Translator: Elisia
Editor/Proofreader: Wojo
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Ugly.
Really ugly.
Yang Hye-in thought this as she took out the trash.
From the beginning, there was no need to lose her temper like this.
If she had just quietly listened to Sara, she wouldn’t be in this situation and wouldn’t feel this discomfort.
This entire situation was her fault for stubbornly sticking to her guns.
Yes, she knew.
Yang Hye-in wasn’t someone Sara needed.
Unlike those friends, she couldn’t save Sara’s life, nor could she become a particularly useful maid.
In the past, she had been one of the parasites leeching off Sara’s life.
When she started to help, it was already far too late.
Even if Yang Hye-in quit right now, Sara wouldn’t starve, wouldn’t be without someone to take care of her, and wouldn’t find herself in a predicament.
Yes, she knew.
She knew all too well.
But, she couldn’t give up.
This was because of Yang Hye-in’s selfishness.
The selfishness that made her want to lighten the burden on her conscience, no matter what.
That’s why, even though she knew Sara didn’t need her, she clung on so pathetically.
“……”
Pathetic.
She felt pathetic and disgusted by herself.
She had consoled herself by thinking that since Sara had everything, it was okay if she had a bit of a tough childhood.
But she had driven a child to death and yet was still living without any punishment.
The fact that she was still fine disgusted her.
…Even though she had put the trash where it belonged, she didn’t know where to put herself.
In the end, she was no different from the trash over there, an unnecessary person.
She had gone to a good university and gotten a good job, but the job she chose didn’t even require her to use her skills.
She had only picked it because it paid well.
At that job, even though she found her colleagues distasteful and thought the person who hired her was creepy, she still participated in their work.
Never once did she consider reporting it to the outside world.
She just kept living, relieved that the comfortable, well-paying job wouldn’t disappear.
And the result—
“……”
Yang Hye-in bent over.
She rested her hands on her knees, taking deep breaths for a while.
Her chest felt tight.
She was sorry.
Truly sorry.
She felt as though she had committed a sin worthy of death.
She thought she had to pay for it somehow.
But how?
How could she repay everything to someone who had it all?
How could she be forgiven by someone who didn’t even need her?
…In the end, these thoughts were just Yang Hye-in’s own selfishness.
Yes, from the start, Sara didn’t care whether Yang Hye-in apologized or not.
Yang Hye-in knew all too well that no matter what she said, it wouldn’t be accepted.
Even if she tried to become a tool for Sara to use, Sara didn’t need such a tool.
“……”
How much time had passed since she left the house?
She checked her wristwatch.
It had only been 15 minutes.
……
She didn’t want to go back inside.
But if she disappeared without saying anything, Sara would worry.
Because she was such a kind and good person.
The reaction Sara had shown after hearing Yang Hye-in’s story last night weighed on her heart.
Sara’s emotion had been pity.
After hearing Yang Hye-in’s past and the reasons she hadn’t wanted to come here, Sara had sympathized and felt sorry for her.
That was why she had been at a loss for words after hearing the story.
But it shouldn’t have been like that.
In fact, it was wrong of her to even say those things.
If Sara felt pity for Yang Hye-in…
Then, who would judge her?
*
The village hadn’t changed—that was how it looked on the surface.
But in reality, there were clear changes.
Since it was a village nestled in the mountains of Gangwon Province, some people seemed to come by to see the mountains.
A few inns had popped up, and there were spaces for tourists to rest.
There was even a small park, probably built with the local government’s budget.
Yang Hye-in sat on a bench in that park, idly passing the time.
How much time had passed?
It must have been much more than 15 minutes.
But she didn’t have the courage to check her watch.
If it turned out that only five more minutes had passed, it would be too overwhelming.
Now, she really had to go.
But she didn’t want to.
Inside Yang Hye-in, two conflicting emotions were clashing violently.
Erasing her expression was easy.
It was something she always did.
But calming her heart was far more difficult.
As she continued to struggle,
“Sister Hye-in.”
She heard a voice from far away.
Hearing that voice, Yang Hye-in stood up.
