Chapter 196
Ah, ah…
Seoyeon, hidden behind the tree, let out a pained groan.
She wanted to dash out immediately and tear that mouth apart.
But for some reason, her feet wouldn’t move, as if they were glued to the ground.
The image of the wounded man’s face resurfaced in her mind, holding her back.
“Sigh, this wasn’t how I originally planned it…”
A regretful sigh, full of pity, escaped her lips.
“My makeup’s all smudged… my dress is torn to shreds… and I can’t even remember what I was going to say… It’s a complete mess.”
“Senior…”
“Why are you so surprised? It’s not like this is anything new.”
The man’s hoarse voice resonated in the air. Though he tried to act nonchalant, Yeon Minha’s gaze toward him was filled with an unmistakable longing that couldn’t be hidden.
“You’re not an idiot. Deep down, you’ve always known how I felt.”
“…”
“You’re so cruel. Even though you knew, you made me say it first…”
The man couldn’t respond to Yeon Minha’s continued words.
“Senior. I…”
“It reminds me of the past.”
After a long silence, his lips finally parted. Just as Lee Hyun was about to shake his head in rejection, Yeon Minha immediately drowned out his gesture with her voice.
“Do you remember? The first time we met. When you approached me during the mentor designation ceremony.”
“…How could I forget.”
The man nodded slightly in agreement.
“It’s still vivid to me, like it happened yesterday. You suddenly picked a fight with me at the banquet hall.”
“…”
“You’re probably the first person in the history of the Five Families to treat one of their daughters so recklessly. I can guarantee that. I seriously thought you were insane…”
Before she knew it, she had closed her eyes, reminiscing.
“And back then, I had no idea. That even worse things were waiting ahead…”
Unknowingly, Yeon Minha allowed a faint smile to appear on her lips.
Every time her fingers brushed the area just below her navel, her body trembled as if recalling a memory.
“You have no idea how hard it was. My family was declining day by day under Paechun’s attacks, my mind was deteriorating from the mental corruption, and in the midst of all that, I had to endure being insulted by some bastard and then have my leash completely tightened…”
Contrary to her words, the curve of her lips deepened even further.
“At that time, I really… even thought about ending it all…”
“…”
“But, then, but…”
Yeon Minha’s voice, which had been recounting her memories, suddenly stopped.
She lowered her head deeply, saying nothing.
Beyond the veil of night, the only sounds that could be heard were the rustling of leaves and the chirping of insects.
And after a long silence, a faint whisper, as if brushing past the ear, followed.
“…Should’ve.”
“What did you just say…”
“If you hated me… you should’ve been even more cruel.”
When Yeon Minha raised her head again, her eyes were brimming with tears.
***
“If this was how it was going to be, if this was how it was going to be… then why did you treat me like that…?”
Yeon Minha raised her voice, her eyes filled with moisture.
“You humiliated me in front of everyone, violated my body countless times, invaded my dorm room without permission, and even forced me into that disgraceful contract…!”
“Senior, wait…”
“Did you think I didn’t know? You hated me. You didn’t just hate me; you loathed me with every fiber of your being! If that was the case, you should’ve kept treating me like trash!”
Yeon Minha ignored Lee Hyun’s attempt to stop her.
“You should’ve just made me your slave. You should’ve fed me drugs, chained my neck, and made it so I couldn’t live or die without your permission! You should’ve made it so I couldn’t even think on my own!”
Lee Hyun felt as if he’d been struck breathless.
Yeon Minha staggered toward him.
“But, but…”
Before he knew it, she was standing right in front of him, leaning her head against his chest.
And in a voice still thick with emotion, she softly murmured.
“You went and gave me hope, didn’t you…”
Lee Hyun stood frozen, as if struck by a hammer.
Yeon Minha’s only complaint was one thing.
“…Take responsibility.”
Still trembling against his chest, Yeon Minha spoke again.
“If you’re going to make me like this… then take proper responsibility until the end…”
“Senior. I don’t have the right to…”
Lee Hyun’s voice was still hoarse with exhaustion.
