33 – Spring Rain (5)
“Sometimes, it feels like someone is deliberately bothering me.”
I left a brief reflection on the disaster that came with the rain. In response, Gueiro sincerely empathized with my feelings like a true friend.
“If that’s the case, I wish you’d bother only yourself. Don’t make others suffer for no reason.”
“Anytime you want to be a good friend.”
“Just shut up and spread it quickly. Hurry.”
“Honestly, I don’t even know if this means anything.”
While expressing dissatisfaction, I bent down again. Then, I poured out the water collected on the floor.
The continuous rain had turned into a huge disaster for everyone living in the common dormitory. Initially, when it first rained, only I, living in the basement, became a victim of the flood. But with days of continuous rain, the brilliant foresight of the academy, which built the dormitory on low ground, shone. As a result, a unprecedented situation occurred where the entire first floor of the dormitory was submerged in water.
Therefore, regardless of the floor they lived on, everyone was involved in the task of spreading out the water. Even though it was an unavoidable situation, there was something heartwarming about everyone working together with one heart and one mind. And the sky, impressed by that sight, was pouring down drops of emotion like a waterfall. Thanks to that, the work speed was inconsistent.
“Ugh… my back is going to break.”
After pouring water dozens of times, I barely lifted my back, and the pain screamed through every muscle in my body. However, Gueiro, seemingly unaffected by the hard labor, even gave me a sarcastic remark.
“Already tired? Anyway, humans are like that.”
“Don’t judge the entire human race based on me.”
“I have no human friends other than you. What should I do?”
“Then just make another one. A human friend.”
“Who?”
“Someone like Yuna.”
It was a somewhat casual remark, but heavy silence descended above it. Gueero poured water without a word, not bothering to look this way, and said,
“Honestly, who else could talk to her except you?”
“Why? She’s a nice person.”
“Do you really think so? Even after seeing all the things she did before?”
“I know, but… you’ve seen it too. She’s changed a lot lately.”
“I’ve seen, but I don’t know. If it’s genuine. It almost seems like you’re just playing with her.”
“If you think that way, why did you help her today?”
“That’s…”
At that moment, Gueero’s hand paused. Eventually, he set the bucket down.
“I don’t know, damn it. But Elise was a bit much. Even if she’s like that, hiding the kid’s clothes. You know how those delinquents often do that to quiet kids in the class. It’s disgusting to see that kind of thing.”
“Honestly, it’s hard to believe even after hearing it. That Elise did that.”
“Well… that’s true, but I can somewhat understand. Did she get harassed once or twice? It’s enough to hold a grudge.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Even I, if I were in that situation, would probably think about revenge. If I’ve been through that much.”
“But things have changed now. She doesn’t harass anymore.”
“Do you really think she’s changed?”
Eventually, once again, that was the problem. The stigma of being labeled the villainess attached to Yuna’s name wasn’t easily erased. If she thought this way even in private, it was obvious how she appeared to others.
“So, I don’t understand why you treat her so well. Even though you say she’s nice, I try to see it positively… but really, I don’t get it.”
“Is it that strange?”
“Yeah. If it’s because she’s pretty and cute, stop it. Honestly, it makes me uneasy. I can’t help but wonder if you’re just being taken advantage of by her.”
“That’s not it.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Just in my eyes…”
…there’s no one as kind and gentle.
Unable to voice the thoughts she had harbored alone, she couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud. Moreover, Gwero’s words were not entirely without reason. She had been the villainess for a longer time than the era I was familiar with, and it hadn’t been long since she changed into the appearance of Yuna, whom I liked.
And the reason for having a favorable impression of her was, in fact, unclear. Was it really because of her personality? Or maybe her face? Or, perhaps, it was because of the support?
…
The answer to the long-contemplated problem wouldn’t come so easily now.
“I don’t know; I don’t understand either.”
In the end, I answered with a shake of my head. However, Gwero remained silent, casting his gaze towards the other side of the hill. Then, with a grin, he lightly tapped my shoulder.
“Hey, Ellen.”
“Yeah?”
“Isn’t that Yuna over there?”
“What?”
Surprised by his words, I raised my head. Then, sure enough, her figure came into view in the distance. It wasn’t clearly visible from here, but I could unmistakably identify her. Yuna, walking alone on the hill with an umbrella, following the direction of the setting sun, seemed somewhat lonely and desolate.
“Well, well. They say well-mannered people, especially those of higher status, are often wicked.”
“Can nobles be bad?”
“What’s a noble?”
As a ignorant guy like me, I unnecessarily asked her back. Then, with a puzzled expression, I looked back at her.
“By the way, you came from quite far. Isn’t that right?”
“Yeah. It must have taken a while to come all the way from the noble dormitory to here. Why did you come?”
“Did you come to see me?”
Honestly, there was no other possibility that I could think of. It wasn’t a sign of confidence, but the fact that besides me, there was no one else she could meet here. But I also thought that there might be a slightly different reason hidden. Rather than saying that she came to meet me with that lonely gait, what should I say?
Maybe it’s just the feeling that I walked and ended up here.
That’s why I felt like I couldn’t just let it go.
“Gueiro. I…”
“I know, man.”
Gueiro smiled perceptively and replied. Then he lightly tapped my back.
“Go. Don’t worry about it.”
