ALL NOVEL Chapter 224
Sometimes it feels like arguing is scarier than actual fighting.
This is exactly how it is right now.
“You look like you’re struggling.”
“Don’t judge me based on your own assumptions!”
“No, it’s you, Chae Yeon, who’s doing all the judging right now.”
Yu Da On and Jang Chae Yeon were at each other’s throats.
“You’ve always been like this, you know.”
Jang Chae Yeon continued, furrowing her brow as if offended.
“You don’t dare to voice your opinions, but you always hide behind this person, saying it’s because they’re having a hard time. Isn’t that just hiding your own thoughts?”
At Jang Chae Yeon’s words, Yu Da On fell silent.
“That’s not true.”
“How is it not?”
Yu Da On muttered under her breath, prompting Chae Yeon to squint her other eye as well.
“…”
I had no idea how to jump in and stop this all-out brawl.
They were both too serious about it.
“That passive attitude of yours is just making this person suffer even more—”
“Well, you too, Chae Yeon.”
Yu Da On interrupted Jang Chae Yeon.
“You also pretend to just accept everything. You act like you’re comforting them.”
At Yu Da On’s words, Jang Chae Yeon’s eyes widened.
“You always hang back and only show up when it’s convenient for you—”
“And you do the same!”
This time, Jang Chae Yeon cut Yu Da On off.
“You act like you’d give up your liver and gallbladder for them.”
Jang Chae Yeon’s expression soured.
“Just like you’ve lived your life giving away your liver and gallbladder to everyone left and right—”
-Snap.
Before Jang Chae Yeon could finish her sentence, something ripped apart in Yu Da On’s hand.
-Drop… drop…
Blood dripped from her hand.
Yu Da On looked up at Jang Chae Yeon.
“…”
Her face was devoid of emotion, perfectly expressionless.
For a moment, my breath caught in my throat.
Jang Chae Yeon also bit her lip.
“…I’m…”
-Drop… drop…
Her hand stopped bleeding, only to start again as her nails dug into her skin, causing the blood to continue its descent.
“Do you think I’d do that to just anyone?”
University Garden.
As the blood fell onto the brilliantly lit flowers under the sunlight, the vibrant colors of the blossoms began to stain crimson.
“It doesn’t matter what anyone says.”
“…”
Yu Da On continued.
“It’s fine to say that if you can’t do anything other than acknowledge the truth, or if you don’t know anything because you haven’t learned, but—”
“…”
“But.”
Yu Da On turned away.
“Don’t say something ridiculous like that you’d do it to just anyone.”
She walked off, still bleeding from her hand, as the white, yellow, and pink flowers proudly displayed their colors, now drenched in red.
“…”
Jang Chae Yeon watched Yu Da On leave.
“…This time, Chae Yeon, you went too far.”
Of course, Yu Da On was harsh, too.
I decided I’d have to speak a word with Da On later.
“…”
Jang Chae Yeon turned to me after watching Yu Da On walk away.
“…I’m sorry.”
That’s how she responded.
“But I won’t apologize.”
“Yeah, well, that’s your choice, Chae Yeon.”
Being adults of appropriate age, there was no reason or motivation for me to make either of them apologize.
“Still, I hope that we don’t let our feelings mess things up when it matters.”
That’s how social life works.
In my life, those who torment me always find a way to appear.
They could be seniors, juniors, or even the team leader.
If such people didn’t exist, we’d create someone to hate.
But that doesn’t mean it should manifest as our attitude in work.
That’s what organizational life is like.
“…Don’t worry about that.”
Jang Chae Yeon replied, her eyes downcast.
“We all share the same goal.”
“…”
Her gaze was directed at the bloodstained flowers.
“…I’ll be heading off now.”
Even if Chae Yeon and I currently had a relationship that could be perceived as romantic, we were fundamentally colleagues.
I was even the colleague who just spoke harshly to her.
To be honest, I felt a bit uncomfortable being around her right now.
“…Okay.”
Jang Chae Yeon nodded.
“I’ll say a word to Da On too.”
I thought it was a good idea.
I might not be the team leader, but I’ve been around in Human Resources longer than anyone besides the Team Leader. I’m older too.
I felt I should show a certain level of maturity for my age.
“Um, well…”
“…”
Before I could finish my sentence, Jang Chae Yeon firmly grabbed my hand and then let go.
“It’s fine. Don’t worry too much.”
Jang Chae Yeon smiled softly.
“I’m good at waiting, too.”
“…”
Seeing her like that, I took a step forward to follow Yu Da On.
*
“…”
I hurried along under the sunlight.
Where did Yu Da On go?
“…What are you doing?”
I was diligently searching for Yu Da On, but alas, the one I stumbled upon was not her.
Song Ah Rin stood there with her arms crossed, looking at me.
“A-Rin.”
“Why does your expression look so dark?”
The moment she scrutinized my face, her eyes filled with concern.
“Did you fight? With who? Or was there something bad that happened?”
Why is everyone so perceptive today?
“No, it’s not that I fought…”
I didn’t fight, right?
