This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 221

“It’s getting better…”

Isn’t that right?

That must be true, right?

Judging by how he flinched the moment we made contact, it seems like something is definitely happening.

Even after witnessing such a scene, I couldn’t shake off my uncertainty due to Yoonseo’s current demeanor.

Her face, once pale to the point of worry, is now flushed with color, making the present seem a thousand times better in comparison. I can let that slide, but why does she keep trembling like this?

As if she’s on the brink of needing to go to the bathroom.

What if we were both just little kids back then?

I would have jokingly said, “Hey, don’t drink so much juice!” and taken her to the bathroom.

But now that we’ve both grown up, such things are impossible, leaving me no choice but to endure this awkward and embarrassing atmosphere.

“Um… are you okay?”

Despite everything, I could only squeeze out those words in case there was something wrong… But what I got in response was a vigorous nod that made me worry she might hurt her neck.

“I-I’m fine…”

Well, what can I say? It’s not like it’s someone else; she’s saying it herself.

For now, even if things are like this, I believe it will get better with time, so I could only move forward.

Thus, I led Yoonseo, who was awkwardly walking, to the fifth floor where Bora was apparently hiding.

…

Yoonseo’s POV

“This feels strange…”

No matter how many times I repeated that thought, it lingered.

I wasn’t doing anything particularly special; I was just holding on to Dogun’s left arm. So why do I feel this way?

To be honest… I thought maybe I was just overthinking it earlier.

Surprised by Dogun’s proactive attitude, I assumed that was why I felt this way.

But that wasn’t it.

It wasn’t surprise.

It felt as if there was electricity flowing through my body.

And that sensation was radiating from the palm of my hand where it touched Dogun’s left arm.

Specifically, the tingling sensation spread from there throughout my body, scattering that unique, prickly feeling all over.

Among it all, my hands and feet were particularly tormented.

How should I describe this feeling?

It felt like my arms and legs had been deprived of blood for a long time, only to suddenly have it rush back in.

No, it was much stronger than that.

If that was a ‘zing!’, what I felt now was closer to a ‘throb!’.

And I already knew a feeling similar to this.

How could I not know?

It was the sensation I felt when imagining Dogun during those private, naughty moments when no one was watching.

I didn’t indulge in such thoughts often since it left a peculiar guilt pricking at my heart, but it was still vividly imprinted in my mind.

Even now, the feeling that was creeping up my arm resembled that.

The way my thighs were involuntarily tensing and trembling, and the ache that radiated from somewhere in my abdomen, must be because of that.

It was like a déjà vu to that moment.

The problem was I couldn’t figure out why I was feeling this way.

Was it because I was touching Dogun?

It might really be because of that.

Isn’t it often said online that when you touch someone you like, it feels like you got electrocuted?

Perhaps this was also a part of that.

What was clear, however, was that I didn’t want Dogun to find out about my current state.

Because if he did, he might think I was a pervert.

Even though my thighs were moving on their own, making it hard to walk normally, if Dogun heard what was really on my mind, he would definitely notice that something about me was off.

I took several breaths, intentionally spacing them out to hide my condition in worry.

I suppose my efforts paid off.

Before Dogun caught on to my state, we finally reached the fifth floor where Bora was hiding.

And thanks to that, I remembered something.

I had originally planned to be angry at Bora.

I was going to save Dogun first and then confront her about it… But now that I was face-to-face with her, I didn’t feel like being angry at all.

It wasn’t because I had forgiven Bora.

How could I forgive her?

How did she manage to drag Dogun out here, despite the clear danger they were in, after all?

It was obvious that Bora had dragged Dogun out here without much consideration.

Honestly, it was clear as day.

And that also meant that just like I had seen earlier, Dogun found himself in a risky situation because of Bora.

So even if I were to get angry here, it wouldn’t be all that surprising… But right now, I was in no position to be angry.

I slightly regretted this, but I decided to pass on that role to someone else.

Fortunately, someone was there to take my place in getting mad.

When it came to going out, I had asked either her or Sister Seolhwa to take me with her. Was she upset that I was ignored?

Chae-rim’s face, which had been relatively normal while listening to Dogun earlier, now looked frighteningly tense.

And so, I became certain of something.

Soon, Bora was going to get in serious trouble.

…

Bora’s POV

Time rewound slightly to when Dogun left Bora in the fitting room and dashed outside, only for Bora to realize that a moment too late, her eyes widened impossibly.

At first?

She thought Dogun had abandoned her and run away alone.

Which would make sense; if she were Dogun, she would have done the same.

It would be much more advantageous to run away than to take someone who was frozen in fear along with her.

But soon she realized.

It wasn’t that at all.

Dogun didn’t run away alone… He had dashed out to lure away whatever was coming toward her.

The footsteps drawing near in the direction Dogun had run off proved that fact.

So she couldn’t believe it.

“Why…?”

Wasn’t it just his own life at stake?

Could he have acted this way hoping for some kind of reward?

Even thinking that way made no sense.

If he were to die, it would be of no use to him.

Surely he knew that better than anyone.

If it wasn’t that, then what was the reason?

Why would Dogun make such a choice?

Could it possibly be to rescue her?

There was no way that could be it.

A person like that couldn’t possibly exist in this world.

Human beings naturally seek a payoff for their actions.

Every human she had ever met had been like that.

Even parents were no exception.

So a person like that shouldn’t exist.

It must be that way… Yet why did Dogun’s silhouette from earlier keep invading her thoughts?

It was an inexplicable matter.

An inexplicable matter, but there was a strangely hollow feeling in her chest.

As if a huge hole had been punctured right through it.

Why did she feel this way?

That too was something she couldn’t understand.

Dogun was just someone she was interested in… So why did it feel like she had lost something truly important?

With such thoughts swirling around her, she wished fervently.

That Dogun would be safe.

That he would escape from those monsters so she could see him again.

Even if she looked at him with a resentful expression for dragging her into this mess… as long as he was safe, she’d make do with it.

At the same time, she realized anew.

How powerless she truly was.

No matter how much everyone coveted her talent, what good would it do?

In such a situation, she could only helplessly watch.

That impotence, a feeling she normally wouldn’t have cared for, seized her heart in a tight grip.

It was during that moment, while curling up in the fitting room, that she heard a voice.

Dogun’s cautious voice calling for her.