But Yeon Minha seemed determined not to allow even the smallest rebuttal.
“I know. That person from before… you still haven’t forgotten them.”
Yeon Minha sniffled as she spoke.
Shocked, Lee Hyun asked her.
“How do you know that…!”
“…”
Yeon Minha didn’t answer.
She simply wiped the moisture from her eyes with her sleeve and slightly lifted her head.
Her trembling fingers reached out, touching the smooth, white mask covering Lee Hyun’s face.
Then, parting her lips slightly, she asked.
“Can I… take it off for a moment…?”
“…”
Accepting his silent permission, Yeon Minha extended her hand behind his head, carefully undoing the clasps of the mask one by one.
The clicking sound of the metal locks broke the stillness of the night once more.
Finally, with a faint thud, the mask fell, revealing the face hidden beneath.
Slightly disheveled hair. Beneath it, dull eyes, a mixture of sorrow and fatigue.
Yeon Minha, slightly startled, asked him.
“…Have you been crying?”
“…”
The man didn’t answer her question, but he didn’t push her touch away either.
‘Ah…’
And this sight only made Seoyeon’s heart ache even more as she watched from the shadows.
Because the one who had left an indelible scar on that perfect creation was none other than herself.
“…”
Yeon Minha stretched out her slender fingers, gently tracing the scar etched near Lee Hyun’s eyes.
And as if to console him, she softly whispered.
“I will never betray you.”
“…”
“I will never hurt you. I will always stand by your side, on your side.”
“…”
“You can use me as a substitute for that person. I don’t care if you see me as nothing more than a doll to satisfy your desires. You can use my body or my heart however you like…”
“What are you saying…!”
“So!!!”
Lee Hyun’s last resistance dissolved into a desperate cry.
And beyond that, two tear-filled eyes stared back at him.
“So… please… don’t turn away from my feelings… please…”
“Ah…”
The small bird that flew into his arms plunged the man into deep agony.
He would never abandon Yeon Minha, even if Yeon Minha were to abandon him first.
By now, Yeon Minha had long become an inextricable part of his life.
And it wasn’t something he could simply cut away, no matter how much he wanted to.
No matter how painful, no matter how crushing it felt.
Even now, two years later, the guilt and fear clinging to him like a shadow remained.
What he feared most at this moment was having yet another scar etched into his heart.
All he could do was hide those scars behind a mask, pretending they didn’t exist.
But the trembling touch he felt now.
For the first time, Lee Hyun fully acknowledged the weight of those delicate fingers.
A heart he must never ignore, and the responsibility for the choices he had made in the past.
“…”
A heavy silence fell.
Looking up at him with a sense of compassion, she waited earnestly for an answer.
“Sigh…”
What first resonated in her ears was the sound of a heavy sigh.
“Ah…”
Even after clinging on this much, the idea that it still wouldn’t work made Yeon Minha tightly close her eyes.
Her arms, which had been holding on, were about to lose all strength, weighed down by the disappointment encompassing her body.
“I… am not exactly the kind of guy who’s well put together.”
But in the next moment.
A voice, laced with both resignation and lightness, addressed her.
A statement that could, at first glance, sound like a roundabout rejection. Yet, the peculiar feeling as though he was letting go of something significant made Yeon Minha instinctively lift her head in surprise.
“What, what…?”
“You know it, don’t you? I have a bad personality, terrible habits, come from a poor background, and lack manners…”
“That’s not true!!”
Yeon Minha urgently shouted, denying his words. It felt as though an invisible tail wagged enthusiastically behind her.
“Well, if that’s the case, then I’m also a bad person. I’ve often been told I’m rude…!”
“Rude, you say… That doesn’t sound like something the daughter of a prestigious family should say.”
Lee Hyun faintly smiled and lightly shook his head. Looking at him, Yeon Minha felt as though her body was melting. The tension that had been holding her upright dissipated, making her legs slightly tremble as they stood on the ground.
