“Ugh, why are you stopping us from entering when we’re friends with Hyun…?!”
“Even if you say that… I’ve received orders…”
“…What is going on?”
A chilling coldness flowed from Yeon Minha’s tone.
Her cheerful mood, which had been good enough to hum a tune, instantly froze when she spotted three female students haggling with the guards in front of the ward.
“Miss. You’ve arrived. Well, these students keep requesting to enter…”
At the sound of Yeon Minha’s presence, the guard’s previously flustered face suddenly brightened.
It had been quite a while since they had completely baked their independent ward, protecting the surroundings as well.
The guard started listing the difficulties he had been experiencing.
“…Ugh.”
Yeon Minha could roughly grasp what had happened.
With a sharp look in her eyes, the would-be intruders let out an involuntary groan.
All of them were familiar faces. They had already been turned away once before, but they didn’t seem to tire of showing up again.
The white jackets worn by the female students claiming to be his close friends sported first-year badges.
“Seems like this year’s freshmen are on a lower level. They can’t seem to understand simple words. Didn’t I clearly say last time that outsiders are prohibited from entering?”
“I looked it up, and there’s nothing like that in the school rules. What you’re doing is overstepping your authority. Is it really okay for friends to not even visit?…”
Despite being terrified, one of them stepped forward to confront Yeon Minha. A name tag reading ‘Yu Sera.’ Bleached ponytail with a ridiculously short skirt. An attitude that boldly defied a senior.
There were alarming elements in every way to consider her a friend.
“You’re right. If you keep this up, I will report you to the student council…!”
The girl beside her, with a name tag reading ‘Joo Yeo-reum,’ added her voice. Shoulder-length hair, a scar on her right arm that seemed to be from a tattoo.
She was someone whose name he had heard in passing. Something about being the granddaughter of a logistics chain founder in the capital city.
At first glance, she seemed well-mannered, but from Yeon Minha’s experience, it was often those who appeared calm that harbored sinister intentions.
“What if, what if you’re bullying Hyun… Then, even if you’re a senior, I won’t forgive you…”
Finally, a girl with brown hair, seemingly from somewhere, named ‘Ha Yena,’ trembled as she spoke.
With an innocent demeanor that resembled a harmless squirrel. However, her eyes were vacant, and her complexion dark, as if she hadn’t slept for days due to worry.
The intensity of her gaze was unsettling, as if she was hiding something spine-chilling behind her innocent appearance.
Yeon Minha let out a deep sigh inwardly. Despite being bold and courageous, she clearly lacked discernment when it came to character; friends coming to see him were all filled with flaws.
He must have been from a frontier settlement. If that was the case, it made sense for his social skills to be lacking. It was inconvenient, but this was something he could definitely assist with.
“Can’t you hear? I clearly told you to go away…”
The words he intended to blurt out based on his temperament were softened instinctively, sensing someone might overhear.
Even that tone was enough to instill intimidation.
“He is in a critical condition and requires meticulous and intensive treatment. We have determined that the presence of outsiders may worsen his condition.”
“Don’t lie…! I heard someone say they saw Hyun go out for a walk in the courtyard…!”
“Sigh. This is pointless. What are you doing? Get them out immediately.”
“Ah, yes. Um, students. You can’t do this here. First…”
Unable to hold back any longer, Yeon Minha’s glare prompted the guards to start driving out the uninvited guests.
In the end, they left without achieving their goal. It seemed they were heading towards the annex where the student council was located, but that wasn’t of any concern.
Only then did Yeon Minha enter the ward with a somewhat lighter heart. Upon opening the hospital room door, a familiar sight unfolded.
A masked male student sitting by the window. In his embrace, a cat was purring gently. Next to his bed was her makeshift cot.
“You’ve arrived?”
“…Yes.”
She tried to act aloof, but her heart began to race again despite the brief exchange of greetings.
“You came a bit early today. Are you tired? I have to go somewhere for a bit, and you might want to get some sleep soon…”
On the other hand, a bit of annoyance bubbled up at his nonchalant attitude towards her.
