Chapter 257: Reflection
After the man left,
"We have no choice. A temporary alliance, just for this once."
After Kim Jae-heon left, Song A-rin raised her head, and the other two looked at her.
"All of a sudden?"
"Aren't we on the same team?"
"Get a grip on the context, both of you."
Song A-rin glared at Jang Chae-yeon and Yu Daon.
"He just said he's going to meet someone else."
"But... we don't have the right to say anything about that."
"Y-yeah, right..."
Jang Chae-yeon muttered sullenly, and Yu Daon also became sullen in turn.
"You idiots!"
Song A-rin snatched the wet cloth from Yu Daon's face and threw it, then smacked Jang Chae-yeon on the back of the head.
"Ah, A-rin!"
"...Do you have a death wish?"
Yu Daon's eyes widened into circles, and Jang Chae-yeon, rubbing the back of her head, glared at Song A-rin.
"He's acting weird."
"...Huh?"
"What?"
At Song A-rin's words, the two stared at her blankly.
"I just realized something from our conversation."
Song A-rin clapped her hands together once, like a man trying to get everyone's attention.
"First of all, he's being way too blunt with us."
"Has Ms. A-rin finally lost her mind?"
"'Finally' is a bad word to use."
"..."
As Yu Daon and Jang Chae-yeon began whispering to each other, Song A-rin listened and raised one eyebrow as she looked at them.
"Be quiet! When a situation arises, your first thought should be how to get out of it, not giving up already!"
"That sounds like something Jae-heon would say."
"Yeah."
The two quietly looked up at Song A-rin, and she clapped her hands together again with a clap.
"Listen carefully. We need to interfere with this."
"Wouldn't it be easier if you just go and brainwash her?"
"Then I'd be the only one turning into a villain."
She couldn't die alone. Firmly resolved, Song A-rin stared intensely at the two.
"We have to stop him through proper procedures."
"I agree."
The answer came from elsewhere.
The three turned their heads to see Eileen walking in, her dull blonde hair hanging down.
The Branch Chief was behind her.
"I came because it sounded interesting."
"You changed your cosmetics again today! But I think you're still using that traditional Korean shampoo!"
Yu Daon waved her hand and greeted the Branch Chief brightly. The Branch Chief paused for a moment, then smiled and looked at Yu Daon.
"Shouldn't we schedule our sparring session?"
"Ah, right! We should!"
"Good. Pick a date and come. Wear something light, and make it black."
"Black, got it!"
"Yes."
Leaving the brightly smiling Branch Chief behind, Song A-rin looked at Eileen.
"And where did you hear about this?"
"I overheard bits and pieces. Let's just make a plan."
Eileen dragged over a chair from somewhere, crossed her legs, and sat down. Song A-rin looked at her as if she found it absurd, then spoke again.
"Right. Everything has to happen naturally."
"Wouldn't it be easier if you just used hypnosis to kill the image of that woman?"
"I'm going to ignore that, since I already vetoed that idea earlier."
Ignoring Eileen's comment, Song A-rin opened her mouth.
"Alright, let's start making a plan."
*
What in the world is going on?
I looked at Yu Daon and Jang Chae-yeon sitting across from me.
The two were just looking at me, not saying a word, while drinking.
But if Yu Daon drinks like that, she'll definitely get drunk.
Is it really okay for her to drink like that? As I stared at her intently, Hwang Ji-hye poked me in the side.
"Why are you staring so hard? Do you know them?"
"Uh, no. I thought she looked like someone I know."
"Ah, I thought you were interested in her."
She smiled, and I forced my gaze away from the two.
The two of them sipping their drinks quietly.
Their silence made it even more unsettling.
Perhaps she noticed my gaze kept drifting in that direction. Hwang Ji-hye made a displeased expression and poked my arm again.
"What would you like to drink?"
"Ah, well. Could you recommend something?"
"Sure."
She nodded at my words and called someone to order.
In the meantime, I looked back at Jang Chae-yeon and Yu Daon.