“Wh-who’s fault do you think it is that I picked up such habits? Well… whatever.”
That’s it. It’s really happening. Yeon Minha cheered internally. The man’s reaction left her no choice but to think that way. The moment she had dreamed of every night was now becoming a reality.
However, Yeon Minha suppressed the smile that was threatening to rise. She cautiously glanced at Lee Hyun, gauging his reaction.
Then, as if to ease her lingering uncertainty, she carefully tossed out a lighthearted comment.
“Th-then, I guess we’ll be a villainous couple…?”
She swallowed nervously. Lee Hyun still had a faint smile lingering on his lips.
“A villainous couple, huh…”
And finally, he spoke.
“…That doesn’t sound too bad. It’s funny, though… Senior.”
Lee Hyun caught the staggering Yeon Minha as though he were supporting her. His body trembled in sync with her shaking shoulders.
Tears once again welled up in Yeon Minha’s eyes.
“Senior. Are you crying?”
“…I’m not.”
“But…”
“I said, I’m not crying…”
Contrary to her words, she looked at Lee Hyun with a teary, resentful expression.
“You idiot… If this was how it was going to be, you should’ve just accepted me sooner… You’re really mean…”
“…”
Lee Hyun silently embraced her. For a fleeting moment, his face seemed to reflect the regret of days that would never return.
Yeon Minha fully savored the touch of his hand stroking her hair as he held her close.
And watching all of this unfold was someone hidden behind a tree.
***
‘W-what is this…?’
Baek Seoyeon couldn’t believe the hellish scene playing out before her eyes. Her lips trembled as if she were silently screaming.
‘No. This, this can’t be… how could something like this…’
She despised Yeon Minha, who was nestled in the man’s arms, whispering words of love. She wanted to crush that heart and rip apart those deceitful lips.
But her feet wouldn’t move. Even as she trembled, she couldn’t even breathe properly.
Baek Seoyeon knew. If she acted rashly, she would feel the man’s wrath like never before. And even the faintest sliver of hope she clung to would vanish forever.
That was the future she feared most.
“So… you know…”
Yeon Minha, uncharacteristically shy, broke the silence. There was no trace of restraint in her honey-dripping gaze.
“To celebrate us dating… I’d like to have a token… Is that okay?”
“A token…?”
“…Yeah.”
At the man’s puzzled question, Yeon Minha nodded slightly.
“You, you’re mine now. And I’m yours… So, as proof of that…”
Her breathing was uneven, and her cheeks were flushed red. The man hesitated momentarily after hearing Yeon Minha’s words.
“…That’s true. Senior, you’re mine now.”
He repeated her words. There wasn’t a trace of hesitation or embarrassment. In his eyes, a peculiar obsession and possessiveness flickered for a brief moment, as if drawn from the depths.
“What exactly… is this.”
But only briefly. He muttered in confusion, a faint chuckle escaping him. By then, Yeon Minha was already at his chest, standing on her tiptoes.
It seemed he had already realized what Yeon Minha’s request implied.
And the same realization hit Baek Seoyeon as well.
“No…”
Seoyeon muttered in despair. Yeon Minha sent a trembling gaze toward the man. Then, she whispered softly.
“…Have you ever kissed someone before…?”
At her cautious question, the man hesitated for a moment. After some thought, he finally opened his mouth.
“…I have.”
“Ah…”
Disappointment briefly flashed across Yeon Minha’s face. On the other hand, Seoyeon inadvertently smiled in relief.
Yes, every first experience he had ever had belonged to her. No matter what tricks anyone else tried, that fact would remain unchanging. And eventually, he would return to her.
It was fate, a predetermined truth.
A truth that would never change no matter what.
Until the man spoke again.
“Lips… no.”
‘What…?’
Seoyeon’s fleeting relief twisted into disbelief. Her heart pounded violently, as if her blood were being wrung dry.
