Chapter 31: My Hero (7)
TL/Editor: Raei
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"......Gyeom... oppa?"
Song Soo-yeon had to helplessly watch the scene unfold.
There was no justification to prevent the change in address.
She had her chance, and it was she who had rejected it.
Her chosen address for him was Mister.
".........."
It was her own fault, yet for some reason, she wanted to blame someone else.
She wanted to be angry, wishing Min-Bom wouldn't call Jung-gyeom oppa.
That address lacked the distance Mister had.
It seemed more intimate, closer.
The thought of someone being closer to Jung-gyeom than herself made her stomach churn.
'Why?'
She had asked herself this question hundreds of times today.
Jung-gyeom, who was lonely, was making friends, achieving his dreams.
Why was she feeling so bad about it?
Why did she dislike it?
Did she, unknowingly, dislike Jung-gyeom?
Did she not want him to be happy?
No, that couldn't be it.
Then, was it Solace, or Min-Bom, she didn't like?
...Of course, she didn't like her, but she never thought Min-Bom was bad.
She was the first woman who didn't feel jealous of her.
Definitely a good person.
...Yet, watching the two get closer was torturous.
Jung-gyeom's face turned red.
Song Soo-yeon wanted to believe it was because of the alcohol.
She wanted to believe his shy laughter was not because of Min-Bom's suggestion, but an outburst caused by alcohol.
After laughing meaninglessly for a while, he asked.
"....Are you suggesting we drop formalities?"
"....I would like that."
Song Soo-yeon nervously awaited Jung-gyeom's response, but she knew it wasn't a fair fight.
"Okay."
Jung-gyeom soon replied.
".....It feels familiar."
Min-Bom questioned.
"Familiar?"
"Ah, no, it's just something."
"Hmm.... so can I drop formalities?"
Song Soo-yeon looked at Jung-gyeom.
He smiled at Min-Bom.
"Sure. Let's drop them, Bom."
Song Soo-yeon's heart sank.
"Et hehe... Okay, Gyeom oppa."
Twice.
Even Song Soo-yeon, who felt foolish, could see the budding feelings between them.
The address was too affectionate.
Unlike the Mister she used.
And the Ms. Soo-yeon* he used for her.
Song Soo-yeon's hand began to tremble faintly.
She disliked it.
Whatever the reason, she disliked it.
She picked up her glass of soju and gulped it down her throat.
"....Mister. I need another drink."
".....Soo-yeon. Why are you rushing like that...?"
Song Soo-yeon slammed her glass down on the table.
The sound echoed throughout the store.
Drinking gave her courage.
She felt like she could finally speak her mind.
She looked at Min-Bom.
"Why are you doing this to us?"
"......What?"
Song Soo-yeon exhaled a short sigh.
She didn't care that Jung-gyeom looked flustered.
"Mister is so naively kind that he might not realize it, but do you know how unnatural it is for you to approach us like this?"
"...So.. Soo-yeon?"
"What kind of hero suddenly wants to get close and reveals their identity? If there's no ulterior motive, it doesnt make any sense logically."
Min-Bom's eyes began to wander as well.
She looked at Song Soo-yeon and Jung-gyeom with a puzzled expression.
"And you keep flirting with Mister, acting all cute....!"
"...Wh..what...? I...I never did that...."
"Don't say you didn't, geez..."
The words flowing out of Song Soo-yeon's mouth felt eerily familiar to her.
She quickly realized why.
She was saying the same things she had endlessly heard from other female students.
'Why am I saying these things?'
But she wanted an answer.
"Did Shake ask you to spy on Mister? Are you holding a grudge against him because of what happened at the Hero Association?"
"No, Song Soo-yeon! I would never do that!"
Min-Bom exclaimed in shock.
But Song Soo-yeon was relentless.
"How would I know? I dont really know you!"
"Why would a hero bear a grudge against a civilian...?"
"I dont know either. I'm just talking about possibilities. Be honest, Min-Bom. Being a hero isnt about being good. It's about being strong and able to subdue villains. Heroes can be just as dirty as villains!"
"........."
The smile disappeared from Min-Bom's face.
She looked bewildered, unable to find the right words.
Song Soo-yeon tasted a small victory.
But at the same time, she worried about Jung-gyeom.
If Min-Bom really appeared here to spy on Jung-gyeom, she didn't know what to do next.
"...Song Soo-yeon, come here."
At that moment, Jung-gyeom called Song Soo-yeon.
She hesitated for a moment, then got up and sat next to Jung-gyeom.
Min-Bom looked even more bewildered.
But Jung-gyeom reassured her.
"Bom, calm down. It's not because we're wary of you that I asked Soo-yeon to come here."
Every time he called her 'Bom', Song Soo-yeon's heart ached.
"Take a moment to breathe, okay?"
Jung-gyeom comforted Min-Bom gently.
She nodded and began to take deep breaths.
Meanwhile, Jung-gyeom patted Song Soo-yeon's back gently and said.
"Soo-yeon, I know you don't like heroes."
"........"
"And thank you for worrying about me. I never really thought about that."
Min-Bom flinched slightly.
"Bom, calm down. It's okay."
Once again, Jung-gyeom showed his palm to Min-Bom, soothing her.
Song Soo-yeon slightly bowed her head, feeling the warmth from Jung-gyeom's hand on her back.
"But it's okay. I don't think she would do that."
"........."
Song Soo-yeon had expected it.
She thought Jung-gyeom would say something like this.
