Chapter 52 - Oppa, You Must Have Been Worried

"Yuna."

"Hm?"

"I'm sorry, but I'd rather you didn't come by like this anymore. And I'd prefer it if you didn't contact me unless you have to."

It was something he would have had to say eventually. Until now, he had never found the right moment to bring it up, so he had left it unsaid. But the time seemed to have come.

Startled by Minjun's sudden bombshell, Yuna blinked at him as though she had never imagined he would say such a thing.

"What do you mean, Minjun?"

"It's true we were close when we were kids. But that was a long time ago. It might be different if I were single, but I have a girlfriend now. Meeting up with another woman on my own wouldn't be right."

Besides, though not as keenly as Sia, Minjun had sensed that Yuna was romantically interested in him and was subtly making advances. He couldn't leave her any more room for hope.

"I just wanted to, with you..."

"I'm sorry. But I think this is for the best."

At his cold response, tears began to gather in her eyes before she realized it. She had secretly harbored feelings for Minjun since childhood. Those feelings had faded somewhat over time, but they had never disappeared. And although Minjun himself didn't know it, he had continued to influence her long after they lost touch.

Right after Yuna emigrated to America, she had believed she would surely have a chance to see Minjun again someday, whenever that might be. She had resolved to become the perfect woman, someone he would fall for when that day came: beautiful, capable, charming, with nothing lacking in her looks, abilities, or personality. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that resolve had made her who she was today.

Hailed as a genius, she had distinguished herself as an A-rank hunter at a remarkably young age. After retiring, she had found success running various businesses, including that Chinese restaurant.

What she had once told Minjun almost as a joke—that she had opened the Chinese restaurant because he'd loved jajangmyeon as a child—hadn't been made up, either. She had opened it hoping he would someday eat jajangmyeon she had cooked herself. Yuna's feelings for Minjun had always been sincere.

'I was going to confess to Minjun when we met again and I'd become the perfect woman.'

But he already had a girlfriend, so she had never gotten as far as confessing. If they couldn't be lovers, she at least wanted them to be close the way they used to be. It was disappointing, but she was sure she could be content with that and live with her true feelings hidden.

But...

"... Why can't it be me? Hm, Minjun?"

His firm stance showed no sign of changing. At last, tears spilling down her cheeks, she began to speak from the heart.

"C-can't we even be friends like we used to? It's not like I'm asking you to date me. I just... I like you as a person. I liked spending time with you, and I wanted to look after you. I tried to be someone you could rely on..."

"..."

Minjun looked quite surprised; he hadn't expected Yuna to open up so honestly. Her tears might have softened his resolve a little, but he didn't change his decision. If anything, hearing how she truly felt only made him more certain of it.

"I'm sorry, Yuna."

"I... I was more..."

I liked you before your girlfriend did. I could love you more, do so much more for you.

Unable to bring herself to say any of it, she lowered her head.

"... No. I'm sorry. I understand. I'll do as you ask."

She knew there was nothing to gain from talking any longer, and nothing she could say would change his mind. Resigning herself to it, she fought back her tears and left Minjun's apartment. Swallowing the grief welling up inside her, she made the lonely trip home.

Memories of Minjun kept coming back to her on the way, deepening her sadness. Soon, that sadness began to twist into something else.

'If it weren't for that bitch.'

None of this would have happened if Minjun hadn't been dating Sia in the first place. Wrongly deciding that Sia's jealousy was to blame, Yuna began directing her anger at her.

How could she vent that anger? She arrived at an answer.

'I'll spar with that bitch.'

Yuna was a retired A-rank hunter. Sia was, "officially," a D-rank hunter. Knowing nothing of the truth, Yuna assumed Sia was an ordinary D-rank hunter and decided she could use their difference in strength to take out her frustration on Sia during a spar. At the thought, a wicked smile spread across her lips.

* * *

I couldn't focus on anything all day because I was worried about Sia. I wasn't in any state to look for a B-rank gate, and when I called Rokan to ask how she was, he said he couldn't tell me anything right now. Sia had never acted like that toward me in all the time we'd been together, which only made me worry more.