Should I make a hand gesture telling them to go away? Just as I thought that,
Yu Daon began to stagger, and Jang Chae-yeon looked at her as if annoyed.
Seriously, what are they trying to do, bringing someone who can't hold her liquor?
Jang Chae-yeon is being irresponsible too. Shouldn't she do something?
Why did those two even come here in the first place?
Should I get up and send them away? But then they'd find out.
My worries only deepened.
*
"Listen carefully. You absolutely cannot ruin it openly."
"Then wouldn't it be better if Ms. A-rin just uses hypnosis—"
"Hey. I said I'm not using it."
After glaring at Yu Daon, Song A-rin spoke again.
"The most important thing is to make him realize that we are much more involved in his life than he thinks."
Song A-rin recalled the man's recent behavior.
As always, he had very intentionally been avoiding them.
Whenever it seemed like the situation might get even slightly strange, he would arm himself with steely rationality and deliberately push them away.
Especially when the white-haired woman was pressuring him.
Song A-rin gritted her teeth.
This wasn't the same as the arrogant idea of 'making him realize our absence'.
This was a desperate appeal.
A message saying, 'Please, just look at the people who are already here.'
To broadcast that message—
"You take the lead."
"Me?"
Song A-rin pointed at Yu Daon, and Yu Daon pointed at herself, her eyes wide.
"Yeah, you."
"What should I do...?"
"Get drunk."
"...Huh?"
As an uncharacteristic question mark appeared on the black-haired girl's face, Song A-rin felt a smoldering urge to hit her, but decided to endure it for the sake of the plan and nodded.
"Just drink. Get drunk."
"Is that really all I need to do?"
"Yeah."
Yu Daon looked at Song A-rin with a doubtful expression, and Song A-rin answered with a brazen face.
Song A-rin hated Yu Daon.
To be precise, she hated the way the man looked at Yu Daon.
Was this what it felt like to look at someone who received favoritism?
The favored one herself probably didn't realize it, but Song A-rin had always thought the man favored her.
Because of that, her voice came out sharp, but Song A-rin didn't feel the need to correct it.
"Well, if you have a better idea, let's hear it."
"What about me?"
Jang Chae-yeon immediately raised her hand and looked at Song A-rin.
"You stick by his side. And don't even pay him any attention."
"...That's it?"
"Yeah."
Jang Chae-yeon. She didn't know how to play hard to get.
She only knew how to push relentlessly, not how to pull back.
"Absolutely. No matter what happens, don't greet him or act like you know him."
"Then... what should I do...?"
An uncharacteristic look of bewilderment appeared on Jang Chae-yeon's face.
"Just stay still."
"...Are you sure that's okay?"
Anxiety showed on Jang Chae-yeon's face.
I should have seen her make this kind of face sooner.
Feeling a strange emotion, Song A-rin nodded.
"Yeah. Do that. That's right."
Awareness of a situation always comes from a sense of dissonance.
When the everyday becomes non-everyday.
When someone who is always kind acts mean.
When someone who is always laughing is crying.
That's when people feel a sense of incongruity.
"What about you?"
Jang Chae-yeon looked at Song A-rin, and Song A-rin nodded.
"I won't show up."
"Really?"
"Really."
Song A-rin answered and closed her eyes.
Because that was the most unlike her.
"What about me?"
"Do I have to worry about the blonde from the other team too? Figure it out yourself."
*
A drunk Yu Daon, and a Jang Chae-yeon who was avoiding looking at me.
Was she actually giving me the cold shoulder?
Is this what they mean by feeling uneasy and unable to sit still?
What should I do about—
"Here's your drink."
A drink was placed in front of me, cutting off my thoughts.
"You seem completely distracted since earlier. Did your mind get sold off somewhere?"
The woman stared straight at me.
"Ah, yes."
"Sold off, you say?"
"No, no. It's not sold off."
"..."
The woman now wore a completely displeased expression.
"Shall we leave?"
