin-hee had taken advantage of him since childhood, using him as she pleased after his parents passed away; in his world where he had no other changing friends, her presence was absolute.
To him, she was the one who waited for him whenever and wherever, the person he needed.
It was during their second year of high school when Ji-hoon had a crush on someone.
Jin-hee didn’t feel jealousy because she didn’t see Ji-hoon as a man; it was just an unpleasant feeling of loss that seemed to fill her.
Was it the anxiety of losing her toy to someone else?
This was the reason she spread rumors about Ji-hoon’s pure heart everywhere.
Jin-hee knew very well that in Ji-hoon’s busy life, there was no way he would confess to Yoo-jeong.
As expected, the situation unfolded just as Jin-hee wanted.
Yoo-jeong, who heard the rumors, felt uncomfortable and distanced herself even more from Ji-hoon, who wasn’t particularly close to her to begin with.
Jin-hee was the one who reaffirmed to Ji-hoon that she was his entire world.
She could hold him emotionally captive while being free herself, preventing Ji-hoon from going too far.
She openly made it clear to Ji-hoon that she liked Chang-hoon, who was good-looking and from a good family.
“I can’t meet anyone, but I can meet anyone I want.”
Ji-hoon couldn’t sense Jin-hee’s malicious intentions.
The fact that her childhood friend liked the abominable Seong Chang-hoon wasn’t an important issue for Jin-hee.
Because there’s no one who bothers to play with their toy’s emotions like that.
Her own toy suddenly, was controlling her world at will.
Jin-hee couldn’t believe the reality that made it impossible for her to say a word properly to the person who used to come if she called or leave if she asked.
Everything happened so suddenly.
In the blink of an eye, Ji-hoon transformed from Jin-hee’s toy into someone she couldn’t control.
“Why… do you know why he made you like this?”
Yujeong’s pitiful voice pulled Jin-hee from reminiscence to reality.
“W-what?”
“No, I mean Chang-hoon. I can’t believe that Kang Ji-hoon made Chang-hoon like that, but I’m curious why he did such a terrible thing.”
“Uh… um… that…”
Jin-hee couldn’t tell Yujeong the fact that Chang-hoon had consistently harassed Ji-hoon since high school.
That the person she liked had tormented her childhood friend to the point of death.
“Well… I don’t really know.”
Jin-hee lied immediately.
In her ears, Yujeong’s words sounded incomprehensible.
“Is it because of me?”
“…?”
What is she talking about?
Jin-hee couldn’t understand at all.
Why Yujeong thought that the fight between Ji-hoon and Chang-hoon was because of her.
The fact that Ji-hoon liked Yujeong was a rumor known not only to Jin-hee but to everyone in their class.
But Jin-hee didn’t know that Chang-hoon liked Yujeong, that he had confessed several times, and that he still hadn’t given up.
Jin-hee didn’t know the reason why Chang-hoon never let her get close, despite her earnest efforts.
“What… What do you mean? Why do you think their fight is because of you?”
Looking at Yujeong, who was now speaking with a serious expression, Jin-hee asked.
“Well… no. It’s probably better to talk to them directly. Nice meeting you, I’ll go first.”
Yujeong tossed a casual farewell to Jin-hee and quickly left the corridor of the infirmary.
“What’s with her… What is she talking about again…”
Jin-hee watched Yujeong move away.
– Do men just move on if a woman is in pain and stays by her side?
Suddenly, Ji-hoon’s playful remark from earlier popped into Jin-hee’s head.
“He always says unnecessary things… What is this?”
Jinhee became the one who could protect Changhun’s side, even though it was painful for Jinhe. But now, the one wandering around in Jinhee’s mind was Jihun.
How did he suddenly become so strong?
Why did he say playful words supporting their relationship?
After saying those words, he really made Changhun like that…
Among all those questions, one was the most powerful.
Why did his attitude towards himself change so much? What exactly has changed from before?
When Jinhee’s mind became as noisy as crazy, the door of the healing room opened and Professor Hyun Ja-yeong came out.
“Are you the friend who brought Changhun’s amputated leg?”