It seemed he had no idea about the trouble she just went through.
It couldn’t be that he didn’t remember, but how could a guy who committed such shameless acts be so audacious?
Slipping into casual speech after speaking formally all along was quite the skill.
And then he wiped his hands clean as if nothing had happened.
Well, just because he was ugly didn’t mean he had to drop dead. Rather, the determination to turn his flaws into strengths was even more frightening. Not to mention, she was the very victim of that.
“You think I’m a bug? I told you to avoid going out for a while. Why do you keep wandering around? What are you going to do if it gets worse…?”
“I’m already healed, and there are no wounds to worsen. Besides, staying still will only slow recovery. You need to move around a bit.”
The sensation of his broad, sturdy arms and gentle fingers seemed to linger, so Yeon Minha shook her head vigorously and retorted.
“…Where are you going?”
“I was just going for a walk and some exercise. There’s no one in the ward at all; it’s nice. Must be because it’s tucked away…”
“Oh, is that so? Then it’s not urgent. Can we talk for a bit…?”
At Yeon Minha’s words, the male student halted his preparations to leave and sat back down.
“You asked Haewolhwa to add my name as a recipient of the Venus Martial Arts Medal, right…?”
“That’s correct. I guess you heard about it? Just to note, seniors have no right to refuse. Don’t let your pride get in the way…”
“I know. I never had that in mind. I have to obey your orders anyway…”
“I see…”
He responded surprisingly willingly, a rare hint of surprise crossed his features as he nodded slightly.
“…So, what is it you wanted to say?”
With the main topic finally brought up, Yeon Minha quickly inhaled and managed to utter a single phrase.
“…Your face.”
“What?”
“I want you to show me your face…”
*
Recently, there had been a peculiar change in Yeon Minha’s demeanor. More precisely, since returning from the south, right after awakening in the ward.
Once completely drained like wilted grass, these days, it seemed her inherent arrogance and assertiveness had returned.
That said, it didn’t feel like she bore the intense resentment and aversion from before. She wasn’t using excessively uncomfortable words or nitpicking; there was a sense that she was more at ease with him if he assumed this was her true character.
If she truly had complaints, she wouldn’t be coming and going from the ward like this at all.
The relationship had been forged through coercive means due to lack of sharp options, but from a long-term perspective, it might not be a bad change.
Yet, despite that thought, Yeon Minha’s sudden request felt utterly shocking.
Having paid no attention until now, to suddenly ask to see his face.
He wondered if it was a joke, but the determined expression on her face indicated it was far from a jest.
“I’m asking you to show your face. Out of the blue, why…?”
“…I decided to trust you.”
“What?”
“I said I decided to trust you. Honestly, there’s still a lot I don’t understand and thinking about the past humiliation makes my teeth grind but… I decided to trust you.”
“…”
“We need each other, don’t we? Right? You for your benefit and your benefactor’s… me to overcome mental contamination… Then there’s no choice but to trust each other, right?”
“But why the face…”
“Oh, but I’m going to keep you by my side, so I should know what you look like…! I think it’s reasonable to make this request…”
Having built up her momentum, she suddenly trailed off.
“To be honest, I thought you must have seen it when I lost consciousness.”
“I didn’t see it…! What do you take me for to say something like that…? Sure, I was curious, but I couldn’t just look without permission, could I…”
“…”
And so, she plunged into her thoughts.
As someone aiming for improved relations with her, his sharp change in attitude was quite welcome.
And in fact, nothing seemed wrong with her request. There was hardly any reason to withhold it.
The only reason he wore a mask was due to personal discomfort.
But…
“…No.”
“Wh-Why…! Just that much…?”
“It’s unsightly.”
“Uh…?”
The exasperation trying to escape from Yeon Minha’s mouth turned into a small, deflated sound.
“So… I wouldn’t recommend it. There are no other reasons. I’m not hiding anything. If I really can’t show it, I don’t have any other reason, but… if that’s the case…”
“What? I thought it was something else…”
However, Yeon Minha brushed off his worries lightly as if they were trivial.
