This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 418

Surely the saying that everything is hardest at the beginning isn’t just a harmless phrase.

Since that day when the two of us crossed the line together, the Senior’s attitude towards me changed dramatically.

To put it simply… I would say it became much friendlier.

Of course, it wasn’t like the Senior treated me coldly or rudely before, so to be precise, the change wasn’t extraordinarily noticeable… But still, if you look closely at the Senior’s actions, you’d definitely realize, ‘Oh, it’s changed.’

The fact that I was trembling with unease about the Senior’s changed behavior was indeed due to that point.

It’s understandable since I knew what had happened, which made it seem even more so… At this rate, I felt it was only a matter of time before I got found out.

Considering Chae-rim’s uncanny ability to pick up on things and Yoonseo’s trait of being oblivious to most things but suddenly sharp when it comes to such issues, it was inevitable that it would end up this way.

The problem was… even if I worried about it, I couldn’t ask the Senior to hold back.

It seemed the Senior was just feeling good and unconsciously acting that way, and I couldn’t just throw a wet blanket on it.

So, in the end, all I could do was attribute it all to my karma and offer a little prayer.

Despite my heartfelt prayers, however…

“Hmm… It seems like you two have gotten closer lately?”

Unfortunately, it seemed my efforts had little effect.

Only a week had passed, and to hear such a remark slip from Chae-rim’s lips.

And, naturally, it goes without saying… that sudden comment from Chae-rim during a casual meal together was enough to push me into a state of panic.

“…Huh? Who?”

Thanks to that, my reply was slightly delayed, but thankfully, it wasn’t overly noticeable.

“Well, who else would it be? It’s about Dogun and Baeksulhwa.”

Chae-rim continued naturally.

“Come on, we’ve always been close. We’ve spent several years living together…”

“Right… It’s already been four years.”

“What? It’s already been four years?”

“Well, since Dogun moved in when you were a freshman in high school, in terms of years, it’s true.”

Having suddenly raised a question that made everyone hold their breath, I was just self-congratulating for managing to steer that topic away, or so I thought.

“But, you know…”

“Yes?”

“Dogun, as close as you say you two are, it didn’t feel so casual before, right?”

Casual? What does that even mean?

That was probably the question that popped into my mind at that moment.

“I mean, today, it feels like you’re touching him a lot more than usual.”

Those words followed in a tone that seemed like it was no big deal.

Yet, the content was indeed a big deal.

It felt like today, the touches had been more frequent.

Had it?

Honestly, I wasn’t sure.

If Chae-rim had brought it up like that, there was a good chance it actually was true.

And I figured that change probably stemmed from the drastically different dynamic between me and the Senior compared to just a week ago.

Anyway, in the midst of being slightly flustered by Chae-rim’s unexpected comment…

Someone unexpectedly decided to latch onto that breadcrumb—

“Now that you mention it…?”

That someone was none other than Yoonseo, who had been quietly listening to our conversation.

And just as she mentioned, she had been passively listening until now, but somehow it started to sound plausible.

As she said that, doubts began to creep into Yoonseo’s gaze directed towards me.

Thanks to that, I found myself receiving suspicious looks not only from Chae-rim but now also from Yoonseo, making me flinch slightly.

With that, I couldn’t refute hastily and simply broke into a cold sweat in silence.

Perhaps my pitiful state had pulled at the Senior’s heartstrings. Or maybe, since she was the cause of this situation, she felt it was her responsibility to manage it.

With that in mind, she stepped forward on my behalf.

“I’m genuinely curious, but is there any reason this shouldn’t be happening?”

The words felt almost provocative, and they made me flinch as well.

To prove their effectiveness, as soon as those words left the Senior’s mouth, both Yoonseo and Chae-rim flinched.

Was that the… “the thief flinching at the sound of a knock” reaction?

And suddenly, as both Chae-rim and Yoonseo, who had been subtly cornering me, fell silent all at once thanks to the Senior’s words?

The atmosphere turned incredibly strange.

You know, that really awkward vibe.

In the midst of everyone floundering in that atmosphere, there was one person looking perpetually confused, and that was Bora.

Since Bora had never been embroiled in such matters with me, she probably couldn’t grasp why the atmosphere had become so tense all of a sudden.

After feeling the abrupt awkwardness, she tilted her head for a moment, then looked back and forth between the two sides in a bewildered manner, before finally saying her piece.

“Uh, um… Isn’t it good if you’re getting closer…?”

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“Uh, um… Isn’t it good if you’re getting closer…?”

As Bora, who had no clue how the situation had turned to this, was caught in a daze, Yoonseo found herself gazing intently at Baeksulhwa’s face, who was seated right across from her.

And as she observed Baeksulhwa’s reactions more closely, she quickly realized.

Just as there had been a change between her and Dogun, and between Chae-rim and Dogun, something had shifted between Dogun and Baeksulhwa too.

How could she be so sure of that?

Well… she had seen it happen.

The moment when not only did Dogun restore their relationship, but they succeeded in establishing something further, the emotions that had overtaken her faced laid a lingering impression on Baeksulhwa’s face.

And if such impressions remained, it meant things had significantly developed between them.

Even from just a brief glance, it was clear as day; honestly, how could she not be convinced?

‘Haa…’

To be honest, it was already overwhelming enough dealing with Chae-rim, and now I had to contend with Baeksulhwa.

Was my mind completely swamped with thoughts like these?

The feeling of injustice that I hadn’t managed to prevent their relationship from deepening welled up from within, but it felt wrong to confront them about it.

It just felt wrong… To be honest, I was the one guilty of cutting in line first.

Whatever had happened before, this time it was undoubtedly true.

It wasn’t just that; it was practically a case of Dogun being tipsy, his reason half-escaped, and taking advantage to go all the way, so it could hardly be helped.

Of course, to put it more accurately, I was the one who loved Dogun first…

But three years of absence made it way too large of a gap to bring it up front.

Later, things could change, but for now, that was how it stood.

So what was I supposed to do?

Even if I felt frustrated and angry, all I could do was stifle it all internally.

Even though I managed to barely keep my rising feelings of anger in check… deep inside, I couldn’t help but feel a bit ticked off.

‘No, seriously…’

It wasn’t like I had let my guard down for more than a day, and it happened in a flash.

It was clear that that sly fox Baeksulhwa must have triggered it first, but even so, was it really okay for them to leap forward all at once?!

‘Honestly…’

With such impeccable looks and a somewhat enviable stature… well, it’s part of why I like him, but—

‘Anyway!’

Judging by their reactions, Chae-rim seemed to have caught on that something had happened between the two, but now that the cat was out of the bag, what on earth should I do to reprimand her?

How could I discipline her well enough that it became rumored that I had actually disciplined her?

Those were the thoughts that consumed me as I kept pondering in frustration.

Suddenly, like a light turning on in a dark room, something sparked in my mind.

‘Right…’

That would do, wouldn’t it?!