Chapter 12: Fall Incident (2)
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: N/A
Illustrations: Here
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Song Soo-yeon knew that this hero named Sce had been dispatched for her.
The bullies had already stopped bothering her, a clear sign that Sce''s presence was making a difference.
However, an inexplicable unease had settled within Song Soo-yeon.
It could have been her natural aversion to people, or perhaps a deep-seated hatred towards heroes.
Or perhaps, it was difort from seeing someone who was her opposite.
Sce had quickly be a star at the school.
With so many students wanting to get closer to her, Sce was talking to them in the yground like a celebrity at a fan meeting.
From her seat, Song Soo-yeon watched this scene through a second-floor window.
The hero seemed tireless, endlessly responding to the students with a lively expression,ughing, reacting, and conversing.
Among those who rushed to the yground to see her were the same bullies who had tormented Song Soo-yeon.
They wore bright expressions and smiles they had never shown Song Soo-yeon, moving around as if showing off.
It was amusing, yet it also gave her aplex feeling.
Song Soo-yeon, too, stood out more than anyone due to her stunning beauty.
Why did this hero receive love, while she received jealousy and bullying?
"........"
The reason was simple, really.
It was a matter of power.
Sce, true to her role as a hero, likely possessed the strength to subdue any student at the school, a power Song Soo-yeon did not have.
It was her fault for being powerless.
Sighing, Song Soo-yeon turned her attention away, put on her earphones, andid her head on the desk.
Nheless, she felt relieved.
Thanks to that mister, a hero like Sce had arrived at the school, and the bullying had stopped.
When she realized this fact, it felt like her heart was refreshed as if waking from a nightmare.
It was like a gift from him.
It still didn''t feel entirely real, but for now, she was grateful for the peace.
She closed her eyes.
...She wished school would end quickly.
She had a ce to go to.
---
---
After lunch, Song Soo-yeon sought refuge in a secluded corner of the school to avoid the sticky gazes of men and the scrutinizing looks of women.
She found sce in a neglected area overgrown with bushes and dense branches.
It was a narrow space, barely a meter wide, sandwiched between the school wall and the fence, untouched and covered in a nket of fallen leaves and dust.
Song Soo-yeon wedged herself into this gap, leaning against the school wall, and exhaled a deep sigh.
She felt confident that no one would find her here.
"......Phew...."
Half the school day had passed.
It had been easier, having not been bullied, but it didn''t make the school any more appealing.
The ce still felt suffocating, a ce she longed to escape from.
"You were here?"
A voice came from above, startling Song Soo-yeon, who had not expected anyone to venture here.
Looking up, she saw a silhouette against the sunlight.
"Sorry, did I startle you?"
The figurended gently, smiling.
"....Ah."
It was Sce.
As Song Soo-yeon started to stand up uneasily, Sce pressed her shoulder.
"No need to get up. Just stay seated."
Then, Sce squeezed herself into the narrow space between the wall and the fence, sitting down beside Song Soo-yeon.
"Wow, this spot isfortable!"
She eximed with augh.
Song Soo-yeon felt ufortable, her personal space invaded.
She asked,
".....Why..."
"I was looking for you, Soo-yeon."
Sce, visible only by her eyes and nose, beamed brightly. Her smile was dazzling.
For Song Soo-yeon, who had never been close to such a radiant person, it felt awkward.
".....Me?"
"Yes. I wanted to have a chat."
"........"
Song Soo-yeon understood Sce''s motives.
She had been dispatched to the school because of her.
Perhaps, she was trying to show the Hero Association that she was making an effort to get closer to her.
It was just part of her job.
The im of wanting to talk was just an excuse.
But Song Soo-yeon wondered if all this was necessary.
Sce''s presence alone had already deterred the bullying.
She had received help.
Sce, exuding a feminine and mature aura, gently took Song Soo-yeons hand and nudged her lightly.
"I won''t take much of your time, let''s just talk for a bit."
Song Soo-yeon sighed internally and, like before, crouched back in her spot.
It wasn''t a difficult request.
Especially if it meant the end of her being bullied.
