This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 107

“No way…”

How on earth did it come to this?

I felt exactly like a shrimp caught between whales.

The two women sitting across from each other were the cause of this situation.

Of course, they weren’t glaring at each other like they wanted to kill each other or anything like that.

If they had, the atmosphere would have been much more lethal than it was now.

“…Or maybe not?”

It might have been better that way.

Both of them—my senior and Yoonseo—didn’t look at each other with hostile glares.

They were just acting like they were interacting with someone they weren’t particularly close to, but at least recognized.

Yet, the atmosphere felt like walking on thin ice… likely because of the subtly sharp words that occasionally slipped from their mouths.

Thanks to that, it felt like I was sitting on a cushion full of thorns.

And that feeling intensified every time there was a sound of something dropping or being placed around us.

“I knew they didn’t really like each other, but I didn’t think it would be this bad…”

I hadn’t imagined it would be to this extent.

Yoonseo… well, she must have felt this way since she had lost so embarrassingly in the last regular tournament in middle school, but what was my senior’s deal?

Could it really be because of the argument they had at the school gate last time?

…Maybe that’s exactly why I thought.

From my senior’s perspective, it might not have been a good look to see Yoonseo making excuses and acting stubborn.

That’s understandable since my senior had a pretty strict personality to begin with.

“Here, chopsticks.”

Those words broke through my thoughts as I fidgeted in my seat, feeling like something sharp was poking me all over.

“Uh, uh… okay.”

As I snapped back to reality, I accepted the wooden chopsticks Yoonseo held out with a surprised expression, noticing that her gaze shifted to my senior.

“Sister, you should eat a lot too. Uhm… I didn’t expect the amount to be a bit lacking since I didn’t anticipate eating together like this…”

Was the term “sister” always this intimidating?

At least, I didn’t remember it being like that.

Then, what exactly was that I just heard?

Even though I was still confused about how this sudden gathering came to be with my senior’s consent… one thing was clear: I couldn’t stay like this.

The place was perfect for a sparring match, and if I just sat quietly, it wouldn’t be surprising if they suddenly shouted, “Hey, let’s fight!”

“Hey, senior, don’t forget your chopsticks too.”

I cautiously said this while looking at Yoonseo, who was grinning ear to ear.

The response I got back was—

“Oh, right. I totally spaced on that.”

If an outsider had witnessed that interaction, they might have thought she’d genuinely forgotten.

Her expression was that convincing.

But hadn’t I been observing how this situation unfolded from the start?

Besides, considering that I’ve known Yoonseo for ten years, I immediately discerned that the smile she had made was forced.

I mean, the two were looking at each other so intently, and Yoonseo had just handed me chopsticks while my senior miraculously forgot about them—does that even make sense?

“Here. Chop. Sticks.”

Anyway, with the chopsticks finally reaching my senior… an unexpected dinner commenced.

*

As the dinner began under such circumstances, Dogun was awkwardly picking at his food, too busy observing the two women, while Baeksulhwa was also strangely unable to eat.

However, unlike Dogun, who was anxiously glancing around, her reason was quite different… She wasn’t moving her hands after having taken on chopsticks because her mind was filled with thoughts.

“…I don’t like this.”

And it felt uncomfortable.

If someone asked what exactly I didn’t like or what was bothering me, I would have replied that it was just the entire atmosphere of this gathering.

Had I known it would feel this uncomfortable, I wouldn’t have agreed to this gathering in the first place.

I had approached them after seeing the two standing face to face at the school gate, carefully suggesting that they eat together since I thought it might help, but now… if I had known this would happen, maybe I shouldn’t have intervened.

In fact, everything was just so displeasing.

Every single visible thing felt that way.

What was particularly bothering me, though… was Yoonseo’s attitude.

Just moments ago, she was so hostile towards me, yet now she couldn’t take her eyes off Dogun as the meal began.

“Why…? Is it not good? Does it taste bad?”

She was even looking at Dogun with a sullen voice, commenting on how he was picking at his food… It was hard to believe this was the same person who had such a fierce tone just moments ago.

But if it were just that, it wouldn’t have irritated me so much.

The problem lay in her actions accompanying that voice.

She wasn’t complaining about how much effort it took to make this, nor was she dramatically shaking her finger that was covered in band-aids…

“Ah, nah! It’s delicious.”

That’s why Dogun had no choice but to be cautious.

I mean, wasn’t the situation already awkward for both of them?

If what I saw in the subway was right, it certainly was.

What had happened between them after they parted ways yesterday that so suddenly changed the atmosphere?

“But seriously, I’m curious… why the sudden packed lunch?”

“Just… because Dogun was grateful to you.”

“Uh…?”

“Yesterday, you took me to the hospital and stayed by my side until my dad arrived.”

“Ah… well, that was nothing…”

Was he embarrassed?

Dogun’s expression turned peculiar.

…I had never seen that expression on him before.

So… it didn’t sit well with me.

At the same time, I naturally came to a realization.

I finally understood why this atmosphere, the air surrounding us, felt so unsettling.

Of course, this had to be expected.

This was similar to something I had felt once before.

When was that again?

Not long after my parents passed away, in other words, shortly after I found myself alone in this world.

Back then, I was very young and ended up staying at a relative’s house for a while, and coincidentally, that day happened to be the birthday of their daughter, who was two years younger than me.

As expected, the atmosphere was quite unpleasant.

It wouldn’t feel right to celebrate a child’s birthday while their parents had been lost right before their eyes, would it?

But that was only true for the adults.

At that time, I was still very young and didn’t understand the adults’ circumstances, while the girl who was two years younger than me was at a loss for understanding as well.

She must have felt disappointed.

It was her birthday, a special day occurring only once a year, yet here she was, subjected to the awkward silence with an odd girl like me instead of celebrating with her mom and dad.

So, she must have cried a lot.

Seeing their child cry like that must have caused quite a dilemma for my uncle and aunt as well.

The hasty, half-hearted birthday party they threw disguised as a welcome must have stemmed from that.

The sensation I felt back then was quite similar to the one I was sensing now.

Despite the warm air flowing right in front of me, it felt like a cold, lonely atmosphere was swirling only around me.

Even now, but especially back then, it felt as if an invisible wall existed around me.

Thus, even at that young age, I could clearly realize how alone I truly was.

Back then, that was how I felt… but to think I would feel something similar now.

When I snapped back to reality, the atmosphere that had somehow wrapped around me felt so unsettling.

It felt like it was saying I was merely an intruder here…

“Ah, but Dogun…”

I charged toward that wall.

“Yes…?”

“We have unfinished business from last time, remember? What do you think we should do about that?”

To break that invisible barrier.