Her face carried an inexplicable look of relief.
“Who said anything about judging your appearance? What I mean is, I’m just suggesting we build trust. I wouldn’t care if you were the ugliest person in the world.”
“…”
“Just not knowing your face feels a bit strange… After saving my life, is that really all I can ask for…?”
Her voice, laced with a sense of longing, left him utterly speechless.
Eventually, after a moment of silence, he had to speak.
“…I clearly told you.”
“Ugh, yeah…”
With a gulp, Yeon Minha nodded.
He reached for the lock on his mask and started undoing it.
Yeon Minha, who had been urging to see beyond it, had fallen silent by now.
As the click sounded, an anxiety like the dropping of a protective barrier enveloped him.
His heart raced wildly. Cold sweat poured down like rain.
While his sisters were all people who would only say nice things for his sake, he wondered if Yeon Minha would be the same.
Maybe the choice he made was the worst one.
Should he have just handed over the contract and refused until the end?
‘Do you still not understand? You are neither strong nor trustworthy. Your face was the only redeemable trait, but now that’s been rendered useless. You… don’t deserve to be by my side.’
As someone else’s voice from the past echoed within him, he clenched his eyes shut.
“…What? Not bad at all.”
However, the next moment, Yeon Minha’s flat voice shattered that illusion like a glass window.
“…Hey. If you keep your eyes closed, how can I see properly?”
“…”
When he slightly lifted his eyelids at Yeon Minha’s request, he saw her still making a feigned indignant expression right in front of him.
“…Oh my.”
Yeon Minha, whose gaze met his, raised her eyebrows in surprise, but that expression quickly returned to her usual self.
“Hmm, it’s not bad. I thought…”
“It’s not bad…?”
“Yeah. To be honest, it’s not bad at all, really.”
“You don’t need to force such compliments…”
“Do I look like someone who will butter you up? I am a person with uncompromising aesthetic standards, even if a knife is at my throat.”
“Is that so…”
“Yes, it is. Honestly, I thought something was going on…”
Yeon Minha, quiet for a moment, glanced at his face and asked.
“…Aren’t you suffocating?”
“At first, I did feel that way a bit.”
“When did you start wearing it…?”
“For about two years, I think. But I’ve gotten used to it now, so it’s fine.”
“I still think it would be a bit suffocating…”
After a brief contemplation, Yeon Minha looked up at him with a questioning gaze again.
“…How about from now on, when it’s just the two of us, you take off the mask…?”
“Excuse me?”
“Well, you need some breathing space don’t you? Again, I’m not the least bit concerned about what you look like. So…”
“…Okay, I’ll think about it.”
Ding-dong~
Just as he finished speaking, a warning bell announcing the curfew echoed through the speakers in the hospital room.
“…It seems like curfew is coming soon. Senior, I should go out for a bit.”
“Alright. Go ahead. Just seriously think through my proposal…”
“Understood. Then…”
Nodding at Yeon Minha, he put his mask back on and left the hospital room.
Outside, the sky had already darkened, and stars and the moon twinkled.
Beneath that gentle light, he repeated Yeon Minha’s words in his mind for quite some time.
Not bad… huh.
*
Thud-thud.
While his departing footsteps faded away.
Yeon Minha stood in that spot silently for a long while.
When the sounds finally ceased, she staggered her way toward the wall.
There, she leaned against it and slid down to sit.
Yeon Minha spread her palms and hid her face. Then she hugged her knees, burying her upper body within.
“Hah…”
Her ears were flushed just like ripe strawberries, and rough breaths spilled softly from her lips.
After a fair amount of time, when she finally lifted her head, her face was as red as her ears, glowing with embarrassment.
“I don’t even know anymore…”
Yeon Minha let out a helpless declaration of surrender, relinquishing all.
Along with that, a small ripple she had previously brushed aside began to create waves.
“But… who on earth is Yeon?”
The name belonged to someone who had endlessly apologized and confessed her wrongs while he slept.
A sticky, unpleasant seed of suspicion began to burrow into her mind.
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