She inhaled quietly so she wouldn’t be noticed, then slowly exhaled.
Then, she turned toward the familiar voice.
“My lady.”
“I told you not to call me that here.”
Sara, glaring at Yang Hye-in who called her “my lady,” said that sharply.
“Even if we’re outside the house, we’re still in the same village, aren’t we? If the village elders hear it, it’ll reach your grandmother’s ears.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Hah.”
Hearing Yang Hye-in’s apology, Sara sighed deeply, running her hand down her face.
Feeling guilty, Yang Hye-in stood there quietly.
“Well… fine.”
After a long silence, Sara finally said that and pointed to the bench where Yang Hye-in had just been sitting.
“Sit back down. I have something to say.”
“…Yes.”
“And stop with the formal language… Ah, never mind. Just sit.”
Yang Hye-in followed her words.
After she sat back down on the bench, Sara sat next to her too, though she kept a little more distance than when she was with her friends.
It was only natural.
“I just had a conversation with your grandmother.”
She had expected that.
It was obvious when Sara came in alone.
What did they talk about?
Maybe they discussed that nearly 1.5 billion won.
The money she had sent to her grandmother as support but took back to help Sara.
“Do you know what Grandmother said?”
At Sara’s question, Yang Hye-in thought for a moment, then shook her head.
It could have been anything.
At least from her childhood memories, Yang Hye-in didn’t remember her grandmother being tight-lipped.
But the words Sara spoke were different from what she expected.
“She said her granddaughter is such a good girl, always kind and diligent, and treats her so well.”
“……”
“She said there’s no better granddaughter.”
“……”
Yang Hye-in couldn’t say anything.
“Do you know what I thought when I heard that?”
“……”
Yang Hye-in shook her head again.
“I thought, ‘Ah, if I had a grandmother like that, I wouldn’t have even considered going to Seoul.’”
“……”
Yang Hye-in hung her head low.
“So I was so frustrated that I came to ask directly. Be honest. How long has it been since you last came here?”
“…I came once in high school and never came again.”
“There, you see.”
Sara sighed deeply again, as if the ground would give way.
“And your salary—what did you usually do with it? You didn’t keep it all for yourself, right?”
“…Most of it, I sent to Grandmother.”
“And recently, you took that money back because of me?”
“…Yes.”
“……”
Sara pressed the bridge of her nose between her thumb and index finger.
“So, you wanted to help me that badly? Neglecting your own life and family?”
“……”
“I mean, since it was because of me, I can’t really criticize you. It’s just… unbelievable.”
Yang Hye-in had no words.
She was just sorry.
So, so sorry.
“…Don’t apologize to me.”
Sara spoke to the silent Yang Hye-in.
“Apologize to your grandmother.”
“…Understood.”
It was over.
It seemed like it was over.
In the end, Sara was going to… probably end things with her.
She should have obediently followed when she was told she could take a break.
“…And.”
But Sara still seemed to have more to say.
After opening her mouth, Sara hesitated for a long while before saying,
“Thank you for saving me last time.”
She finally spoke.
“…What?”
“It was helpful. You’re still being helpful now.”
“……”
For once, Yang Hye-in stared at Sara, dumbfounded, with her mouth slightly open.
“This is coming from ‘me,’ so listen carefully.”
Sara emphasized the word “me.”
“So, I mean ‘me.’ Not ‘that person’ who was talking to you earlier. The ‘me’ you bullied.”
“……”
“Why? Surprised I can switch so easily? Ah, that’s annoying, so I’ll explain later.”
Clearing her throat, Sara continued,
“If you really want to help me, then do it. I’ll give you a chance until you’ve completely shed your guilt. Help me until I can acknowledge it. But,”
She spoke firmly,
“But still, take care of yourself. I’m not trying to make you feel guilty. If you want to help properly, do it in a way that doesn’t make the person you’re helping feel guilty. And take care of your family too.”
She said.
“……”
And because those words meant so much to her,
“…Thank you.”
Yang Hye-in could only turn toward Sara and bow her head deeply.
To hide the tears welling up in her eyes.
…So that she wouldn’t feel guilty any longer.