250 – EP.10 Rebirth-5
***
Kang In-ho did not remember how he spent the afternoon class after that.
I felt like I had written down something and solved the problem, but when I tried to remember, I felt like a wanderer wandering aimlessly in a hazy fog.
When I came to my senses, I saw Jongrye.
When the homeroom teacher finished the bell, showing off that everything was a bother, everyone in the classroom rushed out of the school, including me.
“See you tomorrow.”
Even as Jeong Sang-hoon, who was sitting next to him, was saying hello and leaving, In-ho just nodded his head mechanically and his eyes were still looking into space.
At some point, two students remained in the empty classroom.
Kang In-ho and Shin Jeong-ah, Shin Jeong-ah and Kang In-ho.
The two had not pretended to know each other for several days, but today was different.
Shin Jeong-ah got up from her seat, and her stool moved and made a sound of scratching on her floor.
Shin Jeong-ah, who had already packed her bag, came and stood next to Kang In-ho’s desk.
“Let’s go.”
Shin Jeong-ah spoke to him carefully.
“…Uh.”
Kang In-ho stood up without hiding his complicated face.
After leaving school, Shin Jeong-ah went to a cafe.
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It was a franchise cafe with nothing special, but it had a spacious store on the second floor.
The two sat in a quiet corner of the second floor.
“Honestly, I thought you would ignore me…”
Shin Jeong-ah smiled awkwardly.
She seemed obedient and didn’t really know how to talk to herself.
“Ah… That’s….”
He couldn’t bring himself to say that because he was told by Kim Jin-tae, and he only confused her.
“No. What does the reason matter?”
Smiling brightly despite her efforts, Shin Jeong-ah folded her hand into Inho’s hand, which was on her table.
“I’m grateful that you came this far.”
Kang In-ho felt his stomach twist at the sight of Shin Jeong-ah smiling pitifully.
“So… What are you talking about?”
Seeing Shin Jeong-ah’s uncharacteristically reserved appearance, Kang In-ho asked carefully.
“Hmm….”
Shin Jeong-ah seemed to have difficulty opening her mouth willingly, so she traced the rim of her coffee cup with her index finger.
And as the hesitation continued, Kang In-ho’s mouth became dry.
He still didn’t know what kind of story would come out, but the human sixth sense was sounding an alarm to him.
– You’re screwed.
He hurriedly picked up his cup and swallowed his coffee. I didn’t drink it, I swallowed it.
As he filled his mouth with that bitter black water, his dazed mind seemed to become a little clearer.
Shin Jeong-ah continued to trace the rim of her cup with her finger.
“Inho.”
Suddenly, the ice in the cup melted and fell down.
Kang In-ho looked into Shin Jeong-ah’s eyes.
She moved her mouth slightly, as if complaining, with her eyes still focused on her own drink.
“I….”
It was a small sound, but the meaning of the words was clearly conveyed to Inho’s ears.
Kang In-ho froze in his posture as he looked at Shin Jeong-ah.
He kept licking his lips.
It seemed like there was a lot he wanted to say.
But he was indifferent and I couldn’t bear to say his insensitive words.
It was because he remembered what Kim Jin-tae had said to him.
“Ah…”
A long meaningless sigh fell on the table.
There was such silence. The situation continued where it was difficult for anyone to speak up.
Kang In-ho remained silent, and Shin Jeong-ah looked at his facial expression.
“I know it’s hard to believe….”
Shin Jeong-ah spoke in a hushed voice.
She shook her hands like a criminal.
“But it’s true… I only did it with you.”
Like a criminal claiming innocence, she sought In-ho’s approval.
“…….”
Knowing that no matter what he said, it would not be enough, Kang In-ho maintained his silence.
Perhaps she was taking that as a rejection, Shin Jeong-ah bit her lower lip and took something out of her bag.
It was pink and white plastic.
At first glance, Shin Jeong-ah looked like a thermometer and she gently pushed it towards him.
“…Ah.”
A short sigh came out of his mouth.
Seeing the two red lines clearly emerging, Kang In-ho heard someone whispering in his ear.
– You’re screwed.
***
From what I heard, Shin Jeong-ah did not come to Kang In-ho hoping for an immediate answer.
“First of all, it’s true that you know… So…”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Suddenly, it wasn’t that I didn’t think she was lying.
But she shouted that everything, including Shin Jeong-ah’s face and attitude and even the evidence she brought with her, was true.
What happens when you cross countless dimensions? I’ve never experienced anything like this before.
Kang In-ho thought so.
“First of all, it’s still early days… Let’s take some time to think about it.”
“My parents…”
He opened and closed his mouth.
Because I realized it was a stupid question.
“hahahaha, of course….”
Shin Jeong-ah laughed bitterly.
“…I’m sorry.”
She thought of many words, but in the end, what she said was a clichéd apology.
“No. I am responsible for this as well.”
Shin Jeong-ah received the message with a brighter face than before.
Suddenly, the ice in her cup melted and collapsed again.
“Inho, you’re not going to pretend you don’t know me, are you?”
Shin Jeong-ah bent down her body and brought her face close to him, as if she wanted to receive confirmation.
“…How can I pretend not to know?”
Kang In-ho put her body back and reassured Shin Jeong-ah.
Shin Jeong-ah smiled brightly at his words.
“Thank you. When you say that, it gives me strength.”
She spoke as if she had been pulled out of her deep mire.
No further conversation took place after that.
We just drank the coffee that was placed on the table.
What has changed is that the distance between two people walking on the street has become shorter than before.
Shin Jeong-ah took two steps towards him.
Well, Inho’s heart was broken.
Whether she knew his feelings or not, Shin Jeong-ah had a happy face.