Translator: Elisia
Editor/Proofreader: Wojo
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It wasn’t difficult to get the teachers to sign the agreement.
Perhaps they understood their situation well, as one signed, the others followed one by one.
How and when they would repay was unknown for now.
They could change their minds later and refuse to pay.
Well, that’s something to worry about when the time comes.
I didn’t like having to worry about things because of people like them in the first place.
The reason that person still couldn’t relax was because I hadn’t finished handling things yet.
Whether I forgave them or got my revenge, she wouldn’t be able to rest until I showed them proof that I was satisfied.
Truly, she was someone who required a lot of attention.
Well, I suppose she’d think the same about me.
I plan to cut ties with Mother as quickly as possible.
It would be better to gradually remove all of her people who are working in the mansion in the long run.
It doesn’t matter what happens to me, but it would make her uncomfortable to have such people around.
Or maybe I should sell the mansion and move to a smaller house?
Honestly, I would be content with just my room.
Whether the house is big or small, as long as she’s with me, what’s the problem?
I just needed a space where I could occasionally spend time with visiting friends.
“And the only thing left is… ‘getting along comfortably with the other kids,’ right?”
That’s going to be difficult.
I didn’t know how to get along comfortably with others.
In fact, I felt that the people already around me were more than enough.
“So, it’s unfortunate for you all, but it looks like I’ll be staying here for a while.”
Well, it’s just something that will pass with time.
When she’s with me, I’m in complete control.
She wouldn’t know whether I got along with the other kids or not.
Of course, ‘not getting along’ wasn’t something I considered an option.
If I made enemies with the kids from the same school, she’d worry.
And it would also ruin what she’s done for me.
But I didn’t think about actively ‘trying to get along’ either.
I’d just pass the time and, when I meet her in my dreams, I’ll tell her that I’m doing well and thank her.
“I don’t mind.”
That day, after school, So-hee said that in my room.
It was easy to predict that So-hee would say something like that.
“No matter who you are, you’re still Sara, aren’t you?”
“…”
Every time I heard that, my chest tickled a little.
It wasn’t just because So-hee genuinely liked me.
More than that, it felt good in many ways that both I and the person within me were considered the same ‘Sara.’
“I don’t mind either. You, and her, are both my friends.”
…Well, when she said things like ‘friend,’ the meaning might sound a bit different, though.
But, as Ha-neul once said, even among ‘friends,’ attitudes can differ.
Even though she considered me a rival for the person inside me, Ha-neul was still on my side.
“…”
Soo-ah seemed to be deep in thought, as if she hadn’t heard what I said.
“…”
The room fell silent for a moment.
It wasn’t an unpleasant or heavy silence.
It was more like we just weren’t talking.
I didn’t know much, since this was my first time having friends.
After a brief silence, So-hee clapped her hands.
“Today was Sara’s turn to shower first, right?”
Since the room was shared by the three of us, and Ha-neul frequently stayed over, there seemed to be an unspoken rule about the order in which we showered, changing the sequence daily.
Today, it seemed, it was my turn to shower first.
“Then, I’ll go first.”
Nodding at So-hee’s words, I stood up.
Even as I headed into the shower room, there wasn’t much conversation.
*
When did I start showering by myself?
I wasn’t sure about others, but I think I started showering alone when I was around nine.
After Father passed away and Mother left me at this mansion, I had to do everything on my own.
Ah, well, maybe not ‘everything.’
The things necessary for me to survive were still taken care of by others.
I didn’t have to do laundry, cook, or wash the dishes.
I also didn’t clean the house myself.
In a way, maybe that’s why I felt even more alone.
I remember showering with Mother before I turned nine.
Cleaning the room or kneading dough…
Those memories are scattered between the fragments of my childhood, which I can hardly recall anymore.
But after that, I couldn’t do anything with anyone anymore.
There wasn’t anything I had to do myself, nor was there a need to.
I was just… living here.
“…”
Well, at least I’m not alone now, so I suppose that’s something to be thankful for.
…I know those kids like me—or her.
But I don’t think we’ll be together forever.
Even if they like me now, I don’t think we can stay together for years or decades.
At least, I don’t believe we’ll be able to continue eating and sleeping together like this forever.
But that’s okay.
“Yes, it’s okay.”
I placed my hand over my chest.
I could feel my heart beating.
It had stopped once, but it started again because of her.
Even after many years, or even decades, I will always be with her.
I no longer had to be alone or feel lonely.
As I stood there for a while, lost in my thoughts under the shower—
Bang.
“Eek!?”
The shower room door suddenly burst open, and I involuntarily let out a sound.
I turned around, and there stood Soo-ah.
Her hair, usually tied in twin tails, was now loose.
Though she always appeared lively, I thought her personality seemed a little timid, but seeing her like this, I felt that this look suited her much better.
Soo-ah, with a blush on her face, was wrapped in a towel.
“S-Soo-ah…?”
Startled, I called her name.
Soo-ah, lifting her lowered gaze to look at me, spoke.
“S-Sara.”
“Y-Yeah?”
“Is it okay if I… shower with you?”
“Uh…”
So suddenly?
No, more than that, did Ha-neul and So-hee just let her come in like that?
Given their personalities, I’d have expected them to stop her from entering or to insist on joining in themselves.
Of course, if we all came in, the shower room would feel pretty cramped.
“Uh… sure.”
But still, I didn’t think it mattered much.
After all, we were both girls.
There are separate baths for men and women, and changing rooms are also divided by gender.
If we can change clothes together, then showering together should be fine too, right?
So, I nodded.
Seeing me nod, Soo-ah smiled brightly.
She was still blushing, though.
*
Lee Soo-ah didn’t get much time to be with Sara.
No, rather, it would be more accurate to say that she didn’t get much ‘alone time’ with Sara.
After all, they shared the same bed every night.
It seemed that Ha-neul often spoke alone with Sara—or ‘Sara.’
During class, she and So-hee often stepped out together to talk.
Although Soo-ah hadn’t seen So-hee talk with Sara one-on-one, she didn’t seem to care who was around when talking to Sara.
She was always indifferent to the gazes of others.
In fact, Soo-ah envied her for that.
Soo-ah also wanted to talk alone with Sara, like they did.
But she hesitated to ask the other two to give her space, feeling burdened by her past actions toward Sara and knowing how openly the other two behaved in front of her.
That’s why it was pure coincidence that an opportunity arose.
“So-hee.”
“Yes, senior!”
“Could you help me with something for a moment?”
“Of course!”
Yang Hye-in suddenly appeared and took So-hee away.
“Oh.”
Just then, Ha-neul received a call.
“What’s going on?”
Diligent Ha-neul always informed her parents when she stayed over.
Her parents trusted her and didn’t follow up on her whereabouts.
But today, Ha-neul got a call.
“Oh, sorry, I’ll just go take this call.”
Feeling bad about leaving Soo-ah alone in the room, Ha-neul said this before stepping out.
When Soo-ah nodded, Ha-neul also left the room.
And thus, Soo-ah was left alone.
“…”
Sitting there blankly for a moment, Soo-ah could hear the sound of ‘Sara’ showering.
And then, a thought crossed Soo-ah’s mind.
This was her chance to have some ‘alone time’ with Sara.
Impulsively, Soo-ah stood up.