Plus, having this conversation, even just once, might keep her from being bothered in the future.
Oblivious to Song Soo-yeon''s feelings, Sce carried on the conversation.
"But, I''ve been thinking since the first time I saw you... you''re really beautiful...wow..."
Sce''s eyes widened with a smile.
Song Soo-yeon, having heard suchments too often, wasn''t surprised.
"Your name is beautiful too."
Beautiful, my foot, thought Song Soo-yeon inwardly.
She disliked the name given by her parents.
She remained silent, not responding to anypliments.
But the hero was undeterred, seemingly indifferent to theck of response.
Sce''s bright demeanor left no room for Song Soo-yeon''s darker mood to prate.
"Excuse me, but can I speak informally? I''d like to be friends."
Song Soo-yeon found it absurd to think about being friends so soon but thought it didn''t matter if they understood each other or not.
"......Do whatever you want."
"Really? Then you can call me Sce unnie, okay?"
"...Yes."
Sce smiled with her eyes again.
"Actually, Soo-yeon, there''s another reason I came to see you."
"......"
"If you ever need help or want to talk about your worries, just let me know. I''m here for that too."
".....Counseling?"
Song Soo-yeon was skeptical, knowing that heroes were only focused on viins.
Even ''Shake'' in the recent video had been the same.
But she quickly lost interest, assuming it was just lip service for the sake of her job.
To avoid further hassle, she corrected her response.
"...Yes. I will."
"Great. Don''t hesitate, okay?"
"....Yes."
"Ah, I said I''d only take a bit of your time, right? I''ll leave now so you can rest. Let''s start by greeting each other and gradually get to know one another, okay?"
".........."
Sce quickly got up, dusting off her bottom.
Her body gently floated up, ready to leave.
".........Wait..."
Then, in a changed tone, Sce spoke again, causing Song Soo-yeon to be curious.
".........?"
"....Um...also, just in case..."
".........."
Despite her masked face, Song Soo-yeon realized Sce was hesitating.
Then, seemingly relieved, Sce spoke again.
"Ah, never mind. See you next time?"
"......?"
And then, Sce disappeared.
---
---
Two weeks had passed.
Song Soo-yeon had to take time to adapt to the sudden changes that hade her way.
The bullying hadpletely stopped.
From the moment Sce arrived, the bullies no longer paid her any attention.
There were still quiet stares, but the overt violence was gone.
With the disappearance of bullying at school, life became more bearable.
But that wasnt all.
She found a sanctuary.
Eating cheap convenience store food for dinner or going hungry seemed like a distant past.
Every day, Song Soo-yeon visited misters restaurant, findingfort there.
Lately, even at school, she found herself thinking about the restaurant.
Being in an ufortable ce made her yearn for afortable one.
She had to admit it.
Among all the ces she frequented, the restaurant was the mostfortable.
No pain, no psychological pressure, no stress.
It was the first ce where she could truly rx.
Having shared their true feelings with mister, there was nothing awkward weighing on her mind.
She didnt need to reciprocate his love.
Just that thought alone lifted a huge burden off her shoulders.
...And frankly, his love was bing less and less burdensome.
Strangely enough, he never gave her lustful nces or had dirty thoughts.
There was that one time at their first meeting when he nced at her legs, but now she felt like she could believe his excuse about noticing the tears in her stockings.
After all, he didnt make any ufortable advances, so Song Soo-yeon didnt feel any negative emotions from his love.
There was no difort at all.
....In fact, his warmth wasnt bad at all.
At the restaurant, hed ask how she was.
His gentle concern about whether she had a hard day didnt feel bad at all.
Perhaps it was alleviating the loneliness she inevitably felt.
Of course, Song Soo-yeon still reacted defensively towards him, but her inner feelings were different.
As her daily life became morefortable, she felt grateful.
Since he said gratitude was all he wanted, Song Soo-yeon kept thanking him in her mind.
Expressing it internally wasnt embarrassing or burdensome.
Any person would feel grateful in this situation.
......Selfishly, if things could stay this way, she wouldnt mind if he continued to love her.
It kind of warmed her heart.