Before she knew it, she was on a high hill covered in white cosmos flowers. Amid the blooms lay a boy and a girl, rolling around.
-That’s enough.
-Why?
-Lip kisses are for grown-ups. Let’s wait a bit longer.
The scent of wildflowers and forget-me-nots tickled her nose. The boy’s voice was as vivid as a dream from the previous night.
“Ah…!”
Unlike Seoyeon, Yeon Minha let out an exclamation of joy.
“Then, that means…?”
Standing on her tiptoes again, Yeon Minha asked once more. No answer was needed. She was already close enough to feel his breath.
“No, no…”
Seoyeon muttered involuntarily. The vivid memory replayed in her mind.
-Well, there’s no need to rush.
The girl murmured as she snuggled into the boy’s arms. Confident, as though she had already won.
-After all, I’m yours. Body and soul, completely.
-…Yeah.
-And you’re mine too.
-Yeah.
“Ah, ah…”
Seoyeon let out a feeble sigh, her voice trembling as she couldn’t tear her eyes away.
Moments later, their lips met.
“Chuup…”
The sound of a sweet fruit being bitten into echoed. The moment their lips touched, time seemed to freeze. Though it was only for an instant, the pain of watching him felt like an eternity.
Slowly, very slowly, Yeon Minha pulled away from him.
A thin, sticky thread of saliva stretched between their lips like a spider web before snapping and scattering into the air.
On Yeon Minha’s face was a deep blush of satisfaction and embarrassment.
“Are you satisfied now?”
“…Yeah.”
The man asked Yeon Minha with an unreadable expression.
Yeon Minha couldn’t even meet his gaze and barely managed to nod her head.
“You, why are you asking such a thing… Seriously…”
“That’s a relief. Then, I’d like to receive a token as well.”
“Huh…?”
Yeon Minha, who had just been about to retort with an embarrassed voice, froze.
Suddenly, the man, who had been keeping his distance, closed the gap between them again.
Yeon Minha’s eyes widened as if she couldn’t comprehend the situation. And before she could utter a word—
The man pulled her in with his strong arms in an instant. He held her tightly, as if to ensure she couldn’t escape, like binding her with shackles.
And then, without hesitation, he pressed his face against hers.
“Wa-wait a minute… Mmph…!”
It seemed even Yeon Minha herself hadn’t anticipated such a turn of events. Beyond their overlapping faces, she let out a muffled groan as if she were suffocating.
It felt as though something was rummaging through the inside of her mouth. As if she were encountering an entirely new sensation that she hadn’t felt earlier, when they had merely pressed and parted their lips.
“Ah, ah, ah…”
Seoyeon instinctively understood the meaning of this. Before she knew it, her fingers were clutching at her own hair.
“Mmph… Hngh…”
Yeon Minha, unable to keep pace with the tempo, let out a choked whimper, as if she were suffocating.
In the midst of all this—
As she struggled, she suddenly fixed her gaze precisely on a tree in the distance.
It was the place where she had felt someone’s presence through the spirits all along.
And soon enough, she was able to lock eyes with that someone.
Peeking out from behind the tree, trembling like a baby bird blown down by a storm, was a schoolgirl with golden eyes.
“…”
At this, Yeon Minha’s pupils curved even more into crescent shapes. That wicked personality of hers was visibly reflected in her eyes.
“Mmph… Chuup…”
Yeon Minha wrapped her struggling arms around the man’s neck of her own accord. She arched her back even more, pressing her body entirely against his. As if to ensure that someone could get an even better view of this scene.
“Haa… Sluurp… Mmph…”
Now Yeon Minha was naturally accepting him. The sticky sound of their saliva exchanging reverberated beyond the darkness. The two, as if they had always been one from the beginning, showed no intention of separating.
“Ah, ahhh, ah…”
The girl crouching behind the tree clamped her hands tightly over her ears, but it was of little use. Her empty eyes repeatedly shed hollow tears.
The happy dream of one night had long since disappeared like a mirage. All that remained before her was an endless nightmare.