This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 264

Chae-rim’s Perspective


Honestly, I thought I had fully adjusted to being called “noona” by now.

When Dogun first called me that way, I felt a bit shy and my face would flush, but after hearing it so often, I had naturally become quite indifferent to it.

I thought that was the case… but I just realized it wasn’t true at all because of what just happened.

“Our noona…”

Now that I think about it, it’s quite miraculous.

It’s not like a lot has changed; just adding one word at the front completely alters the feeling.

Is that why?


My face warmed up just as much as when I first heard Dogun call me “noona.”

If anything, it felt stronger now.

Back then, I didn’t have the sense that Dogun’s words “our noona” echoed in my ears like it does now.

What’s the deal with that?

The phrase “our noona” wouldn’t leave my ears.

That’s why I was dragged along helplessly by Dogun without being able to resist.

All my nerves were focused right around my ears, so I couldn’t help it.

“By the way…”

Am I angry?

My shoulders, slightly raised compared to usual, were tense.

And while I was just staring helplessly at Dogun’s back, I found myself lost in this thought.

“Ah!”

When a sudden sting shot up from my heel, I reflexively let out a sound, causing Dogun, who had been striding ahead, to stop abruptly as if nothing had happened.

“Did you get hurt?”

“Uh, yeah?”

“Let me see.”

“No, it’s fine…”

Though my heel was tinged with a slight sting, I said I was fine, yet Dogun wouldn’t back off easily.

If it were normally, he would’ve understood and stepped away by the time I said I was okay.

But Dogun, who was acting so differently from usual, totally caught me off guard, and before I knew it, I ended up on the bench.

It was quite the sight: Dogun had knelt in front of me, on one knee.


Was he about to check?

With his brows slightly furrowed, Dogun reached out cautiously.

And the moment his hand wrapped around my ankle, I instinctively recoiled and shivered.

It wasn’t because his fingers touched the stinging spot.


Rather, it was the peculiar ticklish sensation that started climbing up where we touched the instant he encircled my ankle.

Why on earth am I feeling like this on my ankle, not even my sole?

“It’s a bit scraped.”

While I was inwardly fidgeting, Dogun, with his remaining hand, took off my shoe with a sigh and then he spoke up.

His brows were furrowed deeply now, as if he felt bad for my injury caused by him.


Just as I thought, a voice filled with guilt slipped from his lips.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…”

“N-no!”

I didn’t even think about blaming Dogun.


I knew why he could only act that way, and frankly, I felt a bit relieved.

Since he was such a slippery type, I had dealt with a lot from him over time, so it was only natural.

“I should have taken a picture…”


What if I had captured that absurdly silly expression on camera?


I could have used it over and over again…


It was just frustrating that I didn’t even think to take a picture at that moment when I was in such a fluster.

“Is there any way to do it again?”


Thanks to this thought, I found myself wondering.


Well, that’s just talk, and I had no intention of crawling back inside.


Who would be insane enough to do that?

If I did, everyone would be whispering about me, without a doubt.


Well… I guess they already are.

“By the way…”


He must have finished checking, but why isn’t he letting go yet?


Until now, I had been avoiding the striking reality by forcibly turning my thoughts elsewhere, but that was reaching its limit.

So, it would be good if he could let go before it bursts.


But saying “Please let go” just felt wrong for some reason, so I felt stuck, biting my poor lips anxiously.

“…I can’t take it anymore. Just a moment.”


With those words, Dogun finally released my foot.

The problem was with what he did next.


Dogun sprang up from where he was seated and ran off somewhere, saying he’d be right back.


I stood there in stunned silence for a moment, and tried to chase after him, but before I could even take my first step, I was blocked.

This was because I realized after the fact that when Dogun ran off, he had taken one of my shoes with him.

If I were barefoot on both sides?


If I had that “I don’t care anymore” feeling, I might’ve run after him barefoot.

But being stuck in this awkward mix of one shoe and one bare foot left me naturally pausing.


And while I was hesitating like that, Dogun reappeared.

In that brief time, did he manage to visit not just the pharmacy but also the convenience store?


In his hands were not only the shoe he had taken earlier but also ointment, a bandage, and a pair of slippers that were still in their packaging.

“No, what on earth…”


Did he really buy all this?


With that curious feeling, my lips twitched with an urge to giggle, but as soon as Dogun knelt back down on one knee, he immediately reached out to grasp my ankle.

He squeezed the ointment and carefully applied it to the injured area, then placed the bandage over it.


Perhaps he was worried the bandage might come loose if I moved?


Dogun’s fingers, which were holding my ankle, began to gently caress the bandage-covered area.

The problem was… with each touch came a certain “sensation.”


How should I even describe this feeling?


For sure, each wave of sensation blossoming from my heel sent my heart racing a bit more, and the muscles in my thighs tensed absurdly.

“Just in case, I brought slippers too. Would you like to change into these?”

“Y-yeah…”


That’s why, when Dogun suggested it, I quickly changed into the slippers and got up hurriedly.


I managed to escape Dogun’s grip for a moment, but now what should I do?

Feeling a bit awkward, I found myself wondering if Dogun was thinking the same thing.


“By the way, what should we do now?”


That hesitant voice drifted into my ears.


I shrugged my shoulders as if it were no big deal, just to reassure Dogun.

“Well… we did show our faces at the event, right? So it should be fine.”

“Still…”

“Still and still, it’s a bit weird to run out like that and then just go back in, right? So…”


What should I say?


After all the tumultuous events since morning, I honestly just wanted to go back to the room and throw myself onto the bed.


However, returning to the room felt a bit wrong.

Because the peculiar sensation inside me hadn’t completely faded yet, I felt like if I went back to the room alone with Dogun, I would be hyper-aware of it.


Thus, I needed to buy some time… should I suggest grabbing something to eat before going in?


But even that felt dicey considering it hadn’t even been four hours since we ate lunch.

As I hesitated, I caught sight of the beach behind Dogun.


“Since there’s a beach behind us, how about taking a quick stroll there before heading back?”


Even as I said it, I worried Dogun might refuse if he felt tired, so I was relieved when he nodded enthusiastically.

“Ah, I’ll hold onto your shoe.”


And so, walking along the sandy beach that stretched beside the event hall, it suddenly struck me how bizarrely out of place I must look in a dress and slippers.


It wasn’t long before a few people started gathering around.

“Uh… I think it’s about time we head back to the hotel?”


“No, when did this happen…?”


“L-let’s go for now.”


And thus, making our way through the slowly gathering crowd, we arrived back at the hotel room where we were staying.


Before too long, a simple spread of snacks and two bottles of ridiculously expensive-looking wine arrived in the room.