“Don’t tell me the black-haired and white-haired ones fought?”
That’s one sharp observation.
When I nodded, Song Ah Rin sighed heavily.
“Right. I was wondering when they’d finally get into it. It would have been a miracle if they hadn’t hit each other until now.”
“A-Rin, can you mediate a bit?”
“…Me? How am I supposed to do that?”
Song Ah Rin stared at me in disbelief as if I were asking her for the impossible.
“How can I mediate that? I don’t even get along with those two.”
“Isn’t it like, “leave it to me,” and then help them out?”
“Hey, you have to ask for something possible. What do you want me to do about the impossible?”
Song Ah Rin shook her head and crossed her arms again.
“I can’t do it. No way.”
“…”
I’m so tired right now.
As I rubbed my eyes in fatigue, Song Ah Rin peeked at me through one half-open eyelid.
“…Geez, I can’t do it either, so don’t look so upset.”
“Well, I can handle it.”
If I work hard, maybe their relationship will improve one day.
I want to believe that.
“…But why did they fight?”
Song Ah Rin cautiously glanced at my face.
“Uh, no. It’s just that I’d rather not say.”
There’s privacy, you know.
If I told them that it was because of this or that, it would be no different than gossiping about both of them.
“Yeah. That’s your good point.”
Song Ah Rin nodded at my words.
“Anyway, since you did something with the white-haired one, the black-haired one must have picked a fight with you.”
“…”
Wow, she really knows.
“Stop looking at me like that. The white-haired one wouldn’t pick a fight with you who’s with the black-haired one.”
That’s a fair point, too.
“So what are you hiding from me while keeping it secret from the black-haired one, and you’re teaming up with the white-haired one?”
Song Ah Rin leaned in closer and poked my side with her elbow.
“Spill it, okay?”
“Oh, it’s really nothing.”
“If it were nothing, would the black-haired one pick a fight? Just hurry up and tell me.”
“It’s not anything, I swear.”
“Oh, you’re being so unreasonable.”
Song Ah Rin pouted her lips and crossed her arms again.
“Hey. If I put my mind to it, I can act just like the white-haired one, you know?”
“What are you talking about?”
“No, I mean.”
Song Ah Rin closed her eyes, seemingly imagining something.
“Like, I, too, could be as mesmerizing as the white-haired one? Humans develop until they’re twenty-five or something?”
“A-Rin?”
She seemed like the least likely candidate for that.
As if she finished her daydream, Song Ah Rin hummed and shook her head.
“Nope. That’s impossible.”
“Please don’t lose yourself in fantasies alone.”
“Hey, dreaming is a human right!”
As she said that, her gaze drifted to the void, fists clenched tightly.
“Yes!”
“Why?”
“I think I’ve succeeded.”
“What do you mean?”
“I hypnotized the professor just like you said. To immediately become an excellent student and get pushed into being a professor.”
Song Ah Rin looked at me, joyfully grinning.
“Thanks to you, I might become the youngest professor.”
“Isn’t that obtained through dubious means?”
“It’s a game. Winning is all that matters, not what’s right or wrong. Isn’t everyone just trying to win?”
“That’s not the case in reality.”
“That’s right, it isn’t. I’ve seen too much of the ugly side.”
“…”
Sighing deeply, Song Ah Rin said, “I have one complaint.”
“What is it?”
“You should lean on me too.”
Song Ah Rin beckoned me over and leaned against the wall.
“Whenever you need support, it’s the white-haired one, and when it’s time to face difficulties, you cling to the black-haired one, but when it’s easy, you’re with me.”
She looked at me as she spoke.
“I might not be good at listening to you. It could be hard to battle things through together.”
“…”
“So, if you’re with me, you can learn.”
Clearing her throat, Song Ah Rin turned her gaze elsewhere.
“Please do it for the sake of training me.”
“…Yeah, I suppose I will.”
As I nodded slowly, Song Ah Rin smiled slightly.
“Okay, that works.”
At that moment.
-Ding!
[Your respective missions have concluded.]
A window materialized.
“…Wait, that’s way too quick, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
This is just scratch-the-surface gameplay. It really feels like they’re just taking the essence and leaving everything else behind.
With another chime, a window appeared again.
[Depending on your actions after graduating from university, your jobs will differ.]
“Cool.”
Song Ah Rin murmured as she stared at the window.
“I wonder what job I’ll get.”
As soon as she finished saying that, the results began to stream out like a test score.
[Yu Da On: Tennis Player]
[Jang Chae Yeon: Teacher]
[Song Ah Rin: Professor]
[Ahn Sang Hyun: Unemployed]
[Heo Chan: Perpetual Section Chief]
[Park Ye Eun: Businesswoman]
[Aileen: Company Employee]
What on earth happened with Ahn Sang Hyun and the Team Leader?
“See, I’m going to be a professor…”
Song Ah Rin’s excited words suddenly halted.
Slowly turning her gaze to the window.
[Kim Jae Heon: Casanova]
“…”
“…”
“…That’s trash.”
“…”
At Song Ah Rin’s words, I found myself at a loss for words too.