"So, Soo-yeon, let's not be too guarded. Everything will be fine."
However, she didnt want to back down.
Song Soo-yeon, in a last-ditch effort, said to him,
".....But it's strange, isn't it? Someone wanting to get close and revealing their identity just like that."
"...Yes. It can be. I hadnt thought about it. Thank you for bringing it up. Now we can ask for the reason, so calm down, okay?"
Song Soo-yeon raised her head and looked towards Jung-gyeom.
She had never been this close to his face before.
She could feel her face reddening, but unlike before, she didn't want to turn away in embarrassment.
His straight gaze was etched in her memory.
Their breaths were close enough to touch.
Was it the alcohol?
Even this close to him, she wasnt scared of him being a man.
Jung-gyeom turned his head.
For Song Soo-yeon, the moment seemed fleeting.
She regained her composure and turned to Min-Bom.
"Bom, so... was there a reason?"
"........."
"I dont think you came to me for a strange reason. Just like Song Soo-yeon said... maybe you had something you wanted."
"Can you tell us honestly?"
"......."
"....About getting closer."
Finally, Min-Bom seemed to gather her resolve, shedding her anxious demeanor.
She extended her empty soju glass to Jung-gyeom.
Without a word, he refilled her glass.
Min-Bom grimaced as she drank the soju and then began to speak.
".........Song Soo-yeon is right."
Her informal speech now felt natural.
"What.....?"
Min-Bom quickly waved her hands before Jung-gyeom could misunderstand.
"No, no, not like that. Not about coming to spy... but about what Song Soo-yeon said earlier. That heroes can become as dirty as villains. I totally... agree. It's not something a hero should say, but."
Song Soo-yeon secretly grabbed Jung-gyeom's arm.
She watched Min-Bom from behind his shoulder.
"The truth is.... I know best. That heroes... aren't always as righteous as they seem. They're just strong ones on the right side."
Min-Bom let out a long sigh.
The laughter was gone from her words, each one heavy with sincerity.
"You'd be surprised to know how many seniors became heroes not for justice but for money and fame."
Song Soo-yeon snorted.
"....I dont think Id be that surprised."
Min-Bom also laughed awkwardly at the comment.
"Ahaha, really? Well, if Song Soo-yeon realized that, then we really have a problem. Now I understand why you dislike heroes."
Song Soo-yeon shook Jung-gyeom's arm, trying to elicit a reaction, signaling that the conversation should be over, but Jung-gyeom calmly waited for Min-Bom to continue speaking.
Min-Bom continued speaking.
"Embarrassingly, I was the same. A hypocrite. I thought this way internally but never had the courage to act on it. I was disappointed with heroes in my heart, yet I was just like them. Just... going out to fight villains and smiling at citizens. I didn't do more than that."
"....Stop beating around the bush. What's your purpose in awkwardly approaching us like this?"
"....Dont you get it? It's because Gyeom oppa is the hero I always imagined."
"........What?"
Song Soo-yeon felt as if her secret had been exposed.
He was her hero, unknown to anyone else.
But Min-Bom had realized it too.
"A regular person, not even a hero, stood up to Shake for what's right. I could never have mustered that kind of courage."
".....That's something you don't know, Bom."
Jung-gyeom encouraged Min-Bom with a serious tone, but she shook her head.
"No, oppa. I really couldn't have done it. Haven't I failed to do so until now?"
"........."
"Song Soo-yeon, you said it yesterday in the classroom, didn't you? That heroes are just thugs. You were right. But... I don't want to remain a thug. I want to be a 'true hero.' Not just catching villains, but helping everyone who needs a hand."
'True hero.'
A term Song Soo-yeon had heard often.
She glanced nervously at Jung-gyeom.
Min-Bom looked around the restaurant and said,
"....Look at this. Even in tight circumstances, he set up a restaurant to help others. He lent his home for your sake... If Gyeom oppa isnt a hero, then what is he?"
Song Soo-yeon swallowed hard.
She tightened her grip on Jung-gyeom's arm, holding onto him more firmly.
She mustered the courage to ask,
"....So what? Are you trying to say you fell for Mister at first sight or some nonsense like that? What does Mister being like a hero have to do with you awkwardly approaching him?"
"Well.... thats because...."
Min-Bom, seemingly needing courage, extended her glass again. Jung-gyeom calmly refilled it.
But this time, Song Soo-yeon also picked up her glass.
She wanted to drown out her frustration.
"....Is it okay?"
Jung-gyeom asked.
"Pour it, Mister."
As she answered firmly, Jung-gyeom shrugged and poured the drink.
After both had downed their soju, Min-Bom spoke again.
She took a short, sharp breath.
Then, looking straight at Jung-gyeom, she said,
"I want to be by your side, oppa."
Song Soo-yeon's fist clenched involuntarily.
"What did you say?"
However, Min-Bom paid no attention to her this time.
Her eyes were solely fixed on Jung-gyeom.
"I want to learn from you, being by your side. Meeting you today only strengthened my resolve. I want to be the best hero in South Korea. So, please guide me."
---
*uh I usually cut honorifics and stuff unless it's explicitly mentioned since it's very inconsistent(mtl) and I'm not the greatest with it.
I actually thought that after the time skip they became closer and he start calling her 'Soo-yeon' directly but nope looks like me wrong.
So I've assumed here that his usual address of 'Soo-yeon' in the text after the time skip is actually 'Ms. Soo-yeon' as described before the time skip.
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