So I spent the day wondering how I could cheer her up. If only I'd known why she was feeling that way. But since I didn't even know the reason, I decided to do the best I could.

I picked out clothes for Sia at a nearby department store. That didn't feel like enough, so I made tteokbokki for her too and packed it into a large container. Just as I was about to put the freshly made tteokbokki in the fridge, I noticed the containers of side dishes Yuna had left behind.

'That's bothering me.'

For a moment, I wondered if I'd been colder to her than necessary. But for the sake of peace between me, Sia, and Yuna, I'd had no choice.

Still, what was I supposed to do with the side dishes she'd brought? Some of them were meant for me, and I appreciated that, but eating them felt awkward. Throwing them away without eating them didn't feel right, either. I put that question aside for later. There was something more important to think about.

When I got in touch with Sia again, should I tell her what had happened today? Or, since she was still upset, would it be better to tell her everything later, once she seemed to be feeling a little better? Those questions and others like them ate up my entire day.

Sia got in touch the following morning. At around ten, just as I was wondering whether to call Rokan again, a video call came in from her.

"Sia!"

Relief and delight made me raise my voice without meaning to.

["Oppa, I'm sorry. I wasn't in a position to call yesterday. You must have been worried, right?"]

I studied her face. Maybe it was my imagination, but she seemed to have faint dark circles under her eyes, as if the last couple of days had been hard on her. Otherwise, she looked much like her usual self. Still, it was too early to relax.

"No. I'm just glad you seem okay."

["I'm sorry I made you worry. I must have scared you, right?"]

"No. Everyone has days like that sometimes, don't they? Some days you're incredibly happy, and on others you're so down you can barely bear it. Anyway, I'm glad you seem okay."

Rather than ask what had happened, I needed to say something that might comfort her first. To lighten the mood, I talked about myself: the details of my rank reassessment I hadn't had a chance to tell her, and little things that had happened while I was picking out her present yesterday. Just easy stories she could laugh along with. Naturally, I didn't mention Yuna. It felt a little too soon for that.

Sia listened and responded as cheerfully as she usually did. But her expression never quite brightened. Whatever had happened still seemed to weigh on her, though she was trying to act fine so I wouldn't worry. I wanted to ask, but I couldn't be the one to bring it up.

After we'd chatted for over an hour, she said, ["Oppa."]

Perhaps she'd finally worked up the courage. She gazed at me with a troubled look unlike the one she'd worn a moment ago.

["I guess when you gain something, you lose something too."]

As she had on our last call, Sia began with an ominous remark.

["It's like the world is determined to tear us apart. I felt that the day before yesterday, too."]

"What happened?"

The memory seemed to return to her. She fell silent for a moment, then answered with a bitter smile.

["I'm sorry. I can't tell you yet. You might find out someday, but right now it's too soon."]

We were close enough to know all each other's secrets, yet this was something even Sia felt she had to keep from me. I didn't know what it was, but she'd had a reason for being evasive the day before yesterday after all. With no idea what could have happened, I only grew more curious.

["But Oppa, I can tell you this much."]

She took a moment to steady her breathing, then went on with a serious look.

["Neither of us has lived in a way that would make anyone hate us. But there are people who hate us for no reason anyway."]

I didn't know who she meant. Just thinking about them seemed to make her tremble with anger; she squeezed her eyes shut.

["Someone might try every possible way to tear us apart. So..."]

She couldn't go on. I didn't know exactly what she was thinking, but she seemed to be imagining the worst that could happen.

"Don't worry. If anyone tries to come between us, I'll grit my teeth and hold on. I'll work to become strong enough to do that."

Just like you did, Sia.

I was sure I could do anything. I didn't know what frightened her, but the way to ease someone's fear was to give them something to be certain of.

Sia moved her lips as if she still had something to say, but then she covered her face with both hands, bowed her head, and began to sob silently.

"I don't know what happened, but I won't let the thing you're imagining come to pass. So please don't carry it alone anymore."

Unfortunately, that was all I could say to her right then.