“Ugh…”
Jinhee, who had just calmed down a bit, was starting to feel nauseous again.
“Yes, that’s right. How is Changhun doing?”
“With the healing skill, his wounds have almost healed. His leg has been reattached properly. As for the mental shock… whatever it is, he seems to want to meet Jinhee now, so go in.”
“Thank you.”
Changhun is looking for him?
Is it really going to happen as that bastard Kang Jihun said?
Even as he entered the healing room, Jinhee couldn’t stop thinking about Jihun.
***
In front of the Physical Training Center building
Jihun was drinking cola that he pulled out from a vending machine.
Jihun had just finished his physical training until a while ago, as he found out that if he doesn’t spend at least 3 hours a week at the training center, he will receive a penalty.
Since it was a physical training center for academy students, there were much more high-intensity equipment rather than ordinary gym equipment.
However, it didn’t pose any challenge for Jihun, who had trained in the martial arts for ten years.
Even if he didn’t use his inner strength, that level of training was nothing but child’s play for him.
“Ah, this is a bit of a waste of time…”
Jihun had made up his mind to adapt to the academy, but the fact that he had to be bound by unnecessary rules made him extremely uncomfortable.
Click.
He opened the can lid of the cola and started drinking.
The small joy that carbonation brings, or rather, the great joy of returning to the modern world, has remained the same even after several days.
“Ahh, this is really refreshing!”
With a contented burp, Jihoon tossed aside the empty cola can and brushed it off his lips.
Because he had spent the last of his cash on a morning hotdog, Jihoon sighed in disappointment.
“Oh right! The hotdog debt… Changhoon must’ve snatched it, so I need to collect it from Changhoon.”
Although circumstances prevented Jihoon from eating the hotdog, he was deeply grateful to his angelic boss for providing him with a debt.
“Hey, Kang Jihoon!”
A person approaching Jihoon standing by the vending machine in the distance, calling out to him.
The familiar face was approaching, talking on her phone.
“Who was that again… where have I seen her before…”
“Oh, Yoo Jung! I found him. He’s in front of the gym. No, not the 7H area gym, the gym near 7H. Ah, are you coming now? Okay, I’ll hold onto him. But what’s going on? Why are you looking for him… Oh, I see. I’ll see you in a bit then.”
“Oh, she was the one who was with Yoo Jung at the library, right?”
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Jihoon greeted her warmly, impressed by his memory.
“Yoo Jung’s friend, Sunhwa! We meet again? Nice to see you.”
“Sunhee… it’s Sunhwa.”
It seemed Jihoon’s memory wasn’t that great after all.
“Yeah, Sunhee! I called you Sunhee.”
“You said Sunhwa… you did it last time too…”
Sunhwa remembered Jihoon calling her Sunhwa when they parted ways at the library before.
“Did I…? Well, what’s in a name, anyway?”
“That’s such an absurd thing to say… What’s more important than a person’s name?”
Perhaps it was the longing for Yeonhwa that made the last syllable of her name slip easily from his lips.
Anyway, Jihoon was about to walk away, leaving Sunhwa beside him.
“hahahaha! This place has the best cola. Have one with me, Sun…hwa!”
“Wait, hold on a second. Wait for me.”
Sunhwa tried to grab Jihoon’s arm to stop him from leaving, but she remembered the warning he had given her earlier and hesitated.
“Yeah?”
“Yoo Jung wants to ask you something. She’s been looking for you. She’s on her way here now.”
“Yoo Jung?”
Jihoon stopped in his tracks, wearing a puzzled expression.
And a moment later, Soel Yoo Jung approached from a distance.
“Hey, there comes Yoojung. Yoojung~ Over here!”
Yoojung was approaching Jihoon with an inexplicable expression on her face, in the direction where Sunhee was shouting.
Finally, Yoojung arrived right in front of Jihoon and asked him in a very cold tone.
“Hey, Kang Jihoon. Is it because of me that Changhoon injured his leg?”
Jihoon’s head tilted in surprise.
Why is she suddenly approaching and saying this?