The drink had just arrived, but she seemed to have already completely lost interest.
"...Alright."
But I couldn't help being preoccupied either, so I decided to get up for now.
When we stepped outside, cold air brushed against my cheeks.
"Those two people sitting at the table earlier. You know them, right?"
The woman looked at me as soon as we got outside.
"...Yes."
"No wonder you couldn't take your eyes off them. But your eyes were full of worry as you watched."
"...I'm sorry."
I bowed my head. She let out a sigh.
"It's fine. If I get compared to people like that, I'll just end up feeling miserable."
"..."
"I don't know why you asked to meet me..."
She groaned and let out a sigh.
"It doesn't seem like you were trying to make me jealous, either. I don't get it."
"..."
Saying 'to get a Critical hit' would make me sound too despicable.
"I'm sorry."
In the end, I could only bow my head again.
"Ugh. Forget it. We just met today anyway."
She waved her hand and started walking away.
"Well, thanks for the meal."
And without looking back, she disappeared into the darkness of the street.
"..."
I went back into the bar.
Yu Daon, drunk, was leaning against Jang Chae-yeon, who was supporting her with her shoulder. When Jang Chae-yeon saw me, she hurriedly pushed Yu Daon away.
-Thud!
Yu Daon hit her head directly on the table, frowned, and let out a groan.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
My eyes met Jang Chae-yeon's, and she was the first to look away.
What should I say?
'How did you get here? Why are you here?'
No, that's not it.
I let out a deep sigh.
Jang Chae-yeon glanced at me furtively as if checking my mood, and Yu Daon was still unconscious.
"What are you doing?"
I grabbed Yu Daon's shoulder from the other side and looked at Jang Chae-yeon.
"Please help."
"...Ah, okay."
Jang Chae-yeon nodded and helped me support Yu Daon. It's not like we could use telekinesis outside.
After paying the bill, we supported Yu Daon and left the bar.
That woman... she ended up not paying after all.
"...Aren't you mad?"
While taking Yu Daon away, Jang Chae-yeon checked my expression. I just turned my head and looked at her.
She was still looking at me with anxious eyes.
"I'm not mad."
"..."
There are things that words alone can't convey.
People are so simple; even if you say you forgive them with words, they don't believe it.
In times like this, you have to accept something small to send a signal that it's really okay.
"...If you make me a lunchbox tomorrow, I probably won't be mad."
"...!"
It seemed like light returned to Jang Chae-yeon's expression.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll make one for you."
She nodded her head vigorously.
Seeing that made my conscience sting even more.
Let's never do this again.
"Let's go."
I led Yu Daon into the darkness and started walking.
Yeah. I was wrong.
Worrying about things that might change when what's right in front of me needs attention... what nonsense is that?
Swallowing a bitter smile, we headed to where we needed to go.
"Where should we go?"
"Let's dump her in the Management Bureau duty room."
Will this really work?
*
Watching the man disappear, Song A-rin let out a sigh.
With her hat pulled down low, Eileen stood beside her.
"Will this be enough?"
"It worked, didn't it?"
"No, I'm asking if this is really enough. For you."
Eileen stared intently at Song A-rin, who pulled her hat down even further.
"This is enough."
Would the man have thought about her at all?
Who knows.
But she had achieved an ideal result using the most efficient method.
"Then it's settled."
Song A-rin muttered and started walking in the opposite direction the man had gone.
But why did a corner of her heart ache so much? She didn't even have time to figure it out.
*
"Could you help me out?"
A few days later, around the time the blind date incident had somewhat settled down, the Branch Chief appeared before me.
"...What kind of help are you referring to?"
"The Isolation Team needs to go on a dispatch, but we're short on personnel."
"...If it's a dispatch, why would I need to go...?"
"You'll get travel expenses and an allowance."
The allowance was substantial, but...
Why would I need to go on an Isolation Team dispatch?
"I'll assign Ahn Sang-hyun to you as well."
"Sigh... Just this once."