“No, it’s not that. Take my share of the work too, since I’m going.”
“Damn bastard.”
“Anyway, thanks. I’ll go then.”
After throwing the bucket to Gueiro, I quickly left my seat. I didn’t care about the resentful downpour of water from behind. Maybe it was because of my mood. Lately, whenever I met Yuna, I felt like I was always soaked in water.
As I climbed up the hill through the drizzling rain, Yuna’s figure became closer and closer. However, the closer she got, the more she seemed to blur. Standing alone in the rain, her figure looked fragile, as if it could break like a broken doll.
Just in case, I didn’t want to shout loudly and have her fall apart. I quietly parted my lips and called her name.
“Yuna.”
“Ellen…?”
Yuna turned her head with a creak and absentmindedly called out my name. For a brief moment, a smile appeared on her lips, only to fade away with the falling rain.
“Ah… You’ve come all the way here. Hello, Ellen. What were you doing? You’re even wearing a raincoat.”
“The dormitory was flooded. I was doing some repairs. And what about you? Why did you come all the way here?”
“Me? I… um…”
Her voice sounded as if her soul had left her. It wasn’t just her voice. Her emerald eyes that always shone beautifully and her cute rosy lips that would curl up, today, they had turned colorless, resembling the lifeless sky. Even one of her cheeks seemed slightly swollen, as if burned. As soon as I noticed it, a dry voice came out without my knowledge.
“Yuna, did you get hit by someone?”
“Huh?”
Yuna finally touched her cheek and quickly averted her gaze. But even so, the fact that I had already seen it couldn’t be hidden.
“Did you get hit? By someone?”
“Oh… no.”
“Who hit you? Was it… Elise?”
“What?”
When I mentioned that name, Yuna met my eyes again. And she quickly clapped her hands, speaking in a hurry.
“Oh… no! It’s not like that, Ellen. Really, it’s not like that. Don’t misunderstand.”
“If it’s not that, then what is it?”
“That’s…”
Once again, Yuna trailed off. There were too many secrets hidden behind her sealed lips today. In the end, I took off my hood and approached her.
“Let me see.”
“Wait… Ellen!”
Yuna hurriedly approached me as she saw me taking off my hood, and she put an umbrella over me. In an instant, the black umbrella engulfed my ears, and the sound of rain gradually subsided.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
…
“Look up.”
“I’m really fine…”
A voice, as if something was blocking its throat, sounded. But because I had to hold onto the umbrella, I couldn’t bring myself to push her hand away. I gently brushed her hair away, as if touching a child. And then, it became clear to anyone the swollen cheek and the remaining traces of tears above it.
“Is this really fine?”
“I’m really fine.”
“Even though someone hit you so hard with all their strength?”
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“Does it show that much?”
“A lot.”
As I lightly brushed the swollen area with my finger, her eyelids trembled, as if the pain still lingered. Since there was nothing I could do, I slowly lowered my hand.
“What happened?”
“…”
“You can’t tell me?”
“…Yeah.”
“Why?”
“…”
Yuna couldn’t answer. Perhaps there was a hidden situation that I couldn’t understand.
“Ellen.”
“Hmm?”
“Yeah…”
As Yuna pondered something alone like that, she suddenly called my name. Then, with an anxious gaze, she met my eyes.
“What do you think of me?”
To the unexpected question, I tilted my head. Yuna pursed her lips and added more detailed explanations.
“So, compared to before… What do you think of the current me? Which side do you think is better?”
“That’s…”
It was a strange question. The intention. Especially the reason for asking me. But the answer seemed clear. Yuna as the villainess and the current Yuna. Naturally, for me…
“I think I like the current you better.”
“…Really?”
Yuna smiled for the first time in response to my answer. However, it was a smile that seemed somewhat lonely.
“Well, for you. Naturally, right?”
“Yuna.”
“Then, I’ll be going now.”
Yuna hastily spoke as she forcefully pulled the hood over my head. Then, she quickly turned her back.
“The exam is just around the corner. I need to go and study quickly.”
“Yuna.”
“Sorry. I really have to go. There’s too much to organize.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
Yuna quickly responded, but she wasn’t confident. She stood there for a while, hesitating, as if she herself had thought the same thing. And then, a sigh-like soliloquy flowed out like a chronic disease.
“…But at least this much must be right.”
“What did you say?”
“Oh, nothing. Well… I’ll go. Sorry. See you tomorrow, Ellen.”
Yuna said that and quickly moved her steps before I could even grab her. I helplessly watched her leaving and dropped the farewell greeting I couldn’t hand over onto the ground.
“Yeah. See you tomorrow.”
Even to my own ears, it was such a small voice. I watched her diminishing figure, lips trembling. Today, her back looked particularly small.
I always wondered why Yuna was so devoted to her studies. There must be an important reason that I, for sure, couldn’t understand. I always thought that way and let it go. But now, I had that thought.
Maybe it’s because there’s nothing else to rely on that she hangs on even more.
I don’t know. Dealing with Yuna was always so difficult for me.
Suddenly, I turned my gaze towards the horizon stretching beyond the sky. There, I saw the sight of a city that seemed distant from the academy. Although my eyes couldn’t reach there from here, I felt a sense of chaos and busyness.
Like a mansion just before welcoming guests.